text
stringlengths 0
1.67M
|
|---|
Process for preparing 5-sulfonamido-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamides |
The preparation of 5-sulfonamido-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamides is disclosed. A 5-halo-8-hydroxy-1,6-napthyridine-7-carboxylic acid or acid ester in which the hydroxy is derivatized with a protecting group is reacted with a sulfonamide (e.g., an alkanesulfonamide, N-alkyl alkanesulfonamide, or alkanesultam) in the presence of a copper promoter and a chelating agent, followed by deprotection of the hydroxy group, and then coupling with an amine to obtain the 5-sulfonamido-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamide. Alternatively, the hydroxy-protected 5-halo-8-hydroxy-1,6-napthyridine-7-carboxylic acid (or ester) is first coupled with an amine, the resulting carboxamide reacted with a sulfonamide followed by deprotection of the hydroxy group to obtain the 5-sulfonamido-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamide. The 5-sulfonamido-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamides are inhibitors of HIV integrase and are useful for treating HIV infection, preventing HIV infection, delaying the onset of AIDS, and treating AIDS. |
1. A process for preparing a compound of Formula (VIII): which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIa) or (IIIb): with a sulfonamide of Formula (IV): R5SO2—NHR4 (IV) in solvent and in the presence of a copper promoter and a copper chelating agent to obtain a compound of Formula (Va) or (Vb): (D) when the compound resulting from Step C is Compound Va, (D1) treating Compound Va with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain a compound of Formula (VI): (D2) coupling Compound VI with an amine of Formula (VII): to obtain Compound VIII; and (E) when the compound resulting from Step C is Compound Vb, treating Compound Vb with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain Compound VIII; wherein A is phenyl or phenyl fused to a carbocycle to form a fused carbocyclic ring system; G is a phenol protective group; or alternatively and with the proviso that the reactant in Step C is Compound IIIa, G and R7 together with the phenolic oxygen moiety and carbonyloxy moiety to which they are attached form a phenol protective cyclic group of formula: wherein * and ** respectively denote the points of fusion to ring carbons 7 and 8 in the naphthyridine ring; and Y is —C(Rc)(Rd)- or -B(Re)-; L is a linker connecting a ring atom of A to the nitrogen of the —N(R6)-moiety, wherein L is (i) a single bond connecting ring system A directly to N(R6), (ii)-(C1-6 alkyl)-, (iii)-(C2-6 alkenyl)-, or (iv)-(C0-6 alkyl)-(C3-6 cycloalkyl)-(C0-6 alkyl)-; X is halo; each Z1 is a substituent on A independently selected from the group consisting of: (1) —H, (2) —C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2, (3) —O—C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —OH, or —SRa, (4) —OH, (5) halogen, (6) —NO2, (7) —CN, (8) —C(═O)Ra, (9)-CO2Ra, (10) —SRa, (11) —N(Rb)2, (12) —C(═O)N(Ra)2, (13) —SO2Ra, (14) —N(Ra)SO2Ra, and (15) —C2-5 alkenyl; k1 is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; each Z2 is a substituent on A independently selected from the group consisting of: (1)-H. (2) aryl, (3) —O-aryl, (4)-C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (5) —O—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (6) heteroaryl (7)—O-heteroaryl, (8) —C1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, and (9) —O—C1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, wherein the aryl in any of (2) to (5) or the heteroaryl in any of (6) to (9) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; k2 is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2; each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently: (1) —H, (2) —C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2, (3) —O—C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —OH, or —SRa, (4) —OH, (5) halogen, (6) —NO2, (7) —CN, (8) —C(═O)Ra, (9) —CO2Ra, (10) —SRa, (11) —N(Rb)2, (12) —C(═O)N(Ra)2, (13) —SO2Ra, (14) —N(Ra)SO2Ra, and (15) —C2-5 alkenyl; (16) aryl, (17) —O-aryl, (18) —C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (19) —O—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (20) heteroaryl (21)—O-heteroaryl, (22) —C1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, and (23)—O—C1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, wherein the aryl in any of (16) to (19) or the heteroaryl in any of (20) to (23) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; R4 is —H, —C1-6 alkyl, or aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; R5 is C1-6 alkyl or aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; or alternatively R4 and R5 together with the —NSO2— moiety to which they are attached form a sultam group of formula: wherein T and T′ are each independently a 6-membered carbocyclic ring which is saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic; m is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2; and the sultam group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; R6 is —H or —C1-6 alkyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents independently selected from halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —N(Rb)2, and —CO2Ra; R7 is —H, —C1-6 alkyl or aryl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, —C(═O)N(Ra)2, or phenyl; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; each Ra is independently —H or —C1-6 alkyl; each Rb is independently —C1-6 alkyl; and Rc and Rd are each independently -H or —C1-6 alkyl which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, or —O-C1-6 haloalkyl; Re is —C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, aryl, or —O-aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, or —O—C1-6 haloalkyl; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —CHO, —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl, —CO2H, —CO2—C1-6 alkyl, —SH, —S—C1-6 alkyl, —N(—C1-6 alkyl)2, —C(═O)NH2, or —C(═O)N(—C1-6 alkyl)2; and wherein each aryl is independently phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, or phenanthryl; and each heteroaryl is independently a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing from 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S and a balance of carbon atoms. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein A is 3. The process according to claim 2, wherein A is 4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the —OG group on Compounds IIIa and Va or Compounds IIIb or Vb is an ether, a silyl ether, a carboxylic ester, a carbonate, a phosphinate or a sulfonate. 5. The process according to claim 4, wherein G is: (1) —C1-6 alkyl, (2) —C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (3) —C1-6 alkyl-O—C1-6 alkyl, (4) —C1-6 alkyl-O—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (5) —C3-8 cycloalkyl, (6) allyl, (7)-Si(C1-6 alkyl)n(aryl)3-n, wherein n is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2, or 3; (8) —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl, (9) —C(═O)-aryl, (10) —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (11) —C(═O)—O—C1-6 alkyl, (12) —C(═O)—O-aryl, (13) —C(═O)—O—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (14) —SO2—C1-6 alkyl, (15) —SO2—C1-6 haloalkyl, (16) —SO2-aryl, or (17) —P(O)(—C1-6 alkyl)2 wherein the aryl in (2), (4), (9), (10), (12), (13), or (16), and each aryl in (7) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, -C1-4 alkyl, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or nitro. 6. The process according to claim 1, wherein L is —(C1-6 alkyl)-. 7. The process according to claim 6, wherein L is —(CH2)14-. 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein each Z1 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (1) —H, (2)-C1-4 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or —O—C1-4 haloalkyl, (3) —O-C1-4 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen or —O-C1-4 alkyl, (4) halogen, (5) —CN, (6) —C(═O)Ra, (7) —CO2Ra, (8) —SRa, (9) —N(Rb)2, (10) —C(═O)N(Ra)2, (11) —SO2Ra, (12) —N(Ra)SO2Ra, and (13) —C2-5 alkenyl; and each Z2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (1) —H, (2) aryl, (3) —O-aryl, (4)-C1-4 alkyl-aryl, and (5)—O-C1-4 alkyl-aryl, wherein the aryl in any of (2) to (5) is phenyl or naphthyl and is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, -C1-4 alkyl, -C1-4 haloalkyl, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or —O—C1-4 haloalkyl. 9. The process according to claim 8, wherein k1 is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2 or 3; and k2 is an integer equal to zero or 1. 10. The process according to claim 1, wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently: (1) —H, (2)-C1-4 alkyl (3)—(CH2)0-2CF3, (4) —O-C1-4 alkyl, (5) —O—(CH2)0-2CF3, (6) halogen selected from —F, —Cl and —Br, (7) phenyl, (8) —O-phenyl, (9) —(CH2)12-phenyl, or (10) —O—(CH2)12-phenyl, wherein the phenyl in any of (7) to (10) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents each of which is independently —F, —Cl, —Br, —C1-4 alkyl, —C1-4 haloalkyl, —O-C1-4 alkyl, or —O-C1-4 haloalkyl. 11. The process according to claim 10, wherein R1 is —H, and R2 and R3 are each as heretofore defined. 12. The process according to claim 11, wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is —H. 13. The process according to claim 1, wherein R4 is —H, —C1-4 alkyl, or phenyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O-C1-4 alkyl, or —O—C1-4 haloalkyl; the phenyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents each of which is independently halogen, -C1-4 alkyl, —C1-4 haloalkyl, —O-C1-4 alkyl, or —O-C1-6 haloalkyl; R5 is C1-4 alkyl or phenyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O-CA alkyl, or —O-C1-4 haloalkyl; the phenyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents each of which is independently halogen, -C1-4 alkyl, —C1-4 haloalkyl, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or —O—C1-4 haloalkyl; or alternatively R4 and R5 together with the —NSO2— moiety to which they are attached form a sultam group of formula: wherein m is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2; and the sultam group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-4 alkyl, —C1-4 haloalkyl, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or —O—C1-4 haloalkyl. 14. The process according to claim 13, wherein R4 and R5 together with the —NSO2— moiety to which they are attached form a sultam group of formula: wherein m is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2. 15. The process according to claim 1, wherein R6 is —H or —C1-4 alkyl. 16. The process according to claim 21, wherein R6 is —H. 17. The process according to claim 1, wherein R7 is -C1-4 alkyl. 18. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent in Step C is a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of nitrites, tertiary amides, ureas, ethers, N-alkylpyrrolidones, pyridines, halohydrocarbons, and esters. 19. The process according to claim 1, wherein Step C is conducted at a temperature in the range of from about 20 to about 300° C. 20. The process according to claim 1, wherein the copper promoter in Step C is copper metal, a copper oxide, or a copper salt selected from the group consisting of copper sulfides, halides, sulfonates, alkoxides, carboxylates, sulfates, thiocyanates, and nitrates. 21. The process according to claim 1, wherein the copper chelating agent in Step C is a polyamine, a polyaminocarboxylic acid, or a fused or singly bonded bipyridyl compound. 22. The process according to claim 1, wherein the copper promoter is employed in Step C in an amount in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIa or IIIb. 23. The process according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of equivalents of copper chelating agent to copper promotor in Step C is in the range of from about 1:2 to about 2:1. 24. The process according to claim 1, wherein the sulfonamide IV is employed in Step C in the amount of from about 0.5 to about 5 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIa or IIIb. 25. The process according to claim 1, wherein the —OG group on Compound Va or Vb is an ether, a silyl ether, a carboxylic ester, or a sulfonate and treating in Step D1 or Step E comprises contacting Compound Va or Vb with an acid or base to cleave G to obtain Compound VI or VII. 26. The process according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of Step (D2) comprises reacting amine VII with Compound VI in solvent at a temperature in the range of from about 40 to about 200° C. 27. The process according to claim 1, which further comprises: (B) treating a compound of Formula (IIa) or (IIb): with a phenol protecting agent to obtain Compound (IIIa) or (IIIb). 28. The process according to claim 27, wherein the phenol protecting agent in Step B is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a compound of formula Ga-Q, wherein Q is halide and Ga is: (1) —C1-6 alkyl, (2) —C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (3) —C1-6 alkyl-O-C1-6 alkyl, (4) —C1-6 alkyl-O-C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (5) —C3-8 cycloalkyl, (6) allyl, (7)-Si(C1-6 alkyl)n(aryl)3-n, wherein n is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2, or 3; (8) —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl, (9) —C(═O)-aryl, (10) —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (11) —C(═O)—O—C1-6 alkyl, (12) —C(═O)—O-aryl, (13) —C(═O)—O—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (14) —SO2—C1-6 alkyl, (15) —SO2—C1-6 haloalkyl, or (16) —SO2-aryl, (ii) a sulfate compound of formula (Gb)2SO4, wherein Gb is —C1-6 alkyl or —C1-6 alkyl-aryl; and (iii) an anhydride of formula (Gc )20, wherein Gc is —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl, —C(═O)-aryl, or —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl-aryl; (iv) a diazo compound of formula Gd-N2, wherein Gd is —C1-6 alkylidenyl, —C1-6 alkylidenyl-aryl or —C3-8 cycloalkylidenyl; wherein each aryl in (i), (iii), or (iv) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-4 alkyl, —O-C1-4 alkyl, or nitro; and wherein treatment with Ga-Q, (Gb)2SO4, or (Gc)2O results in the attachment of Ga, Gb, or Gc as the phenol protective group G in Compound IIIa or IIIb, and treatment with Gd-N2 results in the attachment of GdH as the phenol protective group G in Compound IIIa or IIIb. 29. The process according to claim 27, which further comprises: (A) contacting a compound of Formula (Ia) or (Ib): with a halogenating agent to obtain Compound (IIa) or (IIb). 30. The process according to claim 29, wherein the compound employed in Step A is Compound Ib, and the process further comprises coupling Compound (Ia) with an amine of Formula (VII): to obtain Compound IIb. 31. A process for preparing a compound of Formula (VIII′): which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIa′) or (IIIb′): with a sulfonamide of Formula (IV): R5SO2—NHR4 (IV) in solvent and in the presence of a copper promoter and a copper chelating agent to obtain a compound of Formula (Va′) or (Vb′): (D) when the compound resulting from Step C is Compound Va′, (D1) treating Compound Va′ with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain a compound of Formula (VI′): and (D2) coupling Compound VI′ with an amine of Formula (VII′): to obtain Compound VIII′; and (E) when the compound resulting from Step C is Compound Vb′, treating Compound Vb′ with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain Compound VIII′; wherein: each Z1 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (1)-H. (2)—C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2, (3) —O—C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —OH, or —SRa, (4) —OH, (5) halogen, (6) —NO2, (7) —CN, (8) —C(═O)Ra, (9)-CO2Ra, (10) —SRa, (11) —N(Rb)2, (12) —C(═O)N(Ra)2, (13) —SO2Ra, (14) —N(Ra)SO2Ra, and (15) —C2-5 alkenyl; k1 is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; G is a phenol protective group; or alternatively and with the proviso that the reactant in Step C is Compound IIIa′, G and R7 together with the phenolic oxygen moiety and carbonyloxy moiety to which they are attached form a phenol protective cyclic group of formula: wherein * and ** respectively denote the points of fusion to ring carbons 7 and 8 in the naphthyridine ring; and Y is —C(Rc)(Rd)- or -B(Re)-; X is halo; R4 is —H, —C1-6 alkyl, or aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; R5 is C1-6 alkyl or aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6-haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; or alternatively R4 and R5 together with the —NSO2— moiety to which they are attached form a sultam group of formula: wherein T and T′ are each independently a 6-membered carbocyclic ring which is saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic; m is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2; and the sultam group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; R6 is —H or —C1-6 alkyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents independently selected from halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —N(Rb)2, and —CO2Ra; R7 is —H, —C1-6 alkyl or aryl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, —C(═O)N(Ra)2, or phenyl; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —C(═O)Ra, —CO2Ra, —SRa, —N(Rb)2, or —C(═O)N(Ra)2; each Ra is independently —H or —C1-6 alkyl; each Rb is independently —C1-6 alkyl; and Rc and Rd are each independently —H or —C1-6 alkyl which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, or —O—C′-6 haloalkyl; Re is —C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, aryl, or —O-aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C1-6 alkyl, or —O—C1-6 haloalkyl; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-6 alkyl, —C1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C1-6 alkyl, —O—C1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO2, —CHO, —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl, —CO2H, —CO2—C1-6 alkyl, —SH, —S—C1-6 alkyl, —N(—C1-6 alkyl)2, —C(═O)NH2, or —C(═O)N(—C1-6 alkyl)2; and wherein each aryl is independently phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, or phenanthryl. 32. The process according to claim 31, which is a process for preparing Compound VIII′ which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIa′): with a sulfonamide of Formula (IV): R5SO2—NHR4 (IV) in solvent and in the presence of a copper promoter and a copper chelating agent to obtain a compound of Formula (Va′): (D1) treating Compound Va′ with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain a compound of Formula (VI′): and (D2) coupling Compound VI′ with an amine of Formula (VII′): to obtain Compound VIII′. 33. The process according to claim 31, which is a process for preparing Compound VIII′, which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIb′): with a sulfonamide of Formula (IV): R5SO2—NHR4 (IC) in solvent and in the presence of a copper promoter and a copper chelating agent to obtain a compound of Formula (Vb′): (E) treating Compound Vb′ with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain Compound VIII′. 34. The process according to claim 31, wherein the —OG group on Compounds IIIa′ and Va′ or Compounds IIIb′ or Vb′ is an ether, a silyl ether, a carboxylic ester, a carbonate, a phosphinate or a sulfonate. 35. The process according to claim 34, wherein G is: (1) —C1-6 alkyl, (2) —C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (3) —C1-6 alkyl-O-C1-6 alkyl, (4) —C1-6 alkyl-O-C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (5) —C3-8 cycloalkyl, (6) allyl, (7)-Si(C1-6 alkyl)n(aryl)3-n, wherein n is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2, or 3; (8) —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl, (9) —C(═O)-aryl, (10) —C(═O)—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (11) —C(═O)—O—C1-6 alkyl, (12) —C(═O)—O-aryl, (13) —C(═O)—O—C1-6 alkyl-aryl, (14) —SO2—C1-6 alkyl, (15) —SO2—C1-6 haloalkyl, (16) —SO2-aryl, or (17) —P(O)(—C1-6 alkyl)2 wherein the aryl in (2), (4), (9), (10), (12), (13), or (16), and each aryl in (7) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-4 alkyl, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or nitro. 36. The process according to claim 31, wherein each Z1 is independently —H, —C1-4 alkyl, —(CH2)0-2CF3, —O-C1-4 alkyl, —O—(CH2)0-2CF3, or halo selected from —F, —Cl and —Br; and k1 is zero, 1 or 2. 37. The process according to claim 31, wherein R4 is —H or —C1-4 alkyl, and R5 is C1-4 alkyl; or alternatively R4 and R5 together with the —NSO2-moiety to which they are attached form a sultam group of formula: wherein m is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2. 38. The process according to claim 31, wherein R7 is -C1-4 alkyl. 39. The process according to claim 31, wherein: the solvent in Step C is a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of nitriles, tertiary amides, ureas, ethers, N-alkylpyrrolidones, pyridines, halohydrocarbons, and esters; the sulfonamide IV is employed in Step C in the amount of from about 0.8 to about 3 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIa′ or IIIb′; and Step C is conducted at a temperature in the range of from about 70 to about 150° C. 40. The process according to claim 39, wherein the copper promoter in Step C is copper metal, a copper oxide, or a copper salt selected from the group consisting of copper sulfides, halides, sulfonates, alkoxides, carbonates, carboxylates, sulfates, sulfites, thiocyanates, and nitrates; the copper chelating agent in Step C is a polyamine, a polyaminocarboxylic acid, or a fused or singly bonded bipyridyl compound; the copper promoter is employed in Step C in an amount in the range of from about 0.9 to about 3 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIa′ or IIIb′; and the ratio of equivalents of copper chelating agent to copper promotor in Step C is in the range of from about 1:1.2 to about 1.2:1. 41. A process for preparing a compound of Formula (VIII″): which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIa′): with sultam 4: in solvent and in the presence of a copper promoter and a copper chelating agent to obtain a compound of Formula (Va″): (D1) treating Compound Va″ with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain a compound of Formula (VI″): and (D2) coupling Compound VI″ with an amine of Formula (VII″): to obtain Compound VIII″; wherein: G is a phenol protective group; X is halo; Z1a and Z1b are each independently —H or halo; and R7 is —C1-6 alkyl, phenyl, or benzyl. 42. The process according to claim 41, wherein the —OG group on Compound Va or Vb is an ether, a silyl ether, a carboxylic ester, or a sulfonate. 43. The process according to claim 42, wherein G is —SO2—C1-6 alkyl, —SO2-C1-6 haloalkyl, or —SO2-aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-4 alkyl, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or nitro. 44. The process according to claim 43, wherein G is CH3SO2—, CF3SO2—, or p-toluenesulfonyl. 45. The process according to claim 44, wherein G is p-toluenesulfonyl. 46. The process according to claim 41, wherein X is Cl or Br. 47. The process according to claim 41, wherein R7 is —C1-4 alkyl. 48. The process according to claim 41, wherein one of Z1a and Z1b is fluoro or chloro, and the other of Z1a and Z1b is H, fluoro, or chloro. 49. The process according to claim 41, wherein amine VII″ in Step D2 is Compound 10: and Compound VIII″ is Compound 15: 50. The process according to claim 41, wherein the solvent in Step C is a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of nitrites, tertiary amides, ethers, N-alkylpyrrolidones, and pyridines; Step C is conducted at a temperature in the range of from about 70 to about 150° C.; the copper promoter in Step C is copper metal, a copper oxide, or a copper salt selected from the group consisting of copper sulfides, halides, sulfonates, alkoxides, carboxylates, sulfates, thiocyanates, and nitrates; the copper chelating agent in Step C is a polyamine, a polyaminocarboxylic acid, or a fused or singly bonded bipyridyl compound; the copper promoter is employed in Step C in an amount in the range of from about 0.9 to about 3 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIa′; the ratio of equivalents of copper chelating agent to copper promotor in Step C is in the range of from about 1:1.2 to about 1.2:1; and the sultam 4 is employed in Step C in the amount of from about 0.8 to about 3 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIa′. 51. A process for preparing compound of Formula (VIII″), which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIb″): with sultam 4: in solvent and in the presence of a copper promoter and a copper chelating agent to obtain a compound of Formula (Vb″): and (E) treating Compound Vb″ with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain Compound VIII″; wherein: G is a phenol protective group; X is halo; and Z1a and Z1b are each independently —H or halo. 52. The process according to claim 51, wherein the —OG group on Compound Va or Vb is an ether, a silyl ether, a carboxylic ester, or a sulfonate. 53. The process according to claim 52, wherein G is —SO2—C1-6 alkyl, —SO2—C1-6 haloalkyl, or —SO2-aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C1-4 alkyl, —O—C1-4 alkyl, or nitro. 54. The process according to claim 53, wherein G is CH3SO2—, CF3SO2—, or p-toluenesulfonyl. 55. The process according to claim 54, wherein G is p-toluenesulfonyl. 56. The process according to claim 51, wherein X is Cl or Br. 57. The process according to claim 51, wherein one of Z1a and Z1b is fluoro or chloro, and the other of Z1a and Z1b is H, fluoro, or chloro. 58. The process according to claim 51, wherein Compound IIIb″ in Step C is: Compound Vb″ in Step E is and Compound VIII″ is Compound 15 59. The process according to claim 51, wherein the solvent in Step C is a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of nitrites, N,N-dialkyl amides, ureas, ethers, N-alkylpyrrolidones, and pyridines; Step C is conducted at a temperature in the range of from about 70 to about 150° C.; the copper promoter in Step C is copper metal, a copper oxide, or a copper salt selected from the group consisting of copper sulfides, halides, sulfonates, alkoxides, carboxylates, sulfates, thiocyanates, and nitrates; the copper chelating agent in Step C is a polyamine, a polyaminocarboxylic acid, or a fused or singly bonded bipyridyl compound; the copper promoter is employed in Step C in an amount in the range of from about 0.9 to about 3 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIb″, the ratio of equivalents of copper chelating agent to copper promotor in Step C is in the range of from about 1:1.2 to about 1.2:1; and the sultam 4 is employed in Step C in the amount of from about 0.8 to about 3 equivalents per equivalent of Compound IIIb″. 60. A process for preparing a compound of Formula (VIII″): which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIa′): with sultam 4: in solvent and in the presence of a catalytic amount of a copper (I) compound, a base and optionally a ligand to obtain a compound of Formula (Va″): (D1) treating Compound Va″ with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain a compound of Formula (VI): and (D2) coupling Compound VI″ with an amine of Formula (VII″): to obtain Compound VIII″; wherein G is a phenol protective group; X is halo; Z1a and Z1b are each independently —H or halo; and R7 is —C1-6 alkyl, phenyl, or benzyl. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The HIV retrovirus is the causative agent for AIDS. The HIV-1 retrovirus primarily uses the CD4 receptor (a 58 kDa transmembrane protein) to gain entry into cells, through high-affinity interactions between the viral envelope glycoprotein (gp 120) and a specific region of the CD4 molecule found in T-lymphocytes and CD4 (+) T-helper cells (Lasky L. A. et al., Cell 1987, 50: 975-985). HIV infection is characterized by an asymptomatic period immediately following infection that is devoid of clinical manifestations in the patient. Progressive HIV-induced destruction of the immune system then leads to increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections, which eventually produces a syndrome called ARC (AIDS-related complex) characterized by symptoms such as persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, and weight loss, followed itself by full blown AIDS. After entry of the retrovirus into a cell, viral RNA is converted into DNA, which is then integrated into the host cell DNA. Integration of viral DNA is an essential step in the viral life cycle. Integration is believed to be mediated by integrase, a 32 kDa enzyme, in three steps: assembly of a stable nucleoprotein complex with viral DNA sequences; cleavage of two nucleotides from the 3′ termini of the linear proviral DNA; and covalent joining of the recessed 3′ OH termini of the proviral DNA at a staggered cut made at the host target site. The fourth step in the process, repair synthesis of the resultant gap, may be accomplished by cellular enzymes. Certain 5-sulfonamido-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamides constitute a class of inhibitors of HIV integrase and HIV replication. Compounds of this class include, but are not limited to, compounds of Formula (AA): wherein: R 2 *is H or alkyl; R 3 *is alkyl; or R 2 *and R 3 *together with the —NSO 2 — moiety to which they are attached form a sultam group of formula wherein m*=0, 1 or 2; each Z*is independently H or a substituent such as halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, or alkoxy; and k*is an integer from zero to 5. Exemplary of the compounds of Formula (AA) is: which is alternatively referred to herein as Compound 15 . This class of HIV integrase inhibitors can be prepared by routes involving the condensation of a sulfonamide such as an N-alkyl alkanesulfonamide or an alkanesultam with a suitable 5-halo-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine intermediate. The route for preparing compounds of Formula (AA) is representative and is shown in Scheme A as follows. The preparation includes halogenation of an alkyl 8-hydroxy-naphthyridine carboxylate ( c1 ) with a halogenation agent such as N-bromosuccinimide, coupling the halogenated ester ( c2 ) with substituted or unsubstituted benzylamine, and then condensing the 5-halo-8-hydroxy-naphthyridine carboxamide ( c3 ) with a sulfonamide ( c4 ) at elevated temperature (e.g., about 120° C.) in the presence of a copper promoter (e.g., copper(I) oxide) to afford the desired sulfonamidonaphthyridine product ( c5 ). The yield of this step is relatively low (e.g., typically about 40% or less in the preparation of Compound 15 ) with the production of a significant amount of naphthyridine carboxamide c6 as byproduct. There are also tar-like byproducts which are difficult to remove from the desired product (e.g., cannot be separated by filtration). In addition it can be difficult to separate the copper from the desired product c5 . Further description of this route can be found in WO 02/30930 (see, e.g., Scheme 17). There is a need for alternative and/or improved processes for preparing these integrase inhibitors which can provide a higher yields and/or can facilitate the workup of the intermediate and/or final products. References of interest with respect to the present invention include the following: Coutts et al., J. Chem. Soc. Perkin I 1975, 2445-2446 discloses the reaction of certain N-arylsulfonamides with certain aryl bromides in the presence of copper powder and potassium carbonate to give the corresponding N,N-diarylsulfonamides. Lindley, Tetrahedron 1984, 40: 1433-1456 is a review of the copper-assisted nucleophilic substitution of aryl halogen and includes a discussion of the Ullman condensation of certain aryl halides with ammonia, amines, imides and amides. Kandzia et al., Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1993, 4: 39-42 discloses the preparation of camphor sultam-based chiral bipyridines and phenanthrolines by reacting the camphor sultam with the bipyridine or phenanthroline in refluxing collidine in the presence of Cu(I) oxide. Chemical Abstracts No. 122:314455g, 1995 (an abstract of JP 06135934) discloses heating 2,6-dichloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine and ethanesulfonyl amide in DMSO containing Na2CO3 to give a 2:1 mixture of N-(6-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl)ethanesulfonamide and N-(6-chloro-5-(trifiuoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl)ethanesulfonamide. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention is directed to a process for preparing 5-sulfonamido-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamide compounds, which are HIV integrase inhibitors useful for treating HIV infection, preventing HIV infection, treating AIDS, and delaying the onset of AIDS. The present invention includes a process for preparing a compound of Formula (VIII): which comprises: (C) reacting a compound of Formula (IIIa) or (IIIb): with a sulfonamide of Formula (IV): in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? R 5 SO 2 —NHR 4 (IV) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? in solvent and in the presence of a copper promoter and a copper chelating agent to obtain a compound of Formula (Va) or (Vb): (D) when the compound resulting from Step C is Compound Va, (D1) treating Compound Va with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain a compound of Formula (VI): (D2) coupling Compound VI with an amine of Formula (VII): to obtain Compound VIII; and (E) when the compound resulting from Step C is Compound Vb, treating Compound Vb with a phenol deprotecting agent to obtain Compound VIII; wherein A is phenyl or phenyl fused to a carbocycle to form a fused carbocyclic ring system; G is a phenol protective group; or alternatively and with the proviso that the reactant in Step C is Compound IIIa, G and R 7 together with the phenolic oxygen moiety and carbonyloxy moiety to which they are attached form a phenol protective cyclic group of formula: wherein * and ** respectively denote the points of fusion to ring carbons 7 and 8 in the naphthyridine ring; and Y is —C(R c )(R d )- or -B(R e )-; L is a linker connecting a ring atom of A to the nitrogen of the —N(R 6 )-moiety, wherein L is (i) a single bond connecting ring system A directly to N(R 6 ), (ii)-(C 1-6 alkyl)-, (iii)-(C 2-6 alkenyl)-, or (iv)-(C 0-6 alkyl)-(C 3-6 cycloalkyl)-(C 0-6 alkyl)-; X is halo; each Z 1 is a substituent on A independently selected from the group consisting of: (1) —H, (2) —C 1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 , (3) —O—C 1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —OH, or —SR a , (4) —OH, (5) halogen, (6) —NO 2 , (7) —CN, (8) —C(═O)R a , (9) —CO 2 R a , (10) —SR a , (11) —N(R b ) 2 , (12) —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 , (13) —SO 2 R a , (14) —N(R a )SO 2 R a , and (15) —C 2-5 alkenyl; k1 is an integer equal to zero, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; each Z 2 is a substituent on A independently selected from the group consisting of: (1) —H, (2) aryl, (3) —O-aryl, (4) —C 1-6 alkyl-aryl, (5) —O—C 1-6 alkyl-aryl, (6) heteroaryl (7)—O-heteroaryl, (8)-C 1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, and (9) —O—C 1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, wherein the aryl in any of (2) to (5) or the heteroaryl in any of (6) to (9) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; k 2 is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2; each of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is independently: (1) —H, (2) —C 1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 , (3) —O—C 1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —OH, or —SR a , (4) —OH, (5) halogen, (6) —NO 2 , (7) —CN, (8) —C(═O)R a , (9) —CO 2 R a , (10) —SR a , (11) —N(R b ) 2 , (12) —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 , (13) —SO 2 R a , (14) —N(R a )SO 2 R a , and (15) —C 2-5 alkenyl; (16) aryl, (17) —O-aryl, (18) —C 1-6 alkyl-aryl, (19) —O—C 1-6 alkyl-aryl, (20) heteroaryl (21)—O-heteroaryl, (22) —C 1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, and (23) —O—C 1-6 alkyl-heteroaryl, wherein the aryl in any of (16) to (19) or the heteroaryl in any of (20) to (23) is optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; R 4 is —H, —C 1-6 alkyl, or aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; R 5 is C 1-6 alkyl or aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; or alternatively R 4 and R 5 together with the —NSO 2 — moiety to which they are attached form a sultam group of formula: wherein T and T′ are each independently a 6-membered carbocyclic ring which is saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic; m is an integer equal to zero, 1, or 2; and the sultam group is optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; R 6 is —H or —C 1-6 alkyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents independently selected from halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —N(R b ) 2 , and —CO 2 R a ; R 7 is —H, —C 1-6 alkyl or aryl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 , or phenyl; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —C(═O)R a , —CO 2 R a , —SR a , —N(R b ) 2 , or —C(═O)N(R a ) 2 ; each R a is independently —H or —C 1-6 alkyl; each R b is independently —C 1-6 alkyl; and R c and R d are each independently —H or —C 1-6 alkyl which is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, or —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl; R e is —C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, aryl, or —O-aryl; wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, or —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl; and the aryl is optionally substituted with from 1 to 7 substituents each of which is independently halogen, —C 1-6 alkyl, —C 1-6 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-6 alkyl, —O—C 1-6 haloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —NO 2 , —CHO, —C(═O)—C 1-6 alkyl, —CO 2 H, —CO 2 —C 1-6 alkyl, —SH, —S—C 1-6 alkyl, —N(—C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , —C(═O)NH 2 , or —C(═O)N(—C 1-6 alkyl) 2 ; and wherein each aryl is independently phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, or phenanthryl; and each heteroaryl is independently a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing from 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S and a balance of carbon atoms. The process of the present invention is distinguished from the previous process by the use of a protected hydroxynaphthyridine reactant in the Ullman-type copper-promoted condensation with the sulfonamide (Step C above). The process of the present invention is further distinguished from the previous process by its use of a copper-chelating agent in the copper-promoted condensation. The condensation reaction of Step C of the present invention has been found to proceed cleanly with little or no competing overreduction (i.e., little or no formation of byproducts analogous to c6 ), resulting in substantially improved yields of sulfonamide product compared to the previous process. The use of the protected hydroxynaphthyridine reactant in the Ullman-type condensation reaction of the present invention has also been found to produce far fewer tar-like byproducts than the previous process, which facilitates the workup of the sulfonamide product. In addition, the copper is typically much easier to separate from the sulfonamide product by washing. While not wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the copper does not complex to the derivatized hydroxy group —OG (in Compound IIIa or IIIb) as strongly as to the free —OH group (in Compound c3). Other embodiments, aspects and features of the present invention are either further described in or will be apparent from the ensuing description, examples and appended claims. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Device for reducing the ablation products on the surface of a work piece during laser drilling |
A device (1) for introducing holes into a workpiece (3) has a laser beam source for producing at least one laser beam (9) which may be directed toward the workpiece (3). A nozzle system (13) is provided having at least one nozzle (15; 17; 19) which may have a gas under pressure applied to it, the gas flow (23; 25; 27) exiting the nozzle (15; 17; 19) being aligned in relation to the workpiece surface in such a way that molten particles detached from the workpiece (3) are guided away from the hole produced by the laser beam (9). |
1-9. (Canceled) 10. A device for introducing a hole into a workpiece, comprising: a laser beam source for producing at least one laser beam that may be directed toward the workpiece; and a nozzle system including at least one nozzle and being capable of having a gas under pressure applied thereto, a gas flow exiting the at least one nozzle being aligned in relation to a surface of the workpiece in such a way that molten particles detached from the workpiece are guided away from the hole produced by the at least one laser beam. 11. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein: the nozzle system includes a protective gas nozzle for protecting an optical device and being capable of having a protective gas under pressure applied thereto. 12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein: the protective gas nozzle is positioned one of coaxially and eccentrically to the at least one laser beam, a geometry of the protective gas nozzle being selected in such a way that a protective gas flow incident on the workpiece surface guides the molten particles detached from the workpiece away from the hole. 13. The device as recited in claim 11, further comprising: a blocking device for preventing a free outflow of at least a part of a protective gas flow and provided in a discharge region of the protective gas nozzle. 14. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein: the blocking device includes a baffle device for the protective gas flow, the blocking device deflecting the protective gas flow surrounding the at least one laser beam in such a way that the protective gas flow is directed toward the workpiece surface at an angle not equal to 90°. 15. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein: the protective gas flow is directed essentially parallel toward the workpiece surface. 16. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein: the nozzle system includes at least one transverse flow nozzle capable of having a process gas under pressure applied thereto, a process gas flow exiting the at least one transverse flow nozzle having at least one directional component that is parallel to the workpiece surface. 17. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein: the at least one transverse flow nozzle is aligned in relation to the protective gas nozzle in such a way that the protective gas flow is deflected away from the workpiece surface by the process gas flow. 18. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein: the process gas flow exiting the at least one transverse flow nozzle is directed in a movement direction of the surface of the workpiece and executes a relative movement in relation to the nozzle system. 19. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein: at least one of a volume flow and a pressure of at least one of the process gas and the protective gas is adjustable. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND INFORMATION <EOH>Devices of the type according to the definition of the species are known. They are used for the purpose of introducing holes, boreholes, for example, into a workpiece with the aid of a laser beam. For this purpose, the laser beam is directed toward the workpiece surface. In this case, the material of the workpiece is locally heated, melted, and partially vaporized by the high intensity of the laser beam. The molten metal is driven out of the borehole produced by the relatively high vapor pressure. Due to the high kinetic energy of the molten metal, molten metal droplets separate at the edge of the hole. These cool down in the medium surrounding the borehole, such as the surrounding air, and partially accumulate together with the condensed vapor on the workpiece surface. As a function of the kinetic energy of these particles, their temperature, and the medium surrounding the borehole, a coating made of ablation products, some of which adheres firmly, results on the workpiece surface, which is not desirable. The particle deposition may make complex and costly reprocessing of the workpiece necessary. If a conventional protective gas nozzle is used, whose gas flow runs coaxially to the laser beam to protect the optical device from the molten particles rising from the hole edge and the condensed metal vapor, the molten particles are deflected by this gas beam, which is directed perpendicularly toward the workpiece surface, and pressed back onto the workpiece surface, which favors the undesired adhesion of the particles on the workpiece surface. |
Synchronous rectifier circuit |
A synchronous rectifier circuit, comprising a power transformer which has a primary side, including first and second primary winding sections, and a secondary side, including first and second secondary winding sections, a rectifier circuit at the secondary side of the power transformer, which rectifier circuit comprises first and second MOSFETs associated with the first and second secondary winding sections, respectively, first and second current transforming means associated with the first and second secondary winding sections, respectively, and first and second drive circuits for the first and second MOSFETs, respectively, each current transforming means generating first and second currents which are dependent on the current of the associated secondary winding section of the power transformer, and each drive circuit comprising first and second branches to receive the first and second currents, respectively, generated by the current transforming means, and the first branch comprising a diode and a transconductance choke, and the second branch comprising a diode. |
1. A synchronous rectifier circuit, comprising: a power transformer (12; 18) having a primary side (18a) including a first and a second primary winding sections and a secondary side (18b) including a first and a second secondary winding sections, a rectifier circuit (32) at the secondary side of the power transformer (12; 18), which rectifier circuit having a first and a second electronic switches (34, 36) associated with the first and the second secondary winding sections (18b), respectively, a first and a second current transforming means (48) associated with the first and the second secondary winding sections, respectively, and a first and a second drive circuits (50, 58) for the first and second electronic switches (34, 36), respectively, each current transforming means (48) generating first and second currents dependent on the current of the secondary winding section (18b) and each drive circuit (50, 58) comprising a first branch (50, 52) and a second branch (54, 56) to receive the first and second currents, respectively, generated by the current transforming device (48), and the first branch comprising a transconductance choke (52). 2. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each current transforming means comprises a converter-type current transformer (48) including a primary winding (48a) and first and second secondary windings (48b), the first and second branches of the drive circuit being associated with the first and second secondary windings, respectively, of the converter-type current transformer (48). 3. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic switches (34, 36) each comprise a MOSFET. 4. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the primary winding is connected in series to the first secondary winding section (18b) of the power transformer (18). 5. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first switch (34) is connected in series to the first secondary winding section (LS1) and the second switch (36) is connected in series to the second secondary winding section (LS2). 6. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first branch connects the first secondary winding (48b1) via a diode (50) and a transconductance choke (52) to a first gate of the associated MOSFET (34). 7. (Cancelled.) 8. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the switching element (64) includes a bipolar transistor. 9. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first secondary winding (48b1) has a greater number of windings than the second secondary winding (48b2) of the converter-type current transformer (48). 10. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the winding ratio (n1:n22:n21) of the primary winding (48a) to the first secondary winding (48b1) to the second secondary winding (48b2) of the converter-type current transformer (48) is in the order of 1:100:10. 11. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transconductance choke (52) comprises a switch winding (52a) and a reset winding (52b). 12. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the winding ratio of the switch winding (52a) to the reset winding (52b) is in the range of 1:4. 13. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the reset branch further comprises a second diode (66). 14. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an input switching stage (10) coupled to the power transformer (18). 15. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an output filter stage (16) coupled to the rectifier circuit (32). 16. A push-pull transformer comprising a synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 1. 17. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary winding of the second current transforming means is connected in series to the second secondary winding section of the power transformer (18). 18. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second branch connects the second secondary winding (48b2) of the converter-type current transformer (48) via a diode (56) to a second gate of the associated MOSFET (34). 19. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein a switching element (64) is interposed between a gate of the MOSFET (34) and at least one of the first or the second branches. 20. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the switch winding (52a) is disposed in the first branch and the reset winding (52b) is disposed in a reset branch. 22. The synchronous rectifier circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first branch and the second branch are in parallel. 23. A power transformer (12) comprising a primary side (18a) and a secondary side (18b) for providing a current output(i0); the secondary side (18b) having a current transformer (48) for controlling the output voltage of the power transformer, the current transformer (48) including a first winding (n1) in electromagnetic communication with a bifurcated second winding (n22, n21); wherein the ratio of the first current winding (n1) to the bifurcated second current winding (n22, n21) is adapted to maintain a substantially constant current output (i0). 24. The transformer of claim 23, wherein the current transformer 48 is coupled to a transconductance choke (52). 25. The transformer of claim 23, wherein a ratio of the first current winding to the second current winding n1: n21: n21is in the range of 1:50:5 to 1:100:10. 26. The transformer of claim 24, further comprising a first and a second drive circuit for driving the transconductance choke. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is the task of d.c. voltage converters to transform a direct voltage applied at their input into a direct voltage which is output at a different value, and to do so most efficiently. The output value may be greater or smaller than the input value and may be adjustable. In a d.c. voltage converter the direct voltage input, first, is transformed with the help of switching stages into alternating voltage having a rectangular waveshape. During the switch-on period “chopped” direct voltage is stored in the form of magnetic energy in a choke. During the switch-off period, it acts as a self-induction voltage at the output of the d.c. voltage converter. D.C. voltage converters operating according to this principle are referred to as choke converters. They have their inputs and outputs galvanically separated. It is known in the art to use transformers to achieve separation of potential. Here, the induced voltage occurs at the secondary winding, and the voltage transformation can be determined by the number of windings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a transformer-type converter used as d.c. voltage converter. FIG. 1 depicts the basic elements of a transformer-type converter, including an input switching stage 10 , a power transformer 12 , a rectifier circuit 14 , and an output filter 16 . A distinction is made in the art between single phase d.c. converters and push-pull voltage transformers. A single phase d.c. converter may be regarded as being a simple electronically controlled switch, whereas switch-over operations occur with push-pull voltage transformers, and a transformer 12 having two primary windings may be required. Push-pull transformers can be derived from two single phase d.c. converters connected in parallel. The electronic switch-over is accomplished by two switching stages, and current always flows through one of the two primary windings. The invention relates to the field of push-pull voltage transformers. In practice, such push-pull voltage transformers are employed in switch mode power supply, such as server architecture for telecommunications applications, in PCs, industrial applications, and many other situations. The invention is especially advantageous in distributed energy supply systems where several stages are connected in succession. In new server architectures, for instance, power supply units are used in which the mains voltage, to begin with, is converted into a bus voltage of some 48 to 50 V. A second conversion to +12 V, for example, then takes place within the server sub-system. The specific voltages required for the various components, such as the microprocessor, RAMs, etc. are produced locally by so-called voltage regulator modules which are connected to the 12 V rail. Each of the converting stages must operate as efficiently as possible in view of the series connection of different power stages. For maximum efficiency to be obtained with switch mode power supply, optimization in terms of energy loss is required regarding each and every source thereof. Energy losses depend not only on the type of converter or transformer chosen, be it a single phase d.c. converter or a push-pull voltage transformer, but are determined decisively by the mode of operation of the rectifier circuit. Making good use of the inductivities as well as driving the transducer in positive and negative directions present great advantages of push-pull voltage transformers. Another advantage is the great efficiency of the transformer and the high output power attained. FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a push-pull voltage transformer provided with Schottky diodes for rectification at the secondary side. The push-pull forward converter illustrated in FIG. 2 is known; its function is described, for example, in Billings, Keith “Switch Mode Power Supply Handbook”, 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1999. This converter comprises a power transformer 18 having a primary side 18 a and a secondary side 18 b . The primary side 18 a and the secondary side 18 b each comprise two winding sections. For driving purposes, two power transistors 20 , 22 are associated with the two winding sections at the primary side 18 a . Two secondary diodes 24 and 26 are associated, respectively, with the two winding sections at the secondary side 18 b . These diodes are connected to an output filter stage made up of a storage choke 28 and a storage capacitor 30 , as may be seen in FIG. 2 . The power transistors 20 , 22 are driven, for instance, by a control, IC (not shown). As the transistor 22 is driven, current will flow through the associated winding section of the power transformer 18 and also through the transistor 22 . The polarity of the associated winding section at the secondary side 18 b of the power transistor 18 causes the diode 26 to cut off. At the same time, voltage is induced also in the other winding section at the secondary side 18 b , thus causing current to flow through the diode 24 via the storage choke 28 . When a sufficient amount of energy has been transmitted from the primary side to the secondary side, the transistor 22 blocks. During the next cycle the transistor 20 is driven. The current now flowing through the second winding section of the primary side 18 a causes reversal of the polarity of the associated winding at the secondary side 18 b . Diode 24 blocks, while diode 26 is conducting, thus permitting current to flow through the choke 28 , as during the first cycle. To make sure that the two power transistors 20 , 22 will not be conducting at the same time, a compulsory break, the so-called freewheeling phase, is provided between the first and second cycles described above. During this freewheeling phase, the electric circuit at the secondary side 18 b of the transformer 18 is formed of the storage choke 28 , the storage capacitor 30 , the two conducting diodes 24 and 26 , and the connected load (not shown in the drawing). FIG. 3 presents idealized waveshapes of the output voltages u 01 , U 02 at the two winding sections of the secondary side 18 b of the power transformer 18 , forward currents i 01 , i 02 through the diodes 24 and 26 , and the output current i 0 through the storage choke 28 . A positive voltage u 01 , is generated during the first time interval from t 1 to t 2 . Diode 24 is conducting. The overall output current i 0 is passed through the same and through the upper secondary winding section of the power transformer 18 toward the output. The rise in output current is determined by the voltage difference u 01 -u 02 (output voltage) and the sum of the inductivities of the secondary circuit. The second time interval from t 2 to t 3 corresponds to the so-called freewheeling phase. The output voltages u 01 and u 02 of the transformer 18 are zero. The current i 0 is determined by the inductivities of the secondary circuit. If the upper and lower winding sections at the secondary side 18 b are identical the output current i 0 is divided in two. Each of the diodes 24 , 26 will carry one half of the output current i 0 . During this time interval the output current drops. During the third time interval from t 3 to t 4 a positive voltage u 02 is produced and diode 26 is conducting. The resulting behavior corresponds to that of the first time interval. During the last time interval from t 4 to t 5 of period T both power transistors 20 , 22 are turned off. The voltages u 01 and u 02 once again are zero, which corresponds to the freewheeling phase. In the embodiment of the d.c. voltage converter shown in FIG. 2 the secondary rectifier is embodied by diodes. The rectifier diodes produce losses which depend on the forward voltage of the diodes 24 , 26 and are composed of forward losses and switching losses of the diodes. The forward loss P DC of a diode is given by the product of its forward voltage drop u F and its forward current i D (see also FIG. 4 ) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? P DC =u F ·i D . in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? The forward voltage rises as the load increases; it lies between 0.5 V and 1.5 V, depending on the type of diode provided. If the transducer output voltage is 3.3 V, for example, which would correspond to a processor voltage, as much as 30% of the voltage will drop at the rectifier diodes. With higher transducer output voltages, e.g. 48 V in telecommunications applications, the voltage drop at the diodes is comparatively less, but still not negligible. The switching loss of a diode can be estimated by the following equation: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? P DS =Q F ·û·f in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? where Q F is the recovered load during the fall time of the reverse current of the diode, f is the reciprocal value of period T, and—is the peak value of the diode turnover voltage. A reduction of the forward loss discussed above can be achieved only by reducing the voltage drop. One solution resides in the use of a MOSFET connected in parallel with the diode. That is shown in FIG. 4 . The MOSFET is turned on when current in forward direction is applied to the diode, and it is turned off when the current is reversed. This is called synchronous rectification. The diode, such as diodes 24 , 26 , in a circuit may be replaced by a MOSFET. If the MOSFET used is of vertical structure its antiparallel diode or inverse diode (body diode) is utilized. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 which shows like members identified by like reference numerals as in FIG. 1 . FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates the replacement of the diode-type rectifier 14 by a synchronous rectifier circuit 32 on the basis of MOSFETs. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 it becomes clear that the voltage drop u DS at the MOSFET is determined by the switch-on resistance R DS(ON) of the MOSFET and the actual drain current which must equal the diode current i D . The following must apply if the energy loss is to be reduced: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? | u DS |=|R DS(ON) ·i D |>u F . in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? The forward loss, therefore, can be reduced by selecting a MOSFET of which the forward resistance R DS(ON) is small. A control signal is required for the MOSFET to be switched on and off. Generating the control signal has a decisive influence on the switching behavior. Moreover, the energy losses in this circuit must be taken into consideration. There are various known methods of driving synchronous rectifiers comprising a MOSFET, and they may be roughly classified as self-controlled, IC controlled, and current controlled. FIG. 6 is a simplified diagram of the secondary side of a self-controlled synchronous rectifier circuit. Again the same reference numerals are used to designate members corresponding to those of FIG. 2 . The power diodes 24 , 26 shown in FIG. 2 are replaced by MOSFETs 34 and 36 , respectively. The first winding section at the secondary side 18 b is designated L S1 , and the second winding section is designated L S2 . In the case of the self-controlled synchronous rectifier according to FIG. 5 the output voltage of the power transformer 18 is used to control the MOSFETs 34 , 36 . This circuit has the advantage of necessitating only little expenditure in circuitry since no additional driver circuits are needed to drive the MOSFETs 34 , 36 . With reference to FIG. 3 , the output voltage u 01 at the first winding section L S1 is positive during the time interval from t 1 to t 2 , while u 02 is negative at the second winding section L S2 . With these conditions, the p-channel MOSFET 34 is switched on because its gate voltage is negative. Corresponding switching behavior is true of the p-channel MOSFET 36 during the time interval from t 3 to t 4 ; MOSFET 34 is turned off, while MOSFET 36 is turned on. Operation of the MOSFET switches 34 , 36 during these two time intervals is satisfactory. During the freewheeling phase, however, no control voltage is generated. The current flows through the inverse diodes of the MOSFETs, whereby higher forward losses are produced than necessary. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous with the self-controlled synchronous rectifier design that p-channel MOSFETs are needed which are much more expensive and have a higher forward resistance than comparable n-channel MOSFETs. Moreover, the transformer output voltage range is restricted due to the gate voltage of the MOSFETs 34 , 36 . It must be higher than the threshold voltage and lower than the maximum permissible gate voltage of the MOSFETs of approximately 30 V. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the secondary side of a synchronous rectifier with IC drive, corresponding members being designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 6 . With this synchronous rectifier design, driver ICs 38 , 40 are provided to drive the MOSFETs 34 , 36 . There are only a few manufacturers who offer such specific driver ICs for synchronous rectifiers. The IC components 38 , 40 scan the secondary voltages of the transformer 18 , and the MOSFETs 34 , 36 are turned on or off, depending on the potential profile. The electronic control assures synchronous switching on and off of the synchronous rectifier. However, the scarce commercial availability and the relatively high costs and greater expenditure involved in connecting and feeding the driver ICs 38 , 40 are points against making use of driver ICs 38 , 40 . FIG. 8 , finally, is a circuit diagram of the secondary side of a current controlled synchronous rectifier, showing only the upper part of the secondary side 18 b which includes the first secondary winding section L S1 . The structure of the lower part, including the second secondary winding section L S2 is mirror inverted. In the current controlled synchronous rectifier, the power MOSFET 34 (and 36 , too, not shown in FIG. 8 ) is controlled through a current transformer 42 . The current transformer 42 is connected in series between the upper winding section L S1 , at the secondary side 18 b of the power transformer 18 and the MOSFET 34 and comprises a primary winding 42 a and a secondary winding 42 b . The secondary winding 42 b is connected to the gate of the MOSFET 34 by way of a voltage divider composed of two resistors 44 , 46 . When the transformer 18 is controlled such that current flows through the winding section L S1 , of the secondary side 18 b current also will flow through the inverse side of the MOSFET 34 , the current transformer 42 thus generating current in its secondary winding 42 b . This current brings about a voltage drop across the resistor 46 of a magnitude equal to the gate voltage of the MOSFET 34 . The value of the voltage drop is adjustable by the ratio between the two resistors 44 , 46 . MOSFET 34 is turned on during the time interval from t 1 , to t 2 , i.e. it is on also during the freewheeling phase. When current flows in the opposite direction the output voltage at the secondary side 42 of the current transformer 42 becomes negative and MOSFET 34 turns off. The second section L S2 of the power transformer 18 and the second MOSFET 36 (not shown in FIG. 8 ) behave accordingly, yet with opposite sign. Controlling synchronous rectifiers by means of current transformers, such as illustrated in FIG. 8 , has certain disadvantages. On the one hand, a MOSFET requires a great current pulse to be turned on, which means that the windings ratio n2/n1 of the current transformer must be low. In the switched-on state, on the other hand, the gate current of the MOSFET is negligible, which means that a high windings ratio n2/n1 of the current transformer is required. A description of prior art similar to what has been described above, but relating to a single phase forward transformer with synchronous rectification, including a current transformer, is to be found in “Synchronous Rectification Circuit Using A Current Transformer” by Y. Kubota et al., NTELC Conference Proceedings, September 2000, pages 267 to 273. It is an object of the invention, starting from the state of the art as described above, to indicate a synchronous rectifier circuit for a push-pull voltage transformer that attains the fastest possible switching of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) while, at the same time, causing the least possible power dissipation. This aim is to be reached, above all, by generating a higher switch-on current for the MOSFETs so as to keep the time of flow through the inverse diodes as short as possible, and of keeping the drive current as small as possible when the MOSFETs are in the on-state so as to minimize power dissipation. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The object is met by a synchronous rectifier circuit comprising the features recited in claim 1 . In a synchronous rectifier circuit comprising a current converter of the kind described above, the invention more specifically provides for designing the transformer of the current converter such as to include first and second secondary windings to drive the MOSFET in two stages. The first secondary winding yields a relatively high current gain, while the second secondary winding yields a relatively low current gain. Therefore, the first secondary winding can be utilized for quickly turning on the MOSFET, the gate capacitance of the MOSFET being charged rapidly by the relatively great switch-on current. In the second stage, the MOSFET which has been turned on is kept in the on state with relatively low current gain, and that requires a smaller current. Thus the MOSFET is susceptible of being driven quickly and, when turned on, being kept with low loss in its switched state. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, therefore, the electronic switches of the synchronous rectifier circuit are embodied by MOSFETs and the invention will be discussed below in the context of that type of transistors. However, the electronic switches likewise may be implemented as bipolar transistors or any other suitable type of switch. In addition, the invention provides for a transconductance choke to reset the secondary side 42 b of the current transformer 42 , the choke supporting the resetting or demagnetizing of the current transformer 42 after the switching operation. While transconductance chokes are known in principle, they were not employed so far either in synchronous rectifiers or for resetting current transformers. The specific provision of the transconductance choke in the circuitry of the secondary side of the current transformer permits the resetting operation to be accomplished in clearly less time so that the freewheeling phase can be chosen to be shorter. That offers the advantage of permitting the push-pull voltage transformer, on the whole, to be operated at higher frequency and/or in the sense of greater variability of the clock ratio. As the freewheeling phase becomes shorter, the clock ratio of the transformer can be adjusted more flexibly, in response to the energy to be transmitted. A shorter freewheeling phase also contributes to increasing the efficiency. Preferred embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims. |
VACUUM HANDLING DEVICE HAVING A SUCTION NOZZLE |
AND GRIPPER PART CONTAINED WITHIN A SINGLE HOUSING |
A vacuum handling device comprises includes a vacuum source having a suction nozzle means (6) operating on the ejector principle and furthermore a suction gripper (3) which possesses a gripper part (26) connected with the suction side of the suction nozzle means (6). The housing of the vacuum source (2) and of the suction gripper (3) constitute a housing unit (4), the gripper part (26) being adjustably mounted on the housing unit (4) for setting in the acting suction direction (44) thereof. |
1. A vacuum handling device comprising a vacuum source which possesses a suction nozzle means adapted to operate on an ejector principle, a suction gripper which possesses a movable gripper part connected directly with a suction side of the suction nozzle means, and a housing unit having a cavity containing both said suction nozzle means and at least a portion of said gripper part and wherein the gripper part is adjustably mounted on the housing unit for setting in an acting suction direction. 2. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing unit is an integral design. 3. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vacuum source and the suction gripper are arranged in the acting suction direction one after the other. 4. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the suction nozzle means comprises a single suction nozzle. 5. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the suction nozzle means includes several suction nozzles functionally connected in parallel. 6. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the suction nozzle is a cartridge, said cartridge being plugged into the housing unit. 7. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gripper part is connected fluidwise in the interior of the housing unit with the suction side of the suction nozzle means. 8. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the adjustably mounted gripper part projects into the housing unit. 9. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a spring means effective between the gripper part unit and the housing unit which biases the gripper part into a maximally extended home position, the gripper part being able to be shifted out of position by a setting force (Fv) against the spring force (FF) of the spring means. 10. A vacuum handling device comprising a vacuum source which possesses a suction nozzle means adapted to operate on an ejector principle, a suction gripper which possesses a movable gripper part connected with a suction side of the suction nozzle means, and a housing unit containing both said suction nozzle means and at least a portion of said gripper part and wherein the gripper part is adjustably mounted on the housing unit for setting in an acting suction direction, and wherein the adjustable gripper part delimits, in the interior of the housing unit an active plenum communicating with the suction side of the suction nozzle means, the vacuum built up in the active plenum being able to cause setting of the gripper part in relation to the housing unit from a farther extended position into a farther retracted position. 11. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the gripper part is biased into the farther extended position by spring means. 12. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 10 wherein the active plenum is delimited by a piston-like terminal section of the gripper part, which is arranged in a sliding fashion in the interior of the housing unit with a sealing means between it and the housing. 13. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the gripper part has a at least one suction space on its outer end, such space being connected by way of an aspiration duct extending through the gripper part with the plenum. 14. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the space is delimited by at least one suction plate or suction cup. 15. The vacuum handling device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the suction nozzle is a cartridge, said cartridge being plugged into the housing unit. 16. A vacuum handling device comprising: a housing having an inlet supply connection, an outlet opening and a cavity formed between said inlet supply connection and said outlet opening; a suction nozzle contained within said housing cavity between said inlet supply connection and said outlet opening, said suction nozzle having a suction opening and producing a suction at said suction opening when a pressure medium is supplied to said inlet supply connection of said housing; and a movable gripper part at least partially slidingly contained within said housing cavity, said gripper part being in direct fluid communication with said suction opening of said suction nozzle for holding an object by vacuum action. |
Bone plating system and method of use |
A bone plating system includes an external fixation plate fabricated from bone and/or other remodelable materials(s). |
1. A bone plating system which comprises an external fixation plate fabricated from one or more materials capable of remodeling with a mammalian recipient's bone such that the fixation plate will initially unite and/or immobilize recipient's bone and ultimately be remodeled and incorporated permanently at the fixation site. 2. The bone plating system of claim 1 wherein the bone plate is fabricated in whole or in part from autograft, allograft, xenograft, cortical, cancellous or corticocancellous bone. 3. The bone plating system of claim 2, made from human cortical bone. 4. The bone plating system of claim 2, made from xenograft cortical bone. 5. The bone plating system of claim 1, wherein the bone is made from fully mineralized to partially demineralized bone. 6. The bone plating system of claim 1 wherein the fixation plate is substantially planar. 7. The bone plating system of claim 1, wherein the external fixation plate is attached to the site of fixation with a screw made from bone and/or other remodelable material. 8. The bone plating system of claim 7 wherein the other remodelable material is a ceramic, polymer, bone composite or non-bone composite. 9. The bone plating system of claim 1, where several external fixation plates are joined together to provide a desired configuration. 10. The bone plating system of claim 1, where the external fixation plate is configured and fitted to a specific architecture for surgical implantation. 11. The bone plating system of claim 1, wherein the external fixation plate is incorporated into the renewed bone structure of the living bone which is united or immobilized and such bone growth replaces or eliminates the graft material. 12. The bone plating system of claim 1, wherein the external fixation plate is attached to the exterior surface of the bone. 13. The bone plating system of claim 1, wherein the external fixation plate includes a plurality of projections and/or recesses to facilitate attachment to a plurality of different body portions. 14. The bone plating system of claim 1, wherein the external fixation plate accepts a bone screw or other fixation device for attachment to the bone to be united or immobilized. 15. The bone plating system of claim 5, wherein only portions of the bone plate are partially demineralized to impart flexibility to the external fixation plate. 16. The bone plating system of claim 1 adapted to unite or immobilize more then one bone or portions of a single bone. 17. The bone plating system of claim 1 configured to unite or immobilize vertebral segments. 18. A method for the external fixation of bone which comprises affixing to a desired site of bone requiring fixation the bone plating system of claim 1. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the bone plating system is inserted into a preformed recess within the bone requiring fixation. 20. The method of claim 18 in which the bone plating system is combined with one or more other bone plates and/or osteoimplants to provide a desired implant architecture. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bone plating system and, more particularly, to a bone plating system made from cortical bone and used to retain a plurality of bones or bone fragments in fixed relation to each other. 2. Description of Related Art In repairing bone fractures or stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, it is known to affix a bone plate to the bone pieces utilizing screws to provide for vertebral fusion and/or healing of the fractured bone to occur. Typically, a bone plate is fastened to an exposed surface of the bone or a reconstructed area thereof to immobilize the fracture or vertebral segment thereof, in order for the fractured or reconstructed bone to undergo a healing or fusing process. A typical bone plate is made from a strip of metal such as surgical grade stainless steel, titanium, or other materials having high tensile strength and is provided along its length with a series of screw holes thereby permitting the plate to be affixed to the bone with the use of surgical screws. Bone grafting is also known. Grafting is the process in which living or non-living bone is placed between or into the living bone of the body. During the process, the graft becomes incorporated into the renewed bone structure of the living bone as it replaces itself and regrows. Over time, the new bone growth replaces the graft and eliminates the graft material regardless of whether the graft is of living or non-living bone tissue or other material which is resorbable by the body, e.g., a resorbable polymer, a composite, etc. Heretofore, bone fixation and bone grafting have been separate operations. Bone fixation involved the use of metallic plates affixed to the surface of a fractured or broken bone to hold the separate portions of the bone in place during the healing process. Meanwhile, bone grafting involved the use of pins, nails or screws which enter the bone and hold the bone together thereby allowing regrowth of new bone and healing. Accordingly, a need exists for a bone plate which is fabricated from a material which can be remodeled by the body, e.g., partially demineralized or fully mineralized bone, osteoconductive polymer, composite, etc., which can be affixed to the exterior of a fractured bone and will be grafted to the fracture or break site. |
<SOH> BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is an object of the invention to provide a bone plating system in the form of an external fixation plate for uniting and immobilizing bone with the fixation plate being eventually remodeled and incorporated into the recipient's bone at the site of implantation. It is another object if this invention to provide a bone plating system made from human cortical bone or xenograft bone sources. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a bone plating system that is attached with a bone screw that is made from human cortical bone, xenograft cortical bone or other biocompatible material. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a bone plating system wherein two or more subunits are assembled into an integrated external fixation plate. It is still a further object of this invention to provide a bone plating system that is specifically configured for surgical implantation in the subject host, or recipient. It is another object of the invention to affix the bone plating system to the exterior surface of bone elements, or bone portions, which are to be united and/or immobilized. It is another object of the invention to provide a preformed recess in the recipient's bone for receiving the bone plating system. It is yet another object of the invention to provide the bone plating system with preformed apertures for receiving bone screws or other fixation devices. It is a further object of the invention to provide a bone plating system wherein only portions of the bone plate have been partially demineralized to provide selective flexibility to pre-designated areas of the bone plate. In keeping with the foregoing objects, a bone plating system is provided which comprises an external fixation plate fabricated from one or more materials capable of remodeling with a recipient's bone such that the fixation plate will initially unite and/or immobilize recipient's bone and ultimately be remodeled and incorporated permanently at the fixation site. The material utilized in the fabrication of the bone plating system of this invention must be capable of remodeling with the recipient's own bone. Suitable materials include mineralized bone, demineralized bone, osteoconductive polymers and composites, etc., and combinations thereof. The bone plating system is remodeled and replaced by new host bone as incorporation of the bone progresses in vivo. As described more fully below, when bone is utilized as the material for the bone plating system the bone can be fully demineralized by removing substantially all of its inorganic mineral content, the bone can be partially demineralized by removing a significant amount, but less than all, of its inorganic mineral content, or the bone can be only superficially demineralized by removing a minor amount of its inorganic mineral content. The expression “bone plating system” as utilized herein is to be understood in its broadest sense and is not intended to be limited to any particular shape, configuration or dimension. Mineralized bone provides strength to the fixation plate and allows the plate to initially support load. Demineralized bone induces new bone formation at the site of the demineralized bone and permits adjustment of the overall mechanical properties of the fixation plate. Therefore, it may be desirable to fabricate a fixation plate from partially demineralized bone, i.e., bone which retains most of its mineral content and therefore most of its mechanical strength, and at the same time a degree of demineralization which renders the bone more biologically active and able to remodel more quickly with the recipient's bone. Where partially demineralized bone is employed, it is generally advantageous to demineralize just the surface of the bone so as to optimize the aforementioned properties of mechanical strength and biological (remodeling) activity. The term “demineralized” as used herein refers to bone containing less than its original content and is intended to encompass such expressions as “substantially demineralized”, “partially demineralized” and “fully demineralized”. As utilized herein, the expression “superficially demineralized” refers to bone-derived elements possessing at least about 90 weight percent of their original mineral content, the expression “partially demineralized” refers to bone derived elements possessing from about 8 to about 90 weight percent of their original inorganic mineral content and the expression “fully demineralized” refers to bone containing less than 8% of its original mineral context. The term “osteogenic” as applied to the bone of this invention shall be understood as referring to the ability of the bone to enhance or accelerate the ingrowth of new bone tissue by one or more mechanisms such as osteogenisis, osteoconduction and/or osteoinduction. The term “osteoinductive” as used herein shall be understood to refer to the ability of a substance to recruit cells from the host which have the potential for repairing bone tissue. The term “osteoconductive” as used herein shall be understood to refer to the ability of a substance to provide biologically inert surfaces which are receptive to the growth of new host bone. The term “osteogenesis” shall be understood to refer to the mechanism by which a non-osteoinductive substance serves as a suitable template or substrate along which bone may grow. The term “shaped” as applied to the bone plate herein refers to a determined or regular form or configuration, in contrast to an indeterminate or vague form or configuration (as in the case of a lump or other solid mass of no special form) and characteristic of materials such as sheets, plates, disks, cones, pins, screws, tubes, teeth, bones, portion of bone, wedges, cylinders, threaded cylinders, and the like. |
Fire extinguishing method and apparatus |
Fire extinguishing method, especially for spaces intended for the storage of aircraft, such as hangars, in which method a fire extinguishing medium, especially a liquid mist, is sprayed via at least one first nozzle (2) in the area, seen in a vertical direction, between an object (1) to be protected/extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor (3) or equivalent af the storage space. At least one first nozzle (2) is arranged to spray mainly in the area between the object (1) to be extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor (3) of the storage space or equivalent at least in a horizontal plane mainly in one first direction. |
1. Fire extinguishing method, especially for spaces intended for the storage of aircraft, such as hangars, in which method a dire extinguishing medium, especially a liquid mist, is sprayed via at least one first nozzle (2) in an area between an object (1) to be protected/extinguished, such as an aircraft, and a floor (30 or equivalent of the space, characterized in that at least one first nozzle (20 is arranged to spray mainly in the area between the object (1) to be extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor (3) of the storage space or equivalent at least in a horizontal plane mainly in one first direction. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one other first nozzle (2) is arranged to spray an extinguishing medium at a distance form one first nozzle (2) at least in a horizontal plane substantially in one first direction so that the sprays (2′) from said first nozzles (2) boost each other. 3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a fire extinguishing medium, especially liquid mist, is sprayed via at least one second nozzle (40 from above the object to be extinguished, such as an aircraft. 4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, due to the action of the suction produced by the spray (2′) form at least one first nozzle (2) at least part of the mist of extinguishing medium sprayed by at least one second nozzle (4) is directed into the space between the object (1) to be extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor (3). 5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the method, extinguishing medium is sprayed via a plurality of first nozzles (2) mainly in one first direction and via a plurality of second nozzles (4) in at least one second direction, the mist of extinguishing medium being kept mainly within the desired area by the currents thus formed. 6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray (2′) from at least one firs nozzle (2) is directed, at least in a horizontal plane, mainly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the object, such as the aircraft, or an axis parallel to it. 7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the second nozzles (4) are directed to spray substantially towards the upper part of the object (1) to be protected, such as an aircraft. 8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that extinguishing medium is sprayed from a plurality of first nozzles (2), at least some of which have been arranged one after the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the object (1) to be protected and/or side by side at a distance from each other in at least one direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the spray (2′) form at lest one first nozzle (2) is directed towards the lower part of the object (1) to be protected, such as the bottom of an aircraft. 10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one spray (2′) from at least one first nozzle (2) is directed obliquely upwards in a vertical plane. 11. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of first nozzles (2) are arranged to spray an extinguishing medium into the area between the floor (3) and the object (1), such as an aircraft, so that the sprays cover a substantial part of the lower surface of the object (1). 12. Fire extinguishing apparatus, especially for spaces intended for the storage of aircraft, such as hangars, said apparatus comprising at least one first nozzle (2), which is so directed that, in a activated state, it will spray a fire extinguishing medium, especially a liquid mist, in the area, seen in a vertical direction, between an object (1) to be protected/extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor (3) of the storage space or equivalent, and means for (5, 6) for supplying an extinguishing medium to said nozzles (2, 4), characterized in that at least one first nozzle (2) is arranged to spray mainly in the area between the object (1) to be extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor (3) of the storage space at least in a horizontal plane mainly in one first direction. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one other first nozzle (2) has been arranged to spray an extinguishing medium at a distance from one first nozzle (2) at least in a horizontal plane substantially in one first direction so that the sprays (2′) from said first nozzles (2) boost each other. 14. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that apparatus comprising at least one second nozzle (4), which is so directed that, in activated state, it will spray a fire extinguishing medium, especially liquid mist, above the object (1) to be protected/extinguished, such as an aircraft, and means (5, 6) for supplying an extinguishing medium to said nozzle (4). 15. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the nozzles (2, 4) are so arranged relative to each other that, due to the action of the suction produced by the spray (2′) from at least one first nozzle (2), at least part of the mist of extinguishing medium sprayed by at least one second nozzle (4) is directed into the space between the object (10 to be extinguished, such as the fuselage of an aircraft, and the floor (3). 16. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the nozzles (2, 4) are so arranged relative to each other that a plurality of first nozzles (2), when activated, will spray an extinguishing medium mainly in one first direction and a plurality of second nozzles (4) spray in at least one second direction so that the mist of extinguishing medium is kept mainly within the desired area by the currents produced by the sprays. 17. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the spray (2′) from at least one first nozzle (2) is directed in a horizontal plane mainly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the aircraft or an axis parallel to it. 18. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that at least some of the second nozzles (4) are directed to spray substantially towards the upper part of the object (1) to be protected, such as an aircraft, preferably substantially in a radial direction towards the assumed longitudinal axis of the object (1). 19. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized at least some of the first nozzles (2) are arranged one after the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the object and/or side by side at a distance from each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 20. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that at least part of the spray (2′0 from at least one first nozzle (2) is directed towards the lower part of the object (1) to be protected, such as the bottom of an aircraft. 21. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one spray (2′) from at least one first nozzle (2) is directed obliquely upwards in a vertical plane. 22. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that a plurality of first nozzles (2) are arranged to spray an extinguishing medium into the area between the floor (3) and the object (1), such as an aircraft, so that the sprays cover a substantial part of the lower surface f the object (1). |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing method as defined in the preamble of claim 1 , especially for spaces intended for the storage, maintenance, testing etc. of aircraft, such as hangars, in which method a fire extinguishing medium, especially a liquid mist, is sprayed, via at least one first nozzle in an area, seen in a vertical direction, between an object to be protected/extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor of the space or equivalent. The invention also relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus as defined in the preamble of claim 12 , especially for spaces intended for the storage, maintenance, testing etc. of aircraft, such as hangars, said apparatus comprising at least one first nozzle, which, when activated, is directed to spray an extinguishing medium, especially a liquid mist, in the area, seen in a vertical direction, between an object to be protected/extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor of the storage space, and means for supplying an extinguishing medium to the aforesaid nozzles. Fire extinguishing systems of spaces, such as various hangars, intended for the storage, maintenance, testing etc. of aircraft, such as airplanes, are very important as a means of protecting the valuable craft from a possible fire. Fires particularly difficult to extinguish are those occurring e.g. under an airplane, especially under its wing. So far, fire extinguishing systems used in hangars typically comprise nozzles installed above the object and/or in the floor, through which is sprayed a fire extinguishing medium, especially extinguishing foam. In such systems, the aim is to fill the entire space between the aircraft and the floor with foam. At the same time, however, efforts are made to prevent adverse effects of the foam on the aircraft. A disadvantage with systems using extinguishing foam is especially the cleaning work required after their application, especially on aircraft. Moreover, to allow such a system to be used, the space in which extinguishing foam is to be applied has to be evacuated before the system is triggered into action, which thus introduces a delay between the detection of fire and activation of the extinguishing system. Fire extinguishing systems using so-called film-forming foam are also known. In these systems, the extinguishing medium forms a film on the surface of objects. One of the disadvantages of these is that they typically have highly corrosive properties, which may damage the object to be protected. Moreover, their effectiveness is limited to only given types of fire. In addition, prior-art fire extinguishing systems are difficult to provide in the spaces to be protected without said systems interfering with other activities carried on in them. In fire-fighting technology, extinguishing systems based on water mist are also known, the use of which typically does not involve the disadvantages of systems using extinguishing foam. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The object of the present invention is to achieve a solution that uses a liquid mist, especially water mist as an extinguishing medium for extinguishing fires in storage spaces for aircraft, such as airplanes. Another object of the invention is to achieve an effective extinguishing solution that can be used to put out fires occurring under an object to be protected, such as an aircraft. The method of the invention is mainly characterized in that at least one first nozzle is arranged to spray mainly in the area between the object to be extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor of the storage space at least in a horizontal plane mainly in one first direction. The method of the invention is additionally characterized by what is presented in claims 2 - 11 . The apparatus of the invention is characterized in that at least one first nozzle has been arranged to spray mainly in the area between the object to be extinguished, such as an aircraft, and the floor of the storage space at least in a horizontal plane mainly in one first direction. The apparatus of the invention is additionally characterized by what is presented in claims 13 - 22 . The solution of the invention has many significant advantages. According to the invention, the nozzles spraying between the object to be protected and the floor are very effective in subduing the flames of a fire between the object and the floor at an early stage, protecting the bottom of the object even alone. Sprays directed in the same direction boost the effect of each other, with the result that their penetration is increased, among other things. In addition, the mist of extinguishing medium sprayed from nozzles placed above the object to be protected is directed, due to the currents generated, to the area between the object and the floor. The solution of the invention keeps the mist of extinguishing medium very well within the area to be protected, even in is open spaces. The method and apparatus of the invention are very well applicable for fire protection of different aircraft storage spaces. By using the solution of the invention, different types of liquid fires, such as fires in reservoirs or flowing fires of flammable liquids. In the case of such fires, the seat of fire is typically below the object to be protected. The solution of the invention is also well applicable for fire protection of buildings where the distance from the floor to nozzles mounted overhead, e.g. in the ceiling, is relatively large, e.g. 5-10 m. Thus, the solution of the invention can be easily installed in spaces to be protected without interfering with other activities. |
Friction stir tool for friction welding |
The object of the invention is to create a friction welding tool for friction welding that can be controlled with respect to measuring accuracy based upon the temperature in the weld zone. This object is attained in accordance with the invention by determining the temperature values of the weld zone (6) by means of a temperature sensor (7), which is arranged with its measuring point in the pin (4) of the stir welding tool (1). |
1-4. (canceled) 5. A friction stir welding tool for friction welding having a control that takes into consideration measured temperature values of a weld zone, wherein the temperature values of the weld zone are determined by a temperature sensor that is arranged with its measuring point in a pin of the friction stir welding tool. 6. The friction welding tool of claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is integrated in an autarchic telemetric measuring system located on the tool, which continuously transmits the measured temperature values to a control unit of the tool located outside of the friction stir welding tool. 7. The friction stir welding tool of claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermal element. 8. The friction stir welding tool of claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is a pyrometer having a sapphire rod ending in the pin or an optical fiber ending in the pin. 9. The friction stir welding tool of claim 6, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermal element. 10. The friction stir welding tool of claim 6, wherein the temperature sensor is a pyrometer having a sapphire rod ending in the pin or an optical fiber ending in the pin. 11. A process of determining temperature values of a weld zone of a friction stir welding tool for friction welding having a control that takes into consideration the temperature values of the weld zone, comprising measuring the temperature values of the weld zone by a temperature sensor that is arranged with its measuring point in a pin of the friction stir welding tool. 12. The process of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor is integrated in an autarchic telemetric measuring system located on the tool, which continuously transmits the measured temperature values to a control unit of the tool located outside of the friction stir welding tool. 13. The process of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermal element. 14. The process of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor is a pyrometer having a sapphire rod ending in the pin or an optical fiber ending in the pin. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention concerns a friction stir welding tool for friction welding. A friction welding process is described, for example, in international publication WO 95/26254 A1. To produce a good welded connection, this publication discloses guiding a friction stir welding tool with vertical pressure along the connecting point of the workpiece to be welded. It is particularly advantageous to provide the friction stir welding tool with a concave shoulder and a pin configured in a screw shape. Also of great importance in friction stir welding is the adjustment of a temperature that is suitable for the welding procedure in the stirred material of the weld zone. This temperature is influenced, among other things, by the parameters of the welding process, such as the rate of feed, the number of revolutions, and the contact pressure of the friction stir welding tool. Also known is a process of influencing by means of cooling devices if necessary. It is known in friction stir welding to measure the temperature in the stirred material of the weld zone in order to control the welding procedure in accordance with the measured temperature values. One known measuring process consists of recording the temperature of the welded plates in the vicinity of the weld zone. Since the plates cool off considerably a short distance from the weld zone, the temperature of the stirred material of the weld zone cannot be determined with sufficient accuracy with this measuring process. Another known measuring method for determining the weld zone temperature consists of using a pyrometer. As an optical radiation measurement, this measuring method is impaired in its measurement accuracy by the structured surface of the welding location. Such pyrometers are also used for the online monitoring of the quality of roll welding joints or mash seam welding joints as is described, for example, in European publication EP 1 075 892 A2. One object of the invention is to create a friction stir welding tool for friction welding that can be controlled with sufficient measuring accuracy based upon the temperature in the weld zone. This object is attained in accordance with the invention. Further developments of the invention are also disclosed. In the temperature measuring process of the invention, the temperature of the weld zone is recorded by means of a temperature measuring device whose measuring element is arranged in the pin of the friction stir welding tool. The measurement location is separated from the weld zone only by the thermally conductive wall of the pin, and a good correspondence can therefore be achieved between the measured and the actual temperature values of the weld zone. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention concerns a friction stir welding tool for friction welding. A friction welding process is described, for example, in international publication WO 95/26254 A1. To produce a good welded connection, this publication discloses guiding a friction stir welding tool with vertical pressure along the connecting point of the workpiece to be welded. It is particularly advantageous to provide the friction stir welding tool with a concave shoulder and a pin configured in a screw shape. Also of great importance in friction stir welding is the adjustment of a temperature that is suitable for the welding procedure in the stirred material of the weld zone. This temperature is influenced, among other things, by the parameters of the welding process, such as the rate of feed, the number of revolutions, and the contact pressure of the friction stir welding tool. Also known is a process of influencing by means of cooling devices if necessary. It is known in friction stir welding to measure the temperature in the stirred material of the weld zone in order to control the welding procedure in accordance with the measured temperature values. One known measuring process consists of recording the temperature of the welded plates in the vicinity of the weld zone. Since the plates cool off considerably a short distance from the weld zone, the temperature of the stirred material of the weld zone cannot be determined with sufficient accuracy with this measuring process. Another known measuring method for determining the weld zone temperature consists of using a pyrometer. As an optical radiation measurement, this measuring method is impaired in its measurement accuracy by the structured surface of the welding location. Such pyrometers are also used for the online monitoring of the quality of roll welding joints or mash seam welding joints as is described, for example, in European publication EP 1 075 892 A2. One object of the invention is to create a friction stir welding tool for friction welding that can be controlled with sufficient measuring accuracy based upon the temperature in the weld zone. This object is attained in accordance with the invention. Further developments of the invention are also disclosed. In the temperature measuring process of the invention, the temperature of the weld zone is recorded by means of a temperature measuring device whose measuring element is arranged in the pin of the friction stir welding tool. The measurement location is separated from the weld zone only by the thermally conductive wall of the pin, and a good correspondence can therefore be achieved between the measured and the actual temperature values of the weld zone. |
Transcutaneous immunization against papillomavirus with papillomavirus virus-like particles |
The present invention relates to a method of vaccinating a mammal against papillomavirus by administering papillomavirus virus-like particles transdermally to a mammal under conditions effective to induce an immune response to the papillomavirus. |
1. A method of vaccinating a mammal against papillomavirus comprising: administering papillomavirus virus-like particles transcutaneously to a mammal under conditions effective to induce an immune response to the papillomavirus. 2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: administering one or more vaccine booster inoculations of papillomavirus virus-like particles to the mammal. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said booster inoculation is administered parenterally, transdermally, or orally. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the booster is orally administered. 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the booster is parenterally administered. 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the booster is transdermally administered. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the immune response is an immune response which will protect the mammal from infection by papillomavirus. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the papillomavirus is a human papillomavirus. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the human papillomavirus is Human Papillomavirus Type 6. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the human papillomavirus is Human Papillomavirus Type 11. 11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the human papillomavirus is Human Papillomavirus Type 16. 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the human papillomaviris is Human Papillomavirus Type 18. 13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the papillomavirus virus-like particles are administered with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The family Papovaviridae constitutes a group of DNA viruses that induce both lytic infections and either benign or malignant tumors. Structurally, all are naked icosahedral virions with 72 capsomeres and contain double-stranded circular DNA. Viruses included in the family are: (1) human and animal papillomaviruses, (2) mouse polyomavirus, (3) simian vacuolating virus, and (4) human viruses BK and JC. Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infect cutaneous, genital, oral, and respiratory epithelia in a tissue-specific manner. Infection with HPV has been associated closely with the development of both benign lesions and malignancies (Reichman et al., Papilomaviruses , pp. 1191-1200 (1990); and Mandell et al., Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 3rd Edition, Churchill Livingstone, New York, N.Y.). For example, HPV type 1 (HPV-1) is present in plantar warts, HPV types 6 or 11 (HPV-6 or HPV-11) in condylomata acuminata (anogenital warts), while HPV types 16 or 18 (HPV-16 or HPV-18) are common in premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervical squamous epithelium (See Crum et al., “Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Neoplasia: New Perspectives,” Int. J. Gynecol. Pathol. 3:376-388 (1984); zur Hausen, Genital Papillomavirus Infections , pp. 83-90 (1985); Rigby et al., Viruses and Cancer , Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK; and Koutsky et al., “Epidermology of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection,” Epidemiol. Rev. 10:122-163 (1988)). However, difficulties in propagating HPV in vitro has led to the development of alternative approaches to antigen production for immunologic studies. For example, Bonnez et al., “The PstI-XhoII Restriction Fragment of the HPV-6b L1 ORF Lacks Immunological Specificity as Determined by Sera from HPV 6 Condyloma Acuminatum Patients and Controls,” UCLA Symp. Mol. Cell. Biol ., New Series, 124:77-80 (1990); Jenison et al., “Identification of Immunoreactive Antigens of Human Papillomavirus Type 6b by Using Escherichia coli -Expressed Fusion Proteins,” J. Virol. 62:2115-2123 (1988); Li et al., “Identification of the Human Papillomavirus Type 6b L1 Open Reading Frame Protein in Condylomas and Corresponding Antibodies in Human Sera,” J. Virol. 61:2684-2690 (1987); Steele et al., “Humoral Assays of Human Sera to Disrupted and Nondisrupted Epitopes of Human Papillomavirus Type 1,” Virology 174:388-398 (1990); and Strike et al., “Expression in Escherichia coli of Seven DNA Segments Comprising the Complete L1 and L2 Open Reading Frames of Human Papillomavirus Type 6b and the Location of the ‘Common Antigen’,” J. Gen. Virol. 70:543-555 (1989), have expressed recombinant capsid protein coding sequences in prokaryotic systems, and used them in Western blot analyses of sera obtained from individuals with HPV infection of the genital tract. Results from these studies have suggested that antibodies to denatured, i.e. linear, epitopes of HPV capsid proteins can be detected in the sera of some infected individuals. Whole virus particles have also been used to detect antibodies in human sera, including antibodies directed against conformational epitopes. These studies have been difficult to conduct, because most naturally occurring HPV-induced lesions produce few particles. Whole virus particles can be obtained, however, in amounts sufficient to conduct immunologic assays from HPV type 1-induced plantar warts (Kienzler et al., “Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity to Human Papillomavirus Type 1 (HPV-1) in Human Warts,” Br. J. Dermatol. 108:65-672 (1983); “Pfister et al., Seroepidemiological Studies of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV-1) Infections,” Int. J. Cancer 21:161-165 (1978); and Steele et al., “Humoral Assays of Human Sera to Disrupted and Nondisrupted Epitopes of Human Papillomavirus Type 1,” Virology 174:388-398 (1992)) and experimentally-induced HPV-11 athymic mouse xenographs (Kreider et al., “Laboratory Production in vivo of Infectious Human Papillomavirus Type 11 ,” J. Virol. 61:590-593 (1991); and Kreider et al., “Morphological Transformation in vivo of Human Uterine Cervix With Papillomavirus from Condylomata Acuminata,” Nature 317:639-641 (1985)). More particularly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,757 to Kreider et al., discloses a method of propagating infectious HPV-11 virions in the laboratory using an athymic mouse xenograph model system. Although this system is capable of producing quantities of infectious virus that could be used for the development of a serologic test for genital HPV infection, this system is very expensive and cumbersome. Furthermore, only one genital HPV type has so far been propagated in this system, thus, limiting its usefulness. In addition, the infectious virus produced using this system represents a biohazard and, therefore, would be difficult to use in a vaccine formulation Zhou et al., in “Expression of Vaccinia Recombinant HPV 16 L1 and L2 ORF Proteins in Epithelial Cells is Sufficient for Assembly of HPV Virion-like Particles”, Virology 185:251-257 (1992), have reported the formation of HPV-16 virus-like particles in CV-1 cell nuclei following infection with a vaccinia virus HPV-16 L1/L2 double recombinant expression vector. However, the authors were not able to produce VLPs with a vector expressing L1 alone. Furthermore, the VLPs produced lacked a well-defined symmetry, and were more variable in size and smaller, only about 35-40 nm in diameter, than either HPV virions (551m) or the VLPs of the present invention (baculovirus produced HPV-11 VLPs, about 50 nm in diameter). U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,447, to Minson, discloses a method of screening hybridoma culture supernatants for monoclonal antibodies with desired specificities. Minson's method is exemplified by the production of antibodies to the L1 protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) using this protein as the target antigen in mice. However, Minson fails to disclose the expression of the L1 protein or production of HPV virus-like particles (VLPs). U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,239, to Schoolnik et al., discloses short peptide sequences derived from several of the papillomavirus early region open reading frames which elicit type-specific antibodies to papillomavirus. However, the inventors fail to disclose any sequences directed to the major late open reading frame, L1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,411 to Lancaster et al., discloses a polynucleotide sequence of about 30 nucleotides of the papillomavirus L1 capsid protein open reading frame that the inventors contend encode a papillomavirus type-specific epitope. However, the inventors do not disclose infected animals that produced antibodies which recognize this sequence. Instead, they synthesized a bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) version of the sequence (a 10 amino acid peptide, or decapeptide), then immunized rabbits and tested the antiserum's ability to react with either BPV-1 or BPV-2 induced fibropapilloma tissue. The peptide antiserum only reacted with BPV-1 and not BPV-2 tissue. The inventors then concluded that the peptide contained an antigenic determinant that was type-specific, and therefore, all papillomavirus L1 coding sequences contain a type-specific epitope at this locus. This is theoretical speculation on the part of the inventors, who give no supporting data for this hypothesis. In addition, the amino acid sequences disclosed (i.e. 10 amino acids) are generally thought not to be capable of adopting higher order antigenic structures, i.e., conformational epitopes that possess a three-dimensional structure such as those produced by the method described herein. Another problem associated with papillomavirus infections is the need for alternative therapeutic and prophylactic modalities. In 1944, Biberstein treated condyloma acuminatum patients with an autogenous vaccine derived from the patients' warts (Biberstein, “Immunization Therapy of Warts,” Arch. Dermatol Syphilol. 50:12-22 (1944)). Thereafter, Powell et al., developed the technique typically used today for preparing autogenous wart vaccines for the treatment of condyloma acuminatum (Powell et al., “Treatment of Condylomata Acuminata by Autogenous Vaccine,” South Med. J. 63:202-205 (1970)). Only one double-blind, placebo-controlled study has attempted to evaluate the efficacy of the autogenous vaccine (Malison et al., “Autogenous Vaccine Therapy for Condyloma Acuminatum A Double-blind Controlled Study,” Br. J. Vener. Dis. 58:62-65 (1982)). The authors concluded that autogenous vaccination was not effective in the treatment of condylomata acuminata, although this interpretation may be erroneous. The small number of patients studied precluded drawing valid negative conclusions. ID any event, autogenous vaccines, as presently described, have several disadvantages. First, the patient needs to have relatively large warts (2 g to 5 g) in order to prepare the vaccine. Secondly, the practitioner needs access to laboratory equipment and expertise each time a new patient is to be treated. Thus, vaccine preparation is very expensive, tedious, and in cases involving relatively small lesion mass, not possible. The present invention is directed to overcoming these deficiencies in the art. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a method of vaccinating a mammal against papillomavirus by administering papillomavirus virus-like particles transcutaneously to the mammal under conditions effective to induce an immune response to the papillomavirus. Immunization, in accordance with the present invention, could be given by untrained personnel, and is amenable to self-application. Large-scale field immunization could occur given the easy accessibility to immunization. Additionally, a simple immunization procedure would improve access to immunization by pediatric patients and the elderly, and populations in Third World countries. For previous vaccines, their formulations were injected through the skin with needles. Injection of vaccines using needles carries certain drawbacks including the need for sterile needles and syringes, trained medical personnel to administer the vaccine, discomfort from the injection, and potential complications brought about by puncturing the skin with the needle. Immunization through the skin without the use of needles (i.e. transcutaneous immunization) represents a major advance for vaccine delivery by avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks. The transcutaneous delivery system of the invention is also not concerned with penetration of intact skin by sound or electrical energy. Such a system that uses an electrical field to induce dielectric breakdown of the stratum corneum is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,386 to Hofmann, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Moreover, transcutaneous immunizations may be superior to immunization using needles as more immune cells would be targeted by the use of several locations targeting large surface areas of skin. A therapeutically effective amount of antigen sufficient to induce an immune response may be delivered transcutaneously either at a single cutaneous location, or over an area of intact skin covering multiple draining lymph node fields (e.g., cervical, axillary, inguinal, epitrochlear, popliteal, those of the abdomen and thorax). Such locations close to numerous different lymphatic nodes at locations all over the body will provide a more widespread stimulus to the immune system than when a small amount of antigen is injected at a single location by intradermal subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Antigen passing through or into the skin may encounter antigen presenting cells which process the antigen in a way that induces an immune response. Multiple immunization sites may recruit a greater number of antigen presenting cells and the larger populations of antigen presenting cells that were recruited would result in greater induction of the immune response. It is conceivable that absorption through the skin may deliver antigen to phagocytic cells of the skin such as, dermal dendritic cells, macrophages, and other skin antigen presenting cells; antigen may also be delivered to phagocytic cells of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that are known to serve as the antigen presenting cells through the blood stream or lymphatic system The result would be widespread distribution of antigen to antigen presenting cells to a degree that is rarely, if ever achieved, by current immunization practices. Transcutaneous immunization offers certain advantages over other routes of vaccination. For example, transcutaneous vaccines are more easily administered and, thus, may be more acceptable to vaccine recipients. Also, transcutaneous vaccines can be less pure than vaccines formulated for injection, making production costs lower. Interestingly, in some instances transcutaneously administered antigens have been shown to elicit mucosal immune responses, which may be important for protection against infection with certain pathogens (Glenn, et al., “Transcutaneous Immunization with Cholera-toxin Protects Mice Against Lethal Mucosal Toxin Challenge,” J. Immunol. 161(7):3221-4 (1998) and Gockel, et al., “Transcutaneous Immunization Induced Mucosal and Systemic Immunity: A Potent Method for Targeting Immunity to the Female Reproductive Tract,” Molec. Immun. 37(9):537-44 (2000)), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety). Roughly 450,000 new cases of invasive uterine cervical carcinoma are diagnosed annually worldwide (Munos, N., “Disease-Burden Related to Cancer Induced by Viruses and H. pylori,” World Health Organization ( WHO ) Vaccine Research and Development: Report of the Technical Review Group Meeting (1997), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Therefore, efficient methods of vaccine delivery will be needed for the immunization of large numbers of susceptible individuals. Thus, transcutaneous immunization strategies will certainly facilitate implementation of mass immunization programs designed to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and other HPV-associated diseases. Long-term low-level immune stimulation via a convenient needle-free transdermal immunization method may be particularly useful for priming naïve individuals for subsequent booster immunizations and, thus, can potentially reduce the number of booster immunizations required and the amount of antigen required to achieve an immune response adequate for protection from disease. As a result, transdermal immunization may be useful for reducing the cost of immunization |
Waste removal system |
A waste removal system that includes a toilet pan (28) for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet (20). The pan (28) includes a rearward end (28a) adapted for positioning substantially adjacent a cistern (22) and a frontward end (28b) adapted for positioning substantially remote the cistern (22). The pan (28) also includes a flushing water outlet having a primary outlet nozzle arrangement (42) disposed substantially adjacent the pan frontward end (28b) and adapted to direct flushing water (62) downwards and towards the pan rearward end (28a). The system also includes a related flushing method and drainline (90). |
1. A toilet pan for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the pan including: a rearward end adapted for positioning substantially adjacent a cistern; a frontward end adapted for positioning substantially remote the cistern; and a flushing water outlet having a primary outlet nozzle arrangement disposed substantially adjacent the pan frontward end and adapted to direct flushing water downwards and towards the pan rearward end. 2. The pan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pan also has a S-bend outlet trap with a pan end and a sewer end and the primary outlet nozzle arrangement is also adapted to direct flushing water towards and/or into the S-bend pan end. 3. The pan as claimed in claim 2, wherein the S-bend pan end includes a substantially straight pipe section and the primary outlet nozzle arrangement is also adapted to direct flushing water substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe section. 4. The pan as claimed in claim 1, wherein a majority of the flushing water is directed to the primary outlet nozzle arrangement. 5. The pan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary outlet nozzle arrangement includes a plurality of outlet nozzles. 6. The pan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pan also has a secondary outlet nozzle arrangement. 7. The pan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the secondary outlet nozzle arrangement is in the form of a single nozzle disposed substantially adjacent the pan rearward end and adapted to direct a minority of the flushing water substantially downwards. 8. The pan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the minority of the flushing water is direct to the secondary outlet nozzle arrangement. 9. The pan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pan also has tertiary outlet nozzle arrangements disposed along the sides of the pan and adapted to direct a minority of the flushing water substantially downwards. 10. The pan as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tertiary outlet nozzle arrangements are in the form of holes. 11. The pan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pan includes a rear wall leading to the S-bend and the secondary outlet nozzle arrangement is adapted to direct flushing water downwards along the rear wall. 12. The pan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pan includes a manifold adapted for fluid communication with a flushing outlet of the cistern and the primary or the primary and secondary outlet nozzle arrangements. 13. The pan as claimed in claim 12, wherein the manifold substantially replicates the shape of upper rim of the pan. 14. The pan as claimed in claim 12, wherein the manifold is formed separately from the pan. 15. The pan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the manifold is releasably engageable with the pan. 16. The pan as claimed in claim 12, wherein the manifold is formed integrally with the pan. 17. The pan as claimed in claim 12, wherein the manifold is formed integrally with the toilet seat. 18. A method of flushing a toilet pan for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the pan having a rearward end adapted for positioning substantially adjacent a cistern and a frontward end adapted for positioning substantially remote the cistern, the method comprising directing a majority of a cistern's flushing water in a concentrated jet from the upper forward end of the pan towards the lower rearward end of the pan in a direction substantially aligned with the frontward-to-rearward centreline of the pan. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the method also comprises directing a minority of a cistern's flushing water from the upper rearward end of the pan along a rear wall of the pan and towards the lower rearward end of the pan. 20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the method also comprises directing a minority of a cistern's flushing water down the sides of the pan. 21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the method also comprises inducing a partial syphon action into the waste outlet of the pan by directing the majority of a cistern's flushing water directly into the pan outlet in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leading section of the pan outlet, whereby the partial syphon action lowers the level of the water in the pan during the commencement of the flush. 22. A toilet pan for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the pan comprising: a flushing outlet; and an outlet trap in fluid communication with the flushing outlet, the outlet trap comprising a first downwardly concave lower bend and a second upwardly convex upper bend, wherein the pan cross-sectional shape at an upper level horizontally aligned with the upper surface of the first bend defines a first relatively larger cross-sectional area and the pan's cross-sectional shape at a lower level horizontally aligned with the lower surface of the second bend defines a second relatively substantially smaller cross-sectional area. 23. The pan as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first cross-sectional area is approximately double the size of the second cross-sectional area. 24. The pan as claimed in claim 22, wherein the pan has a substantially vertical rear wall section with a lower edge substantially adjacent the first cross-sectional area. 25. The pan as claimed in claim 24, wherein the rear wall is upwardly angled from the rear of the pan at about 0 to 10 degrees from horizontal. 26. The pan as claimed in claim 22, wherein the pan has a front wall section between the first and second cross-sectional areas, the front wall section having an upper relatively steeply angled portion, a lower portion substantially parallel to and displaced rearwardly from the upper portion and an intermediate relatively shallowly angled portion therebetween. 27. The pan as claimed in claim 22, wherein the geometric centre of the first cross-sectional area is substantially horizontally aligned with a user's solid drop position. 28. The pan as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second cross-sectional area is rearward of the solid drop position. 29. A drainline for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the drainline characterised by a height-to-width ratio between about 1.4:1 to 1.5:1 and an upper radius-to-lower radius ratio of about 3:1. 30. The drainline as claimed in claim 29, wherein the drainline is produced from extruded plastics material. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The design of water closets (WCs) in Australia has been greatly influenced by the need to minimise water consumption and maintain an adequate sanitation system to safe guard and maintain a high level of public health. Since 1982 reductions in Australian WC flushing volume have lead to a major lowering of the average daily WC water consumption per person from 55 litres to 18 litres. A major contribution to this reduction was the development of the two button, dual flush WC having 6/3 litre reduced flush technology which gave the user the choice of applying either a 6 litre full flush or a 3 litre reduced flush option to operate the WC. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a toilet pan for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the pan including: a rearward end adapted for positioning substantially adjacent a cistern; a frontward end adapted for positioning substantially remote the cistern; and a flushing water outlet having a primary outlet nozzle arrangement disposed substantially adjacent the pan frontward end and adapted to direct flushing water downwards and towards the pan rearward end. The pan preferably also has a S-bend outlet trap with a pan end and sewer end and the primary outlet nozzle arrangement is also adapted to direct flushing water towards and/or into the S-bend pan end. The S-bend pan end includes a substantially straight pipe section and the primary outlet nozzle arrangement is also adapted to direct flushing water substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe section. A majority of the flushing water is preferably directed to the primary outlet nozzle arrangement. The primary outlet nozzle arrangement preferably includes a plurality of outlet nozzles. The pan preferably also has a secondary outlet nozzle arrangement, most preferably in the form of a single nozzle, disposed substantially adjacent the pan rearward end and adapted to direct a minority of the flushing water substantially downwards. The pan preferably also has tertiary outlet nozzle arrangements, most preferably in the form of holes, disposed along the sides of the pan and adapted to direct a minority of the flushing water substantially downwards. The pan preferably includes a rear wall leading to the S-bend and the secondary outlet nozzle arrangement is adapted to direct flushing water downwards along the rear wall. The minority of the flushing water is preferably directed to the secondary outlet nozzle arrangement. The pan preferably includes a manifold adapted for fluid communication with a flushing outlet of the cistern and the primary or the primary and secondary outlet nozzle arrangements. The manifold preferably substantially replicates the shape of upper rim of the pan. In one form, the manifold is formed separately from the pan and is preferably releasably engageable therewith. In another form, the manifold is formed integrally with the pan. In a further form, the manifold is formed integrally with the toilet seat. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of flushing a toilet pan for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the pan having a rearward end adapted for positioning substantially adjacent a cistern and a frontward end adapted for positioning substantially remote the cistern, the method comprising directing a majority of a cistern's flushing water in a concentrated jet from the upper forward end of the pan towards the lower rearward end of the pan in a direction substantially aligned with the frontward-to-rearward centreline of the pan. The method preferably also comprises directing a minority of a cistern's flushing water from the upper rearward end of the pan along a rear wall of the pan end towards the lower rearward end of the pan. The method preferably also comprises directing a minority of a cistern's flushing water down the sides of the pan. The method preferably also comprises inducing a partial syphon action into the waste outlet of the pan by directing the majority of a cistern's flushing water directly into the pan outlet in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leading section of the pan outlet, whereby the partial syphon action lowers the level of the water in the pan during the commencement of the flush. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a toilet pan for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the pan comprising: a flushing outlet; and an outlet trap in fluid communication with the flushing outlet, the outlet trap comprising a first downwardly concave lower bend and a second upwardly convex upper bend, wherein the pan cross-sectional shape at an upper level horizontally aligned with the upper surface of the first bend defines a first relatively larger cross-sectional area and the pan's cross-sectional shape at a lower level horizontally aligned with the lower surface of the second bend defines a second relatively substantially smaller cross-sectional area. Preferably, the first cross-sectional area is approximately double the size of the second cross-sectional area. The pan preferably has a substantially vertical rear wall section with a lower edge substantially adjacent the first cross-sectional area. The rear wall is preferably upwardly angled from the rear of the pan at about 0 to 10 degrees from horizontal. The pan preferably has a front wall section between the first and second cross-sectional areas, the front wall section having an upper relatively steeply angled portion, a lower portion substantially parallel to and displaced rearwardly from the upper portion and an intermediate relatively shallowly angled portion therebetween. The geometric centre of the first cross-sectional area is preferably substantially horizontally aligned with a user's solid drop position. The second cross-sectional area is preferably wholly rearward of the solid drop position. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a drainline for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet, the drainline characterised by a height-to-width ratio between about 1.4:1 to 1.5:1 and an upper radius-to-lower radius ratio of about 3:1. The drainline in preferably produced from extruded plastics material. |
Rubber and textile mat |
A mat for use in commercial, residential, and/or automotive applications includes a rubber layer comprising rubber particles and a matrix material proximate the rubber particles. The matrix material comprises a barrier material and a binder material. The mat also includes a textile layer thermally bonded to the rubber layer. The textile layer comprises a backing layer comprising polyester. The textile layer further comprises a tufted textile surface coupled to the backing layer. |
1. A mat comprising: a rubber layer comprising rubber particles and a matrix material proximate the rubber particles, wherein the matrix material comprises a barrier material and a binder material; and a textile layer thermally bonded to the rubber layer; wherein the textile layer comprises a backing layer comprising polyester; and wherein the textile layer further comprises a tufted textile surface coupled to the backing layer. 2. The mat of claim 1, wherein the rubber particles comprise recycled rubber and the barrier material comprises titanium dioxide. 3. The mat of claim 1, wherein the binder material comprises an isocyanate binder. 4. The mat of claim 1, wherein the binder material is adapted to bond with a polyester material at elevated temperatures. 5. The mat of claim 1, wherein the backing layer is thermally bonded to the rubber layer. 6. The mat of claim 1, wherein the textile surface comprises an olefin material. 7. The mat of claim 6, wherein the olefin material comprises at least one of nylon, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene. 8. The mat of claim 6, wherein the textile surface is a blended material. 9. The mat of claim 6, wherein the textile surface also comprises monofilament fibers. 10. The mat of claim 1, wherein the rubber layer comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the textile layer covers at least a portion of the first surface. 11. The mat of claim 10, wherein the textile layer covers the entire first surface. 12. The mat of claim 10, wherein the textile layer covers at least a portion of both the first and second surfaces. 13. The mat of claim 1, wherein the barrier material acts to reduce or prevent migration of breakdown products from the rubber particles. 14. The mat of claim 1, wherein the binder material comprises between approximately 6 and 10 percent of the rubber layer. 15. The mat of claim 1, wherein the rubber layer further comprises a coloring pigment. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Mats (e.g., floor mats) of various configurations and designs may be used in commercial, residential, and automotive applications. For example, a floor mat may be placed at an entryway to a building to allow individuals to remove moisture (e.g., water) and debris (e.g., dirt) from their shoes prior to entering the building. In the automotive context, floor mats are typically provided to prevent moisture and debris from damaging fabric included on the floor of a vehicle passenger compartment. One material that has been used to form mats is rubber. For various reasons (e.g., reduced cost, resource and environmental conservation, etc.), it is desirable to use a recycled (e.g., post-consumer) rubber material in the formation of mats. Various difficulties are presented with the use of recycled rubber, however. For example, breakdown products (e.g., grease, oils, etc.) present in recycled rubber may migrate or escape from the mat, which may stain or discolor a surface on which the mat is placed (e.g., a floor). For this reason, mats incorporating recycled rubber have generally been used in outdoor applications. Another issue with the use of recycled rubber is that mats produced with such materials generally have a black color, since a large amount of recycled rubber is typically obtained from recycled automobile tires. A mat having a black color may not have the aesthetic appeal that a mat having a different color may provide. For example, while a black rubber mat may be suitable for commercial applications (e.g., store entryways, etc.), residential and automotive customers may prefer a rubber mat having a color that matches or is compatible with other colors present where the mat will be placed (e.g., a wall color, etc.). In certain applications, it may be desirable to produce a mat that includes a rubber layer and a textile layer. The textile layer may allow an individual to more easily remove moisture and debris from shoes and/or may provide additional aesthetic appeal to the mat. One method that may be used to secure a textile material to a rubber layer is to introduce a liquid latex material between the textile material and the rubber layer. This method has the disadvantage of requiring an additional material and processing step in the manufacture of rubber and textile mats. Thus, there is a need for a mat for use in indoor and outdoor applications that is formed using recycled rubber. There is also a need to provide a recycled rubber mat that does not stain or discolor a surface (e.g., a floor) on which it is placed. There is also a need for a rubber mat that includes a colorant to allow production of rubber mats in a variety of colors. There is further a need for a mat that includes a textile surface that may be thermally bonded directly to a rubber layer. There is further a need for a method of producing a mat having a rubber backing layer and a textile surface that reduces the number of processing steps and the amount of material required. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>An exemplary embodiment relates to a mat. The mat includes a rubber layer comprising rubber particles and a matrix material proximate the rubber particles. The matrix material comprises a barrier material and a binder material. The mat also includes a textile layer thermally bonded to the rubber layer. The textile layer comprises a backing layer comprising polyester. The textile layer further comprises a tufted textile surface coupled to the backing layer. Other exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims. |
Method of preparing silicas, silicas with specific pore-size and/or particle-size distribution, and the uses thereof, in particular for reinforcing polymers |
The invention relates to a novel method of preparing silicas and to highly-structured silicas having the following characteristics: a specific surface area CTAB (SCTAB) of between 40 and 525 m2/g; a specific surface area BET (SBET) of between 45 and 550 m2/g; an object size distribution width Ld ((d84−d16)/d50), which is measured by XDC particle size analysis after deagglomeration with ultrasound, of at least 0.91; and a pore-size distribution such that ratio V(d5−d50)/V(d5−d100) is at least 0.66. The invention also relates to the use of said silicas as polymer reinforcing fillers. |
1-51. (Canceled) 52. A process for preparing silica, comprising the reaction of a silicate with an acidifying agent whereby a silica suspension is obtained, followed by the separation and the drying of this suspension, said reaction of the silicate with the acidifying agent being carried out according to the following successive steps: (i) forming an aqueous stock having a pH of between 2 and 5; (ii) adding simultaneously silicate and acidifying agent to the said stock in such a way that the pH of the reaction mixture is maintained between 2 and 5; (iii) stopping the addition of the acidifying agent, while continuing to add silicate into the reaction mixture until a pH value of the reaction mixture of between 7 and 10, is obtained; (iv) adding simultaneously silicate and acidifying agent to the reaction mixture in such a way that the pH of the reaction mixture is maintained between 7 and 10; and (v) stopping the addition of the silicate, while continuing to add the acidifying agent into the reaction mixture until a pH value of the reaction mixture of less than 6 is obtained. 53. The process according to claim 52, wherein a maturing step is carried out between step (iii) and step (iv). 54. The process according to claim 52, wherein a maturing step is carried out after step (v). 55. The process according to claim 52, wherein, in step (v), the addition of the silicate is stopped, while continuing to add the acidifying agent into the reaction mixture until a pH value of the reaction mixture of between 3 and 5.5 is obtained. 56. The process according to claim 52, wherein, between step (iii) and step (iv), acidifying agent is added to the reaction mixture, the pH of the reaction mixture after this addition being between 7 and 9.5. 57. The process according to claim 52, wherein the entire reaction between the silicate and the acidifying agent is carried out between 70 and 95° C. 58. The process according to claim 52, wherein the entire reaction between the silicate and the acidifying agent is carried out at a constant temperature. 59. The process according to claim 52, wherein step (i) comprises the addition of acidifying agent to water so as to obtain a pH value of the stock thus formed of between 2 and 6. 60. The process according to claim 52, wherein step (i) comprises the addition of acidifying agent to a water+silicate mixture so as to obtain a pH value of the stock thus formed of between 2 and 6. 61. The process according to claim 52, wherein step (i) comprises the addition of acidifying agent to a stock containing preformed silica particles at a pH of greater than 7 so as to obtain a pH value of the stock thus formed of between 2 and 6. 62. The process according to claim 52, wherein the drying is carried out by spray drying. 63. The process according to claim 52, wherein the separation comprises a filtration carried out by means of a filter press. 64. The process according to claim 62, wherein the drying is carried out by means of a nozzle spray dryer. 65. The process according to claim 52, wherein the separation comprises a filtration carried out by means of a vacuum filter. 66. The process according to claim 62, wherein the drying is carried out by means of a turbine spray dryer. 67. A silica, having: a CTAB specific surface area (SCTAB) of between 40 and 525 m2/g; a BET specific surface area (SBET) of between 45 and 550 m2/g; a size distribution width Ld ((d84−d16)/d50) of objects measured by XDC particle size analysis after ultrasonic disintegration of at least 0.91, and a pore volume distribution such that the ratio V(d5−d50)/V(d5−d100) is at least 0.66. 68. The silica according to claim 67, wherein the size distribution width Ld of objects is of at least 0.94. 69. The silica according to claim 67, wherein the ratio V(d5−d50)/V(d5−100) is at least 0.68. 70. The silica according to claim 67, wherein the size distribution width Ld ((d84−d16)/d50) of objects measured by XDC particle size analysis after ultrasonic disintegration, is of at least 1.04, and the pore volume distribution such that the ratio V(d5−d50)/V(d5−d100) is at least 0.71. 71. The silica according to claim 67, having, after ultrasonic disintegration, a median diameter (Ø50S) of less than 8.5 μm. 72. The silica according to claim 67, having, after ultrasonic disintegration, a median diameter (Ø50M) of less than 8.5 μm. 73. The silica according to claim 67, having a rate of disintegration, denoted by a, measured in the test referred to as ultrasonic disintegration in pulsed mode, at 100% power of a 600 watt probe, of at least 0.0035 μm−1.min−1. 74. A silica, having: a CTAB specific surface area (SCTAB) of between 40 and 525 m2/g; a BET specific surface area (SBET) of between 45 and 550 m2/g; and a pore distribution width ldp of greater than 0.70. 75. The silica according to claim 74, having a size distribution width Ld ((d84−d16)/d50) of objects, measured by XDC particle size analysis after ultrasonic disintegration, of at least 0.91. 76. The silica according to claim 74, having, after ultrasonic disintegration, a median diameter (Ø50S) of less than 8.5 μm. 77. The silica according to claim 74, having, after ultrasonic disintegration, a median diameter (Ø50M) of less than 8.5 μm. 78. The silica according to claim 74, having a rate of disintegration, denoted by α, measured in the test referred to as ultrasonic disintegration in pulsed mode, at 100% power of a 600 watt probe, of at least 0.0035 μm1.min1. 79. A silica, having: a CTAB specific surface area (SCTAB) of between 40 and 525 m2/g; a BET specific surface area (SBET) of between 45 and 550 m2/g; a size distribution width L′d ((d84−d16)/d50) of objects smaller than 500 nm, measured by XDC particle size analysis after ultrasonic disintegration, of at least 0.95; and a pore volume distribution such that the ratio V(d5−d50)/V(d5−d100) is at least 0.71. 80. The silica according to claim 69, having the ratio V(d5−d50)/V(d5−d100) of at least 0.73. 81. A silica, having: a CTAB specific surface area (SCTAB) of between 40 and 525 m2/g; a BET specific surface area (SBET) of between 45 and 550 m2/g; a size distribution width L′d ((d84−d16)/d50) of objects smaller than 500 nm, measured by XDC particle size analysis after ultrasonic disintegration, of at least 0.90; and a pore volume distribution such that the ratio V(d5−d50)/V(d5−d100) is at least 0.74. 82. The silica according to claim 70, wherein the size distribution width Ld of objects of at least 1.04 and the size distribution width L′d of objects smaller than 500 nm is of at least 0.95. 83. The silica according to claim 77, wherein, after ultrasonic disintegration, the median diameter (Ø50S) is of less than 8.5 μm, in particular less than 6.0 μm. 84. The silica according to claim 79, having, after ultrasonic disintegration, a median diameter (Ø50M) of less than 8.5 μm. 85. The silica according to claim 79, having a rate of disintegration, denoted by α, measured in the test referred to as ultrasonic disintegration in pulsed mode, at 100% power of a 600 watt probe, of at least 0.0035 μm−1.min−1. 86. The silica according to claim 67, having a (Sears number×1000)/(BET specific surface area (SBET)) ratio of less than 60. 87. The silica according to claim 67, having an object size such that the mode of the particle size distribution measured by XDC particle size analysis after ultrasonic disintegration satisfies the following condition: XDC mode (nm)≧(5320/SCTAB(m2/g))+8. 88. The silica according to claim 67, having a pore volume (V80) formed by the pores having a diameter of between 3.7 and 80 nm of at least 1.35 cm3/g. 89. The silica according to claim 67, wherein the CTAB specific surface area (SCTAB) is of between 60 and 330 m2/g; and the BET specific surface area (SBET) of between 70 and 350 m2/g. 90. The silica according to claim 67, wherein the CTAB specific surface area (SCTAB) is of between 90 and 230 m2/g. 91. The silica according to claim 67, wherein the BET specific surface area (SBET) is of between 110 and 270 m2/g. 92. The silica according to claim 67, having a (SBET−SCTAB)≧5 m2/g. 93. The silica according to claim 67, having a (SBET−SCTAB)<50 m2/g. 94. The silica according to claim 67, being in the form of approximately spherical beads having a mean size of at least 80 μm. 95. The silica according to claim 67, being in the form of a powder having a mean size of at least 15 μm. 96. The silica according to claim 67, being in the form of granules having a mean size of at least 1 mm. 97. A reinforcing filler for polymers, comprising a silica as defined in claim 67. 98. A reinforcing filler in a natural rubber, comprising a silica as defined in claim 67. 99. A shoe sole comprising a silica as defined in claim 67. 100. The shoe sole according to claim 99, further comprising monoethoxydimethylsilylpropyl tetrasulphide. |
Retroreflection device |
The first reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the first lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the second reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the second lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the third reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is parallel to one of the two lateral faces forming a V-shaped groove, the third reflective lateral face of the second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is identical with, or parallel to, the other of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove, and the third reflective lateral face of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit is same as one of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove. |
1. A retroreflective device in which a large number of complex cube-corner retroreflective elements are arranged in closest-packed state, each of said complex cube-corner retroreflective elements having a first and second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units and at least one tetrahedral retroreflective unit, characterized in that the three reflective lateral faces (a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2) of each of the first and second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units form mutually perpendicular cube-corner reflective surfaces, respectively, the first reflective lateral face (f11), the second reflective lateral face (e11) and the third reflective lateral face (g11) of said at least one tetrahedral retroreflective unit form a mutually perpendicular cube-corner reflective surfaces, said first reflective lateral face (a1) of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the first lateral face (f11) of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit, said second reflective lateral face (b1) of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the second lateral face (e11) of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit, said complex cube-corner retroreflective element has a quadrangular circumference defined by mutually parallel y-lines and mutually parallel z-lines, said complex cube-corner retroreflective element has a substantially symmetrical V-shaped groove with its center line x-x′ passing through the points of intersection of said parallel y-lines and parallel z-lines, the third reflective lateral face (c1) of said first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is parallel to one of the two lateral faces (g11) forming said V-shaped groove, the third reflective lateral face (c2) of said second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is identical with, or parallel to, the other (g21) of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove, and the third reflective lateral face (g11) of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit is same as one of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove. 2. A retroreflective device according to claim 1, in which all of the tetrahedral retroreflective units form pairs of rotation symmetrical configuration mutually rotated by 180° and said complex cube-corner retroreflective elements have a rotation symmetrical configuration. 3. A retroreflective device according to claim 1, in which at least one tetrahedral retroreflective unit is not in a rotation symmetrical configuration rotated by 180°. 4. A retroreflective device according to any one of claims 1-3, which is characterized in that the optical axis is tilted in such a manner, where the point of intersection of a perpendicular line drawn from apex (H) of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on x-x′ line with Sx plane determined by x-x′ line group is represented by P and the point of intersection of the optical axis of same tetrahedral retroreflective unit with said Sx plane is represented by Q, that the distance (q) from x-x′ line to point Q and the distance (p) from x-x′ line to point P are not the same. 5. A retroreflective device according to claim 4, which is characterized in that the optical axis is tilted in such a manner, where the point of intersection of a perpendicular line drawn from the apex (H) of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on x-x′ line with the Sx plane determined by x-x′ line group is represented by P, and the point of intersection of the optical axis of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit with said Sx plane is represented by Q, that the difference (q-p) between the distance (q) from x-x′ line to point Q, and the distance (p) from x-x′ line to the point P, takes a positive value. 6. A retroreflective device according to claim 5, which is characterized in that the optical axis is tilted by 0.5°-30° in the direction, where the point of intersection of a perpendicular line drawn from an apex (H) of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on x-x′ line with the Sx plane determined by x-x′ line group is represented by P, and the point of intersection of the optical axis of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit with said Sx plane is represented by Q, that the difference between the distance (q) from the x-x′ line to the point Q and the distance (p) from the x-x′ line to the point P, i.e., (q-p), takes a positive (+) value. 7. A retroreflective device according to claim 6, which is characterized in that the optical axis is tilted by 5°-20° in the direction, where the point of intersection of a perpendicular line drawn from an apex (H) of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on x-x′ line with the Sx plane determined by x-x′ line group is represented by P, and the point of intersection of the optical axis of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit with said Sx plane is represented by Q, that the difference between the distance (q) from the x-x′ line to the point Q and the distance (p) from the x-x′ line to the point P, i.e., (q-p), takes a positive (+) value. 8. A retroreflective device according to claim 7, which is characterized in, where the distance from an apex (H) of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit to Sx plane determined by the x-line group is expressed as hx; the distance from the same apex to Sy plane defined by the y-line group, as hy; the distance to Sz plane defined by the z-line group, as hz, and that to Sw plane defined by w-line group determined by base line of the fourth reflective lateral face (d1 or d2) of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit, as hw, that hx is not equal to at least either one of hy and hz, and hw is not equal to at least either one of hy and hz. 9. A retroreflective device according to claim 8, which is characterized in that hx of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit is greater than at least either one of hy and hz, and hw is greater than at least either one of hy and hz. 10. A retroreflective device according to claim 8 or 9, which is characterized in that the ratio of hx of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on x-x′ line to at least either one of hy and hz is 1.05-1.5, and the ratio of hw to at least either one of hy and hz is 1.05-1.5. 11. A retroreflective device according to claim 10, which is characterized in that hx of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on x-x′ line equals hw, hy equals hz, and the ratio of hx to hy is 1.05-1.5. 12. A retroreflective device according to claim 11, which is characterized in that the bottoms of at least one group of those substantially symmetrical V-shaped parallel groove groups (Vx, Vy, Vz and Vw) which are defined by said x-, y-, z- and w-line groups forming the triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units or tetrahedral retroreflective units, are formed of a flat surface or a curved quadratic surface. 13. A retroreflective device according claim 12, which is characterized in that deviation is given to at least one of the two lateral faces of at least one group of the substantially symmetrical V-shaped parallel groove groups (Vx, Vy, Vz and Vw) which are determined by the x-, y-, z- and w-line groups of triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units or tetrahedral retroreflective unit(s), so that the prismatic vertical angles of the triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units or of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit(s) which are formed by said V-shaped parallel grooves are given a deviation of ±(0.00-0.1)° from 90°. 14. A retroreflective device according to claim 12, which is characterized in that deviation is given to at least one V-shaped parallel groove group among the substantially symmetrical V-shaped parallel groove groups (Vx, Vy, Vz and Vw) which are determined by the x-, y-, z- and w-line groups of the triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units or tetrahedral retroreflective unit(s), such that the vertical angles of the cube-corner reflective elements formed by said group of V-shaped parallel grooves show deviations of ±(0.001-0.1)° from 90°, in a pattern of repeating at least two different sets of deviations. 15. A retroreflective device according to claim 14, in which the angle formed by the x-line of the retroreflective device with an outer edge of a product formed of said retroreflective device is 5-85°. 16. A retroreflective device according to claim 15, in which the angle formed by the x-line of the retroreflective device with an outer edge of a product formed of said retroreflective device is 30-60°. 17. A retroreflective device according to claim 16, in which the retroreflective device has a first zone and a second zone, the angle formed by x1-line of said first zone with x2-line of said second zone being 5-175°. 18. A retroreflective device according to claim 17, in which the retroreflective device has a first zone and a second zone, the angle formed by x1-line of said first zone with x2-line of said second zone being 80-100°. 19. A retroreflective device according to claim 18, which is characterized in that many complex cube-corner retroreflective elements, each comprising first and second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units and at least a pair of tetrahedral retroreflective units, are disposed in the closest-packed state, said device being characterized in that all the tetrahedral retroreflective units have an identical shape and mutually form rotation symmetrical pair as rotated by 180° to one another, said complex cube-corner retroreflective elements have rotation-symmetrical configurations, where the point of intersection of a perpendicular line drawn from the apex (H) of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on x-x′ line with Sx plane determined by x-x′ line group is represented by P and the point of intersection of the optical axis of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit with said Sx plane is represented by Q, the optical axis is tilted by 5-20° in such direction that the difference between the distance (q) from x-x′ line to the point Q and the distance (p) from x-x′ line to the point P, i.e., (q-p), takes a positive (+) value, in the tetrahedral retroreflective unit having one of its base lines on said x-x′ line, hx equals hw, hy equals hz, and the ratio of hx to hy is 1.05-1.5, and among the substantially symmetrical V-shaped parallel groove groups (Vx, Vy, Vz and Vw) determined by x-, y-, z- and w-line groups forming the triangular retroreflective units or the tetrahedral retroreflective units, at least one group of said grooves have bottoms formed of flat or quadratic plane. |
<SOH> TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION BELONGS <EOH>This invention relates to a triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective sheeting and retroreflective articles of novel structures. More particularly, the invention relates to a retroreflective device in which a large number of complex cube-corner retroreflective elements are arranged in closest-packed state, each of said complex cube-corner retroreflective elements having a first and second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units and at least one tetrahedral retroreflective unit. Specifically, the invention relates to a retroreflective device in which a large number of complex cube-corner retroreflective elements are arranged in closest-packed state, each of said complex cube-corner retroreflective elements having a first and second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units and at least one tetrahedral retroreflective unit, which device is useful for signs such as traffic signs (commonly used traffic signs and delineators), road surface signs (pavement markers) and construction signs; number plates for vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles; safety goods such as reflective tapes to be adhered to bodies of tracks or trailers, clothing and life preservers; marking on signboards; and reflective plates of visible light, laser-beams or infrared light-reflective sensors. That is, the invention relates to a retroreflective device in which a large number of complex cube-corner retroreflective elements are arranged in closest-packed state, each of said complex cube-corner retroreflective elements having a first and second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units and at least one tetrahedral retroreflective unit, characterized in that the three reflective lateral faces (a 1 , b 1 , c 1 and a 2 , b 2 , c 2 ) of each of the first and second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective units form mutually perpendicular cube-corner reflective surfaces, respectively, the first reflective lateral face (f 1 ) of said at least one tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the second reflective lateral face (e 1 ) and the third reflective lateral face (g 1 ) thereof form a mutually perpendicular cube-corner reflective surfaces, said first reflective lateral face (a 1 ) of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the first lateral face (f 1 ) of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit, said second reflective lateral face (b 1 ) of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the second lateral face (e 1 ) of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit, said complex cube-corner retroreflective element has a quadrangular circumference defined by mutually parallel y-lines and mutually parallel z-lines, said complex cube-corner retroreflective element has a substantially symmetrical V-shaped groove with its center line x-x′ passing through the points of intersection of said parallel y-lines and parallel z-lines, the third reflective lateral face (c 1 ) of said first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is parallel to one of the two lateral faces (g 1 ) forming said V-shaped groove, the third reflective lateral face (c 2 ) of said second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is parallel to the other (g 2 or c 2 ) of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove, and the third reflective lateral face (g 1 ) of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit is same as one of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove. |
Hair colouring compositions |
A hair colouring composition contains an oxidative hair dye and at least one antioxidant agent selected from the group consisting of rosmarinus officinalis, origanum vulgare, camellia sinensis, camellia oleifera, salvia officinalis, apium graveolen, thymus vulgaris, rosa canina and coriandrum sativum in combination with a suitable diluent or carrier. The hair colouring compositions are gentler on the skin and hair in that they reduce the effects or the oxidising agent on the hair and skin. |
1-24. Cancel 25. A hair colouring composition containing an oxidative hair dye and two or more antioxidant agents selected from the group consisting of rosmarinus officinalis; origanum vulgare; camellia sinensis; camellia oleifera; salvia officinalis; apium graveolen; thymus vulgaris; rosa canina; and coriandrum sativum in combination with a suitable diluent or carrier. 26. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, which includes two of said antioxidants, including one antioxidant selected from a first group consisting of origanum vulgare; camellia sinensis; camellia oleifera; apium graveolens; and salvia officinalis and the other of said antioxidants is selected from a second group consisting of rosmarinus officinalis; thymus vulgaris; rosa canina; and coriandrum sativum. 27. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, wherein the antioxidant from the first group is origanum vulgare. 28. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 27, wherein the antioxidant from the second group is either rosa canina or thymus vulgaris. 29. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, which comprises three of said antioxidants. 30. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 26, wherein one or two of said antioxidants are selected from the first group defined in claim 26 and two or one respectively are selected from the second group defined in claim 26. 31. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 30, comprising one antioxidant from the first group and two from the second group. 32. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 31, wherein the two antioxidants from the second group are selected from rosa canina, coriandrum sativum and thymus vulgaris. 33. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 32, wherein the antioxidant from the first group is selected from the group consisting of camellia oleifera; camellia sinensis; salvia officinalis; and origanum vulgare. 34. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 33, wherein the composition comprises one of the following combinations of antioxidants: camellia oleifera/rosa canina/thymus vulgaris camellia sinensis/rosa canina/coriandrum sativum salvia officinalis/coriandrum sativum/thymus vulgaris; and origanum vulgare/coriandrum sativum/thymus vulgaris. 35. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 34, wherein the combination of antioxidants is camellia oleifera/rosa canina/thymus vulgaris. 36. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, wherein the total amount of antioxidant agents lies in the range of 0.1% to 5.0% of the total weight of the composition. 37. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, wherein the total amount of antioxidant agents present lies in the range of 0.5%-1.5% of the total composition by weight. 38. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, which exhibits a level of lipid peroxidation inhibition of greater than 60%. 39. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, wherein the hair dye is selected from the group consisting of p-amino phenol, p-phenylenediamine, 4-chlororesorcinol, resorcinol, p-amino-o-cresol, m-aminophenol, p-toluenediamine sulphate, N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl-p-phenylenediamine) sulphate, 2,5-diamine toluene sulphate, 4-amino-2-hydroxy toluene, 2-amino 4-hydroxyethylaminoanisole sulphate, o-chloro-p-phenylenediamine sulphate, 4-nitro-m-phenylenediamine, n-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine, n-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine sulphate, 1-naphthol, 6-chloro-2-amino-4-nitrophenol, 2-amino-3-hydroxy pyridine, 4-amino-3-nitrophenol, 4-amino-m-cresol, 2-methyl-5-hydroxyethylaminophenol, 6-hydroxyindole, 2-methyl resorcinol, 5-amino-6-chloro-o-cresol, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone, 4-hydroxypropylamino-2-nitrophenol, 4-hydroxyethlamino-2-nitrophenol, 2,6 diaminopyridine, m-phenylenediamine, p-aminophenol sulphate, m-aminophenol sulphate, phenyl methyl pyrazolone, 2,4-diaminophenoxyethanol HCl, t-butylhydroquinone, p-methyl aminophenol sulphate, 2-amino3-hydroxypyridine, 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, p-methyl aminophenol sulphate, 2,6-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethylpuridine, and 1,2-bis-(2,4-diaminophenoxy) propane or 1,5-naphthalenediol. 40. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, in the form of a formulation selected from the group consisting of shampoos, conditioners, lotions, sprays, gels, waxes, serums, mousses, and tonics. 41. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 40, further comprising one or more excipients selected from surfactants, conditioning agents, waxes, thickeners, preservatives, resins, sequestering agents, slip aids, vitamins, gelling agents, pearlising agents, pH adjusting agents and sunscreening agents. 42. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, which is in the form of a two-component formulation, a first component including one or more hair dyes and a second component including an oxidising agent. 43. Hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25, which comprises hydrogen peroxide as oxidising agent. 44. A method of permanently or semi-permanently colouring hair by means of an oxidative process, which method comprises application to the hair of a hair colouring composition as claimed in claim 25. |
UNIPOLAR TRANSVERSE MAGNETIC FLUX MACHINE |
In a unipolar transverse flux machine, to attain a modular structure favorable in terms of production, the stator and the rotor each have the same number of identical stator modules and rotor modules. Each stator module includes an annular coil disposed coaxially to the rotor shaft, and U-shaped stator yokes fitting over the annular coil. To achieve a high static torque, each rotor module comprises two rotor rings with external toothing, and the rotor rings surround two radially oppositely magnetized permanent magnet rings, which in turn are seated on a common flux-conducting element, which is formed for instance by the rotor shaft produced from ferromagnetic material. |
1-12. (canceled) 13. A unipolar transverse flux machine, comprising a rotor (12) which is rotatable about a rotor axis and having at least one rotor module (15), each rotor module including two coaxial, toothed, ferromagnetic rotor rings (16, 17) and a permanent-magnetic member (18) for generating a magnetic flux extending radially in opposite directions into the rotor rings (16, 17), a stator (11) which is concentric with the rotor axis and having at least one stator module (14) associated with the rotor module (15), the stator module (14) including an annular coil (23), disposed coaxially to the rotor axis, and U-shaped stator yokes (24) fitting over the annular coil, a toothing of the rotor rings (16, 17) provided solely on the outer circumference, facing away from the rotor axis, of the rotor rings (16, 17), the stator yokes (24) of the stator module (14) including yoke legs disposed such that their yoke legs (241) each face one of the rotor rings (16) with radial gap spacing, and the permanent-magnetic member (18) being formed by two permanent magnet rings (26, 27) magnetized radially in opposite directions, the permanent-magnetic members (18) each being surrounded in a manner fixed against relative rotation by one rotor ring (16, 17) and being seated on a common flux-conducting element (29). 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein one short-circuit element (25) each is disposed between successive stator yokes (24) in the direction of rotation of the rotor (12) and extends axially across both rotor rings (16, 17) and faces them with radial gap spacing. 15. The machine of claim 13, wherein the toothing of the rotor rings (16, 17) has a constant tooth pitch, and the yoke legs are attached to a housing with a spacing that matches the tooth pitch. 16. The machine of claim 14, wherein the toothing of the rotor rings (16, 17) has a constant tooth pitch, and the yoke legs are attached to a housing with a spacing that matches the tooth pitch. 17. The machine of claim 13, wherein the flux-conducting element (29) comprises a rotor shaft (13) of ferromagnetic material, to which the two permanent magnet rings (26, 27) are attached in a manner fixed against relative rotation. 18. The machine of claim 14, wherein the flux-conducting element (29) comprises a rotor shaft (13) of ferromagnetic material, to which the two permanent magnet rings (26, 27) are attached in a manner fixed against relative rotation. 19. The machine of claim 15, wherein the flux-conducting element (29) comprises a rotor shaft (13) of ferromagnetic material, to which the two permanent magnet rings (26, 27) are attached in a manner fixed against relative rotation. 20. The machine of claim 13, wherein that the flux-conducting element (29) is formed by a hollow cylinder (28) of ferromagnetic material, which receives both permanent magnet rings (26, 27) in a manner fixed against relative rotation and is seated in turn in a manner fixed against relative rotation on a rotor shaft (13). 21. The machine of claim 14, wherein that the flux-conducting element (29) is formed by a hollow cylinder (28) of ferromagnetic material, which receives both permanent magnet rings (26, 27) in a manner fixed against relative rotation and is seated in turn in a manner fixed against relative rotation on a rotor shaft (13). 22. The machine of claim 15, wherein that the flux-conducting element (29) is formed by a hollow cylinder (28) of ferromagnetic material, which receives both permanent magnet rings (26, 27) in a manner fixed against relative rotation and is seated in turn in a manner fixed against relative rotation on a rotor shaft (13). 23. The machine of claim 17, wherein the rotor (12) comprises two identical rotor modules (15), and the stator (11) comprises two identical stator modules (14); and wherein the stator modules (14) are fixed axially side by side in a housing (10), and the rotor modules (15) are fixed axially side by side on the rotor shaft (13), in a mutual association in each case such that the stator modules (14) or the rotor modules (15) are each rotated by 90° electrically from one another. 24. The machine of claim 20, wherein the rotor (12) comprises two identical rotor modules (15), and the stator (11) comprises two identical stator modules (14); and wherein the stator modules (14) are fixed axially side by side in a housing (10), and the rotor modules (15) are fixed axially side by side on the rotor shaft (13), in a mutual association in each case such that the stator modules (14) or the rotor modules (15) are each rotated by 90° electrically from one another. 25. The machine of claim 17, wherein the rotor (12) comprises m rotor modules (15) and the stator (11) comprises m stator modules (14); and wherein the stator modules (14) are fixed axially side by side in a housing (10), and the rotor modules (15) are fixed axially side by side on the rotor shaft (13), in a mutual association in each case such that the stator modules (14) or the rotor modules (15) are each rotated by 360°/m electrically from one another, and m is a whole number and is greater than 2. 26. The machine of claim 20, wherein the rotor (12) comprises m rotor modules (15) and the stator (11) comprises m stator modules (14); and wherein the stator modules (14) are fixed axially side by side in a housing (10), and the rotor modules (15) are fixed axially side by side on the rotor shaft (13), in a mutual association in each case such that the stator modules (14) or the rotor modules (15) are each rotated by 360°/m electrically from one another, and m is a whole number and is greater than 2. 27. The machine of claim 23, wherein the rotor shaft (13) is subdivided into shaft portions each extending across one rotor module (15); and that solid disks (30) of magnetically nonconductive material are disposed between the shaft portions. 28. The machine of claim 25, wherein the rotor shaft (13) is subdivided into shaft portions each extending across one rotor module (15); and that solid disks (30) of magnetically nonconductive material are disposed between the shaft portions. 29. The machine of claim 23, wherein the axial spacings between the rotor modules are made so great that any magnetic influence between the rotor modules (15) is negligible. 30. The machine of claim 14, wherein the short-circuit elements (25) are offset from the stator yokes (24) by one pole spacing. 31. The machine of claims 14, wherein the radial gap spacing is the same size between the stator yokes (24) and the rotor rings (16, 17) on the one hand and between the short-circuit elements (25) and the rotor rings (16, 17) on the other. 32. The machine of claim 13, wherein the free end faces (244) of the legs of the stator yokes (24) have at least the same axial width as the rotor rings (16, 17), and preferably protrude past the rotor rings on one or both sides. 33. The machine of claim 14, wherein the free end faces (244) of the legs of the stator yokes (24) have at least the same axial width as the rotor rings (16, 17), and preferably protrude past the rotor rings on one or both sides. |
Device and method for interpolating frequency components of signal adaptively |
A frequency interpolating device for restoring a signal similar to the original signal by creating a suppressed frequency component of a specific frequency band of the original signal, approximately from the input signal having the suppressed frequency component. In the frequency interpolating device, when the suppressed frequency component is artificially created from the input signal and added to the input signal, the additional level is set dynamically and adaptively on the basis of the spectrum pattern of the remaining frequency component of the input signal. This setting of the addition level is done by searching a look-up table which stores data that causes a plurality of reference frequency spectrum patterns to be associated with predetermined addition levels. Moreover, the data stored in the table is created on the basis of the results of either an aural test on a plurality of signal sample sounds or a physical frequency analysis on the massive signal data. |
1. A frequency interpolating device for receiving an input signal having a suppressed frequency component in a particular frequency band of an original signal and recovering a signal similar to the original signal by approximately creating the suppressed frequency component, wherein when a frequency component in the suppressed band created from the input signal is added to the input signal, an addition level of the frequency component to be added is adaptively set on the basis of a spectrum pattern of remaining frequency components of the input signal. 2. The frequency interpolating device according to claim 1, wherein setting said addition level is performed by using a look-up table storing data representative of a correspondence between a plurality of reference frequency spectrum patterns and predetermined addition levels. 3. The frequency interpolating device according to claim 2, wherein the data stored in said look-up table is created on the basis an auditory test result made on a plurality of acoustic signal samples. 4. The frequency interpolating device according to claim 2, wherein the data stored in said look-up table is created on the basis of a frequency analysis result of a plurality of acoustic signal samples. 5. A frequency interpolating device for receiving an input signal having a suppressed frequency component in a particular frequency band of an original signal and recovering a signal similar to the original signal by approximately creating the suppressed frequency component, the frequency interpolating device comprising: means for creating an interpolation signal having a frequency component in said suppressed band, from said input signal; means for spectrum-analyzing said input signal to derive a spectrum pattern; comparing means for comparing said derived spectrum pattern with a plurality of reference spectrum patterns registered beforehand, and on the basis of a comparison result to select an addition level of said created interpolation signal relative to said input signal; and means for adding said created interpolation signal to said input signal at said selected addition level. 6. The frequency interpolating device according to claim 5, wherein said comparing means includes a look-up data table storing data representative of a correspondence between said reference spectrum patterns and said addition levels, said look-up data table being created on the basis of an auditory test of a plurality of acoustic signal samples. 7. The frequency interpolating device according to claim 5, wherein said means for deriving the spectrum pattern of said input signal operates to output a code corresponding to said derived spectrum pattern, and said comparing means is made of a memory that stores data representative of a correspondence between said reference spectrum patterns and said addition levels, and wherein said code is inputted to said memory as a memory address to output the addition level stored at a memory location indicated by the memory address designated by said code. 8. The frequency interpolating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said input signal is a digital audio signal obtained by sampling and quantizing an analog audio signal. 9. The frequency interpolating method of receiving a suppressed frequency component in a particular frequency band of an original signal and recovering a signal similar to the original signal by approximately creating the suppressed frequency component, wherein: when a frequency component in the suppressed band created from the input signal is added to the input signal, an addition level of the frequency component to be added is adaptively set on the basis of a spectrum pattern of remaining frequency components of the input signal. 10. The frequency interpolating method according to claim 9, wherein setting said addition level is performed by using a look-up table storing data representative of a correspondence between a plurality of reference frequency spectrum patterns and predetermined addition levels. 11. The frequency interpolating method according to claim 10, wherein the data stored in said look-up table is created on the basis of an auditory test result of a plurality of acoustic signal samples. 12. A frequency interpolating method for receiving an input signal having a suppressed frequency component in a particular frequency band of an original signal and recovering a signal similar to the original signal by approximately creating the suppressed frequency component, said method comprising the steps of: creating an interpolation signal having a frequency component in said suppressed band, from said input signal; spectrum-analyzing said input signal to derive a spectrum pattern; comparing said derived spectrum pattern with a plurality of reference spectrum patterns registered beforehand advance, and on the basis of a comparison result, selecting an addition level of said created interpolation signal relative to said input signal; and adding said created interpolation signal to said input signal at said selected addition level. 13. The frequency interpolating method according to claim 12, wherein said comparing step searches a look-up data table storing data representative of a correspondence between said reference spectrum patterns and said addition levels, said look-up data table being created on the basis of an auditory test of a plurality of acoustic signal samples. 14. The frequency interpolating method according to claim 12, wherein said step of deriving the spectrum pattern of said input signal outputs a code corresponding to said derived spectrum pattern, and said comparing step inputs as a memory address said code to a memory that stores data representative of a correspondence between said reference spectrum patterns and said addition levels, and outputting the addition level stored at a memory location indicated by the memory address designated by said code. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Supply of music and the like is flourishing nowadays by means of data distribution by MP3 (MPEG1 audio layer 3 ), FM (Frequency Modulation) broadcasting, voice multiplexing broadcasting and the like. With these means, a data transmission rate (bit/s) changing proportionally with a frequency bandwidth is lowered and the upper frequency limit is lowered by suppressing the high frequency components of a subject audio signal or the like in order to avoid an occupied broad bandwidth and effectively use radio wave resources. For example, if the upper frequency limit is lowered by suppressing the frequency components at about 15 kHz or higher of an audio signal having the upper limit frequency of 20 kHz, the sampling frequency is only ¾ of the original signal frequency so that the data transmission rate can be lowered advantageously. However, it is obvious that an audio signal with suppressed high frequency components has a sound quality inferior to that of the original signal. From this reason, it has been tried to recover approximate suppressed frequency components by some means. In one approach to recover frequency components, a subject signal is distorted to obtain a distorted signal, the frequency band components to be interpolated into the suppressed band are derived from the distorted signal by using a filter, and the frequency band components are added to the target signal to reproduce a signal approximated to the original signal. In another approach, voice components containing a pair of a fundamental tone and a harmonic tone are derived from an original audio signal, harmonic components on the high frequency side are estimated from the bandwidth of the original audio signal, and the estimated harmonic components are extrapolated relative to the original audio signal. With the former approach, however, since the waveform of an audio signal is distorted by using a limiter circuit or the like to create harmonics, these harmonics are not necessarily approximate values essentially contained in the original audio signal. If the latter approach is applied to an original audio signal whose bandwidth of voices or the like was limited, harmonic components of pure sound components cannot be estimated so that extrapolation is impossible. Similarly, sound components whose harmonic components were removed because of a limited bandwidth cannot be estimated and extrapolation is impossible. In a relatively good approach, a target signal is frequency analyzed, its frequency spectrum pattern is used for estimating the remaining spectrum pattern of suppressed frequency components, and a signal synthesized from these is added to the target signal. Although this approach is excellent in sound quality improvement, there is a practical problem. Namely, it is necessary for this approach to use a short time Fourier transform process and a short time inverse Fourier transform process which are performed at a high resolution over the broad band of a subject signal, resulting in a large amount of computation required for digital signal processing. This leads to requirements for an excessive calculation amount and an excessive circuit scale of a digital signal processor (DSP), lowering a practical value. In a recently devised approach which proposes a frequency interpolating device and method, the remaining band components of a signal whose frequency components in a particular band were suppressed are derived by using a band-pass filter or the like, frequency-converted and added to the suppressed band wherein the addition level is properly determined from the spectrum envelope information of the remaining frequency components. Generally, the short time frequency spectrum pattern of a signal has complicated states and its envelope cannot be said that it changes monotonously and smoothly. Therefore, if the intensities of suppressed band components are estimated only from the envelope information and interpolation is performed in a simple manner, a signal not essentially contained in the original signal may be added or an interpolation signal at an excessive level may be added. In this case, the sound quality is not improved but degraded. The present invention has been made under the above-described circumstances, and aims at providing a signal interpolating device and method having a high practical value capable of recovering an original signal such as an audio signal of high quality from a signal with a suppressed particular frequency band (e.g., high frequency band) of the original signal, providing a very excellent sound quality in terms of auditory senses, and performing signal processing by relatively small scale digital computation. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a basic function of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the fundamental structure of a frequency interpolating device of the invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an interpolating signal generation unit as a main constituent element of the device shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a frequency analyzing unit as a main constituent element of the device shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a spectrum pattern represented by distribution of N-order vectors. FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a series of processes of comparing an input spectrum pattern with a reference spectrum pattern. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a list to be used for creating a look-up table indicating a correspondence between a reference spectrum pattern and a corresponding interpolation level. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a simplified method of searching an interpolation level according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a simplified method of searching an interpolation level according to another an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a simplified method of searching an interpolation level according to still another an embodiment of the invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Increased and variable force and multi-speed clamps |
A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load. |
1. A clamp comprising: a first clamping jaw; a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached; a clamp body having a slot through which said support element passes; a handle grip attached to said clamp body; a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body; a trigger handle reinforcement attached to said trigger handle; a driving lever that is movable to a first position where said driving lever engages said support element and causes said support element to move relative to said clamp body; and wherein pivoting of said trigger handle causes said trigger handle reinforcement to pivot and engage said driving lever. 2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said trigger handle comprises a slot and said trigger handle reinforcement comprises a finger that is inserted within said slot of said trigger handle. 3. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said trigger handle comprises a first upper arm and a second arm, wherein said trigger handle reinforcement is positioned between said first upper arm and said second upper arm. 4. The clamp of claim 2, wherein said trigger handle comprises a first upper arm and a second arm, wherein said trigger handle reinforcement is positioned between said first upper arm and said second upper arm. 5. The clamp of claim 3, wherein said trigger handle reinforcement comprises a first side wall and a second side wall between which said driving lever is positioned. 6. The clamp of claim 4, wherein said trigger handle reinforcement comprises a first side wall and a second side wall between which said driving lever is positioned. 7. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said support element comprises a rod. 8. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said support element comprises a bar. 9. The clamp of claim 1, comprising a brake lever that is normally positioned so as to engage said support element so as prevent said support element and said first clamping jaw from moving away from said second clamping jaw and allowing said first clamping jaw to move towards said second clamping jaw. 10. The clamp of claim 9, wherein said brake lever is movable to a position where said brake lever does not engage said support element. 11. A clamp comprising: a first clamping jaw; a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached; a clamp body having a slot through which said support element passes; a handle grip attached to said clamp body; a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body; a driving lever that is movable to a first position where said driving lever engages said support element and causes said support element to move relative to said clamp body; and a discriminating structure engaging said driving lever and said trigger handle, wherein said discriminating structure varies incremental motion of said support element as a function of a load encountered by said support element by having an effective lever arm of said trigger handle be varied by a fulcrum point that moves into contact or out of contact with said trigger handle based on said load. 12. The clamp of claim 11, wherein said discriminating structure moves said support element at a rapid rate when said load has a magnitude with a predetermined range. 13. The clamp of claim 11, wherein said discriminating structure moves said support element at a slow rate when said load has a magnitude within a predetermined range. 14. The clamp of claim 12, wherein said discriminating structure moves said support element at a slow rate when said load has a magnitude within a second predetermined range. 15. The clamp of claim 14, wherein said predetermined range and said second predetermined range do not intersect one another. 16. The clamp of claim 14, wherein said trigger handle has a first effective lever arm length when said load is within said predetermined range that is different than a second effective lever arm length when said load is within said second predetermined range. 17. The clamp of claim 16, wherein said second effective lever arm length is less than said first effective lever arm length 18. The clamp of claim 11, wherein said movable fulcrum point contacts. said driving lever above said handle grip. 19. The clamp of claim 11, wherein said discriminating structure comprises a spring. 20. The clamp of claim 19, wherein said spring moves said support element at a rapid rate when said load has a magnitude within a predetermined range. 21. The clamp of claim 19, wherein said spring moves said support element at a slow rate when said load has a magnitude within a predetermined range. 22. The clamp of claim 20, wherein said discriminating structure moves said support element at a slow rate when said load has a magnitude within a second predetermined range. 23. The clamp of claim 22, wherein said trigger handle has a first effective lever arm length when said load is within said predetermined range that is different than a second effective lever arm length when said load is within said second predetermined range. 24. The clamp of claim 23, wherein said second effective lever arm length is less than said first effective lever arm length. 25. The clamp of claim 20, wherein said spring does not substantially change length when said load has a magnitude within said predetermined range. 26. The clamp of claim 25, wherein said spring moves said driving lever which in turn moves said support element. 27. The clamp of claim 26, wherein said spring translationally moves while said support element moves. 28. The clamp of claim 22, wherein said spring does not substantially change length when said load has a magnitude within said predetermined range. 29. The clamp of claim 28, wherein said spring moves said driving lever which in turn moves said support element. 30. The clamp of claim 29, wherein said spring translationally moves while said support element moves. 31. The clamp of claim 22, wherein said spring changes length when said load has a magnitude within said second predetermined range. 32. The clamp of claim 31, wherein said spring moves said driving lever which in turn moves said support element. 33. The clamp of claim 28, wherein said spring changes length when said load has a magnitude within said second predetermined range. 34. The clamp of claim 19, further comprising a driving lever link that is attached to said spring and wherein said spring biases said driving lever link to engage said driving lever. 35. The clamp of claim 34, wherein said driving lever link passes through an opening formed in said driving lever and said driving lever link comprises an arm that engages said driving lever. 36. The clamp of claim 34, further comprising a link mechanism that is engaged by said spring and said trigger handle. 37. The clamp of claim 36, further comprising a second spring that engages said link mechanism and biases said link mechanism so as to push said trigger handle away from said handle grip to a neutral position. 38. The clamp of claim 36, wherein said link mechanism comprises an arcuate shoulder that engages a grooved portion of said trigger handle. 39. A method of operating a clamp comprising a first clamping jaw, a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to a clamp body, the method comprising: actuating said trigger handle causing said first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion; and varying said incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by said support element by varying an effective lever arm of said trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with said trigger handle based on said load. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein said actuating comprises pivoting said trigger handle about an axis. 41. The method of claim 39, wherein said incremental motion is towards said second clamping jaw. 42. The method of claim 39, wherein said incremental motion is away from said second clamping jaw. 43. The method of claim 39, further comprising positioning said trigger handle to a position where said support element and first clamping jaw are prevented from moving away from said second clamping jaw while at the same time allowed to move towards said second clamping jaw. 44. The method of claim 39, wherein said varying said incremental motion comprises moving said support element at a rapid rate when said load has a magnitude within a predetermined range. 45. The method of claim 39, wherein said varying said incremental motion comprises moving said support element at a slow rate when said load has a magnitude within a predetermined range. 46. The method of claim 44, wherein said varying said incremental motion comprises moving said support element at a slow rate when said load has a magnitude within a second predetermined range. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein said predetermined range and said second predetermined range do not intersect one another. 48. The method of claim 39, further comprising varying an effective lever arm length of said trigger handle based on the magnitude of said load. 49. The method of claim 46, further comprising varying an effective lever arm to a first effective lever arm length when said load is within said predetermined range and to a second effective lever length when said load is within said second predetermined range. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein said second effective lever arm length is less than said first effective lever arm length. 51. A clamp comprising: a first clamping jaw; a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached; a clamp body having a slot through which said support element passes; a handle grip attached to said clamp body; a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body; a trigger handle reinforcement attached to said trigger handle; a driving lever that is movable to a first position where said driving lever engages said support element and causes said support element to move relative to said clamp body; a first braking lever; and a second braking lever. 52. The clamp of claim 51, wherein said first braking lever is normally positioned so as to engage said support element so as prevent said support element and said first clamping jaw from moving away from said second clamping jaw and allowing said first clamping jaw to move towards said second clamping jaw. 53. The clamp of claim 52, wherein said second braking lever is normally positioned so as to engage said support element so as prevent said support element and said first clamping jaw from moving away from said second clamping jaw and allowing said first clamping jaw to move towards said second clamping jaw. 54. The clamp of claim 51, further comprising a single spring that engages said first braking lever and said second braking lever. 55. The clamp of claim 54, wherein said single spring comprises: a first portion that abuts a portion of said clamping body; a second portion that expansively engages said first braking lever; and a third portion that expansively engages said second braking lever. 56. The clamp of claim 55, wherein said single spring normally simultaneously biases and positions free ends of said first and second braking levers away from said trigger handle. 57. The clamp of claim 55, wherein said single spring passes through an opening formed in said second braking lever. 58. The clamp of claim 51, wherein said support element comprises a rod. 59. The clamp of claim 51, wherein said support element comprises a bar. 60. A method of operating a clamp comprising a first clamping jaw, a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached, a trigger handle pivotably mounted to a clamp body and a braking system attached to said clamp body, the method comprising: applying a first load to said support element; and reducing a portion, but not all, of said applied load by actuating said braking system so that said support element encounters a second load. 61. The method of claim 60, wherein said second load is approximately one half of said first load applied to said support element. 62. The method of claim 60, further comprising reducing a portion of said second load. 63. The method of claim 60, wherein said braking system comprises a first braking element and a second braking element that engage said support element and encounter said first load. 64. The method of claim 63, wherein said reducing comprises releasing said first braking element from engaging said support element while maintaining engagement between said second braking element and said support element so that said second braking element encounters said second load. 65. The method of claim 62, wherein said braking system comprises a first braking element and a second braking element that engage said support element and encounter said first load. 66. The method of claim 65, wherein said reducing said first load comprises releasing said first braking element from engaging said support element while maintaining engagement between said second braking element and said support element. 67. The method of claim 66, wherein said reducing said second load comprises releasing said first braking element from engaging said support element a second time. 68. The method of claim 66, further comprising engaging said released first braking element with said support element so that first braking element and said second braking element encounter said second load. 69. The method of claim 68, wherein said reducing said second load comprises releasing said first braking element from engaging said support element a second. 70. A clamp comprising: a first clamping jaw; a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached; a clamp body having a slot through which said support element passes; a handle grip attached to said clamp body; a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body about an axis; a driving lever that is movable to a first position where said driving lever engages said support element and causes said support element to move relative to said clamp body; and a power bar that is attached to said driving lever and said trigger handle, wherein said power bar is attached to said trigger handle to establish a fulcrum to transfer power during pivoting of said trigger handle to said driving lever. 71. The clamp of claim 70, wherein said fulcrum is positioned near said axis. 72. The clamp of claim 70, wherein said fulcrum does not move relative to said trigger handle as a function of load encountered by said support element. 73. The clamp of claim 70, wherein said fulcrum contacts said driving lever above said handle grip. 74. A clamp comprising: a first clamping jaw; a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached; a clamp body having a slot through which said support element passes; a handle grip attached to said clamp body; a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body about an axis, wherein said trigger handle defines a first lever; a second lever pivotably attached to said handle grip at a first pivot point and pivotably attached to said trigger handle at a second pivot point; a driving lever that is movable to a first position where said driving lever engages said support element and causes said support element to move relative to said clamp body; and wherein, upon a force being applied to said trigger handle, said first lever is moved towards said second lever thereby moving said driving lever and said support element. 75. The clamp of claim 74, wherein said second lever comprises a pin that is inserted into a slot formed in said trigger handle, wherein said pin defines said second pivot point. 76. The clamp of claim 75, wherein said slot has a length that is greater than twice the diameter of said pin. 77. The clamp of claim 74, wherein said second lever comprises an actuator protrusion that engages said driving lever. 78. The clamp of claim 74, wherein said support element comprises a rod. 79. The clamp of claim 74, wherein said support element comprises a bar. 80. The clamp of claim 74, comprising a brake lever that is normally positioned so as to engage said support element so as prevent said support element and said first clamping jaw from moving away from said second clamping jaw and allowing said first clamping jaw to move towards said second clamping jaw. 81. The clamp of claim 80, wherein said brake lever is movable to a position where said brake lever does not engage said support element. 82. The clamp of claim 74, further comprising a second clamping jaw attached to said clamp body. 83. The clamp of claim 82, further comprising a braking mechanism that is normally positioned so as to engage said support element so as prevent said support element and said first clamping jaw from moving away from said second clamping jaw and allowing said first clamping jaw to move towards said second clamping jaw. 84. A trigger mechanism comprising: a support element; a clamp body having a slot through which the support element passes and generally dividing the clamp body into an upper and a lower portion; a clamping jaw secured to the upper portion of the clamp body; a cushioning pad affixed to the clamping jaw; a handle grip attached to the lower portion of the clamp body; a long lever straddling the support element, the long lever coming together at one end in a trigger handle and coming together at a generally opposite end in a pivot point and movably associated at the pivot point to the upper portion of the clamp body; a short lever, the short lever having a first pivot point associated with the handle grip and a second pivot point associated with the long lever, the second pivot point generally located between the support element and the first clamping jaw; a power tab insertable over the support element in a recess within the clamp body and biased against the short lever; and a spring insertable over the support element with the recess of the clamp body, the spring seated on the clamp body biasing the power tab against the short lever, wherein, upon a compression force being applied to the handle grip and trigger handles, the long lever is moved towards the short lever thereby exerting an opposing force against the spring moving the power tab along the support element so that upon release of the compression force the clamp is moved an infinitesimal distance along the support element. 85. A method for compressing an object, comprising: applying a compression force to a long lever at first pivot point so that the long lever is moved closer to a short lever and the angle between the long lever and short lever decreases; presenting an actuator point of the short lever to a power tab wherein the force applied to the long lever provides for the disengagement of the power tab with a support element and movement of the power tab along the support element in a direction opposite of the compression force, wherein the compression of an object contained between a plurality of jaws acted upon by the levers is finely tuned. 86. The method of claim 85 further including the movement of the power tab along a support element. 87. The method of claim 86 further including the power tab having a top and a bottom portion wherein, upon application of the compression force to the power tab, the top portion of the power tab disengages the support element and is moved in a direction opposite of the compression force. 88. A clamp comprising: a first clamping jaw; a support element to which said first clamping jaw is attached; a clamp body having a slot through which said support element passes; a handle grip attached to said clamp body; a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body; a driving lever that is movable to a first position where said driving lever engages said support element and causes said support element to move relative to said clamp body; and a driving lever link inserted through and attached to a spring wherein said spring biases said driving lever link to engage said driving lever. 89. The clamp of claim 88, wherein said driving lever link is shaped like a cross with two arms, wherein said two arms engage said driving lever. 90. The clamp of claim 88, wherein said driving lever link comprises an end in the form of a hook, wherein said spring is threaded through an opening of said hook and compressively engages a surface of said hook. 91. The clamp of claim 89, wherein said driving lever link comprises an end in the form of a hook, wherein said spring is threaded through an opening of said hook and compressively engages a surface of said hook. 92. The clamp of claim 88, wherein said spring is preloaded into a compressed state. 93. The clamp of claim 88, wherein said driving lever link passes through an opening formed in said driving lever. 94. The clamp of claim 88, comprising a brake lever that is normally positioned so as to engage said support element so as prevent said support element and said first clamping jaw from moving away from said second clamping jaw and allowing said first clamping jaw to move towards said second clamping jaw. 95. The clamp of claim 94, wherein said brake lever is movable to a position where said brake lever does not engage said support element. 96. The clamp of claim 88, wherein said spring moves said driving lever which in turn moves said support element. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a clamp that varies and/or increases the force applied to a clamped object and varies the speed of clamping an object. 2. Discussion of Related Art Bar clamps for clamping objects into position are well known in the art. In recent years, advances have been made in bar clamps that enable them to be operated by a single hand. An example of such a bar clamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,722 which discloses a trigger mechanism to move a movable clamping jaw toward a fixed clamping jaw. The movable clamping jaw is attached to a moving bar. Spreading clamps that are operable by a single hand are also well known, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,134. Again, the movable jaw is attached to a bar. In bar clamps and spreading clamps similar to those disclosed above, it may take a large number of strokes of the trigger mechanism to move a clamping jaw against an object. Accordingly, it may take a significant amount of time to clamp an object. In clamps and spreading clamps similar to those disclosed above, it might be difficult to generate sufficient clamping forces on an object. In clamps and spreading clamps similar to those disclosed above it also may be difficult to fine-tune the clamping pressure once the clamping jaw contacts the object to be clamped. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>One aspect of the present invention regards a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached, a clamp body having a slot through which the support element passes and a handle grip attached to the clamp body. A trigger handle is pivotably mounted to the clamp body and a trigger handle reinforcement is attached to the trigger handle and a driving lever that is movable to a first position where the driving lever engages the support element and causes the support element to move relative to the clamp body and wherein pivoting of the trigger handle causes the trigger handle reinforcement to pivot and engage the driving lever. A second aspect of the present invention regards a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached, a clamp body having a slot through which the support element passes, a handle grip attached to the clamp body and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body. A driving lever that is movable to a first position where the driving lever engages the support element and causes the support element to move relative to the clamp body and a discriminating structure engaging the driving lever and the trigger handle, wherein the discriminating structure varies incremental motion of the support element as a function of a load encountered by the support element by having an effective lever arm of the trigger handle be varied by a fulcrum point that moves into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load. A third aspect of the present invention regards a method of operating a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to a clamp body. The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load. A fourth aspect of the present invention regards a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached, a clamp body having a slot through which the support element passes, a handle grip attached to the clamp body and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body. A trigger handle reinforcement is attached to the trigger handle, a driving lever that is movable to a first position where the driving lever engages the support element and causes the support element to move relative to the clamp body and first and second braking levers. A fifth aspect of the present invention regards a method of operating a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached, a trigger handle pivotably mounted to a clamp body and a braking system attached to the clamp body. The method includes applying a first load to the support element and reducing a portion, but not all, of the applied load by actuating the braking system so that the support element encounters a second load. A sixth aspect of the present invention regards a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached, a clamp body having a slot through which the support element passes, a handle grip attached to the clamp body and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body about an axis. A driving lever is movable to a first position where the driving lever engages the support element and causes the support element to move relative to the clamp body. A power bar is attached to the driving lever and the trigger handle, wherein the power bar is attached to the trigger handle to establish a fulcrum to transfer power during pivoting of the trigger handle to the driving lever. A seventh aspect of the present invention regards a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached, a clamp body having a slot through which the support element passes, a handle grip attached to the clamp body and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to the clamp body about an axis, wherein the trigger handle defines a first lever. A second lever is pivotably attached to the handle grip at a first pivot point and pivotably attached to the trigger handle at a second pivot point. A driving lever that is movable to a first position where the driving lever engages the support element and causes the support element to move relative to the clamp body and wherein, upon a force being applied to the trigger handle, the first lever is moved towards the second lever thereby moving the driving lever and the support element. An eighth aspect of the present invention regards a trigger mechanism that includes a support element, a clamp body having a slot through which the support element passes and generally dividing the clamp body into an upper and a lower portion and a clamping jaw secured to the upper portion of the clamp body and a cushioning pad affixed to the clamping jaw. A handle grip is attached to the lower portion of the clamp body and a long lever straddles the support element, the long lever coming together at one end in a trigger handle and coming together at a generally opposite end in a pivot point and movably associated at the pivot point to the upper portion of the clamp body. A short lever having a first pivot point associated with the handle grip and a second pivot point associated with the long lever, the second pivot point generally located between the support element and the first clamping jaw. A power tab is insertable over the support element in a recess within the clamp body and biased against the short lever and a spring is insertable over the support element with the recess of the clamp body, the spring seated on the clamp body biasing the power tab against the short lever, wherein, upon a compression force being applied to the handle grip and trigger handles, the long lever is moved towards the short lever thereby exerting an opposing force against the spring moving the power tab along the support element so that upon release of the compression force the clamp is moved an infinitesimal distance along the support element. A ninth aspect of the present invention regards a method for compressing an object that includes applying a compression force to a long lever at first pivot point so that the long lever is moved closer to a short lever and the angle between the long lever and short lever decreases and presenting an actuator point of the short lever to a power tab wherein the force applied to the long lever provides for the disengagement of the power tab with a support element and movement of the power tab along the support element in a direction opposite of the compression force, wherein the compression of an object contained between a plurality of jaws acted upon by the levers is finely tuned. One or more aspects of the present invention provide the advantage of reducing the time to move a clamping jaw against an object. One or more aspects of the present invention provides the advantage of fine tuning the clamping pressure once the clamping jaw contacts the object to be clamped. One or more aspects of the present invention provide the advantage of increasing the clamping pressure applied to an object. One or more aspects of the present invention provide the advantage of incrementally decreasing the clamping force applied to an object. One or more aspects of the present invention provide the advantage of increasing the speed of clamping dependent on the load being applied. The foregoing features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: |
Measurement control apparatus |
Noise in measurement data received/transmitted from/to a measurement module is reduced. A measurement control unit (10) controls circuits (50a, 50b) to be measured and acquires measurement data from the circuits (50a, 50b) to be measured. Moreover, a CPU (20) controls the measurement control unit (10) via a bus (40). Since the CPU (20) does not directly control the circuits (50a, 50b) to be controlled, no data is passed between the CPU (20) and the measurement control unit (10). Accordingly, a control signal and the like transmitted by the bus (40) is not mixed in the measurement data and the control signal and the like transmitted from the CPU (20) does not become a noise, thereby reducing the noise in the measurement data. |
1. A measurement control apparatus comprising: a measurement control means, connected to a subject to be measured, for controlling said subject to be measured, and for acquiring measurement data from said subject to be measured; a central control means, connected to said measurement control means, for controlling said measurement control means; a control instruction memory for storing a control instruction used when said measurement control means controls said subject to be measured; a bus for connecting said measurement control means and said central control means to each other; and a memory connected to said central control means via said bus, wherein said measurement control means comprises: an individual control means for controlling said subject to be measured and an overall control means for transmitting a synchronization clock signal to said individual control means. 2. The measurement control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a measurement data memory for receiving and storing said measurement data from said individual control means. 3. The measurement control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central control means transmits a synchronization clock signal to said measurement control means and said memory. 4. The measurement control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first line for transmitting said synchronization clock signal from said overall control means to said individual control means, and a second line for transmitting said measurement data from said individual control means to said overall control means. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.