The present invention provides novel PGI2 derivatives and an anti Helicobacter agent, a platelet function potentiating agent or a cervical ripening agent containing any of the derivatives.

This application is a 371 of PCT/JP99/05854, with an international filing date of Oct. 22, 1999, and claims priority of JP 10-320014, filed Oct. 23, 1998.
The present invention relates to novel prostaglandin I2 (abbreviated to xe2x80x9cPGI2xe2x80x9d hereinafter) derivatives and application of the derivatives. Particularly, the present invention relates to novel 5,6,7-trinor-4,8-inter-m-phenylene PGI2 derivatives useful for medicines, and medical application thereof.
PGI2 (prostacyclin) is a compound found by J. R. Vane et al in 1976, which is a substance biosynthesized in the arterial wall from arachidonic acid through endoperoxide (PGH2 or PGG2) and which has a strong platelet aggregation inhibiting effect, gastric acid secretion inhibiting effect, and dilation of the peripheral vascular system. However, PGI2 which has an unstable exo-enol structure is extremely unstable even in neutral aqueous solution and is subjected to conversion to 6-oxo PGF1xcex1 which has little physiological effect. The unstableness of PGI2 causes a great fault in an attempt to use this compound for medicines. PGI2 is also unstable in vivo, and has the fault that the physiological effects are nonpersistent.
On the other hand, the inventors have achieved a series of inventions relating to stable PGI2 derivatives having a skeleton in which the structure of an exo-enol ether moiety which causes the unstableness of PGI2, is changed to inter-m-phenylene (refer to Ohno et at., Japanese Examined Patent Publication Nos. 59-31510, 1-53672, 2-12226, 2-57548, 3-69909, 6-62599, and 7-5582).
Prostaglandin derivatives are used as therapy of ulcers or the like in the digestive area because they are defensive factor potentiators for increasing mucosal blood flow and mucous secretion. However, it is unknown that the PGI2 derivatives have an antibacterial effect on Helicobacter bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori, which attract attention as a pathogenic factor of upper gastric diseases such as chronic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, lymphoma, etc.
Diseases exhibiting a bleeding tendency due to platelet hypofunction in spite of the normal platelet count are generically named platelet functional disorders. The platelet functional disorders are divided into congenital disorders and acquired disorders. The congenital platelet functional disorders are divided into disorders of platelet adhesion, aggregation and releasing dysfunction.
On the other hand, the acquired platelet functional disorders occur with greater frequency than the congenital disorders, and, for example, the acquired disorders are accompanied with various diseases such as chronic renal failure, liver diseases, blood diseases, and the like, and are caused by extracorporeal circulation or medicines. Furthermore, administration of such medicines for diseases exhibiting the bleeding tendency is dangerous because the bleeding tendency is prolonged. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the bleeding tendency caused by these diseases and the use of medicines.
Although DDAVP (1-deamino-8-arginine vasopressin) or the like is used for the congenital disorders of platelet releasing dysfunction and the acquired platelet functional disorders, in some cases, arterial thrombosis or hyponatremia occurs as a side effect. Although, in case of emergency, platelet transfusion is conducted, a serious side effect occurs due to the production of antibodies against platelets and lymphocytes.
On the other hand, the inventors have reported that PGI2 derivatives have the effect to potentiate the platelet function without through thromboxane A2 (abbreviated to xe2x80x9cTXA2xe2x80x9d hereinafter) receptors (Miyamdto et al., WO98/11899).
Also the prostaglandin derivatives are known to be useful as medicines for accelerating cervical ripening in the gynecological area.
During pregnancy, the cervical canal is strongly closed for pregnancy continuation up to late pregnancy, for preventing abortion and premature delivery. on the other hand, at the 36th week or later in pregnancy, softening of the cervical canal proceeds for facilitating fetus expulsion, accompanied by dilation of the cervical opening and shortening of the cervical canal length (effacement). This is a phenomenon referred to as xe2x80x9ccervical ripeningxe2x80x9d. The cervical ripening is an important factor which controls the process of fatal delivery. Therefore, in order to safely and normally extract a fetus, it is necessary to sufficiently ripen the cervical canal as a preparatory step for delivery before the start of contraction (pains) of the myometrium.
As a medicine for accelerating ripening of the cervical canal, i.e., a cervical ripening agent, prostaglandin E2 (abbreviated to xe2x80x9cPGE2xe2x80x9d hereinafter) is clinically used. However, PGE2 also has an oxytocic action, and thus has the problem of the possibility of causing excessively contraction of the myometrium. On the other hand, the inventors have reported that PGI2 derivatives are useful as cervical ripening agents without causing the oxytocic action (Ochi et al., WO99/13881).
However, conventional PGI2 derivatives cannot be said to sufficiently remove side effects such as reduction of the blood pressure, etc., and thus the invention of a new PGI2 derivative is in demand.
An object of the present invention is to provide novel PGI2 derivatives having excellent stability in vivo, a strong medical effect, and a little side effect, and medicines each comprising any of the PGI2 derivatives as an active ingredient.
As a result of intensive research, the inventors succeeded in obtaining novel PGI2 derivatives, and found that these PGI2 derivatives have an excellent anti Helicobacter action, platelet function potentiating effect or cervical ripening effect, and the little action to reduce blood pressure as a side effect, resulting in the achievement of the present invention.
Namely, the present invention provides 5,6,7-trinor-4,8-inter-m-phenylene PGI2 derivatives represented by the following formula (I):
[wherein R1 represents the following:
wherein R2 is hydrogen, straight chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, branched alkyl having 3 or 4 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94R4 or xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94R4 wherein R4 is straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, branched alkyl having 3 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, aralkyl having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, phenyl, or substituted phenyl (wherein a substituent is at least one of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, trifluoromethyl, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, nitro, cyano, methoxy, phenyl, phenoxy, p-acetamidebenzamide, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90Nxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94NH2, xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94Ph, xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94CH3, or xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94NH2), two R2 groups may be the same or different, and R3 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, acyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, aroyl having 7 to 16 carbon atoms, aralkyl having 7 to 16 carbon atoms, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, 1-ethoxyethyl, allyl, tert-butyl, or tert-butyldimethylsilyl;
(B) xe2x80x94COOR5
xe2x80x83wherein R5 is:
1) hydrogen or a pharmacologically acceptable cation;
2) straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or branched alkyl having 3 to 14 carbon atoms;
3) xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94R6
wherein Z is a valence bond or straight chain or branched alkylene represented by CtH2t wherein t represents an integer of 1 to 6, and R6 is cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms or substituted cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms substituted by 1 to 3 R7, R7 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
4) xe2x80x94(CH2CH2O)nCH3
wherein n is an integer of 1 to 5;
5) xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94Ar1
wherein Z is defined as the same as the above, and Ar1 is phenyl, xcex1-naphthyl, xcex2-naphthyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, xcex1-furyl, xcex2-furyl, xcex1-thienyl, xcex2-thienyl or substituted phenyl (wherein a substituent is the same as the substituent defined for the substituted phenyl);
6) xe2x80x94CtH2tCOOR7
wherein t and R7 are defined as the same as the above;
7) xe2x80x94CtH2tN(R7)2
wherein t and R7 are defined as the same as the above, and two R7 groups may be the same or different;
8) xe2x80x94CH(R8)xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94R9
wherein R8 is hydrogen or benzoyl, and R9 is phenyl, p-bromophenyl, p-chlorophenyl, p-biphenyl, p-nitrophenyl, p-benzamidephenyl, or 2-naphthyl;
9) xe2x80x94CnH2nxe2x80x94Wxe2x80x94R10
wherein W is xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90C(R10)xe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94, and R10 is hydrogen or straight chain or branched alkyl or aralkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and n is defined as the same as the above; or
10) xe2x80x94CH(CH2OR11)2
wherein R11 is alkyl or acyl having 1 to 30 carbon atoms;
wherein R2 is defined as the same as the above, two R2 groups may be the same or different, R12 is hydrogen, straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, branched alkyl having 3 to 14 carbon atoms, phenyl, substituted phenyl (wherein a substituent is defined as the same as the substituent defined for the substituted phenyl) or xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94R4 (wherein R4 is defined as the same as the above);
(D) xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94R13
xe2x80x83wherein R13 is the following:
wherein R12 is defined as the same as the above;
wherein X represents xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94; or
(6) azide;
(E) xe2x80x94C(R14)3
wherein R14 represents hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyano or alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and all R14 groups may be the same or different;
wherein R15 represents hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl, substituted phenyl (wherein a substituent is the same as the substituent defined for the substituted phenyl), xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94OR4 (wherein R4 defined as the same as the above), or a pharmacologically acceptable cation, and two R15 may be the same or different;
(G) xe2x80x94N(R16)2
wherein R16 is hydrogen, straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, branched alkyl having 3 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkylalkylene having 4 to 13 carbon atoms, aralkyl having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94R4, xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94R4, SO2xe2x80x94R4, phenyl or substituted phenyl (wherein a substituent is defined as the same as the substituent defined for the substituted phenyl), R4 is defined as the same as the above, and two R16 groups may be the same or different (when one R16 represents xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94R4, the other R16 is not xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94R4);
(H) xe2x80x94(C(xe2x95x90O)CH2)kxe2x80x94H
wherein k represents an integer of 1 or 2; or
(I) xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94CN Y is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, formyl, methoxy, or nitro, and B is the following:
xe2x80x83wherein V represents the following:
(1) xe2x80x94CH2CH2xe2x80x94;
(2) xe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94; or
(3) xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90C(R7)xe2x80x94;
xe2x80x83wherein R7 is defined as the same as the above, Q is the following:
(1) xe2x95x90O;
(2) xe2x80x94OR3
xe2x80x94R2
(3) xe2x80x94R2
xe2x80x94R2
R2 and R3 are defined as the same as the above, two R2 groups may be the same or different, R14 is defined as the same as the above, two R14 may be the same or different, and R17 is the following:
(1) xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94R18
wherein Z is defined as the same as the above, R18 is straight chain alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, branched alkyl having 3 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkylalkylene having 4 to 13 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms substituted by 1 to 3 R7 (wherein R7 is defined as the same as the above), cycloalkylalkylene having 4 to 13 carbon atoms substituted by 1 to 3 R7 (wherein R7 is defined as the same as the above), phenyl, substituted phenyl (wherein a substituent is the same as the substituent defined for the above substituted phenyl), xcex1-naphthyl, 0-naphthyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, xcex1-furyl, xcex2-furyl, xcex1-thienyl, or xcex2-thienyl;
(2) xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94R18
wherein Z and R18 are defined as the same as the above;
(3) xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90C(R18)2
wherein Z and R18 are defined as the same as the above, and two R18 may be the same or different; or
(4) xe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94R18
wherein Z and R18 are defined as the same as the above;
wherein Q, R14 and R17 are defined as the same as the above, two R14 groups may be the same or different, and R19 represents fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine; or
wherein Q, R14 and R17 are defined as the same as the above, two R14 groups may be the same or different, E represents hydrogen or xe2x80x94OR3 wherein R3 is defined as the same as the above, A is the following:
xe2x80x83wherein m represents an integer of 0 to 5, G represents hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, trifluoromethyl, straight chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, branched alkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, all G groups may be the same or different, and when B of the formula (I) has the structure shown by the definition (A) (except cases where at least one R14 is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or cyano), and R1 has a structure in which all R2 groups in the definition (A) are hydrogen, or when B of the formula (I) has a structure shown by the definition (A) (except cases where at least one R14 is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or cyano), and R1 has the structure shown by the definition (B), not all G groups are hydrogen; or
xe2x80x83wherein j represents an integer of 1 to 4, p represents an integer of 0 or 1, G represents hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, trifluoromethyl, straight chain alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or branched alkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and all G groups may be the same or different; and the formula (I) represents a d-, l- or dl-isomer].
The present invention also provides an anti Helicobacter agent, a platelet function potentiating agent, or cervical ripening agent, which contains any of the above PGI2 derivatives as an active ingredient.
FIG. 1 shows change in mean blood pressure of monkeys after the intravenous administration of compound 5.
FIG. 2 shows change in mean blood pressure of monkeys after the intravenous administration of control compound A.

5,6,7-trinor-4,8-inter-m-phenylene PGI2, derivative and drugs containing the same


A metal wood golf club head has an elongated, forwardly facing front wall to strike a golf ball, and a hollow body rearwardly of the face plate, the front wall elongated in a first transverse direction toward a zone of connection to a club shaft, the body having a thin, metallic top wall merging with upper transverse extent of the front wall. The head also includes a first group of narrow, metallic, shock wave distributing dendrites extending from the front wall generally rearwardly adjacent the underside of the top wall and integral therewith; the dendrites spaced apart in a transverse direction, the maximum height dimensions of the dendrites below the underside of the top wall being between 0.050 and 0.100 inches and the dendrites being downwardly convex in cross-section. A second group of such shock wave distributing dendrites is also typically provided rearwardly of the first dendrite group, and which extend rearwardly to merge with the head rear wall.

This invention relates generally to increasing the size of metallic, hollow golf club heads (woods), without increasing head weight. More particularly, it concerns the distribution of ball impact waves from the head front wall in such manner as to resist deflection of that front wall and to absorb such shock waves on top and rear walls spaced apart from a metallic sole plate welded to the head.
Large, very thin-walled metal golf club heads present the problems of cracking and buckling of metal walls, and excessive front wall deflection, during ball impact. There is need to alter the manner in which shock waves are distributed within metal wood walls as by providing a mechanism which guides, interrupts, spreads, or otherwise alters the shock waves which emanate from the face at impact, but while maintaining optimum wall thicknesses.

Hollow, metallic golf club head with dendritic structure


A method of testing RAM without destroying the stored data consists of looping through the locations to be tested (21, 28, 29), and at each location, inverting the data stored in the location (22), loading the inverted data from the location to a register (23), inverting the data in the register (24), writing the twice-inverted data back to the location (25) and comparing the actual content of the location with the content of the register (26). The test fails (27) if any of the comparisons fails, whereupon the test can be terminated. The test succeeds (30) if the all of the locations have been tested without any of the comparisons having failed. Further tests may be carried out at a selected location only, to test for short circuits between data bus leads. The method contains fewer memory access operations that the conventional method, so it will be faster. The method will also detect bits that can be changed but not changed back again, as well as stuck bits.

This application claims priority of European Patent Application No. 98309192.7, which was filed on Nov. 10, 1998.
This invention relates to methods of testing random-access memory (RAM) without destroying the data stored in the memory.
The conventional method of testing RAM is to cycle through all the addresses to be tested, and for each address to write a first test pattern consisting of a series of alternating ones and zeroes to the address and to compare what is actually stored at the address with the first test pattern and then to write a second test pattern consisting of the complementary series of alternating zeroes and ones to the address and to compare what is actually stored at the address with the second complementary test pattern. If any of the comparisons fails, the test fails and can be aborted at that point; if none of them fails the test succeeds.
A problem with this method is that any data stored in the RAM is overwritten and therefore lost. To avoid this it is necessary to load the data stored in the location into a register before applying the test patterns and to restore it afterwards. Thus the full method takes the form: For each address:
Load the data stored at the address into a register
Write the first test pattern (10101010 . . . ) to the address
Compare the data stored at the address with the first test pattern
Jump to FAILED if the comparison shows that they are not the same
Write the second test pattern (01010101 . . . ) to the address
Compare the data stored at the address with the second test pattern
Jump to FAILED if the comparison shows that they are not the same
Restore the original data from the register to the address.
This method includes three read and three write operations as well as two comparison instructions and two conditional jumps and furthermore does not reliably test for locations that can only be set or cleared once.
The invention is as set out in claim 1.
With the claimed method each bit at the address being tested is changed twice, once when the original data word is inverted and once when the twice-inverted data word is written back to the address. The comparison will fail unless both changes are correctly made. Furthermore, the method contains only two write operations in addition to three read operations and only has one comparison instruction and one conditional jump.


A genotyping method and a prepared oligomicroarray as device is to determine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and mutations are provided. The method uses two specific APEX-2 primers per each SNP or mutations to be determined. The same primers are used in amplification phase (primer extension and PCR with universal primer) and in the single base extension phase on an array. All SNP-containing sequences can be genotyped and amplified in one reaction tube and visualized on a microarray.

Genotyping technologies enable to construct high-resolution genetic maps for genomes of human and other organisms, resulting in LD blocks or r2 bins dependent of the method used. These LD blocks (haplotypes) can be used in association studies to localize genes responsible for a particular phenotype (e.g. disease). In other words, the aim of genotyping is to find correlations between genome organization (haplotype) and a particular phenotype.
It is becoming increasingly evident, that hundred thousands single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP-s) have to be analyzed simultaneously to get a complete picture of haploblocks' (or r2 bin) arrangement. Thus, new methods are needed to accomplish this expansive and expensive task. Below is an overview of well-known genotyping methods that despite of their high throughput technology have also their limiting factors and therefore new cost-effective, flexible and focused genotyping methods are needed.
Genotyping and mutation detection is increasingly more substantial in clinical practice. Modern and reliable methods are alternative for RFLP, allele-specific PCR or sequencing in future. Flexible genotyping and mutation detection analyzes systems help to diagnose tens of candidate genetic markers in one reaction in short time as a routine procedure.                1. Detection based hybridization methods such as Affymetrix GeneChip (FIG. 1.) technology enables to analyze half a million SNP-s (Matsuzaki et al., 2004 1 & 2). Studied loci in genomic DNA are amplified without PCR with specific primers. An alternative way to reduce complexity of the genome is to use the restriction enzyme cut of genomic DNA, ligation of the fragments produced in this way to a universal linker and amplification with universal primers in PCR. Amplified regions are fragmented, labeled and hybridized to complementary oligonucleotides synthesized on microarray. In case of a perfect match, a duplex is formed and a signal from the perfect match pairings which is higher than signals from the mismatched pairing is detected. GeneChip microarray uses 25 base pairs (bp) long oligonucleotides containing a central nucleotide corresponding to the studied SNP. Hence, on both sides of a SNP, there are regions with 12 bp perfect match and in the middle, at the position of the SNP, a perfect match or a mismatch can occur.                    The key step of the method is DNA restriction and addition of universal linker sequences to the ends of all created fragments. Subsequently 250-2000 bp long fragments, containing the SNP(s) of interest are amplified with primers that anneal to the universal linker sequences (universal primer). With this approach a vast number of genomic sequences can be amplified with minimal cost. The limiting factor in this method is the number of restriction sites across the genome. Thus, SNP-s not located in the synthesized fragments (250-2000 bp), cannot be detected. Hence, this method in principle does not cover the whole genome and therefore the Illumina 300K array is as informative as Affymetrix 500K array in CEU population (Barrett and Cardon, 2006).                        2. Affymetrix Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) method uses MIP molecules which are special "padlock" probes (Nilsson et al., 1994) for genotyping. MIP molecule is a linear oligonucleotide that contains specific regions, universal sequences, restriction sites and a Tag (index) sequence (16-22 bp). MIP hybridizes directly around the genetic marker/SNP of interest (FIG. 2).                    MIP method uses 1500 "padlock" probe sets that hybridize to genomic DNA in parallel (Hardenbol et al., 2003). In case of a perfect match, binding genomic homology regions are ligated by creating a circular molecule. After the first restriction, all molecules are amplified with universal primers. Amplicons are restricted again to ensure short fragments for hybridization on microarray. Generated short fragments are labeled and through Tag sequence hybridized to cTag (complementary strand for index) on array. After the formation of Tag-cTag duplex, a signal is detected.            Despite the complexity of experimental procedures, it is possible to amplify up to 10 000 SNP-containing sequences in one reaction. Thereby polymorphisms can theoretically be detected in any genomic region of interest (Hardenbol et al., 2005). There are two MIP probes for each allele, thus the method uses four probes (70 to 100 bp), a universal primer and a cTag sequence on array for a SNP detection in both strand.                        3. Illumina GoldenGate genotyping platform outstands primarily with an original solution of the gene chip, but the molecular approach amplifying genomic regions is similar to MIP probes. Genomic DNA fragments are attached to specific particles, followed by hybridization with specific probe molecules (FIG. 3). Probe molecules are supplied with three different universal sequences and a Tag sequence, situated between the specific region and universal primer (Gunderson et al., 2005). Specific primers are hybridized to genomic DNA and designed to be allele specific, meaning that in order to identify a SNP, an oligonucleotide must be synthesized in a way that its 3′ end binds to the SNP under study.                    Hence, to determine a SNP two probe molecules, each supplied with a different universal primer sequence, are needed. In case of a 3′ perfect base-pairing at the 3′-end one primer is elongated by primer extension reaction up to the other oligonucleotide, followed thereafter by ligation and generation of a linear molecule. The formed molecule includes two universal primer binding sites and a Tag sequence.            The formation of a linear molecule enables the PCR amplification with universal primers which in turn are supplied with two different fluorescence labels to detect homo- or heterozygosity at the studied position. GoldenGate method uses hybridization-based signal detection through formation of Tag-cTag complex.                        4. The Infinium 1 method of Illumina (FIG. 4) enables similarly to Affymetrix GeneChip technology a genome-wide analysis and to test up to half a million SNPs on a gene chip so far. The method does not use PCR to amplify the studied loci. Instead, genomic DNA is amplified using the WGA method (Whole Genome Amplification) (Gunderson, Steemers et al., 2005).                    Amplified genomic DNA is fragmented and hybridized to oligonucleotides (75 bp) on the gene chip. After hybridization from 16 to 18 hours, unbound or mismatched fragments are removed during a specific wash step.            The studied genotype on the gene chip is determined by using allele-specific oligonucleotides (Infinium1), where the 3′-terminal nucleotide is complementary to the SNP and which are primer extended away from the marker. In case of a perfect match primer sequence is elongated by DNA polymerase with fluorescence-labeled desoxynucleotides, which in case of the switch in the chain give a fluorescence signal. In order to detect a SNP two oligonucleotides are used on a gene chip.            Infinium 2 platform incorporates two-color single base extension to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism with 100K BeadChip, using only one oligonucleotide per SNP (Steemers et al., 2006).            Compared to GeneChip technology Infinium 1 and 2 are not defined by the restriction sites in genomic DNA and therefore has a good potential to solve the genotyping of all SNPs.

Method to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms and mutations in nucleic acid sequence


Systems and methods for analyzing stained fabric articles are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for analyzing stained fabric articles includes providing a stained fabric article that includes a foreign oily substance disposed in and/or on the fabric article. At least one image of the stained fabric article is captured using a three-dimensional imaging device, wherein the at least one image is captured in the absence of a colored dyes added to the foreign oily substance in and/or on the fabric article. The at least one image is processed using a contrast function to produce a processed data set. One or more of a processed image or a quantitative data set that is representative of oily substance presence in the viewing area of the three-dimensional imaging device is produced based upon the processed data set.

Manufacturers of fabric laundering compositions such as laundry detergents, fabric softening compositions, and detergent boosters continually endeavor to identify ideal fabric laundering compositions that are effective for removing various types of foreign substances from stained fabric articles. Human sebum is one type of oily substance that is often difficult to remove from fabrics, as are other oils derived from animal, vegetable, and/or petrochemical sources such as cooking oils and fats, fatty compounds employed in antiperspirant and deodorant compositions, and the like.
In conjunction with identifying ideal fabric laundering compositions that are effective for purposes of removing oily substances, it is also desirable to assess the stained fabric articles as well as effectiveness of the fabric laundering compositions to remove oily substances from the stained fabric articles. Conventionally, photographic images have been used to visually assess differences in stain distribution prior to and after laundering the stained fabric articles for purposes of determining effectiveness of the fabric laundering compositions. However, conventional cameras are ineffective at sufficiently detecting electromagnetic emissions from oily substances on the stained fabric articles. In particular, stains that include oily substances are often invisible stains, meaning that the stain only reflects light in portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are either not visible to the human eye or that are not easily perceived by the bare human eye (e.g., with at least 95% of light reflected from the stain not visible to the human eye). To enable effective images of stained fabric articles to be captured using conventional cameras, both before and after laundering the stained fabric articles, colored dyes are typically employed. For example, Violet 13 dye is commonly used to dye cooking oils. Without the colored dyes, effective images taken with conventional cameras cannot be readily produced, even using photo manipulation software. Furthermore, conventional analysis of stained fabric articles and determination of effectiveness of fabric laundering compositions is generally limited to qualitative analysis, such as visual image comparison. While spectrophotometry is effective to quantify effectiveness of the fabric laundering compositions, such techniques do not lend themselves to expedient use.
Three-dimensional cameras have been developed for a variety of uses including, but not limited to, cartography, dermatology, and entertainment applications. One particular line of three-dimensional cameras has been developed by Miravex Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland and sold under the tradename Antera 3D®. The Antera 3D® camera was developed for cosmetic and dermatological applications and is effective for measuring human skin features such as wrinkles, texture, scars, skin color, redness, and pigmentation. In particular, the Antera 3D® camera is capable of processing captured images to measure melanin and hemoglobin levels in skin. Based upon the measurements made using the Antera 3D® camera, various cosmetic and/or medical procedures may be carried out.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods for analyzing stained fabric articles with enhanced visual and/or quantitative assessment of stain presence in the stained fabric articles. It is also desirable to provide systems and methods that enable effective visual and/or quantitative analysis of the stained fabric articles in the absence of a colored dye, even when the stain is invisible or difficult to perceive with the human eye. It is also desirable to provide systems and methods that enable effective visual and/or quantitative analysis of the stained fabric articles in an expedient manner. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.


A signal interface unit for a distributed antenna system (DAS) includes a channelized radio carrier interface configured to receive a downlink channelized radio carrier for a radio frequency carrier from a channelized radio carrier base station interface; an antenna side interface configured to communicate a downlink digitized radio frequency signal from the antenna side interface to the DAS communicatively coupled to the antenna side interface; and a signal conversion module communicatively coupled between the channelized radio carrier interface and the antenna side interface and configured to convert between the downlink channelized radio carrier and the downlink digitized radio frequency signal at least in part by adjusting at least one downlink attribute of the downlink digitized radio frequency signal communicated to the DAS based on requirements of the channelized radio carrier base station interface to cause the DAS to appear as a remote radio head to the channelized radio carrier interface.

Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are used to distribute wireless signal coverage into buildings or other substantially closed environments. The antennas are typically connected to a radio frequency (RF) signal source, such as a service provider's base station. Various methods of transporting the RF signal from the RF signal source to the antenna have been implemented in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for noise floor optimization in distributed antenna system with direct digital interface to base station


A method is disclosed to fabricate shaped membranes or diaphragms with substantially leak-free seams suitable for use in electrolytic cells to produce a halogen and an alkali metal hydroxide. A preferred polymeric sheet material is formed into a desired configuration and a fusible substance is placed at or near the edges of the polymeric material prior to applying heat and, optionally, pressure to the fusible substance.

This invention pertains to membranes and diaphragms suitable for the electrolytic production of a halogen and alkali metal hydroxide and more in particular to a method to fabricate such membranes and diaphragms by bonding polymeric materials together.
Gaseous halogens, such as chlorine, have been produced from alkali halides, for example sodium chloride, in electrolytic cells with an anode and cathode positioned within suitable compartments spaced apart by ion and liquid permeable asbestos diaphragms. More recently, attempts have been made to replace the asbestos diaphragm by either ion permeable and liquid impermeable polymeric ion exchange membranes or by ion and liquid permeable polymeric diaphragms. In any of such cells, a gaseous halogen is released at the anode and an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide is formed in the cathode compartment.
Oftentimes the polymeric membranes or diaphragms have unacceptably short life spans in the electrolytic cells because of leaks occurring at seams in the polymeric material permitting unacceptable quantities of electrolyte to flow from the anode compartment to the cathode compartment or vice versa. Such flow of electrolyte can reduce the efficiency of the electrolytic cell sufficiently to make it uneconomical to operate. It is, therefore, desired to provide a method to fabricate a polymeric membrane or diaphragm in such a manner to provide a membrane or diaphragm which is substantially leak-free at any seams, or joints, in the polymeric material.

Method to fabricate polymeric membranes and diaphragms


A rotor includes a circular rotor core, a plurality of θ magnets, and ring-shaped Z magnets. The rotor core has a plurality of magnet holding sections formed radially with a rotating shaft as the center. The θ magnets are contained in and held by the magnet holding sections such that the same magnetic poles of adjacent magnets face each other in a circumferential direction of the rotor core. The rotor core is such that N-poles and S-poles are alternately formed in a circumferential direction of an outer circumferential surface of the rotor core. The Z magnets are such that N-poles and S-poles are alternately formed circularly on an opposed face of the auxiliary magnet facing an end face of the rotor core in a direction of the rotating shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotor and a motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional practice, motors are used as driving sources of various types of apparatuses and products. For example, the motors are used for business machines, such as printers and copying machines, various kinds of home electric appliances, and power assist sources of vehicles, such as automobiles and power-assisted bicycles. In particular, brushless motors are sometimes used as the driving sources of movable parts with high operation frequency in the light of increased durability and reduced noise.
Known as a type of such a brushless motor is an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor where a permanent magnet is embedded in a rotor. For example, there is an electric motor in which a plurality of plate-like magnets are radially embedded in a rotor yoke and also each magnet is disposed such that the same poles of adjacent magnets face each other circumferentially.
In this electric motor, disk-like auxiliary permanent magnets are provided at both end faces of the rotor in a direction of a rotating shaft, for the purpose of reducing the magnetic flux that may have leaked from the magnets embedded in the rotor yoke in the direction of the rotating shaft.
The auxiliary permanent magnets in the above-described electric motor are configured such that a plurality of magnetic poles are circularly formed on a surface facing the rotor core. Thus, there is the following problem to be solved. That is, the repulsive force, between the rotor core and the auxiliary permanent magnets, and their mutual demagnetization resistance are varied depending on how the auxiliary permanent magnets are mounted to the rotor core.


In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a method including: extruding, utilizing a first die and a mandrel, a hollow tube having a first tube section having a first outer tube diameter of Z, a first inner tube diameter, and a first length; extruding, utilizing a second die and the mandrel, continuing from an end of the first tube section, a hollow tube having a second tube section having a second inner tube diameter and a second length, where the second die has a first die section, and where an angle of a wall of the first die section of the second die relative to a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube ranges from 10 to 45 degrees; extruding a third tube section, a third inner tube diameter, and a third length, and producing a monolithic hollow stepped tube extrudate.

Hollow tubes are a type of rod and bar aluminum that has been hollowed out inside through the use of a standard extrusion die. Aluminum hollow tubes come in a variety of shapes, and can be used for food processing equipment, as a means of transporting liquids in heat exchangers, in water treatment plants and also in many other industrial applications. From the automotive industry to construction, manufacturing and many other different industries, there is extensive call and use for square, circular, solid and hollow aluminum tubes.


A television set top box (STB) or similar receiver device uses information obtained from a wireless interface to automatically detect when the device has been moved to a different location. The device may initially obtain a list of wi-fi zones or in-range wireless devices that can be quantified or stored for later comparison. If the device later finds that the original zones/devices are no longer present or that substantial numbers of new zones/devices are present, then the device can recognize that it has been moved to a new location. The device may respond to the detected location change by disabling premium content, by reporting back to a security service, by simply recording the change in location, or by taking other actions as appropriate.

Most television viewers are familiar with pay-per-view (PPV) or similar services in which a television subscriber purchases certain programming events for viewing via a private telecast. PPV telecasts are often used to distribute premium content such as movies, sporting events and other entertainment programs that are not included with the purchaser's regular television subscription. Typically, a direct broadcast satellite (DBS), cable or other television subscriber pays an additional fee to the content provider to receive the private telecast of the desired programming.
Typically, content providers have different pricing structures for residential and commercial customers, especially with regard to PPV or other premium content. A bar or restaurant, for example, will typically pay more than a regular residential customer for access to the same programming. This is because a commercial establishment will often present the restricted programming to a larger group of people than a typical residential customer, thereby incurring greater licensing fees to the content owner. Moreover, commercial establishments often impose cover charges or other additional fees to view the premium content, thereby allowing the establishment to profit from the premium content. A boxing match, for example, can attract a large number of paying customers to an establishment that purchases the PPV telecast of the match. As a result, bars, restaurants, gyms and other commercial establishments often have a substantial economic incentive to obtain premium content for viewing by their customers.
On occasion, however, some persons attempt to exploit the difference in residential and commercial pricing of premium content. To avoid paying the higher fees for commercial access to the content, the person instead registers a cable or satellite receiver device to a residential address. After the device is installed, the person obtains premium content at the residential rate. Instead of viewing the content at the residential location, however, the user physically relocates the "home" receiver device to a commercial establishment so that the received telecast can be viewed by the establishment's customers, which can number in the dozens or even hundreds of viewers. This practice takes advantage of the lower residential rate to unfairly prejudice those establishments that pay the appropriate commercial rate. It may also be a violation of civil and/or criminal laws.
It is therefore desirable to detect when a television receiver device is moved from its registered location. These and other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background section.

Detecting illicit viewing of premium content through location detection by a television receiver device


An improved valve cutter for in-situ incision of valve leaflets which safely, efficiently, and consistently renders venous valves incompetent while minimizing frictional forces on the endothelium of the vessel and preventing inadvertent contact between cutting surfaces and the intima of the vein wall. The valve cutter includes a plurality of proximally directed prongs presenting sharp edges, where the prongs are separated by slots similarly presenting sharp edges to pierce the valve leaflets so that the cutting head is provided with a continuous cutting surface in multiple planes running along the entire forward edge of the cutting head. Fiber optics provided for viewing the valves as they are penetrated by the sharp cutting edges.

This invention is directed generally to rendering venous valve leaflets incompetent for in-situ arterial bypass in patients requiring arterial reconstruction for chronic limb-threatening ischemia. More particularly, this invention is directed to a venous valve cutter having unique improved cutting surfaces to facilitate the incision of the leaflets and a unique irrigation system to minimize frictional forces on the endothelium of the vein when introducing and withdrawing the cutter.
A common form of chronic limb-threatening ischemia, femorotibial, obstructive disease, typically is treated by using the greater saphenous vein as a bypass conduit. Traditionally, this vein has been removed from its anatomic bed and reversed to overcome the obstruction to flow from its one-way valves. The distal end of the "reversed flow" greater saphenous vein is then grafted to the femoral artery and its proximal end is grafted to the outflow artery beyond the obstruction.
There are a number of problems inherent in the use of a reversed flow saphenous vein as a bypass conduit. The narrow distal end of the vein may not permit enough arterial in-flow from its new parent vessel, whereas the wide proximal end of the vein makes an anastomosis to the 2-3 millimeter distal outflow vessel cumbersome. Also, the body of the vein may twist or compress and be damaged during the vein removal, reversal and replacement process and it is difficult to preserve the very sensitive endothelial layer of the vein during the removal and replacement process. Furthermore, the process may impair the blood vessel's blood supply (the vasa vasorum).
Bypass procedures in which a vein is used as it lies anatomically within the body, without removal, reversal and replacement, i.e., "in-situ situ vein bypasses", generally overcome most problems associated with removing, reversing and replacing the vein. This is most commonly accomplished in treating femorotibial disease by moving a valve cutter through the saphenous vein to incise the venous valve leaflets.
Since Carrel and Guthrie's publication of the techniques required for a small vessel anastomosis, vascular surgeons have attempted infrainguinal distal revascularizations. The advantage of the in-situ technique for saphenous vein bypass are first that the narrow end is anastomosed to the smaller artery distally with the graft tapering in the appropriate direction. This improves the hemodynamics at both anastomoses. A second consideration is that the adventitial blood supply to the vein is preserved to help protect the endothelial lining of the vein.
Typically, in performing this procedure either the distal end of the vein is anastomosed to the femoral artery to allow arterial blood to pass into the vein or a saline solution is pumped through a cannula into the vein to provide the required pressure to distend the vessel and close the valves. These procedures are performed to ensure that the valve cutter will meet and incise the valve leaflets in their closed, extended position. Once all of the valves are made incompetent, the vein becomes suitable for use as an arterial bypass conduit.
Unfortunately, it is quite difficult using currently available valve cutters, to efficiently and consistently incise and render the valves incompetent without damaging the endothelium of the vein or even piercing the vein wall. The various currently available valve cutter devices are difficult to manipulate, often do not center and catch the valve leaves properly, and can cause significant damage to the vein due to intimal contact between the surfaces of the cutting head and the vein wall and tearing at the points of valve attachment to the vessel wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,345, entitled "Venous Valve Snipper", describes a device for incising valves in vein grafts to bypass blocked arteries. This device is not intended to be used in-situ. The instrument has a closed position and an open position: it is maneuvered past the venous valves in the direction of blood flow, opened and withdrawn whereby sharp spikes spear and impale the venous valve leaflets which are then hopefully incised by closing the device in a scissors-like motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,321, entitled "Venous Valve Cutter for the Incision of Valve Leaflets In-situ", describes a valve cutter in the shape of a reverse arrowhead for preparing a vein in-situ for an arterial bypass. The valve cutter includes a rounded leader, a cutting blade enclosed in a protective support, a torsionally rigid rod connecting the leader to the cutting blade, and a catheter attached to the cutting blade support with suture material. The valve cutter is used by making proximal and distal incisions in the vein, passing a rod through the vein, attaching the valve cutter and pulling it down the vein while introducing fluid through the attached catheter to close the valves before incising them, and then returning the valve cutter assembly to the proximal incision. The orientation of this device must be continuously controlled to prevent the cutting blade from catching and tearing the orifice wall of a contributing venous branch and to ensure engagement and incision of both leaflets of each valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,041, entitled "Surgical Apparatus for the Excision of Vein Valves In-situ", describes a valve cutter in which a circular cutting head affixed to a cable is preceded by a dilating segment also affixed to the cable. The circular cutting edge has series of rounded guide teeth which are intended to guide the valve leaflets into cutting grooves which are supposed to engage and then cut the valve leaflets. Unfortunately, the rounded unsharpened guide teeth pull, stretch and likely irregularly tear the valve leaflets before any cutting can begin.


An apparatus and a method for automatically focusing an object in a video cameras comprises a solid state image sensor for converting a light beam transmitted through a lens and an iris into an electrical signal, an amplifier for amplifying a video signal from the solid state image sensor, a video signal processor for processing the video signal amplified by the amplifier, high pass filters for high pass filtering the video signal amplified by the amplifier, a video divider for dividing the video signals filtered by the high pass filters in the unit of field, a low pass filter for low pass filtering the video signals divided by the video divider, an A/D converter for converting the video signals filtered by the low pass filter into digital signals, an integrator for integrating the digital signals from the A/D converter to output video detect data, and a microprocessor for checking a level of the video detect data from the integrator and outputting a control signal to a lens motor driver in accordance with the checked result to move the lens to a position at which the level of the video detect data becomes a peak value. An object motion diagnostic circuit senses a motion of the object to be focused and outputting a high signal to the microprocessor according to the sensed result to stop a motion of the lens during the motion of the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to automatically focusable video cameras, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for automatically focusing an object in a video camera portion of a camcorder in which a motion speed of a video camera lens is controlled according to a slope of video detect data and the motion of the tens is stopped before a level of the video detect data reaches a peak value, so that an overshoot at the peak value can prevented and the object can be focused at a high speed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a conventional apparatus for automatically focusing an object in a video camera portion of a camcorder. As shown in this drawing, the conventional automatic focusing apparatus comprises a lens 1 for receiving a light beam from the object, an iris 2 for adjusting an amount off the light beam being received by the lens 1, a solid state image sensor 3 for converting the light beam of the amount adjusted by the iris 2 into an electrical signal and outputting the resultant video signal, an amplifier 4 for amplifying the video signal from the solid state image sensor 3, and a video signal processor 5 for processing the video signal amplified by the amplifier 4 so that the amplified video signal can be displayed on a screen.
Band pass filters (BPFs) 6 and 7 are provided in the conventional automatic focusing apparatus to filter the video signal amplified by the amplifier 4 at different frequency bands, respectively.
A video divider 8 is also provided in the conventional automatic focusing apparatus to divide the video signals filtered by the band Lass filters 6 and 7 in the unit of field to find the object to be focused.
The conventional automatic focusing apparatus also comprises an analog/digital (A/D) converter 9 for converting the video signals divided by the video divider 8 into digital signals an integrator 10 for integrating the digital signals from the A/D converter 9 to output video detect data for focusing the object, a main microprocessor 11 for outputting a focusing control signal in accordance with a level of the video detect data from the integrator 10, and a motor drive microprocessor 12 for outputting a control signal in response to the focusing control signal from the main microprocessor 11 to drive a lens motor driver 13.
The operation off the conventional automatic focusing apparatus with the above-mentioned construction will hereinafter be described.
First, the light beam from the object is received by the lens 1, the amount thereof being adjusted by the iris 2. The light beam of the amount adjusted by the iris 2 is converted into the electrical signal by the solid state image sensor 3. As a result, the video signal is generated from the solid state image sensor 3.
The video signal from the solid state image sensor 3 is amplified by the amplifier 4 and then processed by the video signal processor 5 so that it can be displayed on the screen. The video signal amplified by the amplifier 4 is also applied to the band pass filter 6.
In an initial focusing state, the video signal amplified by the amplifier 4 is filtered by the band pass filter 6 at the frequency band as shown in FIG. 3, which is a graph illustrating focusing steps which are performed by a conventional method of automatically focusing the object in the camcorder. The filtered video signal is divided in the unit of field by the video divider 8 for finding the object to be focused. The divided video signals are converted into the digital signals by the A/D converter 9 and then integrated by the integrator 10. As a result, the video detect data for focusing the object is generated from the integrator 10. The video detect data from the integrator 10 is applied to the main microprocessor 11.
The main microprocessor 11 analyzes the video detect data from the integrator 10 and checks a motion of the object to be focused, in accordance with the analyzed result. If the object has been moved, the main microprocessor 11 outputs the focusing control signal to move the lens 1 to a moved position of the object. The focusing control signal from the main microprocessor 11 is applied to the motor drive microprocessor 12.
In response to the focusing control signal from the main microprocessor 11, the motor drive microprocessor 12 detects the level of the video detect data and outputs the control signal to the lens motor driver 13 in accordance with the detected level of the video detect data to move the lens 1. Namely, the motor drive microprocessor 12 outputs the control signal to move the lens 1 to a position at which the level of the video detect data is increased.
The operation of the motor drive microprocessor 12 will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 which is a flowchart illustrating the conventional method of automatically focusing the object in the camcorder.
First, the motor drive microprocessor 12 checks whether the video detect data is focusable stable data. If the video detect data is the focusable stable data, the motor drive microprocessor 12 outputs the control signal to the lens motor driver 13 to move the lens 1 by a desired distance. As a result, the lens 1 is moved by the lens motor driver 13 in response to the control signal from the motor drive microprocessor 12.
As the lens 1 is moved, new video detect data is applied to the motor drive microprocessor 12. The motor drive microprocessor 12 compares a level of the present video detect data with that of the previous video detect data. If the level of the present video detect data is greater than that of the previous video detect data, the motor drive microprocessor 12 outputs the control signal to move the lens 1 in the same direction as the present motion direction. On the contrary, if the level of the present video detect data is not greater than that of the previous video detect data, the motor drive microprocessor 12 outputs the control signal to move the lens 1 in the opposite direction to the present motion direction.
The above operation is repeatedly performed until the Level of the video detect data reaches a peak value at which the object is focused. After reaching the peak value, the level of the present video detect data becomes lower than that of the previous video detect data.
Then, the motor drive microprocessor 12 compares the level of the present video detect data with a predetermined threshold value. If the Level of the present video detect data is lower than the predetermined threshold, the motor drive microprocessor 12 outputs the control signal to move the lens 1 in the opposite direction to the present motion direction. On the contrary, if the level of the present video detect data is not lower than the predetermined threshold, the motor drive microprocessor 12 outputs the control signal to move the lens 1 in the same direction as the present motion direction until the level of the present video detect data becomes lower than that of the predetermined threshold value.
At this time, a counting operation is performed to count steps by which the lens 1 is moved until the level of the video detect data reaches the predetermined threshold value via the peak value. As a result, the lens 1 is moved by the counted value to focus the object.
Thereafter, the motor drive microprocessor 12 checks whether the object to be focused has been moved. If the object has been moved, the motor drive microprocessor 12 moves the lens 1 to a moved position of the object through the above operation to focus the object.
However, the above-mentioned conventional automatic focusing apparatus has a disadvantage in that the construction is complex since the separate motor drive microprocessor is required to control the lens drive motor. Also, in order to accurately focus the object, the lens must be again moved to the peak value after passing the peak value. This results in generation of an overshoot at the peak value. The generation of the overshoot results in a difficulty in obtaining a high picture quality. Further, because the lens is moved at a constant speed, it takes a long time to focus the object.

Apparatus and method utilizing a slope for automatically focusing an object in a video camera


Air intake duct for supplying air to a turbine engine gas generator, in particular an aircraft turbine engine, extending axially between the air intake and the gas generator and having a deflection which may cause shedding of the boundary layer formed by the air flow along the wall of the duct, wherein said air intake duct comprises a guiding element located in the duct and designed to guide the air along the wall of the duct to a portion having the deflection, said guiding element extending transversely to the direction of the flow of air and having at the ends thereof two end profiles that form a non-zero angle with the guiding element, said two end profiles being able to produce eddies in the air flow.

The function of a turbine engine air intake duct, in particular an aircraft turbine engine intake duct, is to guide the air from the air intake of the turbine engine to the gas generator. Some turbine engines, such as a turboprop engine or a non-ducted propeller engine (for example of the type having a counter-rotating doublet), can comprise an air intake in the turbine engine which has a different axis to the air intake in the gas generator that drives the propeller. Their axes can be offset. This is generally the case for a turboprop engine in which the axis of the propeller is itself offset with respect to that of the gas generator. This may also be the case in an engine having a counter-rotating doublet at the front of the engine. FIG. 1 shows a turbine engine of this type having two air intakes having axes offset with respect to that of the turbine engine. The air intake conduit thus comprises a region in which the air flow undergoes significant deflection.
In this case, the air intake duct comprises a relatively complex-shaped intermediary portion between the air intake and the gas generator, which portion optionally comprises a channel for discharging particles which forms a sink, extends substantially in the direction of the axis of the air intake in the nacelle and allows for foreign bodies to be discharged so that they do not get into gas generator.
Seen from the side, the intermediary portion has a general goose neck shape of which the upstream end is connected to the air intake in the nacelle and of which the downstream end is connected to the air intake in the gas generator by means of a supply channel. The supply channel is located radially inward with respect to the discharge channel, and the intermediary portion comprises a part for connecting one channel to the other. There are other types of air intake, each of these air intakes comprising a connecting part that forms a deflection of the air flow.
The function of the air intake duct is to supply the gas generator with air in the most homogenous manner possible. However, the complex shape of the aforementioned duct brings about distortions in the air flow that supplies the gas generator, which has a negative impact on the performance and operability of the turbine engine. Said distortion is substantially due to the shedding of air owing to the significant deflection of the air flow in the aforementioned intermediary portion.
A solution to this problem would be to incorporate vortex or eddy generators at the upstream end of the air intake duct in order to energize the boundary layer and reduce shedding. This could, for example, involve transposing passive devices that use means of producing eddies to control the shedding of air on turbine engine blades. FR 2976634, which is in the name of the present applicant, describes a device of this type. Unfortunately, it appears that this solution, though functional, would not be effective enough in this type of design. Indeed, the duct opens very widely in the region of the deflection, and the disturbances necessary for limiting shedding of the boundary layer cannot be provided by a device of this type.
Another solution known from the prior art comprises a system for actively controlling shedding of the boundary layer in air intake ducts having significant deflections. For example, there are known devices in which the air circulating in the duct is sucked up or air is injected at very high speeds. However, devices of this type are complex and require elements for circulating the air, by means of suction or blowing, to be installed in a compartment of the nacelle near to the duct.
To the knowledge of the present applicant, there exists no passive system having eddy generators that produce disturbances sufficient for limiting shedding of the boundary layer in air intake ducts that undergo significant deflections.


Scanning apparatus which may be used in a real-time passive millimeter wavelength imaging system or in other radiometry systems. The apparatus scans input radiation from a scene and output radiation is transmitted to a receiver system, for example a millimeter wave imaging camera or a radar receiver. The apparatus comprises a rotatable reflective plate having an axis of rotation passing through the centre of its surface and a lens arrangement for selectively transmitting and focusing radiation having a particular direction of polarisation. The apparatus may also comprise a feed horn array comprising a plurality of feed horns, the feed horns forming part of a spherical surface having a radius of curvature substantially equal to R/2 and being concentric with the third substantially spherical polarising element. The apparatus may further comprise a detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements. The detector array may form part of a millimeter wave imaging camera.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to scanning apparatus which may be used in a real-time imaging system and, in particular, in a real-time passive millimetre wave imaging system. The scanning apparatus may also be used in other radiometry systems.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
British Patent No. 700868 (February 1952xe2x80x94December 1953) describes a twistreflector which relates to a similar field as the present invention.
Millimetre wave imaging is potentially useful as an all-weather surveillance and guidance aid but any practically useful system must be capable of imaging in real-time. This is not possible using existing systems. In a millimetre wave imager, radiation from the scene to be scanned is collected by means of a concave mirror or a lens and is focused onto an array of millimetre wave receivers. At present, large two-dimensional arrays of receivers which cover the whole of a required image are not available. Instead, a far smaller number of receivers is scanned across the image in order to build up the complete picture. A similar technique is used in some infrared imagers (for example EP 0226273).
Current millimetre wave imaging systems use mechanical scanning of one or several channels to synthesise an image. Ultimately, electronic scanning and staring array techniques could be developed to implement real-time millimetre wave imaging, although there are several problems associated with such a solution. Firstly, as the wavelength is necessarily long, in order to image under adverse weather conditions the system aperture must be large to gain adequate resolution. In some millimetre wave imaging systems the input aperture may be of the order of 1 m in diameter. Secondly, the cost per channel is high so that any electronically scanned or staring array technique is expensive. Furthermore, in the case of millimetre wave staring arrays there are fundamental problems analogous to the cold shielding problems encountered in infrared systems.
Another requirement of a practical millimetre wave imaging system is that it must be able to operate at TV-compatible rates (i.e. 50 Hz for the UK, 60 Hz for the USA). In the infrared, scanning systems are often plane mirrors flapping about an axis contained within their surface. This is not a practical option in the millimetre waveband as large aperture mirrors would be required to flap back and forth at TV-compatible rates, requiring a large change in inertia at the end of each scan.
In infrared imaging systems, where input apertures are typically only 10 mm in diameter, rotary systems have been used (EP 0226273). Furthermore, in the infrared, it is usual to employ afocal telescopes to match the field of view in the scene to that of the rotating polygon. This is impractical in high resolution millimetre wave imaging where the input apertures have considerably greater diameters and afocal telescopes would need to be excessively large.
Any scanning mechanism used in a millimetre wave imaging system must therefore be situated in either the object or the image plane. Furthermore, any scanning mechanism situated in the image plane must have good off-axis performance. This is difficult to achieve using existing technology.
Another known scanning method used in infrared imagers is a system of two discs rotating about axes which are slightly inclined to the normals to their faces. Radiation incident on the first disc is reflected at oblique incidence from the first rotating disc and passes to the second disc to experience a second reflection. By varying the orientation and relative speed of rotation of the discs, varying scan patterns can be achieved. Such a two-axis rotating disc system would not be ideal for use in millimetre wave imaging, however, as the system would be inconveniently large.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact object space scanning apparatus which may be used, in particular, to implement real-time millimetre wave imaging, or in radar systems. It is also an object of the invention to provide a scanning apparatus which has limited power requirements and minimum inertia and gives good off axis performance.
According to the present invention, apparatus for scanning input radiation from a scene and for generating output radiation to form an image at a curved detector array comprises;
a rotatable reflective plate, forming an entrance pupil to the apparatus, for receiving and reflecting input radiation, the reflective plate having an axis of rotation passing substantially through the centre of the plate, wherein the axis of rotation is inclined at a non-zero angle xcex8a to the normal to the reflective plate at the centre of rotation,
rotary means for rotating the reflective plate and
focussing means for producing an image at the detector array
characterised in that the converging effects of the focusing means and the rotatable reflective plate co-operate with the curvature of the detector array to focus the image onto the detector array.
The rotatable reflective plate may be a substantially plane reflector.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a rotatable reflective plate which exhibits a concave profile for producing an image at the detector array, thereby incorporating the function of the focusing means into the rotatable reflective plate.
In a further preferred embodiment a dielectric layer is located on the surface of the concave rotatable reflective plate to form a rotatable Mangin mirror configuration, for providing optical correction. The profile of the dielectric layer may be different to the profile of the rotatable reflective plate. The surface of the dielectric layer and the surface of the rotatable reflective plate are preferably both aspheric.
In particular, the apparatus is such that astigmatism and coma aberrations in the image formed at the detector array are minimised.
In a further preferred embodiment the rotatable Mangin mirror may be used in conjunction with
a lens arrangement located between the rotatable reflective plate and the detector array arranged to receive both input radiation from the scene and input radiation reflected from the rotatable reflective plate, and being capable of selectively transmitting and focusing radiation having a particular direction of polarisation, the lens arrangement comprising a first polarising element, for selectively transmitting and selectively reflecting radiation having a particular direction of polarisation, the first polarising element having a first polarisation axis and having a substantially flat surface, a second element for rotating the direction of polarisation of radiation through substantially 45xc2x0 and a third polarising element, for selectively transmitting and selectively reflecting radiation having a particular direction of polarisation, the third polarising element having a third polarisation axis and having a substantially flat surface, the third polarisation axis making an angle of substantially 45xc2x0 with the first polarisation axis,
The arrangement of the apparatus being arranged such that the optical path within the apparatus is reduced and a compact configuration is achieved.
In a further preferred embodiment, apparatus for scanning input radiation from a scene and for generating output radiation to form an image at a detector array comprises;
a rotatable reflective plate, forming an entrance pupil to the apparatus, for receiving and reflecting input radiation, the reflective plate having an axis of rotation passing substantially through the centre of the plate, wherein the axis of rotation is inclined at a non-zero angle xcex8a to the normal to the reflective plate,
rotary means for rotating the reflective plate and
a lens arrangement arranged to receive both input radiation from the scene and input radiation reflected from the rotatable reflective plate, and being capable of selectively transmitting and focusing radiation having a particular direction of polarisation, the lens arrangement comprising a first polarising element, for selectively transmitting and selectively reflecting radiation having a particular direction of polarisation, the first polarising element having a first polarisation axis and having a substantially flat surface, a second element for rotating the direction of polarisation of radiation through substantially 45xc2x0 and a third polarising element, for selectively transmitting and selectively reflecting radiation having a particular direction of polarisation, the third polarising element having a third polarisation axis and a substantially spherical surface having a centre of curvature, C, and a radius of curvature, R, the third polarisation axis making an angle of substantially 45xc2x0 with the first polarisation axis,
wherein (i) the axis of rotation of the plate passes through the centre of curvature, C, and
(ii) the separation of the first polarising element and the centre of curvature, C, along the axis of rotation and the separation between the first polarising element and the plate along the axis of rotation are substantially equal,
the arrangement of the apparatus being such that in use optical aberrations in the image formed at the detector array are minimised.
In particular, the apparatus is such that astigmatism and coma aberrations in the image formed at the detector array are minimised.
The apparatus may also comprise a feed horn array comprising a plurality of feed horns, the feed horns forming part of a spherical surface having a radius of curvature substantially equal to R/2 and being concentric with the third polarising element. The apparatus may also comprise a detector array, comprising a plurality of detector elements. The detector array may form part of a millimetre wavelength imaging camera.
Preferably, the first polarising element may be a planar grid of wires and the third polarising element may a substantially spherical grid of wires.
The apparatus may comprise two or more lens arrangements arranged in series.
In a further preferred embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a corrector plate located between the rotatable disc and the third polarising element for removing spherical aberrations from an image formed at the detector array.
In a further preferred embodiment, the corrector plate is a weak converging element to allow the over-dimensioning of the lens arrangement to be eliminated.
In a further preferred embodiment the corrector plate exhibits an aspheric convex profile.
In a further preferred embodiment, the rotatable reflective plate is a weak converging element for removing spherical aberrations from the image formed at the detector array and to allow the over-dimensioning of the lens arrangement to be eliminated.
In a further preferred embodiment the rotatable reflective plate is a strong converging element to allow the converging power of the lens arrangement to be reduced.
In a further preferred embodiment the rotatable reflective plate exhibits an aspheric concave profile.
The apparatus may also include a radar receiver.
In a further preferred embodiment, the angle of inclination xcex8a is between 1xc2x0 and 10xc2x0.
For the purpose of this description, the term xe2x80x9cpolarising elementxe2x80x9d shall be taken to mean any element which acts on a particular polarisation of radiation, including elements which act on unpolarised radiation but which do not produce polarised radiation.


A captive nut comprises an internally threaded nut body having torque receiving wrench pads and an annular truncated conical surface terminating in a radially extending load transfer surface. The nut body is accepted in a complementary cup-shaped washer having a conical cylindrical wall portion complementary to the conical wall portion of the nut body so as to retain the nut body. An initially truncated conical retention element is disposed between the load transfer surface of the nut body and a radial portion of the cup-shaped washer. Torquing of the nut body toward a workpiece effects deformation of the retention element nut into a complementary annular recess in the bolt thereby permanently capturing the nut on the bolt.

The present invention relates generally to fasteners and more particularly to a nut that is captive to a bolt after assembly therewith.
Notwithstanding the fact that most nuts used in the aircraft industry are provided with a prevailing torque or other locking means, certain applications on an aircraft require that the nut be incapable of separation from a mating bolt. In addition, where discrete locking elements or washers are used, such auxiliary elements are preferably permanently captured both prior to and after installation of the nut on a bolt, to maximize assembly efficiency and preclude inadvertent disassociation.
Captive nuts heretofore known and used generally comprise an annular internally threaded nut body having a deformable portion that engages an annular recess in the shank or threads of a bolt to preclude disassociation after assembly with the bolt. When the nut is torqued down against a workpiece, the deformable portion thereof moves radially inwardly into the recess in the bolt. While such nuts exhibit satisfactory structural integrity the cost thereof is prohibitive and no provision is made for the capture of auxiliary elements prior to assembly with a bolt.


The light reading the information of an optomagnetic disk is focused by a detector lens 104, and is put into a polarizing hologram 121 and a polarizing hologram 122 composed of lithium niobate. These polarizing holograms have action to separate a polarized light component in the z-axis direction and a polarized light component orthogonal thereto into transmitted light and diffracted light. The polarizing and separating hologram 121 is installed so that its z-axis may have an inclination of 45 degrees to the principal direction of polarization of incident light, and the z-axis of the polarizing and separating hologram 122 is set in a direction orthogonal thereto. Therefore the individual polarizing holograms transform different polarized light components into different wave planes. Accordingly, in a photo detector 196, TE signal and TM signal are obtained in different polarized light components, so that the imbalance of the head amplifiers can be eliminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical device used in an optical apparatus making use of polarization, and an optical head apparatus for reproducing the information signal of an optical recording medium.
2. Related Art of the Invention
The optical head apparatus used in an optical information processing apparatus for recording and reproducing information on an in optomagnetic disk medium is required to have a focus detecting function for forming a tiny spot on an optical disk, or a track detecting function for tracing a desired track accurately. The optical head apparatus is further demanded to have a function for detecting rotation in the direction of polarization by the optomagnetic recording disk medium.
A conventional optical head apparatus was disclosed, for example, in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 3-29137. FIG. 16 is a structural diagram of a conventional optical head apparatus. Referring to this diagram, a conventional optical head apparatus is described below. The light emitted from a semiconductor laser 101 is transformed into parallel light by a collimating lens 102, and is condensed on an optical disk 105 by an objective lens 103 through a beam splitter 106 and a total reflection prism 110. The reflected light from the optical disk 105 is transformed again into parallel light by the objective lens 103, and is put into the beam splitter 106 through the total reflection prism 110, and is reflected by the beam splitter 106. The light reflected by the beam splitter 106 is transformed into a focusing light by a detector lens 104, and is put into a polarizing and separating hologram 120 made of lithium niobate. The z-axis of this crystal is disposed so as to have an inclination of 45 degrees to a principal direction of polarization of incident light. The polarizing and separating hologram 120 separates the polarized component in the z-axis direction of crystal and its orthogonal polarized light component into transmitted light and diffracted light. The negative primary diffracted light from the polarizing and separating hologram 120 is received by a photo detector 193, and positive primary light by a photo detector 194, and the transmitted light is received by a photo detector 192, and from the difference between the sum of the outputs of the photo detector 193 and photo detector 194, and the output of the photo detector 192, a recorded and reproduced signal can be obtained.
FIG. 17 is a diagram for showing the configuration of lattice pattern of polarizing and separating hologram 120 and segment division pattern of photo detector 194. In order to detect focus error and tracking error by using the positive primary diffracted light, the polarizing and separating hologram 120 is divided into four regions, and the photo detector 194 is divided into six segments. In a first lattice pattern area 181, while a light spot is formed correctly on the optical disk 105, the lattice is formed so that the incident light into this region may be focused at point A of the photo detector 194. Similarly, a second lattice pattern area 182, a third lattice pattern area 183, and a fourth lattice pattern area 184 form lattices so that the incident light of each region may be focused at point B, point C, and point D of the photo detector 194, respectively. A focus error signal is obtained from the differential signal of the sum of S1 and S4 and the sum of S2 and S3, and a tracking error signal is obtained from the differential signal of S5 and S6.
In the conventional optical head apparatus, the focus error signal and tracking error signal were detected by one polarization only. Therefore, six head amplifiers were needed to detect the signal. Furthermore, the optomagnetic signal for detecting by the operation of diffracted light and non-diffracted light caused deterioration because of the extreme imbalance of one head amplifier at the non-diffracted light side and five amplifiers at the diffracted light side.
Moreover, in the optical head of disk system or the like for employing the three-beam method for detection of tracking error signal and reading wobbling information of grooves by the push-pull method, the spot was complicated and it was hard to realize.
It is hence a primary object of the invention to present an optical head apparatus and optical device capable of decreasing the number of head amplifiers for detection of a signal, and eliminating imbalance of head amplifiers of optomagnetic signals.

Optical head apparatus and diffraction element having at least two diffractive surfaces

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A one-piece snap hinge closure of plastic having a lower part and an upper part connected with each other via a film hinge. The intactness of the closure is assured by a security band. The security band is injection-molded to the upper part via bars which are used as predetermined breaking points. A bar on the lower part is engaged with the security band. The bar on the lower part can be placed in such a way that in the security position of the closure it is attached behind a tab on the upper part.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a one-piece snap hinge closure of plastic, including a lower part and an upper part, or cap, connected with it via a film hinge, which has a security ring or security band injection-molded in one piece to a closure part, as well as at least one recess which is engaged by a respectively protruding bar on the other closure part, so that the two closure parts are locked together in a form-fitting manner prior to removal of the security band.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Plastic closures with security bands have been known for some time. This applies in particular to plastic screw closures for bottles having a screw cap with a security band injection-molded in one piece to it which extends at least approximately completely around the closure. Security bands on snap hinge closures are much less known. This is especially due to the considerably more complicated geometry. Snap hinge closures are for the most part injection-molded in a completely open state and are closed afterwards. In this case it is necessary to bring parts protruding from one closure part into engagement with recesses on the other closure part or on the security band. This requires a high degree of flexibility of the security band, so that the protruding parts which are used as locks and the predetermined breaking points, by which the security band is connected with the closure, are not destroyed during the closing operation.
A snap hinge closure of the above mentioned type with a security band is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,324, for example. To reduce as much as possible the danger of destroying the connection between the security band and the closure, the security band is kept as small as possible and the distance between the individual predetermined breaking points is relatively great. Unfortunately, it has been shown that with relatively little skill it is possible to open this type of snap hinge closure without destroying the security band. One of the reasons for this is that the locking mechanism is clearly visible.
In contrast thereto, U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,408 discloses a snap hinge closure of plastic with a security band extending around half of the circumference of the closure. Here, the security band is injection-molded to the lower part of the closure via appropriate bars and extends far upwards, so that the cap, or the upper closure part, cannot be grasped in the security position of the closure. In a certain embodiment, there is a recess provided in the security band which is engaged by a bar on the upper part of the closure in the security position. However, this only represents an additional lock, the actual securing, however, is associated with arranging the security band around the cap of the closure in such a way that it cannot be grasped in the area opposite the hinge and therefore cannot be opened.
This type of plastic snap hinge closure has proven particularly successful with bottles. However, this type of snap hinge closure with a security band is not suitable for smaller closures, for example for tubes, because the cap is too small for housing an additional user-friendly grasping recess for opening. If the grasping recess is too small, it is necessary to attach a tab for opening. But in this case the tab extends outward to such a degree that it can no longer be covered by the security band, or that in the closing operation it cannot be guided behind the band without destroying the connection of the security band with the lower closure part.