In order to achieve the object of providing a module having improved mechanical characteristics as well as a wide range of application, it is proposed that the module include at least one layer having open porosity, having an outer side facing a medium flowing into the module and an inner side facing away from the inflowing medium, manufactured from a material that can be sintered, selected from a group including metals, metal oxides, metal compounds, and/or metal alloys.

The present invention relates to a module for use as a filter, catalytic converter, or heater, comprising at least one layer having open porosity, as well as a method for manufacturing such a module, and the use thereof
In the sense of the present invention, "modules" are understood to be exchangeable parts, having relatively complex construction, of a larger unit, which in themselves form a closed functional unit. Examples of such modules include modules known from filter technology, such as spiral modules, tube modules, hollow-fiber modules, or flat or cushion modules.
Filters, catalytic converters, and heaters are standardly used in the form of filter cartridges, plates, papers, or the like. A disadvantage of these is in particular that these have over a relatively small filter surface in the predetermined volume. For this reason, in particular in membrane technology modules have been developed that make it possible to house a large surface in a small space. Typical examples of such modules include spiral modules and tube modules. These are manufactured from polymer or ceramic materials (tube modules). However, such modules have the great disadvantage that the membranes used in them must be sealed or glued either to one another or to a housing. For this reason, such modules often have only a relatively narrow range of application with respect to the temperatures that can be used, the environment in which they are used, in particular with respect to chemical and/or corrosive substances that are present, and with respect to their mechanical strengths, in particular relating to trans-membrane pressure and loss of pressure from overflow.
The object of the present invention is to provide modules that do not have the disadvantages cited above.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved through a module for use as a filter, catalytic converter, or heater, comprising at least one layer having open porosity, having an outer side facing a medium flowing into the module and an inner side facing away from the medium flowing in, and manufactured from a material that can be sintered and that is selected from a group comprising metals, metal oxide, metal compounds, and/or metal alloys, the layer being fashioned in the form of a pocket and the longitudinal sides of the layer formed as a pocket being sealed through sintering, and in which in addition the layers or regions of a layer are held to one another through sintering.
Materials that can be sintered include in particular powders or mixtures of powders, for example of steels such as chromium-nickel steel, bronzes, nickel-based alloys such as Hastalloy, Inconel, metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal silicides, or the like; here the powder mixtures can also contain high-melting components such as for example platinum or the like. The powder used, and its particle size, depends on the intended use. Preferred powders include the alloys 316 L, 304 L, Inconel 600, Inconel 625, Monel, and Hastalloy B, X, and C. In addition, the sinterable material can be made completely or partially of short fibers or fibers, preferably fibers having diameters between approximately 0.1 and 250 μm, and a length from a few μm up to the millimeter range, up to about 50 mm, such as for example metal fiber fleece.
The layer can be a green product, manufactured by thin-film casting, spraying, or immersion of a suspension of the sinterable material in an organic solvent such as isopropanol or ethanol, with the addition of a binding agent if necessary. Other organic solvents that can be used
The layer can be a green product, manufactured by thin-film casting, spraying, or immersion of a suspension of the sinterable material in an organic solvent such as isopropanol or ethanol, with the addition of a binding agent if necessary. Other organic solvents that can be used include methanol, toluol, trichlorethylene, diethylether, and low-molecular aldehydes and ketones that can vaporize at temperatures less than 100 EC. As a binding agent, waxes or shellac can be used, but also in particular polymer compounds can be used; here polyalkalene oxides or polyglycols, in particular polyethylene glycols, can preferably be used. Polyalkalene oxides and glycols are preferably used as polymers and/or copolymers having medium molecular weights, in a range from 100 to 500,000 g/mol, preferably 1,000 to 350,000 g/mol, or more preferably 5,000 to 6,5000 [sic] g/mol, the portion of the binding agent in the mixture for manufacturing the layer being approximately 0.5 to 15 volume %, in relation to the sinterable material used. After the shaping of the green product layer to form a module, this module is then fused, the binding agent and solvent being removed without residue before, or by, the thermal process. However, it is also possible to use an already-sintered layer manufactured from a sinterable material; this layer can then be fused again after being situated to form a module, or in a module.
The modules according to the present invention have great advantages in comparison with the modules known in the prior art made of polymer or ceramic materials. Thus, modules according to the present invention, manufactured from the sinterable material, have significantly higher mechanical strengths as well as better ductility, achieving up to the values for these characteristics exhibited by non-sintered metals. In this way, they can be used with versatility even in extreme temperature ranges, as well as in chemical and/or corrosive environments. If the modules according to the present invention are used as catalytic converters and/or filters, their regeneration characteristics are greatly superior to those of conventional modules made of polymer or ceramic materials. Due to these outstanding regeneration characteristics, the modules according to the present invention are exceptionally long-lived, and operate with high effectiveness.
However, the modules according to the present invention in particular avoid the problems that result during the manufacture of those known in the prior art. In wound modules, the dividing layers are separated by a spacer and are fixed only by the winding pressure and/or an anti-telescoping means (ATD or anti-telescoping device). Here the problem arises that these layers or regions of a layer must be fixed to one another and held during the manufacture of the module. Here the modules according to the present invention offer the advantage that due to the fact that the layer is manufactured from sinterable material, a holding and fixing of the individual layers of the module, or of the regions of a layer, to one another is achieved through sintering. A displacement or offset of the individual layers in a module during the operation thereof is avoided in this way, and as a result the modules according to the present invention have a higher operational reliability than do modules known in the prior art, and, in the use thereof, operating failures can thus be avoided, which finally results in a cost savings.
Finally, the modules according to the present intention also solve the problem of enabling these modules to be sealed easily and reliably through sintering. Thus, for example in spiral or wound modules, the layers used there are completely sealed on their longitudinal sides in pocket form, thus achieving a simple and outstandingly effective separation of the individual spaces present in the module, for example those for the medium flowing in and flowing out. In the modules according to the present invention, it is therefore not necessary to use additional sealing means, for example sealing rings or adhesives, whereby the lifespan and the effectiveness of the modules are increased significantly. In addition, the modules according to the present invention do not require a housing or means for fixing the individual layers among one another, because these can be formed by the layer itself. In a further specific embodiment of the present invention, however, the layer is situated in a module housing.
In a further specific embodiment of the invention, the module comprises at least one layer situated on a bearer element. This bearer element can be porous, or can be bored or can be a fabric. In this case, the bearer element can have a porosity that is greater than that of the layer in the module according to the present invention, or the porosity can be equal to or less than that of the layer in the module. However, the bearer element can also be non-porous. This element is preferably of flexible construction, for example a thin metal sheet. This advantageously makes it possible that such a layer, having a bearer element attached on one side thereof, can be used as the external layer of a module, so that no additional housing is required. The bearer element can then preferably be connected fixedly with the layer through sinteling. A further advantage of the situation of the layer on a bearer element, in particular a porous bearer element, is that in this way the mechanical strength of the individual layers in the module, and thus of the module itself, is further increased without having an adverse effect on the functioning of the module itself.
The layer is preferably self-supporting in the module. In the sense of the present invention, "self-supporting" means that the layer can be used without any bearer element without breaking or becoming fragile. It is in addition preferable that the layer be a film. In this case, it has the characteristics typical of plastic films, in particular flexibility, and, like these, can be deformed as required.
The layer is preferably fashioned in the module in the form of a pocket. Pockets of this sort are used in particular in spiral modules. Here, "in the form of a pocket" means that the layer is for example buckled in the middle and laid over itself As a result, this layer then has three open sides and one closed side. This pocket-type folding of the layer achieves a separation from the inflow current and the filtrate current in a simple manner.
Preferably, the layer shaped to form a pocket is at least partially sealed on the inside at its longitudinal sides. This sealing can take place through a thickening, for example through a simple folding over of the layer at its longitudinal sides in a range from approximately 2 to 50 mm, or through the placement of cross-strips or bordering of the edge region with a strip, or else through a thickening of the profile of the layer in the edge region thereof, produced already during the manufacture of the layer. Moreover, a narrow strip, manufactured in the same way as the layer itself, can also be applied to the edge region of this layer. This thickening advantageously enables a complete sealing of the layer shaped to form a pocket at its longitudinal sides. Unlike a sealing standard in the prior art, which is executed through gluing or with the aid of other sealing means, this sealing cannot become loose over time; rather, it remains in its originally manufactured form once it has been sintered. The sealing is achieved during the sintering of the layer through the thickening in the edge region.
In a further construction of the present invention, the layer is wound around a permeate tube, this tube being porous. The permeate tube is advantageously connected tightly to the inner side at a layer shaped to form a pocket. This porosity can for example be achieved through boring, or else in that the permeate tube itself is manufactured as a porous body from a sinterable material. This permeate tube has the task of conducting the permeate obtained from the inflowing medium out of the module as a permeate stream, said permeate having been filtered out through the thin porous layer having open porosity.
In a further form of the invention, a permeate bearer is situated in the pocket formed by the layer. This permeate bearer conducts the permeate in the pocket, obtained from the medium flowing into the module (said medium flowing over the outer side of the layer and coming into contact therewith, e.g. being filtered), to the permeate tube, and transfers it to this tube. The permeate bearer can for example be made of a wire cloth or of a perforated sheet, which during fusing preferably enters into a fixed connection with the layer manufactured from the sinterable material. Instead of the permeate bearer, the layer itself can also be profiled on its inner side. Through this profile, a hollow space is formed in the pocket, which was obtained by folding together the layer, via which space the obtained permeate is conducted to the permeate tube. The permeate bearer is narrower than the layer situated in the module, typically in a range from approximately 2 to 50 mm, preferably 3 to 15 mm. In this way, it is ensured that during the fusing and the resulting sealing of the longitudinal sides of the pocket-shaped layer, the permeate bearer does not protrude beyond the longitudinal sides thereof, which could produce a possible leakage.
Preferably, the permeate bearer is wound around the permeate tube with a circumference of approximately 0.2 to 2 times that of the permeate tube. This ensures that the permeate bearer stands in immediate contact with the permeate tube. The permeate bearer can be applied directly onto the permeate tube, or can be wound around this tube. In this way, it is advantageously achieved that the permeate bearer is pressed onto the permeate tube through the shrinkage that occurs during the sintering process. For sealing, the permeate bearer can then be sprinkled with powder that can be sintered, or can be painted with a paste of powder and binding agent. In this way, a separation of the inflowing medium from the permeate is enabled. In another specific embodiment, the permeate bearer itself can also be fashioned somewhat shorter than the layer, or else having the same length as the layer; here it must then be ensured that in the layer folded to form a pocket the two sides facing towards the open side of the pocket stand out in such a relation to one another that the side of the pocket facing away from the permeate tube protrudes past the side of the pocket facing the permeate tube. The outer and inner sides of the pocket can then be connected immediately with the permeate tube through sintering, through which a separation of the inflowing medium from the permeate is then achieved.
In a further construction of the invention, at least one spacing element is situated between the pockets, in order to separate the porous layers. This spacing element can be made of a wire cloth, which can enter into a fixed connection with the layer in particular during sintering. The spacing element has the task of creating a hollow space between the individual layers of the module, in particular the layers shaped to form a pocket, through which space the inflowing medium can enter into the module. Instead of the application of a spacing element onto the layers of the module, it is also possible to provide the outer sides of the layers themselves with a profile, so that in this way a sufficiently large hollow space is created for the medium flowing into the module.
Preferably, the layer and/or the permeate bearer and/or the separating layer and/or the permeate tube are fused. In this way, a firm fixing and binding of the individual components of the module to one another is advantageously achieved. This ensures the greatest possible lifespan and optimal sealing of the module as a whole. Additional sealing means are not required.
In a further construction of the invention, the layer is fashioned as a tube. Through the arrangement of several such layers fashioned as tubes in a module, as what is known as a tube module, a large filtering surface is obtained in a simple manner, and it is possible to do entirely without permeate bearers or separating layers. The tube elements can be manufactured through extrusion, isostatic pressing, or from plates or films. If the tubes are manufactured from plates/films, the seams of the filtered tube, formed during rolling as a longitudinal seam or as a spiral seam, are preferably connected with one another through welding; here for example what is known as tungsten-inert gas welding or electron beam welding can be used. In this way, the filter tube is made more solid, permitting a higher mechanical loading.
In addition, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a module, in which at least one layer is fixed to a module and subsequently sintered. A green product is preferably used here as a layer. However, the manufacture of the module can also take place with sintered tube layers. A further stabilization can for example take place through a winding with metal wires or through metal strips. These can then be removed from the module after the sintering process. However, it is also possible to use for example a metal sheet for the fixing, which enters into a fixed connection with the layer during the sintering and thus simultaneously forms the module housing.
Advantageously, a pocket is formed from the layer and is wound around a permeate tube. Here, on the inner side of the layer a seal is preferably formed at least partially, in particular through a thickening, on the longitudinal sides of the layer. The thickening can here take place through the film itself, for example through folding over and double laying of a narrow strip in the edge region of the longitudinal sides thereof, or through the laying of the strip in the edge region of the longitudinal sides of the layer; here the strip can correspond to the layer itself However, it is also for example possible to lay a strip in the edge region of the longitudinal sides of the layer. Furthermore, the longitudinal side of the layer can be bordered by means of a metallic strip. Through this thickening, during fusing a fixed connection is achieved in the layer shaped to form a pocket, resulting in an excellent sealing of this layer.
A permeate bearer is preferably laid into the layer formed as a pocket, whereas a separating layer is preferably situated on the outer side of the layer. The permeate bearer and/or the separating layer and/or the permeate tube and/or the layer are preferably fused. In this way, it is possible to manufacture in a simple manner a module, for example a spiral module, in which first the individual layers, and if necessary permeate bearers and separating layers, are laid on top of one another, fixed with one another, and then fused with one another in a single sinteling process, so that these form a solid body with one another.
Finally, the invention relates to the use of a module as a filter and/or catalytic converter and/or heater.

Module for use as a filter, catalytic converter, or heater, and method for the manufacture thereof


A combination instrument (1) has an instrument carrier which is designed as a tubular, transparent hollow body (2) which is closed off at its ends by means of two side parts (3, 4). A plurality of display instruments (6, 7, 8, 9) arranged on a common circuit board (5) can in this way be inserted without difficulty into the hollow body (2). The combination instrument (1) is in this way optimally protected against environmental influences while at the same time allowing simple adaptation to different applications by cutting the hollow body (2) to length.

The invention relates to a combination instrument, in particular for a watercraft, having an instrument carrier for holding a plurality of display instruments.
Nowadays, combination instruments of the type mentioned are used in many different land vehicles and watercraft, for example including in yachts, but also in stationary machines for example, generators. An instrument carrier, which is usually in the form of a box, in this case accommodates a plurality of display instruments which are sealed in order to protect against penetration of moisture and dust particles. The instrument carrier is often arranged pivotably at a suitable position in the cockpit by means of a support bracket, so that the read-out angle can be individually adapted to the requirements of the user. The display instruments may be inserted into the instrument carrier both from the front and from the rear. The instrument carrier is also suitable for further display instruments to be retrofitted.
A drawback of the combination instrument described is that the display instruments, which are inserted in suitable recesses, have to be carefully sealed with respect to the instrument carrier, since otherwise it is easy for moisture to penetrate into the combination instrument, which may lead to damage to the display instruments.
Consideration has already been given to providing the instrument carrier with a cover plate, in order in this way to achieve an effective seal. A drawback of this solution is that in this arrangement either the display instruments have to be inserted into the housing from the rear side of the instrument carrier, or the covering plate has to be releasably connected to the instrument carrier. In this case, the outlay which is required in order to seal the instrument carrier increases as the size of the combination instrument rises, so that a multipart cover plate is required for large embodiments. This reduces the attractiveness of its appearance. Furthermore, the freedom available to the designer is considerably limited by the essentially flat cover plate, so that it is scarcely possible for the design to differ.
The invention is based on the problem of providing a combination instrument of the type mentioned in such a way that the instrument carrier is designed so as to be particularly well protected against the penetration of environmental influences. At the same time, it is intended that it be easy to mount the display instruments in the instrument carrier.
According to the invention, this problem is solved wherein the fact wherein the instrument carrier has a hollow body which is transparent at least in sections and in its interior accommodates the display instruments in such a way that the displays of the display instruments are visible to an observer through the hollow body.
This formation allows the display instruments to be arranged in the interior of the hollow body, which is closed on all sides with the exception of an installation opening, without a special seal being required. The display instruments can be read without difficulty as a result of their arrangement in the transparent hollow body; if the hollow body is transparent only in sections, the displays on the display instruments can be seen and read through these sections. It is possible to produce corresponding hollow bodies in virtually any desired sizes and shapes and to adapt them individually for different applications. For example, it is possible to use acrylic plastic hollow bodies as long sections which then merely have to be cut to the desired length. Due to the simple design of the novel instrument which is sealed from environmental influences, this instrument can be used to good effect not only in watercraft and road vehicles but also in stationary machines and installations, such as for example generators.
The display instruments may, for example, be introduced into the interior of the hollow body through a rear-side installation opening. However, an embodiment of the invention in which the hollow body is tubular and the ends of the hollow body are each closed off by means of a side part is particularly advantageous. As a result, the display instruments can be introduced without difficulty through the initially unclosed ends of the hollow body and can be fixed inside the hollow body. Then, it is merely necessary to attach each of the side parts. In this case, it is also conceivable for the hollow body to be joined to one of the side parts so as to form a single component. The instruments are introduced into such a pot-like hollow body from its open side, which is then closed off by means of the second side part.
That section of the hollow body which is located in the area of the rear side of the display instruments may have a covering or coating, in order to make it impossible to see the components of the display instruments. However, an embodiment of the invention in which the hollow body has a transparent section which is directed toward the front side of the display instruments and an opaque section which is directed toward the rear side of the display instruments is particularly advantageous. This provides simple yet effective protection from being able to see components situated on the rear. This additionally prevents extraneous light from impinging at the rear of the display instruments, thus improving the reading accuracy especially in darkness and in the case of back-lit display instruments. At the same time, the area surrounding the combination instrument is shielded from light radiation from the display instruments emerging diffusely from the hollow body, an effect which is often found to be distracting.
To this end, the hollow body could, for example, be composed of a transparent half shell and a nontransparent half shell. However, it is particularly advantageous if the hollow body is produced using the two-component injection-molding process and has a first, transparent area and a second, nontransparent area. In this way, it is possible, with a single-piece hollow body, to produce both an essentially transparent area and an essentially nontransparent area. The assembly outlay is consequently relatively low.
On its inside, the hollow body may have a receiving compartment for the display instruments. An embodiment of the invention in which the side parts have a fixing means for the display instruments is particularly advantageous. In this way, the display instruments can be fixed inside the hollow body with only a low level of outlay. To this end, the display instruments may, for example, initially be connected to the side part and then introduced as a unit into the hollow body. This eliminates the outlay which results in known combination instruments from mounting work inside the instrument carrier. At the same time, the display instruments are fixed in place as a result of the arrangement of the fixing means on the side parts and independently of the hollow body, which consequently can be procured as a standard component and cut to length as required.
It is particularly expedient in this connection if the fixing means is designed to plug in a circuit board which is common to the display instruments. Such a plug-together connection allows the circuit board to be fixed in the holder, which is designed for example as a groove, without additional attachment means and special tools. As a result, the display instruments, together with their common circuit board, can be removed from the holder in one action; the holder may at the same time also, for example, be provided with the electrical contact means which are required. As a result, it is possible to exchange the display instruments as a single unit or for the desired additional display instruments to be retrofitted outside the hollow body, with the result that these display instruments can be adapted optimally and so as to provide a professional visual appearance.
The side parts may be connected to the hollow body by means of a screw connection, for example. On the other hand, a refinement of the invention in which the hollow body is fixed between the two side parts which are stressed toward one another is particularly advantageous. As a result, there is no need for any attachment means whatsoever to be provided on the hollow body, so that the hollow body can be adapted particularly easily. To this end, the two side parts which face toward one another are connected to one another, for example by means of a screw connection. The side parts may additionally have a guide, for example a groove, which prevents the hollow body from slipping transversely with respect to the fixing direction.
It is particularly expedient if the display instruments in the hollow body are fixed with play with respect to the side parts. This makes it possible to prevent the functioning of the display instruments from being impaired by excessive, damaging mounting forces. A particularly suitable solution consists in mounting the display instruments with sufficient tolerance with respect to the side parts, and also fixing them by means of elastic fixing means.
It is also expedient if the side parts are sealed with respect to the hollow body by means of a seal. In this way, it is possible, in a simple manner, to considerably improve the sealing, so that the resultant combination instrument is suitable even for applications in which it is highly exposed to environmental influences.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one side part has a cutout for making electrical contact. As a result, the hollow body may be designed without openings, thus further improving protection of the hollow body against environmental influences. The electrical contact may, for example, also be arranged integrated into a bearing bracket, so that it is not visible from the outside. Also, switching elements or plug contacts may be arranged in the side parts. The ability of the hollow body to pivot remains unimpaired. Moreover, the hollow body can in this case be exchanged without problems.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the hollow body is arranged in a dashboard in such a manner that it can pivot from an operating position, in which the display instruments are visible to an observer, into an at-rest position, in which the display instruments are covered by the dashboard. As a result, the combination instrument, after it has been used, can be pivoted into an at-rest position, so that it is protected in the dashboard against damage and environmental influences. For this purpose, the instrument carrier may be mounted so that it can rotate sideways. In the case of essentially circular instrument carriers, the dashboard may to this end surround more than half the circumference of the instrument carrier, making it easy to rotate. At the same time, the contacts can be located inside the dashboard, in such a manner that they are invisible to an observer. It is also possible to arrange a lock mechanism on the instrument carrier, preventing unauthorized pivoting and, at the same time, providing good antitheft protection.
Another particularly practical embodiment of the invention is achieved by means of a cover which can move relative to the hollow body, in order to provide protection against the incidence of extraneous light and damage. The cover covers an adjustable partial area of the hollow body, in particular of the transparent area covering the display instruments, thus allowing simple and effective protection against, for example, solar radiation. To this end, the cover may be pivotable about a pin arranged on the combination instrument.
On the other hand, it is particularly expedient if the cover is displaceable in a guide of the respective side part. In this way, it is possible to achieve a design of the cover which is both effective and space-saving. In this case, the cover is moved in the side-part guide, which is designed, for example, as a groove, in a similar manner to a roller shutter. For this purpose, the side parts may also have a cross-sectional area which differs from that of the hollow body, so that the cover can be displaced in a guide which is arranged at a distance from the hollow body. Furthermore, the position of the cover relative to the hollow body is not changed by a possible pivoting movement, allowing simple operation.


In a method of controlling at least one autonomously driven vehicle, such a vehicle is driven on a restricted traffic surface. For this purpose, the autonomous vehicle has a driving device for implementing driving commands on the basis of fed signals. The driving commands relate to the driving direction as well as to the driving speed. The vehicle detects its actual position by means of a position indicating device, and transmits its position to an operations management center. In the operations management center, a route profile to be driven is determined from position signals by means of definable criteria and is transmitted to the driving device of the vehicle. Driving commands required for driving the route profile are generated in the vehicle by the driving device.

This application claims the priority of 10259168.7, filed Dec. 18, 2002, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a method of controlling at least one autonomously operated vehicle.
Autonomously operated vehicles are known, for example, from German Patent Documents DE 39 12 353 A1 and DE 198 46 664 A1. In such vehicles, driving commands relating to the driving speed and direction are generated as a function of detected signals. On the basis of the driving commands, various adjusting devices in the vehicle are controlled which operate the drive system and the steering of the vehicle.
Vehicles are moved on traffic surfaces. Closed traffic surfaces in this case are traffic surfaces which ensure by their design that only known vehicles which meet certain characteristics are permitted to operate thereon. Examples of closed traffic surfaces are test and try-out tracks and race tracks, but the term also includes roads on which all entering vehicles can be checked with respect to certain characteristics.
When trying out vehicles (including development-stage vehicles) and components of vehicles, driving tests are required. A number of these driving tests are carried out on test and try-out surfaces. The driving tests partly require the driving of long driving distances and, on the other hand, also the driving on so-called rugged test tracks. The driving of long driving distances is tiring for the test driver; it is also monotonous work with little diversion. This results in increased driver fatigue and thus in a rise of the risk of accidents.
Driving long distances within as brief a time period as possible requires driving by several drivers in shifts, which is personnel-intensive. Driving on so-called rough tracks with an uneven roadway, which has the purpose of causing a time-reduced vibration-fatigue of the vehicle, results in corresponding undesirable physical stress to the driver. Although this can be reduced by means of special driver seats, the driver still has to withstand very long distances within a short time with high stress to the vehicle and the driver's body.
It is another problem that, although test drivers may try to produce defined driving test sequences as precisely as possible, this is not always observed in a clean and reproducible manner.
By using autonomously driven vehicles, the requirement to guide the vehicle by a driver for implementing such test drives is eliminated.
It is therefore an object of the invention to permit the autonomous driving of a vehicle within a restricted traffic space.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the method according to the invention, which at least one autonomously driven vehicle is operated on a restricted traffic surface. For this purpose, the autonomous vehicle has a driving device for implementing drive commands relating to driving direction and speed, on the basis of fed signals. The vehicle detects its actual position by means of a position indicating device, and position information is transmitted to an operations management center. Using definable criteria, the operations management center determines a route profile to be driven from the position signals and transmits it to the driving device of the vehicle, for example, by radio. In the case of fixed driving routes, a transmission is also conceivable by way of a line wire or a transponder.
In the vehicle, the driving commands required for the driving of the route profile are then generated by the driving device. If the vehicle is a tractor-trailer combination, a trailer control unit is additionally provided for determining the articulation angle and/or the drawbar angle of the trailer. The generation of the driving commands required for the driving of the route profile will then take place while additionally taking into account the determined articulation angle and/or drawbar angle.
As a result of this approach, it is permitted to guide at least one vehicle on a closed-off traffic surface. In this case, the driven route profile can be defined in the operations management center. The presence of a driver in the vehicle is no longer necessary. As a result of the fact that the vehicle continuously transmits its position to the operations management center, the correct driving of the route profiles can be monitored there.
According to a preferred further development of the invention, the route profile transmitted to the autonomous vehicle contains information relating to the route to be driven as well as concerning the driving speed. As a result of this approach, movement of the vehicle can be controlled as a function of defined test profiles, and adapted to external conditions, such as dryness, wetness and slippery ice.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the driving device of the autonomous vehicle stores the course of the drivable routes of the restricted traffic surface. The route profile contains the indication of a segment of the drivable routes within the traffic surface as well as the driving speed to be maintained in this segment. This measure permits a reduction of the information to be transmitted to the vehicle. The drivable routes, in particular, reflect the course of the roadways or driving paths in the area of the traffic surface. The segments of the drivable routes indicate sections thereof which extend particularly from one point of intersection to the next. The course of the drivable route within the segment is known to the vehicle and does not have to be transmitted to it. The control of the movement will then take place by the autonomous vehicle in an automatic manner such that it does not leave the drivable route. The speed at which the route is driven is defined by the management center.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the route profile of a vehicle is determined as a function of the positions and route profiles of other autonomously driven vehicles on the traffic surface, so that several autonomous vehicles can be driven simultaneously on the traffic surface. The vehicles travel simultaneously, their route profiles being influenced by the management center so that a collision between the vehicles is avoided without requirement of separate devices in the vehicle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the route profile is determined as a function of driving profiles defined for the vehicle, so that the autonomously driven vehicles drive the routes according to defined driving profiles, and reproducible results are produced. The results also become mutually comparable between two measurements.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, non-autonomously driven vehicles may be operated on the traffic surface. The non-autonomously driven vehicles have position indicating devices, and transmit at least their actual position to the operations management center. The determination of the route profile of autonomously driven vehicles takes place as a function of the position of the non-autonomously driven vehicles. From the sequence of position reports of non-autonomously driven vehicles, their speed can also be read. This measure permits the maintenance of a non-autonomous driving operation simultaneously with the autonomous driving operation. Specifically for drivers' tests on test tracks, it is important for some driving tests that they be carried out by drivers who can also provide a subjective assessment of the vehicle handling. It is not sufficient to implement only autonomously implemented driving tests. In this case, a simultaneous implementation of driving tests controlled by the driver and autonomous driving tests is advantageous. A correspondingly high-expenditure time program or the providing of two separate test tracks is unnecessary.
In addition, driving commands or warnings with respect to other vehicles driving autonomously or non-autonomously on traffic surface or possible priorities, such as right-of-ways to be granted, can be displayed to the operator of a non-autonomously driven vehicle on a display in the vehicle. If a projection onto the interior side of the windshield of the vehicle or a head-up display is used for this purpose, it is also possible to project virtual roadway markings and/or guiding arrows. In this manner, it is possible to define to the driver of a non-autonomously driving vehicle a certain driving route and/or a certain load collective, which are computed and displayed in real time and/or are adapted corresponding to the momentary demands, for example, for the implementation of an obstacle avoidance maneuver in the event of a threatening collision with another vehicle driving on the traffic surface.
According to further preferred embodiments, the determination of the route profiles of autonomously driven vehicle takes place in accordance with an accident-free operating of the vehicles on the traffic surface. The criterion of an accident-free driving is placed, in particular, next to the criterion of driving certain test sequences and the reproduction of the same load profiles. Certain buffers, buffer routes and speed ranges in the speed definition permit guidance of the vehicles in an accident-free manner, simultaneously in the area of the traffic space.
A system according to the invention consists of a traffic surface with an operations management center assigned to the traffic surface, in which case autonomously driving and non-autonomously driving vehicles operate on the traffic surface. All vehicles have at least one position indicating device which is used for transmitting the position to the operations management center. Autonomously driven vehicles also have devices which permit autonomous operation on the basis of a defined route profile to be driven. According to the invention, it is provided that the operations management center determines the route profiles.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method of controlling at least one autonomously driving vehicle


A pharmaceutical product which comprises admixed or separately packaged (A) L-Carnitine or an alkanoyl L-canitine and (B) a trihydroxy- or tetrahydroxystilbene such as resveratrol is useful for the prevention and treatment of pathological neuronal or cerebral disorders.

The present invention relates to a new use of a combination composition of L-carnitine or an alkanoyl L-carnitine and a trihydroxy or tetrahydroxystilbene for the preventive or therapeutic treatment of cerebral disorders brought about by ageing and use of neurotoxic drugs.
Accordingly, the composition may take the form and exert the action of a dietary supplement or of an actual medicine, depending upon the support or preventive action, or the strictly therapeutic action, which the composition is intended to exert in relation to the particular individuals it is to be used in.
The use of the combination of (A) L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine in which the straight or branched-chain alkanoyl group contains 2-8 carbon atoms, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof and (B) a trihydroxy or tetrahydroxystilbene, typically resveratrol, in the prevention and therapeutic treatment of a number of different pathologies is already known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,536, in fact, describes the use of the aforesaid combination for the prevention and treatment of diabetic neuropathy and atheroslerotic lesions and for the inhibition of platelet aggregation.
The use according to the present invention is in no way related to or deducible from such already known use.
In its broader aspect, the present invention relates to the coordinated use of L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine or their pharmacologically acceptable salts and of a trihydroxy or tetrahydroxystilbene for the prevention or treatment of the above-mentioned pathologies, where what is meant by the xe2x80x9ccoordinated usexe2x80x9d of these active ingredients is indifferently either their co-administration, i.e. the practically simultaneous administration of L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine or their pharmacologically acceptable salts and trihydroxy- or tetrahydroxystilbene, or the administration of a composition containing a mixture of said active ingredients.
Here below, for the sake of brevity and simplicity of presentation, reference will be made only to L-carnitine, it being understood that the description also applies to the above-mentioned alkanoyl L-carnitines and their pharmacologically acceptable salts. Equally, here below, reference will be made only to resveratrol (trans-3,4xe2x80x2,5-trihydroxy-stilbene), it being understood, however, that the description applies not only to cis-resveratrol and to the respective trans- and cis-glycosides, but also to the trihydroxy- and tetrahydroxystilbenes in general.
Resveratrol is to be found in grapes and in particular in grape skins, seeds, stalks and vine leaves, particularly of Vitis vinifera, Vitis rotundifolia and Vitis labrusca and, obviously, in the wines obtained from their grapes and in the extracts and powders of the above-mentioned natural products. Resveratrol is also present in the roots of a number of species of the Polygonum genus (Polygonaceae family), such as Polygonum cuspidatum and Polygonum multiflorum.
For the purposes of the present invention, what is meant by xe2x80x9cresveratrolxe2x80x9d is both trans-3,4xe2x80x2-5-trihydroxystilbene (i.e. resveratrol proper) and the cis isomer, the respective glycosides and extracts and powders containing resveratrol obtained from any suitable plant species.
The natural polyphenols present in grapes and wine have recently claimed the attention of numerous groups of researchers following epidemiological studies which have demonstrated that populations which consume moderate amounts of wine in their habitual diet present a much lower percentage of cardiovascular accidents than do populations whose dietary habits do not include the consumption of wine. Among the various polyphenols studied, resveratrol has proved to be the most interesting in that it is capable of exerting a significant action against platelet aggregation as well as a significant anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective action.
Another aspect of resveratrol and the polyphenols present in wine is that related to the significant reduction in the incidence of pre-senile and senile dementia which moderate consumption of wine is capable of inducing, particularly in the elderly population. A recent epidemiological study conducted in a large population has confirmed what a similar previous study had already indicated with regard to the mortality due to cerebral stroke, which is lower in moderate wine drinkers than in non-drinking subjects.
As regards the already known therapeutic uses of L-carnitine, this substance is used for example in the cardiovascular field for the treatment of acute and chronic myocardial ischaemia, angina pectoris, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias and for peripheral vasculo-pathies. In the nephrological field, L-carnitine is administered to chronic uraemic patients undergoing regular haemodialytic treatment to combat muscular asthenia and the onset of muscle cramps. Other therapeutic uses relate to the normalisation of the HDL/LDL+VLDL ratio and total parenteral nutrition. The use of L-carnitine is also known in the treatment of certain myopathies and muscular dystrophies.
It has now been found surprisingly that a composition containing a combination of the following as its characterising components:
(A) L-carnitine or an alkanoyl L-carnitine wherein the alkanoyl is a straight or branched-chain alkanoyl group containing 2-8 carbon atoms, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof; and
(B) a trihydroxy or tetrahydroxystilbene is extremely effective in the prevention and/or therapeutic treatment of cerebral disorders caused by ageing or by the use of neurotoxic drugs, as a result of the potent synergistic effect exerted by its components.
Therefore, the present invention relates to the use of (A) L-carnitine or an alkanoyl L-carnitine wherein the alkanoyl is a straight or branched-chain group containinig 2-8 carbon atoms, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and (B) a trihydroxy or tetrahydroxystilbene to prepare a pharmaceutical product in which (A) and (B) are admixed together or separately packaged for the prevention and treatment of disease forms related to neuronal or cerebral disorders. That the active ingredients (A) and (B) can be admixed together or separately packaged is consistent with what has been said above with regard to the xe2x80x9cco-ordinated usexe2x80x9d of said ingredients.
Preferably, the alkanoyl group contains 2-6 carbon atoms and, even more preferably, is selected from the group consisting of acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl and isovaleryl L-carnitine.
Component (B) is preferably 3,4xe2x80x2,5-trihydroxystilbene (resveratrol) or 3,4xe2x80x2,5-trihydroxy-3-xcex2-mono-D-glucoside or one of their pharmacologically acceptable salts. The resveratrol can be the synthetically prepared form or can be the form extracted from Vitis vinifera, Vitis rotundifolia, Vitis labrusca or from the roots of Polygonum cuspidatum or Polygonum multiflorum.
Component (B) can also consist in extracts or powders of natural products containing resveratrol, such as extracts or powders of grape skins, seeds or stalks of Vitis vinifera, Vitis rotundifolia, Vitis labrusca or from the roots of Polygonum cuspidatum or Polygonum multiflorum.
The (B):(A) weight-to-weight ratio ranges from 1:1 to 1;1,000, and preferably from 1:1 to 1:500.
The cerebral disorders caused by ageing prophylactically and therapeutically treated according to the present invention include particularly cerebral stroke, pre-senile and senile dementia and Alzheimer""s disease.
An example of a neurotoxic drug against the effects of which the xe2x80x9cco-ordinatedxe2x80x9d use according to the invention proves potently effective is cisplatin.
The unexpected synergism exerted by components (A) and (B) at cerebral nerve level is demonstrated by the results obtained with experimental models well recognised as being indicative of a protective action at central nervous system level and as being predictive of the effective use of the combination to combat cerebral nerve abnormalities in human subjects.
Tests conducted both in mice and in rats, administering combinations of high doses both of L-carnitine and its alkanoyl derivatives and of resveratrol or grape extracts containing polyphenols with a resveratrol content of approximately 0.1% have demonstrated the low toxicity and good tolerability of the composition according to the invention. The oral administration, in rats, of up to 1 g/kg of L-carnitine or its alkanoyl derivatives together with high doses of resveratrol (up to and above 0.5 mg/kg) or with grape extracts (up to and above 1 g/kg) revealed no toxic reactions worthy of note. Similarly well tolerated appeared to be the prolonged administration with the diet every day for three consecutive months of combinations either of L-carnitine or its alkanoyl derivatives plus resveratrol or grape extracts containing resveratrol at doses equal to a quarter of the doses used in the previously mentioned forms. At the end of this treatment, no abnormalities of the various biological parameters considered (weight gain, haematocrit, serum glucose, BUN, etc.) or of the histological findings in the main organs examined (liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, adrenal glands, gonads) were detected. We also report here below a number of tests whose findings provide evidence of the substantial synergism exerted by the new composition containing carnitine or its alkanoyl derivatives and resveratrol or its derivatives at the cerebral nervous system level.
Tests on the effect of carnitines and resveratrol alone or in combination on behavioural reaction abnormalities
One of the effects of a vasoactive peptide and neuromodulator such as endothelin is the influence it exerts on animal behaviour in reducing the animals"" motility and vestibular reactions.
In these tests, we were able to observe that the typical action of endothelin (ET-1) injected intracerebrally in mice at the dose of 1 pmol/mouse, which is to substantially reduce the animals"" spontaneous motility, can be inhibited to a very significant extent by prior administration of carnitines and resveratrol, and, particularly, that the combination of these two types of substances is capable of acting synergistically, restoring the motility reduced by endothelin administration almost to normal values.
The values were observed, keeping 10 mice at a time placed in a container with a photocell and an automatic movement counter; the count was done by observing the mice for periods of 5 minutes 15 minutes after the endothelin (ET-1) injection.
The motility reduction percentages observed were 85.5% for endothelin alone and 69.6-65.5% and 60.3% for L-carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine and propionyl L-carnitine, respectively, which were administered intra-peritoneally to the animals at the dose of 300 mg/kg for the three days preceding the experiment and half an hour before the ET-1 injection.
Resveratrol alone (2.5 mg/kg) led to a 60.4% reduction and approximately the same reduction was achieved with a grape extract containing polyphenols and titred in resveratrol. However, the combination of resveratrol and carnitine restored the motility of the endothelin-treated animals almost to normal values. In the case of the combined administration of resveratrol and propionyl L-carnitine, the number of movements of the animals was practically identical to that of control animals, thus demonstrating an unexpected synergistic potentiation of the effects.
Significant synergistic activity was also detectable with the use of resveratrol or natural polyphenolic products containing resveratrol in combination with acetyl L-carnitine or, though to a lesser extent, with L-carnitine.
Tests of survival of pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12) exposed to H2O2 and treated with L-carnitine or resveratrol or with the two products in combination
A culture of pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12) containing 3xc3x97105 N-cells/ml was exposed to 0.1 mM concentrations of H2O2 for 30 minutes. While the survival of the cells treated with H2O2 alone was approximately 45% after 24 hours, the survival of the cells treated with L-carnitine or with resveratrol was substantially greater, with survival rates of 55, 60 and 62%, respectively, for cells treated with L-carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine and propionyl L-carnitine at concentrations of 10xe2x88x928 M, and a survival rate of 69% for cells treated with resveratrol at the concentration of 10xe2x88x924 M.
The survival rate was 88% with the combination of acetyl L-carnitine and resveratrol at the concentrations used previously, thus demonstrating a synergistic effect of the substances considered.
Moreover, with this combination, unlike the other cases, no signs of cell degeneration were detectable.
Tests on the protective effect of carnitines, resveratrol and combinations of these on sensory neuronal lesions induced by cisplatin
In these tests, cisplatin was used as a neuronal toxic factor, capable, particularly, of producing lesions in the sensory neurones and thus of impairing proprioceptive perception. The tests evaluated the ability of carnitines, resveratrol and combinations of these substances to restore peripheral sensory perception in the mouse impaired by injection of cisplatin. This ability was assessed by evaluating the reaction to thermal pain induced by a heated water solution in which the animals"" tails were dipped according to the tail-flick test, or using the rotating bar test (Apfel S.C., Lipton R.B., Ann. Neurol., 29, 87-90, 1991).
Cisplatin was administered subcutaneously at the dose of 10 mg/kg for eight consecutive days. Over the same period the mice received injections of 100 mg/kg of carnitines and 2.5 mg/kg of resveratrol or combinations of these products.
The results of these two tests provide evidence of a potent protective action afforded by the combination, which is particularly marked in the case of the combinations of acetyl L-carnitine and propionyl L-carnitine with resveratrol or with a grape extract containing resveratrol.
In these cases, the response to the pain stimulus was restored to normal levels (the response to pain was increased by approximately 2xc2x0 C. as compared to controls in the animals treated with the combination).
Also in the rotating bar test, whereas the duration of the equilibrium time in the control animals (10 animals per group) was 14.6 seconds (reduced to approximately 8 seconds in the cisplatin-treated animals), a significant increase in equilibrium time was noted both in the group treated with carnitines and in the group treated with resveratrol. The increase proved highly significant, however, in the group of animals treated with the test combination. The values observed, in fact, were 13.5 seconds in the animals treated with acetyl L-carnitine plus resveratrol and 14.4 seconds in those treated with propionyl L-carnitine plus resveratrol.
These tests, too, demonstrate an unexpected synergism between carnitines and resveratrol.

Combination of carnitines and resveratrol for prevention or treatment of cerebral and ageing disorders


Disclosed is a wallet in the form of a harness with an attached key ring for carry credit cards and folded paper, such as paper currency, together with keys. The harness comprises two loops of elasticized material attached to each other at opposing points such that one loop encircles the length of the credit cards and the other loop encircles the width of the credit cards. The loops may comprise a buckle and may be adjustable to accommodate more cards. The key ring may be used to facilitate opening and closing of the harness.

The present invention relates to a wallet device for carrying cards, folded papers and the like together with keys.
The use of credit cards and other cards of similar size, such as bank cards, membership cards, identity cards and medical cards has been steadily increasing. Users of such cards have the problem of carrying the cards in an efficient manner without the bulkiness of traditional wallets, while simultaneously carrying other items such as paper money, notes, receipts and keys. A single, compact and inexpensive device for carrying all of these items simultaneously would be convenient and beneficial, especially for more active people who frequently need simpler, yet more efficient devices to carry such items when they jog, hike or participate in other recreational activities.
A binder device for receiving and holding packages of letters is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,006,584 issued on Oct. 24, 1911 to Millsaps. Four elastic straps are connected at two points by pins to permit pivoting of the straps on the pins.
U.S. Pat. No. 556,383 discloses a letter holder in which four coiled springs are attached to two metal plates to form a holder in which the letters may be carried.
There remains a need for a simple, multifunctional device for holding a variety of common items, including cards, papers and keys.
There is provided a pocket-sized wallet comprising: a first loop comprising elastic material attached to a second loop comprising elastic material at two opposing points on the loops to form a volume bounded by the first loop and the second loop to form a harness for carrying cards and/or folded paper in which a first pair of opposed edges of the cards and/or folded paper is contacted by the first loop and a second pair of opposed edges of the cards and/or folded paper is contacted by the second loop; and, a key ring attached to one of the loops.
There is also provided a pocket-sized wallet comprising: a first loop comprising elastic material attached to a second loop comprising elastic material at two opposing points on the loops to form a volume bounded by the first loop and the second loop to form a harness for carrying cards and/or folded paper in which a first pair of opposed edges of the cards and/or folded paper is contacted by the first loop and a second pair of opposed edges of the cards and/or folded paper is contacted by the second loop; a key ring attached to one of the loops; and, a buckle which forms part of one or more of the loops.
The wallet of the present invention is excellent for carrying a variety of items, for example, cards (e.g. credit cards, bank cards, membership cards, identification cards, medical cards, etc.) and/or folded paper (e.g. paper money, notes, receipts, etc.) and keys. It is simple, efficient, small in size and inexpensive to manufacture.
The wallet of the present invention comprises at least two loops of material attached at opposing points to form a harness for carrying cards and/or folded paper. In this manner, one loop encircles a width of the cards and/or folded paper and another loop encircles a length of the cards or folded paper. Two loops are arranged to intersect at two opposing points, and the loops attached to each other at the points of intersection. The loops may be attached at the opposing points by any convenient means, for example, by stitches, rivets, pins, glue, and the like. In one embodiment, a buckle may serve as a point of attachment for two loops, the buckle forming part of each of the loops.
The loops may be made of any suitable material, although it is preferred that the loops comprise, at least in part, an elastic material to facilitate removal and insertion of cards and paper into the harness. For example, cloth material having elastic strips sewn therein to form an elasticized cloth strap is one suitable material useful in loops of the present invention. Each loop may be formed of a single strap plus any buckles that may be present. Alternatively, each loop may be formed from several straps connected end-to-end, the connection being effected by any convenient means, such as, for example, by stitches, rivets, pins, glue, and the like.
While the loops may intersect at any suitable angle to form a harness for carrying cards and/or folded paper, preferably there are two loops that form a substantially ninety degree angle at their points of intersection so that the loops are orthogonal to one another.
In one embodiment of the invention, one loop of material may be shorter than another loop of material to accommodate the difference between the length and width of the cards being carried in the harness. In addition, loops of material may intersect to form a substantially cross-shaped outline when viewed in two-dimensional top view, or, the loops may intersect to form a substantially T-shaped outline when viewed in two-dimensional top view. Thus, the distance from one opposing point to the other along one arc of a loop may or may not be the same as the distance along the other arc of the same loop.
The wallet may further comprise a buckle. Any suitable type of buckle may be used, for example, slide-lock arrangements, pin and hole arrangements, clasp arrangements, etc. Any number of buckles may be used. For example, two loops may comprise a buckle to permit unbuckling and/or adjustment in two dimensions. The buckle may be integrated into one or more of the loops to form a part of the loops. Buckling and unbuckling the buckle permits opening a loop for easy insertion and removal of cards and/or folded paper into the wallet. In one embodiment, the buckle forms a part of two loops and forms one of the opposing points at which the loops are attached. In another embodiment, there may be a buckle at each of the opposing points at which the loops are attached. In yet another embodiment, the buckle may form part of only one loop. In the latter embodiment, it is sometimes advantageous to attach the key ring to the same loop as the buckle.
Furthermore, the wallet may comprise means for changing the length of one or more of the loops to accommodate more or less cards and/or folded papers. Any suitable means for changing the length may be employed. For example, one or more of the loops may comprise a secondary loop of material formed by pinching the loop and adjustably securing the loop at the point of pinching using any suitable means, such as, for example, a clip. By adjusting the size of the secondary loop, the length of the loop may be adjusted in kind. In another example, a loop may be adjustably engaged within a buckle so that the loop includes the buckle, and, an extra length of the loop is available for enlarging or shrinking the loop by adjusting the position of the buckle on the loop. In the latter example, a strap of material with a buckle on an end of the strap forms a loop with a xe2x80x9ctailxe2x80x9d when another end of the strap is fed through the buckle. Thus, the strap has a length greater than the length required for the loop, and adjustment of the strap in the buckle can change the length of the loop.
The key ring may be attached to any of the loops of the wallet. The wallet may comprise more than one key ring. A standard key ring having adjacent concentric rings formed from a single length of material, for example plastic or metal, may be used. Any suitable means for attaching the key ring to the loop may be employed. In one embodiment, the key ring may be attached to the loop by pinching the material of the loop between concentric circles of the key ring""s rings. Further stitching or riveting of the loop""s material at the point of attachment of the key ring helps secure the key ring to the loop. Alternatively, the loop may be threaded through the key ring rather than pinched between the concentric rings and the key ring secured by stitching or riveting the loop material together at the desired point of attachment of the key ring to the loop.
Not only is the key ring unitized with the wallet structure as a whole for convenience of carrying, but it also acts as a handle and a lever to aid in inserting and removing cards and/or folded paper from the harness. By grasping the key ring and slipping the loop to the side and/or pulling on the loop, it is possible to open up the harness to thereby facilitate removal and insertion of the cards and/or folded paper. Thus, the key ring works in unison with the harness to facilitate operation of the wallet. The lever action of the key ring provides an important benefit with respect to the ease and convenience of using the wallet. The key ring is advantageously attached to a loop at a point on the loop about midway between the two opposing points. When the harness is T-shaped in a two-dimensional top view, the key ring is preferably attached to the longer loop at about the midway point of the longer arc (i.e. at the end of the stem of the T). This allows greater leverage when slipping the loop to the side permitting greater access to the cards and/or folded paper. The ratio of the length of the longer arc to the shorter arc may be any suitable value, for example, about 3:2.
The key ring may also be used to connect the harness to a band worn around a person""s wrist. The band may be adapted to easily connect to the key ring. Such an arrangement would further facilitate efficient carrying of items, particularly for people who are jogging, hiking or participating in other recreational activities.
One or more of the loops may comprise printed matter, such as, for example, advertising, identification and/or ornamentation and/or design.


An exerciser includes a base including a seat for supporting a user, a back frame rotatably secured on the base with a pivot axle for supporting the back of the user and for allowing the user to force and to rotate the back frame relative to the base about the pivot axle. A foot support is slidable relative to the base and selectively coupled to the back frame for allowing the back frame and the foot support to be moved in concert with each other. The back frame includes one or more brackets selectively secured to the base and the foot support with fasteners.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an exerciser for selectively exercising the back portion and/or the feet portions of the users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present applicant has developed an exerciser for conducting pulling and stepping exercises and has been filed and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,836 to Chen. However, the back portion may not be rotated relative to the supporting base for conducting the back portion exercises. In addition, the foot pedal may not be moved to exercise the feet portions of the users.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercisers.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exerciser which may be used for selectively exercising the back portion and/or the feet portions of the users.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exerciser comprising a base including a seat for supporting a user, a back frame rotatably secured on the base with a pivot axle for supporting a back of the user and for allowing the user to force and to rotate the back frame relative to the base about the pivot axle, a foot support slidable relative to the base and movable away from and toward the base, and means for selectively coupling the back frame to the foot support. The user may use his back portion to force and to rotate the back frame about the pivot axle in order to exercise his back portion of the waist portion. The foot support may be selectively coupled to the back frame for allowing the user to exercise his foot portions. The back frame may be secured to the base and may thus be prevented from being rotated relative to the base, for allowing the user to exercise his foot portions only. The user may sit on the base with a seat or may kneel down on the seat to exercise his foot portions.
A rod is further provided for supporting the foot support. A wheel device may further be attached to the rod for facilitating a movement of the rod. A follower may further be provided for supporting the rod. A device may be used for adjustably securing the rod to the follower.
The adjustably securing means includes a sleeve secured on the follower, the rod is slidably received in the sleeve, and means for selectively securing the rod to the sleeve and for allowing the rod to be adjusted relative to the follower.
A spring biasing device may further be used for biasing the foot support to move the foot support toward the base. The selectively coupling means includes a bracket secured to the back frame for supporting the pivot axle, a lever including a first end pivotally secured to the base with the pivot axle and a second end coupled to the foot support, and means for selectively securing the lever to the bracket.
The selectively securing means includes a fastener engaged through the lever and the bracket to secure the back frame and the lever together. The fastener may also be engaged through the base and the bracket to secure the back frame and the base together.
The back frame includes a bottom portion having a pair of arms provided thereon for supporting the bracket. A spring biasing device may further be provided for biasing the foot support to move the foot support toward the base.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

Exerciser for exercising back and feet portions


A method for operating a mass spectrometer (MS) includes establishing a pressure differential across a membrane wherein an upstream pressure in a calibrant gas inlet line on an upstream side of the membrane is greater than a downstream pressure in an ion source on a downstream side of the membrane; flowing a calibrant gas from the calibrant gas inlet line, through a nano-scale orifice of the membrane, and into the ion source; and maintaining the upstream pressure at a constant value. The calibrant may be flowed at a low flow rate. An MS system includes a membrane interposed between a calibrant gas introduction system and a mass spectrometer. The membrane may include an orifice of nano-scale diameter.

Mass spectrometry is used for analyzing substances that can be brought to the gas phase under high-vacuum conditions, i.e. under pressures generally ranging between about 10−2 and 10−6 Pa or lower. Although the present subject matter is not limited to this field of use, reference in the following description will therefore be made primarily to this analysis method.
Mass spectrometry is a known analytical technique applied to both the identification and analysis of known substances. The principle on which it is based is the possibility of separating a mixture of ions depending on their mass/charge (m/z) ratio generally by applying electric or magnetic fields, either static or oscillating.
There are different ways to volatize and ionize a sample, and there are many different kinds of ion sources, such as EI (electron impact) source, FAB (fast atom bombardment) source, ESI (electro-spray ionization) source, MALDI (matrix assisted laser desorption and ionization) source. One of the most frequently used sources is the electronic impact EI source, wherein the substance of the sample either spontaneously evaporates or is already in the gas phase. A known energy electron flow hits the molecules of the sample, which are changed into positive ions by losing one or more electrons. The ions are then accelerated by an electrostatic field and directed towards the analyzer.
The diagram reporting the concentration of each ion versus the mass/charge (m/z) ratio, known as the mass spectrum, is distinctive of each compound as it is directly correlated to the chemical structure thereof as well as to the ionization conditions to which the compound is subjected. Typically, the mass spectrum is a series of peaks indicative of the relative abundances of detected ions as a function of their m/z ratios. The instruments employed in the mass spectrometry field, known as mass spectrometers, generally comprise three main units arranged in series: an ion source to volatize and ionize the sample, an analyzer to select the ions produced by the source according to the mass/charge ratio; and a detector to detect the ions coming from the analyzer. The mass spectrometer may also include electronics for processing output signals from the detector as needed to produce a user-interpretable mass spectrum.
The ion source is the part of the mass spectrometer entrusted to change the molecules of the sample into ions through the ionization phenomenon. Moreover the produced ions must be free to move in space for measurement of the m/z ratio. In certain "hyphenated" or "hybrid" systems, the sample supplied to the ion source may first be subjected to a form of analytical separation. For example, in a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system, the output of the GC column may be transferred into the ion source through appropriate GC-MS interface hardware.
The analyzer is the part of the mass spectrometer allowing for selecting the mass/charge (m/z) ratio of the ions produced by the source. Also this measurement can be carried out in many ways, so long as the ions can freely move in the spectrometer without colliding with air molecules, which is achieved by providing high-vacuum conditions therein.
According to the prior art, analyzers are mainly classified as magnetic analyzers, Omegatron analyzers (the mass selection is carried out by using a magnetic field and a RF field), quadrupole analyzers, ion-trap analyzers, FT-ICR (Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance) analyzers, TOF (time of flight) analyzers, cycloidal mass analyzers (the mass selection is carried out through a suitable selection of the resulting electric and magnetic field), magnetic-sector and ion-trap analyzers, optic spectroscopy cross-wire analyzers (measurement of the spectra of either emission or absorption light, or of photons' effects on the analyzed sample). In the present work reference is made, by way of example, to the magnetic quadrupole, and ion-trap analyzers.
The magnetic analyzer comprises a bent tube immersed into a magnetic field perpendicular thereto. The magnetic field makes the ions cover a bent trajectory. The bend radius depends on the entering ions energy and on the magnetic field B. The ion exits the analyzer only if the ion trajectory corresponds to the tube bend. If the ion bends more or less than the tube bends, it collides with the tube walls and is neutralized. Therefore, for each value of the magnetic field only ions having a certain m/z ratio and a certain kinetic energy pass through the analyzer, while the others are removed. From the value of the magnetic field and from the kinetic energy it is possible to go back to the m/z ratio of the ion selected by the analyzer. In this way the mass spectrum, which is the graph of the intensity of the ionic current detected by the detector, is obtained depending on the m/z ratio selected by the analyzer. In a mass spectrum, the presence of a peak at a certain value of m/z indicates that the source is producing ions having that m/z ratio.
Another kind of analyzer frequently employed in the mass spectrometry is the quadrupole analyzer. Generally, a quadrupole is a device composed of four metal parallel bars. Each pair of diagonally opposed bars is electrically linked together and a RF (radio-frequency) voltage is applied between one pair of bars and the other pair. A direct current voltage is then added to RF voltage. Ions oscillate during the flight among the quadrupole bars. Only the ions having a certain m/z ratio pass through the quadrupole and reach the detector for a given ratio of the two voltages: the other ions undergo unstable oscillation and collide with the bars. This allows either the selection of a particular ion, or the scanning of the range of the masses by means of the voltage variation.
A further example of a mass analyzer consists of an ion-trap. Based on a physical principle similar to the one of the quadrupole, the ion-trap keeps all the ions within the trap and makes them selectively free upon varying of the intensity of an oscillating electric field.
The detectors generally comprise dynodes, i.e. electronic multipliers able to amplify the very feeble current produced by the ions passed through the analyzer. The signals obtained in this way are subsequently transmitted to a computer able to represent, with the aid of suitable software, the amount of each ion depending on its mass, i.e. the final mass spectrum. Moreover, the use of computers allows the instrument parameters to be quickly combined with the literature search in libraries of electronically formatted spectra, so as to automate the identification of compounds according to their spectra and to the operative conditions with which the analysis has been carried out.
With reference to FIG. 1, a mass spectrometer device of the kind based on an electronic impact source and on a quadrupole mass analyzer according to the known art is schematically shown. In FIG. 1, the device is denoted as a whole with the reference numeral 11 and it comprises an entrance section 11a, an ionization section 11b, an analysis section 11c and a detection section 11d.
The entrance section 11a is generally intended for being immersed in the ambient to be sampled, which generally reaches the atmospheric pressure, from which the gas to be sampled, or analyte, enters the device. To this purpose the entrance section 11a substantially comprises a capillary tube 13 with which a heater 15 is associated. The heater, for instance, has an electric resistance wound around the capillary tube 13. As it is known, to avoid effects due to absorption/desorption along the walls of the introduction system of gas, it is advisable to make a suitable choice of the materials as well as operating at a reasonably high temperature, for instance 100° C., which further allows for avoiding gas condensation phenomena.
In accordance with a prior art embodiment, the capillary tube 13 leads to a first transition chamber 17 defined inside a corresponding flange 19, and is discharged by means of a high-vacuum pump 21. The pump 21 for instance can be a turbo-molecular pump, associated through a duct 23 at a radial side door 25 and presenting the entrance axial primary door 43 associated with the casing 41 of the device.
Downstream of the first transition chamber 17 a second micro-capillary tube 27, for instance having an about 20 μm diameter and being about 1-2 mm long, is provided. The micro-capillary tube 27 communicates, in turn, with a second transition chamber 29, associated with the ionization section 11b, wherein the gas to be sampled is collected downstream the micro-capillary tube 27.
In the shown example, the ionization section 11b comprises an electronic impact (EI) source, wherein an ionization chamber 31 equipped with ionization device 33, for instance ionization filaments, is defined. Moreover, permanent magnets can be provided for increasing the source efficiency: in this way the electrons actually describe spiral trajectories so increasing the total path inside the source. Electrostatic lenses 35 are provided downstream the ionization chamber 31 in the transition area between the ionization chamber 33 and the following analysis section 11c. In the ionization chamber the molecules of the sample to be analyzed, which are in the gas phase, interact with an electron beam generated by an incandescent filament and accelerated through an adjustable potential. The beam energy is normally ranges between about 10 and 100 eV.
The analysis section 11c comprises a quadrupole device 37 downstream with the detection section 11d comprising a detector 39, for instance a Faraday cup detector and/or a SEM (secondary electron multiplier) detector or a Channeltron detector, is provided. The analysis section 11c and the detection section 11d are housed in the casing 41 at a pressure of generally on the order of at least 10−3 Pa, obtained through the turbo-molecular pump 21 associated through the corresponding axial primary door 43.
Calibrated leak devices are also known in the art. Devices of this kind allow generation of controlled gas flows through the membrane as well as to quantificate leakages value, by calibrating the instruments required to detect them, during tight tests. The currently used devices are substantially of two kinds: orifice leaks, or capillary, and helium permeation leaks. The first ones, also called pinholes, are generally made by laser ablation or chemical etching. Such technologies enable apertures to be manufactured with high precision and reproducibility. An example of the first kind of devices having membranes with nanoholes (holes passing through the membrane and having a nanometric size diameter) is disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0144120. Devices of this kind allow for generating controlled gas flows through the membrane as well as to quantificate leakages values by calibrating the instruments required to detect them during tight tests. Another example of this kind of membrane is disclosed in WO 03/049840.
The permeation leaks however have a very unstable behavior when the temperature changes (their value varies of about 3% per centigrade grade in case of temperature values around room temperature), and long response times. They are fragile (being made of glass, they are easily breakable even when they only fall to the ground), only suitable for helium and have a single flow value. Examples of such permeation leaks are described in DE 19521275 and WO 02/03057.
Gas sampling devices based on permeation leaks are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,388, U.S. Publication No. 2002/134933, U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,669, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,008 and WO2008/074984. Selectively permeable membranes used in the field of mass spectrometry are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,624 and Maden A M et al.: "Sheet materials for use as membranes in membrane introduction mass spectrometry," Anal. Chem., Am. Chem. Soc., US vol. 68, no. 10, 15 May 1996, pages 1805-1811, XP000588711 ISSN: 0003-2700.
Nanohole membranes of the above first species should not be confused with gas permeable membranes. Membranes of the first kind have holes made artificially, e.g. by focused ion beam (FIB) or laser drilling, having substantially regular cross section along the whole length of the hole, and for this reason can be calibrated according to the use of the membrane. In addition, several or many practically identical holes with parallel axes can be produced on the same membrane. On the contrary, gas permeable membranes are membranes whose natural property of the material allows for permeability of a gas or a gas mixture usually at a high temperature. In addition, gas permeable membranes may be selective in the type of gas allowed to permeate through the membrane, while nanohole membranes are not selective.
As it will be easily appreciated from the preceding description of a gas analyzer according to the known art, the entrance section and the ionization section are considerably complex both for the number of the components and for the fact that such components must be high-vacuum tight associated with each other, resulting in high costs. Moreover, the prior art devices must be equipped with vacuum pumps having considerable flow capacities as they have to absorb the flow entering the ionization chamber, which is generally high.
In addition to the foregoing considerations, to improve mass accuracy and resolution MS systems require calibration to correct for errors caused by various sources, such as drifts in instrument performance and response that may occur during an MS analysis and/or from one analysis to the next analysis. Calibration may entail introducing one or more calibrants into the mass spectrometer during an analysis or between analyses. A calibrant may be a known reference compound having a known response (e.g., peaks at specified m/z ratios) when processed by a given MS system. A calibration process may entail, for example, operating the MS system to make actual measurements of the calibrant ions, comparing the measurements to known measurements, and making adjustments to one or more components of the MS system as needed to tune the MS system. Conventionally, a relatively large amount of calibrant is injected into a mass spectrometer, which may have an adverse effect on the measurement of analyte ions derived from a sample of interest. Complex and costly vacuum pumping systems are often needed to successfully evacuate the calibrant from the mass spectrometer so as to minimize adverse impact on sample analysis. Moreover, again to minimize adverse impact on sample analysis, the use of a large amount of calibrant often results in a large period of "recovery" time being required to enable the mass spectrometer to be brought to standard operating conditions suitable for sample analysis. Additionally, the calibrant may clog up the small-bore capillaries often utilized to introduce gases into the ion sources of MS systems, such as electron ionization (EI) sources and chemical ionization (CI) sources.
Therefore, there continues to be a need for improved systems, devices and methods for calibrating MS systems.

Calibration of mass spectrometry systems


A method includes determining, at a receiving station, a modified capability for maintaining reception of a service while supporting a broadcast service. The modified capability is a modification of a capability associated with the service. The method further includes communicating an indication of the modified capability to a transmitting station.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to the modification of service capability to support simultaneous reception of services.
2. Background
In a wireless communication system, mobile stations, also known as user equipment (UE), may communicate using dedicated communication services. These dedicated communication services provide two-way communication between UE and a wireless network system. The dedicated communication services may occur at various transmission rates that are either defined or negotiated at some point in time after the UE is recognized in the system. Another commonly available communication service for sharing information in a one-to-many type arrangement has come to be known generally as a broadcast service. One of the commonly defined and accepted broadcast communication services is known as the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS).
Simultaneous support for a dedicated service (e.g., packet data or voice) and MBMS in a single UE has been nominally defined. A UE with the capacity to support simultaneous dedicated services (voice calls, PS data, etc.) and MBMS will necessarily have some limitations on the level of services it can simultaneously support. At a minimum, the UE Radio Access Capabilities requirement specifies that a UE be able to support a dedicated service of 64 kbps downlink data rate in parallel with reception of an MBMS. (See 3GPP Technical Specification 25.306.)
However, beyond this minimum benchmark, there are no defined levels of support—thus, for instance, even if a UE can support 384 kbps together with MBMS, there is no mechanism such as defined UE classes by which this support can be indicated to the network. Furthermore, conflict resolution of available services that exceed the UE capability have been limited to very general "service prioritization" procedures for maintaining and supporting only a single one of the services by releasing the other service. (See Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol Specification of 3GPP Technical Specification 25.331.)
Therefore, there is a need for a UE to determine the available competing service requirements and to manage utilization of these services within the UE in view of the available capabilities of the UE.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for service capability modification


Example apparatus and methods may include: (1) a system and method for enrolling a single user's gait pattern using only accelerometer magnitude data; (2) an efficient and low-power method for continuously generating biometric match scores against the enrolled model at run-time using two phases: detection and authentication; (3) an adaptive method for continuously updating the user model by comparing temporary models generated at regular intervals to the canonical user model; and (4) accelerometer samples captured on a wearable and streamed to a mobile device for further processing.

Biometrics is the technical term for body measurements and calculations. It refers to metrics related to human characteristics. Biometrics authentication (or realistic authentication) is used in computer science as a form of identification and access control. It is also used to identify individuals in groups that are under surveillance.
Biometric identifiers are the distinctive, measurable characteristics used to label and describe individuals. Biometric identifiers are often categorized as physiological versus behavioral characteristics. Physiological characteristics are related to the shape of the body. Examples include, but are not limited to fingerprint, palm veins, face recognition, DNA, palm print, hand geometry, iris recognition, retina and odor/scent. Behavioral characteristics are related to the pattern of behavior of a person, including but not limited to typing rhythm and voice.
More traditional means of access control include token-based identification systems, such as a driver's license or passport, and knowledge-based identification systems, such as a password or personal identification number. Since biometric identifiers are unique to individuals, they are more reliable in verifying identity than token and knowledge-based methods; however, the collection of biometric identifiers raises privacy concerns about the ultimate use of this information.
Many different aspects of human physiology, chemistry or behavior can be used for biometric authentication. The selection of a particular biometric for use in a specific application involves a weighting of several factors. For example, the following seven such factors may be used when assessing the suitability of any trait for use in biometric authentication. Universality means that every person using a system should possess the trait. Uniqueness means the trait should be sufficiently different for individuals in the relevant population such that they can be distinguished from one another. Permanence relates to the manner in which a trait varies over time. More specifically, a trait with 'good' permanence will be reasonably invariant over time with respect to the specific matching algorithm. Measurability (collectability) relates to the ease of acquisition or measurement of the trait. In addition, acquired data should be in a form that permits subsequent processing and extraction of the relevant feature sets. Performance relates to the accuracy, speed, and robustness of technology used (see performance section for more details). Acceptability relates to how well individuals in the relevant population accept the technology such that they are willing to have their biometric trait captured and assessed. Circumvention relates to the ease with which a trait might be imitated using an artifact or substitute.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems, apparatus, and methods that improve upon conventional approaches including the methods, system and apparatus provided hereby.

Apparatus and methods for biometric verification