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1. An internal combustion engine controller, comprising: means for computing a target throttle opening from operating conditions; wherein the means for computing a target throttle opening comprises: a first computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feedback control in accordance with operating conditions including an intake air flow rate; a second computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feed-forward control in accordance with operating conditions; and a third computing means for determining a target throttle opening in accordance with a target throttle opening value determined by said first computing means and a target throttle opening value determined by said second computing means. 2. An internal combustion engine controller, comprising: a target air flow rate computing means for computing a target air flow rate in accordance with operating conditions; a first computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feedback control in accordance with a difference between said target air flow rate and an actual air flow rate; a second computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feed-forward control in accordance with said target air flow rate; and a third computing means for determining a target throttle opening in accordance with a target throttle opening value determined by said first computing means and a target throttle opening value determined by said second computing means. 3. An internal combustion engine controller, comprising: a control unit for computing a target throttle opening from operating conditions; wherein the control unit comprises: a first computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feedback control in accordance with operating conditions including an intake air flow rate; a second computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feed-forward control in accordance with operating conditions; a third computing means for determining a target throttle opening in accordance with a target throttle opening value determined by said first computing means and a target throttle opening value determined by said second computing means; and a throttle opening control means for driving a throttle in accordance with a target throttle opening calculated by said third computing means. 4. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 3, wherein said throttle opening control means comprises means for controlling a throttle in such a manner as to reduce a difference between a target throttle opening calculated by said third computing means and a directly or indirectly detected actual throttle opening. 5. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 1, wherein said target throttle opening computing means comprises a computation permission means for permitting said first target throttle opening computing means to compute a target throttle opening. 6. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 5, wherein said computation permission means inhibits said first target throttle opening computing means from computing a target throttle opening if means for detecting an actual air flow rate directly or indirectly is found to be abnormal; and wherein said third target throttle opening computing means calculates a target throttle opening in accordance with a second target throttle opening and makes it possible to adjust the actual air flow rate for a target air flow rate. 7. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 5, wherein said computation permission means inhibits said first target throttle opening computing means from computing a target throttle opening if an accelerator opening is not smaller than a predetermined value or said second target throttle opening is not smaller than a predetermined value; and wherein said third target throttle opening computing means calculates a target throttle opening in accordance with the second target throttle opening and makes it possible to adjust an actual air flow rate to a target air flow rate. 8. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 5, wherein said computation permission means inhibits said first target throttle opening computing means from calculating a target throttle opening if a difference between a target air flow rate and an actual air flow rate is not greater than a predetermined value; and wherein said third target throttle opening computing means calculates a target throttle opening in accordance with the second target throttle opening and makes it possible to adjust an actual air flow rate to a target air flow rate. 9. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 1, wherein said target throttle opening computing means comprises a computation permission means for permitting said second target throttle opening computing means to compute a target throttle opening in accordance with operating conditions. 10. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 9, wherein said computation permission means inhibits said second target throttle opening computing means from computing a target throttle opening if a target exhaust gas re-circulation rate is not lower than a predetermined value; and wherein said third target throttle opening computing means calculates a target throttle opening in accordance with a first target opening and makes it possible to adjust an actual air flow rate to a target air flow rate. 11. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 1, wherein said target throttle opening computing means makes it possible to adjust an actual air flow rate to a target air flow rate by calculating said third target throttle opening from said first target throttle opening, which is computed in accordance with an actual air flow rate, even if a relationship between said second target throttle opening and the actual air flow rate is significantly changed. 12. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 2, wherein said target throttle opening computing means comprises a target air flow rate correction means for correcting said target air flow rate; and wherein said first target throttle opening computing means computes a first target throttle opening in accordance with a difference between an actual air flow rate and a target air flow rate calculated by said target air flow rate correction means. 13. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 12, wherein said target air flow rate correction means represents a response characteristic between said second target throttle opening and an actual air flow rate. 14. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 1, wherein said second target throttle opening computing means computes a second target throttle opening in accordance with a rotating speed of an internal combustion engine and a target air flow rate. 15. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 1, further comprising means for computing a target exhaust gas re-circulation rate; wherein said second target throttle opening computing means computes a second target throttle opening in accordance with a rotating speed of an internal combustion engine, a target air flow rate, and the target exhaust gas re-circulation rate. 16. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 2, wherein said target air flow rate computing means computes said target air flow rate in accordance with a target air-fuel ratio and a target fuel injection quantity. 17. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 2, further comprising: detection means for detecting exhaust gas components of an internal combustion engine directly or indirectly; and a correction amount computing means for computing an amount of correction for said target air flow rate in accordance with the exhaust gas components detected by said detection means. 18. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 1, wherein said second target throttle opening computing means computes a second target throttle opening in accordance with an inverse model for a response between an in-cylinder target air flow rate and a throttle opening. 19. The internal combustion engine controller according to claim 1, wherein the actual air flow rate is a value obtained by detecting an in-cylinder air flow rate directly or indirectly. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In recent years, worldwide efforts have been made to provide increased energy savings. In the field of automotive technology, the development of a fuel-efficient internal combustion engine has been required for energy saving purposes. The most conspicuous internal combustion engine meeting such a demand is a lean-burn internal combustion engine. In particular, an in-cylinder fuel injection internal combustion engine, which is a lean-burn internal combustion engine, injects fuel directly into a cylinder to stratify an air-fuel mixture, thereby making it possible to achieve combustion at an air-fuel ratio of higher than 40 and reduce the pump loss. In a lean-burn in-cylinder fuel injection internal combustion engine system, which is described above, the air flow rate is not proportional to the torque. Therefore, the lean-burn in-cylinder fuel injection internal combustion engine system generally uses an electronic throttle for electronically controlling the air flow rate unlike a conventional internal combustion engine system. For the above lean-burn in-cylinder fuel injection internal combustion engine system, torque-on-demand control is required to provide torque desired by the driver at a wide-range air-fuel ratio. Two types of torque-on-demand control are an air-based type and a fuel-based type. If air-based torque-on-demand control is exercised, a target torque computation section and a target air-fuel ratio computation section determine a target torque and target air-fuel ratio, respectively, as shown in FIG. 27 . A target air flow rate computation section for providing the target torque and target air-fuel ratio computes a target air flow rate. An electronic throttle controls the air flow rate. An air flow rate sensor detects an actual air flow rate. A fuel injection quantity computation section determines the quantity of fuel injection from the actual air flow rate and target air-fuel ratio. If, on the other hand, fuel-based torque-on-demand control is exercised, a target torque computation section determines a target torque as shown in FIG. 28 . A fuel injection quantity computation section then determines the quantity of fuel injection for providing the target torque. A target air computation section computes a target air flow rate from the fuel injection quantity and target air-fuel ratio. An electronic throttle controls the air flow rate. Further, fuel-based torque-on-demand control can be exercised to provide feedback control over the air flow rate in accordance with a value output by an air flow sensor. Fuel-based torque-on-demand control described above uses an electronic throttle to exercise air flow rate control after fuel injection quantity determination. However, a transmission characteristic exists between the electronic throttle and cylinder. More specifically, a transient phenomenon occurs because it generally takes tens to hundreds of milliseconds for the air flow rate controlled near the electronic throttle to arrive in a cylinder as shown in FIG. 29 . In an in-cylinder fuel injection internal combustion engine, on the other hand, fuel injection directly occurs within a cylinder. Therefore, the transmission characteristic of the fuel injection side is smaller than that of the air side because time is merely wasted by intermittent combustion. Meanwhile, the exhaust pipe for an internal combustion engine is usually provided with a three-way catalyst or a catalyst having a three-way catalytic function as an exhaust gas emission purification system. As shown in FIG. 30 , the three-way catalyst efficiently purifies carbon hydride (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), which are reducers, and nitrogen oxide (NOx), which is an oxidant, only in the neighborhood of a theoretical air-fuel ratio. From the viewpoint of exhaust gas emission reduction, it is desirable that the air-fuel ratio for an internal combustion engine be adjusted for the theoretical air-fuel ratio. As regards a lean air-fuel ratio, there is a correlation between the air fuel ratio and internal combustion engine combustion stability as shown in FIG. 31 . It is therefore necessary to control the air fuel ratio for the purpose of providing combustion stability of an internal combustion engine. Thus, when an air flow rate transient phenomenon in a cylinder is considered, the fuel injection quantity needs to be controlled from the viewpoint of exhaust gas emission reduction for theoretical air-fuel ratio or from the viewpoint of internal combustion engine combustion stability for lean air-fuel ratio. Further, the torque of an internal combustion engine is determined almost conclusively by the fuel injection quantity. Therefore, the torque-response is determined by the transient characteristic of air flow rate. As is obvious from the above description, the most important tasks to be accomplished for an internal combustion engine that provides fuel-based torque-on-demand control are to improve the response to air flow rate control and convergence performance, minimize the variations among mass-produced products, and improve the robustness for changes with time. A technology disclosed by JP-A No. 2000-97086 provides control over the air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine. When the target air flow rate changes, this technology provides delay compensation to improve the air flow rate response within a cylinder by temporarily permitting the throttle opening to overshoot the degree of throttle opening for achieving the target air flow rate. However, this control method cannot exercise air flow rate control if the air flow sensor is faulty because it computes the target throttle opening in accordance with the deviation between the actual air flow rate and target air flow rate. Another technology disclosed by JP-A No. 6-146950 changes the throttle opening by a predetermined amount, if there is any change in the target air-fuel ratio, to eliminate any inadequate feedback response portion of the actual air flow rate with a view toward response improvement. However, since this control method does not detect the actual air flow rate, it cannot properly respond, for instance, to air density changes at a high altitude and exhibits low robustness for air flow rate control accuracy in relation to various environmental changes such as throttle control sensor and actuator characteristic variations. In consideration of the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an internal combustion engine controller that is capable of exercising high-performance air flow rate control of a fuel-based torque-on-demand control type, in-cylinder fuel injection internal combustion engine while providing improved response and convergence and enhanced robustness. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>To achieve the above object, an internal combustion engine controller of the present invention basically comprises means for computing a target throttle opening in accordance with operating conditions. The means for computing a target throttle opening comprises a first computing means, which determines a target throttle opening by exercising feedback control in accordance with operating conditions including an intake air volume; a second computing means, which determines a target throttle opening by exercising feed-forward control in accordance with the operating conditions; and a third computing means, which determines a target throttle opening in accordance with the respective target throttle opening values determined by the first computing means and second computing means. In another aspect of the present invention, an internal combustion engine controller comprises: a target air flow rate computing means for computing a target air flow rate in accordance with operating conditions; a first computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feedback control in accordance with a difference between the above target air flow rate and an actual air flow rate; a second computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feed-forward control in accordance with the above target air flow rate; and a third computing means for determining a target throttle opening in accordance with the respective target throttle opening values determined by the first computing means and second computing means. In still another aspect of the present invention, an internal combustion engine controller for computing a target throttle opening in accordance with operating conditions comprises: a first computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feedback control in accordance with operating conditions including the intake air volume; a second computing means for determining a target throttle opening by exercising feed-forward control in accordance with the operating conditions; a third computing means for determining a target throttle opening in accordance with the target throttle opening values determined by the first computing means and second computing means; and a throttle opening control means for driving a throttle valve in accordance with the target throttle calculated by the third computing means. As indicated by the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention comprises a first throttle opening computing means for computing a throttle opening by exercising feedback control (F/B control) in accordance with the actual air flow rate, target air flow rate, and other operating conditions and a second throttle opening computing means for computing a throttle opening by exercising feed-forward control (F/F control) in accordance with the target air flow rate and other operating conditions. Therefore, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention can improve the air flow rate calculation response and convergence, reduce the exhaust gas emission, and provides improved torque response without being affected by various environmental changes or sensor, actuator, and other component variations. In other words, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention is particularly suitable for a fuel-based torque-on-demand control type, internal combustion engine. It is basically characterized by comprising a second throttle opening computing means for computing a target throttle opening from a target air flow rate and a first throttle opening computing means for computing a target throttle opening from the deviation between a target air flow rate and actual air flow rate. Common feedback control computes a manipulated variable in accordance with the resulting controlled variable. It is therefore said that the response of feedback control is theoretically inferior to that of feed-forward control. On the other hand, it is said that feed-forward control excels in response but exhibits low robustness against disturbance. The disadvantages of these two control functions are offset by the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention. Concisely, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention provides a target throttle opening computing section that is capable of exercising feed-forward control, which is highly responsive, and feedback control, which is robust against disturbance. Consequently, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention provides not only improved response but also enhanced robustness against disturbance particularly in air flow rate control over a fuel-based torque-on-demand control type, internal combustion engine. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the throttle opening control means, which comprises means for controlling the throttle valve in such a manner as to reduce the difference between a directly or indirectly detected actual throttle opening value and a target throttle opening value calculated by the third computing means. As indicated by the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention provides feedback control, which computes the manipulated variable of the throttle in accordance with the difference between the actual throttle opening and a target throttle opening calculated by the third target throttle opening computing means. Therefore, the manipulated variable for throttle drive can be computed from the target throttle opening and actual throttle opening. It means that the manipulated variable for throttle drive indicates a duty ratio that is entered into a drive circuit for controlling a throttle motor drive current. Thus, the manipulated variable for throttle drive can be accurately calculated by means of PID control. In addition to feedback control, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention also provides feed-forward control, which computes the manipulated variable of the throttle in accordance with only the target throttle opening calculated by the third target throttle opening computing means. Therefore, computation control can be exercised with high responsiveness. The feed-forward control portion may be a gain only. In such an instance, the manipulated variable for throttle opening control can be computed directly from a target air flow rate without computing a target throttle opening. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the target throttle opening computing means, which comprises a computation permission means for permitting the first target throttle opening computing means to compute a target throttle opening. The computation permission means inhibits the first target throttle opening computing means from computing a target throttle opening if the means for detecting the actual air flow rate directly or indirectly is found to be abnormal. The third target throttle opening computing means calculates a target throttle opening in accordance with the second target throttle opening so that the actual air flow rate can be adjusted for the target air flow rate. As indicated in the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention comprises a computation permission means for permitting the first target throttle opening computing means to compute a target throttle opening. Therefore, the first target throttle opening computing means can be permitted to compute a target throttle opening when, for instance, the opening of an internal combustion engine accelerator is normal, the air flow sensor function is normal, the throttle is normal, or the elapsed time from startup is as specified. It means that target throttle opening computations can be performed in response to changes in the internal combustion engine environment. Even when the means for detecting the air flow rate directly or indirectly is found to be abnormal, it is possible to inhibit the first target throttle opening computing means from computing the first target throttle opening, cause the second target throttle opening computing means to calculate the second target throttle opening as the third target throttle opening, and control the actual air flow rate in accordance with the third target throttle opening. That is, if the means for detecting the air flow rate of the air flow sensor or the like is faulty, the actual air flow rate can be controlled by inhibiting the target throttle opening from being computed by feedback control and using the target throttle opening computed by feed-forward control as the target opening. Therefore, the air flow rate can be preferably controlled even when the air flow sensor or the like is faulty. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the computation permission means to inhibit the first target throttle opening computing means from computing the target throttle opening if the accelerator opening is not smaller than a predetermined value or the second target throttle opening is not smaller than a predetermined value. The third target throttle opening computing means computes the target throttle opening in accordance with the second target throttle opening and makes it possible to adjust the actual air flow rate for the target air flow rate. The computation permission means inhibits the first target throttle opening computing means from computing the target throttle opening if the difference between the target air flow rate and actual air flow rate is not greater than a predetermined value. The third target throttle opening computing means calculates the target throttle opening in accordance with the second target throttle opening and makes it possible to adjust the actual air flow rate to the target air flow rate. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the target throttle opening computing means, which comprises a computation permission means for permitting the second target throttle opening computing means to compute the target throttle opening in accordance with the operating conditions. The computation permission means inhibits the second target throttle opening computing means from computing the target throttle opening if a target exhaust gas re-circulation rate is not smaller than a predetermined value. The third target throttle opening computing means calculates the target throttle opening in accordance with the first target opening and makes it possible to adjust the actual air flow rate to the target air flow rate. As indicated in the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention comprises a second computation permission means, which permits the second target throttle opening computing means to compute a throttle opening. Therefore, if, for instance, the EGR rate is as specified or the air flow sensor is normal, the second target throttle opening computing means can be permitted to computer the target throttle opening. Thus, it is possible to compute the target throttle opening that is responsive to changes in the internal combustion engine environment. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the target throttle opening computing means to calculate the third target throttle opening from the first target throttle opening, which is computed in accordance with the actual air flow rate even when the relationship between the second target throttle opening and actual air flow rate significantly changes, and makes it possible to adjust the actual air flow rate for the target air flow rate. As indicated in the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention exercises feedback control to provide computation control so as to adjust the actual air flow rate for the target air flow rate and calculate the target throttle opening even when the relationship between the target throttle opening computed by feed-forward control and the actual air flow rate significantly changes due to an air density change, foreign matter inclusion in an intake pipe, or other environmental change. Therefore, the air flow rate can be accurately controlled in response to the above environmental changes. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the target throttle opening computing means, which comprises a target air flow rate correction means for correcting the target air flow rate. The first target throttle opening computing means computes the first target throttle opening in accordance with the difference between the target air flow rate calculated by the target air flow rate correction means and the actual air flow rate. The target air flow rate correction means represents a response characteristic between the second target throttle opening and actual air flow rate. As indicated by the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention comprises the target air flow rate correction means. Therefore, it can accurately compute a target air flow rate while improving the transmission characteristic by compensating for a time delay involved in intake air flow from the throttle to a cylinder. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the second target throttle opening computing means to compute the second target throttle opening in accordance with the internal combustion engine's rotating speed and the target air flow rate. As indicated by the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention can exercise feed-forward control to compute the second target throttle opening, for instance, from a map depicting the relationship between the internal combustion engine's rotating speed and the target air flow rate. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention comprises means for computing the target exhaust gas re-circulation rate. Further, the second target throttle opening computing means computes the second target throttle opening in accordance with the internal combustion engine's rotating speed, the target air flow rate, and the target exhaust gas re-circulation rate. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the target air flow rate computing means to compute the target air flow rate in accordance with the target air-fuel ratio and target fuel injection quantity. As indicated by the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention can correct the second target throttle opening in accordance with the exhaust gas re-circulation rate when the EGR gas recirculates. More specifically, it can determine the target EGR rate from, for instance, a map depicting the relationship between a target combustion pressure torque and internal combustion engine's rotating speed, determine a throttle opening correction factor from, for instance, a map depicting the relationship between the target EGR rate and target air flow rate, and correct the second target throttle opening. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention comprises a detection means for detecting the internal combustion engine's exhaust gas components directly or indirectly, and a correction amount computing means for computing the correction amount for the target air flow rate in accordance with the exhaust gas components detected by the detection means. As indicated by the configuration described above, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention corrects the target air flow rate with a correction amount (manipulated variable) that is used to compute (by means of air-fuel ratio feedback control) the correction amount for the target air flow rate in accordance with a signal from an A/F sensor or other exhaust gas component detection means. It is therefore possible to calculate a target air flow rate with increased accuracy and compute a target throttle opening. To achieve another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses the second target throttle opening computing means to compute the second target throttle opening in accordance with an inverse model for the response between an in-cylinder target air flow rate and the throttle. To achieve still another object, the internal combustion engine controller of the present invention uses an in-cylinder air flow rate value, which is detected directly or indirectly, as an actual air flow rate value. |
Stabilised interbody fusion system for vertebrae |
The invention concerns a stabilised interbody fusion system for vertebrae, of the type comprising an interbody implant (4) designed to be inserted in the intervertebral space defined between two neighbouring vertebrae to be mutually secured, so as to restore the height and the angle of the lordosis of the vertebral segment defined by the two neighbouring vertebrae and a stabilizing plate (17) provided, at each of its ends, with at least a passage hole (18) for an anchoring screw, the plate (17) and the implant (4) being provided with mutual assembly means, such that after assembly, the stabilizing plate (17) extends on each side of the implant to enable the stabilizing plate to be anchored on the neighbouring vertebrae through the screws, characterised in that it comprises spacing means (30), interposed between the stabilizing plate (17) and the implant (4), to enable the stabilizing plate to be positioned at a specific distance relative to the implant. |
1-14. (canceled) 15. Stabilized interbody fusion system for vertebrae according to the invention, of the type comprising: an interbody implant that will be inserted in the intervertebral space defined between two neighboring vertebrae to be mutually secured, in order to restore the height and the angle of the lordosis of the vertebral segment defined by two neighboring vertebrae; and a stabilizing plate equipped with at least one passage hole for an anchoring screw at each of its ends, the plate and the implant being provided with mutual assembly means such that after assembly, the stabilizing plate extends on each side of the implant to enable the stabilizing plate to be anchored on the neighboring vertebrae through the screws, wherein it comprises spacing means, interposed between the stabilizing plate and the implant, to enable the stabilizing plate to be positioned at a specific distance relative to the implant. 16. System according to claim 15, wherein the spacing means adjust the distance between the stabilizing plate and the implant. 17. System according to claim 15, wherein the spacing means are chosen from among a range of spacing means each with a determined length, each of which is different, to adjust the distance between the plate and the implant at a value that is determined by the length of the chosen spacing means. 18. System according to claim 15, wherein the assembly means are provided with support means for the plate allowing angular orientation of the plate relative to the implant. 19. System according to claim 16, wherein the assembly means are provided with support means for the plate allowing angular orientation of the plate relative to the implant. 20. System according to claim 17, wherein the assembly means are provided with support means for the plate allowing angular orientation of the plate relative to the implant. 21. System according to claim 15, wherein the spacing means comprises at least one spacer bushing. 22. System according to claim 16, wherein the spacing means comprises at least one spacer bushing. 23. System according to claim 17, wherein the spacing means comprises at least one spacer bushing. 24. System according to claim 18, wherein the spacing means comprises at least one spacer bushing. 25. System according to claim 21, wherein the spacer bushing is fixed to the stabilizing plate. 26. System according to claim 25, wherein the spacer bushing comprises assembly means on the implant, allowing adjustment of the distance between the stabilizing plate and the implant. 27. System according to claim 25, wherein the spacer bushing is put into place on an assembly screw forming part of the assembly means and is designed to pass through the plate through a passage hole bordered by a stop shoulder arranged to hold the head of the assembly screw and to cooperate with at least one threaded hole arranged in the implant. 28. System according to claim 27, wherein the threaded hole is formed on the anterior wall of the implant, this wall having a convex curvature in the transverse plane and extending by connecting walls with a convex curvature, to a posterior wall with a concave curvature to leave the vertebral canal free. 29. System according to claim 28, wherein each connecting wall is arranged to contain a threaded hole surrounded, like the threaded hole formed in the anterior wall, by an assembly groove designed to cooperate with two assembly dog pins provided on the head of a gripping instrument of the implant, also comprising a threaded rod designed to cooperate with a threaded hole in the implant. 30. System according to claim 28, wherein the posterior wall is fitted with a radio-opaque element opening up on the external face of the said wall, adapted so that the position of the implant within the intervertebral space along the sagittal plane can be detected. 31. System according to claim 15, wherein the stabilizing plane is provided with anti-expulsion means for the anchoring screws, installed on the plate through moving guide means and adapted to occupy a first position in which the passage cross-section of the holes for reception of the anchoring screws is left free, and a second position, in which the holes are partially closed off, in order to form a stop for the heads of screws. 32. A gripping instrument, comprising: a maneuvering tube, inside which a flexible threaded rod is fitted so as to cooperate with a threaded hole in the implant of claim 15, the tube further comprising an assembly head, fitted with two dog pins to cooperate with an assembly groove surrounding the threaded hole. 33. The gripping instrument according to claim 32, wherein the maneuvering tube on the implant has a curvature and is provided with a slide on which there is a bar, the free end of which is adapted to resist forces for placement of the implant and to ensure that the approach is respected. |
Actuator assembly |
An actuator assembly comprises a first member (6a,6b), a second member (4a,4b) and at least one connecting arm (10a,10b) of fixed length connecting the first and second members (6a,6b;4a,4b). The assembly also comprises an actuator (12,14) which is operably engaged with the first member (6a,6b) so as to be capable of applying a rotating force to the first member (6a,6b). In use, rotational movement of the first member (6a,6b) causes relative linear movement of the first and second members (6a,6b;4a,4b) along an axis. The invention also relates to a loudspeaker driver unit and a sensor incorporating the actuator assembly. In the sensor embodiments, the actuator is an electrical transducer. |
1. A method implemented by a push-to-talk wireless mobile terminal for communicating voice information comprising the steps of: determining if a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made; if said determining step determines that a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made, transmitting an indicator to a communication application server representing an instruction that packets received from the mobile terminal are to be stored for later delivery to a destination Pal; encoding audio input from a user by the mobile terminal into the packets following the determining step; transmitting the packets to the communication application server for later delivery to the destination Pal. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made comprises sensing that the destination Pal selected by the user to receive the audio input is not available prior to the user initiating the encoding step. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of sensing that the Pal selected by the user as the destination party to receive the audio input is not available comprises the step of determining a current status of the selected Pal stored in the mobile terminal, where the status represents that the selected Pal is not available to receive communications. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made comprises determining that an input signal is entered by the user where the input signal represents a request to send said packets as a delayed delivery voice message regardless of whether or not the destination Pal selected to receive the packets is currently available to receive communications. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting an indicator to a communication application server representing an instruction that the packets are to be stored for later delivery to a destination Pal causes the audio carried by the packets to be stored in the communication application server. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the instruction further conveys to the communication application server that the packets are not to be attempted to be delivered in real-time to the destination Pal. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made comprises the steps of generating a first request for a real-time voice communication to the destination Pal in response to the push-to-talk button being pressed, providing a first alert to the user indicating that a real-time voice communication to the destination Pal is not available, and sensing a second request to initiate communications to the destination Pal by the push-to-talk button being depressed again following the alert having been provided to the user. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of sensing the second request includes sensing the push-to-talk button being depressed again within a predetermined time interval of the first request. 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing a second alert to the user in response to the second request wherein the second alert comprises a predetermined talk-beep associated with the request to send a delayed delivery voice message, the predetermined talk-beep comprising an audible alert that is different from an audible alert associated with the initiation of a real-time voice communication. 10. A push-to-talk wireless mobile terminal for communicating voice information comprising: means for determining if a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made; means for transmitting an indicator to a communication application server representing an instruction that packets received from the mobile terminal are to be stored for later delivery to a destination Pal if said determining means determines that a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made; means for encoding audio input from a user by the mobile terminal into the packets following the determining step; means for transmitting the packets to the communication application server for later delivery to the destination Pal. 11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the means for determining comprises means for sensing that the destination Pal selected by the user to receive the audio input is not available to receive real-time communications. 12. The mobile terminal of claim 11 wherein the means for sensing comprises means for determining a current status of the selected Pal stored in the mobile terminal, where the status represents that the selected Pal is not available to receive communications. 13. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the means for determining if a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made comprises means for determining that an input signal is entered by the user where the input signal represents a request to send said packets as a delayed delivery voice message regardless of whether or not the destination Pal selected to receive the packets is currently available to receive communications. 14. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the means for transmitting an indicator to a communication application server representing an instruction that the packets are to be stored for later delivery to a destination Pal causes the audio carried by the packets to be stored in the communication application server. 15. The mobile terminal of claim 14 wherein the instruction transmitted by the means for transmitting further conveys to the communication application server that the packets are not to be attempted to be delivered in real-time to the destination Pal. 16. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the means for determining if a request to send a delayed delivery voice message has been made comprises means for generating a first request for a real-time voice communication to the destination Pal in response to the push-to-talk button being pressed, means for providing a first alert to the user indicating that a real-time voice communication to the destination Pal is not available, and means for sensing a second request to initiate communications to the destination Pal by the push-to-talk button being depressed again following the alert having been provided to the user. 17. The mobile terminal of claim 16 wherein the means for sensing the second request includes means for sensing the push-to-talk button being depressed again within a predetermined time interval of the first request. 18. The mobile terminal of claim 16 further comprising means for providing a second alert to the user in response to the second request, the second alert comprises a predetermined talk-beep associated with the request to send a delayed delivery voice message, the predetermined talk-beep comprising an audible alert that is different from an audible alert associated with the initiation of a real-time voice communication. 19. A method implemented by a push-to-talk wireless mobile terminal for communicating voice information comprising the steps of: displaying a list of Pals of the first user including visual indicia representing that a previously transmitted voice message by the first user to a first Pal is stored and awaits delivery to the first Pal; determining if a request has been made by the first user to access the stored voice message; if said request is determined to have been made, discerning the type of access desired by the first user; transmitting a command to a communication application server at which the voice messages stored where the command conveys instructions to the communication application server to implement action based on the type of access desired by the first user. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of discerning comprises discerning that the stored voice message is to be played back to the first user and wherein the transmitted command conveys instructions to the communication application server to implement transmission of the stored voice message to the first user, the method further comprising the step of receiving at the mobile terminal of the first user the stored voice message previously transmitted by the first user to the first Pal and audibly playing the stored voice message. 21. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of discerning comprises discerning that the stored voice message is to be deleted and wherein the transmitted command conveys instructions to the communication application server to delete the stored voice message previously transmitted by the first user to the first Pal, the method further comprising the step of receiving at the mobile terminal of the first user a signal technology that the stored voice message has been deleted. 22. A push-to-talk wireless mobile terminal for communicating voice information comprising: means for displaying a list of Pals of the first user including visual indicia representing that a previously transmitted voice message by the first user to a first Pal is stored and awaits delivery to the first Pal; means for determining if a request has been made by the first user to access the stored voice message; means for discerning the type of access desired by the first user if said request is determined to have been made; means for transmitting a command to a communication application server at which the voice messages are stored where the command conveys instructions to the communication application server to implement action based on the type of access desired by the first user. 23. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the means for discerning discerns that the stored voice message is to be played back to the first user and wherein the means for transmitting transmits the command that conveys instructions to the communication application server to implement transmission of the stored voice message to the first user, the mobile terminal further comprising means for receiving, at the mobile terminal of the first user, the stored voice message previously transmitted by the first user to the first Pal and audibly playing the stored voice message. 24. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the means for discerning discerns that the stored voice message is to be deleted and wherein the means for transmitting transmits the command that conveys instructions to the communication application server to delete the stored voice message previously transmitted by the first user to the first Pal, the mobile terminal further comprising means for receiving at the mobile terminal of the first user a signal representing that the stored voice message has been deleted. 25. A method implemented by a push-to-talk wireless mobile terminal for communicating voice information comprising the steps of: displaying a list of Pals including visual indicia of whether a voice message is waiting for delivery from a Pal; determining if a request to receive a waiting voice message has been initiated by a user of the mobile terminal; if said request is determined to have been made, transmitting at least one packet to a communication application server requesting that the waiting voice message associated with a selected Pal be delivered to the user's mobile terminal; receiving packets at the user's mobile terminal from the communication application server containing the waiting voice message and playing the message to the user. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the steps of determining if the request has been made comprises sensing that a Pal is selected by the user where the Pal has corresponding visual indicia indicating that a voice message from the Pal is waiting delivery to the user, and sensing an input initiated by the user representing a request to receive delivery of the voice message corresponding to the selected Pal. 27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of receiving a status update following receiving the packets where the status update indicates that there is no longer the voice message from the Pal waiting delivery to the user and updating the visual indicia corresponding to the Pal whose voice message was received to show another visual indicia representing that the voice message is no longer waiting delivery to the user. 28. A push-to-talk wireless mobile terminal for communicating voice information comprising: means for displaying a list of Pals including visual indicia of whether a voice message is waiting for delivery from a Pal; means for determining if a request to receive a waiting voice message has been initiated by a user of the mobile terminal; means for transmitting at least one packet to a communication application server requesting that the waiting voice message associated with a selected Pal be delivered to the user's mobile terminal if said request is determined to have been made; means for receiving packets at the user's mobile terminal from the communication application server containing the waiting voice message and playing the message to the user. 29. The mobile terminal of claim 28 wherein the means for determining if the request has been made comprises means for sensing that a Pal is selected by the user where the Pal has corresponding visual indicia indicating that a voice message from the Pal is waiting delivery to the user, and means for sensing an input initiated by the user representing a request to receive delivery of the voice message corresponding to the selected Pal. 30. The mobile terminal of claim 29 further comprising means for receiving a status update following receiving the packets where the status update indicates that there is no longer the voice message from the Pal waiting delivery to the user and means for updating the visual indicia corresponding to the Pal whose voice message was received to show another visual indicia representing that the voice message is no longer waiting delivery to the user. 31. A method implemented by a communication application server in a packet communication network for processing communications comprising the steps of: receiving a first packet from a mobile terminal of a user; determining if the first packet contains an indicator representing an instruction to process any following voice packets as a delayed delivery voice message; receiving a set of voice packets from a mobile terminal of a user; if said determining step determines that said indicator is present, storing at least payloads of the voice packets of said set in memory and labeling the stored payloads as addressed to a destination Pal identified by said set of packets. 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of attempting to deliver voice information contained in said payloads only upon receiving a command from a mobile terminal of the destination Pal where the command corresponds to input initiated by the Pal to retrieve the stored voice information. 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of generating a status update following the storing step and transmitting the status update to at least the mobile terminals of the destination Pal and the user. 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of transmitting the status update comprises transmitting a status update to the destination Pal indicating that the voice information from the user is awaiting deliver to the destination Pal and transmitting a status update to the user indicating that the voice information from the user to the destination Pal is still awaiting delivery to the destination Pal. 34. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of receiving said command from the mobile terminal of the destination Pal, retrieving the at least voice information payloads, encoding the at least voice information payloads into further packets addressed to the destination Pal, and transmitting the further packets to the destination Pal. 35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the steps of generating a status update following the transmitting of the further packets and transmitting the status update to at least the mobile terminals of the destination Pal and the user, where the status update represents that the voice information has been delivered to the destination Pal. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of transmitting the status update comprises transmitting a status update to the destination Pal indicating that there is no longer the voice information from the user awaiting deliver to the destination Pal and transmitting a status update to the user indicating that there is no longer the voice information from the user awaiting delivery to the destination Pal. 37. A communication application server in a packet communication network for processing communications comprising: means for receiving a first packet from a mobile terminal of a user; means for determining if the first packet contains an indicator representing an instruction to process any following voice packets as a delayed delivery voice message; means for receiving a set of voice packets from a mobile terminal of a user; means for storing at least payloads of the voice packets of said set in memory and labeling the stored payloads as addressed to a destination Pal identified by said set of packets if said determining step determines that said indicator is present. 38. The communication application server of claim 37 further comprising means for attempting to deliver voice information contained in said payloads only upon receiving a command from a mobile terminal of the destination Pal where the command corresponds to input initiated by the Pal to retrieve the stored voice information. 39. The communication application server of claim 37 further comprising means for generating a status update following the storage of the at least payloads and means for transmitting the status update to at least the mobile terminals of the destination Pal and the user. 40. The communication application server of claim 39 wherein the means for transmitting the status update comprises means for transmitting a status update to the destination Pal indicating that the voice information from the user is awaiting delivery to the destination Pal and means for transmitting a status update to the user indicating that the voice information from the user to the destination Pal is still awaiting delivery to the destination Pal. 41. The communication application server of claim 39 further comprising means for receiving said command from the mobile terminal of the destination Pal, means for retrieving the at least voice information payloads, means for encoding the at least voice information payloads into further packets addressed to the destination Pal, and means for transmitting the further packets to the destination Pal. 42. The communication application server of claim 41 further comprising means for generating a status update following the transmitting of the further packets and means for transmitting the status update to at least the mobile terminals of the destination Pal and the user, where the status update represents that the voice information has been delivered to the destination Pal. 43. The communication application server of claim 42 wherein the means for transmitting the status update comprises means for transmitting a status update to the destination Pal indicating that there is no longer the voice information from the user awaiting deliver to the destination Pal and means for transmitting a status update to the user indicating that there is no longer the voice information from the user awaiting delivery to the destination Pal. |
Installation for measuring pressure of at least one aeroplane wheel tyre |
The invention concerns and installation (12) for measuring the pressure of at least one tyre of a wheel (16, 24) of an aeroplane (10) comprising: at least a pressure measuring sensor (26) associated with a tyre; a unit (30) operating on the pressure measurement provided in the aeroplane (10); and radio-frequency transmission means including for the or each sensor, a revolving antenna (28) borne by the wheel (16, 24) and connected to each measuring sensor (26) and to a fixed antenna (34; 134) connected by a conductive cable (32) to the unit operating (30) on the pressure measurement. The fixed antenna (34; 134) is adapted to be borne by the aeroplane structure away from the or each wheel (16, 24) at least in an upper part of the shock strut (18, 20, 22) of the landing gear (14, 20) bearing the wheel. |
1. Installation (12) for measuring the pressure of at least one tyre of a wheel (16, 24) of an aeroplane (10), comprising: at least one pressure measuring sensor (26) associated with a tyre; a unit (30) operating on the pressure measurement, provided in the aeroplane (10); and radio-frequency transmission means comprising on the one hand, for the or each sensor, a revolving antenna (28) borne by the wheel (16, 24) and connected to each measuring sensor (26) and, on the other hand, a fixed antenna (34; 134) connected by a conductive cable (32) to the unit (30) operating on the pressure measurement, characterized in that the fixed antenna (34; 134) is adapted to be carried by the structure of the aeroplane at a spacing from the or each wheel (16, 24) at least in an upper part of the shock strut (18, 20; 122) of a landing gear element (14, 20) carrying the wheel. 2. Measuring installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the sock strut (18, 20; 122) has two movable sections (122A, 122B) connected by a shock absorber (122c), and the fixed antenna (134) is carried by the upper part (122a) of the shock strut (122) on the movable section (122A) which is integral with the aircraft fuselage. 3. Measuring installation according to claim 1 characterized in that the fixed antenna (34) is carried by the aircraft fuselage. 4. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said radio-frequency transmission means are adapted for the radio-frequencey transmission of a power signal for supplying the or each pressure measuring sensor (26). 5. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of sensors (26) associated with a plurality of movable antennas (28), and in that the transmission means comprise means for discriminating between the signals emitted from each movable antenna (28). 6. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission frequency is between 100 kHz. 7. Aeroplane comprising an installation for measuring the pressure of at least one tyre of a wheel according to claim 1. |
Trusted authorization device |
A trusted display (18) of a trusted authorization device (TAD) (10) displays on a trusted display (18) first information about a transaction to be authorized by a user (14) using a trusted keypad (20). The TAD (10) generates (208) a random number (R); generates (1210) second information from the first information, the random number (R) and a first identification code (TADID-A) of the TAD (10); generates (212) a signature of the second information using a first encryption process; egnerates (216) a set of session keys (Ks1, Ks2, Ks3) by a second encryption process responsive to the random number (R) and a set of stored working keys (Kw1, Kw2, Kw3); and generates (218) third information by encrypting the second information and the signature using a third encryption process responsive to the set of session keys (Ks1, Ks2, Ks3). A dat structure (42) is formed comprising the random numer (R), the first identification code (TADID-A), and the third information; and communicated (220) from the TAD (10) to the client (12) to a host server (28) for verification by a verification decryption server (32). |
1. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction, comprising: a. providing for communicating with a first computer; b. providing for displaying first information to be authorized on a trusted display of a trusted authorization device, wherein said first information to be authorized is provided by said first computer; c. providing for receiving an authorization command from a trusted keypad of said trusted authorization device, wherein said authorization command is related to said first information; and d. if said authorization command provides for authorizing said first information, then providing for a set of operations by a trusted processor of said trusted authorization device, said set of operations comprising: i. generating a random number; ii. generating second information that is responsive to said first information to be authorized, wherein said second information further incorporates both said random number and a first identification code associated with said trusted authorization device, wherein said first identification code is stored on a trusted memory of said trusted authorization device; iii. generating a signature of said second information, wherein said signature is generated by a first encryption process; iv. generating a set of session keys by a second encryption process, wherein said second encryption process is responsive to said random number and to a set of stored working keys, and said set of stored working keys are stored on said trusted memory of said trusted authorization device; v. generating third information by encrypting said second information and said signature using a third encryption process that is responsive to said set of session keys; and vi. communicating to said first computer said random number, said first identification code, and said third information, wherein said random number and said first identification code are communicated in plaintext. 2. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing for receiving a personal identification code from a user, wherein said personal identification code is incorporated in said second information. 3. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 2, wherein said personal information code comprises a code entered with a trusted keypad of said trusted authorization device. 4. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 2, wherein said personal information code is responsive to a biometric input from a user entered with a trusted biometric input device. 5. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 2, wherein said personal information code is responsive to a signature input from a user entered with a trusted signature input device. 6. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 2, wherein said personal information code is responsive to a voice input from a user entered with a trusted microphone. 7. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 2, wherein said personal information code comprises a digest of at least one of a biometric input from a user entered with a trusted biometric input device, a signature input from a user entered with a trusted signature input device, and a voice input from a user entered with a trusted microphone. 8. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing for receiving a personal identification code from a user, wherein the operation of providing for said set of operations by a trusted processor of said trusted authorization device is responsive to whether said personal identification code corresponds to a stored personal identification code, said stored personal identification code is stored in said trusted memory of said trusted authorization device, and said stored personal identification code is associated with an authentic user of said trusted authorization device. 9. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 8, wherein said personal information code comprises a code entered with a trusted keypad of said trusted authorization device. 10. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 8, wherein said personal information code is responsive to a biometric input from a user entered with a trusted biometric input device. 11. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 8, wherein said personal information code is responsive to a signature input from a user entered with a trusted signature input device. 12. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 8, wherein said personal information code is responsive to a voice input from a user entered with a trusted microphone. 13. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 8, wherein said personal information code is associated with said trusted authorization device. 14. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 8, wherein said personal information code comprises a digest of at least one of a biometric input from a user entered with a trusted biometric input device, a signature input from a user entered with a trusted signature input device, and a voice input from a user entered with a trusted microphone. 15. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing for receiving fourth information from a physical token in possession of a user and incorporating at least a portion of said fourth information in said second information. 16. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 15, wherein said physical token is selected from a credit card, a debit card, and a smart card. 17. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 16, wherein the operation of receiving fourth information from a physical token comprises reading said fourth information from said physical token using a trusted reader. 18. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 17, wherein said fourth information is stored on a magnetic strip of said physical token, and the operation of receiving fourth information from a physical token comprises reading said fourth information from said magnetic strip using a trusted magnetic card reader. 19. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 15, further comprising providing for receiving a personal identification code from a user, and incorporating said personal identification code in said second information, wherein said personal information code is associated with said physical token. 20. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 15, further comprising providing for receiving a personal identification code from a user, wherein said personal information code is associated with said physical token, the operation of providing for said set of operations by a trusted processor of said trusted authorization device is responsive to whether said personal identification code corresponds to a stored personal identification code stored in said physical token, and said stored personal identification code is associated with an authentic user of said physical token. 21. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, wherein said random number is a true random number, and said true random number is responsive to a physical process. 22. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, wherein said second information comprises at least a portion of said first information. 23. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a. incrementing a transaction counter; and b. incorporating the value of said transaction counter in said second information. 24. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 23, further comprising communicating in plaintext to said first computer the value of said transaction counter. 25. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing for receiving location information from a trusted location device and incorporating said location information in said second information, wherein said location information is related to the location of said trusted authorization device. 26. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 25, wherein said trusted location device comprises a trusted GPS receiver. 27. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, wherein said first encryption process comprises a Data Encryption Standard (DES) cyclic block code (CBC) manipulation detection code (MDC) using said random number as an initial vector. 28. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, wherein said first encryption process comprises a digest algorithm selected from MD5 and SHA-1. 29. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, wherein said first encryption process comprises a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) encryption algorithm using a private key that is associated with either said trusted authorization device or a physical token at least temporarily operatively connected to said trusted authorization device, wherein said first encryption process operates on a digest of said second information. 30. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, wherein said second encryption process comprises a symmetric encryption of said random number using said set of working keys that are stored in said trusted memory of said transaction authorization device. 31. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 30, wherein said working keys are generated by a fourth encryption process, and said fourth encryption process is responsive to a second identification code associated with said trusted authorization device, and to a set of rekeying keys stored in said trusted memory of said trusted authorization device. 32. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 1, further comprising communicating in plaintext to said first computer at least one encryption algorithm identification code associated with at least one of said first encryption process and said third encryption process. 33. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction, comprising: a. providing for initiating a transaction on a first computer responsive to at least one input from a user; b. providing for communicating first information to a transaction authorization device, wherein said first information is related to said transaction, and said transaction authorization device is operatively connected to said first computer; c. providing for receiving a data structure from said transaction authorization device, wherein said data structure is responsive to said first information, said data structure comprises a random number, a first identification code, and third information, said third information comprises an encryption by a third encryption process of both second information and a signature responsive to said second information, a first portion of said second information is responsive to said first information, a second portion of said second information comprises said random number, a third portion of said second information comprises said first identification code, said random number is generated by said trusted authorization device, and said first identification code is associated with said trusted authorization device; and d. providing for communicating said data structure to a host server computer, wherein said data structure provides for a trusted authorization of said transaction. 34. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction, comprising: a. providing for receiving by a first computer a data structure from a second computer, wherein said data structure is responsive to first information, said first information is related to a transaction to be authorized, said data structure comprises a random number, a first identification code, and third information, said third information comprises an encryption by a third encryption process of both second information and a signature by a first encryption process responsive to said second information, a first portion of said second information is responsive to said first information, a second portion of said second information comprises said random number, a third portion of said second information comprises said first identification code; b. providing for retrieving a set of stored working keys, wherein said operation of retrieving is responsive to said first identification code; c. providing for generating a set of session keys by a second encryption process, wherein said second encryption process is responsive to said random number and to said set of stored working keys; d. providing for generating second information and fifth information by decrypting said third information using said third encryption process that is responsive to said set of session keys; e. providing for generating a signature of said second information, wherein said signature is generated by said first encryption process; f. providing for comparing said signature with said fifth information; and g. if said signature matches said fifth information, then providing for acting upon said second information. 35. A method of providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction as recited in claim 25, further comprising providing for transmitting to a third computer said random number, a set of encrypted working keys for said third encryption process and said third information, and receiving from said third computer a result, wherein said set of encrypted working keys is responsive to said first identification code, said set of encrypted working keys are encrypted with a set of keys of said third computer, the operation of providing for acting upon said second information is responsive to said result and said third computer performs the operations of providing for generating said set of session keys, providing for generating said second information and said fifth information, providing for generating said signature of said second information, and providing for comparing said signature with said fifth information. 36. A method of authorizing a transaction responsive to a data structure, comprising: a. receiving said data structure, wherein said data structure is responsive to first information, said first information is related to a transaction to be authorized, said data structure comprises a random number, a first identification code, and third information, said third information comprises an encryption by a third encryption process of both second information and a signature by a first encryption process responsive to said second information, a first portion of said second information is responsive to said first information, a second portion of said second information comprises said random number, a third portion of said second information comprises said first identification code; b. retrieving or receiving a set of stored working keys, wherein said operation of retrieving is responsive to said first identification code; c. generating a set of session keys by a second encryption process, wherein said second encryption process is responsive to said random number and to said set of stored working keys; d. generating second information and fifth information by decrypting said third information using said third encryption process that is responsive to said set of session keys; e. generating a signature of said second information, wherein said signature is generated by said first encryption process; f. comparing said signature with said fifth information; and g. transmitting a result of the operation of comparing said signature with said fifth information. 37. A method of authorizing a transaction responsive to a data structure as recited in claim 36, wherein said set of stored working keys are encrypted, further comprising decrypting said set of stored working keys prior to the operation of generating a set of session keys. 38. A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a computer, comprising a data structure stored in said memory, wherein said data structure is responsive to first information, said first information is related to a transaction to be authorized, and said data structure comprises a. a first data object comprising a random number; b. a second data object comprising a first identification code; and c. a third data object comprising third information, wherein said third information comprises an encryption by a third encryption process of both second information and a signature by a first encryption process responsive to said second information, said third encryption process is responsive to a set of session keys that are responsive to said random number, a first portion of said second information is responsive to said first information, a second portion of said second information comprises said random number, a third portion of said second information comprises said first identification code. 39. A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a computer as recited in claim 38, wherein said data structure further comprises a fourth data object comprising a value of a transaction counter. 40. A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a computer as recited in claim 38, wherein said second information incorporates a value of a transaction counter. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a trusted authorization device and an associated transaction processing system; FIG. 2 illustrates a process for providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction from the point-of-view of an associated Trusted Authorization Device (TAD); FIG. 3 illustrates as data structure used by a process for providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction; FIG. 4 a illustrates an encryption process for generating a set of encryption keys; FIG. 4 b illustrates a schematic representation of the process illustrated in FIG. 4 a; FIG. 5 a illustrates 3-DES encryption process for generating a set of encryption keys; FIG. 5 b illustrates a schematic representation of the process illustrated in FIG. 5 a; FIG. 6 a illustrates 3-DES encryption process for encrypting a message; FIG. 6 b illustrates a schematic representation of the process illustrated in FIG. 6 a; FIG. 7 a illustrates 3-DES decryption process for decrypting an encrypted message; FIG. 7 b illustrates a schematic representation of the process illustrated in FIG. 6 a; FIG. 8 illustrates a process for providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction from the point-of-view of an associated client computer; FIG. 9 illustrates a process for providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction from the point-of-view of an associated host computer; FIG. 10 illustrates a process for providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction from the point-of-view of an associated Verification Decryption Server (VDS); FIG. 11 a illustrates a key loading process from the point-of-view of an associated Key Loading Unit (KLU); FIG. 11 b illustrates a schematic representation of the process illustrated in FIG. 11 a; FIG. 12 a illustrates a key loading process from the point-of-view of an associated Trusted Authorization Device; FIG. 12 b illustrates a schematic representation of the process illustrated in FIG. 11 a; FIG. 13 illustrates a re-keying process from the point-of-view of an associated Key Loading Unit (KLU); FIG. 14 illustrates a re-keying process from the point-of-view of an associated Trusted Authorization Device; FIG. 15 illustrates a re-keying process from the point-of-view of an associated Trusted Authorization Device; FIG. 16 illustrates a process for providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction from the point-of-view of an associated Trusted Authorization Device; FIG. 17 illustrates a process for providing for a trusted authorization of a transaction from the point-of-view of an associated Verification Decryption Server (VDS); FIG. 18 illustrates a table of TAD input commands; FIG. 19 illustrates a table of TAD language codes; FIG. 20 illustrates a structure of a TAD input command for authorizing data; FIGS. 21 a illustrates a plaintext portion of a data structure of a TAD response to command for authorizing data; FIG. 21 b illustrates an encrypted portion of a data structure of a TAD response to command for authorizing data; FIG. 22 illustrates a table of data field types associated with a TAD data structure; FIG. 23 illustrates a structure of an error response data packet from a TAD to a client computer if an authorization is either aborted or incorrect; FIG. 24 illustrate a structure of TAD response to command for authorizing data; FIG. 25 illustrate an example of a TAD data structure at various processing stages; FIG. 26 a illustrates a structure of a TAD input command for loading a rekeying keyset; FIG. 26 b illustrates a structure of a TAD response to a command for loading a rekeying keyset; FIG. 27 a illustrates a structure of a TAD input command for installing a new working keyset; FIG. 27 b illustrates a structure of a TAD response to a command for installing a new working keyset; FIG. 28 a illustrates a structure of a TAD input command for installing a new language; FIG. 28 b illustrates a structure of a TAD response to a command for installing a new language; FIG. 29 a illustrates a structure of a TAD input command for identifying a TAD to a client computer; FIG. 29 b illustrates a structure of a TAD response to a command for identifying a TAD to a client computer; FIG. 30 a illustrates a structure of a TAD input command for testing a TAD maintenance key; FIG. 30 b illustrates a structure of a TAD response to a command for testing a TAD maintenance key; FIG. 31 a illustrates a structure of a TAD input command for personalizing a TAD; and FIG. 31 b illustrates a structure of a TAD response to a personalizing a TAD. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Filter element, method for manufacture thereof, and filter using said element |
The invention provides a filter element exhibiting an excellent deodorizing and adsorbing function with low pressure drop, as well as to a method for its manufacture and a filter using the element, and this is achieved by a filter element which satisfies the relationship that 0≦A≦1.1 mB+C and m=0.28−0.0005 D50, with the proviso that 0<C≦15, where D50 (μm) is the 50% particle diameter of the adsorbent powder, B (g/m2) is the amount of the adsorbent powder adhered to the base fabric, A (Pa) is the pressure drop of the filter as measured at room temperature under an air flow rate of 1 m/sec and C (Pa) is the pressure drop of the base fabric when coated with the adhesive and dried, as well as a method for its manufacture and a filter using the element. The filter element is preferably manufactured by coating a base fabric with an adhesive and allowing the fabric to move in an electrostatic field formed by a high-voltage generating device to allow pulverized adsorbent powder with a specific mean particle size and standard deviation to electrostatically adhere to the base fabric surface, or by dispersing a pulverized adsorbent powder on the surface of a base fabric comprising heat-fusible fibers, and then partially fusing the heat-fusible fibers by heating to attach them to the adsorbent powder and allow the adsorbent powder to adhere to the base fabric surface. |
1. A filter element having pulverized adsorbent powder adhered to an adhesive-coated base fabric surface, which satisfies the relationship that 0≦A≦1.1 mB+C and m=0.28−0.0005 D50, with the proviso that 0<C≦15, where D50 (μm) is the 50% particle diameter of the adsorbent powder, B (g/m2) is the amount of the adsorbent powder adhered to the base fabric, A (Pa) is the pressure drop of the filter element as measured at room temperature under an air flow rate of 1 m/sec, and C (Pa) is the pressure drop of the base fabric coated with the adhesive and dried. 2. A filter element according to claim 1, wherein the 50% particle diameter D50 of said adsorbent powder is 10-1000 μm and the standard deviation σg for the particle size distribution of the adsorbent powder is 1.1-2.0. 3. A filter element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said adsorbent powder is adhered to both sides of the base fabric. 4. A filter element according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein said filter element is formed into a pleat form. 5. A filter element according to any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein said adsorbent powder is activated carbon powder. 6. A filter element according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein said base fabric is a nonwoven fabric employing heat-fusible fibers. 7. A filter element according to claim 6, wherein said nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric composed of core-sheath fibers. 8. A filter element according to claim 7, wherein the core and sheath sections of said core-sheath fibers are composed of polyethylene terephthalate. 9. A filter element according to any one of claims 1 through 8, wherein said base fabric has a mass per unit area of 40-70 g/m2 and a thickness of 0.5-3 mm and contains fibers with a fineness of 10-20 dtex. 10. A filter element according to any one of claims 1 through 9, wherein protrusions are also formed in the base fabric. 11. A method for manufacture of a filter element by coating a base fabric with an adhesive and allowing the fabric to move in an electrostatic field formed by a high voltage generating device to allow pulverized adsorbent powder to electrostatically adhere to the base fabric surface. 12. A method for manufacture of a filter element by dispersing a pulverized adsorbent powder on the surface of a base fabric comprising a nonwoven fabric of heat-fusible fibers, and then partially fusing the heat-fusible fibers by heating to allow the adsorbent powder to adhere to the base fabric surface. 13. A filter comprising a combination of a cover sheet with a filter element according to any one of claims 1 through 10. 14. A filter comprising a combination of an air filter and cover sheet with a filter element according to any one of claims 1 through 10. 15. A filter according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the air filter and/or the cover sheet are nonwoven fabrics. 16. A filter according to claim 15, wherein said nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric composed of core-sheath fibers. 17. A filter according to claim 16, wherein the core and sheath sections of said core-sheath fibers are composed of polyethylene terephthalate. 18. A filter according to any one of claims 13 through 17 which comprises a reinforcing material. 19. A filter comprising a combination of a material having a catalytic function with a filter according to any one of claims 13 through 17. 20. A filter according to claim 19, wherein said material having a catalytic function is palladium chloride-impregnated activated carbon or a molded product thereof. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Activated carbon has been widely used in the past for noxious gas adsorption removal, gas purification and separation/recovery, gas occlusion, molecular sieve applications, and for decoloring purification in fields relating to foods or the chemical industry, water treatment, electric double layer condensers and the like, but activated carbon is also commonly used for various filters because of its excellent ability to adsorb and remove a variety of malodorous substances across a wide range. Activated carbon for filters is often used in the form of powder or in pulverized form packed into a container, but it can also be conveniently used in many cases in the form of molded tubes or sheets. In recent years, however, despite high expectations for such activated carbon filters, their uses have been limited because of a high degree of pressure drop. Many types of filters modified to reduce pressure drop have been proposed to date, such as an adsorption filter comprising an adsorbent, a fine particle binder and reinforcing fibers, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 3-151012. In this filter, the flat filter is made of particulate activated carbon coated with a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene, with packing in a frame set on a polypropylene net, while an example is given of stacking polyethylene nets for air purification. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 3-238011 discloses an air purification filter comprising a laminated combination of an electret filter and a flat sheet. This filter reduces pressure drop by employing a corrugated sheet. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 4-74505 discloses an air purification filter element with low pressure drop by laminating an electret filter and an adsorbent-containing filter into an integrally formed pleat. However, these filters still exhibit high pressure drop of the flat sheet to which the activated carbon is attached, and hence their uses are often restricted. On the other hand, there is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 5-177133 an activated carbon-adhered fiber sheet wherein powdered activated carbon is adhered to fibers without an adhesive. This sheet is obtained by dispersion, opening and activation of fibers such as glass fibers and a resin powder using an opening cylinder. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 6-219720 discloses activated carbon with a specified surface acidity, while Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 9-271616 discloses a deodorizing filter material obtained by forming an activated carbon layer on one surface of a fiber sheet and forming an activated inorganic adsorbent layer on the other surface. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,177 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,340 both disclose filters having activated carbon dispersed in an adhesive-coated sheet, where an air jet is sprayed to attach the activated carbon to the sheet. However, although the techniques disclosed in these publications can provide firm attachment of the activated carbon to the sheet because they both employ pressing with a roll and high-pressure air blowing to attach the activated carbon to the sheet, it is still difficult to avoid a large pressure drop due to external pressing force on the activated carbon. The present applicant had previously discovered that an easily fabricated flat filter with excellent adsorption performance can be produced by a fluidized adhesion method and has already filed Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI 9-19920 as a patent application therefor (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 10-204384). This method is a method of manufacturing a filter by attaching an adhesive to a sheet and passing the sheet through a fluidized bed of adsorbent particles, pressing at a pressure roll, shedding the insufficiently adhered particles and drying, and this may be said to be a highly efficient flat filter manufacturing method from the standpoint of production. According to this method, however, the adsorbent such as activated carbon adheres in a randomly laminated fashion to the adhesive-coated sheet, and therefore the obtained filter does not always have low pressure drop. In addition, although the insufficiently adhered particles are shed by vibration with a vibrator, the activated carbon adhered to the base fabric is sometimes shed during use, even after this shedding. By utilizing a technique known as electrostatic setting, which is completely different from the manufacturing methods described above, it is possible to obtain an activated carbon sheet with low pressure drop and firm anchoring of activated carbon to the sheet. As prior art adsorbent materials or deodorant materials comprising activated carbon fibers set in a sheet using the electrostatic setting technique, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. SHO 57-31453 discloses an adsorbent material comprising activated carbon fibers set into a base material, and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. HEI 6-85034 discloses a deodorant material comprising activated carbon fibers electrostatically set on the surface of a sheet-like base material precoated with an adhesive on the back side. Both of these methods employ activated carbon fibers as the material, but when the purpose of a filter is considered, since using activated carbon fibers means that a lower amount is used than when using particulate or pulverized activated carbon, the use of particulate or pulverized activated carbon is preferred from the standpoint of functional life. As an example of the electrostatic setting technique being applied to produce an adsorbent layer using activated carbon as the material, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. SHO 50-144680 discloses a method of forming an adsorbent layer wherein an adsorbent element such as activated carbon is evenly adhered and anchored as an adsorbent layer by electrostatic adhesion. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. SHO 63-274429 describes a composite adhesive sheet wherein a sticking agent layer is provided on a porous sheet material and an adsorbent layer of activated carbon powder is provided on the sticking agent layer by electrostatic setting. However, the adsorbent layer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. SHO 50-144680 uses beady activated carbon, and being in the form of beads it does not always adhere satisfactorily to the sheet, such that a cost-effective product cannot be obtained. The adsorbent sheet disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. SHO 63-274429 is used as a tobacco filter and therefore employs fine powdered activated carbon, with the binder being printed at a prescribed spacing in the porous sheet and the activated carbon powder being attached to the binder, and therefore the air permeability resistance is significant, as is also mentioned in the examples. Fiber structures with high-performance permeability are also disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 10-102366, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2,818,693 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,410. These comprise adsorbent particles of activated carbon or the like with heat-fusible fibers, and are described as having high air permeability. However, the fiber-like structures disclosed in these publications have a structure in which the adsorbent particles are tightly held in the heat-fusible fibers, and are therefore described as having high air permeability, but considering the structure, a large pressure drop is unavoidable. Low pressure drop is an important function required for filters, but despite numerous attempts to achieve it, no fully satisfactory solution has yet been found. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new filter element with firm adhesion of the adsorbent, without impairment of deodorizing function or adsorption performance, and with low pressure drop, as well as a method for its manufacture and a filter using the element. |
Telephone and method for converting sound to image and displaying on screen thereof |
A telephone and a method for converting sound to image and displaying on a screen thereof are disclosed. Receiver receives a call signal. Storage section stores call sound information. Call sound output section outputs a call sound. Color display device displays a color image. Controller reads out the call sound information when the receiver receives the call signal. Controller generates a call sound through call sound output section in response to read call sound information. Controller analyzes read call sound information in a frame unit and acquires sound analyzed information. Controller displays a corresponding call sound image in response to the sound analyzed information on color display device. Accordingly, the telephone and the method for convening sound to image and displaying on a screen thereof image and display a call sound on a screen to thereby give pleasure to user and improve features of manufactured goods. |
1. A telephone comprising: a receiver for receiving a call signal; a storage section for storing call sound information; a call sound output section for outputting the call sound information; a color display device for displaying a color image; and a controller for reading the call sound information from the storage section when the receiver receives the call signal, the controller controlling an operation of the call sound output section in response to the read call sound information, the controller analyzing the read call sound information to acquire sound analyzed information, and the controller displaying a corresponding call sound image in response to the sound analyzed information on the color display device. 2. The telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call sound information is synthetic sound mobile audio 2 format information, the controller acquires sound analyzed information having a program change, a channel volume, a panorama, a note, and a channel message among the synthetic sound mobile audio 2 format information, and converts the synthetic sound mobile audio 2 format information into image information having an image shape, an image size, an x axis location, a color, a y axis location, and a numerical in response to the sound analyzed information. 3. The telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call sound information is voice information, the controller Fourier-transforms the voice information, acquires a pitch (fundamental frequency), a formant frequency, energy of each formant frequency from the Fourier-transformed information as sound analyzed information, and converts the Fourier-transformed information into image information having an image color, the number of images, a y axis location, and an image location in response to the sound analyzed information. 4. A telephone comprising: a receiver for receiving a call signal; a storage section for storing call sound information; a call sound output section for outputting a call sound; a gradation display device including an illuminating unit and for displaying gradation information; and. a controller for reading the call sound information from the storage section when the receiver receives the call signal, the controller controlling an operation of the call sound output section in response to the read call sound information, the controller analyzing the read call sound information to acquire sound analyzed information, and the controller displaying a corresponding illuminating color of the illuminating unit in response to the sound analyzed information on the gradation display device. 5. The telephone as claimed in claim 4, wherein the call sound information is synthetic sound mobile audio 2 format information, the controller acquires sound analyzed information having a program change, a channel volume, and a note among the synthetic sound mobile audio 2 format information, and converts the synthetic sound mobile audio 2 format information into illumination color control information of the illuminating unit in response to the sound analyzed information. 6. The telephone as claimed in claim 4, wherein the call sound information is voice information, the controller Fourier-transforms the voice information, acquires sound analyzed information having a pitch (fundamental frequency), a formant frequency, energy of each formant frequency from the Fourier-transformed information, and converts the Fourier-transformed information into illumination color control information of the illuminating unit in response to the sound analyzed information. 7. A telephone comprising: a handset for inputting/outputting a call sound signal; a transceiver for transmitting/receiving the call sound signal; a color display device for displaying a color image; and a controller for detecting an input of the traffic signal through the handset or the transceiver, for ouputting or transmitting the input traffic signal through the handset or the transceiver, for analyzing the input traffic sound signal to acquire sound analyzed information, and for displaying a traffic sound signal corresponding to the acquired sound analyzed information on the color display. 8. The telephone as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller Fourier-transforms the call sound information in frames, acquires a pitch (fundamental frequency), a formant frequency, energy of each formant frequency from the Fourier-transformed information as sound analyzed information, and converts the Fourier-transformed information into image information having an image color, the number of images, a y axis location, and an image size in response to the sound analyzed information 9. The telephone as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller Fourier-transforms the call sound information in frames to obtain energy of each frame, acquires a pitch (fundamental frequency), a formant frequency, energy of each formant frequency from the Fourier-transformed information as sound analyzed information, judges a speaker's feeling index in response to the sound analyzed information, and displays character information corresponding to the judged feeling index on the color display device. 10. The telephone as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller outputs the speaker's fundamental and reference frequencies according to the energy and pitch, outputs an average energy and a fundamentally average frequency in a predetermined time unit, and judges the sneaker's feeling change according to change rates of the average energy and the fundamentally average frequency. 11. The telephone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the average fundamental frequency is determined as an average of two fundamental frequencies except a fundamental frequency having a maximal value among the fundamental frequencies of the initial 3 frames, and when the determined average reference frequency is beyond the range from 80 Hz to 600. Hz, a greater one of the two fundamental frequency is determined as the reference frequency 12. The telephone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predetermined time unit is three frames. 13. The telephone as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller Fourier-transforms the call sound signal in frames to obtain energy of each frame, acquires a pitch (fundamental frequency), a formant frequency, energy of each formant frequency from the Fourier-transformed information as sound analyzed information, judges a speaker's purity degree index in response to the sound analyzed information, and displays character information corresponding to the judged purity degree index on the color display device. 14. The telephone as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller obtains a chroma of a total color every frame and outputs a purity degree proportional to a chroma level. 15. A sound/image converting method for a call sound in a telephone, wherein the telephone includes a color display device and generates a call sound when a call signal is received or in response to a call key input, the method comprising the steps of: reading call sound data; sampling sound analyzing information of a call sound according to a format of the read call sound data; forming color image data corresponding to the sampled sound analyzing information; and synchronizing the color image data with an output of the call sound and displaying a color image on the color display device of the telephone. 16. A sound/image converting method for a call sound in a telephone, wherein the telephone includes an illuminating unit of a display device and generates a call sound when a call signal is received or in response to a call key input, the method comprising the steps of: reading call sound data; sampling sound analyzing information of a call sound according to a format of the read call sound data; forming illumination control data corresponding to the sampled sound analyzing information; and controlling an illuminating color of the illuminating unit of a display device in response to the illumination control data. 17. A sound/image converting method for a traffic sound in a telephone including a color display device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a called party's traffic sound data; sampling sound analyzing information of a traffic sound from the called party's traffic sound data received; forming a traffic sound image corresponding to the sampled sound analyzing information; and synchronizing the traffic sound image with an output of the call sound and displaying a color image on the color display device of the telephone. 18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of forming traffic sound image Fourier-transforming the traffic sound data in frames to obtain energy of each frame, acquiring a pitch (fundamental frequency), a formant frequency, energy of each formant frequency from the Fourier-transformed information as sound analyzed information, judging a speaker's feeling index in response to the sound analyzed information, and displaying character information corresponding to the judged feeling index on the color display device. 19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of forming traffic sound image Fourier-transforming the traffic sound data in frames to obtain energy of each frame, acquiring a pitch (fundamental frequency), a formant frequency, energy of each formant frequency from the Fourier-transformed information as sound analyzed information, judging a speaker's purity degree index in response to the sound analyzed information, and displaying character information corresponding to the judged purity degree index on the color display device. 20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of forming traffic sound image Fourier-transforming the traffic sound data in frames to obtain energy of each frame, obtain a pitch (fundamental frequency) from the Fourier-transformed information, displaying a color corresponding to the obtained fundamental frequency as a base color, and a waveform of a traffic sound having a circle shape on the base color through the color display device, a size of the circle shape is proportioned to a volume. 21. A telephone comprising: a handset for inputting/outputting a traffic sound signal; a transeiver for transmitting/receiving the traffic sound signal; a color display device for displaying a color image; and a controller for detecting an input of the traffic sound signal through the transceiver, outputting the input traffic sound signal to the handset, decoding the input traffic sound signal to obtain formant frequency informaiton and pitch information, and displaying a traffic sound image corresponding to the obtained formant frequency informaiton and pitch information on the color display device. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Currently, a mobile communication terminal (hereinafter, referred to as “portable phone”) such as a portable phone, a PCS phone, or an IMT-2000 phone has been spreading, and various functions of the portable phone have been introduced. As a market competition between a manufacturer of the portable phone and a communication service company has increased, research and development through marketability and competition of an additional service has been actively undertaken. Additional functions of the portable phone include a transmission of a character message, various bell sound services, and a game. Suppose that a plurality of portable phones having the same call sound, that is, the same bell sound, are located in an adjacent area. When a caller tries to call one of the portable phones, each of the portable phone users should confirm whether his/her own portable phone is being called. In response to a portable phone user's desire to have a specific bell sound, portable phones capable of selecting various bell sounds by a user have been introduced. Further, a portable phone receives and sets a download of a specific bell sound from a bell sound service provider or directly sets a person's voice as the bell sound. From the beginning, a buzzer sound of a single channel was generally used for the bell sound. Currently, an MIDI chord bell sound according to an SMAF (Synthetic music Mobile Application Format: data format for multi media contents classification provided from YAMAHA in Japan) such as 4poly YAMAHA MA1, 16poly YAMAHA MA2(MMF) has been provided. A color screen such as a full color moving picture, graphics, an animation, etc. is included in 2.5 generation portable phone of a CDMA 2000 1× and 3 generation portable phone of an IMT 2000. However, a portable phone user can aurally recognize a bell sound or a call sound of a portable phone but can not visibly recognize it. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>This invention will be better understood and its various objects and advantages will be more fully apply appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing a configuration of a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 2 through 6 are tables for showing corresponding relationships of each sound analyzed information and image information with respect to a composite call sound of an MA2 format; FIG. 7 is a view for showing an image of a composite call sound in a portable phone according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a flow chart for illustrating a sound/image converting method for a composite call sound in a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a flow chart for illustrating a sound/image converting method for a voice call sound in a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a view for showing a corresponding relationship of each sound analyzed information and image information with respect to a voice call sound and an image display thereof; FIG. 11 is an orthogonal color coordinate system for showing colors corresponding to each audio frequency when converting an audio frequency into a visible frequency according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 12 through 18 are views for showing various image display statuses of a call sound according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a view for displaying the call sound by a change of a color illumination of a liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 20 is a flow chart for illustrating a sound/image converting method for a traffic sound in a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a view for showing an example of a corresponding relationship of emotional indexes and characters according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 22 is a view for showing an example of a corresponding relationship of purity indexes and characters according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 23 and 24 are views for showing examples of displayed images with respect to the call sound according to an embodiment of the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Process for producing foarmed articles and the foamed article |
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a high-quality foam that can be produced stably on an industrial scale and that affords excellent thermal insulation as a foam with thin cell membranes, which method ensures uniform molten mixture fluidity, which is an essential condition for achieving consistent foam quality, in the manufacture of a foam by mixing starch as one molten polymer compound with another polymer compound having a different melt viscosity, and to provide a foam manufactured by this method. Water is added to and mixed with a plant-derived fibrous material and starch to manufacture a foam of a plastic resin containing as compositional components starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood, or the like. A foam is manufactured by a method comprising a step of producing pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination, and the step of foaming the pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and included in between these two steps is a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature. |
1. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing the pellets with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature. 2. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower. 3. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component. 4. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component. 5. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized paper is made from high-grade waste paper, or from printing scraps or waste of postal cards, stamps such as postage stamps, currency, and so forth. 6. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized paper is made from high-grade waste paper, or from printing scraps or waste of postal cards, stamps such as postage stamps, currency, and so forth. 7. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component. 8. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component. 9. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized wood is of reed or the like. 10. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized wood is of reed or the like. 11. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing the pellets with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 12. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 13. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 14. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 15. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized paper is made from high-grade waste paper, or from printing scraps or waste of postal cards, stamps such as postage stamps, currency, and so forth, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 16. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized paper is made from high-grade waste paper, or from printing scraps or waste of postal cards, stamps such as postage stamps, currency, and so forth, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 17. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 18. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 19. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized wood is of reed or the like, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 20. A foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized wood is of reed or the like, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 21. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing the pellets with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 22. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 23. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 24. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 25. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized paper is made from high-grade waste paper, or from printing scraps or waste of postal cards, stamps such as postage stamps, currency, and so forth, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 26. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized paper as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized paper is made from high-grade waste paper, or from printing scraps or waste of postal cards, stamps such as postage stamps, currency, and so forth, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 27. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 28. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 29. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized wood is of reed or the like, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. 30. A foam, manufactured by the foam manufacturing method, for manufacturing a foam of a plastic resin containing, as compositional components, starch and a plant-derived fibrous material such as pulverized paper, pulverized wood or the like, comprising the steps of: adding water to the plant-derived fibrous material and starch and mixing the components to produce pellets in which starch molecular spheres are agglomerated to each other or to the plant-derived fibrous material without the starch undergoing agglutination; and foaming said pellets by mixing them with a plastic resin, and the method further comprising, between these two steps, a step of drying the pellets at a temperature not higher than the starch agglutination temperature, the pellets being dried for a relatively long time at a low temperature of 50° C. or lower, the plant-derived fibrous material comprising pulverized wood as a compositional component, and the plastic resin comprising a polyolefin resin such as a polypropylene resin or polyethylene resin as a compositional component, wherein the pulverized wood is of reed or the like, wherein the plant-derived fibrous material component accounts for 20 to 80 wt %, the starch component for 10 to 30 wt %, and the plastic resin component for 10 to 50 wt %. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>There have been countless attempts at manufacturing a foam by mixing starch with another plant-derived material or with a plastic resin that would pose no danger of emitting dioxins if incinerated after use, for example, and at utilizing such foams as thermal insulation materials or as cushioning materials or other such shipping and packaging materials, and a number of methods for manufacturing foams have been disclosed. Nevertheless, based on an examination of this disclosed information, it appears that no known technique has been established relating to the problem the present invention is intended to solve. To clarify the problem the present invention is intended to solve, general concepts, beliefs, related examples, and so forth were examined in the technological field to which the present invention is related. It is commonly held that when steam or the like is used as a foaming gas, the material is discharged under pressure from an extrusion molding machine, and reduced-pressure foaming is performed, for instance, a polymer raw material that becomes fluid when the temperature is raised will flow as shown in FIG. 6A , with symmetrical flow lines around the center line in the drawing, when the pressure is relatively low, and as the pressure is gradually raised, slip is observed between the material and the walls. At even higher pressures the flow lines begin to be disarrayed, the material is extruded in a spiral shape, and this results in a lack of uniformity in the material. What happens here is called stick and flow, in which the flow of the material comes to a halt (sticking), after which the material starts sliding again (slipping). When this occurs, complete and intermittent slipping over the entire surface of the slip cone shown in FIG. 6B has been reported for high density polyethylene and other such polymer materials, and a similar phenomenon is seen not just with polymer compounds but also in the extrusion of bismuth-tellurium and other such metal materials that are thermoelectric semiconductors, for example. This is manifested as cracks in the extruded semiconductor. Various apparatus improvements have been attempted from a mechanical aspect in an effort to eliminate this problem, but the fact is that the fluid properties of polymer compounds are still not fully understood by researchers. The materials that are the subject of the present invention are polymer compounds, and it is necessary to understand this phenomenon. Since the present invention involves a plurality of polymer compounds, however, it is uncertain whether the phenomenon witnessed with a single compound such as polyethylene would be the same, and the problem is even more complicated because we are dealing with a mixture in which the temperature dependency of viscosity and the thermal deformation temperature characteristics vary with the different raw material polymer compounds, which probably makes it even more difficult to understand the situation in terms of fluid dynamics or tribology. The present invention relates to a field of technology in which such scientific understanding is not necessarily perfect, but at the very least, of course, we must know something about the material characteristics of the raw material polymer compounds being used. Let us now give a brief summary of the characteristics of a polypropylene resin, as an example of a plastic resin, and starch, which are believed to be the main contributors to fluidity out of the polymer compound materials used in the present invention. Starch is usually in the form of macromolecular spherulites of a mixture of two homologues with different structures, amylose and amylopectin. The size thereof can vary greatly with the type of starch, but the diameter is said to range from 1 to 20 microns, and the molecular weight up to a few thousand. Amylose is a linear polymer to which D-glucose units are connected by α-1,4 linkages, whereas amylopectin is a branched polymer that includes α-1,6 linkages in addition to α-1,4 linkages, with branching occurring at these sites and the branches connected again with α-1,4 linkages. When starch granules are suspended in water and heated to a certain temperature or higher, the starch granules undergo irreversible swelling and amylose is eluted. This process is called agglutination, and this temperature is referred to as the agglutination temperature. FIG. 7 shows published heating and viscosity curves for various kinds of starch (amylograms). The agglutination temperature ranges from 60 to 90° C., and cornstarch is what is cited in the embodiments and so forth of the present invention. FIG. 8 also gives published information, and is a comparison of the viscosity behavior of ordinary wheat resulting from agglutination, by variety of glutinous wheat (which has a relatively high amylopectin content), versus that of cornstarch. For this comparison, the temperature of each starch was raised from 34° C. to 94° C. at a rate of 5° C. per minute, after which the starch was cooled at the same rate of 5° C. per minute and its viscosity was measured. Of these varieties, Norin No. 61 had the same amylose content of 31.8% as ordinary wheat, and its agglutination temperature was close to that of wheat as shown in FIG. 8 . The waxy cornstarch used as a control also has a relatively low agglutination temperature, similar to what is shown in FIG. 7 . The purpose of providing FIGS. 7 and 8 here is to show the agglutination temperature of the starch that is one of the polymer compound materials used in the present invention in relation to the fluidity of these materials, and demonstrate that there is a rapid increase in viscosity as soon as the agglutination temperature is attained. The polypropylene resin will now be discussed. Polypropylene is a crystalline thermoplastic resin made by the polymerization of propylene (C 3 H 6 ), and is hard and tough, with good resistance to moisture, oils, and solvents. Its heat resistance temperature is said to be 170° C. or lower. Also, there is almost no possibility that a linear polymer compound will undergo cyclization during combustion, and these resins, along with polyethylene and the like, are called polyolefin resins and said to be resins that do not produce dioxins or other harmful substances. According to disclosed reference materials from polypropylene manufacturers and so forth, the thermal deformation temperature of polypropylene varies somewhat with the structure of the compound, but is said to be roughly 100 to 120° C. FIG. 9 shows an example of the elongation viscosity of the linear (without branches) polypropylene resin used in the examples and so forth of the present invention, and it can be seen that the elongation viscosity at 180° C. quickly disappears in just a few seconds. The reason a foam of a high expansion ratio cannot be produced from a linear polypropylene resin is said to be that the elongation viscosity drops off so quickly and the melt tension is low, and most polypropylene manufacturers produce polypropylene resins having a branched structure by subjecting a linear polypropylene to a special process, and then make a foam with a relatively high expansion ratio from this polypropylene resin with improved elongation viscosity and melt tension. Higher cost is at the present time inevitable with a branched polypropylene because a linear polypropylene must be subjected to a post-treatment step such as electron beam irradiation. When an attempt is made to produce a foam by mixing and melting a starch and a plastic resin such as polypropylene, the difference between the temperature dependence of the viscosity behavior and the melt temperature of the polymer compounds results in complex fluidity of the mixed materials in the mixing, melting, and extrusion steps during manufacture, and it is not hard to imagine the effect that this has on discharge uniformity. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H9-111029 discusses a method for manufacturing a loose polypropylene foam by mixing a polypropylene resin and a starch-based additive into a plant-derived foaming agent such as nonfat powdered milk or bean-curd lees, putting this raw material mixture into an extruder comprising a high-temperature heated cylinder, and feeding in water. This publication also discusses a method in which a plastic component, plant-derived foaming agent, and starch-based additive are simply mixed. The inventors of the present invention conducted manufacturing tests in which they used an actual foam manufacturing apparatus similar to that in the disclosed information, used as their raw materials a plastic resin, starch, and pulverized waste paper (as the plant-derived fibrous material), and varied the amount of feed water (the foaming agent), the mixing time and temperature in the manufacturing process, the conditions of the material discharge orifice, and so forth. As a result, with a simple mixture of raw materials as in the disclosed information, perhaps because variance in fluidity could not be suppressed, there was considerably fluctuation in the discharge amount per hour, and there was also variance in the foaming state, so it was found that a foam of stable quality could not be manufactured. The specific manufacturing method and steps here are illustrated in FIG. 10 . Pulverized paper (such as waste paper) was used as the plant-derived fibrous material, but first the material was finely pulverized in a mixer/cutter type of pulverizer and then in a ball mill type of pulverizer, this pulverized material was sifted through an industrial sieve to obtain a waste paper powder with particles averaging 20 to 30 microns in size, and this powder was used as the waste paper raw material. This waste paper raw material was then mixed with a polypropylene resin to obtain a raw material mixture, to which cornstarch was further added and mixed, and these components were put in a mixing machine and mixed. The sequence of this mixing was also varied so that the waste paper raw material was first mixed with the cornstarch to obtain a raw material mixture, to which the polypropylene resin was added and mixed in a mixing machine. The mixing was also performed at various blend ratios, including those given in the disclosed information. This kneaded raw material was put into,a biaxial extruder and foamed. Specifically, the biaxial extruder shown in FIG. 11 comprises a raw material inlet 1 , a water inlet 2 , cylinders C 1 to C 5 , heaters 3 attached to the various cylinders, a raw material extrusion die (spinneret) 4 , and an extrusion opening 5 . In manufacturing tests, the settings of the cylinder and extrusion die temperatures was suitably varied. The test was conducted with the water supply varied between 10 and 30 liters per hour. To evaluate the foam state and foam variance, a string-like piece of foam extruded and foamed from an extrusion die with a diameter of 2 mm was cut up by an automatic cutter set to a specific rotating speed, 50 pieces were randomly sampled from among the total of 4200 pieces of cut foam produced in one minute, whose combined length was 120 m, the length and diameter of the cut foam pieces were measured, and the extent of foaming was visually evaluated on a ten-point scale. The mixing ratios of the materials for which the results are shown in FIG. 14 were 25% (weight ratio) pulverized waste paper, 30% starch, and 45% polypropylene resin. As indicated by these results, the foam manufactured by the mixing process described above exhibited considerable variance in all measurement categories. The length of cushioning material cut at regular time intervals varied from a minimum of 1.9 cm to a maximum of 8.5 cm. The most serious problem was variance in the extent of foaming. The ten-point scale assumes 10 to be the ideal foaming state, but because there was variance in the foaming, the cushioning material varied from thin to thick. This indicates nothing other than a change over time in the fluidity of the raw material mixture during mixing and melting inside the cylinders. This is similar to the stick and flow phenomenon described above, but it is unclear whether it occurred because a slip cone was formed, or just because of local variance in the fluidity of the molten mixture. Admixed in this molten mixture was pulverized waste paper, whose characteristics remained almost unchanged over the temperature range in this process. This pulverized paper consists of a fibrous material with a microscopic length of anywhere from a few microns to about 100 microns, which is stirred and mixed in the biaxial extruder, and it seems that nuclear cells that will serve as the nuclei for cells are produced here and there in an agitated fluid in which polymer compounds of different viscosity are admixed. In this situation it is doubtful whether a nice slip cone is being formed as in the above-mentioned reports on polyethylene resins. On the contrary, it seems likely that this nucleus formation is occurring as a result of local variance in the fluidity of the molten mixture. At this point we will briefly discuss the correlation between the viscosity of the above-mentioned starch and polypropylene resin and the fluidity of the mixture of polymer compounds, since such a discussion will probably further clarify the points involved in the problems which the present invention is intended to solve and the means used to solve the problems. A capillary type of viscosity measurement apparatus is the most commonly used in the measurement of the viscosity of polymers. A sample is extruded from a capillary tube by applying pressure, and the viscosity is measured by measuring the difference in the applied pressure at a constant flow rate per unit of time. We will let L be the length of the capillary tube, and r be its radius. The change over time in the amount of sample flowing out of the capillary tube is found for when pressure is applied such that the sample contained in the reservoir flows at a specific rate, and this is termed Q (cm 3 /sec). A relationship of in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? γ=4 Q/πr 3 in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? exists between the shear rate γ (sec −1 ) and the sample flowing through the capillary tube, and the shear stress τ (N/cm 2 ) on the inner walls of the capillary tube is expressed as τ=rP/2L. The viscosity μ (N·sec/cm 2 ) is defined from the shear rate y and the shear stress τ as: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? μ=τ/γ. in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? If we assume that a starch and a polypropylene resin are mixed and the thermal characteristics of each are independently manifested, the intrinsic viscosity should be exhibited in the starch at the agglutination temperature and in the polypropylene resin at the thermal deformation temperature, with the viscosity subsequently varying according to temperature changes. For instance, if the agglutination temperature of the starch is reached before the thermal deformation temperature is reached, the viscosity of the starch increases suddenly, and the entire system is governed by the viscosity of the starch. If the thermal deformation temperature of the polypropylene resin is never reached, the polypropylene might have some kind of effect as an admixture, but the viscosity μ of the system will be relatively stable. In other words, this is a state in which the fluidity of the system is governed by the viscosity of the starch, even though the system is a mixture. However, this never happens for the purposes of manufacturing a foam. Still, if the temperature continued to rise, it would eventually reach the thermal deformation temperature of the polypropylene resin, resulting in a fluid having both the viscosity of polypropylene and the viscosity of the starch, which varies with time and temperature. It is very difficult to know what the mixing state is in a mixed fluid such as this. Measurement was made at a certain specific temperature with the above-mentioned viscosity measurement method, but since the mixing is not completely uniform in a mixing state of different viscosities, the local shear rate γ should vary. Furthermore, the shear stress τ on the inner walls of the capillary tube also varies according to the local mixing state. In other words, the viscosity μ of a mixture of polymer compounds changes with how uniform the mixing is, and if we look at the viscosity definition of the above formula, we can see that there is extreme instability in which both the denominator and the numerator vary. Put another way, there is no viscosity that governs the mixture as a system, and instead the system is in a state of constant change. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-143869, which is another source of disclosed information, discloses a technique of manufacturing a foam by pulverizing a plastic laminate and mixing with polypropylene, cornstarch, and calcium carbonate. With this technique, the foaming expansion ratio is about 10 times with just the resin that is admixed in the laminate paper, and the admixture of another plastic is proposed in order to increase the foaming expansion ratio. Close examination of this technique reveals that, as seen in the embodiments and examples of the invention, a foamable composition is made up of plastic from pulverized laminate paper and added calcium carbonate. Cornstarch and the paper component of plastic laminate paper are added as fillers, the components are stirred and mixed, put into the hopper of an extrusion molding machine, kneaded, heated, melted, and pressurized while water is supplied, and then discharged into the air and expanded to obtain a continuous foam. One way to increase the foaming expansion ratio is to add a plastic material that is miscible with the plastic component of the plastic laminate paper. After the plastic material, organic plant component, and inorganic component are kneaded, water is added as a foaming agent, and it is considered important that the various components be uniformly dispersed if a uniform foam is to be obtained. To this end, it is preferable if discarded plastic laminate paper is pulverized and made into pellets in a pelletizer, to which are added the required amounts of plastic, organic plant component, and inorganic component, the components are stirred and kneaded in a mixer, and the resulting composition is supplied to an extrusion molding machine. With this technique, the manufacturing process is characterized in that the method for mixing the materials involves merely mixing the plastic component, plant component (such as cornstarch or paper), and inorganic component. Even with this disclosed technique, there is no special technical description of the above mixing step other than to say that the goal is to obtain a uniform form by merely subjecting raw materials of different melting temperatures and viscosities to a kneading step, and achieving the uniform dispersion of the various components. It is obvious that this disclosed information does not solve the problem related to viscosity and fluidity encountered by the inventors of the present invention. A foam is basically a resource-conserving material in that the amount of materials consumed is extremely small. Foams have excellent adiabatic properties and impact resistance, and are lightweight, which means that they can be used in a wide variety of situations, including applications as packaging materials, and for this reason resin manufacturers and others have conducted intensive research into foams. The flip-side of being lightweight is that foams also have a large volume, so their development requires adequate consideration of their material characteristics as related to recyclability and disposal. As already touched upon in prior art, if a foam could be made from pulverized waste paper or another plant-derived fibrous component or a starch or the like and, if needed, a plastic resin or the like that has been confirmed to be safe to humans and the environment, this would have considerable social significance as well, in view of the high cost of developing new resins and so forth. The present invention solves the problems with viscosity and fluidity inevitably encountered with mixtures of a plurality of different types of polymer compound in the manufacture of a foam by mixing a plastic resin with the above-mentioned natural materials, and establishes a method for manufacturing a foam of uniform quality, with which stable manufacture on an industrial scale is possible. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a concept diagram of the manufacturing method of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross sectional micrograph of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross sectional micrograph of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a micrograph of the interior of the foam of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a data table of the results of foam manufacture in the present invention; FIG. 6A is a flow state diagram of when the pressure is relatively low in the reservoir in prior art, and FIG. 6B is a flow state diagram of slip cone generation when the pressure is relatively high in prior art; FIG. 7 is a graph of the viscosity of various kinds of starch in prior art; FIG. 8 is a graph of starch viscosity characteristics in prior art; FIG. 9 is a graph of elongation viscosity characteristics in prior art; FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a foam manufacturing method in prior art; FIG. 11 is a simplified diagram of the main parts of a foam manufacturing apparatus in prior art; FIG. 12 is a cut-away oblique view of the raw material extrusion die in the manufacture of a foam board in prior art; FIG. 13 is a manufacturing state diagram of a foam board in prior art; and FIG. 14 is a data table of the results of foam manufacture in prior art. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Method for pressure-and flow-preventive fixing of pipes in a well |
A method for pressure- and flow-prevetive fixing of well pipes, preferably liners and casings (14, 54, 60, 66) in a well when drilling the well, wherein the method also may be used in a completed well in order to place a pressure- and flow-preventive barrier in an annulus (16) surrounded by at least one leaking well pipe. The method comprises the use of granular particles of unconsolidated matter which, by means of their particle sorting, are arranged with a suitably small permeability, and wherein the particles of unconsolidated matter thereafter are mixed with water and potential other additives to become a fluidised mixture of unconsolidated matter (22) subsequently being placed, preferably by pumping, as a pressure- and flow-preventive barrier of unconsolidated matter (38, 56, 62, 68) in the pertinent annulus (16). The barrier of unconsolidated matter (38, 56, 62, 68) is placed in the annulus (16) in such a way that inflowing fluids are brought into contact with, and are prevented from flowing by, the barrier of unconsolidated matter (38, 56, 62, 68) which, owing to the method, thus also is arranged with a suitably small permeability. |
1. A method for pressure- and flow-preventive fixing of at lease one size of well pipe (14, 54, 60, 66) in a well, including a petroleum well, during the drilling phase thereof, the method preventing fluids from flowing out of the well and also making cementation unnecessary for fixing said at least one size of well pipe (14, 54, 60, 66) in the well, wherein the method comprises: using granular particles of unconsolidated matter composed of a low-permeability-generating particle sorting; then mixing the particles of unconsolidated matter with at least water, possibly also other additives, including plasticizers, gelling agents and stabilisers, to form a fluidised mixture (22) thereof, characterised in that the method further comprises: placing said fluidised mixture (22) in at least a section of an annulus (16) positioned immediately external to said well pipe (14, 54, 60, 66), said annulus (16) being located between two casing sizes (14, 54, 60, 66) or, alternatively, between one casing size (14, 54, 60, 66) and a surrounding underground formation (12); and then allowing the particulate unconsolidated matter of the mixture (22) to set in said annulus (16), thereby fixing said at least one size of well pipe (14, 54, 60, 66) in the well, and thereby forming a pressure- and flow-preventive barrier (38, 56, 62, 68) of particulate unconsolidated matter therein preventing fluids from flowing out of the well. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the method further comprises: pumping said fluidised mixture (22) of particulate unconsolidated matter into said annulus (16), the mixture (22) being provided with properties allowing pumping thereof. 3. A method according to claim 2, characterised in that the method also comprises: concurrently pumping into said annulus (16) a cement slurry (26) immediately following said fluidised mixture (22) of particulate unconsolidated matter, said cement slurry (26), when set, forming a cement barrier (40, 58, 64, 70) placed between said barrier (38, 56, 62, 68) of unconsolidated matter and a bottom of the annulus (16), thereby preventing particles from the barrier (38, 56, 62, 68) of unconsolidated matter from falling down and into a potential new hole section (10) of the well. 4. Use of a fluidised mixture (22) of particulate unconsolidated matter, which is composed of a low-permeability-generating particle sorting, and a method according to one of the claims 1-3 for placing and setting a pressure- and flow-preventive barrier (38, 56, 62, 68) of said particulate unconsolidated matter in at least a section of an annulus (16) positioned immediately external to at least one size of well pipe (14, 54, 60, 66) in a well, including a petroleum well, during the drilling phase thereof, said barrier (38, 56, 62, 68) preventing fluids from, flowing out of the well and also making cementation unnecessary for fixing said at least one size of well pipe (14, 54, 60, 66) in the well. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The invention concerns a method for pressure- and flow-preventive fixing of pipes, for example casings and liners and possibly accompanying equipment, in a well when drilling the well. The method may also be employed in a well, for example a completed well, in order to place one or several pressure- and flow-preventive barriers in one or several cavities/voids of the well, preferably annuli, wherein at least one adjoining pipe of the cavity/void/annulus is leaking. The method according to the invention has developed mainly as is a consequence of a large and increasing need existing among authorities and industry, primarily the petroleum industry, to improve and eventually replace prior art methods for fixing casings in a well, prior art methods being encumbered with a series of severe problems and disadvantages, and cement being the primary prior art means for fixing casings and liners in the well. 2. Prior Art In connection with the drilling of a well, for example a petroleum well, and after having drilled a borehole down to a desired depth in the subsurface, it is customary to case the borehole with pipe(s). Usually the well consists of several such boreholes, or hole sections, that sectionally and consecutively run with diminishing hole diameter into the subsurface. It is therefore customary to provide the consecutive hole sections with casings of sectionally diminishing pipe diameters, wherein one casing size is placed within the preceding casing size etc. Each casing size usually runs up to, and is connected to, the wellhead of the well. So-called liners represent one exception to this which, on the other hand, do not run up to the wellhead of the well, and liners usually being employed to case one or several of the deepest hole sections of the well. Such liners are usually fixedly cemented within and to a lower part of a preceding casing in such a way that the upper part of the liner overlaps the lower part of the preceding casing only. Most casings, including liners, are fixed by cementing to the relevant borehole wall and usually also to the preceding casing. In this context it is customary first to compute the amount of external annular volume of the pertinent casing to be filled with cement slurry, thereafter placing into said annulus/annuli a volume of cement slurry corresponding to at least that of the computed annular volume. With the exception of liners, cementing of most casing sizes is carried out by pumping said volume of cement slurry down through the pertinent casing, thereafter forcing the cement slurry out/up into the annulus between the pertinent casing and the hole wall of the well and, eventually, usually also up into at least a lower part of the annulus between the pertinent casing and the preceding casing. The cement slurry may be pumped in one or several stages, and into all or parts of the pertinent casing length, after which the cement slurry in principle shall harden into cement. In the well, in order to avoid mixing, and thereby contaminating, the cement slurry with other liquids, usually drilling fluid, it is customary to place the cement slurry between two movable plugs, so-called wiper plugs, placed in the particular casing in order to facilitate the displacement of the cement slurry. The lower and foremost of said plugs is a leading plug, while the upper and hindmost plug is a trailing plug. Subsequently, and by means of pumping, the cement slurry and said plugs are displaced down through said casing. The leading plug is arranged with a through-going hole which is covered by a diaphragm (a membrane), while the trailing plug usually is a solid and is substantially stronger than the leading plug. By means of a fluid displacement column, usually a column of drilling fluid, placed on top of said trailing plug and arranged with necessary pumping equipment, the cement slurry and said plugs are subsequently pumped dorm through the casing until the leading plug is brought into contact with, and is arrested by, an associated seat or stopping device at the bottom of the casing. Subsequently the pump pressure is sufficiently increased for said diaphragm to rupture, after which the cement slurry is pumped through said hole in the leading plug and is further displaced out/up into said annulus/annuli. The pumping of cement slurry down through the casing continues until the trailing plug is brought into contact with, and is arrested by, the leading plug. The displacement of cement slurry out/up into said annulus/annuli is thereby completed, but a sufficiently large liquid pressure is maintained in the overlying fluid displacement column for the cement slurry to harden without introducing movements in the cement slurry during the curing process. In connection with fixedly cementing a liner in a well, however, a cementing pipe must be connected between cementing equipment at the surface of the well, for example at/on a drilling rig, and a lower part of said liner. Usually, such a cementing pipe is comprised by a string consisting of connected drill pipes, the lower end part of the drill string being provided with an open and suitably adapted pipe, a so-called stinger, the stinger first being introduced into the well and being connected to a valve device located in the lower part of said liner. Analogous to the above-described method, cement slurry and associated leading- and trailing plugs may subsequently be pumped down through the cementing pipe and onwards to said valve device, after which the cement slurry is displaced out/up into the external annulus of the liner. In the hardened condition, the cement constitutes a fixed mass which, among other things, shall function as a pressure- and flow-preventive barrier in said annulus/annuli of the well. In the event of potential fluid pressure differentials existing in the well, the cement shall prevent formation fluids from flowing between various formation layers and/or prevent formation fluids from flowing further upward in the well and possibly entirely to the surface. Also, the cement shall maintain the casings fixed to the borehole wall of the well and usually also within and to a preceding casing. For example, a surface casing of a well will largely support the weight of the other and smaller casing sizes of the well and also a wellhead or a blow-out preventer (“BOP”), and in this regard it is therefore necessary to establish a shear sustainable bond between the surface casing and the surrounding rocks, and in such a way that said loads may be transferred to the surrounding rocks. Thus, the shear sustainable and load transferring bond often consists of cement. Moreover, and upon commencing the drilling of the subsequent hole section, cement underlying and surrounding a casing shoe may contribute to stabilise a potentially fractured or unconsolidated rock in the hole wall of the well. This stabilisation of said hole wall contributes to prevent or reduce the falling of rock fragments from the hole wall of said well region and into the subsequent hole section while the drilling thereof is carried out. In order to drill a well down to a drilling objective, for example an oil/gas reservoir, usually it is of absolute necessity to place in the annulus of the well, a pressure- and flow-preventive mass, for example cement and/or a pressure- and flow-preventive device, potentially a sealing arrangement, for example a mechanical packer. This particularly applies when drilling deep wells and/or when drilling wells down into subsurface layers wherein large fluid overpressures exist, simplistically denoted as overpressure. An overpressure exists if the pores of a subsurface rock layer are exposed to a fluid pressure exceeding the liquid pressure which otherwise would exist if the layer was exposed to a normal hydrostatic pressure gradient from the surface and down to the subsurface layer of interest. Upon drilling down through the various subsurface layers, a drilling fluid with a specific gravity, and thereby a hydrostatic liquid pressure, which is arranged to counteract the fluid pressure in the rock pores being penetrated, is used in the borehole. This is done to prevent a potential and undesired inflow of formation fluids into the well. When, during drilling at ambient conditions, a normal hydrostatic gradient exists in the subsurface pore fluids, normally the pressure gradient which may be observed in water-filled upper layers of the subsurface, said hydrostatic pore fluid pressure may be counteracted by arranging the drilling fluid with a slightly larger specific gravity/pressure gradient. The various subsurface formation layers may also exhibit different properties of strength, wherein the rock strength largely may be related to lithological composition, particle distribution, particle cementation and degree of compaction of the subject rock. Generally, the rock strength increases with increasing depth into the subsurface. This implies that rocks being penetrated by a well, may be exposed to, and may resist, a gradually increasing fluid pressure without fracturing being initiated in the rocks. A further increase of said fluid pressure will, however, result in fracturing of one or several of the penetrated rocks, this fracturing pressure commonly being denoted as the fracturing pressure of the subject rock(s), and the fracturing pressure commonly being recalculated, and expressed in terms of, an equivalent fracture gradient of the subject rock(s). During drilling, upon approaching one or several formation layers with expected overpressures), the specific gravity/pressure gradient of the drilling fluid is increased to an extent necessary to withstand said overpressure(s). Thus, potentially overpressured formation fluids are prevented from flowing into the well upon drilling into, potentially after having drilled into, said layer(s). If said increase in the pressure gradient of the drilling fluid exceeds the fracture gradient of one or more of the penetrated rocks, the rocks(s) will be fractured and fractures develop in the rock(s). Then, drilling fluid may flow unobstructedly out (leak) from the well and into the fractures, thereby causing the height of the drilling fluid column, and thus the liquid pressure in the liquid column, to be lowered. By so doing, the formation pressure barrier brought about by the drilling fluid pressure exerted in the well is impaired, and this results in the establishment of an undesired, and potentially very dangerous, situation in the well. In order to prevent such fracturing it is often absolutely necessary to isolate the penetrated formation layers from pressures that may fracture the rocks contained therein. As mentioned, such a fracturing pressure may be exerted by the pressure, of the drilling fluid column, but the fracturing pressure may also be exerted by the overpressured formation fluids of other formation layers, usually deeper formation layers, which are being penetrated by the well during drilling. Moreover, and pertaining to an open hole-section, it is the rock(s) of the shallowest part of the section, immediately underlying the casing shoe of the preceding casing, that generally, but not necessarily, is/are the weakest by strength, and thus being the one(s) which may first be fractured. After having started the drilling of a new hole section in a well, it is for this reason common practise to undertake a so-called formation strength test of the shallowest rocks in said hole section. Such a formation strength test is usually carried out immediately after having drilled the uppermost rocks along a 5-10 metre hole length of the new hole section. For example, the formation strength test may consist in supplying said rocks with drilling fluid under a gradually increasing liquid pressure, and increasing the liquid pressure until an incipient fracturing of, and an accompanying leakage of drilling fluid into, the rocks is observed, which determines the fracturing pressure/fracture gradient of the rocks. In the petroleum industry such a formation strength test is usually called a “leak-off test”. In another commonly occurring formation strength test, a so-called formation integrity test, said rocks are also supplied with drilling fluid under a gradually increasing liquid pressure, limiting however the fluid pressure increase to a predefined maximum liquid pressure, and where this liquid pressure is considered to be the maximum required drilling fluid pressure to be applied for the new hole section to be drilled down to the desired drilling depths. This maximum liquid pressure is usually smaller than the fracturing pressure of said rocks, thus not fracturing the rocks during this formation strength test. Therefore, a formation integrity test is usually gentler on said rocks and the subsequent drilling operations than a fracturing test. Such formation strength tests therefore provide a good indication as to the magnitude of liquid pressure, or magnitude of the liquid pressure gradient, whereby the drilling fluid may be arranged during the drilling of a hole section in order to avoid fracturing of the accompanying rocks. Said maximum liquid pressure/liquid pressure gradient also limits the further drilling of a hole section to end at a depth at which the fluid pressure of a formation layer approaches said liquid pressure/liquid pressure gradient. Cementing is also employed as a corrective method to prevent/reduce undesired inflow, and thereby also undesired pressure build-up, of a fluid in one or several regions of a well, including undesired fluid inflow through one or several leaking casings surrounding uncemented annuli of the well, the annulus/annuli possibly extending entirely up to the wellhead of the well. The method consists in injecting cement slurry, possibly with the addition of plasticizing agents, gelling agents, stabilisers or other additives, into a relatively short annular interval covering said inflow region(s), whereupon the cement slurry or agent hardens or sets in such a way that it forms a pressure- and flow-preventive barrier which, in principle, shall prevent/reduce such fluid inflows. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>In the following part of the description, referring to FIGS. 1-5 , three non-limiting embodiments of the method according to the invention will be shown, one specific reference numeral referring to the same detail in all figures is where this detail is indicated, wherein: FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show schematic vertical sections through a hole section of a well, in which hole section a casing is placed, and FIG. 1 shows a fluidised mixture of unconsolidated matter placed in said casing pending displacing of the mixture of unconsolidated matter out and up into an annulus surrounding the casing, while FIG. 2 shows the casing fixed in the hole section by means of the mixture of unconsolidated matter after it having been displaced out and up into said annulus, the mixture being placed as a pressure- and flow-preventive barrier of unconsolidated matter in the annulus; FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 also show schematic vertical sections through a segment of the hole section shown in FIG. 2 , the casing of the hole section being fixed in the well by means of the said barrier of unconsolidated matter in the surrounding annulus of the casing, and the figures show measures necessary in order to make a sidetrack of the well departing from said hole section, FIG. 3 showing perforation of the casing prior to a subsequent injection of cement slurry, while FIG. 4 shows a cut-through casing through which an introductory and new sidetrack hole section of the well is shown also; and FIG. 5 shows a schematic vertical section through several consecutive hole sections of a well, each hole section being provided with each their own casing size, and all casing sizes being fixed in the well by means of a barrier of unconsolidated matter placed in the surrounding annulus of each casing size. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Method and apparatus for fast w-cdma acquisition |
Apparatus for classifying a ray is disclosed, wherein the ray is received at a code division multiple access receiver. The apparatus comprises: means for receiving a neighbouring cell list comprising at least information concerning scrambling codes used by at least one neighbouring cell; means for selecting a scrambling code used by a given neighbouring cell; means for mixing a received signal with the selected scrambling code to provide a mixed signal; and means for examining the mixed signal to determine if the ray originates from the given neighbouring cell. |
1. Apparatus for classifying a ray received at a code division multiple access receiver, the apparatus comprising; means for receiving a neighbouring cell list comprising at least information concerning scrambling codes used by at least one neighbouring cell; means for determining whether a received unclassified ray has a timing characteristic falling within a predetermined range of a timing characteristic of a ray which has been classified to a selected neighbouring cell; means for mixing the signal corresponding to the received unclassified ray with a scrambling code used by said selected neighbouring cell thereby to provide a mixed signal, the scrambling code being received from the neighbouring cell list; and means for examining the mixed signal to determine if the ray originates from said selected neighbouring cell, the mixing and examining means being arranged to operate only if it is determined that the timing characteristic of the unclassified ray falls within the predetermined range. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means arranged to select a different cell from the neighbouring cell list in the event that it is determined that the timing characteristic of the unclassified ray falls outside the predetermined range. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising means to set the timing of the selected scrambling code relative to the received signal on the basis of timing information forming part of the neighbouring cell list. 4. A method of classifying a ray received at a code division multiple access receiver, the method comprising: receiving a neighbouring cell list comprising at least information concerning scrambling codes used by at least one neighbouring cell, selecting a neighbouring cell from the neighbouring cell list; determining whether an unclassified ray has a timing characteristic falling within a predetermined range of a timing characteristic of a ray classified to the selected cell; and in the event that the timing characteristic of the unclassified ray fails within said predetermined range, mixing a received signal corresponding to the unclassified ray with a scrambling code used by the selected cell and examining the mixed signal to determine if the ray originates from the given neighbouring cell. 5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising setting the timing of the scrambling code relative to the received signal on the basis of timing information forming part of the neighbouring cell list. 6. A method of classifying a ray received at a code division multiple access receiver, the method comprising: (a) receiving a neighbouring cell list comprising at least information concerning scrambling codes used by at least one neighbouring cell; (b) selecting a cell from the neighbouring cell list; (c) determining whether an unclassified ray has a timing reference falling within a predetermined range of a timing reference of a ray which has been classified to the selected neighbouring cell; and (d) in the event that the timing reference is with said predetermined range, correlating a received signal corresponding to the unclassified ray with a scrambling code used by the selected neighbouring cell thereby to determine whether the received signal originates from the selected neighbouring cell. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein in the event that the timing reference is outside said predetermined range, the method further comprises selecting a different cell from the neighbouring cell list and repeating steps (c) and (d). 8. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein step (c) comprises determining whether a synchronisation signal of the unclassified ray falls within a predetermined range of a synchronisation signal of the classified ray, the synchronisation signals repeating for each chip of the classified and unclassified ray. 9. A method according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein step (d) comprises setting the timing of the scrambling code relative to the received signal on the basis of timing information forming part of the neighbouring cell list, the relative timing being modified and step (d) repeated a predetermined number of times if the correlation indicates that the received signal does not originate from the selected neighbouring cell. |
Endosteal electrode |
An implantable tissue-stimulating device comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (11) having a plurality of electrodes thereon. The electrodes are preferably disposed in a linear array on the carrier member (11) and are adapted to apply a preselected tissue stimulation to the cochlea. The carrier member (11) is preformed from a resiliently flexible biocompatible silicone and extends from a distal end (12) to a stop member (13). The carrier member (11) is adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. In particular, the carrier member (11) is adapted to be implanted in the crevice (21) between the spiral ligament (22) and the endosteum (23) of the lateral wall of the cochlea (20). This is a quite different location to the normal placement of the cochlear implant electrode array in the scala tympani (24) of the cochlea (20). The placement of the carrier member (11) is designed to avoid any breach of the internal ducts of the cochlea (20), such as the scala tympani (24) and scala vestibuli (25) so that the normal hydrodynamic behaviour of the cochlea (20) is not affected by any intrusive device. By preservng the normal hydrodynamic behaviour of the cochlea (20), use of the carrier member (11) maximises the possibility of also preserving any hearing of the implantee that is offered by the cochlea (20). Use of the device in a system for masking or treating the symptoms of tinnitus is also described. |
1. An implantable tissue-stimulating device having a carrier member having at least one electrode thereon, the carrier member being adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. 2. An implantable tissue-stimulating device for use in the masking or treatment of the symptoms of tinnitus, the device having a carrier member having at least one electrode thereon, the carrier member being adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. 3. An implantable tissue-stimulating device when used in the masking or treatment of the symptoms of tinnitus, the device having a carrier member having at least one electrode thereon, the device being adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. 4. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 1 wherein the carrier member has a body having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon. 5. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 4 wherein the electrodes are disposed in an array on the carrier member and are adapted to apply a preselected tissue stimulation. 6. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 1 wherein the carrier member is implantable in a crevice between the spiral ligament and the endosteum of the lateral wall of the cochlea. 7. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 6 wherein the carrier member has a maximum length of about 7 mm-10 mm, a width of about 0.6 mm and a thickness no greater than about 0.2 mm and, more preferably, about 0.1 mm. 8. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 6 wherein the carrier member has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being adapted on implantation to face inwardly into the cochlea. 9. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 8 wherein the inner face has a concave surface and the outer face has a convex surface. 10. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 1 wherein a stop member extends outwardly from the carrier member substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the carrier member. 11. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 10 wherein the stop member has a length of between about 1.5 and 2.0 mm. 12. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 1 wherein the electrodes of the carrier member receive stimulation signals from an implantable stimulator means. 13. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 12 wherein the stimulator means is housed within a housing that also houses a receiver means that is adapted to receive signals from a controller means. 14. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 13 wherein the controller means comprises a processor means adapted to output one or more stimulation regimes to the stimulator. 15. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 14 wherein, where the device is being used to mask or treat the symptoms of tinnitus, the stimulation regime is selected from the group comprising a random continuous sub-threshold stimulation regime, a random continuous supra-threshold stimulation regime, and a random discontinuous supra-threshold stimulation regime. 16. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 14 wherein, where the device is being used to mask or treat the symptoms of tinnitus, the stimulation regime comprises a treatment-on-demand regime. 17. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 16 wherein the controller means further has an activation means that allows the implantee or a third person to activate the processor means when required. 18. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 14 wherein, where the device is being used to provide a hearing sensation, the controller means comprises a speech processor adapted to receive signals output by a microphone and encode the sound detected by the microphone into a sequence of electrical stimuli following given algorithms. 19. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 18 wherein the speech processor is adapted to receive signals from the microphone when external sounds, such as speech, are present and to output a stimulation regime, when no external sounds are present, that is adapted to mask or treat the symptoms of tinnitus. 20. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 14 wherein the controller means is implantable and contained within a hermetically sealed housing or a housing used for the stimulator means. 21. An implantable tissue-stimulating device of claim 20 wherein the controller means has an activation means that provides the implantee or a third person with a means to activate a stimulation regime when required. 22. A method of inserting a tissue-stimulating device as defined in claim 1 into a cochlea of an implantee, the method comprising the steps of: performing a fenestration to access the crevice of the cochlea between the spiral ligament and the endosteum of the lateral wall of the cochlea; placing the device in the crevice; and sealing the fenestration. 23. A method of treating the symptoms of tinnitus comprising inserting a device as defined in claim 1 into a cochlea of an implantee, the method comprising the steps of: performing a fenestration to access the crevice of the cochlea between the spiral ligament and the endosteum of the lateral wall of the cochlea; placing the device in the crevice; and sealing the fenestration. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Hearing loss, which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types, conductive and sensorineural. In some cases, a person may have hearing loss of both types. Of them, conductive hearing loss occurs where the normal mechanical pathways for sound to reach the hair cells in the cochlea are impeded, for example, by damage to the ossicdes. Conductive hearing loss may often be helped by use of conventional hearing aids, which amplify sound so that acoustic information does reach the cochlea and the hair cells. In many people who are profoundly deaf, however, the reason for their deafness is sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is due to the absence of, or destruction of, the hair cells in the cochlea which transduce acoustic signals into nerve impulses. These people are thus unable to derive suitable benefit from conventional hearing aid systems, no matter how loud the acoustic stimulus is made, because there is damage to or absence of the mechanism for nerve impulses to be generated from sound in the normal manner. It is for this purpose that cochlear implant systems have been developed. Such systems bypass the hair cells in the cochlea and directly deliver electrical stimulation to the auditory nerve fibres, thereby allowing the brain to perceive a hearing sensation resembling the natural hearing sensation normally delivered to the auditory nerve. U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,930, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, provides a description of one type of traditional cochlear implant system. Typically, cochlear implant systems have consisted of essentially two components, an external component commonly referred to as a processor unit and an internal implanted component commonly referred to as a receiver/stimulator unit. Traditionally, both of these components have cooperated together to provide the sound sensation to a user. The external component has traditionally consisted of a microphone for detecting sounds, such as speech and environmental sounds, a speech processor that converts speech into a coded signal, a power source such as a battery, and an external transmitter coil. The coded signal output by the sound processor is transmitted transcutaneously to the implanted receiver/stimulator unit situated within a recess of the temporal bone of the user. This transcutaneous transmission occurs via the external transmitter coil which is positioned to communicate with an implanted receiver coil provided with the stimulator/receiver unit. This communication serves two essential purposes, firstly to transcutaneously transmit the coded sound signal and secondly to provide power to the implanted receiver/stimulator unit Conventionally, this link has been in the form of a radio frequency (RF) link, but other such links have been proposed and implemented with varying degrees of success. The implanted receiver/stimulator unit traditionally includes a receiver coil that receives the coded signal and power from the external processor component, and a stimulator that processes the coded signal and outputs a stimulation signal to an intracochlea electrode assembly which applies the electrical stimulation directly to the auditory nerve producing a hearing sensation corresponding to the original detected sound. Traditionally, at least the speech processor of the external componentry has been carried on the body of the user, such as in a pocket of the user's clothing, a belt pouch or in a harness, while the microphone has been mounted on a clip mounted behind the ear or on the lapel of the user. More recently, due in the main to improvements in technology, the physical dimensions of the sound processor have been able to be reduced allowing for the external componentry to be housed in a small unit capable of being worn behind the ear of the user. This unit allows the microphone, power unit and the sound processor to be housed in a single unit capable of being discretely worn behind the ear, with the external transmitter coil still positioned on the side of the user's head to allow for the transmission of the coded sound signal from the sound processor and power to the implanted stimulator unit. It is further envisaged that with continual improvements in technology all the traditional external componentry may be implanted in the user. In such a system all of the speech processing may be performed inside the implanted stimulator unit, via an implanted microphone. It is known in the art that the cochlea is tonotopically mapped. In other words, the cochlea can be partitioned into regions, with each region being responsive to signals in a particular frequency range. This property of the cochlea has been exploited by providing the electrode assembly with an array of electrodes, each electrode being arranged and constructed to deliver a stimulating signal within a preselected frequency range, to the appropriate region within the scala tympani of the cochlea. The electrical currents and electric fields from each electrode stimulate the nerves disposed on the modiolus of the cochlea. Despite the enormous benefits offered by cochlear implants, one potential disadvantage of placement of the electrode assembly within the scala tympani is that it is necessary to breach the internal ducts of the cochlea, generally the scala tympani. The breaching of the scala tympani of the cochlea adversely affects the hydrodynamic behaviour of the cochlea and is thought to prevent or at least reduce any chance of preservation of any residual hearing of the implantee. This can be problematic for those persons who would benefit from use of a cochlear implant to improve hearing of relatively high frequencies but who have some residual hearing of relatively low frequencies. In such a case, the implantee is forced to trade off an existing residual capacity to hear relatively low frequency sounds against the desirability of being able to have a hearing sensation of relatively high frequency sounds offered by a cochlear implant. There have been a number of proposals put forward to provide a hybrid system whereby a cochlear implant system can be used in conjunction with residual hearing, usually assisted by the use of a hearing aid. One such example of a proposed system is described in International Patent Application No WO 00/69512. In this application, the hybrid system utilises a hearing aid to amplify the low frequency sound enabling the user to rely on normal hearing processes to experience such sounds. For high frequency sounds, the hybrid system utilises a relatively conventional cochlear stimulation device consisting of a short cochlear electrode array. The short cochlear electrode array of this application is described as consisting of 4-8 electrodes and is inserted directly through the round window membrane making contact with the basal region of the cochlea. Therefore the system as described in this application still uses a relatively obtrusive electrode array making it very difficult to preserve any residual hearing the patient may have in such areas. As already described, the present application is also directed to a device for masking or treating tinnitus. Tinnitus is the medical term for a condition in which sufferers report a ringing in their ears or head when there is in fact no external sound present in the sufferer's audible range. Although some people hear a ringing noise, others report the noise as being a hissing, a chirping, or a clicking. There are various estimates as to how many sufferers of tinnitus there are worldwide. For example, it is suggested that some 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, with about 83% of them hearing a constant ringing. Other figures suggest at least 12 million people have tinnitus to what is regarded as a distressing degree. For some people, tinnitus is just a nuisance. For others, it can be a quite debilitating condition. Usually, the only relief tinnitus sufferers will experience is an occasional reduction in the loudness of the tinnitus from time to time. The cause of tinnitus or at least its onset is unclear. There is, however, data available that demonstrates that exposure to loud noise is a trigger for the condition. Other suggested triggers include severe head trauma, certain medications, sinus and respiratory infections, ear infections, wax build-up and certain types of tumours. There are, as yet, no cures for tinnitus but there are several treatments currently used to provide at least some relief. One treatment is the use of what are commonly referred to as tinnitus maskers. One example of a tinnitus masker is disclosed in PCT Patent Application WO 90/07251. Tinnitus maskers are essentially small battery operated devices which are worn like a hearing aid behind or in the ear, and cover (mask) the tinnitus psychoacoustically by artificial sounds which are emitted, for example, via a hearing aid speaker into the auditory canal and which reduce the disturbing tinnitus as far as possible below the threshold of perception. The artificial sounds are often narrowband noise (for example, third octave noise) which in its spectral position and its loudness level can be adjusted via a programming device to enable the maximum position adaptation to the individual tinnitus situation. This form of treatment is available in several forms and when properly administered, has been demonstrated to assist in somewhere between 58% and 65% of cases. Masking is simply the addition of an outside sound that serves as a substitute or mask for the tinnitus. Masking systems known to date are typically worn within the ear canal or positioned nearby so as to ensure provision of a masking sound to the sufferer and as a result these devices stigmatise the wearer and are worn reluctantly. Implantable tinnitus maskers are known, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,287. Such devices utilise electromechanical transducers coupled to the ossicular chain to produce the artificial masking sounds, however, these devices require a very complicated surgery to implant as the electromechanical transducer must mechanically manipulate the ossicular chain. Also, it has been found that such mechanical coupling is not always guaranteed to be stable as pressure necroses in the area of the middle ear ossicle has been found to occur in a number of cases resulting in bone erosion. The present invention relates to a new system for treating the symptoms of tinnitus that preferably does not require complicated surgery nor the fixation of electromechanical transducers to the ossicles. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. The present invention is firstly directed to an implant that can be inserted in the cochlea but in a position external to the scala tympani. Such an implant provides an alternative option for those persons described above who would benefit from the use of a cochlear implant to improve hearing of relatively high frequencies but who have some residual hearing of relatively low frequencies. The present invention further preferably aims to provide a cochlear implant system that preserves the normal hydrodynamic nature of the cochlea allowing for an electrode array to be positioned to stimulate the desired neurons without causing damage to the important internal ducts of the cochlea. The present invention is secondly directed to an implant, as described above, that can be used as a means of masking the symptoms of tinnitus. According to a first aspect, the present application is directed to a first invention comprising an implantable tissue-stimulating device having a carrier member having at least one electrode thereon, the carrier member being adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. According to a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a second invention comprising an implantable tissue-stimulating device for use in the masking or treatment of the symptoms of tinnitus, the device having a carrier member having at least one electrode thereon, the carrier member being adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. According to a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a third invention comprising an implantable tissue-stimulating device when used in the masking or treatment of the symptoms of tinnitus, the device having a carrier member having at least one electrode thereon, the carrier member being adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. In the above aspects, the device can be a cochlear implant In one embodiment, the carrier member can be a cochlear implant carrier member. The carrier member preferably has a body having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon. The electrodes can be disposed in an array on the carrier member. The electrodes can be adapted to apply a preselected tissue stimulation. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier member is adapted to be implanted in a crevice between the spiral ligament and the endosteum of the lateral wall of the cochlea. This is quite different to the normal placement of the electrode array of a traditional cochlear implant in the scala tympani of the cochlea. The placement of the device is preferably designed to avoid any breach of the internal ducts of the cochlea (eg. scala tympani and scala vestibule) so that the normal hydrodynamic behaviour of the cochlea is not affected by any intrusive device. This is important, as for implantees suffering tinnitus, use of the device does not lead to loss of what otherwise may be good hearing. For implantees with at least some sensorineural hearing loss, use of the device maximises the possibility of also preserving residual hearing offered by the implantee's cochlea. In this case, it is envisaged that use of the device will have particular benefit in those instances where the implantee has substantial residual hearing in the low frequencies but would benefit from supplemental stimulation in a relatively higher frequency range. In this case, the implantee may benefit from use of a hearing aid that amplifies the relatively low frequencies still detectable by the implantee and a cochlear implant for detection of relatively high frequencies. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier member has a maximum length of about 7-10 mm, a width of about 0.6 mm and a thickness no greater than about 0.2 mm and, more preferably, about 0.1 mm. In a further embodiment, the carrier member can have an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being adapted to face inwardly into the cochlea, while the outer surface faces toward the endosteum of the cochlea. In one embodiment, the inner face can have a concavity. In a further embodiment, the outer face can have a convexity. In a further embodiment, the thickness of the carrier member between its inner surface and outer surface can be substantially constant for at least a majority of its length from the proximal end to the distal end. In another embodiment, the thickness of the carrier can change, such as decrease, from the proximal end to the distal end. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier can be relatively more resiliently flexible in a longitudinal plane and relatively less resiliently flexible in a lateral plane. The carrier member can be relatively flexible and preferably adapted to follow the curvature of the endosteum along the basal turn. In a preferred embodiment, a proximal end of the carrier member can be identified by a stop member. The stop member can extend substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the carrier member. The stop member preferably has a length of between about 1.5 and 2.0 mm. The stop member can serve as both a region for grasping the carrier member and also act to prevent insertion of the carrier member within the crevice beyond a predetermined maximum depth. In a still further embodiment, said at least one electrode has a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface of the carrier. More preferably, each of the electrodes in the array has a surface that is adjacent the inner surface of the carrier member. In a further embodiment, the surfaces of the electrodes are aligned with the inner surface of the carrier member. In another embodiment, the surfaces of the electrodes stand proud of the inner surface of the carrier member. It is also envisaged that the electrode surface could also be recessed into the inner surface of the carrier member. In one embodiment, the carrier member can be formed from a biocompatible elastomeric material. In one embodiment, the elastomeric material can be a silicone rubber. In another embodiment, the carrier member can be formed from a biocompatible polyurethane or similar material. The surfaces of the carrier member are preferably smooth to prevent any damage to the cochlea as the array is placed in the cochlea. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode array can include electrically conducting wires connected to the electrodes and extending to at least said proximal end. In one embodiment, one wire can be connected to each of said electrodes. In another embodiment, at least two wires can be connected to each of said electrodes. Each electrode can comprise a contact element. The carrier member can have a longitudinal axis with each contact element arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal axis. The contact elements can be formed from a biocompatible material. The biocompatible material of the contact element can be platinum. The wires may preferably be connected to the contact elements by welding, or any other suitable connecting method. Once implanted, the electrodes of the carrier member preferably receive stimulation signals from a stimulator means. The stimulator means is preferably electrically connected to the carrier member by way of an electrical lead. The lead can include the one or more wires extending from each electrode of the array mounted on the carrier member. In one embodiment, the lead can extend from the carrier member to the stimulator means or at least the housing thereof. In one embodiment, the lead is continuous with no electrical connectors, at least external the housing of the. stimulator means, required to connect the wires extending from the electrodes to the stimulator means. One advantage of this arrangement is that there is no requirement for the surgeon implanting the device to make the necessary electrical connection between the wires extending from the electrodes and the stimulator means. The stimulator means is preferably positioned within a housing that is implantable within the implantee. The housing for the stimulator means is preferably implantable within a recess in the bone behind the ear posterior to the mastoid. When implanted, the housing preferably contains, in addition to the stimulator means, a receiver means. The receiver means is preferably adapted to receive signals from a controller means. The controller means is, in use, preferably mounted external to the body of the implantee such that the signals are transmitted transcutaneously through the skin of the implantee. Signals can preferably travel from the controller means to the receiver means and vice versa. The receiver means can include a receiver coil adapted to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from a corresponding transmitter coil worn externally of the body. The radio frequency signals can comprise frequency modulated (FM) signals. While described as a receiver coil, the receiver coil can preferably transmit signals to the transmitter coil which receives the signals. The transmitter coil is preferably held in position adjacent the implanted location of the receiver coil by way of respective attractive magnets mounted centrally in, or at some other position relative to, the coils. The external controller can comprise a processor adapted to output one or more stimulation regimes to the stimulator. Where the device is being used to mask or treat the symptoms of tinnitus, the external controller can comprise a processor adapted to output one or more stimulation regimes to the stimulator. In one embodiment of this application, the stimulation regime can comprise a random continuous sub-threshold stimulation regime. In this regime, the stimulation signals output to the electrodes of the carrier member are at a level below the threshold of hearing of the sufferer. In another embodiment, the stimulation regime can comprise a random continuous supra-threshold stimulation, such as white noise. In a still further embodiment, the stimulation regime can comprise a random discontinuous supra-threshold stimulation regime. It is postulated by the present inventors that irregular stimulation may be sufficient to reduce the impact of the tinnitus condition. Irregular stimulation also has the advantage of being relatively power-efficient and hence would result in longer battery life for the device. In yet a further embodiment, the stimulation regime can comprise a treatment-on-demand regime. Such a regime is postulated by the present inventors as being advantageous for those persons who only suffer irregular episodes of tinnitus. In this embodiment, the external controller can further comprise an activation means. The activation means can comprise a switch means on the external controller. In this case, the sufferer or a third person could activate the processor when required. Where the device is being used to provide a hearing sensation, the external controller preferably comprises a speech processor adapted to receive signals output by a microphone. During use, the microphone is preferably worn on the pinna of the implanted, however, other suitable locations can be envisaged, such as the lapel of the implantee's clothing. The speech processor encodes the sound detected by the microphone into a sequence of electrical stimuli following given algorithms, such as algorithms already developed for cochlear implant systems. The encoded sequence is transferred to the implanted receiver/stimulator means using the transmitter and receiver coils. The implanted receiver/stimulator means demodulates the modulated FM signal and allocates the electrical pulses to the appropriate attached electrode by an algorithm which is consistent with the chosen speech coding strategy. In one embodiment, the processor can be adapted to receive signals from the microphone when external sounds, such as speech, are present and to output a stimulation regime, when no external sounds are present, that is adapted to mask or treat the symptoms of tinnitus. The external controller preferably further comprises a power supply. The power supply can comprise one or more rechargeable batteries. The transmitter and receiver coils are used to provide power via transcutaneous induction to the implanted receiver/stimulator means and the electrode array. While the implant system can rely on external componentry, in another embodiment, the controller means, including the microphone where present, the processor, and the power supply can also be implantable. In this embodiment, the controller means can be contained within a hermetically sealed housing or the housing used for the stimulator means. An implantable controller means also preferably has an activation means that provides the implantee or a third person with a means to activate a stimulation regime when required. In one embodiment, the inactivation means can comprise a magnetic switch. In this case, the implantable controller means would preferably incorporate a magnetic field detector which is triggered on detecting the presence of a suitable magnet held dose to the location of the implantable controller. In another embodiment, the activation means can comprise a radio frequency switch means. In this case, the implantable controller can include a radio frequency detector means adapted to receive a particular predetermined or programmed signal from a radio transmitter. The radio transmitter is activated when required by the implantee or a third person. In yet another embodiment, the activation means can comprise an infrared switch means. In this case, the implantable controller can include a infrared detector means adapted to receive a particular pre-determined or programmed infrared signal from a infrared transmitter. The infrared transmitter is activated when required by the implantee or a third person. According to a fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to a fourth invention comprising a method of inserting a tissue-stimulating device as defined above into a cochlea of an implantee, the method comprising the steps of: performing a fenestration to access the crevice of the cochlea between the spiral ligament and the endosteum of the lateral wall of the cochlea; placing the device in the crevice; and closing the fenestration. According to a fifth aspect, the present invention is directed to a fifth invention comprising a method of treating the symptoms of tinnitus comprising inserting a device as defined above into a cochlea of an implantee, the method comprising the steps of: performing a fenestration to access the crevice of the cochlea between the spiral ligament and the endosteum of the lateral wall of the cochlea; placing the device in the crevice; and closing the fenestration. In a preferred embodiment of the fourth and fifth aspects, the device is guided very gently through the fenestration and into the crevice. Following placement of the device, the method can include the step of covering the fenestration with soft body tissue and/or bony dust mixed with fibrin. Once in place, the device can be used to output-one or more stimulation regimes to the cochlea to provide a hearing sensation and/or mask or treat the symptoms of tinnitus as described above. |
Alumina agglomerates, the preparation method thereof and use of same as an absorbent or catalyst carrier |
The invention relates to alumina agglomerates of the type obtained by dehydrating an aluminium oxyhydroxide or hydroxide, agglomerating the alumina thus obtained, hydrothermally treating the agglomerates and calcinating same. Said agglomerates are characterised in that: the V37 Å thereof is greater than or equal to 75 ml/100 g, preferably greater than or equal to 80 ml/100 g and, better still, greater than or equal to 85 ml/100 g; the V0.1 μm thereof is less than or equal to 31 ml/100 g; and the V0.2 μm thereof is less than or equal to 20 ml/100 g, preferably less than or equal to 15 ml/100 g and, better still, less than or equal to 10 ml/100 g. The invention also relates to a catalyst carrier, an intrinsic catalyst or an absorbent, in particular for use in the petroleum and petrochemical industry, comprising such alumina agglomerates. Moreover, the invention relates to methods for preparing said agglomerates. |
1. Alumina agglomerates of the type obtained by the treatment of an aluminum hydroxide or oxyhydroxide, agglomeration of the alumina thus obtained, hydrothermal treatment of the agglomerates and calcination, wherein they have a V37 Å of greater than or equal to 75 ml/100 g, preferably greater than or equal to 80 ml/100 g and even more preferably greater than or equal to 85 ml/100 g; they have a V0.1 μm of less than or equal to 31 ml/l00 g, preferably less than or equal to 25 ml/100 g, even more preferably less than or equal to 20 ml/100 g and optimally less than or equal to 15 ml/100 g; and wherein: they have a V0.2 μm of less than or equal to 20 ml/100 g, preferably less than or equal to 15 ml/100 g and even more preferably less than or equal to 10 ml/100 g. 2. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1, wherein they have a V1 μm of less than or equal to 7 ml/100 g, preferably less than or equal to 5.5 ml/100 g and even more preferably less than or equal to 4 ml/100 g. 3. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1 wherein they have a V0.1 μm/V0.2 μm ratio of greater than or equal to 1.5, preferably greater than or equal to 2 and even more preferably greater than or equal to 2.5. 4. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1 wherein they have simultaneously a V37 Å of greater than or equal to 80 ml/100 g, a V0.1 μm of less than or equal to 15 ml/100 g, a V0.2 μm of less than or equal to 10 ml/100 g, a V1 μm of less than or equal to 4 ml/100 g and a V0.1 μm/V0.2 μm ratio of greater than or equal to 2.5. 5. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1 wherein they have been obtained from dehydrated hydrargillite. 6. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1 wherein they are in the form of beads. 7. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1 wherein they are in the form of extruded materials. 8. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1 wherein they are in the form of crushed materials. 9. The alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1 wherein they are in the form of monoliths. 10. A catalyst support, especially for the petroleum of petrochemical industry, wherein it consists of alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1. 11. An intrinsic catalyst, especially for the petroleum or petrochemical industry, wherein it consists of alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1. 12. An adsorbent, especially for the petroleum or petrochemical industry, wherein it consists of alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 1. 13. A process for producing alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 6, in which: an aluminum hydroxide or oxyhydroxide, preferably hydrargillite, undergoes flash dehydration in order to obtain an active alumina powder; said active alumina powder undergoes a forming operation so as to obtain beads with a green fill density of between 500 and 1100 kg/m3, preferably between 700 and 950 kg/m3 inclusive, and a diameter predominantly between 0.8 and 10 mm, preferably between 1 and 5 mm; said beads undergo a heat treatment so as to provide them with a specific surface area of between 50 and 420 m2/g; said beads undergo a hydrothermal treatment by impregnation with water or an aqueous solution, preferably aqueous acid solution, followed by residence in an autoclave at a temperature of above 80° C.; and the agglomerates thus obtained are calcined, preferably between 500 and 1300° C. 14. The process as claimed in claim 13, wherein after the heat treatment that follows granulation, the alumina beads preferably have a V37 Å of greater than 65 ml/100 g, preferably greater than 70 ml/100 g. 15. The process as claimed in claim 13 wherein the active alumina powder obtained after dehydrating the aluminum hydroxide or oxyhydroxide is ground in order to obtain a powder with a median particle size d50 of preferably between 5 and 25 μm. 16. The process as claimed in claim 13 wherein the active alumina powder obtained after dehydrating the aluminum hydroxide or oxyhydroxide is washed with water or an aqueous acid solution. 17. The process as claimed in claim 13 wherein prior to granulation of said active alumina powder, the latter undergoes a flash operation. 18. The process for producing alumina agglomerates as claimed in claim 7, in which: an alumina-based material is mixed and extruded in order to form it; the extruded materials thus obtained are subjected to a heat treatment so as to give them a specific surface area of between 50 and 420 m2/g; said extruded materials are subjected to a hydrothermal treatment by impregnation with water or with an aqueous solution, preferably an aqueous acid solution, followed by residence in an autoclave at a temperature of above 80° C.; and the agglomerates thus obtained are calcined, preferably between 500 and 1300° C. 19. The process as claimed in claim 18, wherein said alumina-based material is dehydrated hydrargillite. 20. The process as claimed in claim 18, wherein alumina-based material comes from the precipitation of boehmite, pseudo-boehmite or bayerite, or a mixture of such materials. 21. The process as claimed in claim 13 wherein during the forming of said alumina powder or of said alumina-based material, one or more pore-forming materials that disappear on heating are added to it. 22. The process as claimed in claim 21, wherein said pore-forming materials are chosen from wood flour, charcoal, sulfur, tars, plastics or emulsions of plastics, polyvinyl alcohols, naphthalene. 23. The process as claimed in claim 13 wherein said hydrothermal treatment is carried out at a temperature of 150 to 270° C., preferably from 170 to 250° C., for a time of greater than 45 minutes, preferably from 1 to 24 hours and even more preferably from 1.5 to 12 hours. 24. The process as claimed in claim 13 wherein said hydrothermal treatment is carried out using an aqueous acid solution containing one or more mineral and/or organic acids. 25. The process as claimed in claim 24, wherein said aqueous acid solution also includes one or more compounds that can release anions capable of combining with the aluminum ions. |
Bioluminescent plants and methods of making same |
A genetically modified plant cell containing a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide, which is expressed in amount sufficient to produce at least about 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second, is provided, as is a visibly bioluminescent transgenic plant, which contains such a genetically modified plant cell. Also provided is a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, which contains a plant translational enhancer operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. In addition, methods of producing a genetically modified plant cell that is visibly bioluminescent introducing a transgene encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide into a plant cell, whereby the bioluminescent polypeptide is expressed at a level that produces at least about 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second are provided, as are kits containing such visibly bioluminescent compositions. |
1. A genetically modified plant cell, comprising a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide, wherein the bioluminescent polypeptide can be expressed in amount sufficient to produce at least 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second. 2. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescent polypeptide is luciferase. 3. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescent polypeptide is a luciferase variant. 4. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 3, wherein the luciferase variant is a luc+ luciferase variant. 5. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 4, wherein the luc+ luciferase variant is expressed in the plant cell at a level of at least 100 pg/μg protein as determined by western blot analysis. 6. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescent polypeptide can be expressed in amount sufficient to produce at least one million photons of visible light/mm2/second. 7. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 1, which has a reduced level of chlorophyll as compared to corresponding wild type plant cell. 8. A transgenic plant, comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 1 or claim 7. 9. A plant cell or tissue obtained from the transgenic plant of claim 8. 10. A cutting of the transgenic plant of claim 8. 11. A seed produced by the transgenic plant of claim 8. 12. A cDNA or genomic DNA library prepared from the transgenic plant of claim 8, or from a plant cell or plant tissue obtained from said transgenic plant. 13. The transgenic plant of claim 8, wherein the plant is a monocot. 14. The transgenic plant of claim 8, wherein the plant is a dicot. 15. The transgenic plant of claim 14, wherein the plant is an angiosperm. 16. The transgenic plant of claim 15, wherein the angiosperm is a cereal plant, a leguminous plant, an oilseed plant, or a hardwood tree. 17. The transgenic plant of claim 8, wherein the plant is an ornamental plant. 18. The transgenic plant of claim 17, wherein the ornamental plant is a petunia. 19. The transgenic plant of claim 17, wherein the ornamental plant is a carnation. 20. The genetically modified plant of claim 1, wherein the heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide comprises nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2. 21. The genetically modified plant of claim 1, wherein the heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide comprises nucleotides 8340 to 12,098 of SEQ ID NO:4 or nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. 22. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule, comprising, in operative linkage, a plant translational enhancer and a nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. 23. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, wherein the plant translational enhancer is a plant potyvirus translational enhancer. 24. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 23, wherein the plant potyvirus is a tobacco etch virus (TEV) or an omega enhancer. 25. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, wherein the bioluminescent polypeptide is a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof. 26. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, further comprising an operatively linked transcriptional regulatory element, which comprises a promoter. 27. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 26, wherein the transcriptional regulatory element is a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S regulatory element, a metallothionein regulatory element, or an actin 2 regulatory element. 28. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, comprising, in operative linkage, a CaMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and a CaMV 35S terminator. 29. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 28, wherein the CaMV 35S enhancer is a dual CaMV 35S enhancer. 30. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 28, wherein the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof is a luc+ polypeptide. 31. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, comprising, in operative linkage, a metallothionein gene transcriptional regulatory element, an omega translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence. 32. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, comprising, in operative linkage, an actin 2 gene transcriptional regulatory element, an omega translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence. 33. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, comprising nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2. 34. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, comprising nucleotides 8340 to 12,098 of SEQ ID NO:4 or nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. 35. A vector, comprising the recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22. 36. The vector of claim 32, wherein the vector is an expression vector. 37. The vector of claim 35, wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprises, in operative linkage, a CaMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and a CaMV 35S terminator. 38. The vector of claim 35, wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprises, in operative linkage, a metallothionein gene transcriptional regulatory element, an omega translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence. 39. The vector of claim 35, wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprises, in operative linkage, an actin 2 gene transcriptional regulatory element, an omega translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence. 40. The vector of claim 35, wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprises nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2. 41. The vector of claim 35, wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprises nucleotides 8340 to 12, 098 of SEQ ID NO:4 or nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. 42. The vector of claim 35, which is selected from SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2. 43. The vector of claim 35, which is selected from SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5. 44. A cell containing the recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 22. 45. A cell containing the vector of claim 35. 46. A method of producing a genetically modified plant cell that is visibly bioluminescent, the method comprising introducing a transgene comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide into a plant cell, whereby the bioluminescent polypeptide is expressed at a level that produces at least 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second, thereby producing a genetically modified plant cell that visibly bioluminesce. 47. The method of claim 45, wherein the transgene further comprises a plant translational enhancer operatively linked to the nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. 48. The method of claim 46, wherein the plant translational enhancer is a plant potyvirus translational enhancer selected from a tobacco etch virus (TEV) translational enhancer and a tobacco mosaic virus translational enhancer. 49. The method of claim 46, wherein the plant translational enhancer is an omega translational enhancer having a nucleotide sequence set forth as nucleotides 1169 to 1235 of SEQ ID NO:5. 50. The method of claim 46, wherein the bioluminescent polypeptide is a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof. 51. The method of claim 47, wherein the transgene further comprises a transcriptional regulatory element operatively linked to the plant translational enhancer and nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. 52. The method of claim 51, wherein the transcriptional regulatory element is a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S regulatory element, a metallothionein gene regulatory element, or an actin gene regulatory element. 53. The method of claim 46, wherein the transgene comprises, in operative linkage, a dual CaMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and a CaMV 35S terminator. 54. The method of claim 53, wherein the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof is a luc+ polypeptide. 55. The method of claim 46, wherein the transgene comprises, in -operative linkage, a metallothionein gene transcriptional regulatory element, which comprises a promoter and, optionally, an enhancer; an omega translational enhancer; a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof; and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof is a luc+ polypeptide. 57. The method of claim 46, wherein the transgene comprises, in operative linkage, an actin 2 gene transcriptional regulatory element, which comprises a promoter and, optionally, an enhancer; an omega translational enhancer; a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof; and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence. 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof is a luc+ polypeptide. 59. The method of claim 46, wherein the transgene comprises nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 8340 to 12,098 of SEQ ID NO:4 or nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. 60. The method of claim 46, wherein the transgene is stably maintained in the plant cell genome. 61. The method of claim 60, wherein the transgene is integrated into the plant cell genome. 62. The method of claim 46, further comprising contacting the plant cell, or the genetically modified plant cell derived therefrom, with an agent that inhibits carotenoid synthesis, thereby reducing the amount of chlorophyll in the plant cell. 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the agent is norfluorazon. 64. A genetically modified plant cell produced by the method of claim 46 or claim 62. 65. A transgenic plant comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 64. 66. A genetically modified plant cell, comprising a heterologous nucleotide, which comprises, in operative linkage, a CaMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and a CaMV 35S terminator wherein the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof can be expressed in amount sufficient to produce at least 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second. 67. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 66, wherein the heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide comprises nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2. 68. A transgenic plant, comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 66 or claim 67. 69. A plant cell or tissue obtained from the transgenic plant of claim 68. 70. A cutting of the transgenic plant of claim 68. 71. A seed produced by the transgenic plant of claim 68. 72. A cDNA or genomic DNA library prepared from the transgenic plant of claim 68, or from a plant cell or plant tissue obtained from said transgenic plant. 73. A genetically modified plant cell, comprising a heterologous nucleotide sequence, which comprises, in operative linkage, a metallothionein gene transcriptional regulatory element, an omega translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence., wherein the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof can be expressed in amount sufficient to produce at least 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second. 74. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 73, wherein the heterologous nucleotide sequence comprises nucleotides 8340 to 12,098 of SEQ ID NO:4 75. A transgenic plant, comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 73 or claim 74. 76. A plant cell or tissue obtained from the transgenic plant of claim 75. 77. A cutting of the transgenic plant of claim 75. 78. A seed produced by the transgenic plant of claim 75. 79. A genetically modified plant cell, comprising a heterologous nucleotide sequence, which comprises, in operative linkage, an actin 2 gene transcriptional regulatory element, an omega translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and an RbcS E9 polyA sequence, wherein the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof can be expressed in amount sufficient to produce at least 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second. 80. The genetically modified plant cell of claim 79, wherein the heterologous nucleotide sequence comprises nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. 81. A transgenic plant, comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 79 or claim 80. 82. A plant cell or tissue obtained from the transgenic plant of claim 81. 83. A cutting of the transgenic plant of claim 81. 84. A seed produced by the transgenic plant of claim 81. 85. A kit, comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 1 or claim 7, or a derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 86. A kit comprising a derivative of the genetically modified plant cell, wherein the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell is a transgenic plant comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 1 or claim 7, or a cell, tissue or organ of said transgenic plant. 87. The kit of claim 86, wherein the organ of said transgenic plant is a flower or a bract. 88. The kit of claim 85, further comprising an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 89. The kit of claim 85, further comprising an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 90. A kit, comprising a cutting or a seed of the transgenic plant of claim 8. 91. The kit of claim 90, further comprising reagents for growing a transgenic plant from the cutting or seed. 92. The kit of claim 90, further comprising an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. 93. The kit of claim 90, further comprising an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. 94. A kit, comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 66, 67, 73, 74, 79, or 80, or a derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 95. A kit comprising a derivative of a genetically modified plant cell, wherein the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell is a transgenic plant comprising the genetically modified plant cell of claim 66, 67, 73, 74, 79 or 80, or a cell, tissue or organ of said transgenic plant. 96. The kit of claim 95, wherein the organ of said transgenic plant is a flower or a bract. 97. The kit of claim 94, further comprising an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 98. The kit of claim 94, further comprising an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 99. A kit, comprising a cutting of the transgenic plant of claim 68, or a seed produced by said transgenic plant. 100. The kit of claim 99, further comprising reagents for growing a transgenic plant from the cutting or seed. 101. The kit of claim 99, further comprising an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. 102. The kit of claim 99, further comprising an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. 103. The kit of claim 95, further comprising an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 104. The kit of claim 95, further comprising an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. 105. A kit comprising a cutting of the transgenic plant of claim 75, or a seed produced by said transgenic plant. 106. The kit of claim 105, further comprising reagents for growing a transgenic plant from the cutting or seed. 107. The kit of claim 105, further comprising an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. 108. The kit of claim 105, further comprising an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. 109. A kit comprising a cutting of the transgenic plant of claim 81, or a seed produced by said transgenic plant. 110. The kit of claim 109, further comprising reagents for growing a transgenic plant from the cutting or seed. 111. The kit of claim 110 further comprising an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. 112. The kit of claim 109, further comprising an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH> |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a genetically modified plant cell that exhibits bioluminescence that is visible to the naked eye. Such a genetically modified plant cell contains a heterologous nucleotide sequence that encodes a bioluminescent polypeptide, which, upon expression, can result in the production of at least about 750,000 photons of visible light/mm 2 /second by the plant cell. The bioluminescent polypeptide can be any polypeptide that is bioluminescent, or can act in concert with a second molecule such that visible light is produced. In one embodiment, the genetically modified plant cell contains a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding luciferase or a luciferase variant, for example, luc + . Upon contact of a genetically modified plant expressing luciferase or a variant thereof with luciferin, a sufficient amount of visible light is produced such that the light is visible to the naked eye. Such a genetically modified plant cell generally expresses at least about 100 pg luc + /μg protein as determined by western blot analysis such that, upon contact of the plant cell with luciferin, the cell is visibly bioluminescent. In another embodiment, the genetically modified plant cell, or the plant cell from which the genetically modified plant cell is derived, is contacted with an agent that reduces or inhibits pigment formation in the plant, for example, carotenoid synthesis, thereby reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll synthesis. Since chlorophyll in a plant cell can absorb photons generated by the luciferase in the genetically modified plant cell, contact of the genetically modified plant cell, or a transgenic plant derived therefrom, with an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient to reduce or inhibit chlorophyll synthesis provides a means to enhance photon emission from the plant cell and, therefore, enhance the visible bioluminescence. In still another embodiment, a visibly bioluminescent transgenic plant is generated from the genetically modified plant cell containing a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. As such, the invention relates to such a transgenic plant, as well as to a plant cell or tissue obtained from the transgenic plant, a seed produced by the transgenic plant, and a cDNA or genomic DNA library prepared from the transgenic plant or from a plant cell or plant tissue obtained from the transgenic plant. The transgenic plant can be a monocot, or can be a dicot, for example, an angiosperm such as a cereal plant, a leguminous plant, an oilseed plant, a hardwood tree, or an ornamental plant such as a petunia, an orchid, a carnation or the like. The present invention also relates to a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, which comprises a translational enhancer, which enhances translation in a plant cell, operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. The translational enhancer can be any translational enhancer, for example, a plant potyvirus translational enhancer such as tobacco etch virus (TEV) translational enhancer, a tobacco mosaic virus omega translational enhancer, or a translational enhancer comprising a Kozak sequence. The encoded bioluminescent polypeptide can be a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, for example, the luc + luciferase variant. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule of the invention also can contain a transcriptional regulatory element, i.e., promoter, enhancer, etc., that enhances transcription in a plant cell, for example, a plant virus enhancer such as a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S enhancer, or a regulatory element from any other organism, for example, an actin 2 regulatory element or a metallothionein regulatory element, which comprises a promoter and, optionally, an enhancer, wherein the transcriptional regulatory element is operatively linked to the plant translational enhancer and nucleotide sequence encoding the bioluminescent polypeptide. In one embodiment, a recombinant nucleic acid molecule contains, in operative linkage, a CaMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and a CaMV 35S terminator. In another embodiment, the CaMV 35S enhancer is a dual CaMV 35S enhancer, and the luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof is the luc + luciferase variant. Such a recombinant nucleic acid molecule is exemplified herein by the nucleotide sequence set forth as nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2. In still other embodiments, the transcriptional regulatory element in a recombinant nucleic molecule of the invention is a metallothionein regulatory element or an actin 2 regulatory element, and the translational enhancer is an omega enhancer, for example, in a recombinant nucleic acid molecule having a sequence set forth as nucleotides 8340 to 12,098 of SEQ ID NO:4 or as nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. The present invention further relates to a vector containing a recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a translational enhancer active in a plant operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. Preferably, the vector is an expression vector. In one embodiment, the recombinant nucleic acid molecule contained in the vector comprises, in operative linkage, a CAMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and a CaMV 35S terminator. In another embodiment, the recombinant nucleic acid molecule contained in the vector comprises, in operative linkage, a dual CaMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luc + luciferase variant, and a CaMV 35S terminator. In still another embodiment, the recombinant nucleic acid molecule contained in the vector comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth as nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2. In yet another embodiment, the transcriptional regulatory element in the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprises an actin 2 promoter or a metallothionein promoter, and the translation enhancer is an omega enhancer, for example, in the recombinant nucleic acid molecules set forth as nucleotides 8340 to 12,098 of SEQ D) NO:4 or as nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. Vectors of the invention are exemplified herein by those as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5. The present invention also provides a cell containing a recombinant nucleic acid molecule of the invention, or containing a vector of the invention. The present invention further relates to a method of producing a genetically modified plant cell that is visibly bioluminescent. A method of the invention can be performed, for example, by introducing a transgene comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide into a plant cell, whereby the bioluminescent polypeptide is expressed at a level that produces at least about 750,000 photons of visible light/mm 2 /second. The transgene useful in a method of making a genetically modified plant cell that is visibly bioluminescent generally includes a translational enhancer that is active in a plant, for example, a plant translational enhancer such as a plant potyvirus translational enhancer (e.g., a TEV translational enhancer), a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) translational enhancer such as the omega enhancer, operatively linked to the nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide, for example, a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof. The transgene also can contain a plant virus enhancer, for example, a CaMV 35S enhancer, which is operatively linked to the plant translational enhancer and nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. In one embodiment, a transgene useful in making a visibly luminescent genetically modified plant cell contains, in operative linkage, a dual CaMV 35S enhancer, a CaMV 35S promoter, a TEV translational enhancer, a nucleotide sequence encoding a luciferase polypeptide or variant thereof, and a CaMV 35S terminator. In another embodiment, the nucleotide sequence encodes a luc + luciferase variant polypeptide. Such transgenes are exemplified by the nucleotide sequences set forth as nucleotides 8366 to 11,113 of SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 8340 to 12,098 of SEQ ID NO:4, and nucleotides 6 to 3570 of SEQ ID NO:5. A method of the invention can further include contacting the plant cell, or the genetically modified plant cell derived therefrom, with an agent that inhibits the synthesis of a pigment such as carotenoids, which can absorb light generated by the luciferase. For example, the genetically modified plant cell can be contacted with an agent such as norfluorazon, which reduces or inhibits chlorophyll production in the plants, thus allowing increased emission of photons from the plant cell, or from a trrnsgenic plant derived from the plant cell. A visibly bioluminescent genetically modified plant cell made according to a method of the invention generally contains the transgene stably maintained in the plant cell genome. Preferably, the transgene is integrated into the plant cell genome. As such, the present invention also relates to a genetically modified plant cell produced by a method of the invention, as well as to a transgenic plant containing or generated from such a genetically modified plant cell. The present invention also relates to kit, which contains a genetically modified plant cell of the invention, or a derivative of the genetically modified plant cell, for example, a transgenic plant derived from the genetically modified plant cell, or a cell, a tissue, or an organ of such a transgenic plant. As such, a kit of the invention can contain one or more flowers, bracts, leaves or other tissues or organs, which, upon contact with luciferin, are visibly luminescent. Accordingly, a kit of the invention can further include an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell, and also can include a plurality of such amounts of luciferin, thus allowing the generation of visible bioluminesce a number of times, as desired. In addition, a kit of the invention can include an amount of a inhibitor that reduces or inhibits pigment synthesis in the genetically modified plant cell or the derivative of the genetically modified plant cell. For example, the kit can contain a carotenoid synthesis inhibitor such as norfluorazon, which reduces or inhibits chlorophyll production. In another embodiment, a kit of the invention contains one or more cuttings, seeds, or other portion or derivative of a visibly bioluminescent plant of the invention such that a visibly luminescent transgenic plant can be grown therefrom. As such, the kit also can include reagents for growing a transgenic plant from the cutting or seed, including, for example, a suitable plant food or other nutrient source required for growth of the particular plant. In addition, the kit can include an amount of a carotenoid inhibitor sufficient for reducing or inhibiting chlorophyll production in a trrnsgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed; and/or can include an amount of luciferin sufficient for generating visible bioluminescence of a transgenic plant grown from the cutting or seed. |
Facilitating legal interception of ip connections |
A method of facilitating the legal interception of IP connections, where two or more terminals can communicate with each other over the Internet using IPSec to provide security. The method comprises allocating to each terminal T1,T2 a public/private key pair for use in negotiating IKE and IPSec Security Associations (SAs) with other terminals. Where a terminal T1,T2 is coupled to the Internet via an access network 1,2, the private key of that terminal is stored within the access network at an interception server S1,S2. When an IP connection is initiated to or from a terminal T1,T2 on which a legal interception order has been placed, the private key stored for that terminal T1,T2 within the access network 1,2 is used to intercept the connection. |
1. A method of facilitating the legal interception of network connections, where two or more terminals can communicate with each other over insecure networks using a standard security protocol to provide a secure session, the method comprising: allocating to each terminal at least one public/private key pair for use in negotiating session encryption keys with other terminals; where a terminal is coupled to an interconnecting network via an access network, storing the private key of that terminal within the access network; and when a connection is initiated to or from a terminal on which a legal interception order has been placed, using the private key stored for that terminal within the access network to intercept the communication, wherein the access network for a terminal interposes itself between that terminal and a remote node during the negotiation of session encryption keys between the terminal and the remote node, such that the access network has a knowledge of negotiated session encryption keys. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said access network is one of a wireless telecommunication network, a fixed line telephone network, and a cable network. 3. The method of claim 1, where the access network is a wireless telecommunication networks, and the private keys for subscribers are stored at a network switch or at a server coupled to a switch. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said insecure network is the Internet. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said secure session is established using IPSec. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said public/private key pair is used to negotiate IKE and IPSec Security Associations (SAs) comprising said session encryption keys. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein, following the receipt of a request for an ISAKMP SA at the access network of a terminal initiating an IP connection, the access network negotiates an ISAKMP SA with a remote node on behalf of the initiating terminal, and passes the SA parameters to the initiating terminal over a secure connection. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein, once the ISAKMP SA has been established, if the initiating terminal sends a request for the establishment of IPSec SAs towards a destination terminal, the access network determines whether or not a legal interception order has been placed on that terminal or on the terminal to which the initiating terminal wishes to connect and, if such an order has been placed, the access network interposes itself between the terminal and the remote node during the negotiation of a pair of IPSec SAs. 9. The method of claim 6 and comprising: receiving at an access network, the “first” network, a request for establishment of an ISAKMP SA from an initiating terminal; forwarding the request to the access network, the “second” network, of the other terminal; making a decision at the second network on legal interception; and if legal interception is required, negotiating an ISAKMP SA directly between the second network and the initiating terminal and negotiating a second ISAKMP SA directly between the first access network and the destination terminal. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the first access network receives from the initiating terminal a request for the establishment of IPSec SAs, the second access network negotiates a pair of IPSec SAs directly with the initiating terminal whilst the first access node negotiates a second pair of IPSec SAs directly with the destination terminal. 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising passing a private key of a terminal to be monitored from one access network to another so that one access network is in possession of the private keys of both or all parties involved in an IP connection. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said private key is passed from one access network to another without explicitly disclosing the private key to the receiving access network. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said private key is passed from one access network to another as part of an executable code which can be executed by the receiving network to facilitate negotiation of session encryption keys with a terminal using the receiving network as access network. 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the public/private key pair allocated to a terminal in a memory of or coupled to the terminal in such a way that the user of the terminal cannot alter the private key without the consent of the operator of the relevant access network. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein a node within the access network for a terminal negotiates session encryption keys for both communication directions, on behalf of that terminal, with a remote terminal or a node within the access network for that remote terminal. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein nodes within the access networks of a pair of terminals negotiate session encryption keys with the respective remote terminals, and during interception of a connection each node intercepts communications in one direction, with at least one of the nodes echoing intercepted communications to the other of the nodes. 17. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing in the access network terminal security capabilities. 18. A server for use in intercepting IP connections between two or more terminals, the server comprising: a memory for storing the private keys of public/private key pairs of respective terminals, a first processing means for identifying when legal interception is to be carried out on a connection to or from a terminal, a second processing means for interposing the server between that terminal, and a communication means for receiving communications from a remote node during the negotiation of session encryption keys between the terminal and the remote node, such that the access network has a knowledge of negotiated session encryption keys, and a third processing means for intercepting the connection using the private key of the terminal. 19. A system for facilitating the legal interception of network connections, the system comprising: at least two terminals adapted to communicate with each other over insecure networks using a standard security protocol to provide a secure session, wherein each terminal has instructions for: a means for allocating a least one public/private key pair for use in negotiating session encryption keys with other terminals; a means for storing the private key of that terminal within the access network when a terminal is coupled to an interconnecting network via an access network; and a means for using the private key stored for that terminal within the access network to intercept the communication when a connection is initiated to or from a terminal on which a legal interception order has been placed, and a means for interposing between that terminal and a remote node during the negotiation of session encryption keys between the terminal and the remote node, such that the access network has a knowledge of negotiated session encryption keys. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION <EOH>It is now possible to establish various forms of connection over the internet including data connections as well as voice and video telephony connections. As the speed and extent of the Internet increase, the use of voice and video telephony can be expected to grow. Whilst current technology tends to restrict IP telephony to communications between computer terminals coupled to the Internet, tomorrow's technology will provide for IP telephony between small dedicated telephony terminals, and other mobile devices such as PDAs, palmtop computers etc. In order to allow such devices to gain widespread acceptance, a key issue which must be addressed is that of security. The two main security concerns are the avoidance of unauthorised eavesdropping, and the need to authenticate terminals involved in a communication (i.e. to ensure that the terminal which a “subscriber” connects to is the terminal which the subscriber intends to connect to and vice versa). However, these concerns are not unique to IP telephony, and are common to many different forms of IP communication. An Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard known as IPsec (RFC2401) has been defined and provides for the creation of a secure connection between parties using IPv4 and IPv6. In the IPsec model the end points of the secure connection are identified by their IP addresses. In order to allow IPSec packets to be properly encapsulated and decapsulated it is necessary to associate security services and a key between the traffic being transmitted and the remote node which is the intended recipient of the traffic. The construct used for this purpose is a “Security Association” (SA). SAs are negotiated between peer nodes using a mechanism known as “Internet Key Exchange” (IKE), and are allocated an identification known as a “Security Parameter Index” (SPI). The appropriate SA is identified to the receiving node by including the corresponding SPI in the headers of the transmitted data packets. Details of the existing SAs and the respective SPIs are maintained in a Security Association Database (SAD) which is associated with each IPSec node. As already noted, IPSec SAs are negotiated using the IKE mechanism. More particularly, IPSec SAs make use of IKE phase 2 . IKE phase 1 involves the negotiation of an IKE SA. FIG. 1 illustrates in general terms the two phases of IE. When IKE phase 1 is initiated between two nodes, communications are carried out in the open. The mechanisms used must therefore be extremely secure and inevitably computationally intensive. At the end of phase 1 both nodes are authenticated to each other, and a shared secret is established between them. IKE phase 2 makes use of the IKE SA to negotiate one or more IPSec SAs. As the phase 2 negotiations are carried out within a secure “shell”, they can be much less computationally intensive than the phase 1 negotiation. Whilst a new IKE SA may be negotiated only infrequently (e.g. one a day or once a week), IPSec SAs may be negotiated every few minutes. IKE phases 1 and 2 are illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 . IPSec makes use of one or both of the Authentication Header (AH) and Encapsulation Security Payload (ESP) protocols which in turn make use of the corresponding established IPSec SA. Both of these protocols provide for the authentication of sent data packets whilst ESP provides in addition for the encryption of user data. The use of AH and/or ESP is agreed upon by the communicating nodes during the IKE negotiations. It is expected ESP will be preferred for VoIP due to its use of encryption. The precise way in which IPSec is implemented in a system depends to a large extent upon the security policy of the organisation wishing to employ IPSec. For example, the organisation may specify end-points (e.g. user terminals) to which IP packets may be sent, or from which they may be received, the particular security levels to be used for encrypting packets, etc. Policy is stored in a Security Policy Database (SPD) which is also associated with each IPSec node. Typically, the SPD is distributed amongst a plurality of entities of the IPSec node. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Traditional circuit switched telephone networks make provision for the legal interception of telephone calls. Such interception must be instigated by the appropriate authorities and is an important weapon against crime. Understandably, it is desirable to make provision for the legal interception of IP connections (whether data, VoIP, video, etc). However, this presents a problem as the IP security protocol which will become the de facto standard is IPSec, and IPSec has been designed to provide terminal-to-terminal security involving strong encryption. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems inherent to IPSec, and in particular to facilitate the legal interception of IP connections. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of facilitating the legal interception of IP connections, where two or more terminals can communicate with each other over the Internet using IPSec to provide security, the method comprising: allocating to each terminal a public/private key pair for use in negotiating IKE and IPSec Security Associations (SAs) with other terminals; where a terminal is coupled to the Internet via an access network, storing the private key of that terminal within the access network; and when an IP connection is initiated to or from a terminal on which a legal interception order has been placed, using the private key stored for that terminal within the access network to intercept the connection. The present invention is applicable in particular to facilitating the interception of IP connections made to or from terminals coupled to telecommunication networks, e.g. wireless telecommunication networks, fixed line telephone networks, and cable networks. Such networks present the authorities with confidential access points to the connections to be intercepted. Where the access network is a wireless telecommunication networks, the private keys for subscribers may be stored at an MSC (GSM network) or at an RNC (UMS/3GPP network) or their equivalents, or at a server coupled to the MSC/RNC. Where the access network is a fixed line telephone network, the private keys may be stored at the local exchanges of subscribers, or at servers coupled to the local exchanges. The invention is applicable to IP connections between two or more terminals each of which is coupled to the Internet via an access network holding the necessary private keys. The invention is also applicable to IP connections extending between one of these such terminals and another terminal which handles ISAK negotiations itself, without the aid of an access network holding the private key of the terminal. In certain embodiments of the invention, following the receipt of a request for an IKE phase 1 SA at the access network of a terminal initiating an IP connection, the access network negotiates an ISAKMP SA with a remote node on behalf of the initiating terminal, and passes the SA parameters (including the established shared key) to the initiating terminal over a secure connection. The remote node may be the terminal with which the initiating terminal wishes to establish a connection, or may be a node to which that terminal is coupled. Once the ISAKMP SA has been established, if the initiating terminal sends a request for the establishment of an IKE phase 2 SA intended for the destination terminal, the access network determines whether or not a legal interception order has been placed on that terminal or on the terminal to which the initiating terminal wishes to connect. If such an order has been placed, the access network interposes itself between the initiating terminal and the remote node during the negotiation of a pair of IKE phase 2 SAs. An important consideration is that neither the initiating terminal, nor the terminal to which the initiating terminal connects, must know that an interception is being made. In other embodiments of the invention, and in which both of the terminals between which it is desired to establish a connection are coupled to the Internet via the same or different access networks, receipt at an access network (the “first” network) of a request for establishment of an IKE phase 1 from an initiating terminal causes that first network to forward the request to the access network (the “second” network) of the other terminal. The second network then makes a decision on legal interception. If legal interception is required, the second network negotiates an ISAP SA directly with the initiating terminal. The first network negotiates a second ISAKMP SA directly with the destination terminal. When the first access network receives from the initiating terminal a request for the establishment of IPSec SAs, the second access network negotiates a pair of SAs directly with the initiating terminal whilst the first access node negotiates a second pair of SAs directly with the destination terminal. In this way, each of access networks has access to one of the two communication channels. One of the access networks may relay the channel which it is monitoring to the other access network (or to some other node). In still other embodiments of the present invention, a private key of a terminal to be monitored may be passed from one access network to another so that one access network is in possession of the private keys of both (or all) parties involved in an IP connection. This may be achieved in such a way that the private key is not explicitly disclosed to the receiving access network (e.g. by embedding the key in executable code). Preferably, IKE Phase 1 (and Phase 2 if appropriate) negotiations handled by an access network are handled by a server. This server may be coupled to or incorporated into a switch of the access network. Preferably, the public/private key pair allocated to a terminal is stored in a memory of or coupled to the terminal in such a way that the user of the terminal cannot alter the private key without the consent of the operator of the relevant access network. The invention is applicable in particular to facilitating the interception of data calls although it is also applicable to VoIP calls and other forms of IP telephony including videoconferencing. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a server for use in intercepting IP connections between two or more terminals, the server comprising a memory for storing the private keys of public/private key pairs of respective terminals, and processing means for identifying when legal interception is to be carried out on a connection to or from a terminal, and for intercepting that connection using the private key of the terminal. |
Preparation containing polydimethylsiloxane for nail, cartilage,bone, joint,muscle and tendon disorders |
The present invention relates to a topical preparation that contains polydimethylsiloxane for the external treatment of nail, cartilage, bone, joint, muscle and tendon disorders. The preparation can also contain biotin, zinc, lysine, methionine, laurel extract, carotene, casein, collagen, glucose, a glucosamine and/or arnica extract. In particular the invention relates to a combination therapy where a glucosamine is administered orally. |
1. Topical preparation that contains an active ingredient and, as carrier, at least 50% (m/m), based on the weight of the preparation, of polydimethylsiloxane for the external treatment of nail, cartilage, bone, joint, muscle and tendon disorders. 2. Preparation according to claim 1, wherein the polydimethylsiloxane has a viscosity of 10,000 to 100,000 cSt. 3. Preparation according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is chosen from biotin, zinc, lysine, methionine and mixtures thereof. 4. Preparation according to claim 3, that contains biotin, zinc, lysine and methionine. 5. Preparation according to claim 1, that further contains a glucosamine, derivatives thereof and/or salts thereof, preferably N-acetyl-D-glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, more preferentially N-acetyl-D-glucosamine HCl. 6. Preparation according to claim 1 that further contains one or more of the following: laurel extract, carotene, casein, collagen, glucose and arnica extract. 7. Preparation according to claim 1, that contains biotin, lysine, methionine, zinc, casein, carotene, arnica extract, laurel extract and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine HCl. 8. Preparation according to claim 1, that contains glucose, collagen, carotene, casein, laurel extract and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine HCl. 9. Preparation according to claim 1, that contains arnica extract. 10. Preparation according to claim 1 for the treatment of horses. 11. Preparation according to claim 10 for the treatment of disorders of the hooves, feet and lower legs of horses. 12. Preparation according to claim 11, for the treatment of horses' hooves. 13. Preparation according to claim 1 for the treatment of humans. 14. Use of an oral preparation that contains a glucosamine, derivatives thereof and/or salts thereof in combination with the preparation according to claim 1 for the treatment of nail, cartilage, bone, joint, muscle and tendon disorders. 15. Use according to claim 14, wherein the oral preparation contains N-acetyl-Dglucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, preferably N-acetyl-Dglucosamine HCl. 16. Kit comprising an oral preparation that contains a glucosamine and a topical preparation that contains polydimethylsiloxane as a combination for simultaneous, separate or successive administration. 17. Kit according to claim 16, for the treatment of nail, cartilage, bone, joint, muscle and tendon disorders. 18. Use of polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity of 10,000 to 100,000 cSt as carrier in a topical preparation, wherein the preparation contains at least 50% (m/m), based on the weight of the preparation, of polydimethylsiloxane. 19. Use according to claim 18, wherein the topical preparation is used for the external treatment of nails, cartilage, bones, joints, muscles and tendons. 20. Use according to claim 18, wherein the topical preparation contains at least 50% (m/m) polydimethylsiloxane. |
Method for transferring information and associated network transition units |
Disclosed is a method wherein operative, administrative and maintenance functions are defined initially for a time-division multiplex oriented communication network (12). In order to utilize said functions in a packet-oriented communication network (10), they are emulated by said network (10). |
1. A method for transferring information within at least one time-division multiplex oriented communication network via at least one packet-oriented communication network, comprising: implementing functions for operation and/or administration and/or maintenance in the time-division multiplex oriented communication network for transfer of the information within the time-division multiplex oriented communication network; transferring at least a part of the information via the packet-oriented communication network; and emulating at least some of the functions for operation, administration and maintenance of the time-division multiplex oriented communication network by the packet-oriented communication network. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a customer-side network transition unit is disposed between a customer area and the packet-oriented communication network, and an exchange-side network transition unit is disposed between the packet-oriented communication network and an exchange of the time-division multiplex oriented communication network. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a function relates to the activation of a loopback from the exchange via the exchange-side network transition unit back to the exchange, the exchange sets at least one Sa5 bit to the value zero and using successive Sa6 bits transmits an Sa6 bit sequence with the value “1111” at least eight times, the values of the Sa5 bits and the Sa6 bit sequence are detected in the exchange-side network transition unit, when the value zero is detected for the Sa5 bit when the value “1111” is detected eight times in succession for the Sa6 bit sequence by the exchange-side network transition unit, the data arriving from the exchange is transmitted back essentially unchanged to the exchange, whereby at least one A bit with the value one and at least one Sa5 bit with the value zero are transmitted from the exchange-side network transition unit to the exchange, and at least one A bit with the value one is transferred by the exchange-side network transition unit via the packet-oriented communication network. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the functions relates to activation of a loopback from the exchange, via the exchange-side network transition unit, via the customer-side network transition unit, back to the exchange-side network transition unit and then back to the exchange, the exchange transmits at least one Sa5 bit with a value zero and an Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1010” at least eight times, the value of the Sa5 bit and the value of the Sa6 bit sequence are detected in the exchange-side network transition unit, when the value zero is detected for the Sa5 bit and when the value “1010” is detected eight times in succession for the Sa6 bit sequence by the exchange-side network transition unit, the data arriving from the exchange is transmitted back essentially unchanged to the exchange, whereby at least one A bit with a value one and at least one Sa5 bit with a value zero are transmitted by the exchange-side network transition unit to the exchange, and whereby the incoming data is manipulated depending on transmission errors in a part of the loopback located in the packet-oriented communication network, the transmission of loopback data packets is initiated by the exchange-side network transition unit, the loopback data packets are detected in the customer-side network transition unit and transmitted back to the exchange-side network transition unit, the exchange-side network transition unit checks the received loopback data packets and depending on the result of the check manipulates the data to be transmitted to the exchange, and upon detection of a loopback data packet at least one A bit with the value one is transmitted to a customer telephony equipment by the customer-side network transition unit. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the functions relates to the monitoring of the performance and continuity of the transmission from the exchange-side network transition unit to the customer-side network transition unit, performance data packets and continuity data packets are generated in the exchange-side network transition unit and transmitted to the customer-side network transition unit, the performance data packets and continuity data packets are monitored in the customer-side network transition unit, when an error is detected by the customer-side network transition unit at least one E bit with a value zero is transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and is forwarded to the exchange, and in the exchange-side network transition unit a new checksum is computed for the data to be transmitted to the exchange. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein on of the function relates to the monitoring of the performance and continuity of the transmission from the customer-side network transition unit to the exchange-side network transition unit, performance data packets and continuity data packets are generated in the customer-side network transition unit and transmitted to the exchange-side network transition unit, the performance data packets and continuity data packets are monitored in the exchange-side network transition unit, upon an error the computation of a checksum for the data to be transmitted to the exchange is manipulated, and in the error-free case a checksum for the data to be transmitted to the exchange is computed without manipulation. 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the function relates to an error which is reported by a customer telephony equipment, that the error monitoring method is performed in the customer telephony equipment, when an error is detected by the customer telephony equipment least one E bit with a value zero is transmitted to the customer-side network transition unit, the value of the E bit is monitored in the customer-side network transition unit, when the value zero is detected for the E bit by the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa5 bit with the value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with the value “0001” are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and are forwarded to the exchange. 8. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the function relates to an error which is detected by the customer-side network transition unit, the error monitoring method is performed in the customer-side network transition unit, when an error is detected by the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa5 bit with a value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “0010” are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and are forwarded to the exchange, and upon an error being detected by the customer-side network transition unit at least one E bit with the value zero is transmitted to the customer telephony equipment. 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the function relates to a first error which is reported by a customer telephony equipment and to a second error which is detected by the customer-side network transition unit, a first error monitoring method is performed in the customer telephony equipment, upon an error being detected by the customer telephony equipment at least one E bit with a value zero is transmitted to the customer-side network transition unit, the values of the E bits are monitored in the customer-side network transition unit, a second error monitoring method is performed in the customer-side network transition unit, and upon an error being detected by the second error monitoring method and when the value zero is detected for the E bit by the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa5 bit with a value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “0011” are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and are forwarded to the exchanges. 10. The method according to acclaim 2, wherein one of the function relates to the detection of a loss of signal or a loss of frame alignment between a customer telephony equipment and the customer-side network transition unit, upon a loss being detected in the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa5 bit with a value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1100” are transmitted by the customer-side network transition unit via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and are forwarded to the exchange, and when a loss is detected by the customer-side network transition unit at least one E bit with the value zero is transmitted to the customer telephony equipment. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the functions relates to detection of a loss of continuity or a loss of a cell or a loss of cell alignment or a physical connection failure in the packet-oriented communication network, continuity data packets are generated in the exchange-side network transition unit and transmitted to the customer-side network transition unit, the continuity data packets are detected in the customer-side network transition unit, upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets or upon a loss of cell or a loss of cell alignment or a physical connection failure being detected by the customer-side network transition unit, a continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one is transmitted to a customer telephony equipment, and upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets or upon a loss of cell or a loss of cell alignment or a physical connection failure being detected in the customer-side network transition unit A bits originating from the customer telephony equipment are transmitted unchanged via the packet-oriented communication network, and upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets or upon a loss of cell or a loss of cell alignment or a physical connection failure being detected by the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa5 bit with a value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1110” are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and are forwarded to the exchange. 12. The method according to acclaim 2, wherein one of the functions relates to detection of a loss of signal between the exchange and the exchange-side network transition unit, upon a loss being detected in the exchange-side network transition unit by the exchange-side network transition unit no further continuity data packets are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network, the continuity data packets are monitored in the customer-side network transition unit, upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets a continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one is transmitted by the customer-side network transition unit to a customer telephony equipment, upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets in the customer-side network transition unit A bits originating from the customer telephony equipment are transmitted unchanged via the packet-oriented communication network, and upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets from the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa5 bit with a value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1110” are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and are forwarded to the exchange. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the functions relates to detection of a loss of signal or a loss of frame alignment between a customer telephony equipment and the customer-side network transition unit and to detection of a loss of signal between the exchange and the exchange-side network transition unit, upon a loss of signal being detected between the exchange and the exchange-side network transition unit in the exchange-side network transition unit no further continuity data packets are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network, the continuity data packets are monitored in the customer-side network transition unit, upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets a continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one is transmitted by the customer-side network transition unit to the customer telephony equipment, upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets at least one Sa5 bit with a value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1110” are transmitted by the customer-side network transition unit via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and from there are forwarded to the exchange, and upon a loss of signal or a loss of frame alignment being detected between the customer telephony equipment and the customer-side network transition unit and simultaneous non-arrival of the continuity data packets at least one A bit with a value zero is transmitted by the customer-side network transition unit via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and is forwarded to the exchange. 14. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the function relates to detection of a loss of continuity or a loss of cell or a loss of cell alignment or a physical connection failure between the customer-side network transition unit and the exchange-side network transition unit, continuity data packets are generated in the customer-side network transition unit and transmitted to the exchange-side network transition unit, upon non-arrival of the continuity data packets or upon a loss of cell or a loss of cell alignment or a physical connection failure being detected by the exchange-side network transition unit a bit sequence conforming to a predefined auxiliary bit pattern is transmitted to the exchange, and the exchange, after receiving the bit sequence, transmits an A bit with the value one to the exchange-side network transition unit. 15. The method according to acclaim 2, wherein one of the function relates to detection of a continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one, an occurrence of the continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one originating from the exchange is monitored in the exchange-side network transition unit, that when the bit sequence is detected at least one alarm data packet is generated and transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the customer-side network transition unit, the occurrence of alarm data packets is detected in the customer-side network transition unit, when an alarm data packet is detected by the customer-side network transition unit the continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one is transmitted to a customer telephony equipment, when an alarm data packet is detected in the customer-side network transition unit A bits originating from the customer telephony equipment are transmitted unchanged via the packet-oriented communication network, and when an alarm data packet is detected by the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1111” is transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and is forwarded to the exchange. 16. The method according to claim 2, wherein on of the functions relates to detection of a continuous bit stream of bits with a value one and to detection of a loss of signal or a loss of frame alignment between a customer telephony equipment and the customer-side network transition unit, an occurrence of the continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one originating from the exchange is monitored in the exchange-side network transition unit, when the bit sequence is detected at least one alarm data packet is generated and transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the customer-side network transition unit, the occurrence of alarm data packets and the signal and the frame alignment between the customer telephony equipments and the customer-side network transition unit are monitored in the customer-side network transition unit, when an alarm data packet tis detected by the customer-side network transition unit the continuous bit sequence of bits with a value one is transmitted to the customer telephony equipment, when an alarm data packet and a loss of signal or a loss of frame alignment is detected, at least one A bit with a value zero is transmitted by the customer-side network transition unit via the packet-oriented data communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and from there is forwarded to the exchanges, and when an alarm data packet is detected by the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa5 bit with a value one and at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1111” are transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and are forwarded to the exchange. 17. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the functions relates to detection of a voltage failure in the customer-side network transition unit, the operating voltage is monitored in the customer-side network transition unit, upon failure of the operating voltage in the customer-side network transition unit at least one Sa6 bit sequence with a value “1000” is transmitted via the packet-oriented communication network to the exchange-side network transition unit and is forwarded to the exchange, upon failure of the operating voltage in the customer-side network transition unit at least one E bit with a value zero is transmitted to a customer telephony equipment, and the exchange-side network transition unit transmits the Sa6 bit sequence unchanged and subsequently a bit sequence conforming to a predefined auxiliary bit pattern to the exchange. 18. The method according to claim 2, wherein the emulation is implemented by functions of the packet-oriented communication network. 19. The method according to claim 2, wherein the packet-oriented communication network is implemented according to asynchronous transfer mode. 20. The method according to claim 2, wherein the packet-oriented communication network is implemented according to the asynchronous transfer mode Adaption Layer 1 or according to the asynchronous transfer mode Adaption Layer 2. 21. The method according to claim 2, wherein the packet-oriented communication network is implemented according to the Internet Protocol. 22. The method according to claim 2, wherein the time-division multiplex oriented communication network is an ISDN network. 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein part of a primary multiplex access is replaced by the packet-oriented communication network, and/or the primary multiplex access includes an XDSL line between the customer-side network transition unit and the packet-oriented communication network. 24. The method according to claim 2, wherein operation, administration and maintenance functions are provided essentially according to ETSI standard ETS 300 011 and/or according to ITU-T standard G.962 and/or according to ETSI standard ETS 300 233. 25. The method according to claim 2, wherein a multi time frame including sixteen time frames according to ITU-T standard G.704 is used in the time-division multiplex oriented communication network, the multi time frame including an A bit in a third position and/or an Sa5 bit in a fifth position and/or an Sa6 bit in a sixth position in a start time slot of every second time frame beginning with the second start time slot of the multi time frame, and/or including an E bit in the first position of the second-to-last time frame and/or the last time frame of a multi time frame. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the data of the start time slot of each time frame is transmitted unchanged in value via the packet-oriented communication network. 27. The method according claim 2, wherein located between a customer telephony equipment and the time-division multiplex oriented communication network a broadband subscriber line via which primary multiplex traffic is carried. 28. (Canceled) 29. (Canceled) |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The time-division multiplex oriented communication network is, for example, an ISDN data transmission network (ISDN—Integrated Services Digital Network). In the time-division multiplex oriented communication network the data is transferred in different time slots in accordance with a time-division multiplex method. The packet-oriented communication network is a network in which the information or data is transferred in data packets. The packet-oriented communication network is for example a communication network operating according to the Internet Protocol. Another example of a packet-oriented communication network is an ATM network (ATM—Asynchronous Transfer Mode), in which, however, the data packets are referred to as cells. Functions for operation, administration and/or maintenance in the time-division multiplex oriented communication network have been defined for example in the following standards of the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) or ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union—Telecommunication Standardization Sector): ETSI ETS 300 233, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Access Digital Section for ISDN Primary Rate, May 1994, ITU-T G.962, Digital Sections and Digital Line Systems; Access Digital Section for ISDN Primary Rate at 2048 kbit/s, March 1993, ETSI ETS 300 011, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Primary Rate User-Network Interface Layer 1 Specification and Test Principles, April 1992. Thus, the functions for operation, administration and/or maintenance relate for example to the activation of loopbacks or to error monitoring. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention relates to a method for transferring information within at least one time-division multiplex oriented communication network via at least one packet-oriented communication network. Functions for operation and/or administration and/or maintenance are implemented in the time-division multiplex oriented communication network with the aim of transferring information within the time-division multiplex oriented communication network. The information relates for example to user data or voice data. The invention discloses, in one embodiment, a method for transmitting information within at least one time-division multiplex oriented communication network via at least one packet-oriented communication network, the method continuing to allow functions for operation, administration and/or maintenance of the time-division multiplex oriented communication network to be used in the time-division multiplex oriented communication network. Associated network transition units are also to be specified. In another embodiment according to the invention, at least some of the information is transferred via the packet-oriented communication network. At the same time at least some of the functions for operation, administration and/or maintenance are emulated by the packet-oriented communication network. As a result the functions specified for the time-division multiplex oriented communication network can continue to be used essentially without restriction. In another embodiment according to the invention, a customer-side network transition unit is interposed between a customer area and the packet-oriented communication network. The customer-side network transition unit is also referred to as a CP-IWF (Customer Premises—Interworking Function). In the embodiment, an exchange-side network transition unit is additionally interposed between the packet-oriented communication network and an exchange of the time-division multiplex oriented communication network. The exchange-side network transition unit is also referred to as a CO-IWF (Central Office—Interworking Function). In other embodiments according to the invention individual functions for operation, administration and maintenance are. In this case, the functions known from the time-division multiplex oriented communication network are retained in the time-division multiplex oriented communication network and emulated in the packet-oriented communication network. In still another embodiment according to the invention, the emulation is provided by functions of the packet-oriented communication network, in particular by the customer-side network transition unit and by the exchange-side network transition unit. In another embodiment, the packet-oriented communication network is an ATM network which is implemented according to the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). By means of this embodiment powerful methods which have been defined in ATM standards, for example in the standards of the ATM Forum, can be used: af-vtoa-0113.000, ATM Trunking Using AAL-2 for Narrowband Services, February 1999, af-vmoa-0145.000, Voice and Multimedia over ATM—Loop Emulation Service Using AAL-2, July 2000. In another embodiment, the packet-oriented communication network is implemented according to the ATM Adaption Layer 1 or according to the ATM Adaption Layer 2. These layers are also referred to as AAL1 and AAL2 respectively (AAL—ATM Adaption Layer). The AAL2 layer in particular is well suited to a reduction in bandwidth during the transmission in the packet-oriented communication network, in particular for the connection of subscribers. Reference is made for example to the standard af-vmoa-0145.000, Section 2.3, CP-IWF ATM Interfaces, 2.3.1 Physical Layer, where XDSL methods (XDSL—X-Digital Subscriber Line) are cited as examples of transmission methods, i.e. the ADSL method (ADSL—Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) and the SDSL method (SDSL—Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line). In yet another embodiment the packet-oriented communication network is implemented according to the Internet Protocol. In this way, for example, the IP over ATM transmission method can be used. In another embodiment, the time-division multiplex oriented communication network is an ISDN network. In connection with the invention the following standards relating to the ISDN network are particularly relevant: ITU-T I.411, ISDN User Network Interfaces—Reference Configuration, ITU-T I.412, ISDN User Network Interfaces—Interface Structures and Access Capabilities, and ITU-T Q.512, Exchange Interfaces for Subscriber Access. In another embodiment, parts of a primary multiplex access are replaced by the packet-oriented communication network. The primary multiplex access is also referred to as a Primary Rate Access. In one embodiment, the primary multiplex access is a so-called E1 access with a transmission capacity of 2,048 Mbit/s or a so-called DS1 access with a transmission capacity of 1,544 Mbit/s. The three above-mentioned standards relate to an E1 access. Integrating the packet-oriented communication network with the primary multiplex access allows the transmission bandwidth required on a subscriber access line to be considerably reduced. This enables transmission over two-wire copper lines, for example according to an XDSL method. In one embodiment, furthermore, a multi time frame consisting of sixteen time frames, as described for example in ITU-T standard G.704, is used in the time-division multiplex oriented communication network. This time frame is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2 . The time frame includes in particular a so-called A bit for indicating alarm conditions, a so-called Sa5 bit, a so-called Sa6 bit and a so-called E bit for indicating error conditions. The bits are transferred in the start time slots TSO of each time frame. In another embodiment, the start time slot TSO of each time frame is transferred over the packet-oriented communication network unchanged except for the mentioned changes in value, i.e. in particular without speech compression and without silence suppression. Another embodiment relates to a customer-side network transition unit and to an exchange-side network transition unit, each of which contain function units during the operation of which the method steps related to the customer-side network transition unit and to the exchange-side network transition unit are performed according to the invention or one of its embodiments. Thus, the above-mentioned technical effects also apply to the two network transition units. |
Switching contact arrangement for a power switch |
The invention relates to a switching contact arrangement for a power switch, which is characterized in that a plurality of contact levers are pivoted on a contact support (30) by means of a bearing pin (37) and that the contact support (30) is provided with at least three support elements (32a, 32b, 31) for radially supporting the bearing pin. In order to simplify production of the contact support, at least three of the support elements (32a, 32b, 31) are configured as a one-piece shaped element that forms the contact support (30). At least one of the support elements can have a metal element (31) that is at least partially embedded in a plastic shaped element (43) of the contact support (30). Said metal element (31) can be configured as a sheet metal part. |
1. A switching contact arrangement for an electrical switch, comprising: a contact mount; at least two contact levers, pivotably attached to the mount via a bearing bolt, wherein the contact mount includes at least three supporting elements adapted to radially support the bearing bolt, and wherein at least three of the supporting elements are produced integrally in the form of at least part of a molding forming the contact mount. 2. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molding is at least partially in the form of a plastic molding. 3. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one metallic reinforcement element is at least partially embedded in the plastic molding. 4. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the supporting elements has a metal part which is at least partially embedded in the plastic molding. 5. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the metal part is in the form of a metal sheet, a first subregion of which, including undercuts, is embedded in the plastic molding, and a second subregion of which, provided with a hole for the bearing bolt, projects out of the plastic molding. 6. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the contact mount is coupled to a switching shaft via a metallic coupling element, the supporting elements which contain a metal part are at a distance from the coupling element in the axial direction of the bearing bolt. 7. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the contact mount is equipped with a shielding body on at least one of the supporting elements, a holder is provided for the shielding body. 8. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the supporting elements has a metal part which is at least partially embedded in the plastic molding. 9. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the metal part is in the form of a metal sheet, a first subregion of which, including undercuts, is embedded in the plastic molding, and a second subregion of which, provided with a hole for the bearing bolt, projects out of the plastic molding. 10. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein, when the contact mount is coupled to a switching shaft via a metallic coupling element, the supporting elements which contain a metal part are at a distance from the coupling element in the axial direction of the bearing bolt. 11. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein, when the contact mount is coupled to a switching shaft via a metallic coupling element, the supporting elements which contain a metal part are at a distance from the coupling element in the axial direction of the bearing bolt. 12. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein, when the contact mount is coupled to a switching shaft via a metallic coupling element, the supporting elements which contain a metal part are at a distance from the coupling element in the axial direction of the bearing bolt. 13. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein when there is a contact mount equipped with a shielding body on at least one of the supporting elements, a holder is provided for the shielding body. 14. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein when there is a contact mount equipped with a shielding body on at least one of the supporting elements, a holder is provided for the shielding body. 15. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein when there is a contact mount equipped with a shielding body on at least one of the supporting elements, a holder is provided for the shielding body. 16. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein when there is a contact mount equipped with a shielding body on at least one of the supporting elements, a holder is provided for the shielding body. 17. A switching contact arrangement for a switch, comprising: at least two contact levers, pivotably attached to a contact support via a bearing pin, wherein the contact support includes at least three elements adapted to radially support the bearing pin, and wherein at least three of the elements are configured as a one piece shaped element forming the contact support. 18. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein the one piece element is at least partially formed as a plastic molding. 19. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one metallic reinforcement element is at least partially embedded in the plastic molding. 20. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of the supporting elements includes a metal part which is at least partially embedded in the plastic molding. 21. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the metal part is in the form of a metal sheet, a first subregion of which, including undercuts, is embedded in the plastic molding, and a second subregion of which, provided with a hole for the bearing pin, projects out of the plastic molding. 22. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein, when the contact mount is coupled to a switching shaft via a metallic coupling element, the supporting elements which contain a metal part are at a distance from the coupling element in the axial direction of the bearing pin. 23. The switching contact arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the contact mount is equipped with a shielding body on at least one of the supporting elements, a holder is provided for the shielding body. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In a known electrical switch of this type, in which two or more contact levers which form the contact are held on the contact mount by way of a bearing bolt such that they can pivot, the contact mount has at least three supporting elements in order to support the bearing bolt radially (E 0 222 686 B1). The contact mount in this case includes a metal frame, which is formed from two side walls and from two or more bolts which connect the side walls. The metal frame is hinged via a coupling bolt on an insulating coupling element, which is used for coupling the contact mount to a switch drive. Two of the supporting elements, which are associated with the ends of the bearing bolt, are in this case formed by the side walls of the metal frame. In order to prevent undesirable radial bending of the bearing bolt for the contact levers with as little complexity in terms of additional material as possible, two intermediate bearings for this contact mount, which are arranged between adjacent contact levers in the axially central region of the bearing bolt, form additional supporting elements by being hinged on the coupling bolt. In this case, aperture openings are required for the contact mount, for the intermediate bearings to pass through to the coupling bolt. Supporting elements which are integrated in this way in addition to the two outer supporting elements in the contact mount must be positioned for installation of the bearing bolt, owing to their capability to pivot about the coupling bolt. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Against the background of an electrical switch, an embodiment of the invention is based on an object of simplifying the production and installation of the contact mount. According to an embodiment of the invention, an object may be achieved in that at least three of the supporting elements are in the form of part of a molding which forms the contact mount and is produced integrally. For the purposes of an embodiment of the invention, the expression an integrally produced molding should be understood as being a part in which two or more functional elements are connected in the course of a molding process, such as a stamping, injection-compression molding, casting, injection molding, compression molding or sintering process, to form a single component which is assembled such that it cannot be disconnected for installation purposes. In the case of a refinement such as this, the three supporting elements are integrated rigidly in a predetermined position in the contact mount, as part of it. In this case, the three supporting elements are actually aligned with the axis of the bearing bolt during the production of the contact mount so that no tilting of the bearing bolt caused by tolerance discrepancies will in practice occur during operation of the switch. A bearing bolt which is supported in this way is also subject to only a small maximum amount of bending when high short-circuit or surge currents occur, and thus has a good capability to withstand high short-circuit and surge currents. The novel switching contact arrangement may have a large number of contact levers, which are each subject to an individual tolerance discrepancy from a given nominal size, and intermediate bearings, which are possibly likewise subject to an individual tolerance discrepancy from their nominal size, but which may be part of the contact levers, since the number of contact levers is subdivided into subsets. Each of these is arranged axially bounded between two adjacent supporting elements. This axial bounding of the subsets of contact levers limits any axial movement of the contact levers in one subset, owing to the current forces which act between them, to the axial section of the bearing bolt which is bounded by the respective supporting elements. The maximum amount of movement is not greater than the sum of all the individual tolerance discrepancies of the contact levers and of the intermediate bearings, which may be present, in this subset. This makes it possible to geometrically associate the contact levers with contact force springs such that their spring force is not reduced by bending or tilting. The geometrically accurate association between the contact force springs and the contact levers thus also contributes to increasing the capability of the switching contact arrangement to withstand short-circuit and surge currents. If the molding is at least partially in the form of a plastic molding, then there is no need for the coupling bolt to have an electrically insulating configuration. The mechanical strength of a plastic molding such as this can be increased by embedding at least one reinforcement element at least partially in the plastic molding. A thermosetting plastic which, for example, has fiber reinforcement is typically used for the plastic molding and a nonmagnetic steel, for example, is used for the reinforcement element. As an alternative to this, other pure plastics or, for example, plastics reinforced by ceramic or glass fibers can also be used for the plastic molding, and other metals or metal sheets can be used for the reinforcement element. One preferred refinement of the novel switching contact arrangement provides for at least one of the supporting elements to have a metal part which is at least partially embedded in the plastic molding. A metal part such as this may be part of the reinforcement element, thus at the same time increasing the mechanical strength of that part of the contact mount which forms the supporting element. If the metal part is in the form of a metal sheet, for example composed of nonmagnetic sheet steel, a first subregion of which, which has undercuts, is embedded in the plastic molding and a second subregion of which, which is provided with a hole for the bearing bolt, projects out of the plastic molding. This then advantageously allows the cross section of the supporting element to be reduced such that it is no broader than the distance between the contact levers that is required for separation of the contact levers and thus does not lead to any additional broadening of the contact mount. A further advantageous refinement of the novel switching contact arrangement provides for supporting elements which contain the metal parts to be at a distance from the coupling element in the axial direction of the bearing bolt if the contact mount is coupled to a switching shaft, which can be rotated using a switch drive, via a metallic coupling element. This makes it possible to avoid accidental energizing and problems relating to the insulation between the contact mount and the switch drive, in a simple manner. In this refinement, the entire available material depth of the contact mount transversely with respect to the bearing bolt can be used for the rigid embedding of a first subregion of a supporting element which is in the form of a metal sheet. If a holder for the shielding body is provided on at least one of the supporting elements for a contact mount which is equipped with the shielding body, then this provides additional support for the shielding body against the gas pressure which occurred during switching. In a refinement such as this, side mounting limbs, which rest on the contact mount, are designed to be smaller owing to the reduced load, or may possibly be omitted. |
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