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Regenerator, and heat regenerative system for fluidized gas using the regenerator |
In a regenerator 1, on the surface of a strip-shaped resin film 2, a resin layer 3 containing an ingredient having higher thermal conductivity than the resin film 2 is formed; or, over a predetermined width from an edge of the regenerator 1, a resin coating 4 is formed. Then, the resin film 2 is rolled into a cylindrical shape to produce the cylindrical regenerator 1. In a flow gas heat regeneration system having the regenerator 1 disposed in a doughnut-shaped space, when a hot working gas flows into the regenerator 1 through one end thereof, the heat of the working gas is stored in the resin film 2. Here, the resin layer 3 or resin coating 4 on the resin film 2 enhances heat conduction in the regenerator. Thus, more heat is stored in the resin film 2. When the cold working gas flows into the regenerator 1 through the other end thereof, the heat stored in the resin film 2 is rejected to the working gas. Here, the resin layer 3 or resin coating 4 on the resin film 2 enhances heat conduction in the regenerator 1 and increases the heat capacity thereof. Thus, more heat is rejected to the working gas. In this way, it is possible to achieve high heat energy regeneration efficiency. |
1. A regenerator comprising: a strip-shaped resin film rolled into a cylindrical shape, wherein the resin film has a multiple layer structure at least in a portion thereof occupying a predetermined width from an edge thereof. 2. A regenerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resin film has a plurality of fine projections formed on a surface thereof. 3. A regenerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a layer used to form the multiple layer structure has higher thermal conductivity than the resin film. 4. A regenerator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the layer having higher thermal conductivity is a resin layer containing an ingredient having high thermal conductivity, and the ingredient having high thermal conductivity is fine particles of at least one of gold, silver, copper, aluminum, and or carbon. 5. A regenerator composed of a strip-shaped resin film rolled into a cylindrical shape, wherein a layer having higher thermal conductivity than the resin film is formed on a surface of the resin film. 6. A regenerator comprising: a strip-shaped resin film rolled into a cylindrical shape, the resin film being composed of two strip-shaped resin films having a layer with higher thermal conductivity than the two resin films laminated between the two resin films. 7. A flow gas heat regeneration system comprising: a regenerator as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6 disposed in a flow path of reciprocating gas. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>A type of conventional regenerator 1 for use in a Stirling-cycle refrigerator is, for example as shown in FIG. 8 , composed of a resin film 2 , having fine projections 2 a formed on the surface thereof, rolled into a cylindrical shape with a hollow space left inside it. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of an example of a free-piston-type Stirling-cycle refrigerator incorporating the regenerator 1 . First, the operation of this Stirling-cycle refrigerator will be described. As shown in FIG. 9 , the free-piston-type Stirling-cycle refrigerator includes a cylinder 8 having a working gas such as helium sealed therein, a displacer 7 and a piston 5 arranged so as to divide the space inside the cylinder 8 into an expansion space 10 and a compression space 9 , a linear motor 6 for driving the piston 5 to reciprocate, a heat absorber 14 provided on the expansion space 10 side for absorbing heat from outside, and a heat rejector 13 disposed on the compression space 9 side for rejecting heat to outside. In FIG. 9 , reference numerals 11 and 12 represent plate springs that support the displacer 7 and the piston 5 , respectively, and permit them to reciprocate by resilience. Reference numeral 15 represents a heat rejecting heat exchanger, and reference numeral 16 represents a heat absorbing heat exchanger. These heat exchangers prompt exchange of heat between inside and outside the refrigerator. Between the heat rejecting heat exchanger 15 and the heat absorbing heat exchanger 16 , a regenerator 1 is disposed. In this structure, when the linear motor 6 is driven, the piston 5 moves up inside the cylinder 8 , compressing the working gas in the compression space 9 . As the working gas is compressed, its temperature rises, but simultaneously the working gas is cooled through heat exchange with the outside air by the heat rejector 13 through the heat rejecting heat exchanger 15 . Thus, isothermal compression is achieved. The working gas compressed in the compression space 9 by the piston 5 flows, under pressure, into the regenerator 1 and then into the expansion space 10 . Meanwhile, the heat of the working gas is stored in the resin film 2 constituting the regenerator 1 , and thus the temperature of the working gas falls. The working gas that has flowed into the expansion space 10 is under high pressure, and is expanded when the displacer 7 , which reciprocates with a predetermined phase difference kept relative to the piston 5 , moves down. Meanwhile, the temperature of the working gas falls, but the working gas is heated through absorption of heat from the outside air by the heat absorber 14 through the heat absorbing heat exchanger 16 . Thus, isothermal expansion is achieved. Thereafter, the displacer 7 starts moving up, and thus the working gas in the expansion space 10 flows through the regenerator 1 back into the compression space 9 . Meanwhile, the working gas receives the heat stored in the regenerator 1 , and thus the temperature of the working gas rises. This sequence of operations, called the Stirling cycle, is repeated by the reciprocating movement of the driven components, with the result that the heat absorber 14 absorbs heat from the outside air and gradually becomes cold. In this way, the heat energy of the working gas is regenerated by the regenerator 1 between the compression space 9 and the expansion space 10 . Here, increasing the amount of heat stored in the regenerator 1 results in higher heat energy regeneration efficiency. This makes it possible to achieve an ideal Stirling cycle and thereby enhance the refrigerating performance of the Stirling-cycle refrigerator. However, in the structure of the conventional regenerator 1 described above, the regenerator 1 itself is composed of a resin film 2 , which generally has low thermal conductivity. This leads to low heat conduction from the working gas to the resin film 2 . Thus, the regenerator 1 cannot store a sufficient amount of heat, resulting in unsatisfactory heat energy regeneration efficiency. This lowers the refrigerating performance of the Stirling-cycle refrigerator. Moreover, the edges of the regenerator are prone to deformation, causing variations in regeneration performance and leading to unstable regeneration performance. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a regenerator that offers excellent heat energy regeneration efficiency and stable regeneration performance. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the regenerator of a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the regenerator: FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the regenerator of a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the regenerator of a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the regenerator of a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the regenerator of a fifth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the regenerator of a sixth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of an example of a conventional regenerator. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing an example of a free-piston-type Stirling-cycle refrigerator. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Method of evaluating degree of canceration of mammal-origin specimen |
The present invention relates to a method for assessing a cancerous state of a mammal-derived specimen, which comprises: (1) a first step of measuring a methylation frequency of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene contained in a mammal-derived specimen or an index value having the correlation therewith, and (2) a second step of determining a cancerous state of the specimen based on a difference obtained by comparing the measured methylation frequency or the index value having the correlation therewith, with a control; and the like. |
1. A method for assessing a cancerous state of a mammal-derived specimen, which comprises: (1) a first step of measuring a methylation frequency of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene contained in a mammal-derived specimen or an index value having the correlation therewith, and (2) a second step of determining a cancerous state of the specimen based on a difference obtained by comparing the measured methylation frequency or the index value having the correlation therewith, with a control. 2. The assessing method according to claim 1, wherein Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase-2 gene. 3. The assessing method according to claim 1, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is cells. 4. The assessing method according to claim 1, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is a tissue. 5. A method for assessing a cancerous state of a mammal-derived specimen, which comprises: (1) a first step of measuring a methylation frequency of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene contained in the mammal-derived specimen, and (2) a second step of determining a cancerous state of the specimen based on a difference obtained by comparing the measured methylation frequency with a control. 6. The assessing method according to claim 5, wherein Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase-2 gene. 7. The assessing method according to claim 1, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is cells, and the cancerous state of the specimen is a malignancy of mammal-derived cells. 8. The assessing method according to claim 6, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is cells, and the cancerous state of the specimen is a malignancy of a mammal-derived cell. 9. The assessing method according to claim 1, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is a tissue, and the cancerous state of the specimen is an amount of cancer cells existing in a mammal-derived tissue. 10. The assessing method according to claim 6, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is a tissue, and the cancerous state of the specimen is an amount of cancer cells existing in a mammal-derived tissue. 11. The assessing method according to claim 10, wherein the tissue is abreast tissue, a mammary gland tissue or a mammary gland epithelial tissue, and the cancer is breast cancer. 12. The assessing method according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the methylation frequency of a gene is a methylation frequency of cytosine in one or more nucleotide sequence(s) represented by 5′-CG-3′ present in a nucleotide sequence of a promoter region or a coding region of the gene. 13. The assessing method according to claim 12, wherein the tissue is abreast tissue, a mammary gland tissue or a mammary gland epithelial tissue, and the cancer is breast cancer. 14. The assessing method according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the methylation frequency of a gene is a methylation frequency of cytosine in one or more nucleotide sequence(s) represented by 5′-CG-3′ present in a nucleotide sequence of a promoter region in the gene. 15. The assessing method according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the methylation frequency of a gene is a methylation frequency of cytosine in one or more nucleotide sequence(s) represented by 5′-CG-3′ present in a nucleotide sequence of a coding region of the gene. 16. The assessing method according to claim 1, wherein the methylation frequency of a gene is a methylation frequency of cytosine in one or more nucleotide sequence(s) represented by 5′-CG-3′ present in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. 17. The assessing method according to claim 16, wherein the tissue is breast tissue, mammary gland tissue or mammary gland epithelial tissue, and the cancer is breast cancer. 18. A method for assessing a cancerous state of a mammal derived specimen, which comprises: (1) a first step of measuring an index value having the correlation with a methylation frequency of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene contained in the mammal-derived specimen, and (2) a second step of determining a cancerous state of the specimen based on a difference obtained by comparing the index value having the correlation with the measured methylation frequency with a control. 19. The assessing method according to claim 18, wherein Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase-2 gene. 20. The assessing method according to claim 18, wherein the index value having the correlation with a methylation frequency of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is an amount of an expression product of the Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene. 21. The assessing method according to claim 19, wherein the index value having the correlation with a methylation frequency of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is an amount of an expression product of the Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene. 22. The assessing method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the amount of an expression product of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is an amount of a transcription product of the gene. 23. The assessing method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the amount of an expression product of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is an amount of a translation product of the gene. 24. A method for searching a substance having the ability of promoting the expression of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene, which comprises: (1) a first step of bringing a test substance into contact with a cancer cell, (2) a second step of measuring an amount of an expression product of 3OST gene contained in the cancer cell after the first step (1), and (3) a third step of determining the ability of the test substance to promote the expression of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene possessed by, based on a difference obtained by comparing the measured amount of an expression product with a control. 25. The searching method according to claim 24, wherein Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase-2 gene. 26. The searching method according to claim 24, wherein the cancer cell is breast cancer cell. 27. The searching method according to claim 25, wherein the cancer cell is breast cancer cell. 28. An anti-cancer agent, which comprises a substance having the ability found by the searching method of claim 24 as an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient is formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 29. An anti-cancer agent, which comprises a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase as an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient is formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 30. use of methylated Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene as a cancer marker. 31. The use according to claim 30, wherein the cancer marker is a breast cancer marker. 32. use of a methylated Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase-2 gene as a cancer marker. 33. The use according to claim 32, wherein the cancer marker is a breast cancer marker. 34. A method for inhibiting canceration, which comprises a step of administering a substance which reduces a methylation frequency of Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene, to cells in a body of a mammal which can be diagnosed as a cancer. 35. The canceration inhibiting method according to claim 34, wherein Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase gene is a Heparan sulfate D-glucosaminyl 3-0-sulfotransferase-2 gene. 36. The canceration inhibiting method according to claim 35, wherein the cancer is breast cancer. 37. The assessing method according to claim 1, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is blood derived from a human being who is under 55 years old. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Although it has been gradually revealed that a cancer is a disease, a cause of which is gene abnormality, the mortality of cancer patients is still high, demonstrating that an assessment of a diagnosing method and a treating method which are currently available are not necessarily fully satisfactory. One of causes therefor is considered to be variety based on a kind of cancer tissues, low correctness and low detection sensitivity of genes as a marker, and the like. Then, there is desired development of a method for assessing a cancerous state of a mammal-derived specimen based on detection of a gene abnormality, which is suitable to assess such as a diagnosing method and a treating method for early finding a cancer. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a view (photograph) showing the results obtained by analyzing with agarose gel electrophoresis amplification products obtained by PCR amplifying a DNA (161 bp) derived from a mRNA of 3OST2 gene, from human-derived normal mammary gland epithelial cell (HMEC) and seven kinds of breast cancer cell lines. Names of cells used are shown above the view (photograph). The view (photograph) at an upper step shows the results of PCR performed by using a cDNA prepared from each cell as a template, and using primers 3OST2 5 and 3OST2 A. The view (photograph) at a middle step shows the results of PCR performed by using a RNA prepared from each cell as a template, and using primers 3OST2 S and 3OST2 A. The view (photograph) at a lower step shows the results of PCR performed by using a cDNA prepared from each cell as a template, and using primers GAPDH S and GAPDH A. FIG. 2 is a view (photograph) showing the results obtained by performing PCR using, as a template, genomic DNAs prepared from human-derived normal mammary gland epithelial cell (HMEC) and two kinds of breast cancer cell lines and treated with sodium bisulfite, respectively, and analyzing the PCR reaction solutions after PCR with agarose gel electrophoresis. Names of cells used and the concentration (μM) of 5Aza-dC added upon culturing of the cells are shown above the view (photograph). Lane U (Unmethylated) indicates the case of the PCR reaction solution of PCR using a non-methylated specific primer, and lane M (Methylated) indicates the case of the PCR reaction solution of PCR using a methylation-specific primer. FIG. 3 is a view (photograph) showing the results obtained by analyzing, with agarose gel electrophoresis, an amplification product obtained by PCR amplifying a DNA (161 bp) derived from a mRNA of 3OST2 gene with PCR, from human-derived normal mammary gland epithelial cell (HMEC) and a breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468. Names of cells used and the concentration (μM) of 5 Aza-dC added upon culturing of the cells are shown above the view (photograph). The view (photograph) at an upper step shows the results obtained by performing PCR using a cDNA prepared from each cell as a template, and using primers 3OST2 S and 3OST 2 A. A view (photograph) at a middle step shows the results obtained by performing PCR using a RNA prepared from each cell as a template, and using primers 3OST2 S and 3OST2 A. A view (photograph) at a lower step shows the results obtained by performing PCR using a cDNA prepared from each cell as a template, and using primers GAPDH S and GAPDH A. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Gene controlling flowering time and method for controlling flowering time in plants using the gene |
The present invention relates to a gene regulating flowering time and a method for regulating flowering time in plants using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a COG gene having nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID No: 1 which is isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana, and a method for delaying flowering time of plants by overexpressing the gene, or for inducing early flowering by repressing an expression of the gene. The COG gene and the COG protein expressed therefrom according to the present invention are useful for improvement of flowering-associated character of plants, and for identification of flowering-associated genes or proteins in other plants, etc. |
1. A COG protein controlling flowering in plants, which has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 2. 2. The COG protein according to claim 1, wherein the protein is isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. 3. The COG protein according to claim 1, wherein the protein has a DOF domain in the region of amino acids 64-121 of SEQ ID No: 2. 4. A gene which encodes the COG protein of claim 1. 5. The COG gene according to claim 4, which has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 1. 6. A recombinant vector comprising the gene of claim 4. 7. The recombinant vector pGTE-COG according to claim 6, wherein a gene which encodes a COG protein controlling flowering in plants is inserted in sense direction and said COG protein has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 2. 8. An E. coli transformed with the recombinant vector PGTE-COG of claim 7 (Accession No: KCTC 10033BP). 9. The recombinant vector pCOG/AS-NB96 of claim 6, wherein a gene which encodes a COG protein controlling flowering in plants is inserted in antisense direction and said COG protein has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 2. 10. A method for controlling flowering time in plants using the gene of claim 4. 11. A method for controlling flowering time in plants, characterized in that the flowering time of plants is delayed by transforming the plants with the recombinant vector of claim 7 and thus overexpressing a COG gene. 12. A method for controlling flowering time in plants, characterized in that the early flowering of plants is induced by transforming the plants with the recombinant vector of claim 9 and thus inhibiting the expression of a COG gene. 13. The method for controlling flowering time in plants according to claim 10, characterized in that the plants are selected from a group comprising: food crops such as rice, wheat, barley, corn, bean, red bean, potato, oat and millet; vegetable crops such as Arabidopsis, Chinese cabbage, radish, red pepper, strawberry, tomato, watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, melon, squash, stone-leek, onion, and carrot; special crops such as ginseng, tobacco, cotton, sesame, sugar cane, sugar beet, wild sesame, peanut, and rape; fruits such as apple, pear, date, peach, western Actinidia, grape, orange, persimmon, plum, apricot and banana; flowers such as rose, gladiolus, gerbera, carnation, mum, lily and tulip; fodder crops such as ryegrass, red clover, orchard grass, alfalfa, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass. 14. A method for identifying genes and proteins for the flowering control in plants by using a COG gene or a COG protein. 15. The method for identifying genes and proteins for the flowering control in plants according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes DNA chip, protein chip, PCR, Northern blot analysis, Southern blot analysis, Western blot analysis, ELISA, and 2-D gel analysis. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Flowering time in plants varies greatly depending on temperature, the duration of daylight (photoperiod), or both. Generally, according to the relationship between the photoperiod and the flowering time, plants are largely divided into three classes; i.e., long daylight plant which flowers under long daylight, short daylight plant which flowers under short daylight, or day-neutral plant which flowers independent of daylight Such flowering characteristic is believed to be under the basic control of several genes (Yaron Y Levy and Caroline Dean (1998) The Plant Cell, 10: 1973-1989). Many studies have been carried out to examine various kinds of mutants, genes, or a pathway controlling the flowering, which affect the flowering time in plants. As a result, it is found that there are three pathways controlling the flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana, of which flowering is stimulated under long daylight The first pathway is an autonomous pathway, in which the flowering is controlled with no connection with the duration of daylight For this pathway, genes of LD, PGM1, FY, FCA, FPA, FLD, etc. are found to be related thereto (Chentao Lin, Plant Physiology, 123: 39-50,2000). The second pathway is a photoperiodic pathway, in which the flowering in plants is controlled by sensing the duration of daylight Genes of ELF3, CAM1, G1, CO, FWA, FT, FE, etc. are known to play an important role in this pathway (Yaron Y Levy and Caroline Dean (1998), The Plant Cell, 10: 1973-1989). The third pathway is a vernalization pathway, in which the flowering is controlled by temperature. In this pathway, the flowering of plants is simulated by their exposure to low temperature for a certain period of time. Relating genes of VRN1, VRN2, FR1, FLC, etc. were isolated. Meanwhile, flowering time is important in crops. For green leaf vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and dropwart, etc., their leaves quickly become aged after the flowering, and therefore their market value is significantly lowered. Grain crops are divided into three varieties depending on their growth time from sowing to flowering, i.e., early variety, medium variety, and late variety. Early variety yields relatively a low amount of harvest due to its short growth time, but it is advantageous in that it can be harvested early or on the market early. For these and other reasons, flowering time has been the important subject of classic breeding in agriculture. The breeding method used in classic breeding is typically a cross-breeding method. However, according to this method, it is impossible to introduce specifically one or two genes into a desired crop. As such, a group of unnecessary genes has to be removed in order to have only a character of the desired gene after the breeding, and thus to have the character fixed. To do so, it takes usually a long period of time of 5 to 20 years and lots of efforts. Further, the resulting crop variety which is fixed according to the above method still can display recessive character or sensitivity to pathogenes that have not been considered during the process of breeding and therefore causing a trouble after it is made available to the public. Since breeding to control the flowering time is also based on the conventional cross-breeding method, problems are present For example, instability of breed variety and excessive amounts of time and efforts required therefor, etc. Recently, however, it is possible to isolate genes related to the control of flowering time and to utilize them in breeding with appropriate manipulation of the genes, all thanks to the development in genetic engineering technology. In results, it is expected to have new breed varieties of which flowering time is either artificially controlled or can be possibly controlled (Ove Nilson and Detlef Weigle, Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 8: 195-199, 1997). In this connection, studies have been carried out to isolate a gene inducing mutation from a mutant which expresses a phenotype of eloped flowering time. For example, flowering-controlling genes such as OsMADS5˜8, MdMADS3 and MdMADS4 are disclosed in the publication of Korean patent application No. 1999-0030639, and GIGANTEA gene which controls flowering time and biological clock in Arabidopsis thaliana is disclosed in the publication of Korean patent application No. 2001-0029127. However, taken together the study results up to the present, it is believed that the control of flowering time in plants involves quite complicated pathways and various genes (Alon Samach and George, Coupland BioEssays, 22: 38-47, 2000). Therefore, studies on new genes controlling the flowering time in plants and functional studies therefor are required |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 represents the flowering times for wild type and flowering-delayed cog mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, under the long daylight or the short daylight FIG. 2 is a diagram of activation tagging vector pSKI105 inserted into a genome of flowering-delayed cog mutant E: an enhancer BAR: a herbicide-resistant gene pBS: a region containing a replication origin of E. coli and an ampicillin-resistant gene FIG. 3 shows the comparison between the DOF domain sequence which is conserved in the amino acid sequence of COG protein of the present invention and DOF domain sequence of the proteins in other species which also include DOF domain 1, 10: DOF domain sequences found in the corn proteins 2, 4, 6˜9, 12˜18: DOF domain sequences found in the proteins of Arabidopsis thaliana 3: DOF domain sequence of the COG protein according to the present invention 5: DOF domain sequence found in a cucumber FIG. 4 shows the expression of the COG gene m wild type and the flowering-delayed cog mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana. The results are obtained from Northern blot analysis. BGB represents an internal control. FIG. 5 is a micrograph showing the migration of GFP-COG fusion protein to a nucleus in an epidermal cell of onion A: 35S-GFP (positive internal control) observed with optical microscope B: 35S-GFP-COG observed with optical microscope C: 35S-GFP (positive internal control) observed with fluorescence microscope D: 35S-GFP-COG observed with fluorescence microscope FIG. 6 shows the flowering time for the transformant having the COG gene of the present invention overexpressed, or for the transformant having the COG gene with inhibited expressions. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Gene controlling life span of leaves in plants and method for controlling life span of plants using the gene |
The present invention relates to a gene regulating leaf longevity of plants and a method for regulating the longevity of plants using the same. More particularly, it relates to a ORE7 gene regulating leaf longevity of plants which has a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and to a method for regulating the longevity of plants, in which the ORE7 gene is introduced into the plants and overexpressed, thereby delaying senescence of the plants. Plants can be transformed with ORE7 gene according to the present invention, so that the longevity of the plants is extended, thereby improving productivity and storage efficiency of the plants. Furthermore, the ORE7 gene and an ORE7 protein expressed therefrom according to the present invention are useful for studies of senescence mechanisms, and for identification of senescence-associated genes or senescence inhibitory substances, in plants. |
1. A protein ORE7 regulating leaf longevity of plants, which has an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. 2. The protein ORE7 according to claim 1, wherein the protein is isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. 3. The protein ORE7 according to claim 1, wherein the protein has an AT-hook motif at 83-94 region, and glycine-, histidine-, glutamine-, and glutamic acid-rich motifs at 38-52 and 245-261 regions of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 4. A gene regulating leaf longevity of plants, which encodes the ORE7 protein of claim 1. 5. The gene ORE7 according to claim 4, which has a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. 6. A recombinant vector, which contains the gene of claim 4. 7. A recombinant vector, which contains the gene of claim 5. 8. An Agrobacterium sp. transformed with the recombinant vector of claim 6. 9. The Agrobacterium sp. according to claim 8, which is an Agrobacterium tumefacience pAT-ORE7 (accession number: KCTC 10032BP). 10. A method for regulating the longevity of plants by utilizing the gene of claim 4. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method is delaying senescence of the plants by introducing a gene into the plants and overexpressing said gene, wherein said gene encodes an ORE7 protein which has an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the plants are selected from food crops comprising rice plant, wheat, barley, corn, bean, potato, Indian bean, oat and Indian millet; vegetable crops comprising Arabidopsis sp., Chinese cabbage, radish, red pepper, strawberry, tomato, watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, melon, pumpkin, welsh onion, onion and carrot; special crops comprising ginseng, tobacco plant, cotton plant, sesame, sugar cane, sugar beet, Perilla sp., peanut and rape; fruit trees comprising apple tree, pear tree, jujube tree, peach tree, kiwi fruit tree, grape tree, citrus fruit tree, persimmon tree, plum tree, apricot tree and banana tree; flower crops comprising rose, gladiolus, gerbera, carnation, chrysanthemum, lily and tulip; and fodder crops comprising ryegrass, red clover, orchardgrass, alfalfa, tallfescue and perennial ryegrass. 13. A method for investigating senescence regulatory genes or proteins in plants, comprising utilizing an ORE7 gene or an ORE7 protein. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises DNA chip, protein chip, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), northern blot analysis, southern blot analysis, western blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 2-D gel analysis. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Senescence is the final stage that plants undergo during their lifetime. The initiation of senescence can be said to be a rapid changeover point in a plant's development stage. As senescence progresses, a plant's synthesis ability gradually decreases and it loses cellular homeostasis with successive degradation of intracellular structures and macromolecules, finally leading to death (Matile P. et al., Elservier, 413-440, 1992; Nooden L. D. et al., Academic press, 1988; Thiman K. V. et al., CRC press, 85-115, 1980; and Thomas H. et al., Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol., 123:193-219, 1993). Such senescence of plants is a series of continuous biochemical and physiological phenomena, which is genetically destined to progress in highly intricate and active manners at cell, tissue and organ levels. However, the senescence of plants is seen as a process of cellular degeneration, and at the same time, a genetic character which is actively acquired for adaptation to environment during the development process, including migration of nutrients from growth organs to genital organs at the winter season. The suppression of plant senescence is not only of great scientific importance in itself, but also of great industrial importance in terms of the productivity of crops or the possibility of improving post-harvest storage efficiency. For this reason, genetic, molecular biological, physiological and biochemical studies have been actively conducted in the attempt to establish plant senescence phenomena. However, reports regarding phytohormones are the main area of interest; studies on senescence regulation, such as the induction of senescence regulation using senescence regulatory genes, are, as yet, insufficient. Cytokinin, a plant growth hormone, is known as a hormone capable of physiologically delaying senescence. For this reason, there have been studies conducted to delay senescence by regulation of cytokinin synthesis, but there were problems in that other physiological actions are also affected due to the influence of hormones. However, there has been recent success in delaying the progression of senescence by a method in which an IPT gene is linked to a promoter of a senescence-specific SAG12 gene so that the synthesis of cytokinin is specifically regulated at a certain senescence stage. In the case of tobacco plants whose senescence was delayed by this method, an increase of more than 50% in productivity could be achieved while causing little or no changes in the blooming time and no other deformations (Gan S. et al., Science, 22:1986-1988, 1995). Moreover, plants for delay of senescence have been developed, making the ripe tomatoes a main object of this development. For such development, the following methods have been applied; inhibition of synthesis of ethylene, a phytohormone playing an important role in senescence, or reduction of the amount of intracellular ethylene (Klee et al., Plant Cell, 3(11): 1187-93, 1991; and Picton et al., Plant Physiol., 103(4): 1471-1472, 1993). In addition, studies on delay of senescence are mainly focused on the manipulation of degradation-associated genes, which have activities associated with biochemical changes occurring in a process of senescence or are involved in the signal transduction system. A typical example connected with such studies includes commercialized tomatoes, called “Flavr savr”, in which the expression of polygalacturonase gene involved in the degradation of cell walls is impeded using antisense DNA so that the softening of tomatoes is prevented, thereby improving the transport and storage properties of tomatoes (Giovannoni et al., Plant Cell, 1(1): 53-63, 1989). It was also reported that, where the expression of phospholipase D involved in degradation of lipids is impeded with the antisense DNA, senescence caused by phytohormones is delayed (Fan et al., Plant Cell, 9(12): 2183-96, 1997). Furthermore, it was recently reported that leaf senescence is delayed, in tobacco plants in which SAG12 promoter, and kn1 (knotted 1), a homeobox gene of corn, are expressed (Ori et al., Plant Cell, 11:917-927, 1999). However, a method capable of more directly regulating senescence involves isolating mutant of senescence-associated genes and analyzing genes which cause the mutation. According to existing reports, it is known that, in Arabidopsis thaliana , the expression of ethylene receptors is controlled in a ripening period of fruits or in the senescence process of flowers (Payton S. et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 31(6): 1227-1231, 1996), and the expression of clp gene is regulated in a senescence process of leaves. Recently reported were studies on the identification of genes involved in a senescence process of leaves (Oh S. A. et al., Plant Mol. Biol, 30(4): 739-754, 1996), and on the isolation of leaf senescence-delaying mutants from Arabidopsis thaliana (Oh S. A. et al., The Plant Journal, 12(3):527-535, 1997). Also, a mutant gene was successfully isolated from an ore9 mutant of the leaf senescence-delaying mutants (Woo H. R. et al., Plant Cell, 13: 1779-1790, 2001). In addition, activities of a promoter of sen1, a senescence-associated gene, were reported (Oh S. A., et al., Journal of Plant Physiology 151:339-345, 1997). However, studies on genes that directly regulate senescence and their functions are, as yet, insufficient. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1A is a photograph illustrating leaf senescence depending on time, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 1B is a graph showing changes in photosynthesis activity depending on time, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 1C is a graph showing changes in chlorophyll content depending on time, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 1D shows the results of northern blot analysis illustrating the expression patterns of senescence-associated genes and a photosynthesis-associated gene depending on time, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7. SAG12: a senescence-associated gene SEN4: a senescence-associated gene Cab: a gene of chlorophyll a/b binding protein FIG. 2A is a photograph illustrating leaf senescence depending on time after dark treatment, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 2B is a graph showing a change in photosynthesis activity depending on time after dark treatment, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 2C is a graph showing a change in chlorophyll content depending on time after dark treatment, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 2D shows the results of northern blot analysis illustrating the expression pattern of a senescence-associated gene (SEN4) in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7 after dark treatment. 0D: before dark treatment 4D: at 4 days after dark treatment FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in photosynthesis activity depending on time, after treatment with a MES buffer solution (negative control group) (A), MeJA (B), ABA (C) and ethylene (D), which are senescence-accelerating hormones, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 4 is a graph showing a change in chlorophyll content depending on time, after treatment with MES buffer solution (negative control group) (A), MeJA (B), ABA (C) and ethylene (D), which are senescence-accelerating phytohormones, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and the longevity-extended mutant ore7. FIG. 5 shows the results of northern blot analysis illustrating the expression pattern of a senescence-associated gene (SEN4) depending on time, at 0, 3, 4 and 5 days after treatment with MeJA, ABA and ethylene, respectively, which are senescence-accelerating hormones, in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and the longevity-extended mutant ore7. C: a control group not treated with the senescence-accelerating hormones T: a group treated with the senescence-accelerating hormones. FIG. 6 is a scheme showing that an activation tagging vector pSKI015 is inserted into a genome of the longevity-extended mutant ore7. E: an enhancer BAR: a herbicide-resistant gene pBS: a region containing a replication origin of E. coli and an ampicilin-resistant gene FIG. 7 shows the results of northern blot analysis illustrating the expression of an ORE7 gene in the wild type Arabidopsis thaliana (Col) and in the longevity-extended mutant ore7, in which 28S is a control group. FIG. 8 is a photograph showing migration of a GFP-ORE7 fusion protein into a nucleus, in an epidermal cell of onions, observed under a fluorescence-(A and B) and an optical microscope (C and D). A: a photograph of 35S-GFP (a positive control group) B: a photograph of 35S-ORE7-GFP C: a photograph of 35S-GFP (a positive control group) D: a photograph of 35S-ORE7-GFP detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Method and device for manufacturing wire harness |
A wiring harness manufacturing method and a wiring harness manufacturing apparatus is provided, wherein manufacturing costs of a wiring harness is reduced. The wiring harness manufacturing apparatus (1) has a pair of wire stocking units (10a, 10b), a pair of cutting units (11a, 11b), a pair of joining units (12a, 12b), and a case insertion unit (13). Painting devices (14,15,16) are attached to one wire stocking unit (10a). Painting devices (17,18,19) are attached to one cutting unit (11a). Painting devices (18,19) are attached to one joining unit (12a). The painting devices (14,15,16,17,18,19) color the electric wire. |
1. A wiring harness manufacturing method for assembling a wiring harness having electric wires and connectors attached to the electric wires, comprising the steps of: a wire stocking step to stock the electric wires; and a cutting step to cut an electric wire stocked in the wire stocking step in a desirable length and to attach a terminal fitting of the connector to the electric wire, wherein, an outer surface of the electric wire is colored in at least one of the wire stocking step and the cutting step. 2. A wiring harness manufacturing method for assembling a wiring harness having electric wires and connectors attached to the electric wires, comprising the steps of: a wire stocking step to stock the electric wires; and a cutting step to cut an electric wire stocked in the wire stocking step in a desirable length and to attach a terminal fitting of the connector to the electric wire, a joining step to connect the electric wires which have been cut in desirable lengthes by the cutting step and to which the respective terminal fittings have been attached, wherein, an outer surface of the electric wire is colored in both the wire stocking step and one of the cutting step and the joining step. 3. A wiring harness manufacturing apparatus for assembling a wiring harness having electric wires and connectors attached to the electric wires, comprising: wire stocking units each to stock the electric wires; and cutting units each to cut the electric wires stocked in the wire stocking units in desirable lengthes and to attach terminal fittings of the connectors to the respective electric wires, wherein, a coloring means to color an outer surface of each of the electric wires is attached to one of the wire stocking units and the cutting units. 4. A wiring harness manufacturing apparatus for assembling a wiring harness having electric wires and connectors attached to the electric wires, comprising: wire stocking units each to stock the electric wires; and cutting units each to cut the electric wires stocked in the wire stocking units in desirable lengthes and to attach terminal fittings of the connectors to the respective electric wires; and joining units to connect the electric wires which have been cut in desirable lengthes by the cutting units and to which the respective terminal fittings have been attached, wherein, a coloring means to color an outer surface of each of the electric wires is attached to one of the wire stocking units, the cutting units, and the joining units. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Various kinds of electronic equipment are carried on a motor vehicle. Therefore, the wiring harness is arranged on the motor vehicle so that electric power from a power source and control signals from a computer can be supplied to the electronic equipment. The wiring harness has electric wires and connectors attached to end portions of the electric wires. The electric wire has a conductive core wire and an insulative covering portion covering the conductive core wire. The electric wire is a so-called covered or sheathed wire. The connector has a conductive terminal fitting and an insulative connector housing. The terminal fitting is attached to an end portion of the electric wire and is electrically-connected with the core wire of the electric wire. The connector housing is formed in a box-shape and accommodates the terminal fittings. When the wiring harness is manufactured or assembled, the electric wire is firstly cut in a fixed length, and the terminal fitting is attached to the end portion of the electric wire. The electric wires are connected as the need arises. Subsequently, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Like this, the above-described wiring harness is manufactured or assembled. With regard to the electric wire of the wiring harness, the thickness of the core wire, material (for example, from view point of heat-resistance) of the covering portion, and service conditions should be distinguished. Here, the service conditions mean systems such as an air-bag system, an antilock brake system, and a power transmission system in which the electric wires are used. The electric wires of the wiring harness are variously colored and marked for distinguishing the above systems. When the prior art wiring harness is manufactured, the above coloring and marking are carried out in a process of manufacturing the electric wire by forming the core wire from conductive metal such as copper. On the other hand, various demands arise from users for the motor vehicle. That is, the motor vehicle is expected to have various kinds of electronic equipment. Consequently, the wiring harness sometimes consists of not less than 100 of the electric wires. Therefore, a factory to manufacture or assemble the wiring harness has to stock not less than 100 of electric wires, while making the stock control of the electric wires having each article number. And therefore, the cost for stocking the electric wires tends to increase. Further, for example, the electric wire with a determined article number needs to be set in a device to cut off the electric wire in a fixed length. However, since there exists a lot of article numbers of the electric wires, a mistake in the article number of the electric wire would arise. Therefore, the yield of the wiring harness is reduced, thereby causing reduction of the productive efficiency of the wiring harness. In order to solve such problems, the applicant of the present invention has suggested a wiring harness manufacturing method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412. In this wiring harness manufacturing method, the electric wires are colored and marked just before each of the wire manufacturing step, the cutting step, the cover removing step, the terminal-crimping step, and the case insertion step. With respect to the above prior art wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412, however, the coloring and the marking are carried out just before each of the steps of manufacturing or assembling the wiring harness as above. Therefore, in the wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412, a device for coloring and marking the electric wire has to be provided on each of a wire cutting unit, a covering portion removing unit, a terminal crimping unit, and a terminal inserting unit. The prior art wiring harness manufacturing method also requires installation or mounting work of the above coloring and marking device between each two units, and requires the wiring harness to be set on each coloring and marking device. Like this, in the wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412, the number of the coloring and marking device increases, which therefore increases the space for manufacturing the wiring harness. And also, the coloring and marking work totally requires long time, which lowers the productive efficiency of the wiring harness. Like this, the wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412 requires high manufacturing costs of the wiring harness. In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a wiring harness manufacturing method and a wiring harness manufacturing apparatus, wherein the above drawbacks of the prior art wiring harness manufacturing method and apparatus have been solved and therefore manufacturing costs of the wiring harness can be reduced. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a wiring harness manufacturing apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for manufacturing a wiring harness by using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration of a painting device attached to a wire stocking unit of the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration of an electric wire colored by the painting device of FIG. 3 ( a ). FIG. 4 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration of another painting device attached to the wire stocking unit of the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration of an electric wire colored by the painting device of FIG. 4 ( a ). FIG. 5 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration of still another painting device attached to the wire stocking unit of the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 5 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration of an electric wire colored by the painting device of FIG. 5 ( a ). FIG. 6 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration of a painting device attached to a cutting unit of the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 6 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration of an electric wire colored by the painting device of FIG. 6 ( a ). FIG. 7 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration of an example of a painting device attached to a cutting unit and a joining unit of the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 7 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration of an electric wire colored by the painting device of FIG. 7 ( a ). FIG. 8 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration of another example of a painting device attached to a cutting unit and a joining unit of the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 8 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration of an electric wire colored by the painting device of FIG. 8 ( a ). FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing wiring harness manufacturing steps, using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 , and rough appearances the electric wires. FIG. 10 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration showing a first example of an electric wire to be assembled by using the wiring harness, manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 10 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire whose covering portion has been partly removed. FIG. 10 ( c ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 11 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration showing a second example of an electric wire to be assembled by using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 11 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire whose covering portion has been partly removed. FIG. 11 ( c ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 12 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration showing a third example of an electric wire to be assembled by using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 12 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire whose covering portion has been partly removed. FIG. 12 ( c ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 12 ( d ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire on which a mark is put and to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 13 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration showing a fourth example of an electric wire to be assembled by using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 13 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire whose covering portion has been partly removed. FIG. 13 ( c ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 13 ( d ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire on which a mark is put and to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration showing the structure of the wiring harness assembled by the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the structure of a wiring harness manufacturing apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for manufacturing a wiring harness by using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 15 . FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing wiring harness manufacturing steps, using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 15 , and rough appearances the electric wires. FIG. 18 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration showing an example of an electric wire to be assembled by using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 15 . FIG. 18 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire whose covering portion has been partly removed. FIG. 18 ( c ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 19 ( a ) is an explanatory illustration showing another example of an electric wire to be assembled by using the wiring harness manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 15 . FIG. 19 ( b ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire whose covering portion has been partly removed. FIG. 19 ( c ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire to which a terminal fitting is attached. FIG. 19 ( d ) is an explanatory illustration showing the electric wire on which a mark is put and to which a terminal fitting is attached. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Method for optoelectronically inspecting pharmaceutical articles |
In a method for optoelectronically inspecting pharmaceutical capsules (2) in a capsule filling machine (1), the pharmaceutical capsules (2) are fed in single file from a station (3) where the capsules (2) are made to a capsule (2) outfeed portion (8) of the machine (1) along a defined feed path (P) passing through an inspection station (13). In the inspection station (13), each pharmaceutical capsule (2) passes through an electromagnetic field created by coherent, polarised light radiation. |
1. A method for optoelectronically inspecting pharmaceutical articles (2) in a machine (1) that makes the articles (2), characterised in that the pharmaceutical articles (2) are fed in single file from a station (3) where the articles (2) are made to an outfeed portion (8) of the machine (1) along a defined feed path (P) passing through an inspection station (13); each pharmaceutical article (2), as it travels through the inspection station (13), passing through an electromagnetic field (E) created by coherent polarised light. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the electromagnetic field (E) is created by a laser beam source (16). 3. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the articles (2) comprise hard gelatin capsules (2) of the type with lid and body (CF) containing doses of pharmaceutical material (M) in powder or particulate form, and in that the machine (1) comprises a capsule filling machine (1) that makes the pharmaceutical capsules (2); the crossing of the electromagnetic field (E) permitting detection that the capsules (2) have been filled with doses of material (M). 4. The method according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the electromagnetic field (E) is created inside a structure (14) which is located in the inspection station (13) and which encloses a unit (15) for supporting the laser beam source (16) and, on the opposite side, optical sensor means (17) designed to intercept the laser beam; each capsule (2) crossing electromagnetic field (E) between the laser beam, source (16) and the optical sensor means (17) being held by suction in a seat (6) of a rotary conveyor (7) with suction seats (6). 5. The method according to claim 4, characterised in that the supporting unit (15) is mounted on a shaft (18) that rotates about a horizontal axis (Y) and in that each capsule (2) is held on the respective seat (6) with its longitudinal axis (X) positioned vertically; the method comprising the step of turning the unit (15) through a defined angle (a) relative to the longitudinal vertical axis (X) of the capsule (2). 6. The method according to claim 5, characterised in that the unit (15) is turned through an angle (a) ranging from 0° to 30°. 7. The method according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises a monitoring device (19) connected to the optical sensor means ( 17); the method comprising the step of the monitoring device (19) receiving a measured value from the optical sensor means (17), comparing this measured value with a peset reference value, and sending an output signal that activates a device (20) for rejecting the articles (2) that do not conform with the reference value. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that the rejection device (20) is located upstream of the outfeed portion (8) on the path (P); the non-conforming capsules (2) being diverted from the path (P) by pneumatic deflecting means (21), causing them to be expelled into a rejection container (22). 9. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that the monitoring device (19) is connected to a unit (10, SD) for feeding and dosing the pharmaceutical material (M) in the capsule filling machine (1); the method comprising the step of the monitoring device (19) sending a feedback adjustment signal to the feed and dosing unit (10,SD). |
<SOH> TECHNICAL FIELD <EOH>The present invention relates to a method for optoelectronically inspecting pharmaceutical articles. In particular, the present invention can be advantageously applied to capsule filling machines for making hard gelatin capsules of the type with lid and body, filled with doses of pharmaceutical material in powder or particulate form, which the present specification expressly refers to but without restricting the scope of the invention, in order to check defined properties of the capsules through an optoelectronic inspection. |
Non-linear amplitude dielectrophoresis waveform for cell fusion |
An object of the invention is to provide a method of treating biological cells prior to subjecting the biological cells to cell fusion pulses which includes the step of treating the biological cells with pre-fusion electric field waveforms which change amplitude in a non-linear way with respect to time, such that the biological cells are first aligned with a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform and then compressed with a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform resulting in increased cell membrane contact prior to being subjected to cell fusion. The non-linear pre-fusion electric field waveforms can change in a stepped way, in a continuous way, in a sigmoidal way, with step-wise increasing waveforms in adjacent steps, with step-wise increasing waveforms in non-adjacent steps, and in accordance with non-linear algorithms. |
1. A method of treating biological cells prior to subjecting the biological cells to one or more cell fusion/electroporation pulses, comprising the step of: treating the biological cells with a pre-fusion electric field waveform which changes amplitude in a non-linear way with respect to time. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the biological cells are first aligned and then compressed resulting in increased cell membrane contact prior to being subjected to cell fusion. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-fusion electric field waveform amplitude includes a relatively low amplitude, long duration electric field waveform followed by a relatively high amplitude, short duration electric field waveform. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-fusion electric field waveform amplitude changes in a stepped non-linear way with respect to time. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-fusion electric field waveform amplitude changes in a continuous non-linear way with respect to time. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-fusion electric field waveform includes an AC electric field waveform which changes amplitude in a non-linear way with respect to time. 7. The method at claim 6 wherein the amplitude of said AC electric field waveform changes in a non-linear way with respect to time in accordance with a non-linear algorithm. 8. The method of claim 6 wherein said AC electric field waveform has an AC-waveform electric field intensity between 10 volts/cm and 1,000 volts/cm. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-fusion electric field waveform amplitude includes non-linear step-wise increasing waveforms applied as pre-fusion electric field waveforms, and wherein the waveforms are provided as either adjacent steps or non-adjacent steps. 10. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: subjecting the biological cells to a cell fusion pulse, and treating the biological cells with an AC electric field waveform following the cell fusion pulse. 11. A method of treating biological cells prior to subjecting the biological cells to cell fusion, comprising the step of: treating the biological cells with an electric field amplitude which changes in a non-linear way with respect to time, such that the biological cells are aligned and have increased cell membrane contact, and such that the biological cells are compressed against one another prior to being subjected to cell fusion. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>If a neutrally charged biological cell is placed in a uniform electric field, such as provided by a pair of electrodes which are both planar, the biological cell does not move toward one electrode or another because the attractive forces from both electrodes are the same. On the other hand, if a neutrally charged biological cell is placed in a non-uniform electric field, such as provided by two electrodes which are both not planar, as shown in PRIOR ART FIG. 1 , the biological cell forms a dipole, is attracted to one electrode with greater attractive force than the other, and moves towards the electrode having the greater attractive force. Such a use of a non-uniform electric field is used in dielectrophoresis, and the concept of using dielectrophoresis to align living cells, followed by a fusion/electroporation pulse, to fuse cells has been in the literature since early 1970's. This process is used to produce hybrids of two different cell types for therapeutic purposes, for hybridoma production for producing monoclonal antibodies, for nuclear fusion, and for producing other hybrid cells. Dielectrophoresis is the process of applying an electrical force on neutrally charged particles such as living cells. The force from dielectrophoresis results from applying a non-uniform electric field that separates charges inside the cells forming a dipole. After the dipole has been formed, the non-uniform electric field then moves the cells towards the highest or lowest electric field intensity. This movement is dependent on the relative conductivities and permittivities of the medium and the biological cells or particles. The dielectrophoretic force is a function of the electric field squared so electric field polarity is not important. The force is a function of the relative conductivities and permitivities of the medium and the particles or cells. The conductivities and permitivities are also a function of frequency of the applied electric field. Typically, an AC voltage wave, such as a sine wave, is applied across electrodes to produce this alternating electric field. The sine wave voltage, frequency, and duration are optimized for specific cell types. After the AC wave is applied to align the cells, one or more fusion/electroporation pulses are applied to form pathways in the cell membranes in which membranes from both cells commingle. These pathways permit the contents of the cells to mix forming a hybrid cell. Following the fusion pulses, another AC field can be applied to hold the cells together while the fused cells stabilize. In some cases, the AC voltage has been linearly increased or decreased to prevent damage to the cells due to a sudden application of a field. Examples of cell fusion applications include hybridoma production and nuclear transfer. A recent application for electrofusion is to produce therapeutic hybrids for cancer immunotherapy. These hybrids are produced from cancer tumor cells and immune system dendritic cells in an ex vivo process. Each treatment requires a large number of viable hybrids, which results in a new requirement for high efficiency in the hybrid production process. There are a number of techniques (electrical, mechanical, chemical) available to perform cell fusion. This invention relates to electrical means. The current electric art uses a voltage waveform generator connected to an electrode device. With respect to relevant known electrical, mechanical, and chemical techniques, the following U.S. Patents and published PCT application are of particular interest and are incorporated herein by reference: 4,326,934 Apr. 27, 1982 Pohl 4,441,972 Apr. 10, 1982 Pohl 4,764,473 Aug. 16, 1988 Matschke et al 4,784,954 Nov. 15, 1988 Zimmermann 5,304,486 Apr. 19, 1994 Chang 6,010,613 Jan. 4, 2000 Walters et al WO 00/60065 Oct. 12, 2000 Walters et al From the above, it is known to use pre-fusion electric field waveforms that have either a constant amplitude, see PRIOR ART FIG. 3 , or a linearly increasing amplitude, see PRIOR ART FIG. 4 . FIG. 5 illustrates an overall general PRIOR ART protocol for carrying out cell fusion using electric field waveforms, wherein a pre-fusion electric field waveform is followed by a fusion/electroporation pulse, which is followed by a post-fusion electric field waveform. Nevertheless, efficiency of cell fusion following a constant amplitude or a linearly increasing amplitude of pre-fusion electric field waveforms cannot deliver the higher efficiencies required in such applications as therapeutic hybrid production for cancer immunotherapy. In this respect, it would be desirable if pre-fusion electric field waveforms were provided for biological cells which increases cell fusion efficiency over biological cells treated with a constant amplitude or a linearly increasing amplitude pre-fusion electric field waveform. More specifically with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,486 of Chang, it is noted that FIG. 2E of Chant discloses a linear low voltage presine AC waveform, a high voltage linear electroporating AC waveform, and a low voltage linear post-poration AC waveform. The invention of Chang is confined solely to the fusion/electroporation pulses. Chang discloses only a linear, low voltage presine AC waveform. Chang does not disclose a non-linear low voltage presine AC waveform. Chang does not focus attention on the presine AC waveform, other than a nominal statement thereof. The first process in any cell fusion system is to bring the cells into contact. In any case, sufficient force must be applied to each cell to overcome the negative surface charge. Merely applying a uniform electric field will not move a cell because the net charge of the cell is zero. Thus from the definition of electric field, there is no force applied: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Force=(Electric Field)*(Charge) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? However, a non-uniform field moves the positive ions inside each cell to one side and the negative ions to the opposite side producing a dipole, as shown in PRIOR ART FIG. 1 . Once the dipole is induced, a net force is exerted, on the cell because the intensity of the field is greater on one side than the other. The movement of cells in one direction causes the cells to concentrate in an area. Since the cells are now dipoles, the negative side of one cell will attract the positive side of another cell overcoming the negative surface charge, as shown in PRIOR ART FIG. 2 . The non-uniform electric field is produced ly the electrode device. The non-uniformity is a function of the electrode configuration, as shown in PRIOR ART FIGS. 1 and 2 . Generally, the cell types to be fused are placed in a low conductive medium (less than 0.01 S/m) to minimize ohmic heating that may harm the cells and that causes turbulence thus reducing the number of fused hybrids. In this respect, it would be desirable for biological cells being subjected cell fusion to be treated so as to reduce heating during cell alignment and cell membrane contact. The waveform generator has two functions. The first is to produce the AC voltage waveform that is converted into an AC field by the electrode device. This AC field then brings the cells into alignment/contact. The second function is to produce a pulse voltage that electroporates the cell membrane, fusing the cells. In some cases another AC voltage is produced after the fusing pulse to hold the cells in alignment until the fusion products become viable or stable. One of the factors for successful fusion is the membrane contact between the adjacent cells. The closer this contact before the fusion pulse is applied, the higher the efficiency of fusion. In U. Zimmermann, et al., “Electric Field Induced Cell to Cell Fusion”, J. Membrane Biol. 67, 165-182 (1982), Zimmermann points out that increasing the AC wave electric field strength just before the fusion pulse may be the optimum approach. Clearly, it would be desirable for biological cells that are to undergo cell fusion to be pretreated with pre-fusion electric field waveforms which bring abort increased cell membrane contact without turbulence or heating. In addition, there are a number of reasons why it is not desirable to immediately provide a high amplitude alignment waveform to cells that are to undergo cell fusion. A first reason is a mechanical reason. That is, immediate application of a high amplitude alignment waveform causes extreme force to be exerted on the cells, causing the cells to move rapidly towards an electrode. This rapid cell movement causes turbulence forces in the medium surrounding the cells. The turbulence forces do not allow complete pearl chains of cells to form, and the turbulence forces cause already formed pearl chains of cells to break up. A second reason why it is not desirable to immediately provide a high amplitude alignment waveform to cells that are to undergo cell fusion is that such a high amplitude alignment waveform causes heating to occur in the media in which the biological cells are suspended. Heating also causes turbulence which does not permit complete pearl chains of aligned cells to form and causes already formed pearl chains to break up. The heat in the heated up media also reduces cell viability. In view of the above, it would be desirable to avoid the mechanical forces, turbulence, and heating which result from immediately applying a high amplitude alignment waveform to biological cells that are to undergo cell fusion. Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use pre-fusion electric field waveforms prior to carrying out cell fusion with en electroporation pulse, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a dielectrophoresis waveform for cell fusion which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) provides pre-fusion electric field waveforms for biological cells which increase cell fusion efficiency over biological cells treated with a constant amplitude or a linearly increasing amplitude pre-fusion electric field waveforms; (2) avoids the mechanical forces, turbulence, and heating which result from immediately applying a high amplitude alignment waveform to biological cells that are to undergo cell fusion; (3) reduces heating of biological cells being treated with pre-fusion electric field waveforms for increasing cell alignment and cell membrane contact prior to being subjected to cell fusion; and (4) increase cell membrane contact between biological cells treated with pre-fusion electric field waveforms prior to undergoing cell fusion. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique non-linear dielectrophoresis waveform for cell fusion of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident. Additional U.S. patents that are of interest include: 4,561,961 Dec. 31, 1985 Hofmann 5,001,056 Mar. 19, 1991 Snyder et al 5,589,047 Dec. 31, 1996 Coster et al 5,650,305 Jul. 22, 1997 Hui et al Additional literature references include: 1. R. Bischoff, et al., “Human Hybridoma Cells Produced by Electro-Fusion”, Fed. Eur. Biochem. Soc. Lett. 147, 64-68 (1982). 2. L. Changben, et al., “Use of Human Erythrocyte Ghosts for Transfer of 125.sub.I-BSA and 125.sub.I-DNA into Animal Cells from Cell Fusion”, Scientia Sinica (Series B) 25, 680-865 (1982). 3. C. S. Chen, et al., “Biological Dielectrophoresis: The Behavior of Lone Cells in a Non-uniform Electric Field”, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 238, 176-185 (1974). 4. Coster, H. G. L. and Zimmermann, U. “Direct Demonstration of Dielectric Breakdown in the Membranes of Valonia utricularis. ” Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. 30 c, 77-79.1975. 5. Coster, H. G. L. and Zimmermann, U. “Dielectric Breakdown in the Membranes of Valonia utricularis: the role of energy dissipation”. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 382, 410-418,1975. 6. Coster, H. G. L. and Zimmermann, U. “The mechanisms of Electrical Breakdown in the Membranes of Valonia utricularis.” Journal of Membrane Biology. 22, 73-90, 1975. 7. K. Kaler, et al., “Dynamic Dielectrophoretic Levitation of Living Individual Cells”, J. Biol. Phys. 8, 18-31 (1980). 8. A. R. Murch; et al., “Direct Evidence that Inflammatory Multi-Nucleate Giant Cells Form by Fusion”, Pathol. Soc. Gr. Brit. Ire. 137, 177-180 (1982). 9. Neumann, Bet al. “Cell Fusion Induced by High Electrical Impulses Applied to Dictyostelium”, Naturwissenschaften 67, 414, 1980 10. Petrucci, General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications, 4th ed., p. 621, 1985 (no month). 11. Zimmermann et al., Electric Field-Induced Cell-to-Cell Fusion, The Journal of Membrane Biology, vol. 67, pp. 165-182 (1982) [no month]. 12. Pohl, H. “Dielectrophoresis”, Cambridge University Press, 1978. 13. H. A. Pohl, “Biophysical Aspects of Dielectrophoresis”, J. Biol. Phys. 1, 1-16 (1973). 14. H. A. Pohl, et al., “Continuos Dielectrophoretic Separation of Cell Mixtures”, Cell Biophys. 1, 15-28 (1979). 15. H. A. Pohl, et al., “Dielectrophoretic Force”, J. Biol. Phys. 6, 133 (1978). 16. H. A. Pohl, et al., “The Continuous Positive and Negative Dielectrophoresis of Microorganisms”, J. Bio. Phys. 9, 67-86 (1981). 17. Sale, J. H. and Hamilton, W. A. “Effects of High Electric Fields on Micro-Organisms”, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 163, 37-43, 1968. 18. Sepersu, E. H., Kinosita, K. and Tsong, T. Y. “Reversible and Irreversible Modification of Erythrocyte Membrane Permeability by Electric Fields” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 812, 779-785, 1985. 19. J. Vienken, et al., “Electric Field-Induced Fusion: Electro-Hydraulic Procedure for Production of Heterokaryon Cells in High Yield”, Fed. Eur. Biomed. Soc. Lett. 137, 11-13 (1982). 20. H. Weber, et al., “Enhancement of Yeast Protoplast Fusion by Electric Field Effects”, A Preprint for Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Yeasts, London, Ontario, Canada, July 80. 21. Zimmermann, U. “Electrical Field Mediated Fusion and Related Electrical Phenomena”, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 694, 227-277. 1982. 22. Zimmermann, U. et al “Fusion of Avena Sativa Mesophyll Proptoplasts by Electrical Breakdown”, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 641, 160-165, 1981, 1982. 23. U. Zimmermann, et al., “Electric Field-Induced Release of Chloroplasts from Plant Protoplasts”, Naturwissen 69, 451 (1982). 24. U. Zimmermann, et al., “Electric Field-Mediated Cell Fusion”, J. Biol. Phys. 10, 43-50 (1982). 25. U. Zimmermann, “Cells with Manipulated Functions: New Perspectives for Cell Biology, Medicine, and Technology”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 20, 325-344 (1941). |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates PRIOR ART dipole formation in biological cells under the influence of a non-uniform electric field created by non-symmetrical electrodes. FIG. 2 illustrates a PRIOR ART path of movement of a biological cell in a non-uniform electric field created by non-symmetrical electrodes and also illustrates pearl chain alignment and formation of biological cells. FIG. 3 illustrates PRIOR ART a constant amplitude pre-fusion electric field waveform. FIG. 4 illustrates PRIOR ART a linearly increasing amplitude pre-fusion electric field waveform. FIG. 5 illustrates an overall general PRIOR ART protocol for carrying cut cell fusion using electric field waveforms, wherein a pre-fusion electric field waveform is followed by a fusion/electroporation pulse, which is followed by a post-fusion electric field waveform. FIG. 6 shows independent biological cells prior to applying non-linear dielectrophoresis waveforms of the invention. FIG. 7 shows tangentially contacting biological cells in pearl chain alignment during application of a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform of the invention. FIG. 8 shows closely contacting and compressed biological cells during application of a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform of the invention, following the application of the relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform that was applied in FIG. 7 . FIG. 9 shows variations in pre-fusion electric field waveforms applied to biological cells using a power function having variations in the constant “k” of the, power function. It is noted that for each selection of the constant “k”, there is a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform portion followed by a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform portion. FIG. 10 shows a selected “k” modulated non-linear increasing continuous AC waveform applied as a pre-fusion electric field AC waveform as a power function with a selected power function constant “k” shown in FIG. 9 , a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform portion is shown followed by a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform portion. FIG. 11 shows non-linear sigmoidally shaped waveforms applied as pre-fusion electric field waveforms, wherein a transition from a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform to a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform is relatively slow. FIG. 12 shows non-linear sigmoidally shaped waveforms applied as pre-fusion electric field waveforms, wherein a transition from a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform to a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform is relatively fast. FIG. 13 shows non-linear step-wise increasing waveforms applied as pre-fusion electric field waveforms, wherein the pre-fusion electric field waveforms are provided as non-adjacent steps, wherein a first pre-fusion electric field waveform is a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform, wherein an off-time is provided, and wherein a second pre-fusion electric field waveform is a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field-waveform. FIG. 14 shows non-linear step-wise increasing waveforms applied as pre-fusion electric field waveforms, wherein the pre-fusion electric field waveforms are provided as adjacent steps, wherein a first pre-fusion electric field waveform is a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform, and wherein a second pre-fusion electric field waveform is a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform and is applied immediately after the first pre-fusion electric field waveform. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Nutritional composition for controlling blood sugar level |
A nutritional composition for controlling blood sugar level comprising a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. The composition is useful as an oral or tube feeding nutrient for nutritional management or blood sugar level control of patients suffering from diabetes and glucose intolerance, or for obesity prevention, a therapeutic diet, a diet for diabetic patients at home, an obesity preventive diet or a food with health claims. |
1. A nutritional composition for controlling a blood sugar level, which comprises a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. 2. A nutritional composition of claim 1, which comprises at least one selected from a milk phospholipid, soybean lecithin, high oleic sunflower oil and perilla oil. 3. A nutritional composition of claim 1 or 2, for patients suffering from diabetes or glucose intolerance, or for obesity prevention. 4. A nutritional composition of claim 3, for a diet for diabetic patients at home or an obesity preventive diet. 5. A nutritional composition of claim 3, which is an oral or tube feeding (enteral) nutrient. 6. A nutritional composition of claim 3, which is a therapeutic diet. 7. A nutritional composition of claim 3, which is a food with health claims. 8. A nutritional composition for obesity prevention, which comprises a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. 9. A nutritional composition of claim 8, which comprises at least one selected from a milk phospholipid, soybean lecithin, high oleic sunflower oil and perilla oil. 10. A nutritional composition of claim 8, which is an oral or tube feeding (enteral) nutrient. 11. A nutritional composition of claim 8, which is a therapeutic diet. 12. A nutritional composition of claim 8, which is a food with health claims. 13. Use, for the preparation of a blood-sugar-level controlling nutritional composition, of a nutritional composition which comprises a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. 14. Use according to claim 13, wherein the composition comprises at least one selected from a milk phospholipid, soybean lecithin, high oleic sunflower oil and perilla oil. 15. Use according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the composition is for patients suffering from diabetes or glucose intolerance, or for obesity prevention. 16. Use according to claim 15, wherein the composition is a diet for diabetic patients at home or an obesity preventive diet. 17. Use according to claim 15, wherein the composition is an oral or tube feeding (enteral) nutrient. 18. Use according to claim 15, wherein the composition is a therapeutic diet. 19. Use according to claim 15, wherein the composition is a food with health claims. 20. Use, for the preparation of a obesity preventing nutritional composition, of a nutritional composition which comprises a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. 21. Use according to claim 20, wherein the composition comprises at least one selected from a milk phospholipid, soybean lecithin, high oleic sunflower oil and perilla oil. 22. Use according to claim 20, wherein the composition is an oral or tube feeding (enteral) nutrient. 23. Use according to claim 20, wherein the composition is a therapeutic diet. 24. Use according to claim 20, wherein the composition is a food with health claims. 25. A blood-sugar-level controlling method, which comprises administering a nutritional composition comprising a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. 26. Method according to claim 25, wherein the composition comprises at least one selected from a milk phospholipid, soybean lecithin, high oleic sunflower oil and perilla oil. 27. Method according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the composition is for patients suffering from diabetes or glucose intolerance, or for obesity prevention. 28. Method according to claim 27, wherein the composition is a diet for diabetic patients at home or an obesity preventive diet. 29. Method according to claim 27, wherein the composition is an oral or tube feeding (enteral) nutrient. 30. Method according to claim 27, wherein the composition is a therapeutic diet. 31. Method according to claim 27, wherein the composition is a food with health claims. 32. An obesity preventing method, which comprises administering a nutritional composition comprising a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. 33. Method according to claim 32, wherein the composition comprises at least one selected from a milk phospholipid, soybean lecithin, high oleic sunflower oil and perilla oil. 34. Method according to claim 32, wherein the composition is an oral or tube feeding (enteral) nutrient. 35. Method according to claim 32, wherein the composition is a therapeutic diet. 36. Method according to claim 32, wherein the composition is a food with health claims. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In recent years, the number of diabetic patients is increasing with the westernization of eating habits. It is estimated that the number, including potential patients, amounts to 15 million. In the treatment of diabetes, diet therapy and exercise are essential. The objects of these therapies are represented mainly by the maximized normalization of dysbolism of the patients, correction of insulin hyposecretion or insulin resistance which is a factor for causing diabetes, or prevention or inhibition of the advance of vascular complications. Obesity is said to be a prime cause responsible for sixty to eighty percent of diabetes cases. Because excessive insulin secretion is common to most obesity sufferers, there is the possibility that when obesity exceeds a certain level, the secreted amount of insulin becomes too high, leading to deteriorating obesity [Food Style 21, pp. 46, 2002.5 (Vol. 6 No. 5)]. In the U.S.A., with the progress of clinical nutrition science, a variety of oral or tube feeding (enteral) nutritional supplements were developed for various morbidities from the latter half of 1980s to the early 1990s. Examples include “Glucerna” for diabetic patients, “Suplena” for patients with renal disorders who are not receiving artificial dialysis, “Nepro” for patients with renal disorders who require artificial dialysis, “Perative” for all patients during an invasive period, “AlitraQ” for patients during an invasive period, particularly, with impaired digestive tracts, and “Advera” for people with AIDS. In recent years, “OXEPA” for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was put on the market. These products account for more than 70% of oral or tube feeding nutritional supplements for morbidities in the U.S.A. [FOOD Style 21, pp54, 1991.1 (Vol. 3 No. 1)]. In Japan, on the other hand, “YH-80” is a thick fluid diet developed for severe burn patients, “Fibrene YH” having a composition closer to a typical diet than YH80, “Renalene” for patients having diminished renal function, “Meibalance C” which is a total nutrition fluid diet designed for the aged [FOOD Style 21, pp. 58, 1991.1 (Vol. 3 No. 1)], and liquid high-nutrition fluid diet A-3 for unconscious patients [ISO TO RINSHO 29(17): 4529-4543, 1995] are on the market. Nonetheless, a fluid diet for diabetic patients, such as “Glucerna”, is still not on the market. A number of patents and patent applications related to fluid diets existent, but the number which relate to diabetes remains few. The only recognized so far is a nutritional composition for diabetic patients which contains protein, lipid and carbohydrate at a predetermined energy percentage and which is added with a viscous soluble food fiber and inulin or hydrolyzate thereof (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-18725). An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a nutritional composition effective for nutrition management and blood sugar level control of patients suffering from abnormal glucose metabolism, or for obesity prevention. More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a nutritional composition for diabetic patients or people having abnormal glucose intolerance, or for prevention of obesity, which composition is effective for suppressing a steep rise in the postprandial blood sugar level due to low insulin secretion and insulin resistance and for improving glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) levels which reflects blood sugar levels over a long period of time. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a graph showing change in the blood sugar level after oral administration of each of the nutritional composition and Glucerna to normal rats. In the diagram, (-●-) means the nutritional composition, while ( . . ∘ . . ) means Glucerna. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=6).*: P<0.05: Significant difference from Glucerna (Student-t Test). FIG. 2 is a graph showing a change in the blood sugar level after single oral administration of each of the nutritional composition and Meibalance C to normal rats. In the diagram, (-●-) means the nutritional composition, while ( . . ▾ . . ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=6). *: P<0.05: Significant difference from Meibalance C (Student-t Test). FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in the blood sugar level after single oral administration of each of the nutritional compositions, Glucerna and Meibalance C to normal rats. In the diagram, (-●-) means the nutritional composition, ( . . ∘ . . ) means Glucerna and ( . . ▾ . . ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=6). *: P<0.05: Significant difference from Meibalance C (Student-t Test). FIG. 4 is a graph showing a change in the blood sugar level after oral administration of each nutritional composition and Meibalance C to Streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. In the diagram, ( . . ● . . ) means the nutritional composition, while ( . . ∘ . . ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=6). *: P<0.05: Significant difference from Meibalance C (Student-t Test). FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in the blood sugar level after single oral administration of each nutritional composition, Glucerna and Meibalance C to Streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. In the diagram, (-●-) means the nutritional composition, ( . . ∘ . . ) means Glucerna and ( . . ▾ . . ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=6) *: P<0.05: Significant difference from Meibalance C (Student-t Test). FIG. 6 is a graph showing a change in the blood sugar level after single oral administration of one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C, to GK rats. In the diagram, (-●-) means the nutritional composition, ( . . ∘ . . ) means Glucerna and ( . . ▾ . . ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=6). *: P<0.05: Significant difference from Meibalance C (Student-t Test). FIG. 7 is a graph showing a weight change of C57BL/Ksj-db/db jc1 mice, which are spontaneous diabetic model mice, after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder, for 9 weeks. In the diagram, (-●-) means the nutritional composition, ( . . ∘ . . ) means Glucerna and ( . . ▾ . . ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean value±standard deviation (n=8). FIG. 8 is a graph showing a change in the blood sugar level of mice similar in kind to the above-described ones after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 31 days. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=8). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test). FIG. 9 is a graph showing a change in the HbA1c level of mice similar in kind to the above-described mice, after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna and Meibalance C powder for 31 days. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=8). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test). FIG. 10 is a graph showing serum GOT level of mice similar in kind to the above-described mice, after-they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 9 weeks. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=8). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test). FIG. 11 is a graph showing serum GPT levels of mice similar in kind to the above-described mice, after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 9 weeks. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=8). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test). FIG. 12 is a graph showing neutral fat accumulated in the liver, per liver, of mice similar in kind to the above-described mice, after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 9 weeks. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=8). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test). FIG. 13 is a graph showing a neutral fat amount accumulated in liver, per gram of the liver, of mice similar in kind to the above-described mice, after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 9 weeks. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean value±standard deviation (n=8). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test). FIG. 14 is a graph showing a change in the intake energy of C57BL/6N Jc1 mice after they were fed ad libitum with each of the nutritional composition, Glucerna and Meibalance C powder for 1 month. In the diagram, (●) means the nutritional compositions, (∘) means Glucerna and (Δ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean value±standard deviation (n=9). *: P<0.05: (Mann-Whitney U-test) FIG. 15 is a graph showing a change in the weight of mice similar in kind to the above-described ones after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 1 month. In the diagram, (●) means the nutritional composition, (∘) means Glucerna and (Δ) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=9). *: P<0.05 (Mann-Whitney U-test) FIG. 16 is a graph showing the posterior peritoneum fat amount (%/weight) of mice similar in kind to the above-described mice after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 9 weeks. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=9). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test) FIG. 17 is a graph showing the epididymis fat amount of mice similar in kind to the above-described mice, after they were fed ad libitum with one of the following: the nutritional composition, Glucerna or Meibalance C powder for 1 month. In the diagram, (▪) means the nutritional composition, (□) means Glucerna and (♦) means Meibalance C. Each point is a mean±standard deviation (n=9). *P<0.05: no significant difference when the letter is the same (Mann-Whitney U-test). detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Axial flow turbine |
In the axial turbine according to the present invention, a nozzle blade 1 and/or a movable blade 5 has a profile in which a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is maximized at a blade-central portion in height, wherein “s” being a shortest distance between a rear edge of a nozzle blade (movable blade) and a back side of another nozzle blade that is adjacent to the nozzle blade, and “t” being a pitch of the nozzle blades disposed in the row, minimized in a position between the blade-central portion in height and a blade-root portion and increased from a minimized value to the blade-root portion. This structure enables to provide the axial turbine, which permits to control flow distribution of the working fluid in the height direction of the blade in the passage between the blades of a turbine nozzle unit and a turbine movable nozzle and reduce the blade profile loss and the secondary flow loss at the blade-root portion, thus making a further improvement in the turbine stage efficiency. |
1. An axial turbine comprising: a plurality of turbine stages disposed in an axial direction of a turbine shaft, each of the plurality of turbine stages comprising a turbine nozzle unit having nozzle blades, which are disposed in a row in a circumferential direction of an annular passage formed between an outer diaphragm ring and an inner diaphragm ring; and a turbine movable blade unit, which is disposed on a downstream side of the turbine nozzle unit and has movable blades implanted in a row on the turbine shaft in a circumferential direction thereof, wherein said nozzle blades have a profile in which a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is maximized at a blade-central portion in height, wherein “s” being a shortest distance between a rear edge of a nozzle blade and a back side of another nozzle blade that is adjacent to said nozzle blade, and “t” being a pitch of the nozzle blades disposed in the row, minimized in a position between the blade-central portion in height and a blade-root portion and increased from a minimized value to said blade-root portion. 2. An axial turbine according to claim 1, wherein said minimized value of the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” of the nozzle blades is a smallest value. 3. An axial turbine according to claim 1, wherein a geometrical discharge angle “α=sin−1(s/t)”, which is calculated from the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” in the blade-root portion of the nozzle blades, is set within a range of from at least 105% to up to 115% of the geometrical discharge angle calculated from the minimum value of the throat-pitch ratio “s/t”. 4. An axial turbine according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle blades have a cross section, which curves toward a fluid flowing side in the circumferential direction so that an extremely projecting portion exists in the blade-central portion in height. 5. An axial turbine according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle blades incline or curve at a rear edge position thereof towards either one of an upstream side opposing against flow of fluid and a downstream side following the flow of the fluid. 6. An axial turbine according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle blades have a cross section so that a length of a chord of blade is maximized at the blade-tip portion and minimized at the blade-root portion. 7. An axial turbine comprising: a plurality of turbine stages disposed in an axial direction of a turbine shaft, each of the plurality of turbine stages comprising a turbine nozzle unit having nozzle blades, which are disposed in a row in a circumferential direction of an annular passage formed between an outer diaphragm ring and an inner diaphragm ring; and a turbine movable blade unit, which is disposed on a downstream side of the turbine nozzle unit and has movable blades implanted in a row on the turbine shaft in a circumferential direction thereof, wherein said movable blades have a profile in which a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is maximized at a blade-central portion in height, wherein “s” being a shortest distance between a rear edge of a movable blade and a back side of another movable blade that is adjacent to said movable blade, and “t” being a pitch of the movable blades disposed in the row, minimized in a position between the blade-central portion in height and a blade-root portion and increased from a minimized value to said blade-root portion. 8. An axial turbine according to claim 7, wherein said throat-pitch ratio “s/t”, which is increased from the minimized value to the blade-root portion, is maximized at the blade-root portion. 9. An axial turbine according to claim 7, wherein a geometrical discharge angle “α=sin−1(s/t)”, which is calculated from the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” in the blade-root portion of the movable blades, is set within a range of from at least 105% to up to 115% of the geometrical discharge angle calculated from the minimum value of the throat-pitch ratio “s/t”. 10. An axial turbine according to claim 7, wherein said movable blades have a cross section, which curves towards a fluid flowing side in the circumferential direction so that an extremely projecting portion exists in the blade-central portion in height. 11. An axial turbine according to claim 7, wherein said movable blades incline or curve at a rear edge position thereof towards either one of an upstream side opposing against flow of fluid and a downstream side following the flow of the fluid. 12. An axial turbine comprising: a plurality of turbine stages disposed in an axial direction of a turbine shaft, each of the plurality of turbine stages comprising a turbine nozzle unit having nozzle blades, which are disposed in a row in a circumferential direction of an annular passage formed between an outer diaphragm ring and an inner diaphragm ring; and a turbine movable blade unit, which is disposed on a downstream side of the turbine nozzle unit and has movable blades implanted in a row on the turbine shaft in a circumferential direction thereof, wherein said nozzle blades have a profile in which a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is maximized at a blade-central portion in height, wherein “s” being a shortest distance between a rear edge of a nozzle blade and a back side of another nozzle blade that is adjacent to said nozzle blade, and “t” being a pitch of the nozzle blades disposed in the row, minimized in a position between the blade-central portion in height and a blade-root portion, and increased from a minimized value to said blade-root portion, and said movable blades have a profile in which a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is maximized at a blade-central portion in height, wherein “s” being a shortest distance between a rear edge of a movable blade and a back side of another movable blade that is adjacent to said movable blade, and “t” being a pitch of the movable blades disposed in the row, minimized in a position between the blade-central portion in height and a blade-root portion and increased from a minimized value to said blade-root portion. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY <EOH>In an axial turbine of a steam turbine or a gas turbine applied, for example, to a power plant, there have recently been reviewed improvement in thermal efficiency, and especially, improvement in a turbine internal efficiency, by which an economic operation can be carried out effectively. A subject to suppress the secondary flow loss due to the secondary flow of working fluid such as working steam or working gas in a turbine nozzle unit or a turbine movable blade unit, of losses including a blade profile loss occurring in a turbine blade and the secondary flow loss (secondary loss) of the working fluid, as low as possible, in order to improve remarkably the turbine internal efficiency, has been addressed as one of significant subjects of study. FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a structure of a turbine nozzle unit called the “straight blade”, which is conventionally applied to the axial turbine. A plurality of nozzle blades 1 (so called the “stationary blades”) is placed in a row in a circumferential direction of a turbine axis, not shown, of an annular passage 4 , which is formed between an outer diaphragm ring 2 and an inner diaphragm ring 3 . A plurality of turbine movable blades 5 is placed in the circumferential direction on the downstream side of the nozzle blades 1 , so as to correspond to the row arrangement of the nozzle blades 1 , as shown in FIG. 8 . The turbine movable blades 5 are implanted in a rotor disc 6 in the peripheral direction thereof and are provided at the respective outer peripheral ends with a shroud 7 , which prevents the working steam or the working gas (hereinafter referred to as the “working fluid main stream” or merely to as the “main stream”) from leaking. Detailed description will be given below of a mechanism of occurrence of the secondary flow of the working fluid on the nozzle blade 1 (hereinafter referred merely to as the “secondary flow”) in the axial turbine having the above-described structure, with reference to FIG. 10 , which is a perspective view, in which the turbine nozzle unit is viewed from the outlet side of the nozzle blade 1 . The working fluid main stream flows the passage between the blades in a curved shape. At this stage, a centrifugal force is generated from the back (dorsal) side “B” of the nozzle blade 1 toward the front (ventral) side “F”. The centrifugal force is balanced with static pressure so that the static pressure on the front side “F” becomes higher. On the contrary, the flow velocity of the main stream is high on the back side “B”, resulting in the lower static pressure. This causes a pressure gradient to occur from the front side “F” towards the back side “B” in the passage between the blades. The pressure gradient also occurs in a boundary zone formed on the peripheral wall surface of the outer diaphragm ring 2 and the inner diaphragm ring 3 in the similar manner. However, the flow velocity is low and the centrifugal force becomes small in the boundary zone in the passage between the blades, with the result that endurance against the pressure gradient from the front side “F” towards the back side “B” cannot be maintained, thus producing the secondary flow 8 of the working fluid, which is directed from the front side “F” toward the back side “B”. The secondary flow 8 collides with the back side “B” of the nozzle blade 1 to rise up, thus producing the secondary flow vortexes 9 a, 9 b in connection portions at which the nozzle blade 1 is connected to the outer diaphragm ring 2 and the inner diaphragm ring 3 so as to support the nozzle blade 1 . The energy possessed by the main stream of the working fluid is lost partially under the influence of development and diffusion of the secondary flow vortexes 9 a , 9 b, and the wall friction due to the secondary flow, in this manner, thus becoming a factor responsible for the remarkably deteriorated turbine internal efficiency. The secondary flow loss also occurs in the turbine movable blade unit in the same manner as the turbine nozzle unit. There have been disclosed many results of research and many proposals to reduce the secondary flow loss due to the secondary flow vortexes 9 a, 9 b, which are generated in the passage between the blades. There has been disclosed for example a turbine nozzle unit, which has a profile in which a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” expressed by a throat “s”, which is defined by the shortest distance between the rear edge of a nozzle blade 1 and the back side “B” of another nozzle blade 1 that is adjacent to the above-mentioned nozzle blade 1 , and a pitch “t” of the blades 1 aligned annularly, is maximized at a blade-central portion in height, on the one hand, and decreased at the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion, on the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9 (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 6-272504). The above-mentioned turbine nozzle unit has advantages as described below in comparison with a turbine nozzle unit or turbine movable blade unit, which has conventionally been applied for example to a steam turbine and called the “straight blade” type (i.e., the blades placed along the radial lines, which pass through the center of the turbine axis and straightly extend radially). In the turbine nozzle unit called the “straight blade” type, the loss at the blade-central portion in height is small, on the one hand, and the loss at the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion becomes relatively large, on the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5A . Furthermore, in the turbine movable blade unit called the “straight blade” type, the loss at the blade-central portion in height is small, on the one hand, and the loss at the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion becomes relatively large, on the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B . The “loss” means loss of the secondary flow of the working fluid in the following description, unless a definition is specifically given. On the contrary, in the turbine nozzle unit having the profile in which the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is maximized at the blade-central portion in height, on the one hand, and decreased at the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion, on the other hand, as shown in a dotted line in FIG. 4A , the flow rate of the main stream is decreased at the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion in which the larger loss occurs, on the one hand, and increased at the blade-central portion in height in which the smaller loss occurs, on the other hand. Accordingly, the loss generated in the whole passage in the turbine nozzle unit becomes smaller in comparison with the turbine nozzle unit called the “straight blade” type. Furthermore, in the turbine movable blade unit having the profile in which the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is maximized at the blade-central portion in height, on the one hand, and decreased at the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion, on the other hand, as shown in a dotted line in FIG. 4B , the loss generated in the whole passage in the turbine movable blade unit becomes smaller in comparison with the turbine movable blade unit called the “straight blade” type, in the same manner as the above-described turbine nozzle unit. In addition, with respect to the other results of research, there has been disclosed a turbine nozzle unit called “compound lean” type in which the nozzle blades 1 bend relative to the radial lines, which pass through the center of the turbine axis (which is indicated by the reference sign “E” in FIG. 10 ) (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 1-106903). The turbine nozzle unit called the “compound lean” type has a structure as shown in FIG. 7A in which the rear edge of the blade projects in a curved profile from the blade-tip portion and the blade-root portion towards the blade-central portion in height so as to generate pressing forces, which are applied from the blade-tip portion and the blade-root portion to the outer and inner diaphragm rings 2 and 3 , respectively. Accordingly, the turbine nozzle unit called the “compound lean” type makes it possible to keep the small pressure gradient in the boundary zone generated in each of the outer diaphragm ring 2 and the inner diaphragm ring 3 . The turbine movable blade unit also has a structure as shown in FIG. 7B in which the rear edge of the blade projects in a curved profile from the blade-tip portion and the blade-root portion towards the blade-central portion in height so as to generate pressing forces, which are applied from the blade-tip portion and the blade-root portion to a shroud 7 and a rotor disc 6 , respectively, in the same manner as the above-described turbine nozzle unit, thus making it possible to keep the small pressure gradient in the boundary zone generated in each of the shroud 7 and the rotor disc 6 (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 3-189303). The turbine nozzle unit and the turbine movable blade units, which are called the “compound lean” type, have the profile by which the pressing force applied from the blade-tip portion to the outer diaphragm ring 2 as well as the pressing force applied from the blade-root portion to the inner diaphragm ring 3 are given, and the pressure gradient in the boundary zone generated in each of the outer diaphragm ring 2 and the inner diaphragm ring 3 is kept small, thus leading to a larger flowing amount of the main stream. However, the connection portion of the blade-tip portion to the outer diaphragm 2 and the connection portion of the blade-root portion to the inner diaphragm 3 originally exist as zones where the secondary flow loss of the working fluid is large. Accordingly, there is a limitation for further improvement in performance, even when a larger amount of the main stream of the working fluid is supplied to flow. In view of this fact, the turbine nozzle unit and the turbine movable blade unit, in which the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is increased at the blade-central portion in height to ensure a larger area of the passage, cause the main stream to flow in a larger amount in a zone at the blade-central portion in height, in which the small loss occurs. It is therefore conceivable that such a structure can make further improvements in performance, thus providing advantages (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 8-109803). However, in the turbine nozzle unit and the turbine movable blade unit having the above-described profile, the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is small at both of the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion, a geometrical discharge angle “α=sin −1 (s/t)”, which is calculated from the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is also small, and a turning angle becomes large. It is known that, when the turbine nozzle unit and the turbine movable blade unit of the axial turbine generally have the small geometrical discharge angle or the large turning angle, the boundary zone develops on the surface of the blade, thus increasing the blade profile loss. When the flowing direction of the main stream is drastically changed in the passage between the blades, the pressure gradient from the front side “F” towards the back side “B” in the passage between the blades becomes large and the secondary flow 8 also becomes large. In addition, fluid having a low energy, in the boundary zones on the surface of the blade, which develop in the vicinity of the blade-root portion and the blade-tip portion, as well as fluid having a low energy, in the boundary zones formed on the peripheral wall surfaces in the passage between the blades flow together with the secondary flow 8 , thus constituting a factor responsible for the remarkably increased secondary flow loss. Especially, the small throat-pitch ratio “s/t” in the blade-root portion makes the annular pitch “t” small, thus leading to a small throat “s”. The small throat “s” causes a ratio “te/s” of the thickness “te” of the rear edge in the throat “s” to become large, since it is required that the thickness “te” of the rear edge in the throat “s” has a predetermined value based on the structural requirement of the blade. As a result, the blade profile loss rapidly increases as shown in FIG. 11 . The turbine nozzle unit and the turbine movable blade unit in which the throat-pitch ratio “s/t” is increased at the blade-central portion in height, as well as the other turbine nozzle unit and the other turbine movable blade unit, which are called the “compound lean” type, any one of which have been disclosed as one of the results of the recent research, have merits and demerits as described above. It is therefore conceivable that combination of them only in their structure providing the merits, i.e., realization of a so-called “hybrid blade” makes contribution to the further improvement in the turbine stage efficiency. An object of the present invention, which was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, is therefore to provide an axial turbine, which permits to control flow distribution of the main stream in the height direction of the blade in the passage between the blades of a turbine nozzle unit and a turbine movable nozzle and reduce the blade profile loss and the secondary flow loss at the blade-root portion, thus making a further improvement in the turbine stage efficiency. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a turbine nozzle unit applied to an axial turbine according to the present invention, which is viewed from an outlet side of a main stream of a working fluid; FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a turbine movable blade unit applied to an axial turbine according to the present invention, which is viewed from an outlet side of a main stream; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the turbine nozzle unit and the turbine movable blade unit applied to the axial turbine according to the present invention, in order to explain a flow passage thereof; FIG. 4 shows throat-pitch ratio “s/t” distribution maps in comparison between the prior art and the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” distribution map of the turbine nozzle unit and FIG. 4B is a throat-pitch ratio “s/t” distribution map of the turbine movable blade unit; FIG. 5 shows loss distribution maps in which comparison in loss between the prior art and the present invention is made, in which FIG. 5A is a loss distribution map of the turbine nozzle unit and FIG. 5B is a loss distribution map of the turbine movable blade unit; FIG. 6 is a distribution map of a loss variation amount showing a relationship between a geometrical discharge angle and the loss variation amount in a blade-root portion of the turbine nozzle unit and the turbine movable blade unit, which are applied to the axial turbine according to the present invention; FIG. 7 illustrates blades, which are applied to the conventional axial turbine and viewed from the outlet side of the main stream, in which FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the turbine nozzles and FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the turbine movable blades; FIG. 8 is a conceptual view used for explaining the stream of the main stream, which flows through the turbine nozzle unit and the turbine blade unit that are applied to the axial turbine according to the present invention; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another turbine nozzle unit applied to the conventional axial turbine, viewed from the outlet side of the main stream; FIG. 10 is a conceptual view used for explaining the stream of the main stream, which flows through the turbine nozzle unit applied to the conventional axial turbine; FIG. 11 is a loss distribution map, which shows loss at a rear edge of the turbine nozzle blades applied to the conventional axial turbine; and FIG. 12 is a conceptual view illustrating an example of stages of the axial turbine provided with nozzle diaphragms. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Antenna device, wireless communication terminal, external antenna and hand-strap |
An antenna device, a radio communication terminal, an external antenna, and a hand strap can be provided, which are capable of ensuring satisfactory communication performance without being affected by the surrounding environment even in an area where the electric field is weak, and having the antenna performance improved by slightly modifying the body of an existing radio communication device. The antenna device according to the present invention includes an internal antenna (2) electrically connected to and incorporated into a circuit for radio communication within a case (1) and an external antenna (3) externally attached to the case. |
1. An antenna device comprising: an internal antenna (2) electrically connected to and incorporated into a circuit for radio communication within a case; and an external antenna (3) externally attached to said case (1) and facing said internal antenna with said case therebetween to be electromagnetically coupled with said internal antenna. 2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said external antenna is not electrically connected to said circuit within said case. 3. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said internal antenna includes a plurality of portions resonating at a plurality of frequencies respectively and said external antenna includes a plurality of portions resonating at said plurality of frequencies respectively. 4. A portable radio communication terminal comprising: a case (1) accommodating a circuit for radio communication; an internal antenna (2) electrically connected to and incorporated into said circuit; and an external antenna (1) externally attached to said case and facing said internal antenna with said case therebetween to be electromagnetically coupled with said internal antenna. 5. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said external antenna is not electrically connected to said circuit. 6. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, further comprising at least a receiver (16), wherein said receiver is attached to one side (1a) of said case, and said internal antenna and said external antenna are each attached to a side opposite to said one side. 7. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, further comprising at least: a receiver (16); and a microphone (17), wherein said receiver and said microphone are attached to one side (1a) of said case, and said internal antenna and said external antenna are each attached to a side opposite to said one side. 8. The radio communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein said internal antenna and said external antenna are located at an upper portion on the side opposite to said one side. 9. The radio communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein said internal antenna and said external antenna are located at a lower portion on the side opposite to said one side. 10. The radio communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein said external antenna is movably attached to said case by a binding force sufficient to keep said external antenna attached to said case and has a portion facing said internal antenna with said case therebetween such that said external antenna is electromagnetically coupled with said internal antenna when said receiver is held against a user's ear. 11. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said external antenna is a linear conductor (3a) and has its one end held by said case. 12. The radio communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein said linear conductor has its one end pivotably held by said case. 13. The radio communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein said linear conductor includes at least one of a meandering portion (3m) and a helical portion. 14. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said external antenna is a linear conductor (33) incorporated into a hand strap (7) attached to the case of said radio communication terminal. 15. The radio communication terminal according to claim 14, wherein said case includes an engagement portion (13) engaging with a portion of said hand strap to enable said linear conductor to face said internal antenna such that said linear conductor is electromagnetically coupled with said internal antenna. 16. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein when said internal antenna is divided into one portion and another portion by a border line (Cl) passing through a midpoint of the internal antenna and extending in a longitudinal direction of the case, a configuration of the one portion of said internal antenna is similar to a configuration of the another portion of said internal antenna. 17. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said external antenna is a conductor provided at a plate-shaped body (5) attached to said case. 18. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said external antenna is a conductor (23, 3a) provided at a plate-shaped body (5) movably attached to said case. 19. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said external antenna is a conductor (53) detachably inserted in a cap (26) detachably fit in a top of said case. 20. The radio communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said internal antenna includes a plurality of portions resonating at a plurality of frequencies respectively and said external antenna includes a plurality of portions resonating at said plurality of frequencies respectively. 21. A hand strap (7) attached to a radio communication terminal with an internal antenna comprising: an attachment portion (7a) attached to said radio communication terminal; and a linear conductor (33, 43) electromagnetically coupled with said internal antenna when the hand strap is attached to said radio communication terminal by said attachment portion. 22. The hand strap according to claim 21, wherein said linear conductor (33, 43) has a length adapted to a wavelength of a radio wave used for said radio communication terminal. 23. The hand strap according to claim 21, wherein said linear conductor includes a first linear conductor having a length adapted to a wavelength of a first radio wave and a second linear conductor having a length adapted to a wavelength of a second radio wave different from said first radio wave. 24. The hand strap according to claim 23, wherein said first and second linear conductors are embedded in flexible plate-shaped resin to be provided at said hand strap. 25. An external antenna comprising: an attachment portion (3d, 3e) attached to a case of a radio communication terminal with an internal antenna; and a conductor having a length adapted to a wavelength of a radio wave for said radio communication terminal such that said external antenna can electromagnetically be coupled with said internal antenna when said external antenna is attached to said radio communication terminal by said attachment portion. 26. The external antenna according to claim 25, wherein said conductor includes a first conductor having a length adapted to a wavelength of a first radio wave and a second conductor having a length adapted to a wavelength of a second radio wave different from said first radio wave. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>A radio communication terminal includes a whip antenna utilized generally in a pulled-out position and an accommodated position. This whip antenna 130 has a helical antenna 112 at its tip. When the whip antenna is accommodated within a case 101 of a radio communication terminal 110 as shown in FIG. 24 , only helical antenna 112 is exposed at case 101 . In this case, a feeding point 115 is located at the base of helical antenna 112 as shown in FIG. 25 . In other words, only helical antenna 112 serves as an antenna. The electrical length of the antenna in this case is substantially equal to the length of a straightened conductor forming the helical coil. In contrast, when whip antenna 130 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 26 , the base of an exposed whip portion 113 , that is, the base of a linear portion serves as feeding point 115 . An electrical length LE in this case is substantially equal to the length of the portion from feeding point 115 to the base of the helical antenna in the pulled-out direction as shown in FIG. 27 . The antenna in this case is formed from pulled-out whip portion 113 . Therefore, as long as the electrical length is adapted to the wavelength of the radio wave to be used, a conversation capacity should be obtained in both cases where the whip antenna is pulled out and the whip antenna is accommodated within the case. In this context, “adapting the conductor's length or the like to the wavelength of the radio wave” means that the electrical length of that conductor is set to have a length corresponding to a prescribed wavelength or a prescribed fraction of that wavelength. A better communication performance, however, can be achieved when the whip antenna takes the pulled-out state than in the accommodated state because: (a) the likelihood increases of attaining a state away from an interfering environment such as the user's face or head in the pulled-out; and (b) a linear antenna often has higher radiation efficiency than a helical antenna state. The whip antenna as described above also utilizes the ground in the mobile telephone to operate as a dipole antenna. In transmission or reception, an excitation current is induced at this dipole antenna by a radio wave ( FIG. 28 ). An antenna at which a larger excitation current is induced by the same radio wave is regarded to have higher communication performance. As shown in FIG. 29 , the excitation current is distributed over the whip antenna and the ground in the mobile telephone when the whip antenna is pulled out. In general, in an area where the electric field is-strong, such as in an urban area with a base station located nearby, a strong radio wave is transmitted and received between the base station and an antenna device. Therefore, even when the whip antenna is accommodated within the case, it can transmit and receive radio waves without any problems. In an area far away from the base station where the electric field is weak, however, the whip antenna may not be able to transmit and receive radio waves smoothly if it is accommodated within the case. That is, since the radio communication terminal is usually carried by a user with the whip antenna accommodated within the case, it may not be able to detect reception, for example. In addition, in view of the portability or the like, the idea of forcing customers to carry mobile telephones with the whip antennas always pulled out is not acceptable. An approach set forth below has been taken to solve the above-described problems. As shown in FIG. 30 , a mobile telephone has been proposed that has a structure in which a hand strap 101 and an antenna 102 are integrated and attached to a mobile telephone 110 , or a structure in which the antenna itself serves as a hand strap (Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 6-7305). According to this configuration, the hand strap itself or a portion embedded in the hand strap substitutes for a pulled-out portion 104 of an antenna. Since the hand strap is always provided outside a case 101 , the state in which the whip antenna is always pulled out can be realized in the mobile telephone as described above. In addition, a user would not feel uncomfortable about the mobile telephone with the hand strap attached at the external side of the case. Therefore, radio waves can be transmitted and received without any problems even in the area where the electric field is weak. In the antenna's configuration as described above, the overall performance of the antenna will depend on the antenna incorporated into the hand strap. In other words, the whole antenna is located within the hand strap. The performance of an antenna varies widely depending on the environment surrounding the antenna. In addition, the environment for a hand strap varies depending on how the user carries his/her mobile telephone. Therefore, the overall performance of the antenna may be affected by the way that the user carries his/her mobile telephone. Accordingly, a possibility of the overall communication performance being influenced by the user's way of carrying his/her mobile telephone cannot be denied. Mobile telephones are utilized by all people regardless of sex and age, at any time day and night, and in any environment. Therefore, it is not preferred that an antenna affecting the communication performance depends on such a configuration as described above. There is a need for ensuring high communication performance even in a weak-electric-field area by means of the more stable configuration without any discomfort on the user's side. Apart from the problems as discussed above, there is sometimes a need for improving only the communication performance of an existing radio communication device in a short preparation time while taking advantage of most of its characteristics. In other words, it is sometimes desired to make improvements in communication performance in a short preparation time by making only slight changes to the design of the conventional radio communication device. Conventionally, when improvements in communication performance are required, changes have been made to the specification of the circuit of a radio unit connected to an antenna or an antenna's system. Alternatively, instead of changing the antenna's system, at least its shape has been changed significantly. In such a way of improving the antenna's performance, circuitry of the radio communication device had to be designed again or a new mold must be fabricated again. Therefore, the preparation was often time-consuming and it sometimes took a long time before the products became available in the market. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile telephone in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the mobile telephone in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3A shows an example of an external antenna of a linear conductor in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3B shows another example of the linear conductor in FIG. 3A . FIG. 3C shows a further example of the linear conductor in FIG. 3A . FIG. 3D shows a still further example of the linear conductor in FIG. 3A . FIG. 3E shows another example of the linear conductor in FIG. 3D . FIG. 4 shows an internal antenna different from the internal antenna shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 5 shows a current density distribution of an excitation current produced at the internal antenna. FIG. 6 shows current density distributions of excitation currents produced at the internal and external antennas. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the mobile telephone in FIG. 1 is being utilized by a user. FIG. 8 is a side view of the mobile telephone in FIG. 1 . FIG. 9 shows a mobile telephone in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A shows an example of an internal antenna in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10B shows another internal antenna employed in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10C shows a further internal antenna employed in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10D shows a still further internal antenna different from the internal antennas as shown above employed in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A shows a mobile telephone in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11B shows another mobile telephone in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a mobile telephone in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows a mobile telephone in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 shows positions of an external antenna of the mobile telephone in FIG. 13 in a used mode and in a non-used mode. FIG. 15 shows a mobile telephone in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 shows another mobile telephone in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 shows a hand strap utilized for the mobile telephone in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 shows a manufacturing process of the hand strap shown in FIG. 17 . FIG. 19 shows a manufacturing process following the process in FIG. 18 . FIG. 20 shows another hand strap utilized for the mobile telephone in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 shows a manufacturing process of the hand strap shown in FIG. 20 . FIG. 22 shows a cable manufactured in the manufacturing process in FIG. 21 . FIG. 23 shows a mobile telephone in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 shows a state in which a whip antenna of a conventional mobile telephone is accommodated. FIG. 25 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the antenna in the state of FIG. 24 . FIG. 26 shows a state in which the whip antenna of the conventional mobile telephone is pulled out. FIG. 27 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing the antenna in the state of FIG. 26 . FIG. 28 shows a current density distribution of an excitation current produced at a general dipole antenna. FIG. 29 shows a current density distribution of an excitation current produced at a mobile telephone with its whip antenna pulled out. FIG. 30 shows a conventional mobile telephone with the whole antenna incorporated into its hand strap. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Novel amide hydrolase gene |
The present invention relates to an amide hydrolase which is with excellent thermostability and stereoselectively hydrolyzes an α-amino acid amide; a gene encoding the enzyme protein; a novel recombinant vector containing the gene; a transformant containing the recombinant vector; and a process for producing an L-α-amino acid using the transformant. |
1-9. (canceled) 10. A protein of either (a) or (b): (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, except that one to twenty amino acids have been deleted, replaced or added. 11. A polynucleotide encoding a protein of either (a) or (b): (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, except that one to twenty amino acids have been deleted, replaced or added. 12. A recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide according to claim 11. 13. A transformant comprising the recombinant vector according to claim 12. 14. A process for producing an amide hydrolase, comprising culturing the transformant according to claim 13, and recovering an amide hydrolase from the cultured product. 15. A process for producing an optically active L-α-amino acid, comprising; culturing the transformant according to claim 13, and contacting the cultured product or a processed product thereof with an α-amino acid amide. 16. A polynucleotide selected from (a), (b) or (c) comprising: (a) a polynucleotide consisting of the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (b) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions with the full complement of the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; wherein stringent conditions comprising washing in 2×SSC at 68° C.; or (c) a polynucleotide that is at least 95% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2. 17. A recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide according to claim 16. 18. A transformant comprising the recombinant vector according to claim 17. 19. A process for producing an amide hydrolase, comprising: culturing the transformant according to claim 18, and recovering an amide hydrolase from the cultured product. 20. A process for producing an optically active L-α-amino acid, comprising. culturing the transformant according to claim 18, and contacting the cultured product or a processed product thereof with an α-amino acid amide. 21. A microorganism belonging to genus Thermus or genus Bacillus, capable of growing at 55° C. or higher, and producing an amide hydrolase with excellent thermostability. 22. A process for producing an optically active L-α-amino acid, comprising: culturing the microorganism according to claim 21, and contacting the cultured product or a processed product thereof with an α-amino acid amide. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Processes for producing an optically active L-α-amino acid by contacting a microorganism or a microbial enzyme with an α-amino acid amide are known (JP Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 59-159789 (1984), 61-119199 (1986), 62-55097 (1987), 1-277499 (1989) and 5-30992 (1993)). Each of these methods uses a reaction mediated by a microbial amide hydrolase. The amide hydrolase, also called amidase, catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction of an acid amide group into a carboxylic acid and an amine or ammonia. The microbial amide hydrolase is characterized in that it stereoselectively hydrolyzes an α-amino acid amide to produce an optically active L-α-amino acid. The term “optically active L-α-amino acid” refers to an amino acid containing a levorotatory enantiomer in a larger amount than the other enantiomer, or an amino acid consisting of a levorotatory enantiomer alone. However, when a microorganism or microbial enzyme is industrially used for producing a substance; the stability and activity of the amide hydrolase used must be sufficiently high in view of cost performance. Since all microorganisms used in the aforementioned methods are mesophilic bacteria, which cannot proliferate at a temperature of 55° C. or higher, the amide hydrolases derived from these microorganisms are low in stability in the range of ordinary temperature or higher. Therefore, when a reaction takes place at high temperature, the problem that the reaction slows down or stops occurred because the enzyme becomes unstable. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a restriction map of recombinant plasmid pM5; FIG. 2 is a restriction map of recombinant plasmid pM501; FIG. 3 is a restriction map of recombinant plasmid pM501KN; and FIG. 4 is a restriction map of recombinant plasmid pM501PH. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Semiconductor processing system |
A semiconductor processing system includes a common transfer chamber (34) having first and second compartments (46, 48) partitioned by a partition wall (44). First and second vacuum processing apparatuses (32E, 32A) are respectively connected to the first and second compartments (46, 48). A pressure control section (PCS) controls the pressures inside the first and second compartments (46, 48). The pressure control section (PCS) includes first and second vacuum pumps (68, 70) respectively connected to the first and second compartments (46, 48), and a line (76) connecting the delivery side of the second vacuum pump (70) to the suction side of the first vacuum pump (68). The pressure control section (PCS) performs a setting such that a second ultimate pressure or lowest operational pressure of the second compartment (48) is lower than a first ultimate pressure or lowest operational pressure of the first compartment (46). |
1. A semiconductor processing system comprising: an airtight common transfer chamber; a partition wall that partitions an interior of the common transfer chamber and forms first and second compartments inside the common transfer chamber, the partition wall including a gate valve configured to selectively cause the first and second compartments to communicate with each other; a first vacuum processing apparatus connected to the first compartment, and configured to process a target substrate at a first process pressure therein; a second vacuum processing apparatus connected to the second compartment, and configured to process the target substrate at a second process pressure therein, the second process pressure being lower than the first process pressure; first and second load-lock chambers configured to adjust pressure therein, and connected to the first compartment; a first transfer arm device disposed in the first compartment to transfer the target substrate into the first vacuum processing apparatus; a second transfer arm device disposed in the second compartment to transfer the target substrate into the second vacuum processing apparatus; a buffer disposed within at least one of the first and second compartments to temporarily hold the target substrate, and located to be accessible by the first and second transfer arm devices; and a pressure control section configured to control pressure inside the first and second compartments, wherein the pressure control section comprises first and second vacuum pumps respectively connected to the first and second compartments, and a line connecting a delivery side of the second vacuum pump to a suction side of the first vacuum pump, and performs a setting such that a second ultimate pressure, which is a lowest operational pressure of the second compartment, is lower than a first ultimate pressure, which is a lowest operational pressure of the first compartment. 2. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control section sets the second ultimate pressure at 133×10−6 to 133×10−8 Pa. 3. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control section sets the second ultimate pressure to be {fraction (1/10)} to {fraction (1/1000)} of the first ultimate pressure. 4. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, wherein the buffer is disposed in the first compartment. 5. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, wherein the gate valve substantially entirely occupies the partition wall. 6. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, wherein the gate valve partly occupies the partition wall. 7. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second vacuum pumps has a suction side provided with a cooling member configured to adsorb water molecules in an atmosphere by cooling. 8. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an entrance transfer chamber with an atmospheric pressure atmosphere, connected to the first and second load-lock chambers in common, and having a loading port for transferring a target substrate into the semiconductor processing system therethrough. 9. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second partition wall that partitions the interior of the common transfer chamber and forms a third compartment adjacent to the second compartment inside the common transfer chamber, the second partition wall including a gate valve configured to selectively cause the second and third compartments to communicate with each other; a third vacuum processing apparatus connected to the third compartment, and configured to process the target substrate at a third process pressure therein, the third process pressure being lower than the second process pressure; and a third transfer arm device disposed in the third compartment to transfer the target substrate into the third vacuum processing apparatus, wherein the pressure control section is configured to control pressure inside the third compartment, comprises a third vacuum pump connected to the third compartment, and a line connecting a delivery side of the third vacuum pump to a suction side of the second vacuum pump, and performs a setting such that a third ultimate pressure, which is a lowest operational pressure of the third compartment, is lower than the second ultimate pressure. 10. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 9, wherein the pressure control section sets the third ultimate pressure at 133×10−7 to 133×10−9 Pa. 11. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 9, wherein the pressure control section sets the third ultimate pressure to be ½ to {fraction (1/10)} of the second ultimate pressure. 12. A semiconductor processing system comprising: an airtight common transfer chamber; a partition wall that partitions an interior of the common transfer chamber and forms first and second compartments inside the common transfer chamber, the partition wall including a gate valve configured to selectively cause the first and second compartments to communicate with each other; first and second vacuum processing apparatuses respectively connected to the first and second compartments; first and second load-lock chambers configured to adjust pressure therein, and connected to the first compartment; first and second transfer arm devices respectively disposed in the first and second compartments to transfer the target substrate into the first and second vacuum processing apparatuses; a buffer disposed within at least one of the first and second compartments to temporarily hold the target substrate, and located to be accessible by the first and second transfer arm devices; and a pressure control section configured to control pressure inside the first and second compartments, and comprising first and second vacuum pumps respectively connected to the first and second compartments. 13. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 12, wherein the pressure control section sets a second ultimate pressure, which is a lowest operational pressure of the second compartment, at 133×10−6 to 133×10−8 Pa. 14. The semiconductor processing system according to claim 12, wherein the pressure control section sets the second ultimate pressure to be {fraction (1/10 )} to {fraction (1/1000)} of a first ultimate pressure, which is a lowest operational pressure of the first compartment. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In the process of manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits, a wafer is subjected to various processes, such as film-formation, etching, oxidation, and diffusion. Owing to the demands of increased miniaturization and integration of semiconductor integrated circuits, the throughput and yield involving these processes need to be increased. In light of this, there is a semiconductor processing system of the so-called cluster tool type, which has a plurality of process chambers for performing the same process, or a plurality of process chambers for performing different processes, connected to a common transfer chamber. With a system of this type, various steps can be performed in series, without exposing a wafer to air. For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 3-19252, 2000-208589 and 2000-299367 disclose a semiconductor processing system of the cluster tool type. The assignee of the present invention also filed Jpn. Pat. Appln. No. 2001-060968 disclosing an improved semi-conductor processing system of the cluster tool type. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional processing system of the cluster tool type. As shown in FIG. 11 , the processing system 2 includes three processing apparatuses 4 A, 4 B, and 4 C, a first transfer chamber 6 , two load-lock chambers 8 A and 8 B provided with a pre-heating mechanism or cooling mechanism, a second transfer chamber 10 , and two cassette chambers 12 A and 12 B. The three processing apparatuses 4 A to 4 C are connected to the first transfer chamber 6 in common. The two load-lock chambers 8 A and 8 B are disposed in parallel with each other between the first and second transfer chambers 6 and 10 . The two cassette chambers 12 A and 12 B are connected to the second transfer chamber 10 . A gate valve G to be opened/closed is airtightly interposed between each two of the chambers. The first and second transfer chambers 6 and 10 are respectively provided with first and second transfer arm devices 14 and 16 disposed therein, each of which is formed of an articulated structure that can extend, contract, and rotate. Each of the arm devices 14 and 16 is arranged to hold a semiconductor wafer W to transfer it. The second transfer chamber 10 is provided with an alignment mechanism 22 disposed therein, which is formed of a rotary table 18 and an optical sensor 20 . The alignment mechanism 22 is arranged to rotate a wafer W transferred from the cassette chamber 12 A or 12 B, and detect its orientation flat or notch to perform alignment thereon. When a semiconductor wafer W is processed, an unprocessed semiconductor wafer W is first taken out of a cassette C placed in one of the cassette chambers, e.g., a cassette chamber 12 A, by the second transfer arm device 16 disposed in the second transfer chamber 10 , which has been kept at atmospheric pressure with an N 2 atmosphere. Then, the wafer W is transferred by the arm device 16 and placed on the rotary table 18 of the alignment mechanism 22 disposed in the second transfer chamber 10 . The arm device 16 is kept stationary on standby while the rotary table 18 rotates to perform alignment. The time period necessary for this alignment operation is, e.g., about 10 to 20 seconds. After the alignment operation, the aligned wafer W is held again by the arm device 16 , which has been waiting, and transferred into one of the load-lock chambers, e.g., the chamber 8 A. The wafer is pre-heated in the load-lock chamber 8 A, as needed, and, at the same time, the interior of the load-lock chamber 8 A is vacuum-exhausted to a predetermined pressure. The time period necessary for performing this pre-heating or vacuum-exhaust is, e.g., about 30 to 40 seconds. After the pre-heating operation, the gate valve G between the load-lock chamber 8 A and the first transfer chamber 6 , which is set at vacuum in advance, is opened to make them communicate with each other. Then, the pre-heated wafer W is held by the first transfer arm device 14 and transferred into a predetermined processing apparatus, e.g., 4 A. Then, a predetermined process, such as a film-formation process of a metal film, insulating film, or the like, is performed in the processing apparatus 4 A. The time period necessary for performing this process is, e.g., about 60 to 90 seconds. The processed semiconductor wafer W is transferred, through a route reverse to the route described above, to, e.g., the original cassette C placed in the cassette chamber 12 A. In this route to return the processed wafer W, the other load-lock chamber 8 B is used, for example, and the wafer W is transferred after it is cooled to a predetermined temperature. The time period necessary for performing this cooling and returning to atmospheric pressure is about 30 to 40 seconds. Before the processed wafer W is transferred into the cassette C, alignment may be performed by the alignment mechanism 22 , as needed. As semiconductor wafer processes progress in level of miniaturization and integration, decrease in film thickness, and increase in the number of layers, integrated circuits are increasingly required to have diversified functions. As a result, manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits tends to shift from small item large volume production to large item small volume production. This makes it necessary to provide one semiconductor processing system with a plurality of processing apparatuses using different process conditions. For example, the semiconductor vacuum process includes a process performed in a relatively high vacuum state, such as a process using plasma, and a process performed in a state whose vacuum level is not so high, such as a pre-cleaning process for deoxidizing an oxide film on a semiconductor wafer surface. If processing apparatuses for performing processes under vacuum but at different process pressures, as described above, are connected to the common transfer chamber 6 , as shown in FIG. 11 , a problem arises such that it takes time to adjust pressure in the chambers when a wafer is transferred between the common transfer chamber 6 and the processing apparatuses using different process pressures. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a semiconductor processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the common transfer chamber of the processing system shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a buffer disposed in the common transfer chamber shown in FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cooling member disposed on the suction side of a vacuum pump, which is used in the processing system shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a load-lock chamber used in the processing system shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a substrate holding ring used in the load-lock chamber shown in FIG. 5 ; FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a semiconductor processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a semiconductor processing system according to still another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a semiconductor processing system according to still another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the common transfer chamber of the processing system shown in FIG. 9 ; and FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional processing system of the cluster tool type. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Human spinal column measurement and display system |
According to a human spinal column measuring and displaying system 1 of the invention, a probe 3 is pinched between the second finger and the third finger of a measuring person, front ends of the fingers are moved from the first thoracic vertebra to the fifth lumbar vertebra of the spinal column of a measured subject, detaching amounts from reference positions in X, Y and Z directions are detected by three-dimensionally moving the front ends of the fingers, converted data storing means stores the detaching amounts detected by the probe as respective values of measured data in X-axis direction, Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction, gender and height of the measured subject is inputted by an input apparatus, when from a basic diagram data 15 stored with an average size and a basic shape of each of the vertebrae constituting the spinal column of the human body by the gender and the height of the measured subject, in accordance with the gender and the height of the measured subject inputted by the input apparatus 10, a table of the vertebrae 16 of each of the vertebrae in correspondence with the gender and the height is selected from the basic diagram data 15, and when an image of a total of the spinal column constituting a basic is generated by synthesizing means 17 based on the size and the shape of each of the vertebrae selected by the table of the vertebrae, in the image of the spinal column generated by the synthesizing means, based on measured data stored to the converted data storing means 14, positions of displaying the vertebrae in correspondence with positions of coordinates in X direction, Y direction and Z direction of the respective vertebrae are moved and a three-dimensional image of the spinal column of the measured subject is generated and the image of the spinal column is displayed on a display screen 11 by image data generating means 18. |
1. A human spinal column measuring and displaying system characterized in comprising a probe provided at a front end of a scanning arm movable in a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), a width direction (Y-axis direction) and a thickness direction (Z-axis direction) of the spinal column of a measured subject and pinched between the second finger and the third finger of a measuring person for detecting detaching amounts from reference positions in the X, the Y and the Z directions by three-dimensionally moving front ends of the fingers by moving the front ends of the fingers from a position of the first cervical vertebra or a position of the first thoracic vertebra to a position of the fifth lumbar vertebra of the spinal column of the measured subject, converted data storing means for storing respective values of measured data in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction of the detaching amounts detected by the probe, an input apparatus for inputting the gender and a height of the measured subject, a basic diagram data stored with an average size and a basic shape of each of the vertebrae constituting the spinal column of the human body by the gender and the height of the measured subject, a table of the vertebrae for selecting each of the vertebrae in correspondence with the gender and the height from the basic diagram data in accordance with the gender and the height of the measured subject inputted by the input apparatus, synthesizing means for generating an image of a total of the spinal column constituting a basic based on a size and a shape of each of the vertebrae selected by the table of the vertebrae, and image data generating means for generating a three-dimensional image of the spinal column of the measured subject at positions of coordinates in the X direction, the Y direction and the Z direction of each of the vertebrae on the image of the spinal column generated by the synthesizing means based on the measured data stored to the converted data storing means to display the image of the spinal column on a display screen. 2. The human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to claim 1, characterized in that the pseudo-image of the spinal column is displayed by moving the image of the spinal column displayed on the display screen in a predetermined direction or rotating the image by a predetermined angle based on a predetermined instruction. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>It has conventionally been known that warping or bending of the spinal column effects various influences such as diseases of the internal organs, the stiffness in the shoulder and the head ache on the human body. Therefore, in order to confirm whether bending is present at the spinal column, there are used a manual method of confirming whether the spinal column is bent by examining the spinal column position of the human body by touching by a physician of the chiropractic, a method of using Moire topography capable of optically recognizing whether a Moire pattern symmetrical in left and right direction is described on the surface of the human body and a method of using thermography capable of detecting temperature of the surface of the human body caused by a failure in blood flow and optically recognizing warping of the body ( bending of the spinal column ) by a distribution of the temperature. Further, when it is found that bending is present at the spinal column, an image of the Moire topography or the thermography is made to be seen by a patient and an explanation stating ‘the spinal column is bent to the right or to the left’ is given from a surface state of the human body. Further, in diagnosis by touching, an explanation is orally given to a patient of a result of the diagnosis by touching. Further, a predetermined treatment is carried out from the surface of the human body to the bent spinal column by manual therapy by the physician to thereby correct or improve the bending of the spinal column. However, according to the above-described background art method, in explaining a state of the spinal column given to the patient (measured subject), only the oral explanation is given to the patient and therefore, a specific bent state of the spinal column cannot be known. Further, in order to know a specific degree of the bending of the spinal column from a display content of the image of the Moire topography or the thermography, skill is required to grasp the display content and it is difficult to know the bent degree of the spinal column simply by a nonprofessional person. Further, even when the bent spinal column is diagnosed by touching and thereafter, a result of carrying out the predetermined treatment is explained, the diagnosis by touching or the treatment per se is much dependent on the technique and the experience of the physician and for the patient (measured subject), even when the degree of bending of the spinal column of one's own or the degree of correcting the spinal column is explained, it is difficult to understand the specific state of the bending such as how much which portion of the spinal column is bent in which direction, or how much the bending of the spinal column is corrected after the treatment. That is, in explaining orally of the bent state of the spinal column by the physician, a specialized expression is given such that, for example, ‘number XX of the superior thoracic vertebrae becomes so and so.’ and there poses a problem that it is difficult to understand how which of the thoracic vertebrae of one's own is bent. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is an outline constitution view of a human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a coordinates detecting system of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the display apparatus main body of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates explanatory views of a behavior of converting a measure data into a converted data by converting means of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 illustrates explanatory views of a basic structure of the vertebra (the fourth thoracic vertebra) constituting the spinal column (the vertebrae) displayed by the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates explanatory views of a table of the vertebrae of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a behavior of calculating an angle between the vertebrae of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 illustrates explanatory views of images of the spinal column displayed on a display screen of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 illustrates explanatory views of images of the spinal column (the upper thoracic vertebrae) displayed by an image display apparatus of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a behavior of converting a measured data by the display apparatus main body 2 of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a behavior of converting the measured data by the display apparatus main body 2 of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a behavior of displaying a bent state of the generated spinal column by using computer graphics based on the measured data of the human spinal column measuring and displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Thermoplastic elastomer composition for core back type injection foaming and injection foaming method using the same |
The thermoplastic elastomer composition of the present invention comprises a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin copolymer and a crystalline polyethylene resin, wherein the crystalline polyethylene resin constitutes a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by the ethylene•α-olefin copolymer, an organic or inorganic blowing agent and a nucleating agent, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min. Also the foam injection molding method of the present invention is a method comprising of injecting the above-mentioned composition into a cavity space of a metal mold and then expanding the cavity space to foam by opening the metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec. |
1. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1) and a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) constitutes a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1), a blowing agent (4) and a nucleating agent (5), wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 2. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 1, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, and said blowing agent (4) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 3. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1) and a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) constitutes a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1); a blowing agent-containing resin in which a blowing agent (4) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6); and a nucleating agent-containing resin in which a nucleating agent (5) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6); wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 4. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 3, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, and said blowing agent (4) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 5. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene α-olefin-based copolymer (1), a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and a following block copolymer (3), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and said block copolymer (3) constitute a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1), a blowing agent (4) and a nucleating agent (5); wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; said block copolymer (3) is a block copolymer having a crystalline ethylene polymer block and a block having a higher compatibility to said ethylene α-olefin-based copolymer (1) than to said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2); and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 6. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 5, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, and said blowing agent (4) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 7. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1), a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and a following block copolymer (3), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and said block copolymer (3) constitute a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1); a blowing agent-containing resin in which a blowing agent (4) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6); and a nucleating agent-containing resin in which a nucleating agent (5) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6); wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; said block copolymer (3) is a block copolymer having a crystalline ethylene polymer block and a block having a higher compatibility to said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1) than to said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2); and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 8. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 7, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, and said blowing agent (4) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 9. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1) and a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) constitutes a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1), an organic blowing agent (4a), an inorganic blowing agent (4b) and a nucleating agent (5); wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 10. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 9, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, said organic blowing agent (4a) is at least one selected from the group consisting of an azo-based blowing agent, a nitroso-based blowing agent, a sulfonyl hydrazide-based blowing agent, a triazine-based blowing agent and a tetrazole-based blowing agent, said inorganic blowing agent (4b) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 11. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1) and a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) constitutes a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1); (i) an organic blowing agent-containing resin in which an organic blowing agent (4a) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6) and an inorganic blowing agent-containing resin in which an inorganic blowing agent (4b) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6), or (ii) an organic/inorganic blowing agent-containing resin in which an organic blowing agent (4a) and an inorganic blowing agent (4b) are kneaded in an olefin resin (6); and a nucleating agent-containing resin in which a nucleating agent (5) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6); wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 12. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 11, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, said organic blowing agent (4a) is at least one selected from the group consisting of an azo-based blowing agent, a nitroso-based blowing agent, a sulfonyl hydrazide-based blowing agent, a triazine-based blowing agent and a tetrazole-based blowing agent, said inorganic blowing agent (4b) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 13. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1), a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and a following block copolymer (3), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and said block copolymer (3) constitute a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1), an organic blowing agent (4a), an inorganic blowing agent (4b) and a nucleating agent (5); wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; said block copolymer (3) is a block copolymer having a crystalline ethylene polymer block and a block having a higher compatibility to said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1) than to said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2); and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 14. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 13, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, said organic blowing agent (4a) is at least one selected from the group consisting of an azo-based blowing agent, a nitroso-based blowing agent, a sulfonyl hydrazide-based blowing agent, a triazine-based blowing agent and a tetrazole-based blowing agent, said inorganic blowing agent (4b) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 15. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which includes an ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1), a crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and a following block copolymer (3), wherein said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2) and said block copolymer (3) constitute a three-dimensional network structure in a matrix formed by said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1); (i) an organic blowing agent-containing resin in which an organic blowing agent (4a) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6) and an inorganic blowing agent-containing resin in which an inorganic blowing agent (4b) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6), or (ii) an organic/inorganic blowing agent-containing resin in which an organic blowing agent (4a) and an inorganic blowing agent (4b) are kneaded in an olefin resin (6); and a nucleating agent-containing resin in which a nucleating agent (5) is kneaded in an olefin resin (6); wherein said thermoplastic elastomer has a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg, and a melt tension of 3.0 gf or more at a temperature of 210° C. and a pulling rate of 2 m/min; said block copolymer (3) is a block copolymer having a crystalline ethylene polymer block and a block having a higher compatibility to said ethylene•α-olefin-based copolymer (1) than to said crystalline polyethylene-based resin (2); and characterized by said thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding is injected into a cavity space of a metal mold and is foamed by opening the metal mold thereby expanding said cavity space to form an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 16. The thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 15, wherein said nucleating agent (5) is an inorganic compound powder of a particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm, said organic blowing agent (4a) is at least one selected from the group consisting of an azo-based blowing agent, a nitroso-based blowing agent, a sulfonyl hydrazide-based blowing agent, a triazine-based blowing agent and a tetrazole-based blowing agent, said inorganic blowing agent (4b) is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, ammonium chloride and ammonium carbonate, and said composition further comprises at least a weakly acidic compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, boric acid, monosodium citrate and acidic potassium tartrate. 17. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 1 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 18. The foam injection molding method according to claim 17, wherein a metal mold retraction delay time is 0 to 5 seconds after the completion of filling. 19. The foam injection molding method according to claim 17, wherein said mold opening is executed in such a manner that a final thickness of said injection foaming product becomes 1.1 to 5.0 times of an initial thickness of the material filled in said cavity space in said metal mold. 20. The foam injection molding method according to claim 17, wherein said injection foaming product is formed on a surface of a base body. 21. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 3 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 22. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 5 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 23. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 7 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 24. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 9 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 25. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 11 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 26. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 13 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. 27. A foam injection molding method characterized by comprising injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding according to claim 15 into a cavity space in a metal mold, thereafter opening said metal mold at a mold opening rate of 0.05 to 0.4 mm/sec thereby expanding said cavity space to foam said thermoplastic elastomer composition and forming an injection foaming product having a skin layer and a foamed layer. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY <EOH>In recent years, injection foaming products are used as a shock absorbing material and a part with a soft feeling against vibrations and noises in various product field, for example an internal part or an external part of an automobile and the like, a consumer electric product, an information equipment and the like. In particular, a thermoplastic elastomer composition is attracting attention as a material enabling easy molding and easy foaming. Such thermoplastic elastomer composition can be a thermoplastic elastomer composition capable of dynamic crosslinking, and it is known that an injection foaming product can be obtained with a thermoplastic elastomer composition disclosed for example in JP-A-H6-73222. However, a crosslinking rubber component contained in such dynamically crosslinkable thermoplastic elastomer composition cannot be uniformly foamed and a crystalline polyolefin alone causes a uniform foaming, an inhomogeneous injection foaming product as a whole is obtained. Also since a foaming gas escapes from the surface of the molded article, the surface is not smooth, thus being inferior in appearance. Further odor and discoloration are not reduced sufficiently with the injection foaming product obtained by employing such a thermoplastic elastomer composition. In addition, there are many problems to be solved, such as that the manufacturing process is complicated, that a usable crosslinking agent is expensive, that the application is limited because of a contamination by the crosslinking agent, and the like. And also a non-crosslinked type has a drawback for example of a high compression set, as the obtained injection foaming product does not have a crosslinked structure. An injection foaming product obtained by employing a thermoplastic elastomer composition described for example in JP-A-H6-73222 as a thermoplastic elastomer composition is flexible in comparison with a prior article. On the other hand, it is also possible to foam a non-crosslinking type olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition, and such composition can be easily and uniformly foamed by melting. However, according to the above-mentioned foam injection molding method, since the cell diameter of the injection foaming product becomes large, there is encountered a drawback that an injection foaming product having an adequate flexibility and excellent in cushioning property and the like cannot be obtained. Further the cell diameter is not uniform, and in particular the injection foaming product tends to have significantly different cell diameters in a vicinity of a gate and in an end portion. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a magnified photograph of 2000 times of a sheet formed by injection molding of a thermoplastic elastomer composition for core-back system foam injection molding of Example 1-1. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a manufacturing process for a glove box lid, wherein (a) shows a state where a base body is positioned in a cavity space; (b) shows a state in the course of injection; (c) shows a state where the injection is completed; (d) shows a state of foaming by a retraction of a movable mold; and (e) shows a state of mold opening. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a microscope magnified photograph of a cross section of the glove box lid obtained in Example 2-1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing microscope magnified photographs of a cross section, (a) at the vicinity of a gate and (b) at an end portion, of the glove box lid obtained in Example 2-1. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a microscope magnified photograph of a cross section of the glove box lid obtained in Comparative Example 2-1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a microscope magnified photograph of a cross section of the glove box lid obtained in Comparative Example 2-2. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing microscope magnified photographs of a cross section, (a) at the vicinity of a gate and (b) at an end portion, of the glove box lid obtained in Comparative Example 2-3. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing another manufacturing process for a glove box lid, wherein (a) shows a state prior to the start of the molding; (b) shows a state after an injection of a composite material; (c) shows a state wherein, after the composite material is cooled to form a base body, the movable core is retracted to form a space for injecting a thermoplastic elastomer composition; (d) shows a state where the injection is completed; (e) shows a state of executing foaming by a retraction of the movable core; and (f) shows a state after mold releasing. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Electric separator, method for producing the same and the use thereof |
The present invention relates to electrical separators and to a process for making them. An electrical separator is a separator used in batteries and other arrangements in which electrodes have to be separated from each other while maintaining ion conductivity for example. The separator is preferably a thin porous insulating material possessing high ion permeability, good mechanical strength and long-term stability to the chemicals and solvents used in the system, for example in the electrolyte of the battery. In batteries, the separator should fully electronically insulate the cathode from the anode. Moreover, the separator has to be permanently elastic and to follow movements in the system, for example in the electrode pack in the course of charging and discharging. This object is achieved by an electric separator according to the invention, comprising a sheetlike flexible substrate having a multiplicity of openings and having a coating on and in said substrate, the material of said substrate being selected from woven or non-woven electrically nonconductive fibers of glass or ceramic or a combination thereof and said coating being a porous electrically insulating ceramic coating, characterized by a thickness of less than 100 μm. |
1-25. (Canceled). 26. A separator comprising a sheetlike flexible substrate having a multiplicity of openings and having a coating on and in said substrate, the material of said substrate being woven electrically nonconductive fibers of glass and said coating being a porous electrically insulating ceramic coating, wherein the substrate is a woven glass fiber fabric comprising woven fibers or filaments which has been produced from 2 to 20 tex yarns and has from 5 to 30 weft threads/cm and from 5 to 30 warp threads/cm, and the separator has a thickness of less than 100 μm. 27. The separator of claim 26, wherein the separator has a thickness of less than 50 μm. 28. The separator of claim 26, wherein said fibers or filaments are at least one glass selected from the group consisting of E-, R- and S-glass. 29. The separator of claim 28, wherein said filaments are coated with SiO2, ZrO2, Al2O3 or mixtures thereof. 30. The separator of claim 28, wherein said woven glass fiber fabric was produced from 5.5 or 11 tex yarns. 31. The separator of claim 26, wherein said coating on and in said substrate comprises an oxide, nitride or carbide of the metals Al, Zr, Si, Sn, Ce, Mg, Hf, B and/or Y. 32. The separator of claim 26, wherein the separator has a breaking strength of 5 N/cm to 500 N/cm. 33. The separator of claim 26, wherein the separator is bendable around a radius down to 100 mm without damage. 34. A process for producing a separator as claimed in claim 1, the process comprising providing a sheetlike flexible substrate having a multiplicity of openings with a coating on and in said substrate, the material of said substrate being a woven fabric comprising woven glass fibers which has been produced from threads having a linear density of not more than 20 tex and has from 5 to 30 weft threads/cm and from 5 to 30 warp threads/cm and said coating being a porous electrically insulating ceramic coating. 35. The coating of claim 34, wherein said coating is provided by applying to said substrate a suspension comprising at least one inorganic component comprising a compound of at least one metal, one semimetal or one mixed metal with at least one element of the 3rd to 7th main group and a sol and heating one or more times to solidify said suspension comprising at least one inorganic component on or in or else on and in the support. 36. The process of claim 35, wherein said suspension is brought onto and into said substrate by printing on, pressing on, pressing in, rolling on, knifecoating on, spreadcoating on, dipping, spraying or pouring on. 37. The process of claim 34, wherein said suspension, which comprises at least one inorganic component and at least one sol, at least one semimetal oxide sol or at least one mixed metal oxide sol or a mixture thereof, is prepared by suspending at least one inorganic component in at least one of these sols. 38. The process of claim 37, wherein said sols are obtained by hydrolyzing at least one metal compound, at least one semimetal compound or at least one mixed metal compound using water, water vapor, ice, alcohol or an acid or a combination thereof. 39. The process of claim 38, wherein said metal compound hydrolyzed is at least one metal alkoxide compound or at least one semimetal alkoxide compound selected from the alkoxide compounds of the elements Zr, Al, Si, Sn, Ce and Y or at least one metal nitrate, metal carbonate or metal halide selected from the metal salts of the elements Zr, Al, Si, Sn, Ce and Y. 40. The process of claim 34, wherein said inorganic component suspended is at least one oxide selected from the oxides of the elements Sc, Y, Zr, V, Cr, Nb, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Ce, Co, B, Al, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb and Bi. 41. The process of claim 37, wherein the mass fraction of said suspended component is 0.1 to 500 times that of the sol used. 42. The process of claim 34, wherein said suspension on and in said substrate is solidified by heating to 50 to 1000° C. 43. The process of claim 42, wherein said heating is carried out at 50 to 100° C. for 10 min to 5 hours. 44. The process of claim 43, wherein said heating is carried out at 100 to 800° C. for 1 second to 10 minutes. 45. A battery, which comprises the separator as claimed in claim 1. |
Laser source in guided optics |
A laser source includes a first optical element and a second optical element spaced apart from each other and defining a laser cavity therebetween. The laser cavity with a lasing material therein are capable of emitting an optical beam. The laser source also includes a guided optical element formed on a substrate. The guided optical element includes a mirror which is concave in at least one guide plane of an input guide area of the guided optical element. The mirror forms an extended laser cavity with the laser cavity. The guided optical element also includes a microguide associated with an optical output of the laser source. The microguide defines an output area of the guided optical element. The input guide area is capable of receiving the optical beam emitted by the laser cavity and capable of transmitting the optical beam to an adaptor guide area located between the input guide area and the microguide. The adaptor guide area is capable of guiding the optical beam to the microguide. |
1. A laser source comprising: a first optical element and a second optical element spaced apart from each other and defining a laser cavity therebetween, said laser cavity along with a lasing material therein being capable of emitting an optical beam; and a guided optical element formed on a substrate, comprising: a mirror, said mirror being concave in at least one guide plane of an input guide area of said guided optical element, said mirror forming an extended laser cavity with the laser cavity; a microguide associated with an optical output of the laser source, said microguide defining an output area of said guided optical element, wherein the input guide area of said guided optical element is capable of receiving the optical beam emitted by the laser cavity and capable of transmitting the optical beam to an adaptor guide area of said guided optical element located between the input guide area and the microguide, the adaptor guide area being capable of guiding the optical beam to the microguide. 2. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second optical elements is a plane mirror, and the laser cavity comprises a laser diode. 3. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein the laser cavity is arranged directly in contact with the guided optical element at the input guide area of the guided optical element. 4. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein one of said first optical element and said second optical element is disposed in contact with or adjacent to said input guide area of the guided optical element. 5. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein the laser cavity is spaced apart from the input guide area of the guided optical element by a free space area. 6. A laser source according to claim 5, further comprising: a focusing component disposed between the cavity and the input guide area of the guided optical element, wherein said focusing component is capable of focusing the optical beam emitted by the laser cavity into the input guide area, in a plane perpendicular to the guide plane of said input guide area. 7. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein the guided optical element is made from a glass substrate. 8. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein the input guide area comprises a planar guide, said planar guide is coupled to the adaptor guide area through the concave mirror. 9. A laser source according to claim 8, wherein the concave mirror is formed by a local variation of an effective index of the planar guide of the input guide area. 10. A laser source according to claim 9, wherein said local variation of the effective index is obtained by forming a cavity above the planar guide in the substrate, 11. A laser source according to claim 9, wherein said local variation of the effective index is obtained by local deposition of at least one layer of material above the planar guide on the substrate. 12. A laser source according to claim 9, wherein said local variation of the effective index is obtained by locally burying the planar guide. 13. A laser source according to claim 9, wherein said local variation of the effective index is obtained by an ion exchange located in the substrate above the planar guide. 14. A laser source according to claim 9, wherein said local variation of the effective index is obtained by forming a Bragg grating in the substrate above the planar guide. 15. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein the concave mirror is capable of filtering wavelengths of the optical beam. 16. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor guide area comprises a tapered planar guide. 17. A laser source according to claim 16, wherein the tapered planar guide in the adaptor guide area is adiabatic. 18. A laser source according to claim 1, further comprising: a divider having an input and a plurality of outputs, said devider being disposed in the output area of the guided optical element, wherein the input of said divider is connected to the microguide such that the plurality of outputs of the divider constitute a plurality of outputs of the laser source. 19. A laser source according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of couplers disposed in the output area of the guided optical element, wherein each coupler in said plurality of couplers is coupled with the microguide such that the microguide and each of the plurality of couplers form a plurality of outputs of the laser source. 20. A laser source according to claim 1, wherein the concave mirror has a radius of curvature R greater than or equal to an optical length L of the laser source, the optical length of the laser source is defined by the relation: L=nc.Lc+ne.D+n1.L1 where n1 is an effective index of the input guide area, nc is a refraction index of the lasing material in the laser cavity, ne is a refraction index of a medium in a free space area between the laser cavity and the guided optical element, Lc is a length of the laser cavity, D is a length of the free space area between the laser cavity and the guided optical element, and L1 is a length of the input guide area of the guide optical element. 21. A laser source according to claim 20, wherein said laser cavity is a ribbon laser cavity. 22. A laser source according to claim 21, wherein the geometrical characteristics of the concave mirror are defined using the following equalities and inequalities: W02 (λ/π)[L.(R−L)]1/2 and 2W0>lr W2=(λR/π) [L/(R−L)]1/2 R>L L=nc.Lc+ne.D+n1.L1 H/R=1−(1−d2/4R2)1/2 d>2W where λ is a wavelength of the light beam, w0 is a radius of the light beam on a plane mirror of the laser cavity, lr is a width of the ribbon of the laser cavity, R is a radius of curvature of the concave mirror, L is an optical length of the laser source, w is a radius of the light beam on the concave mirror, h is a bow of the concave mirror in the guide plane and d is a diameter of the concave mirror. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a guided optical laser source. More particularly, it relates to a laser source capable of emitting a high power light wave with one or several modes. 2. Description of Related Art Presently, systems developed for optical telecommunications for regenerating a beam propagating in an optical fibre use optical amplifiers. Currently, optical wave guides used in optical amplifiers are generally single mode or multi-mode with few modes. Consequently, optical amplifiers are usually pumped by pump laser diodes that are single mode or multi-mode with few modes, in order to be compatible for coupling with the optical guides. In the present state of the art, laser diodes with one or few modes have a low power and have a high cost, while high power laser diodes (particularly pump laser diodes with a wide ribbon) are multi-mode and therefore incompatible with coupling with optical guides. More generally, known high power laser sources are usually multi-mode. This creates mode matching problems and thus coupling problems with optical guides designed for propagation and/or transformation of the light wave output from the high power laser sources. On the other hand, laser sources that have one or a few modes are low power. An optical guide can be a planar guide, a microguide or an optical fibre. A microguide can be a guide with lateral confinement, unlike a planar guide in which light may propagate in a plane, i.e., the guide plane. |
<SOH> BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>An aspect of an embodiment of this invention is to propose a guided optical laser source without the limitations and difficulties of the laser sources mentioned above. In particular, one aspect of an embodiment of the invention is to propose a laser source with a very good optical beam quality. A good optical beam quality is a beam with one or few modes, in other words a beam close to the diffraction limit. Another aspect of an embodiment of the invention is to propose a laser source that can have a high power. Another aspect of an embodiment of the invention is to propose a low cost and easy-to-build laser source. The guided optical laser source can be used in applications in all fields requiring a laser source with few modes, and in particular for optical telecommunications, for example as a pump source for optical amplifiers or in domains such as medicine, spectroscopy or metrology using single mode laser sources or slightly multi-mode laser sources. One embodiment of the guided optic laser source includes a laser cavity capable of emitting an optical beam, a guided optical element having: an input guide area comprising a mirror that is concave in at least one guide plane of the input area, so as to form an extended laser cavity with the laser cavity, an output area comprising at least one microguide and, a planar adaptor guide area between the input area and the microguide, the input guide area being capable of receiving an optical beam emitted by the laser cavity and transmitting the optical beam to the adaptor guide area. The adaptor guide area being capable of guiding the optical beam to the microguide that is associated with at least one optical output from the source. The laser source according to one embodiment of the invention can produce an output beam from the microguide that has only one to a few modes, even if the laser cavity emits a multi-mode beam. Moreover, power losses of the output beam in the guided optical element are low, which allows to obtain a high power laser source if the laser cavity emits a high power optical beam. Thus, the guided optical element of the laser source according to one embodiment of the present invention is capable of reducing the number of modes in a light wave so that the laser source is compatible with single mode guided optical components or compatible with slightly multi-mode optical components. Consequently, the laser cavity according to an embodiment of the present invention can be chosen for its power characteristics without any constraints on the number of modes in the emitted wave. According to one embodiment of the invention, a planar guide is an optical guide along a guide plane. The orientations of the guide plane may be different depending on the position of the guide in the guided optical element and the type of guide. In particular, the planar guide may be at variable depths in the guided optical element. The same is true for microguides that may be more or less buried. According to one embodiment of the invention, the laser cavity is a laser diode comprising at least one plane mirror. All types of laser diodes may be used, and for example laser diodes with wide ribbon, multi-ribbon laser diodes, laser diodes with Bragg grating, Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) diodes, etc. The laser cavity may be arranged directly on the guided optical element, at the input guide area to the guided optical element, using any conventional assembly techniques, and for example by using a support capable of maintaining the cavity and the optical element. The laser cavity may also be arranged facing the input guide area such that there is a free space area between the cavity and the input guide area. The guided optical element can be made in integrated optics starting from a single layer or multi-layer substrate in which the input area, an adaptor area and the output area are formed. According to one preferred embodiment, the substrate is made of glass and the guides and microguides of this optical element are made using ion exchange techniques in glass or by deposition of layers. The input guide area comprises a planar guide connected to the adaptor guide area through the concave mirror that can be made by introducing a local variation of the effective index of the planar guide. The length L 1 of this area along the propagation direction of the beam depends on the optical length L of the source. This optical length depends on the medium through which the optical beam passes as it travels towards the mirror. The medium is composed of the cavity medium that essentially corresponds to the medium of the laser material, possibly a medium in free space and the medium formed by the input area guide. Thus, in some cases, the concave mirror may be arranged directly at the input to the optical element, which reduces the length of the input area to the bow h of the concave mirror. The mirror in the optical element is concave in at least one guide plane. It can be made by a local variation of the effective index of the guide at the input area. This index variation may be obtained particularly by a cavity located in the substrate above the planar guide, by local deposition of at least one layer on the substrate above the plane guide, by local burying of the planar guide by an ion exchange located in the substrate above the planar guide or by a Bragg grating in the substrate above the planar guide. This list is not exhaustive and other embodiments of the concave mirror can be used to make the optical element according to the invention. According to one embodiment of the invention, the concave mirror is also capable of filtering one or several wavelengths of the beam emitted by the laser cavity, by selectively reflecting the wavelengths. In this case, the laser cavity can be made using a mirror formed by a Bragg grating. In order for the laser source according to one embodiment of the invention to be optically stable, in other words in order to set up at least one stable optical mode, the radius of curvature R of the concave mirror must be greater than or equal to the optical length L of the source defined by the relation L=n c .L c +n e .D+n 1 .L 1 where n 1 is the effective index of the input guide area and n c , n e are the refraction indexes of the material in the laser cavity and the medium in the free area between the cavity and the guided optical element, respectively. L c , D, L 1 are the cavity lengths, the free space area between the cavity and the guided optical element, and the input area, respectively. When the cavity is arranged directly on the guided optical element, then D=0 and L=n c .L c +n 1 .L 1 . Thus, as mentioned above, the concave mirror has a radius of curvature R and is located at a distance from the laser cavity such that it forms an extended laser cavity with the input area, the medium inserted between the cavity and the guided optical element and the laser cavity. The concave mirror is capable of transmitting part of the laser beam set up in the extended cavity. The reflectivity of the concave mirror is partial (a few % to a few tens of %). The geometrical characteristics of the concave mirror obey the following equalities and inequalities: W 0 2 = λ π [ L . ( R - L ) ] 1 / 2 and 2 w 0 > 1 r w 2 = λ R π [ L / ( R - L ) ] 1 / 2 R > L L = n c . L c + ne . D + n 1 . L 1 H / R = 1 - ( 1 - d 2 / 4 R 2 ) 1 / 2 d > 2 W where λ is the wavelength considered of the light beam, w 0 is the radius of the beam on the plane mirror of the cavity, l r is the width of the ribbon of the laser cavity, R is the radius of curvature of the concave mirror, L is the optical length of the source, w is the radius of the light beam on the concave mirror, h is the bow of the concave mirror in the guide plane and d is the diameter of the concave mirror. According to one embodiment, focusing components, for example collimators, are inserted between the laser cavity and the guided optical element to optimize coupling between the laser cavity and the input of the guided optical element in at least a plane perpendicular to the input area guide plane and perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the light beam. In one embodiment, the adaptor guide area comprises a planar guide in the form of a taper, at least in the guide plane of the guide. The adaptor area concentrates the light power of the optical beam in the microguide of the output area. The adaptor guide area is adiabatic to enable a slow transition between the planar guide and the microguide and thus to minimize losses of the light power. According to one embodiment, the laser source according to an embodiment of the invention also comprises at least one divider with one input and n outputs. In the output area from the guided optical element, the input of the divider is connected to the microguide such that the n divider outputs act as n outputs from the source. According to one variant embodiment of the invention, the laser source also comprises x couplers (where x is an integer greater than or equal to 1) in the output area from the guided optical element. Each coupler is associated with the microguide, such that the microguide and each of the couplers form an output from the source, respectively. One aspect of the present invention is thus the capability of making a laser source with several emission outputs. The light beam emitted at each of these outputs is single mode or slightly multi-mode. Other aspects of the invention will become clear after reading the following description with reference to the figures in the attached drawings. |
Resource management method and apparatus |
The invention relates to resource management, and describes a method and apparatus to be used in planning of resource deployment. In an embodiment of the invention, the number and characteristics of forecasted and/or unprocessed jobs falling within a time period such as a week, or a month, are compared to resource availability and status for that time period, in terms of attributes such as location, skills and time. A cost—in terms of jobs that cannot be carried out, given current resource availability and status—is evaluated. Preferably the attributes are stored as resource records, so that there is one resource record per resource, and the attributes of at least some of the resource records are modified using a heuristic search means or similar. The resource records are modified until a minimum cost is identified, and these resource records can then be used to formulate successive capacity plans, which can be input to a scheduling system. |
1. A method of planning resource utilisation in respect of job requirements, the job requirements comprising a plurality of jobs to be carried out over a plurality of days, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of resource records, each record being associated with a resource and comprising data identifying attributes thereof; receiving job data identifying attributes of the plurality of jobs; evaluating, on the basis of both types of attribute data, a match between resource availability and job requirements; modifying attributes of at least some of the resource records, and repeating the evaluation step in respect of the modified resource records; and selecting resource records, for use in scheduling of jobs to resources, that best match resource availability to job requirements. 2. A method according to claim 1, in which the evaluating step comprises assigning job data to one of a plurality of job groups in accordance with their respective job attributes; assigning resources to job groups in accordance with their respective resource attributes; for each job group, identifying a residue of jobs and/or a surplus of resources on the basis of the assigned job data and assigned resources; and evaluating a cost associated with the identified residue and/or surplus, which cost is representative of said match between resource availability and job requirements. 3. A method according to claim 2, in which the identifying step includes comparing the number of resources with the number of jobs assigned to the job group so as to identify the residue and/or surplus. 4. A method according to claim 1, further including allocating resources to the plurality of jobs on the basis of the modified resource records and evaluating a cost associated with the allocation, the cost being representative of said match between resource availability and job requirements. 5. A method according to claim 4, including receiving a signal indicative of process critical jobs, wherein the evaluation of cost involves weighting a cost associated with unallocation of said process critical jobs so that unallocation of said process critical jobs is increased relative to that of other jobs. 6. A method according to claim 4, including receiving a signal indicative of process critical jobs, wherein evaluation of cost involves weighting a cost associated with assignment of a resource so that the assigned cost of a resource is reduced relative to its unassigned cost. 7. A method according to claim 2 wherein there is a plurality of resource types, and one of the plurality can be assigned to a job group in dependence on availability thereof, and in which the assigning step includes assigning a first resource type to a job group in the event that no other types of resources can be assigned thereto, wherein the resource cost associated with the first type of resource is greater than that associated with any other type of resource. 8. A method according to claim 4, including creating a plurality of resource plans, each of which corresponds to one day of the job requirements and comprises allocated jobs and selected resource records for that day, the resource plans being for use in a scheduling system. 9. A method according to claim 1, in which the job data is representative of unprocessed jobs. 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the job data is representative of known patterns in workload. 11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the job data is representative of expected demand for resources. 12. A method according to claim 1 further including generating an alert signal in the event that attributes of a modified resource record correspond to those of a predetermined type of resource record. 13. A method according to claim 7, including creating a plurality of resource plans, each of which corresponds to one day of the job requirements and comprises allocated jobs and selected resource records for that day, the resource plans being for use in a scheduling system in which the attributes include a state attribute, wherein the modifying and evaluating steps comprise: setting state attributes for each resource type to available; for each resource of type other than the first type, performing a process comprising modifying the value of one of the other attributes corresponding thereto evaluating a cost associated with the modification and repeating until the cost satisfies a specified cost criterion; repeating the process for each resource of the first type, and for each resource of the first type, performing a further process comprising modifying the state attribute to unavailable; reviewing the cost function, and in the event that there is no change to the cost function, setting the state attribute to unavailable; and repeating the further process for each resource of type other than the first type. 14. Apparatus for planning resource utilisation in respect of job requirements, the job requirements comprising a plurality of jobs to be carried out over a plurality of days, the apparatus comprising: storage arranged to store a plurality of resource records, each record being associated with a resource and comprising data identifying attributes thereof, and data identifying attributes of the plurality of jobs; receiving means arranged to receive the resource record data and job data; evaluating means arranged to evaluate, on the basis of both types of attribute data, a match between resource availability and job requirements; means arranged to modify at least some of the resource records, so as to modify attributes thereof, and selecting means arranged to select resource records that best match resource availability to job requirements. |
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