text
stringlengths 0
1.67M
|
|---|
Radiolucent retractor and related components |
A radiolucent halo-type retractor (20) having a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member (32) connected to a radiolucent curvilinear movable member (34). Each of the fixed and movable members has a radiolucent male coupling (44, 46) projecting outward from a convex surface (40, 42) to receive a female coupling of a retractor arm. The ends (60, 68) of the movable member are separated by a distance less than a distance separating the ends (56, 64) of the fixed member. Radiolucent starburst connectors (58, 62) are disposed on first ends of the fixed and movable members to secure the fixed and movable members at a desired angular orientation. Radiolucent starburst connectors (66, 70) are also disposed on second ends of the fixed and movable members to secure the fixed and movable members at a desired angular orientation. A pin (72) rotatably connects the first ends. A locking shaft (76) rotatably connects the second ends and is operable to lock the fixed and movable members in a desired orientation. |
1. A radiolucent halo-type retractor comprising: a curvilinear fixed member comprising first and second ends, and a first radiolucent male coupling projecting radially outward from the curvilinear fixed member and adapted to receive a female coupling portion of a retractor arm, the first male coupling comprising a first leg member and a first locking member, the first leg member extending over a length of the fixed member and the first leg member comprising an inner end connected to the fixed member, and a distal end connected to the first locking member; a curvilinear movable member comprising first and second ends, and a second male coupling projecting radially outward from the curvilinear movable member and adapted to receive a female coupling of a retractor arm, the second male coupling comprising a second leg member and a second locking member, the second leg member extending over a length of the movable member and the second leg member comprising an inner end connected to the movable member and a distal end connected to the second locking member; a first pin rotatably connecting fixed in one of the first ends and the second ends extending into an other of the first ends to rotatably connect the first ends together; and a locking shaft rotatably connecting another of the first ends and extending through one of the second ends and threaded into an other of the second ends, the locking shaft operable to lock the fixed and movable members in a desired relative orientation. 2. A radiolucent halo-type retractor comprising: a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member comprising first and second ends, a first convex surface, and a first radiolucent male coupling projecting outward from the first convex surface and adapted to receive a female coupling portion of a retractor arm, the first radiolucent male coupling comprising a first leg member and a first locking member, the first leg member extending over a length of the first convex surface and the first leg member comprising an inner end fixed to the first convex surface and a distal end connected to the first locking member; a radiolucent curvilinear movable member comprising first and second ends, a second convex surface, and a second radiolucent male coupling projecting outward from the second convex surface of the movable member, the second radiolucent male coupling comprising a second leg member and a second locking member, the second leg member extending over a length of the second convex surface and the second leg member comprising an inner end fixed to the second convex surface and a distal end connected to the second locking member; a first pin fixed to one of the first ends and extending into an other of the first ends to rotatably connect the first ends together; and a locking shaft rotatably connecting another of the first ends and extending through one of the second ends and threaded into an other of the second ends, the locking shaft operable to lock the fixed and movable members in a desired relative orientation. 3. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 wherein each of the first and the second radiolucent male couplings forms a channel with a respective one of the convex surfaces. 4. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 wherein each of the first and the second radiolucent male couplings forms a pair of opposed channels with a respective one of the convex surfaces. 5. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 wherein each of the first and the second radiolucent male couplings comprises a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional profile. 6. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 wherein each of the first and second radiolucent male couplings comprises a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional profile. 7. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 6 wherein each of the leg members and each respective locking member forms a channel with a respective one of the convex surfaces. 8. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 7 wherein each of the leg members and the a respective locking member form a substantially T-shaped coupling. 9. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 8 wherein each leg member and a respective locking member form a pair of channels with a respective one of the convex surfaces. 10. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 wherein the locking shaft is made from a radiolucent material. 11. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 wherein the pin is made from a radiolucent material. 12. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 wherein the fixed and movable members are substantially semicircular. 13. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 2 further comprising a radiolucent retractor arm having a radiolucent female coupling connectable to one of the first and the second male couplings. 14. A radiolucent halo-type retractor comprising: a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member comprising first and second ends; a radiolucent curvilinear movable member comprising first and second ends; first and second radiolucent starburst connectors disposed on the first ends of the fixed and movable members, respectively, the first and second starburst connectors securing the first ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation; third and fourth radiolucent starburst connectors disposed on the second ends of the fixed and movable members, respectively, the third and fourth starburst connectors securing the second ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation; a radiolucent pin affixed to one of the first and second starburst connectors and extending through another of the first and second starburst connectors, the pin providing an axis of rotation for the first ends of the fixed and movable members; and a radiolucent locking shaft mounted with respect to one of the third and fourth starburst connectors and threadedly engaging another of the third and fourth starburst connectors, the locking shaft providing an axis of rotation for the second ends of the fixed and movable members. 15. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 14 wherein each of the fixed and movable members has respective opposed convex and concave surfaces, and the first starburst connector is disposed on the concave surface of the fixed member and the second starburst is disposed on the convex surface of the movable member. 16. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 15 wherein the third starburst connector is disposed on the convex surface of the fixed member and the fourth starburst is disposed on the concave surface of the movable member. 17. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 16 wherein the radiolucent locking shaft is mounted with respect to the first starburst connectors on the fixed member and threadedly engages the second starburst connector on the movable member. 18. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 17 wherein the radiolucent pin is affixed to the third starburst connector on the fixed member and extends through the fourth starburst connector. 19. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 14 further comprising a radiolucent retractor arm connectable to one of the fixed and the movable members. 20. A radiolucent halo-type retractor comprising: a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member comprising first and second ends, and a first convex surface, a radiolucent curvilinear movable member comprising first and second ends, and a second convex surface, the first and second ends of the fixed member being separated by a distance different from a distance separating the first and second ends of the movable member; a first pin rotatably connecting one of the first ends and the second ends; and a locking shaft rotatably connecting another of the first ends and the second ends, the locking shaft operable to lock the fixed and movable members in a desired relative orientation and upon the locking shaft locking the fixed and movable members together, the distance between the first and second ends of the fixed member becoming equal to the distance between the first and the second ends of the movable member and the first and second ends of one of the fixed member and the movable member resiliently spreading apart. 21. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 20 wherein the first and second ends of the fixed member are separated by a distance greater than the distance separating the first and the second ends of the movable member. 22. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 21 wherein the first and second ends of the movable member resiliently spread apart as the locking member locks the fixed and the movable members together. 23. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 22 wherein the first and second ends of the movable member automatically move toward each other as the locking member loosens the fixed and the movable members. 24. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 23 further comprising first and second radiolucent starburst connectors disposed on the first ends of the fixed and movable members, respectively, the first and second starburst connectors securing the first ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation in response to the locking shaft locking the fixed and movable members together. 25. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 24 wherein the first and second ends of the movable member automatically move toward each other as the locking member loosens the fixed and the movable members, the motion of the first and the second ends of the movable member permits the first and the second starburst connectors to be moved relative to each other. 26. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 25 further comprising third and fourth radiolucent starburst connectors disposed on the second ends of the fixed and movable members, respectively, the third and fourth starburst connectors securing the second ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation in response to the locking shaft locking the fixed and movable members together. 27. The radiolucent halo-type retractor of claim 26 wherein the first and second ends of the movable member automatically move toward each other as the locking member loosens the fixed and the movable members, the motion of the first and the second ends of the movable member permits the third and the fourth starburst connectors to be moved relative to each other. 28. A halo-type retractor comprising: a curvilinear fixed member; a curvilinear movable member connected to, and movable with respect to, the fixed member; a support bracket connectable to the fixed member, the support bracket having a radiolucent support rod; a mounting clamp comprising a rod holder connectable to the support rod, a radiolucent fixed body having a first hook and being connectable to the rod holder, a movable body having a second hook, the movable body being mounted for linear motion in, and securable relative to, the fixed body, the movable body and the second hook being translatable along a linear path toward and away from the first hook and adapted to respectively clamp and unclamp the halo-type retractor with respect to a cranial stabilization device. 29. A radiolucent halo-type retractor comprising: a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member comprising first and second ends, a first convex surface, and a first radiolucent male coupling projecting outward from the first convex surface and adapted to receive a female coupling portion of a retractor arm; a radiolucent curvilinear movable member comprising first and second ends, a second convex surface, and a second radiolucent male coupling projecting outward from the second convex surface of the movable member and adapted to receive a female coupling of a retractor arm, the first and second ends of the fixed member being separated by a distance different from a distance separating the first and second ends of the movable member; first and second radiolucent starburst connectors disposed on the first ends of the fixed and movable members, respectively, the first and second starburst connectors securing the first ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation; third and fourth radiolucent starburst connectors disposed on the second ends of the fixed and movable members, respectively, the third and fourth starburst connectors securing the second ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation; a first pin rotatably connecting the first ends; and a locking shaft rotatably connecting the second ends, the locking shaft operable to lock the fixed and movable members in a desired relative orientation. 30. The halo-type retractor of claim 28 wherein the fixed member, the movable member, the support bracket and the mounting clamp are substantially radiolucent. 31. (new) A mounting clamp for connecting a support rod to a cranial stabilization device, the support rod having an upper end connected to a surgical tool support, the mounting clamp comprising: a rod holder adapted to be secured to the support rod at desired locations along a length of the support rod; a fixed body having a first hook and connectable the rod holder; and a movable body having a second hook, the movable body being mounted for linear motion in, and securable relative to, the fixed body, the movable body and the second hook being translatable along a linear path toward and away from the first hook and adapted to respectively clamp and unclamp the support rod to the cranial stabilization device. 32. The halo-type retractor of claim 31 wherein the rod holder, the fixed body and the movable body are substantially radiolucent. 33. A halo-type retractor comprising: a curvilinear fixed member comprising a first cavity disposed in a first surface of the fixed member, a second cavity disposed in another surface of the fixed member, the second cavity intersecting with, and being substantially perpendicular to, the first cavity, and a locking screw threaded into the fixed member and having a distal end; a curvilinear movable member connected to, and movable with respect to, the fixed member; a support bracket connectable to the fixed member, the support bracket comprising a support rod being slidable through the second cavity, and a projection on an upper end of the support rod, the projection being slidable through the first cavity but not through the second cavity, the projection being lockable in the second cavity by rotation of the locking screw; and a mounting clamp adapted to clamp and unclamp the halo-type retractor with respect to a cranial stabilization device. 34. The halo-type retractor of claim 33 further comprising: a third cavity disposed in a third surface of the curvilinear fixed member at a location substantially diametrically opposed a location of the first cavity; a fourth cavity disposed in a fourth surface of the fixed member, the third cavity intersecting with, and being substantially perpendicular to, the fourth cavity; and a second locking screw threaded into the fixed member and having a distal end. 35. A surgical tool support mountable on a ball end of a support rod, the ball end having a diameter larger than a diameter of the support rod, the surgical tool support comprising: a member adapted to support a surgical tool, the member having an opening comprising a circular portion disposed above and intersecting a slot portion, the circular portion having a diameter larger than a width of the slot portion, the circular portion adapted to receive a ball end of a support rod being slid therethrough and the slot portion adapted to receive the support rod being slid therethrough, the slot portion being sized not to receive the ball portion of the support rod; and a locking screw threaded into the member and having a distal end extending into the circular portion of the opening, the ball portion of the support rod being lockable in the circular portion of the opening by rotation of the locking screw. 36. The surgical tool support of claim 35 wherein the locking screw has a longitudinal centerline substantially collinear with a longitudinal centerline with the slot portion of the opening. 37. The surgical tool support of claim 35 wherein the member and the locking screw are substantially radiolucent. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>There are many different known surgical retractor components, for example, halo-style retractors and supporting components as well as flexible retractor arms. Halo-style retractors are often made of two hinged, generally semicircular half-rings, a first of which is affixed to supporting structure. A second half-ring is pivotable and adjustable with respect to the first half-ring about a generally diametric axis of rotation. Retractor arms and other attachments are attachable to the half-rings via an internal dovetail slot extending along an outer directed surface of the half-rings. The halo-style retractor is mounted on a cranial stabilization device, for example, a skull clamp, and its position and orientation are adjustable to meet the needs of the surgical procedure. Often the skull clamp is radiolucent and may, in turn, be mounted on a radiolucent patient support structure such as an operating table extension. The components of such halo-style retractors are usually fabricated from stainless steel or other metals. One problem with such halo-style retractors is that the metal is radiopaque to x-ray and other imaging processes, and such metal parts produce “artifacts” in resulting images. These artifacts diminish the usefulness of the imaging process because they often obscure an image of a portion of a patient that normally would be viewable, absent the obscuring radiopaque retractor arm, halo-type retractor and supporting components. Further, more and more surgical procedures are requiring interoperative scanning procedures, and the use of radiopaque retractor components complicates such procedures. For example, one option is to remove the radiopaque equipment prior to the scanning process. As will be appreciated, that option is not often possible in an interoperative procedure. Another option is to position and orient the radiopaque retractor components so that they still provide the desired surgical function but also minimize artifacts and interference in portions of a scanned image that are of interest to a surgeon. This option is at best, difficult, time consuming and provides only a limited benefit, and at worst, the option is practically not available. Therefore, there is a need for a radiolucent retractor arm, a radiolucent halo-type surgical retractor and a radiolucent retractor support structure that minimize artifacts in an imaging process. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention provides a radiolucent flexible retractor arm, radiolucent halo-style retractor and radiolucent support structure that produce minimal artifacts in an images. The radiolucent retractor components of the present invention are especially beneficial when used with interoperative scanning procedures. Further, the radiolucent halo-style retractor of the present invention uses minimal parts, is cost effective to manufacture and easy to use. According to the principles of the present invention and in accordance with the described embodiments, the invention provides a radiolucent halo-type retractor having a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member and a radiolucent movable member. Each of the fixed and movable members has a radiolucent male coupling projecting radially outward from a convex surface on the respective fixed and movable members. Further, a pin rotatably connects respective first ends of the fixed and movable members; and a locking shaft rotatably connects respective second ends of the fixed and movable members. The locking shaft is operable to lock the fixed and movable members in a desired relative orientation. The application of male coupling members to the fixed and movable members substantially simplifies the process of molding the fixed and movable members and thus, helps to reduce the cost of manufacturing the members. In another embodiment of the invention, a radiolucent halo-type retractor has a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member and a radiolucent curvilinear movable member. First and second radiolucent starburst connectors are disposed on first ends of the fixed and movable members respectively. The first and second starburst connectors secure the first ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation. Third and fourth radiolucent starburst connectors are disposed on second ends of the fixed and movable members, respectively. The third and fourth starburst connectors secure the second ends of the fixed and movable members at a desired relative angular orientation. A radiolucent pin is affixed to one of the first and second starburst connectors and extends through another of the first and second starburst connectors. The pin providing an axis of rotation for the first ends of the fixed and movable members. A radiolucent locking shaft is mounted with respect to one of the third and fourth starburst connectors and threadedly engages another of the third and fourth starburst connectors. The locking shaft provides an axis of rotation for the second ends of the fixed and movable members. The use of the four starburst connectors on the overlapping ends of the fixed and movable members simplifies the structure of the retractor without compromising its rigidity when the members are locked together. In a further embodiment of the invention, a radiolucent halo-type retractor has a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member and a radiolucent curvilinear movable member. First and second ends of the fixed member are separated by a distance different from a distance separating first and second ends of the movable member. A first pin rotatably connects the first ends of the fixed and movable members, and a locking shaft rotatably connects the second ends of the fixed and movable members. The locking shaft is operable to lock the fixed and movable members in a desired relative orientation. In one aspect of this invention, the distance separating the ends of the movable member is less than the distance separating the ends of the fixed member. Therefore, upon the locking shaft locking the fixed and movable members together, the movable member resiliently spreads and the distance between the first and second ends of the movable member becomes substantially equal to the distance between the first and the second ends of the fixed member. Such a construction permits the movable member to be controlled by loosening a single locking shaft. Further, the resiliency of the movable member allows the surgeon to “feel” the motion of the movable member as it “clicks” or “snaps” from one starburst tooth to another, and thus, the surgical retractor is substantially easier to use than known halo-style retractors. In addition, the capability of being able to adjust and lock the movable member with respect to the fixed member is accomplished with only one additional part, the locking shaft. This reduction in parts from known halo-style retractors also helps to reduce the manufacturing cost and provides a more reliable and trouble free operation. These and other advantageous features of the invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings. |
Method and system for fast wake-up of oscillators |
A method and system for fast wakeup of a high-Q oscillator (300) that includes a resonating element (304), preferably a crystal resonator (304), and an amplifier (310). The method comprises connecting the resonating element (304) to a fast wakeup, low-Q oscillator (302), inputting a plurality of pulses generated by the low-Q oscillator (302) into the resonating element (304), and simultaneously disconnecting the resonating element (304) from the low-Q oscillator (302) while connecting the resonating element (304) to the amplifier (310), thereby obtaining substantially uniform steady state oscillations in the high-Q oscillator. The system (300) includes in addition to high-Q and low-Q oscillator elements a mechanism for counting the pulses (312) and for performing the simultaneous disconnection and connection mentioned above. |
1. A method for reducing the start-up time of a high-Q oscillator comprising the steps of: a. providing a low-Q fast wake-up oscillator; b. providing a high-Q resonator connectable through two, first and second switches to two connecting configurations, a first of said connecting configurations connecting said high-Q resonator to said low-Q fast wake-up oscillator and to a voltage reference, and a second of said connecting configurations disconnecting said high-Q resonator from said low-Q fast wake-up oscillator; and c. operating said low-Q fast wake-up oscillator to generate steady state, substantially constant amplitude oscillations in said high-Q resonator when said high-Q resonator is connected in said second connecting configuration. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operating includes waking up said low-Q oscillator, thereby providing a preset plurality of substantially equal amplitude pulses to said high-Q crystal resonator when said high-Q crystal resonator is connected in said first connecting configuration. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second connecting configuration includes an internal amplifier connected between said first and second switches, and wherein said step of operating further includes simultaneously switching said switches from a first switching configuration to a second switching configuration in which said internal amplifier closes a loop with said high-Q resonator. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said simultaneous switching is effected by a counter connected to said low-Q oscillator and to said first and second switches. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said providing a preset plurality of pulses includes presetting a number of pulses in said plurality in said counter, and generating an output signal from said counter to said switches when said preset number is reached. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of pulses is equal to an optimal plurality defined by a start of an oscillation self cancellation in the high-Q oscillator. 7. A fast wakeup high-Q oscillator circuit comprising: a. a fast wakeup low-Q oscillator; b. a high-Q resonating element connectable to said low-Q oscillator and to an internal amplifier; and c. a wakeup mechanism operative to transfer pulses generated by said low-Q oscillator to said high-Q resonating element, said pulses used to fast wakeup a high-Q oscillator the includes the high-Q resonating element and the internal amplifier. 8. The oscillator circuit of claim 7, wherein said resonating element is a crystal resonator. 9. The oscillator circuit of claim 7, wherein said wakeup mechanism includes two switches operative to cooperatively switch said resonating element from a first to a second connecting configuration, said second connecting configuration including an internal amplifier connected to said resonating element, said wakeup mechanism further including a counter configured to generate an output signal that effects said switching. 10. The oscillator circuit of claim 7, wherein the quality factor of said low-Q oscillator is between 1 and 5. 11. The oscillator circuit of claim 10, wherein the quality factor of said high-Q resonating element is between 10,000 and 100,000. 12. A system for fast waking up a high-Q oscillator having a resonating element connected to an internal amplifier, the system comprising: a. a low-Q oscillator connectable to the resonating element and operative to input a plurality of pulses to said resonating element when the resonating element is disconnected from the internal amplifier, said pulses building up the energy of the resonating element; and b. means to simultaneously disconnect the resonating element from said low-Q oscillator and to reconnect the resonating element to the internal amplifier, whereby said high-Q oscillator is speedily woken up by said built up energy. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said resonating element is a crystal resonator. 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the quality factor of said low-Q oscillator is between 1 and 5. 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the quality factor of said high-Q resonating element is between 10,000 and 100,000. 16. The system of claim 12, wherein said means include two switches. 17. A method for fast wakeup of a high-Q oscillator that includes a resonating element and an amplifier, the method comprising the steps of; a. connecting the resonating element to a fast wakeup, low-Q oscillator; b. inputting a plurality of pulses generated by said low-Q oscillator into the resonating element, thereby building up a resonating element energy; and c. simultaneously disconnecting the resonating element from said low-Q oscillator while connecting the resonating element to the amplifier, thereby obtaining substantially uniform steady state oscillations in the high-Q oscillator. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said resonating element is a crystal resonator. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of simultaneously disconnecting is effected by a signal output by a counter connected to said low-Q oscillator, said counter counting said plurality of pulses. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Many consumer products in use today have embedded RF wireless communication elements. Wireless consumer products ideally require low power consumption and low cost. One strategy for low power consumption (i.e. power conservation) in low data rate applications is to use a device that normally includes at least one oscillator in a mode of bursts of very high rate data streams, separated by “sleep” modes during which the device consumes very little current. However, this strategy has a problem in that the wake-up time of the device's oscillator could be quite long, i.e. several microseconds. This makes such a strategy unattractive. Typically, an oscillator includes a quartz crystal as a resonance element. Quartz crystals are well known in the art. A quartz crystal is characterized by a very precise resonance frequency or “accuracy”, and a very high quality factor marked as “Q”. The quality factor is the ratio between the energy installed in the crystal and the energy wasted in every cycle of oscillation. In order for the oscillator to “wake-up” at the start of an oscillation cycle, one needs to take a signal introduced on the resonator feeds, amplify it and feed it back into the resonator. The initial signal on the resonator feeds is white noise, which has the bandwidth of the resonator and the amplitude of the equivalent resistance of the resonator. Because this signal is very small, one needs to wait a long time for the energy in the resonator to build lip. Circuits and methods for fast wake-up or “kick-starting” an oscillator are also known. In particular, there are known methods and circuits that use energy other than white noise to kick-start an oscillator. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,027 to Yin (hereafter “Yin”) teaches a transistor circuit for fast start up of a crystal oscillator. A voltage pulse from a pulse generator 30 is mirrored to the gain stage comprised of transistors T 6 , T 7 and T 8 to make a current pulse that causes the crystal to start oscillating. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,742 to Prado (hereafter “Prado”) teaches a crystal oscillator in which a noise generator 16 applies the voltage waveform illustrated as a curve 50 in his FIG. 4 to an input 12 A of an oscillator circuit 12 . However, both Yin's and Prado's use of a single “kick” pulse has a major disadvantage: it provides a wake-up time that is still far too long in comparison with the times achievable with the method and system of the present invention, i.e. wastes energy. By providing a single interrogating pulse to the crystal resonator, one does not fully utilize the potential of awakening the crystal oscillator in a fast and efficient manner. There is therefore a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have a fast wake-up oscillator that does not suffer for the disadvantages listed above. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention provides a method and system that uses multiple pulses to fast wakeup an oscillator but avoids the cancellation oscillations of FIG. 2 . In the present invention, we can amplify and resonate an interrogating effect by applying a series of pulses, which are well timed to build an oscillating effect, therefore achieving a wake-up time far shorter than the one achieved by single “kick” pulses as in Yin and Prado above. According to the present invention there is provided a method for reducing the start-up time of a high-Q oscillator comprising the steps of: providing a low-Q fast wake-up oscillator; providing a high-Q resonator connectable through two, first and second switches to two connecting configurations, the first of the connecting configurations connecting the high-Q resonator to the low-Q fast wake-up oscillator and to a voltage reference, and the second of the connecting configurations disconnecting the high-Q resonator from the low-Q fast wake-up oscillator; and operating the low-Q fast wake-up oscillator to generate steady state, substantially constant amplitude oscillations in the high-Q resonator when the high-Q resonator is connected in the second connecting configuration. According to the present invention there is provided a fast wakeup high-Q oscillator system comprising a fast wakeup low-Q oscillator, a high-Q resonating element connectable to the low-Q oscillator and to an internal amplifier, and a wakeup mechanism operative to transfer pulses generated by the low-Q oscillator to the high-Q resonating element, the pulses used to fast wakeup a high-Q oscillator the includes the high-Q resonating element and the internal amplifier. According to the present invention there is provided a system for fast waking up a high-Q oscillator having a resonating element connected to an internal amplifier, the system comprising: a low-Q oscillator connectable to the resonating element and operative to input a plurality of pulses to the resonating element when the resonating element is disconnected from the internal amplifier, the pulses building up the energy of the resonating element; and means to simultaneously disconnect the resonating element from the low-Q oscillator and to reconnect the resonating element to the internal amplifier, whereby the high-Q oscillator is speedily woken up by the built up energy. According to the present invention there is provided a method for fast wakeup of a high-Q oscillator that includes a resonating element and an amplifier, the method comprising the steps of connecting the resonating element to a fast wakeup, low-Q oscillator; inputting a plurality of pulses generated by the low-Q oscillator into the resonating element, thereby building up a resonating element energy; and simultaneously disconnecting the resonating element from the low-Q oscillator while connecting the resonating element to the amplifier, thereby obtaining substantially uniform steady state oscillations in the high-Q oscillator. Because the wakeup of the high-Q oscillator in the present invention is based on a train of pulses of equal frequency and amplitude generated by the low-Q oscillator and not on white noise, the wakeup is much more efficient and much faster than in prior art systems. Thus, the system and method of the present invention advantageously save energy in the many cases where a high-Q oscillator is active for only a very small portion of a duty cycle, because much less energy is wasted on the wakeup itself relative to the other active functions of the high-Q oscillator. |
Attractants for moths |
A method of selecting the components of a blend attractive to moth pests, comprising the steps of: (1) measuring the attractiveness of a plurality of single candidate compounds; and (2) selecting for blending those candidate compounds which show statistically significant attraction. |
1. A composition for attracting noctuid moths comprising one or more floral volatiles selected from the group consisting of phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol and a lilac aldehyde in admixture with one or more leaf volatiles selected from the group consisting of geraniol, 3-carene, limonene, Z-3-hexenyl acetate, Z-3-hexenyl salicylate, linalool, α-pinene and cineole, and an inert carrier. 2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein a single floral volatile is present and it is phenylacetaldehyde. 3. A composition as claimed in claim 2 comprising phenylacetaldehyde in admixture with limonene, linalool and cineole. 4. A composition as claimed in claim 3 further Comprising Z-3-hexenyl salicylate or gamma-terpinene. 5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein an admixture of floral volatiles comprising phenylacetaldehyde and 2-phenylethanol and/or benzyl alcohol is present. 6. A composition as claimed in claim 5 further comprising an admixture of limonene, linalool and cineole. 7. A composition as claimed in claim 5 further comprising z-3-hexenyl salicylate. 8. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the inert carrier is selected from the group consisting of polyols, esters, methylene chloride, alcohol, preferably C1-C4alcohol, vegetable oil or SIRENE. 9. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 further comprising an insect toxicant. 10. A composition as claimed in claim 9 wherein the insect toxicant is a pyrethroid or a carbamate. 11. A composition as claimed in claim 10 wherein the insect toxicant is selected from the group consisting of bifenthrin, carbaryl, methomyl, acephate, thiodicarb, cyfluthrin, malathion, chlorpyrifos, emamectin benzoate, abamectin, spinosad, endosulfan, and mixtures thereof. 12. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 further comprising a bacterial or viral pathogen. 13. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 further comprising an insect growth regulator or a compound capable of eliciting behaviour modification or disrupting physiological functions. 14. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 further comprising a feeding stimulant and/or food source. 15. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 further comprising humectants, preservatives, thickeners, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, emulsifiers, film-forming polymers and mixtures thereof. 16. A method of attracting noctuid moths to a locus, comprising the steps of applying a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 to said locus. 17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the locus is a trap crop. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the composition is applied to the trap crop, preferably by spraying. 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the composition in disseminated from a dispenser located within the trap crop. 20. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said locus is an insect trap. 21. The use of Z-3-hexenyl salicylate as an attractant for noctuid moths. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>It has long been appreciated that it would be desirable to attract insect pests to a locus, where action may be taken either to kill the pest or to otherwise reduce its numbers. This strategy is referred to as an “attract-and-kill” strategy. Pheromone attractants have been previously used in attract-and-kill strategies, however complications associated with variation in sex ratios, multiple mating, female competition, immigration of mated females and male responsiveness to pheromones make the effectiveness of this strategy uncertain (Gregg & Wilson 1991). Nevertheless, in cotton, the attract-and-kill approach using pheromones has led to significant reductions in boll weevil populations in the United States of America (Smith et al. 1994) and in pink bollworm populations in Egypt (Mafra-Neto and Habib 1996). Attract-and-kill methods using crude bait such as molasses were commonly used for Helicoverpa zea in the United States of America before the development of synthetic insecticides (for example, Ditman 1937). It is nevertheless a considerable disadvantage that pheromone attractants attract only male moths, and crude preparations have limited effectiveness. Dissemination of selective pathogens of pest moth species is potentially another means for control. In such a technique, moths would be lured to a trap, contaminated with the pathogen, and then released. This might be particularly valuable with the new generation of genetically modified organisms which kill the hosts quickly, without the normal increase in inoculum which accompanies an epidemic. However, success of such a technique relies upon having available an effective attractant for such pests. A further means of reducing pest moth numbers which has been proposed is the use of trap cropping. Trap cropping is becoming widely used in the cotton industry, with the most common trap crops being chick peas in spring and pigeon peas in summer and autumn. Helicoverpa females are attracted to an area of trap crop where they remain and oviposit. The trap crop is then destroyed and the insect eggs are destroyed along with it. While this technique to date has relied upon the natural attractiveness of the crop, if an effective attractant for female pest moths were available the efficacy of this technique may be greatly increased. It will therefore be appreciated that there is a substantial need for an effective attractant of pest moth species, which attracts females as well as males. It has long been observed that certain insects feed preferentially upon selected plants. Therefore, there have been a number of attempts to develop attractants based upon the volatile components of such plants which seek to duplicate the olfactory profile of an attractive plant. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,665,344 and 6,190,652 there is disclosed a composition for attracting insects which comprises at least two volatiles of the Japanese Honeysuckle flower, one of said volatiles comprising cis-jasmone and the other being selected from linalool and phenylacetaldehyde. Beerwinkle et al. (1996) also took this approach with a five component mimic of Gaura species, and this work forms the basis of U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,634 to Lopez et al. In this patent there is disclosed a composition which includes a mixture of phenylacetaldehyde, methyl-2-methoxybenzoate, methyl salicylate and, optionally, 2-phenylethanol and/or limonene. However, the problem with this approach is that the chemicals the moths are responding to may not be the most prominent ones in the profile. Indeed some components of these mixtures may even be insect deterrents. Evidence from coupled GC-MS-EAG studies (Plepys 2000, J. A. Pickett pers. comm. 2000) suggests that the components which produce the strongest EAG responses are often only very small peaks on a GC trace. Another problem with the mimic approach is learned behaviour. There is ample evidence that learning plays a major role in the foraging behaviour of many insects including noctuid moths. For H. armigera , Cunningham et al. (1998) have provided evidence that learning may be important. This is significant because attract-and-kill might fail in the field if the moths being targeted have already learned to forage on plants with different volatile profiles to the one being used as a model for the blend. Accordingly, there remains a need for an effective means of identifying attractants based on plant volatiles, which selects compounds which are genuinely attractive to the moth species in the field. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of selecting the components of a blend attractive to noctuid moths, comprising the steps of: (1) measuring the attractiveness of a plurality of single candidate compounds; and (2) selecting for blending those candidate compounds which show statistically significant attraction. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preparing a blend attractive to noctuid moths, comprising the steps of: (1) measuring the attractiveness of a plurality of single candidate compounds; (2) selecting for blending those candidate compounds which show statistically significant attraction; and (3) blending two or more of the selected compounds. Typically, the candidate compounds are selected from those present in extracts from plants which are attractive to insects, and generally from extracts from the leaves or flowers. The candidate compounds will generally be derived from different plants, and certainly need not be found together in the same plant in nature. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition for attracting noctuid moths when prepared from compounds identified by the above method or through using the method described above for preparing a blend. Advantageously, the attractiveness of the single compounds is measured in an olfactometer. A typical olfactometer is illustrated in FIG. 1 and described below in more detail with reference to that Figure. Design of a suitable olfactometer is within the capability of the person skilled in the art, as such devices are known per se. Typically the compositions of the invention are 3-5 component blends which are significantly attractive in the olfactometer to both sexes for H. armigera moths and other noctuid moths. In particular, such compositions are more attractive than the single chemicals, and more attractive than those blends in which the volatile components of a particular species are partially mimicked. Typically in the compositions of the invention 40-45% of the moths enter the test chamber of the olfactometer when the compositions of the invention are used, which is comparable with the best crop and weed plants. It will be appreciated that the methodology of the invention may be employed to identify volatile plant attractants for a range of species, and to adapt these compositions to suit the learned foraging behaviour of natural populations of the insects. Accordingly, in a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of overcoming learned foraging behaviour in natural populations of moths, comprising the steps of: (1) measuring the attractiveness of a plurality of single candidate compounds at a first time; (2) selecting for blending those candidate compounds which show statistically significant attraction; (3) measuring the attractiveness of a plurality of single candidate compounds at a second time later than said first time; (4) selecting for blending those candidate compounds which show statistically significant attraction at said second time; and (5) substituting those candidate compounds identified in step (4) for those identified in step (2) in attractant compositions. Through use of the methodology of the invention, preferred compositions for attracting moth pests have been identified. According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition attractive to noctuid moths, comprising one or more floral volatiles in admixture with one or more leaf volatiles, the composition exhibiting a statistically significant level of attraction for noctuid moths in an olfactometer, with the proviso that the composition does not comprise phenylacetaldehyde, methyl-2-methoxybenzoate and methyl salicylate. As used herein the term “floral volatile” refers to a volatile compound isolated from the flower of a plant, and which has a statistically significant level of attraction to moth pests as measured in an olfactometer. In particular, the floral volatiles are benzene derivatives substituted by oxygen-containing groups such as the hydroxyl group, —ROH and —RCHO, where R is alkylene. Examples of floral volatiles are phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol. The lilac aldehydes, typically tetrahydrofuranyl derivatives of acetaldehyde, form another group of floral volatiles. A typical lilac aldehyde is 5-ethenyl-tetrahydro-α, 5-dimethyl-2-furanacetaldehyde. As used herein, the term “leaf volatile” refers to a compound isolated from the leaf of a plant, and which has a statistically significant attraction to moth pests as measure in an olfactometer. Typically the leaf volatiles are terpenoids, where that term is used to encompass not only terpenes of empirical formula C 10 H 16 , but also sesquiterpenes of formula C 15 H 24 , diterpenes of formula C 20 H 32 and higher polymers, as well as various oxygen-containing compounds derived from terpene hydrocarbons such as their alcohols, ketones and camphors. Particular examples of such compounds are geraniol, 3-carene, methyl eugenol and limonene. In addition, the leaf volatiles may be other compounds, hereinafter referred to as “green leaf volatiles” where it is necessary to distinguish them from the terpenoid compounds discussed above, and these are generally 6-carbon alcohols, esters or aldehydes, for example, Z-3-hexenyl acetate or Z-3-hexenyl salicylate. It will be appreciated that the person skilled in the art using the methodology described above may readily identify compounds which have a statistically significant attraction in the olfactometer, and can identify these either as floral volatiles or as leaf volatiles depending upon the source of the organic material from which the compound is isolated. It will nevertheless be appreciated that some compounds may be found in both floral tissue and leaf tissue, and may also be isolated from alternative sources. In addition, many structurally diverse compounds may be classified as or one or other of floral volatiles and leaf volatiles according to the definitions above, and all such compounds are envisaged. Particularly preferred compositions comprise 0.1 to 10% of floral volatile in admixture with 0.1-15% leaf volatiles and 75-99.8% of an inert carrier. Advantageously, the composition comprises 0.1-10% of a floral volatile selected from the group consisting of phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol and any one or more of the stereoisomers of 5-ethenyl-tetrahydro-α, 5-dimethyl-2-furanacetaldehyde, or an admixture thereof, and 0.1-15% of a leaf volatile selected from the group consisting of geraniol, 3-carene, methyl eugenol, or mixtures thereof, and/or a green leaf volatile selected from the group consisting of Z-3-hexenyl acetate and Z-3-hexenyl salicylate, or mixtures thereof. The composition may include other compounds which do not display a statistically significant attraction to noctuid moths in the olfactometer. For example, the compositions may include α-pinene, cineole, γ-terpinene, linalool and/or methyl-1-butanol, as well as a variety of other compounds attractive to noctuid moths to a greater or lesser degree. In addition, blends which partially mimic the olfactory profile of specific plants may be included. In particular, a mixture of 1.4% α-pinene+1% cineole+0.4% limonene, hereinafter referred to as the “F3” blend which mimics the dominant terpenoids in A. floribunda may be included but this is, in any event, a source of limonene. Particularly preferred compositions in accordance with this embodiment of the invention have the following composition: PF3Hs=(1% phenylacetaldehyde+2.8% F3 blend+2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate) PF1=(1% phenylacetaldehyde+1.7% F3 blend+0.3% gamma-terpinene) 2 PF3Hs=(2% 2-phenylethanol+2.8% F3 blend+2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate) 2 PF3=(2% 2-phenylethanol+2.8% F3 blend) PBE3=(2% phenylacetaldehyde+2% benzyl alcohol+2% methyl eugenol) PF32P=(1% phenylacetaldehyde+2.8% F3 blend+2% 2-phenylethanol) PBE2=(0.5% phenylacetaldehyde+4% benzyl alcohol+2% methyl eugenol) PBE1=(2% phenylacetaldehyde+2% benzyl alcohol+2% methyl eugenol)* PF3=(1% phenylacetaldehyde+2.8% F3 blend) PBEL=(PBE3+2% limonene) PB2PS=(1% phenylacetaldehyde+2% benzyl alcohol+2% 2-phenylethanol+2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate) PBELo=(PBE3+2% linalool) PBELa=(PBE3+2% 5-ethenyl-tetrahydro-α, 5-dimethyl-2-furanacetaldehyde) PBEMb=(PBE3+2% methyl-1-butanol) PBEHs=(PBE3+2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate) In addition, the invention provides the following compositions: PB2P=(1% phenylacetaldehyde+2% benzyl alcohol+2% 2-phenylethanol) P2P=(1% phenylacetaldehyde+2% 2-phenylethanol) F3Ha=(2.8% F3 blend+2% Z-3-hexenyl acetate) F3Hs=(2.8% F3 blend+2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate) since such compositions also show statistically significant attraction despite containing only one or other of compounds selected from floral volatiles and leaf volatiles. Still further examples: PBE 4=0.5% phenylacetaldehyde, 0.5% benzyl alcohol, 0.5% methyl eugenol PBE 5=0.2% phenylacetaldehyde, 0.2% benzyl alcohol, 0.2% methyl eugenol PBES=2% phenylacetaldehyde, 2% benzyl alcohol, 2% methyl eugenol, 2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate PB2PS=1% phenylacetaldehyde, 2% benzyl alcohol, 2% 2-phenylethanol, 2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate PN1=1% phenylacetaldehyde, 2% benzyl alcohol, 2% linalool, 1% Z-3-hexenol, 2% eugenol, 1% benzaldehyde, 5% 3-hydroxy-benzaldehyde PN4=1% phenylacetaldehyde, 2% benzyl alcohol, 2% linalool, 1% Z-3-hexenol, 2% eugenol, 1% benzaldehyde, 5% 3-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, 2% (−)-trans-caryophyllene PBEu=2% phenylacetaldehyde, 2% benzyl alcohol, 2% eugenol PBBE=2% phenylacetaldehyde, 2% benzyl alchol, 2% benzaldehyde, 2% methyl eugenol PBBEu=2% phenylacetaldehyde, 1% Benzyl alcohol, 1% benzaldehyde, 2% eugenol 2 PF3Hs=2% 2-phenylethanol, 1.4% a-pinene, 0.4% limonene, 1% cineole, 2% Z-3-hexenyl salicylate Although the compositions of the invention may also include compounds found not to have a statistically significant attraction, the specific combination of phenylacetaldehyde, methyl-2-methoxybenzoate, and methyl salicylate is not within the scope of the present invention. Likewise, a combination of phenylacetaldehyde, methyl-2-methoxybenzoate, methyl salicylate and 2-phenylethanol or limonene, or both, is excluded. The compositions of the present invention typically include an inert carrier. Volatile compounds such as those of the invention may be formulated in a variety of inert carriers, the nature of which would be recognised by the person skilled in the art. They may be formulated in liquid or solid form, where appropriate, in a manner well understood by the person skilled in the art. Suitable liquid carriers include but are not limited to polyols, esters, methylene chloride, alcohol (such as C 1 -C 4 alcohol), vegetable oil or SIRENE base, although vegetable oils and SIRENE base are preferred. Suitable vegetable oils include olive oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, as well as methylated forms of these oils, or mixtures thereof, although canola oil is preferred. Aromatic and linear hydrocarbon solvents may also be included. The active ingredient mixture may also be incorporated in a solid substrate, such as clays, diatomaceous earth, silica, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyurethanes, ureaformaldehyde condensates, and starches. Other useful solid support matrices include expanded vermiculite and paraffinic or bees wax. SIRENE is an attract-and-kill formulation in paste form which uses pheromones and includes Permethrin to kill the male insects attracted by the pheromones when they come into contact with the paste, and for which IPM Technologies Ltd have worldwide marketing and development rights. Mixtures of carriers are envisaged in the present invention and, for example, an aqueous/oil mixture in which the plant volatiles are dissolved in a miscible vegetable oil for subsequent admixture with a 10% solution of sucrose in water (sucrose being included as a feeding stimulant) are envisaged. Additionally, a small quantity of glycerol may be added to such a formulation as a humectant and a small quantity of polyvinyl alcohol added to form a skin over the droplets, with the aim of slowing desiccation. Surprisingly, it has been found that SIRENE base (from which the pheromones and Permethrin are absent but which is generally referred to hereinafter as SIRENE) diluted with a miscible vegetable oil is a useful ingestible formulation. In this preferred formulation, the plant volatiles are included in the vegetable oil prior to admixture in this embodiment, and finally sieved icing sugar is added at 10% w/w as a feeding stimulant which, it should be noted, does not dissolve but becomes finely spread throughout the mixture. However, it will be appreciated that this novel vehicle has a more general utility, and this is described below. As alluded to above in describing the preferred ingestible formulations, such formulations may include a variety of optional components or adjuvants, including but not limited to feeding stimulants, food sources, insect toxicants and other insect attractants such as insect pheromones. Yet other components which may be included in the formulation include humectants, preservatives, thickeners, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, emulsifiers, film forming polymers and mixtures thereof. Additives which retard or slow the volatilization of the active mixture are also envisaged. Humectants may include polyols, sugar fractions (such as molasses), glycols and hygroscopic salts. Antioxidants which protect the vegetable oils and reduce polymerization of phenyl acetaldehyde are preferred. Film forming polymers include gum rosin, latex, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate and mixtures thereof. Additional optional additives include shellac, methyl methacrylate, and mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment feeding stimulants for the adult insects or moths are included in the attractant composition and function to induce the target insets to contact and/or ingest the bait, particularly when formulated with an insecticide to effect control. Without being limited thereto, feeding stimulants such as fructose, fucose, glucose, and particularly sucrose, are preferred. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a base for an ingestible formulation comprising SIRENE base diluted with a miscible vegetable oil until it reaches a sufficiently low viscosity to be ingested by moth pests. Typically the base is an inert carrier for physiologically active compounds, particularly those active in insects, and more particularly insect attractants or insecticides. Advantageously said inert carrier includes a feeding stimulant. Typically an insect attractant is formulated therewith. This maybe an insect attractant of the present invention or a conventional insect attractant such as a pheromone or a plant volatile composition of the type designed to mimic the olfactory components of a plant. The compositions described above could be used in conjunction with trap crops to lure moth pests to the area of the trap crop where they might remain, and where the females might oviposit. The trap crop is then destroyed. They could also be used in traps for moth pests. According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attracting moth pests to a locus, comprising the step of applying an attractant composition as described above to said locus. The locus may be a trap crop, wherein the method comprises locating the attractant composition within or adjacent the trap crop. Alternatively, the locus may be a trap for a moth pest, wherein the method comprises applying the attractant composition to the trap, such as by locating an amount of the composition within a depot in the trap. The attractant composition may be formulated in a manner known per se for spraying, as would be well understood by the person skilled in the art, and this is a convenient means for applying the composition to a trap crop. The components of the composition may also be applied separately or released by an attractant disseminator if desired. Insect toxicants may also be included in the formulations of the invention. Typically the toxicant is a pyrethroid or a carbamate. Preferred insect intoxicants include bifenthrin, carbaryl, methomyl, acephate, thiodicarb, cyfluthrin, malathion, chlorpyrifos, emamectin benzoate, abamectin, spinosad, endosulfan, and mixtures thereof. Bacterial and viral pathogens may also be included, as well as insect growth regulators or compounds eliciting behavior modification or disrupting physiological functions. These may include, for instance, pigments and/or dyes which may mark, attract, modify various insect behaviors, or which may be toxic. Combination of the insecticide with the attractant composition of this invention allows the use of significantly lower concentrations of insecticides to kill the adults under field conditions than would be used to control the insect pests with a normal commercial broadcast application of the same insecticides. The attractant compositions may be used in a number of ways, including monitoring or controlling insect populations. In one preferred embodiment, the compositions may be placed within traps to monitor population changes. Precise monitoring will enable growers to reduce the number of insecticide applications when populations are low. In other embodiments, the attractants may be used to control pest populations by employing large numbers of traps (trap-out strategy). It is envisioned that the attractants may be used in conjunction with any type of appropriate trap or attractant disseminator as known in the art. The attractant can be applied or disseminated using a variety of convention techniques, such as in an exposed solution, impregnated into a wicking material or other substrate, or incorporated in a deodorant dispenser. Further, the components of the attractant may be combined in a single dispenser provided within a single trap, or provided separately in a plurality of dispensers, all within a single trap. The attractant can be applied to the device undiluted, or formulated in an inert carrier. Volatilization can be controlled or retarded by inclusion of components as described above. Controlled, slow release over an extended period of time may also be effected by placement within vials covered with a permeable septum or cap, by encapsulation using conventional techniques, or absorption into a porous substrate. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the rate of release of the active ingredient mixture of the present invention may be varied by manipulation of the size of the reservoir and permeability of the matrix. The support or other delivery mechanisms of the present invention preferably provides release or volatilization of the active ingredient mixture of the invention for at least one week. Application scenarios and methods of using the attractant composition of the present invention also include separate application of a feeding stimulant (such as molasses or sucrose solutions), combined with an insecticide, to plants by known methods, with the placement of the attractant composition in a manner which will attract moth pests to the feeding stimulant-insecticide mixture. Placement may include location in a strip in the same field which is upwind of the strip of the feeding stimulant-insecticide mixture. Another placement may involve a small area treated with the attractant composition in the centre of a larger area treated with the feeding stimulant-insecticide mixture. The attractant composition of the present invention may be applied in or on granules, plastic dispensers or wicks, for example, and may be applied parallel to sprays of a feeding stimulant-insecticide mixture. Cross-wind application may offer greater control of the insect population because of an increase in the area with effective volatile concentrations, and the foraging and ovipositing behavior in which the moths fly upwind within the plant canopy. Single point application of the attractant composition may also be used effectively, depending on the existing wind conditions. Plants which may be protected from insect pests include but are not limited to agronomically important crops such as cotton field corn, field peas, lupins, chick peas, sunflowers, sorghum, soybeans and vegetables, including seed corn, sweet corn, Cole crops, melons, beans and tomatoes. In the practice of any of the above-described embodiment, an attractant is used as a trap bait or is otherwise applied to the locus of or in the vicinity of infestation in an amount effective to attract the target insect. Factors such as population density, precipitation, temperature, wind velocity, and release rate will influence the actual number of insects trapped. The attractiveness of certain of the compounds discussed above to insects, and more particularly to noctuid moths, has not previously been recognised. Accordingly, in a further aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of Z-3-hexenyl salicylate and methyl eugenol as attractants for noctuid moths. In particular, the invention provides the use of Z-3-hexenyl salicylate in this role, as its attractiveness to insects of any sort has not been recognised previously. According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an attractant composition comprising Z-3-hexenyl salicylate and/or methyl eugenol and an inert carrier. Throughout this specification and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprises” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country. |
Phospor layers for electroluminescent panels and methods of their manufacture |
A phosphor layer for an electroluminescent panel comprises a phosphor powder held in a binder. The binder comprises a mixture of two constituents, one of which is a drying oil or a semi-drying oil or a derivative and the other constituent is a sol-gel precursers. Examples of suitable oils are linseed oil, rape seed oil, sunflower oil and soyabean oil. Examples of suitable sol-gel precursers are methyl orthosilicate, boron iso-propoxide, aluminium sec-butoxide and titanium iso-propoxide. Metal salts such as metal alkoxides, metal acetates and metal nitrates may be mixed with the sol-gel precursers. |
1. A phosphor layer for an electroluminescent panel comprising a phosphor powder held in a binder comprising a mixture of two constituents, one constituent being one or more drying oils or semi drying oils or derivatives thereof and the other constituent being one or more sol-gel precursors. 2. A phosphor layer as claimed in claim 1 in which the said one constituent comprises one or more drying oils selected from linseed oil, rape seed oil and sunflower oil. 3. A phosphor layer as claimed in claim 1 in which said one constituent comprises soyabean oil. 4. A phosphor layer as claimed in claim 1 in which the said one constituent comprises an alkyd of a drying oil or a semi drying oil. 5. A phosphor layer as claimed in claim 1 in which the said one constituent comprises linolinic acid. 6. A phosphor layer as claimed in claim 1 in which the said other constituent comprises one or more compounds selected from tetraethyl orthosilicate, boron iso-propoxide, aluminium sec-butoxide and titanium iso-propoxide. 7. A phosphor layer as claimed in claim 1 in which the said other constituent includes one or more compounds selected from metal alkoxides, metal acetates or metal nitrates. 8. A phosphor layer as claimed in claim 1 in which the ratio by weight of the said other constituent to the said one constituent lies between 5% and 20%. 9. A method of manufacturing a phosphor layer for an electroluminescent panel comprising mixing two constituents to form a binder, one constituent being one or more drying oils or semi drying oils or derivatives thereof and the other constituent being one or more sol-gel precursors, mixing a phosphor powder with the binder and then allowing the resulting mixture to dry. |
System and method for minimizing package delivery time |
An inventive system for delivering packages includes a computer system for determining an optimum route for delivering the package, an electronic tag associated with the package including a first transceiver, and a signaling device. The inventive system also includes a base station having a second transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the first transceiver. |
1. A system for delivering a package comprising: a computer system for determining an optimum route for delivering said package; an electronic tag associated with said package comprising: a first transceiver; and a signaling device; and a base station comprising a second transceiver for wirelessly communicating with said first transceiver. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said signaling device is activated when said package arrives at a destination. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is located on a transport vehicle used to transport said packages. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said computer system utilizes an electronic positioning system in order to locate said transport vehicle in real time. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said electronic positioning system comprises a global positioning system. 6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said computer system comprises a third transceiver for wirelessly communicating with at least one of said base station and said electronic tag. 7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a container for housing said package, wherein said electronic tag is affixed to said container. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic tag is affixed directly onto said package. 9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a loop antenna located in a transport vehicle which delivers said package, wherein said base station wirelessly communicates with said electronic tag using said loop antenna. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base station causes said electronic tag to activate said signaling device when a destination is reached for a package associated with said electronic tag. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic tags stores an identification number which is unique to a package associated with said electronic tag. 12. A method for reducing package delivery time comprising: inputting a delivery address to a computer system to determine an optimum delivery route; associating an electronic tag with said package; placing said package on a transport vehicle; and activating a signaling device on said electronic tag when said transport vehicle arrives at a destination of said package associated with said electronic tag. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said signaling device comprises one of a light emitting device and an audible device. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein an electronic positioning system is used to locate a transport vehicle delivering said package in real time. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said electronic positioning system comprises a global positioning system. 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said transport vehicle comprises a computer system which wirelessly communicates with at least one of said base station and said electronic tag. 17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said package is housed in a container, and wherein said electronic tag is affixed to said container. 18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said electronic tag is affixed directly onto said package. 19. The method according to claim 12, wherein said transport vehicle comprises a loop antenna, and wherein a base station wirelessly communicates with said electronic tag using said loop antenna. 20. A programmable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for reducing package delivery time, said method comprising: inputting a delivery address to a computer system to determine an optimum delivery route; associating an electronic tag with said package; placing said package on a transport vehicle; and activating a signaling device on said electronic tag when said transport vehicle arrives at a destination of said package associated with said electronic tag. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and method for delivering packages, and in particular, a system and method for delivering packages which reduces (e.g., minimizes) a delivery time. 2. Description of the Related Art When a driver has many packages to deliver in a short period of time, it is important that the package be quickly located. In a typical delivery van, the packages have been pre-sorted into the approximate hour of anticipated delivery. The driver has a printed list of addresses and number of items for each address. The driver drives along the streets until he finds the address, parks the truck, and goes to the back of truck with the printed list. The driver then sorts through all the packages to find the package having the correct name and address. The driver must also ensure that he has located all of the packages to be delivered to that particular destination. When the driver locates the packages, he must checkoff a list taken to the door at the destination address and obtain a signature or some other indication that the package was delivered. However, in such a conventional delivery system, locating the proper packages can be difficult. The packages may shift and are not easily located by the driver. Accordingly, the resulting delays can substantially increase the time taken for each delivery and thereby reduce the total number of deliveries that can be made during the driver's delivery run. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In view of the foregoing and other problems, disadvantages, and drawbacks of the conventional methods and structures, a purpose of the exemplary aspects of the present invention is to provide a system and method for reducing (e.g., minimizing) a delivery time. The claimed invention includes an inventive system for delivering packages. The inventive system includes a computer system (e.g., located on a transport vehicle) for determining an optimum route for delivering said package, an electronic tag associated with the package including a first transceiver, and a signaling device. The inventive system also includes a base station having a second transceiver for wirelessly communicating with said first transceiver (e.g., in order to reduce (e.g., minimize) a delivery time). In the inventive system, a signaling device may be activated when the package arrives at a destination, which may help the delivery driver to locate the package in the transport vehicle. Further, computer system utilizes an electronic positioning system (e.g., a satellite based global positioning system) in order to locate the transport vehicle in real time. Further, the computer system may include a third transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the base station and/or electronic tag. The system may also include a container for housing the package. In this case, the electronic tag may be affixed to the container. The system may also include a loop antenna located in a transport vehicle which delivers said package. The electronic tag may store an identification number which is unique to a package associated with the electronic tag. The base station may, therefore, wirelessly communicate with the electronic tag using the loop antenna. For example, the base station may causes the electronic tag to activate the signaling device when a destination is reached for a package associated with the electronic tag. In another aspect, an inventive method for reducing (e.g., minimizing) package delivery time includes inputting a delivery address to a computer system to determine an optimum delivery route, associating an electronic tag with the package, placing the package on a transport vehicle, and activating a signaling device on the electronic tag when the transport vehicle arrives at a destination of the package associated with the electronic tag. The claimed invention also includes a programmable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for reducing (e.g., minimizing) package delivery time. With its unique and novel aspects, the claimed invention provides a system and method which reduces a package delivery time, thereby resulting in lower cost to the delivery company and ultimately to consumers. |
Method and device for determining movement in at least two successive digital images, computer readable storage medium and computer program |
An apparatus and method for determining the motion in at least two chronologically successive digital images, the digital images contain pixels which are in each case assigned coding information. Using the coding information, in a first image, at least one contour with a multiplicity of contour pixels situated on the contour is determined. Using the contour pixels situated on the determined contour of the first image, a determination of the motion is carried out with regard to a reference contour with reference contour pixels which is contained in a second image. |
1. A method for determining the motion in at least two chronologically successive digital images with pixels which are assigned coding information, comprising: determining, using the coding information, in a first image, at least one contour with a multiplicity of contour pixels situated on the contour ;and carrying out, using the contour pixels situated on the determined contour of the first image, the motion determination with regard to a reference contour with reference contour pixels which is contained in a second image. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining, using the coding information, in the second image, at least one reference contour with a multiplicity of reference contour pixels situated on the contour is determined. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising: determining, in the context of the motion determination, minimum distance values between pixels of a distance image and the reference contour by means of a morphological operation [[,]]; and storing the minimum distance values. 4. The method as claimed in claim [[3]] 1 or 2, further comprising using a distance transformation as the morphological operation. 5. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising determining a minimum distance value Dv (1)(x, y, t−1) for a contour pixel v′(1, t) at an instant t with respect to a pixel (x, y) in accordance with the following specification: D v _ ( l ) ( x , y , t ) = min l [ x , y ] T - v _ ′ ( l , t ) , where Dv (1)(x, y, t) denotes a minimum distance value between the pixel [x, y] and a reference contour pixel on the reference contour in the second image, x, y] denotes a pixel in the distance image, v′(1, t) denotes a reference contour pixel in the second image, 1 denotes a reference contour pixel index for unambiguously identifying a reference contour pixel on the reference contour in the second image [[,]] ; and t denotes an instant at which the determination is carried out. 6. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising accounting for which the contrast direction in which the contrast alteration runs along a contour during the motion determination. 7. An apparatus for determining the motion in at least two chronologically successive digital images with pixels which are assigned coding information, having a processor which is set up in such a way that the following method steps can be carried out: using the coding information, in a first image, at least one contour with a multiplicity of contour pixels situated on the contour is determined, and using the contour pixels situated on the determined contour of the first image, a motion is carried out with regard to a reference contour with reference contour pixels which is contained in a second image. 8. A computer program element which, after it has been loaded into a memory of the computer and is executed by a processor of the computer, has the following steps for determining the motion in at least two chronologically successive digital images with pixels which are assigned coding information: using the coding information, in a first image, at least one contour with a multiplicity of contour pixels situated on the contour is determined, and using the contour pixels situated on the determined contour of the first image, a motion is carried out with regard to a reference contour with reference contour pixels which is contained in a second image. 9. A computer-readable storage medium on which a program is stored which, after it has been loaded into a memory of a computer, enables the computer to carry out the following steps for determining the motion in at least two chronologically successive digital images with pixels which are assigned coding information: using the coding information, in a first image, at least one contour with a multiplicity of contour pixels situated on the contour is determined, and using the contour pixels situated on the determined contour of the first image, a motion is carried out with regard to a reference contour with reference contour pixels which is contained in a second image. |
Loudspeakers |
A method of making an acoustic member for a loudspeaker having an operative frequency range and acoustic output which depends on the values of parameters of geometry, bending stiffness, areal mass distribution, damping, tension modulus, compression modulus and shear modulus of the member, the method comprising providing an acoustic member having at least one frequency dependent parameter with a variation which depends on frequency, selecting the variation which depends on frequency, selecting the variation of the frequency dependent parameter to effect a desired acoustic output from the loudspeaker and making the member having said selected variation. The method may comprise selecting an acoustic member having a component made from a frequency dependent material which has a glass to rubber transition Tg in the operative frequency range of the speaker. |
1. A method of making a bending wave acoustic radiator for a loudspeaker, the acoustic radiator having a bending stiffness which varies with frequency, the method comprising selecting the variation of the bending stiffness such that the bending stiffness is lower at low frequencies and higher at high frequencies to effect a desired acoustic output from the loudspeaker, and making the acoustic radiator having said selected variation. 2. A method according to claim 1, comprising selecting an acoustic radiator having a component made from a frequency dependent material which has a glass to rubber transition in the operative frequency range of the speaker. 3. A method according to claim 2, comprising modifying the frequency dependent material to adjust the frequency at which the transition occurs. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the material is a polymer and the method comprises modifying at least one of the parameters in the group consisting of molecular weight, molecular distribution, steric effects, polarity of side group and crosslink density. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising selecting the variation in bending stiffness to have a relatively sharp transition at a selected point in the frequency range. 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the frequency dependent material is selected from the group consisting of viscoelastic material, resins, thermoplastic polymers, foamed material and polymer blends. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the frequency dependent material is a polymeric material which encapsulates a fibre reinforcement having a higher modulus which is independent of frequency. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the frequency dependent material is a polymeric material which encapsulates a second material having a higher mass which is independent of frequency. 9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the frequency dependent material is selected from the group consisting of viscoelastic material, resins, thermoplastic polymers, foamed material and polymer blends. 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the frequency dependent material is a polymeric material which encapsulates a fibre reinforcement having a higher modulus which is independent of frequency. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the frequency dependent material is a polymeric material which encapsulates a second material having a higher mass which is independent of frequency. 12. A method of making an acoustic member for a loudspeaker having an operative frequency range and an acoustic output which depends on the values of physical parameters of the member that include damping, the acoustic member being in the form of a compliant suspension between a coil and magnet assembly of a moving coil transducer, the suspension having a damping which varies with frequency, the method comprising selecting the damping to have a high value at a specific frequency whereby a resonance at that specific frequency is damped, and making the member having said selected variation of damping. 13. A method of making an acoustic member for a loudspeaker having an operative frequency range and an acoustic output which depends on the values of physical parameters of the member that include damping, the acoustic member being in the form of a mass coupled to at least one resonant bending wave mode in an acoustic radiator, the mass having a damping which varies with frequency, the method comprising selecting the damping of the mass to be high at low frequency and low at high frequency, and making the member having said selected variation of damping. 14. An acoustic member for a loudspeaker having an operative frequency range, wherein the member comprises a component made from a frequency dependent material having at least one parameter which varies as a function of frequency. 15. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of damping, bending stiffness, Young's modulus, tension modulus, compression modulus and shear modulus. 16. An acoustic member according to claim 14 or claim 15, having a composite structure comprising at least one component having a frequency dependent parameter. 17. An acoustic member according to claim 16, comprising a core of low density material and two skins adhered by adhesive layers to opposed faces of the core, the skins having stiffness increasing with frequency. 18. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the acoustic member is a suspension for attaching the loudspeaker on a support, stand or wall. 19. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the loudspeaker is a bending wave loudspeaker comprising an acoustic radiator which supports bending wave vibration and a transducer mounted by a suspension to the acoustic radiator to excite bending wave vibration in the radiator to produce an acoustic output and the acoustic member is selected from the group consisting of the acoustic radiator, the transducer suspension, a suspension which supports the radiator in a frame or masses mounted on the acoustic radiator. 20. An acoustic member according to claim 19, wherein the acoustic member is a bending wave acoustic radiator having lower bending stiffness at low frequencies and higher bending stiffness at high frequencies. 21. An acoustic member according to claim 20, wherein the bending stiffness has a relatively sharp transition at a selected point in the frequency range. 22. An acoustic member according to claim 19, wherein the transducer is a moving coil transducer having a coil and magnet assembly and the acoustic member is in the form of a compliant suspension between the coil and magnet assembly and has high damping at a specific frequency whereby a resonance at that specific frequency is damped. 23. An acoustic member according to claim 19, wherein the acoustic radiator has a distribution of resonant bending wave modes and the acoustic member is in the form of a mass coupled to at least one specific mode in the acoustic radiator, the mass having high damping at low frequency and low damping at high frequency. 24. An acoustic member according to claim 19, in the form of an acoustic radiator having frequency dependent material applied at specific positions inside the structure of the acoustic radiator. 25. An acoustic member according to claim 19, in the form of a radiator suspension extending around the perimeter of a bending wave acoustic radiator, the suspension having low damping and low compliance at higher frequencies and high damping and high compliance at lower frequencies. 26. An acoustic member according to claim 19, in the form of a monolithic bending wave panel formed from a material having a Young's modulus which is lower at low frequency and higher at high frequency. 27. An acoustic member according to claim 19, in the form of an acoustic radiator which tapers across at least one dimension. 28. An acoustic member according to claim 27, wherein the central region of the acoustic radiator is stiff and the edge region has higher compliance whereby the acoustic radiator acts both as an acoustic radiator and an edge suspension to a supporting frame. 29. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the loudspeaker is a pistonic loudspeaker comprising an acoustic radiator in the form of a cone mounted on a frame by a compliant edge termination, a drive unit supported on the frame by a spider and an enclosure housing the cone and drive unit and the acoustic member is selected from the group consisting of the spider, the compliant edge termination, the cone or a compliant suspension which bonds the drive unit to the enclosure. 30. An acoustic member according to claim 29, in the form of the compliant edge termination around the cone, the termination having high compliance at low frequencies and a lower compliance at high frequencies. 31. An acoustic member according to claim 29, in the form of the cone and having high damping at low frequency and enhanced stiffness at higher frequencies. 32. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the frequency dependent material has a glass to rubber transition in the operative frequency range of the speaker. 33. An acoustic member according to claim 32, wherein the acoustic member has separate regions each having transitions at different frequencies. 34. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the frequency dependent material is selected from the group consisting of viscoelastic material, resins, thermoplastic polymers, foamed material and polymer blends. 35. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the frequency dependent material is a polymeric material which encapsulates a fibre reinforcement having a higher modulus which is independent of frequency. 36. An acoustic member according to claim 14, wherein the frequency dependent material is a polymeric material which encapsulates a second material having a higher mass which is independent of frequency. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>A bending wave loudspeaker typically consists of an acoustic panel and at least one exciter mounted to the panel. The panel may be supported on a frame by a compliant edge termination which isolates the vibrating panel from the frame. The mechanical properties of the panel, edge termination and exciter mounting effect the acoustic performance of the loudspeaker. It is known in the field of bending wave panels that the bending wave behaviour of a panel may be adjusted by manipulating sets of co-operative parameters. As taught in WO97/09842, the values of physical parameters of geometry, bending stiffness, areal mass distribution and damping of the panel may be selected to effect a desired distribution of resonant bending wave modes. The panel may be designed to be effective over a wide frequency range, maybe up to 8 octaves, by selecting a relatively large panel of good quality materials. However, the bandwidth of a bending wave panel loudspeaker may be limited as a result of the conflicting requirements for achieving good performance at both high and low frequencies. In general, better high frequency performance is achieved by using a light, stiff panel having low damping and high shear properties, whereas better low frequency performance is achieved by using a panel of lower stiffness and higher density. The high frequency radiation efficiency may be improved by placing the coincidence frequency in the operative bandwidth of the loudspeaker, even in the lower portion of the operative bandwidth. This may be achieved by ensuring the panel has a high bending stiffness, since coincidence frequency is reciprocally proportional to stiffness. However, raising the bending stiffness of the panel reduces the low frequency capability of the panel, which may be countered by increasing the area and/or area mass density of the panel. Alternatively, damping may be added to control and smooth the low frequency response, particularly in operative regions where there is low modal density. However, such damping may reduce the output particularly at higher frequencies. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>For a better understanding of the invention, and purely by way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 illustrates a distributed mode loudspeaker according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a graph showing the variation in Young's modulus with frequency for the loudspeaker of FIG. 1 compared with a loudspeaker made according to the prior art; FIG. 3 is a frequency response (acoustic pressure in dB against frequency Hz) for the loudspeakers of FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 a graph of stress σ and strain ε against sinusoidal force ωt for a material; FIG. 5 is a graph showing both variation in storage modulus (log E′) and damping factor (d E ) against temperature which illustrates the glass to rubber transition; FIG. 6 is a graph showing log of frequency against the inverse of temperature for a polymer; FIG. 7 is a graph showing variation in storage modulus (log E′) and damping factor (d E ) against temperature for two different frequencies, and FIG. 8 which is a graph of showing the variation of damping and storage modulus with frequency. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Gas absorbing material |
Disclosed is a gas absorbent material having an excellent gas absorptive capacity, especially a gas absorbent material for use as an interior material for buildings, to absorb harmful gas in the room. The gas absorbent material according to the present invention comprises: a high-temperature carbonized charcoal which is carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above; a low-temperature carbonized charcoal which is carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C. or below; and alginic acid or its salt or calcium oxide. A combination of a high-temperature carbonized charcoal, a low-temperature carbonized charcoal, and alginic acid or calcium oxide could have significantly improved the absorption activity of the charcoal. |
1. A gas absorbent material comprising: a high-temperature carbonized charcoal which is carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above; a low-temperature carbonized charcoal which is carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C. or below; and alginic acid or its salt or calcium oxide. 2. The gas absorbent material according to claim 1, which comprises both alginic acid or its salt and calcium oxide. 3. The gas absorbent material according to claim 1, wherein the mixing ratio of the high-temperature carbonized charcoal to the low-temperature carbonized charcoal is 30:70 to 60:40 on a weight basis. 4. The gas absorbent material according to claim 1, wherein said high-temperature carbonized charcoal is carbonized at a temperature of 800 to 1300° C. 5. The gas absorbent material according to claim 1, wherein said low-temperature carbonized charcoal is carbonized at a temperature of 300 to 550° C. 6. The gas absorbent material according to claims 1, which is in a molded form. 7. The gas absorbent material according to claim 6, which is an indoor construction material. 8. A gas absorbent composition comprising: a liquid medium; and, dispersed in said liquid medium, a high-temperature carbonized charcoal, which is carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above, a low-temperature carbonized charcoal, which is carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C. or below, and alginic acid or its salt or calcium oxide. 9. The gas absorbent composition according to claim 8, which comprises both alginic acid or its salt and calcium oxide. 10. The gas absorbent material according to claim 8, wherein the mixing ratio of the high-temperature carbonized charcoal to the low-temperature carbonized charcoal is 30:70 to 60:40 on a weight basis. 11. The gas absorbent material according to of claims 8, wherein said high-temperature carbonized charcoal is carbonized at a temperature of 800 to 1300° C. 12. The gas absorbent material according to of claims 8, wherein said low-temperature carbonized charcoal is carbonized at a temperature of 300 to 550° C. 13. A method for imparting a gas absorptive capacity to a substrate, said method comprising the step of spaying the gas absorbent composition according to claim 8 on said substrate. 14. A substrate having a gas absorptive capacity which has been imparted by the method according to claim 13. 15. A method for uptaking chemical substances in air, comprising the step of contacting the air with the gas absorbent material according to claim 1. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the gas absorbent material comprises both alginic acid or its salt and calcium oxide. 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the gas absorbent material having the mixing ratio of the high-temperature carbonized charcoal to the low-temperature carbonized charcoal is 30:70 to 60:40 on a weight basis. 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said high-temperature carbonized charcoal is carbonized at a temperature of 800 to 1300° C. 19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said low-temperature carbonized charcoal is carbonized at a temperature of 300 to 500° C. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas absorbent material having an excellent gas absorptive capacity, especially a gas absorbent material for use as an interior material or internal finish material for buildings, to absorb harmful gas in the room. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gas absorbent composition which, when applied to a substrate, can impart a gas absorptive capacity to the substrate. 2. Background Art A sick building syndrome or a sick house syndrome and chemical sensitivity have recently become a problem. These diseases would be caused by chemical substances released from construction materials in highly airtight buildings. Studies have been made on uptake of such chemical substances present in the room by charcoal through the utilization of absorptive capacity of the charcoal to inhibit these symptoms. Specifically, come proposals have been made on a technique in which a wood charcoal or a bamboo charcoal are ground to a charcoal powder and the powder is mixed with various materials to prepare a building material (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 150645/1995 and 49916/1994). Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 226207/2000 discloses a production process of an activated wood charcoal having both a low-temperature carbonized part and a high-temperature carbonized part. This process comprises the steps of: heat-treating wood chips at 450 to 550° C. to carbonize the wood chips (a low-temperature carbonization step); and subsequently heat-treating the carbonized wood chips at 800 to 900° C. to further carbonize the wood chips (a high-temperature carbonization step). In this publication, however, there is no specific disclosure on any molded product using this activated wood charcoal. Further, this publication neither suggests nor discloses any useful binder for molding. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present inventors have now found that a combination of a high-temperature carbonized charcoal, which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above, a low-temperature carbonized charcoal, which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C. or below, and alginic acid or calcium oxide can significantly improve the absorption activity of the charcoal. The present invention has been made based on such finding. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a gas absorbent material having an excellent gas absorptive capacity, especially a gas absorbent material for use as an interior material for buildings, to absorb harmful gas in the room. Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas absorbent composition which, when applied to a substrate, can impart a gas absorptive capacity to the substrate. The gas absorbent material according to the present invention comprises: a high-temperature carbonized charcoal which is carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above; a low-temperature carbonized charcoal which is carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C. or below; and alginic acid or its salt or calcium oxide. The gas absorbent composition according to the present invention comprises: a liquid medium; and, dispersed in said liquid medium, a high-temperature carbonized charcoal, which is carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above, a low-temperature carbonized charcoal, which is carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C. or below, and alginic acid or its salt or calcium oxide. |
Multilayer polymeric films |
The use of multilayer film structure comprising at least two unfilled layers of polymeric material substantially devoid of opacifying agent and at least two filled layers of polymeric material wherein said filled layers comprise at least 5% by weight of opacifying agent for providing improved tear-resistance in an opaque polymeric film, particularly a polyester film. |
1. An opaque multilayer film having a tear toughness in at least one dimension of the film of at least 0.3 kg/mm2 measured as the area beneath the curve in a graphical plot of stress versus strain in accordance with ASTM D1004-94A, and comprising at least two unfilled polyester layers substantially devoid of opacifying agent and at least two filled layers of polymeric material wherein said filled layers comprise at least 5% by weight of opacifying agent, wherein the filled and unfilled layers alternate. 2. A film according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material of said filled layers is polyester. 3. A film according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material of the layers substantially devoid of opacifying agent is the same as that of the polymeric material of the layers comprising at least 5% by weight of opacifying agent. 4. A film according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material of a layer is poly(ethylene terephthalate). 5. A film according to claim 1 wherein said opacifying agent is an inorganic particulate filler. 6. A film according to claim 1 wherein said opacifying agent is barium sulphate. 7. A film according to claim 1 wherein said filled layers comprise opacifying agent in the range of from 10 to 30% by weight of the polymeric material of the filled layer. 8. A film according to claim 1 having a multilayer structure (BA)nB wherein A represents an unfilled layer, B represents a filled layer and n is at least 2. 9. A film according to claim 8 wherein n is at least 3. 10. A film according to claim 1 wherein the total number of layers is 7 or more. 11. A film according to claim 1 having a transmission optical density of at least 0.5. 12. A process for the manufacture of an opaque, tear-resistant film having a tear toughness in at least one dimension of the film of at least 0.3 kg/mm2 measured as the area beneath the curve in a graphical plot of stress versus strain in accordance with ASTM D1004-94A, said process comprising the steps of providing a plurality of layers of polymeric material, wherein said plurality of layers comprises at least two layers of filled polymeric material containing therein at least 5% by weight of opacifying agent and at least two layers of unfilled polyester material substantially devoid of opacifying agent, and forming a composite film of said plurality of layers wherein the filled and unfilled layers alternate. 13. The use of a multilayer film structure comprising at least two unfilled layers of polymeric material substantially devoid of opacifying agent and at least two filled layers of polymeric material wherein said filled layers comprise at least 5% by weight of opacifying agent for providing improved tear-resistance in an opaque polymeric film such that said film has a tear toughness in at least one dimension of the film of at least 0.3 kg/mm2 measured as the area beneath the curve in a graphical plot of stress versus strain in accordance with ASTM D1004-94A. 14. A method for improving the tear-resistance of an opaque multilayer polymeric film comprising at least two filled layers of polymeric material wherein said filled layers comprise at least 5% by weight of opacifying agent, said method comprising incorporating into the film at least two unfilled layers of polymeric material substantially devoid of opacifying agent, such that said film has a tear toughness in at least one dimension of the film of at least 0.3 kg/mm2 measured as the area beneath the curve in a graphical plot of stress versus strain in accordance with ASTM D1004-94A. 15. The use of two or more layers of unfilled polymeric material substantially devoid of opacifying agent to improve the tear-resistance of an opaque multilayer film comprising at least two filled layers of polymeric material wherein said filled layers comprise at least 5% by weight of opacifying agent, such that said film has a tear toughness in at least one dimension of the film of at least 0.3 kg/mm2 measured as the area beneath the curve in a graphical plot of stress versus strain in accordance with ASTM D1004-94A. 16. (Cancelled). |
Dynamic generation of voice application information from a web server |
A server (410) communicates with a client (435) in a client-server architecture to carry out a dialogue with a user. The client comprises a browser (440) that supports a particular mark-up language, such as voiceXML. The server comprises a dialogue flow interpreter (DFI) (420) that reads a data file containing information representing different states of the dialogue with the user and that uses that information to generate for a given state of the dialogue objects (310) representing prompts to be played to the user, grammars of expected responses from the user, and other state information. |
1. A server that communicates with a client in a client-server computing system to carry out a dialogue between a user and the computing system, wherein the client comprises a browser that fetches from the server a document containing instructions in a mark-up language and renders the document in accordance with the mark-up language instructions to provide interaction with the user, the server comprising: a dialogue flow interpreter (DFI) that reads a data file containing information representing different states of said dialogue and that uses that information to generate for a given state of said dialogue an object representing at least one of a prompt to be played to the user and a grammar of expected responses from the user; a mark-up language generator that generates within a document instructions in said mark-up language that represent an equivalent of the object generated by said DFI; and a server application that delivers documents containing instructions generated by said mark-up language generator to the client browser. 2. The server recited in claim 1, wherein said mark-up language comprises one of VoiceXML, SALT, HTML, and WML. 3. The server recited in claim 1, wherein said mark-up language comprises voiceXML and wherein said browser comprises a voiceXML-enabled browser. 4. The server recited in claim 1, further comprising an application server that directs communications from the client to said server application of said server. 5. The server recited in claim 4, wherein said application server and server application conform to the JSP/Servlet model. 6. The server recited in claim 4, wherein said application server and server application conform to the ASP/IIS model. 7. A method for carrying out a dialogue between a user and a computer system in a client-server environment, wherein a client comprises a browser that fetches from a server a document containing instructions in a mark-up language and renders the document in accordance with the mark-up language instructions to provide interaction with the user, the method comprising the following performed at the server: instantiating a dialogue flow interpreter (DFI) at the server in response to a request from a user, the DFI reading a data file containing information representing different states of said dialogue and using that information to generate for a current state of said dialogue an object representing at least one of a prompt to be played to the user and a grammar of expected responses from the user; generating, within a document, instructions in said mark-up language that represent an equivalent of the object generated by said DFI; and transmitting the documents containing the generated mark-up language instructions to the client browser. 8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein said mark-up language comprises one of VoiceXML, SALT, HTML, and WML. 9. The method recited in claim 7, wherein said mark-up language comprises voiceXML and wherein said browser comprises a voiceXML-enabled browser. 10. The method recited in claim 7, wherein said transmitting step is performed in accordance with a JSP/Servlet model. 11. The method recited in claim 7, wherein said transmitting step is performed in accordance with an ASP/IIS model. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The explosive growth of the Internet, and particularly the World Wide Web, over the last several years cannot be understated. The corresponding impact on the global economy has been similarly dramatic. Virtually any type of information is available to a user who is even only remotely familiar with navigating this network of computers. Yet, there are still instances where information that may be important or even critical to an individual, though otherwise available on the Web, is without his or her reach. For example, an individual who is traveling might desire to obtain information regarding flight departures for a particular airline carrier from his current destination using a landline phone, mobile phone, wireless personal digital assistant, or similar device. While that information might be readily available from the Web server of the airline carrier, in the past, the traveler did not have access to the Web server from a phone. Recently, however, advances have been made to marry telephones and telephony-based voice applications with the World Wide Web. One such advance is the Voice Extended Markup Language (VoiceXML). VoiceXML is a Web-based markup language for representing human/computer dialog. It is similar to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), but assumes a voice browser having both audio input and output. As seen in FIG. 1 , a typical configuration for a VoiceXML system might include a web browser 160 (residing on a client) connected via the Internet to a Web server 110 , and a VoiceXML gateway node 140 (including a voice browser) that is connected to both the Internet and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The web server can provide multimedia files and HTML documents (including scripts and similar programs) when requested by web browser 160 , and can provide audio/grammar information and VoiceXML documents (including scripts and similar programs), at the request of the voice browser 140 . As interest in deployment of speech applications written in VoiceXML expands, the need for a sophisticated and elegant integration of the voice user interface front end and business-rule driven back end becomes ever more important. VoiceXML itself is a satisfactory vehicle for expressing the voice user interface, but it does little to assist in implementing the business rules of the application. Within the Internet community, the problem of integrating the user interface (HTML browser) and business rule-driven back end has been addressed through the use of dynamically generated HTML, where server code is written that defines both the application and its back-end data manipulation. When the user fetches an application via a browser, the application dynamically generates HTML (or XML) that the web server conveys as an http response. The user's input (mouse clicks, and keyboard entries) are collected by the browser and returned in an HTTP request (GET or POST) to the server where it is processed by the application. This dynamic generation model has been extended by the VoiceXML community for use in speech applications. Server-resident application code interacts with data visible to the server and produces a stream of VoiceXML. But this approach requires the development of custom code for each new application, or (at best) reusable components of the custom code that can be structured as templates that facilitate their reuse. Accordingly, there is a need for a speech application development and deployment architecture that leverages the best of the dynamic generation architecture described above, yet exploits the extreme simplification of application development provided by an integrated service creation environment, such as the family of application development tools that comprise the Natural Language Speech Assistant (NLSA) developed by Unisys corporation. The present invention satisfies this need. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention enables an application developer to design a speech-enabled application using existing speech application development tools in an integrated service creation environment, and then to deploy that speech application in a client-server environment in which the speech application dialogue with the user is carried out through the dynamic generation of documents in a particular mark-up language and the rendering of those documents by a suitable client browser. One embodiment of the invention comprises a server that communicates with a client in a client-server environment to carry out a dialogue with a user, wherein the client comprises a browser that fetches from the server a document containing instructions in a mark-up language and renders the document in accordance with the mark-up language instructions to provide interaction with the user. The server comprises a dialogue flow interpreter (DFI) that reads a data file containing information representing different states of the dialogue with the user and that uses that information to generate for a given state of the dialogue objects representing prompts to be played to the user, grammars of expected responses from the user, and other state information. The data file is generated by a speech application developer using an integrated service creation environment, such as the Unisys NLSA. The server further comprises a mark-up language generator that generates, within a document, instructions in the mark-up language of the client browser that represent an equivalent of the objects generated by the DFI. In essence, the mark-up language generator serves as a wrapper around the DFI to transform the information normally generated by the DFI for use with monolithic speech applications into dynamically generated mark-up language documents for use in a browser-based client-server environment. A server application instantiates the DFI and mark-up language generator to provide the overall shell of the speech application and to supply necessary business logic behind the application. The server application is responsible for delivering generated mark-up language documents to the client browser and for receiving requests and associated information from the browser. An application server (i.e., application hosting software) may be used to direct communications between one or more browsers and one or more different speech applications deployed in this manner. The speech application development and deployment architecture of the present invention can be used to enable dynamic generation of speech application information in any of a variety of mark-up languages, including voiceXML, Speech Application Language Tags (SALT), hypertext markup language (HTML), and others. The server can be implemented in a variety of application service provider models, including the Java Server Pages (JSP)/Servlet model developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. (as defined in the Java Servlet API specification), and the Active Server Pages (ASP)/Internet Information Server (IIS) model developed by Microsoft Corporation. Other features of the present invention will become evident hereinafter. |
N-oxide anthranylamide derivatives and their use as medicaments |
Substituted N-oxidanthranilamide derivatives, their production and use as pharmaceutical agents for treating diseases that are triggered by persistent angiogenesis are described. The compounds according to the invention can be used as or in the case of psoriasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, restenosis, endometriosis, Crohn's disease, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia; arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hemangioma, angiofibroma; eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, neovascular glaucoma; renal diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, malignant nephrosclerosis, thrombic microangiopathic syndrome, transplant rejections and glomerulopathy; fibrotic diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver, mesangial cell proliferative diseases, arteriosclerosis, injuries to nerve tissue, and inhibition of the reocclusion of vessels after balloon catheter treatment, in vascular prosthetics or after mechanical devices are used to keep vessels open, such as, e.g., stents, as immunosuppressive agents, as a support in scar-free healing, senile keratosis and contact dermatitis. The compounds according to the invention can also be used as VEGFR-3 inhibitors in the case of lymphangiogenesis. |
1. Compounds of general formula I in which A stands for the group —N(R7)—, W stands for oxygen, sulfur, two hydrogen atoms or the group —N(R8)—, Z stands for a bond, the group —N(R10)— or ═N—, for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl or for the group m, n and o stand for 0-3, Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, independently of one another, stand for hydrogen, fluorine, C1-C4-alkyl or the group —N(R11)—, and/or Ra and/or Rb can form a bond with Rc and/or Rd or Rc can form a bond with Re and/or Rf, or up to two of radicals Ra-Rf can close a bridge with up to 3 C atoms each to form R1 or to form R7, X stands for C1-C6-alkyl, R1 stands for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl or C2-C12-alkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, hydroxy, cyano, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for C3-C10-cycloalkyl or C3-C10-cycloalkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, hydroxy, cyano, C1-C6-alkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for aryl or hetaryl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, hydroxy, cyano, cyano-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl or with the group ═O, —OR14, or —R14, R2 stands for unsubstituted hetaryl or for hetaryl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with cyano, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, amino, hydroxy and/or with the group —OR18 or —R19, and said hetaryl has at least one N-oxide group, D stands for a nitrogen atom or for the group C—R3, E stands for a nitrogen atom or for the group C—R4, F stands for a nitrogen atom or for the group C—R5, G stands for a nitrogen atom or for the group C—R6, whereby R3, R4, R5 and R6 stand for hydrogen, halogen, or C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkyl or C1-C6-carboxyalkyl that is unsubstituted or that is optionally substituted in one or more places with halogen, R7 stands for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl or forms a bridge with up to 3 ring members with Ra-Rf from Z or to form R1, R8, R9, R10 and R11 stand for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, R12 and R13 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R14 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)u(CH2)v—R15, R15 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, R16 and R17 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-acyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R18 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)w(CH2)p—R15, R19 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, and u, v, w and p stand for 0-5, as well as isomers and salts thereof. 2. Compounds of general formula I, according to claim 1, in which A stands for the group —N(R7)—, W stands for oxygen, Z stands for a bond or for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl, X stands for C1-C6-alkyl, R1 stands for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl or C2-C12-alkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for C3-C10-cycloalkyl or C3-C10-cycloalkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for aryl or hetaryl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, cyano-C1-C6-alkyl, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl or with the group ═O, —OR14, or —R14, R2 stands for unsubstituted hetaryl or for hetaryl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with cyano, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, amino, hydroxy and/or with the group —OR18 or —R19, and said hetaryl has at least one N-oxide group, D stands for the group C—R3, E stands for the group C—R4, F stands for the group C—R5, G stands for the group C—R6, whereby R3, R4, R5 and R6 stand for hydrogen, R7 stands for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, R9 stands for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, R12 and R13 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R14 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)u(CH2)v—R15, R15 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, R16 and R17 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-acyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R18 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)w(CH2)p—R15, R19 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, and u, v, w and p stand for 0-5, as well as isomers and salts thereof. 3. Compounds of general formula I, according claim 1, in which A stands for the group —N(R7)—, W stands for oxygen, Z stands for a bond or for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl, X stands for C1-C6-alkyl, R1 stands for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl or C2-C12-alkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for C3-C10-cycloalkyl or C3-C10-cycloalkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for phenyl or hetaryl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, cyano-C1-C6-alkyl, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl or with the group ═O, —OR14, or —R14, R2 stands for unsubstituted hetaryl or for hetaryl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, amino, hydroxy and/or with the group —OR18 or —R19, and said hetaryl has at least one N-oxide group, D stands for the group C—R3, E stands for the group C—R4, F stands for the group C—R5, G stands for the group C—R6, whereby R3, R4, R5 and R6 stand for hydrogen, R7 stands for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, R9 stands for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, R12 and R13 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R14 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)u(CH2)n—R5, R15 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, R16 and R17 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-acyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R18 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)w(CH2)p—R15, R19 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, and u, v, w and p stand for 0-5, as well as isomers and salts thereof. 4. Compounds of general formula I, according to claim 1, in which A stands for the group —N(R7)—, W stands for oxygen, Z stands for a bond or for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl, X stands for C1-C6-alkyl, R1 stands for branched or unbranched C1-C12-alkyl or C2-C12-alkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for C3-C10-cycloalkyl or C3-C10-cycloalkenyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl and/or with the group —NR12R13; or for phenyl, thiophene, furan, oxazole, thiazole, imidazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, triazine, quinoline, isoquinoline or the group that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, cyano, cyano-C1-C6-alkyl, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, aralkyloxy, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl or with the group ═O, —OR14, or —R14, R2 stands for unsubstituted hetaryl or for hetaryl that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, amino, hydroxy and/or with the group —OR18 or —R19, and said hetaryl has at least one N-oxide group, D stands for the group C—R3, E stands for the group C—R4, F stands for the group C—R5, G stands for the group C—R6, whereby R3, R4, R5 and R6 stand for hydrogen, R7 stands for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, R9 stands for hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, R12 and R13 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R14 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)u(CH2)v—R15, R15 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, R16 and R17 stand for hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-acyl or form a ring that can contain another heteroatom, R18 stands for the group (CH2—CH2—O)w(CH2)p—R15, R19 stands for aryl, hetaryl, C1-C6-alkyl, aralkyl, —CH2CN or for the group NR16R17, and u, v, w and p stand for 0-5, as well as isomers and salts thereof. 5. Compounds of general formula I, according to claim 1, in which A stands for the group —N(R7)—, W stands for oxygen, Z stands for a bond, X stands for C1-C6-alkyl, R1 stands for phenyl, imidazolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl or the group that is optionally substituted in one or more places in the same way or differently with cyano-C1-C6-alkyl, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyloxy, halo-C1-C6-alkyl or with the group ═O, R2 stands for unsubstituted pyridyl or for pyridyl that is optionally substituted in one or more places with halogen, and said pyridyl has at least one N-oxide group, D stands for the group C—R3, E stands for the group C—R4, F stands for the group C—R5, G stands for the group C—R6, whereby R3, R4, R5 and R6 stand for hydrogen, R7 stands for hydrogen, and R9 stands for hydrogen, as well as isomers and salts thereof. 6. Pharmaceutical agents that contain at least one compound according to claim 1. 7. Pharmaceutical agents according to claim 6, for use in the case of psoriasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, restenosis, endometriosis, Crohn's disease, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia; arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hemangioma, angiofibroma; eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, neovascular glaucoma; renal diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, malignant nephrosclerosis, thrombic microangiopathic syndrome, transplant rejections and glomerulopathy; fibrotic diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver, mesangial cell proliferative diseases, arteriosclerosis, injuries to nerve tissue, inhibition of the reocclusion of vessels after balloon catheter treatment, vascular prosthetics or use of mechanical devices to keep vessels open, such as, e.g., stents, and as immunosuppressive agents, and for supporting scar-free healing, in senile keratosis and in contact dermatitis. 8. Compounds according to claim 1, with suitable formulation substances and vehicles. 9. Use of the compounds of formula I, according to claim 1, as inhibitors of the tyrosine kinases KDR and FLT. 10. Use of the compounds of general formula I, according to claim 1, in the form of a pharmaceutical preparation for enteral, parenteral and oral administration. 11. Use of the compounds according to claims 1 to 5 claim 1 in the case of psoriasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, restenosis, endometriosis, Crohn's disease, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia; arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hemangioma, angiofibroma; eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, neovascular glaucoma; renal diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, malignant nephrosclerosis, thrombic microangiopathic syndrome, transplant rejections and glomerulopathy; fibrotic diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver, mesangial cell proliferative diseases, arteriosclerosis, injuries to nerve tissue, and for inhibiting the reocclusion of vessels after balloon catheter treatment, in vascular prosthetics or after mechanical devices are used to keep vessels open, such as, e.g., stents, and as immunosuppressive agents, and for supporting scar-free healing, and in senile keratosis and in contact dermatitis. 12. Use of the compounds of general formula I, according to claim 1, as VEGFR kinase 3 inhibitors of lymphangiogenesis. |
Control device for supercharged engine |
The invention is intended to provide good emission-cleaning performance by use of a three-way catalyst alone, without the need for a lean NOx catalyst, while ensuring a fuel economy improvement effect of lean burn operation, and to improve fuel economy up to high-load operating ranges while maintaining desired engine output performance by use of a supercharger. In a pair of preceding and following cylinders whose exhaust and intake strokes overlap each other, intake air supplied to the preceding cylinder (2A, 2D) is supercharged by a turbocharger (23) to produce combustion at a “lean” air-fuel ratio in the preceding cylinder (2A, 2D), and burned gas discharged from the preceding cylinder (2A, 2D) is introduced into the following cylinder (2B, 2C) through an intercylinder gas channel (22). Combustion in the following cylinder (2B, 2C) is made at an air-fuel ratio equal to or smaller than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by supplying fuel to the burned gas of a “lean” air-fuel ratio introduced from the preceding cylinder (2A, 2D), and gas discharged from the following cylinder (2B, 2C) is led to an exhaust passage (20) provided with a three-way catalyst (30). |
1. A control device for a multicylinder supercharged engine of which individual cylinders go through successive cycles of intake, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes with specific phase delays, in which, of a pair of cylinders whose exhaust and intake strokes overlap each other, the cylinder which is currently in the exhaust stroke serves as a preceding cylinder while the cylinder which is currently in the intake stroke serves as a following cylinder, gas flow paths are configured such that burned gas discharged from the preceding cylinder is introduced directly into the following cylinder through an intercylinder gas channel and gas discharged from only the following cylinder is led to an exhaust passage, and said engine is provided with a supercharger for supercharging intake air supplied to the preceding cylinder and a three-way catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage, said control device comprising: a controller for controlling fuel supply to the individual cylinders in such a manner that combustion in the preceding cylinder is made under lean mixture conditions at an air-fuel ratio larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by a specific amount, and combustion in the following cylinder is made at an air-fuel ratio equal to or smaller than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by supplying fuel to the burned gas of a large air-fuel ratio introduced from the preceding cylinder in all operating ranges of the engine. 2. The control device for the supercharged engine according to claim 1, wherein the air-fuel ratio in the preceding cylinder is made approximately equal to twice the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or larger. 3. The control device for the supercharged engine according to claim 1, wherein the engine has a fuel injector for injecting the fuel directly into the preceding cylinder, and said controller causes stratified charge combustion to occur in the preceding cylinder by injecting the fuel during its compression stroke from the fuel injector while producing a lean mixture state in the preceding cylinder. 4. The control device for the supercharged engine according to claim 1, wherein said controller controls fuel supply such that the air-fuel ratio in the following cylinder becomes equal to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio at least in a low-load range of the engine. 5. The control device for the supercharged engine according to claim 4, wherein said controller makes the air-fuel ratio in the following cylinder equal to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio in other than a high-load range of the engine and makes the air-fuel ratio in the following cylinder smaller than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio in the high-load range. 6. The control device for the supercharged engine according to claim 1, wherein the engine has a fuel injector for injecting the fuel directly into the following cylinder, and said controller causes the fuel injector to inject at least part of the fuel in the compression stroke of the following cylinder. 7. The control device for the supercharged engine according to claim 1, wherein the fuel is supplied to the following cylinder in its intake stroke. 8. The control device for the supercharged engine according to claim 1, wherein combustion in the following cylinder is caused by compressed self-ignition in a part-load range of the engine. 9. A control device for a four-cycle multicylinder supercharged spark-ignition engine of which individual cylinders provided with spark plugs go through successive cycles of intake, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes with specific phase delays, in which, of a pair of cylinders whose exhaust and intake strokes overlap each other, the cylinder which is currently in the exhaust stroke serves as a preceding cylinder while the cylinder which is currently in the intake stroke serves as a following cylinder, and said engine is provided with an intercylinder gas channel for introducing burned gas discharged from the preceding cylinder into the following cylinder, a supercharger disposed in an intake passage, a three-way catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage, and a fuel feeder for supplying fuel to the individual cylinders, said control device comprising: a controller for controlling fuel supply to the individual cylinders; wherein the supercharger supercharges intake air supplied to the preceding cylinder, combustion in the preceding cylinder is made under lean mixture conditions at an air-fuel ratio larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by a specific amount, the burned gas discharged from the preceding cylinder is introduced directly into the following cylinder, combustion in the following cylinder is made under conditions of the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by supplying the fuel to the burned gas of a large air-fuel ratio introduced from the preceding cylinder at least in a part-load range, and exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port of the following cylinder is caused to pass through a three-way catalyst. 10. A control device for a multicylinder supercharged engine of which individual cylinders go through successive cycles of intake, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes with specific phase delays, in which, of a pair of cylinders whose exhaust and intake strokes overlap each other, the cylinder which is currently in the exhaust stroke serves as a preceding cylinder while the cylinder which is currently in the intake stroke serves as a following cylinder, gas flow paths are configured such that burned gas discharged from the preceding cylinder is introduced directly into the following cylinder through an intercylinder gas channel and gas discharged from only the following cylinder is led to an exhaust passage, and said engine is provided with a supercharger for supercharging intake air supplied to the preceding cylinder, a three-way catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage, and fuel injectors for supplying fuel into the individual cylinders, said control device comprising: a control unit for controlling the engine; wherein said control unit controls the amount of fuel injected into the preceding cylinder in such a manner that combustion in the preceding cylinder is made under lean mixture conditions at an air-fuel ratio larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by a specific amount and controls the amount of fuel injected into the following cylinder in such a manner that combustion in the following cylinder is made at an air-fuel ratio equal to or smaller than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by supplying the fuel to the burned gas of a large air-fuel ratio introduced from the preceding cylinder in all operating ranges of the engine. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>There exists a conventionally known technique for achieving an improvement in fuel economy by performing combustion in a state of “lean” air-fuel ratio in which air-fuel mixture in individual cylinders of a spark-ignition engine is burnt at an air-fuel ratio larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. One example of this kind of engine is shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-274085, which employs fuel injectors for injecting fuel directly into combustion chambers to cause stratified charge combustion by injecting fuel during a compression stroke in a low-speed, low-load range, for example, to thereby accomplish extremely lean mixture combustion. In this kind of engine, it is impossible to achieve sufficient emission-cleaning performance with respect to nitrogen oxides (NOx) under lean burn operating conditions by using an ordinary three-way catalyst alone, which is a catalyst having high performance to convert hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and NOx at about the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, as an emission-cleaning catalyst. Therefore, as shown in the aforementioned Publication, the engine is provided with a lean NOx catalyst which adsorbs NOx in an oxygen-rich atmosphere and releases and reduces NOx in an atmosphere where oxygen concentration has decreased. If the amount of NOx adsorbed by the lean NOx catalyst increases under the lean burn operating conditions when the lean NOx catalyst of this kind is being used, the fuel is injected not only for primary combustion but an additional amount of fuel is injected during an expansion stroke to decrease the air-fuel ratio and generate CO for accelerating release and reduction of NOx as shown in the aforementioned Publication, for example. The aforementioned engine which performs conventional lean burn operation requires the lean NOx catalyst to provide NOx-converting performance during the lean burn operating conditions. This type of engine also requires the three-way catalyst for cleaning emissions in such engine operating ranges as a high-load range in which the engine is operated at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The lean NOx catalyst provided along with the three-way catalyst needs to have a relatively large capacity to provide a capability to adsorb a certain amount of NOx and is expensive as compared to the three-way catalyst, so that the provision of this lean NOx catalyst is disadvantageous from the viewpoint of product cost. In addition, it is necessary to temporarily decrease the air-fuel ratio by feeding additional amounts of fuel to accelerate release and reduction of NOx at specific intervals of time when the amount of NOx adsorbed increases as stated above in order to maintain the converting performance of the lean NOx catalyst. This would jeopardize fuel economy improvement effect offered by lean burn operation. Furthermore, the lean NOx catalyst is susceptible to poisoning by sulfurization when the used fuel contains high sulfur content. The lean NOx catalyst should therefore be subjected to regeneration treatment, such as catalyst heating and feeding of a reducing agent, to prevent this sulfur-poisoning problem. This regeneration treatment of the lean NOx catalyst is likely to cause a reduction in the fuel economy improvement effect and deterioration of its durability. While the aforementioned type of engine is normally operated by stratified charge combustion of a lean mixture in lower-load operating ranges of the engine and by uniform charge combustion at an air-fuel ratio lower than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio in higher-load operating ranges to ensure desired engine output performance, it is preferable to provide good fuel economy and emission quality up to as high-load ranges as possible. The invention has been made in consideration of the aforementioned problems of the prior art. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a control device of a spark-ignition engine capable of providing improved emission-cleaning performance by use of a three-way catalyst alone, without the need for a lean NOx catalyst, while ensuring a fuel economy improvement effect of lean burn operation. It is a further object of the invention to provide a control device of a spark-ignition engine capable of providing good fuel economy and emission quality up to higher-load operating ranges of the engine while maintaining desired engine output performance by use of a supercharger. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a general plan view of an entire engine provided with a control device according to an embodiment the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an engine body and associated elements; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing engine operating ranges; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing timing of exhaust strokes and intake strokes as well as fuel injection timing and ignition timing for individual cylinders; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of fuel injection timing for following cylinders; and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another example of fuel injection timing for following cylinders. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Machines for washing mops and integrated devices having a pulsator and a water removal barrel thereof |
The invention provides a machine for washing a mop, which includes a housing, a driving mechanism, a controlling mechanism, a pulsator, a water tank, a water removal barrel, a draining mechanism, and a mop supporting means, wherein an integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel consists of the water removal barrel which is a cylinder without bottoms and the pulsator which is fixed together with the lower end of the barrel. The mop supporting means is a protrusion supporting element which is on the upper end of the center of the pulsator. |
1-15. cancelled. 16. A machine for washing a mop having a lower supportive head, a cleaning cloth and a handle, comprising a housing including an upper portion and a lower portion, a driving mechanism disposed within the lower portion of the housing, including a motor, a transmission mechanism; a washing barrel, disposed within the upper portion of the housing; a water removal barrel, disposed within the washing barrel, including a cylinder and a pulsator connected to the cylinder as a base; a draining mechanism disposed within the lower portion of the housing; and mop supporting means for supporting the mop, including a protrusion supporting element located at the center of the pulsator, and an upper bracket fixed on the upper end of the housing, wherein the protrusion supporting element provides a supportive locating point for locating the head of the mop at the upper end thereof, and the upper bracket provides an upper locating element to engage one end of the handle for locating the upper portion of the mop, wherein when the motor rotates, it drives the pulsator to rotate, and the mop does not rotate relative to the protrusion supportive element, but the cleaning cloth can be driven to contact the inner wall of the water removal barrel. 17. The machine of claim 16, wherein a plurality of water removal holes are provided at the wall of the water removal barrel. 18. The machine of claim 16, wherein the upper bracket has the shape of a door frame, and the upper locating element is disposed at the lower surface of an upper crossbeam of the upper bracket and includes a locating body having a spherical recess provided at the lower end surface thereof, an installation base and a spring, wherein the locating body is of a mushroom shape with a mushroom head having a larger diameter at the lower portion thereof and a shaft having a smaller diameter at the upper portion thereof and being mounted between the installation base and the mushroom head, and the spring encompasses the shaft of the locating body. 19. The machine of claim 17, wherein the upper bracket has the shape of a door frame, and the upper locating element is disposed at the lower surface of an upper crossbeam of the upper bracket and includes a locating body having a spherical recess provided at the lower end surface thereof, an installation base and a spring, wherein the locating body is of a mushroom shape with a mushroom head having a larger diameter at the lower portion thereof and a shaft having a smaller diameter at the upper portion thereof and being mounted between the installation base and the mushroom head, and the spring encompasses the shaft of the locating body. 20. The mop washing machine of claim 16, wherein the upper bracket consists of two openable cover boards that constitute the upper locating element, and a through hole formed at the center of the two cover boards is provided for allowing the handle of mop to pass therethrough. 21. The mop washing machine of claim 17, wherein the upper bracket consists of two openable cover boards that constitute the upper locating element, and a through hole formed at the center of the two cover boards is provided for allowing the handle of mop to pass therethrough. 22. The machine of claim 16, wherein the supporting element includes a supporting body, a base and a rotatable element, wherein a lower portion of the supporting body is connected to an upper portion of the rotatable element, the rotatable element is mounted within a rotatable hole at the upper end of the base, and at least two hooks are disposed at the lower end of the base connecting the pulsator. 23. The machine of claim 17, wherein the supporting element includes a supporting body, a base and a rotatable element, wherein a lower portion of the supporting body is connected to an upper portion of the rotatable element, the rotatable element is mounted within a rotatable hole at the upper end of the base, and at least two hooks are disposed at the lower end of the base connecting the pulsator. 24. The machine of claim 18, wherein the supporting element includes a supporting body, a base and a rotatable element, wherein a lower portion of the supporting body is connected to an upper portion of the rotatable element, the rotatable element is mounted within a rotatable hole at the upper end of the base, and at least two hooks are disposed at the lower end of the base connecting the pulsator. 25. The machine of claim 19, wherein the supporting element includes a supporting body, a base and a rotatable element, wherein a lower portion of the supporting body is connected to an upper portion of the rotatable element, the rotatable element is mounted within a rotatable hole at the upper end of the base, and at least two hooks are disposed at the lower end of the base connecting the pulsator. 26. The machine of claim 20, wherein the supporting element includes a supporting body, a base and a rotatable element, wherein a lower portion of the supporting body is connected to an upper portion of the rotatable element, the rotatable element is mounted within a rotatable hole at the upper end of the base, and at least two hooks are disposed at the lower end of the base connecting the pulsator. 27. The machine of claim 21, wherein the supporting element includes a supporting body, a base and a rotatable element, wherein a lower portion of the supporting body is connected to an upper portion of the rotatable element, the rotatable element is mounted within a rotatable hole at the upper end of the base, and at least two hooks are disposed at the lower end of the base connecting the pulsator. 28. The machine of claim 16, wherein the upper bracket is a triangular-shaped bracket, and the upper locating element has an integral cylindric configuration. 29. The machine of claim 17, wherein the upper bracket is a triangular-shaped bracket, and the upper locating element has an integral cylindric configuration. 30. The machine of claim 17, wherein the speed of the pulsator is at 350-600 rpm, and the water removal barrel has a height of 50-300 mm. 31. The machine of claim 30, wherein the speed of the pulsator is at 400-550 rpm, the water removal barrel has a height of 100-250 mm, and the water removal barrel has a diameter of Φ250-350 mm. 32. The machine of claim 17, wherein the supportive locating point is a combination of a cone and a sphere. 33. The machine of claim 18, wherein the supportive locating point is a combination of a cone and a sphere. 34. The machine of claim 19, wherein the supportive locating point is a combination of a cone and a sphere. 35. The machine of claim 20, wherein the supportive locating point is a combination of a cone and a sphere. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The mop washing machine of prior art is based on a single-tub automatic washing machine and further includes a mop supporting device. The mop washing machine in the art generally includes a housing, a driving mechanism, a controlling mechanism, a washing tank, a water removal barrel, a draining mechanism, and a mop supporting device. Some of them further include a pulsator and a water input mechanism. However, such machines have following disadvantages: (1) The cost of manufacturing is higher because they comprise excess elements and have a complicated structure of the mop supporting device. (2) It is difficult to move them because they generally have a larger size. (3) They can only be used for specific mops. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Accordingly, in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems of prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a mop washing machine having a simple structure, a smaller size and good washing effect. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a mop washing machine comprising a housing, a driving mechanism, a controlling mechanism, a pulsator, a water tank, a water removal barrel, a draining mechanism, and a mop supporting element, wherein the water removal barrel is a hollow cylinder without bottoms, the lower end of which is connected with the pulsator to constitute an integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel. In use, a mop is supported on the mop supporting element to make a cleaning cloth of the mop head put into the integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel. Turning on the switch, the cleaning cloth of the mop is washed by making the integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel rotate so as to form a rotatable water flow. After the cleaning cloth has been washed, the integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel rotates at a higher speed in order to remove water form the mop. The cleaning cloth of the mop attaches the inner wall of the water removal barrel because of the centrifugal force. Thus, the mop is dried. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides another mop washing machine comprising a housing, a driving mechanism, a controlling mechanism, a pulsator, a washing barrel, a water removal barrel, a draining mechanism, and mop supporting means, wherein an integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel is constituted by integrating the pulsator used as the barrel bottom with a wall of the water removal barrel having a plurality of water removal holes, and the output shaft of the driving mechanism including an asynchronous motor and a reduction mechanism with first class strap wheel is connected with the pulsator. The output rotate speed of the driving mechanism may be 350˜600 rpm, optimally 400˜550 rpm. The driving mechanism includes a motor and a reduction mechanism with a first class strap wheel. The water flow resistance can be increased if the height is excess. The water removal barrel in the integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel has a height of 50˜300 mm, optimally 100˜250 mm. In one embodiment of the present invention, the water removal barrel in the integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel has a diameter of at least more than Φ150 mm, optimally Φ200˜350 mm. The reason why the water removal barrel in the integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel has a diameter of at least more than Φ150 mm is that it is necessary to have a higher rotation speed if the diameter is smaller, or else the water remove effect is not met. However, the higher the rotate speed is, the stronger the libration of the machine is. The diameter should not be too small, the optimum diameter is Φ200˜350 mm. In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing consists of an upper portion, a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is integrated with the water tank to constitute a body of the washing barrel, and the lower portion constitutes a pedestal to retain a motor, a transmission mechanism and the draining mechanism. Thus, the structure can be simplified. In another embodiment of the present invention, the mop supporting means is a protrusion supporting element located at the upper center of the pulsator. The mop supporting means may be a protrusion supporting element located at the upper center of the pulsator for supporting the lower end of the lower supporting head. In use, the mop is put into the washing barrel filled with water. The lower supporting head is supported on the supporting element to make the cleaning cloth of the mop head put into the integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel. When the pulsator rotates, the mop doesn't rotate because the central axis of the pulsator is fixed. Thus, the upper portion of the mop can rotate freely. Therefore, when the pulsator rotates, the washing process can be achieved by controlling the upper portion of the mop to support the mop on the supporting element by hand. The mop supporting means located at the upper end of the pulsator has a supporting point for engaging the lower supporting head of the mop. The point may be designed as a recess or a convex in the shape of a cone, a cylinder, a sphere, or a combination thereof to match a lower supportive head of the mop. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pulsator is a pulsator having a higher supportive rod. The supporting element is mounted on the upper end of the supportive rod to constitute a combined pulsator. In another embodiment of the present invention, the supporting element the mop supporting means that is located at the upper end of the pulsator further comprises an upper bracket fixed on the top end of the housing and an upper locating element corresponding to the mop supporting element for locating the upper portion of the mop. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the upper bracket is formed in the shape of a door frame, and the upper locating element is disposed at the lower surface of the upper crossbeam of the upper bracket including a locating body having a spherical recess locating point provided at the lower end surface thereof, a spring, and an installation base. The locating body is in the shape of a mushroom with a mushroom head having a larger diameter at the lower portion thereof and a shaft having a smaller diameter at the upper portion thereof and mounted on the installation base with one end thereof, and the spring encompasses the shaft of the locating body. Alternatively, the upper bracket consists of two cover boards, and the upper locating element can be opened or closed and has a through hole formed on the center of the two cover boards. The upper bracket may be a triangular-shaped bracket, and the upper locating element has an integral cylindric configuration. The present invention also provides an integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel used in the mop washing machine. The integrated device of the pulsator and the water removal barrel is constituted by connecting the wall of the water removal barrel which has a plurality of water removal holes and is disposed on the pulsator to the pulsator that forms the barrel bottom. |
Method |
The present invention relates to a method for determining a mass changing event in a very small amount of a material of interest (eg a chemical or biological material of interest). The mass changing event may be for example specific binding or nucleotide complementation and may be differentiated over other (non-specific) events. |
1. A method for determining a mass changing event in a material of interest in a localised environment, said method comprising: (A) providing a sensor device having a sensor component capable of exhibiting a measurable response to a change in the localised environment caused by the mass changing event in the material of interest therein; (B) introducing the material of interest into the localised environment; (C) inducing the mass changing event in the material of interest; (D) generating an output from the sensor component over a temporal range; (E) measuring the response of a characteristic Of the output over the temporal range; and (F) relating the response of the characteristic of the output over the temporal range to the mass changing event. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (D) comprises: irradiating the sensor component with electromagnetic radiation to generate an output over a temporal range. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mass changing event is a chemical mass changing event. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mass changing event is a specific molecular (or atomic) interaction. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mass changing event is a specific associative or dissociative molecular interaction. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mass changing event is a binding event. 7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mass changing event is a specific binding event. 8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the binding event is a bond making or bond breaking event. 9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the binding event is an associative event or a dissociative event. 10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the binding event is formation of a molecular composition or decomposition of a molecular composition. 11. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the material of interest is a biological molecule. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the biological molecule is an antigen and the binding event is formation of an antibody/antigen specific binding pair. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mass changing event is a conformational change of the material of interest. 14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the conformational change is a molecular rearrangement. 15. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material of interest is a nucleotide and the mass changing event is effective nucleotide complementation. 16. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mass changing event is a physical mass changing event. 17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the mass changing event is aggregation. 18. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (C) comprises: imposing a condition such as to induce the mass changing event. 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of a chosen temperature, pressure, acidity, solvent and humidity. 20. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor device is an interferometric sensor device. 21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the sensor component is a waveguide structure including: either (a) one or more sensing layers capable of inducing in a secondary waveguide a measurable response to a change in the localised environment caused by the mass changing event or (b) a sensing waveguide capable of exhibiting a measurable response to a change in the localised environment caused by the mass changing event. 22. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the sensor component is a waveguide structure including: either (a) one or more sensing layers capable of inducing in a secondary waveguide a measurable response to a change in the localised environment caused by the mass changing event and an inactive secondary waveguide in which the sensing layer is incapable of inducing a measurable response to a change in the localised environment caused by the mass changing event or (b) a sensing waveguide capable of exhibiting a measurable response to a change in the localised environment caused by the mass changing event and an inactive waveguide substantially incapable of exhibiting a measurable response to a change in the localised environment caused by the mass changing event. 23. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein each of the sensing waveguide or secondary waveguide of the sensor component is a planar waveguide. 24. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mass changing event contributes to a change in the effective refractive index of the sensor component. 25. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the characteristic of the output is a positional characteristic. 26. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the output is a pattern of interference fringes. 27. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein step (E) comprises: measuring movements in the pattern of interference fringes over the temporal range. 28. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein step (E) further comprises: calculating the phase shift from the movements in the pattern of interference fringes over the temporal range. 29. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the characteristic of the output is a non-positional characteristic. 30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the non-positional characteristic of the pattern of interference fringes is the contrast. 31. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step (D) is carried out with electromagnetic radiation in TM mode. 32. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step (D) is carried out with electromagnetic radiation in TE mode. 33. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step (D) comprises: (D1) irradiating the sensor component with electromagnetic radiation in TE mode to produce a first pattern of interference fringes; (D2) irradiating the sensor component with electromagnetic radiation in TM mode to produce a second pattern of interference fringes; and step (E) comprises: (E1) measuring movements in the first pattern of interference fringes; and (E2) measuring movements in the second pattern of interference fringes. 34. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein step (E) further comprises: (E3) calculating the phase shift of the sensor component in TM mode from the movements in the first pattern of interference fringes; (E4) calculating the phase shift of the sensor component in TE mode from the movements in the second pattern of interference fringes; and step (F) is relating the phase shift of the sensor component in TM mode and the phase shift of the sensor component in TE mode to the mass changing event. 35. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein step (E) further comprises: (E3) calculating the phase shift of the sensor component in TM mode from the movements in the first pattern of interference fringes (E4) calculating the phase shift of the sensor component in TE mode from the movements in the second pattern of interference fringes; (E5) calculating the phase shift of the sensor component in TM mode relative to the phase shift of the sensor component in TE mode; and step (F) is relating the phase shift of the sensor component in TM mode relative to the phase shift of the sensor component in TE mode to the mass changing event. 36. A method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the phase shift of the sensor component in TM mode relative to the phase shift of the sensor component in TE mode is a ratio of the phase shift of the sensor component in TM mode to the phase shift of the sensor component in TE mode. 37. A method as claimed in claim 33 further comprising: (G1) relating the movements in the first pattern of interference fringes and second pattern of interference fringes to a change in the intrinsic refractive index and/or the volume; and (G2) calculating the change in the molecular density; and (G3) optionally calculating the change in mass. 38. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein step (G1) comprises: (G1) relating the movements in the first pattern of interference fringes and second pattern of interference fringes to a change in the intrinsic refractive index and/or the thickness of the sensing layer or sensing waveguide. 39. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the sensor device further comprises: means for intimately exposing at least a part of the (or each) sensing layer or the sensing waveguide of the sensor component, said means defining the localised environment having a volume of 50 microlitres or less. 40. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (D) comprises: generating an output from the sensor component on at least two occasions over a temporal range. 41. A method as claimed in claim 40 wherein step (D) comprises: generating an output from the sensor component continuously over a temporal range. 42. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (D) comprises: electromechanically vibrating the sensor component to generate an output over a temporal range. 43. A method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the sensor component is a quartz crystal. 44. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (D) comprises: irradiating the sensor component with energetic particles to generate an output over a temporal range. 45. A method as claimed in claim 44 wherein the energetic particles are neutrons, α-particles or β-particles. |
<SOH> Analysis of Slab Waveguide Structures Using EM Field Theory <EOH>Generally, the intrinsic refractive index and thickness can be resolved from the measurement of effective refractive index by the solution of Maxwell's equations for propagation of electromagnetic radiation through the combined sensing system and analyte. A—Three Layer Waveguide Structure For a general three layer (slab) waveguide structure, it is possible to derive an eigenvalue equation for each polarisation. For TE modes: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? α 1 t =tan −1 (α 2 /α 1 )+tan −1 (α 3 /α 1 )+ mπ (m=0, 1, 2 . . . ) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? where m is the mode order and in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? α 1 2 =( n 1 2 k 0 2 −β m 2 ); α 3 2 =(β m 2 −n 3 2 k 0 2 ); α 2 2 =(β m 2 −n 2 2 k 0 2 ) and β m =n eff,m k 0 . in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? (where the core layer is 1, substrate and cladding layers 2 and 3 , thickness of the core layer t and the free space wavenumber k 0 = 2 π λ 0 ) . For TM mode the equation is: α 1 t = tan - 1 ( n 1 2 n 2 2 α 2 / α 1 ) + tan - 1 ( n 1 2 n 3 2 α 3 / α 1 ) + m π Generally, these equations are solved for the effective refractive index values by numerical techniques given a known set of refractive index and thickness parameters. Alternatively if the absolute effective index value is known, it is possible to solve for one variable of the system for each equation given that the other three are known. In the sensor, the starting effective refractive index value (n eff (0)) is known since the intrinsic refractive index and thickness parameters of the system are known. This would be obtained by numerical solving of either of the above for the relevant polarisation. The sensor would then record an effective refractive index difference (Δn eff ) upon a new cladding layer being introduced (eg a binding event). An absolute effective index n eff (1)=n eff (0)+Δn eff could be put in to either of the two equations above to solve for the refractive index of the cladding layer. B—Four and More Layer Waveguide Structure To analyse more complicated structures where the number of parameters can be arbitrarily large requires matrix methods to reduce the complexity. The equation to solve becomes: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? j (α s m 11 +α c m 22 )= m 21 −α s α c m 12 in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? where α s and α c refer to the terms for substrate and cladding, the two outer bounding layers, within which the field has a decaying exponential form. They are written as: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? α s 2 =(β m 2 −n s 2 k 0 2 ) and α c 2 =(β m 2 −n c 2 k 0 2 ) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? The m ij terms are elements of a 2×2 matrix which is the resultant matrix formed by multiplication of the individual characteristic matrix of each layer. Thus for each layer within the stack (not the bounding layers) we have for TE mode; M i = cos ( α i t i ) j α i sin ( α i t i ) j / α i sin ( a i t i ) cos ( α i t i ) where t i is the thickness of each layer, and the index of each layer is; in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? α i 2 =( n i 2 k 0 2 −β m 2 ) in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? The characteristic matrix (M) for the whole stack is obtained through multiplication as follows; M = m 11 m 21 m 12 m 22 = M 1 · M 2 · M 3 · … M n For TM modes we modify the terms in the characteristic matrix for each layer The equation must be initially solved numerically using a known structure and calculating the TE effective index. The sensor would then provide a new TE effective index after layer deposition. This would be fed into the multilayer equation and solved for one parameter (either thickness or refractive index) of the film, setting the other parameter as a range variable. The analogous process could be carried out using the corresponding TM result. The unique combination of intrinsic refractive index and thickness would be found by correlating the TE and TM results as shown in FIG. 7 . The crossing point is the unique solution for intrinsic refractive index and thickness for the combined sensor and analyte system. From the intrinsic refractive index one can determine density and the absolute thickness is directly related to volume from which the absolute mass follows (density×volume=mass). Furthermore it is generally known that proteins may be discriminated by mass which can be determined from the calculated density if the thickness is determined as per the previous example. Although intrinsic refractive index is not directly related to density, if we make certain assumptions regarding the system under investigation (eg water has zero protein density at a refractive index of 1.33 and a known protein (eg streptavidin) has a refractive index of 1.45 for a known density) then generally one can attribute a change in refractive index to a change in percentage protein density: Density ( unknown protein ) = Density ( protein standard ) * ( RI ( unknown protein ) - RI ( water ) ) ( RI ( protein standard ) - RI ( water ) ) Absolute molecular density is a fundamental characteristic of any molecule and its determination and discrimination can therefore be used as a differentiating molecular signature. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="tail"? |
Method and system for controlling the transmission of media streams |
A method and system for controlling the transmission of media streams (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) over a connection (6) that employs a plurality of protocol layers (201, 202, 203) is described, where the number of media streams (31, 32, 33, 34) fed into said connection (6) at a first protocol layer (AL) is adjusted in accordance with information (4) that is indicative of the bandwidth, said information (4) being obtained at a second protocol layer (202; L2) below said first protocol layer (AL). |
1. A method for controlling the transmission of media streams over a connection that employs a plurality of protocol layers, comprising: feeding one or more media streams into said connection at a first protocol layer in accordance with a control procedure implemented at said first protocol layer, obtaining at a second protocol layer below said first protocol layer information that is indicative of the bandwidth provided in said connection for the transmission of data from said first protocol layer, providing said information that is indicative of the bandwidth to said control procedure at said first protocol layer, and adjusting the number of media streams fed into said connection at said first protocol layer in accordance with said information that is indicative of the bandwidth. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is connection state change information that indicates a change in the state of said connection. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said connection state change information is bandwidth change information that indicates a change in the bandwidth provided in said connection. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is bandwidth allocation information issued during a set-up procedure for said connection. 5. A method according to one of claim 1, wherein said method is implemented in a communication device, and said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is obtained in said communication device. 6. A method according to one of claim 1, wherein said connection is provided by a transmission system that comprises a communication network, and said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is generated on the basis of control information provided by a control entity situated in said communication network. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said communication network is a cellular mobile communication network, said method is implemented in a mobile station capable of communicating over said cellular mobile communication network, and said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is generated in response to the initiating of a handover procedure in said cellular mobile communication network. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said cellular mobile communication network comprises a first type of cell in which communications are performed in accordance with a first telecommunications standard, and a second type of cell in which communications are performed in accordance with a second telecommunications standard. 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is generated in response to the initiating of a handover procedure from a cell of said first type or said second type to a cell of the other type. 10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said first telecommunications standard is the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications standard and said second standard is the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) standard. 11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data rates of one or more media streams fed into said connection are adjusted in accordance with said information indicative of the bandwidth. 12-13. (Cancelled) 14. A communication system comprising: media stream providing equipment; communication equipment, said communication equipment being operable to set-up a connection that employs a plurality of protocol layers, over which media streams provided by said media stream providing equipment may be transmitted; and a control system arranged to feed one or more media streams into said connection at a first protocol layer in accordance with a control procedure implemented at said first protocol layer, wherein said control system further adjusting the number of media streams fed into said connection at said first protocol layer in accordance with an information that is indicative of the bandwidth in said connection, said information being received from a second protocol layer below said first protocol layer. 15. A communication system according to claim 14, wherein said media stream providing equipment and communication equipment are provided in a single physical unit. 16. A communication system according to claim 15, wherein said communication system is a mobile telephone. 17. A communication system according to claim 14, wherein said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is connection state change information that indicates a change in the state of said connection. 18. A communication system according to claim 17, wherein said connection state change information is bandwidth change information that indicates a change in the bandwidth provided in said connection. 19. A communication system according to claim 14, wherein said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is bandwidth allocation information issued during a set-up procedure for said connection. 20. A communication system according to claim 14, wherein said connection is provided by a transmission system that comprises a communication network, and said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is generated on the basis of control information provided by a control entity situated in said communication network. 21. A communication system according to claim 20, wherein said communication system is arranged such that said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is generated in said communication system. 22. A communication system according to claim 20, wherein said communication network is a cellular mobile communication network, said method is implemented in a mobile station capable of communicating over said cellular mobile communication network, and said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is generated in response to the initiating of a handover procedure in said cellular mobile communication network. 23. A communication system according to claim 22, wherein said cellular mobile communication network comprises a first type of cell in which communications are performed in accordance with a first telecommunications standard, and a second type of cell in which communications are performed in accordance with a second telecommunications standard. 24. A communication system according to claim 23, wherein said information that is indicative of the bandwidth is generated in response to the initiating of a handover procedure from a cell of said first type or said second type to a cell of the other type. 25. A communication system according to claim 23, wherein said first telecommunications standard is the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications standard and said second standard is the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) standard. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Communication methods and systems are known, where a plurality of media streams are transmitted over a given connection. The term “media stream” refers to a stream carrying a specific type of information, such as video information, audio information, data information (e.g. computer files, etc.), etc. An example of an arrangement for transmitting a plurality of media streams is the so-called H.324 multimedia communication standard as described in ITU-T recommendation H.324 (03/96), or in an article by Dave Lindbergh in IEEE Communications Magazine, December 1996, pages 46-51 (XP000636453). Other examples of standards for handling a plurality of media streams are H.320, H.323 and H.310, which are each described in respective ITU-T recommendations. These standards can be used both for multimedia transmissions in a strict sense, i.e. in which at least some of the media streams are synchronized (e.g. the audio and video streams are synchronized to achieve lip synchronization), and for multimedia transmissions in a loose sense, i.e. for transmitting independent media streams carrying different kinds of media, where no synchronization is required between any of the individual streams. The transmission of a plurality of media streams will generally be conducted in the following way. At first, in a suitable communication device, such as a terminal having multimedia capabilities, a control process at an application layer will initiate the set-up of a communication connection over a suitable transmission system, such as a telephone network. Namely, the application will request a connection having a certain bandwidth depending on the stream to be transported, e.g. 64 kbps, in order to carry one video stream (e.g. 48 kbps), one speech stream (e.g. 8 kbps), a control signalling stream (e.g. 8 kbps; using a suitable control protocol, such as H.245 in connection with H.324), and a stream for rate adaption/multiplexing overhead (e.g. 8 kbps; in accordance with a suitable adaption/multiplexing protocol, such as H.223 in the H.324 system). Once the connection is set-up with the requested bandwidth, the control procedure at the application layer feeds the respective media streams into a lower layer, where the structure of the lower layer and layers thereafter is determined by the selected multimedia communication standard. For example, when adopting the H.324 standard, the media streams are passed to a layer using the H.245 control protocol, and thereafter a layer possibly implementing rate adaptation and multiplexing according to H.223. The multiplexed data stream is then passed on to a link layer and physical layer that handle the data further. The link layer and physical layer may e.g. provide multi-circuit or multi-bearer capabilities, such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System). FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of such a layer structure, where the protocol stack on the left hand side is implemented in a terminal device, and the protocol stack on the right hand side shows a network entity containing peers for the physical layer L1 and link layer L2 of the respective peers in the terminal. Other peers are not shown for simplicity, but are indicated by the dashed lines on the right hand side of FIG. 2 . An example of the structure of such a terminal is shown in FIG. 3 , where the terminal is generally referred to as 100 . In the example of FIG. 3 , the terminal 100 comprises media stream providing equipment 1 and communication equipment 2 . Such media stream providing equipment is also sometimes referred to as Data Terminal Equipment (DTE), and such communication equipment is sometimes also referred to as Data Communication Equipment (DCE), especially in connection with mobile communication systems. As can be seen, an application control 10 controls the transmission and receipt of respective media streams from and into a video I/O 13 , an audio I/O 12 and a user data application 11 . Namely, the video I/O 13 transmits and receives video streams, the audio I/O 12 transmits and receives audio streams, and the user data application 11 transmits and receives data streams. Video I/O 13 is connected with a video codec 24 , audio I/O 12 is connected with an audio codec 23 , the user data application 11 is connected to a data protocol handler 22 , and the application control 10 is connected to a control protocol handler 21 . The control protocol handler 21 implements the control protocol associated with the multimedia standard used, e.g. H.245. Each of the units 21 to 24 is connected to a multiplexing/demultiplexing (and possibly rate adapting) unit 25 , which in turn is connected to a network interface 26 that operates under the control of an interface control 27 . The interface control 27 is generally connected with the application control 10 . The network interface handles the connection to a network 5 , e.g. via the above-mentioned link layer and physical layer protocols. It may be noted that the elements shown in FIG. 3 can be provided by hardware, software or any suitable combination of hardware and software. For example, the application control 10 and the interface control 27 can be respective procedures running on a single processor. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This object is solved by a method having the features of claim 1 , and by a communication system having the features of claim 14 . In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the transmission of media streams over a connection employing a plurality of protocol layers is controlled in such a way that the number of media streams fed into the connection at a first protocol layer, e.g. the application layer, is adjusted in accordance with information from a protocol layer below said layer at which the media streams are fed into the connection, e.g. is obtained from the link layer, where said information is indicative of the bandwidth provided in said connection. In this way, the procedure controlling the feeding of media streams into the connection is made adaptable with respect to the state of the connection, and especially to changes in the state of the connection that influence the bandwidth. As an example, if the connection is provided over a cellular mobile communication system, the handover of the connection from one cell to another can lead to a change in the provided bandwidth. It is also possible that a network will change the allocation of bandwidth to the connection for a certain user, e.g. due to the necessity to assign more bandwidth to another priority connection, which is done by reducing the bandwidth of already established connections. Such procedures are naturally not restricted to wireless networks, but can also be implemented in wire bound communication networks, such as ISDN networks. The advantage of adjusting the number of media streams in accordance with bandwidth information from a lower layer, especially on the basis of information that indicates a change in bandwidth, is that the handling and transmission of media streams is done very efficiently and in a simple way. Namely, e.g. if a communication device sending a plurality of media streams, such as a multimedia terminal, receives the indication that the bandwidth is going to change, e.g. due to a handover, it can simply adjust the number of streams, e.g. by removing a stream for which the bandwidth is no longer sufficient. An example of this is if an established connection having e.g. 64 kbps is reduced to 16 kbps due to a handover to a cell that cannot provide more bandwidth, whereupon the control procedure feeding media streams into the connection can simply remove one or more streams, e.g. a video stream of 48 kbps, and otherwise continue the transmission of remaining streams, such as an audio stream and a control stream. In other words, the general session in the transmission mode that allows the sending of a plurality of media streams is retained, but the number of streams is adjusted. The advantage of this is that the standard approach to the management of bandwidth changes would consist in taking down the entire session relating to a sending of several media streams, and setting up a completely new session for a different mode. For example, this would mean ending a multimedia transmission mode and switching to a simple voice mode. This standard approach would, however, lead to a high signalling load, as the taking down of the multimedia session and setting up of the voice mode session would incur a high amount of control signalling between the end terminals of the communication, and also between the end terminals and the network entities carrying the communication between the two end terminals. For example, if the multimedia session is set-up in accordance with H.324, or more specifically the third generation of H.324 for mobile communication devices (3G.324M), then a fall back from multimedia to speech mode requires V8/V.8/V.8 is (PSTN) or V.140 (ISDN) signalling support, in order to provide interworking with the external networks to which the mobile communication network is connected. These protocols are not widely used, and the adaptation to arbitrary external networks would require the provision of respective interworking protocols for each possible external network. In contrast thereto, the present invention provides a highly effective solution that can be implemented with very little change to existing systems. For example, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, only the control procedures in a terminal device are different from prior art systems, in that the communication equipment in a terminal device detects bandwidth changes, and accordingly notifies the control procedure handling the feeding of media streams into the connection in the data terminal equipment, without any changes to the network being necessary. The basic concept of adjusting the number of media streams fed into a connection on the basis of bandwidth information from a lower layer can also be applied during the set-up of the connection, namely if the control procedure at the first protocol layer, e.g. the application layer, requests a certain amount of bandwidth in order to transmit predetermined media streams, but is allocated less bandwidth by the network. Namely, the control procedure at the first protocol layer can then adjust the number of media streams fed into the connection in accordance with the allocated amount of bandwidth. In prior art systems the allocation of an insufficient amount of bandwidth for a desired communication having a plurality of media streams simply leads to the connection being rejected, i.e. no communication being established. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the communication system desiring to transmit a plurality of media streams can then adjust the number of media streams from the initially desired number to a different number that is in accordance with the allocated bandwidth. As an example, if a mobile terminal desires to establish a communication in which video and audio data is to be sent in respective streams, but the set-up request is only answered by the allocation of an insufficient amount of bandwidth, then the control procedure can adapt to the allocated bandwidth by e.g. only feeding an audio stream and a control stream into the connection having the allocated bandwidth. According to a preferred embodiment, the system can then at a later point adjust the number of media streams if the amount of bandwidth in the connection is later augmented, such that it is later possible to adjust the number of media streams by adding the initially intended video stream to the communication. Again, this can be done without having to switch between different transmission modes, i.e. between a multimedia mode and a voice mode. |
Immune globulin formulations for the treatment and prevention of an orthopoxvirus infection |
The invention provides an immune globulin having a high titre of antibody to Orthopoxvirus, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the immune globulin and methods for making same. In one embodiment the immune globulin is intravenously injectable. The invention also provides a colorimetric assay to detect neutralizing antibodies to vaccinia virus. The invention has a number of uses including detection of neutralizing antibodies to vaccinia virus and the immunization of persons against the Orthopoxvirus and in the treatment of related conditions. |
1. A method of preparing an intravenously injectable immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus comprising: vaccinating a plurality of donors with an Orthopoxvirus vaccine; isolating plasma from each of said donors after a period of time sufficient to allow production of antibodies against said Orthopoxvirus vaccine; pooling the plasma; and preparing an intravenously injectable immune globulin from the pooled plasma. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein prior to pooling the plasma, a titre of Orthopoxvirus antibodies in the plasma from each donor is determined and only plasma having titres above a threshold level are pooled. 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the threshold level is 200 U/ml. 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the intravenously injectable immune globulin can be safely administered to animals. 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the intravenously injectable immune globulin is substantially free of blood borne pathogens. 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the immune globulin is prepared from the pooled plasma by column isolation. 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the column isolation is by ion exchange chromatography. 8. The method according to claim 2 wherein the titre of the plasma is determined by an ELISA assay. 9. The method according to claim 2 wherein the titre of the plasma is determined by a colorimetric assay. 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the colorimetric assay comprises: removing a sample of the plasma; incubating the sample with a quantity of vaccinia virus; adding the sample and vaccinia virus to cultured animal cells susceptible to vaccinia virus infection; and adding a vital dye to the cultured animal cells. 11. A method of treating or preventing an Orthopoxvirus infection in an individual comprising administering intravenously to an individual in need of such treatment an intravenously injectable immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus. 12. The method according to claim 11 including administering an antiviral compound. 13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the antiviral compound is Cidofovir™. 14. The method according to claim 11 including administering an Orthopoxvirus vaccine. 15. A method of treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with adverse reaction to Orthopoxvirus vaccination comprising administering intravenously to an individual in need of such treatment an intravenously injectable immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus. 16. An intravenously injectable pharmaceutical composition comprising immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus. 17. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 being substantially free of blood-borne pathogens. 18. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 including a surfactant. 19. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 including a stabilizer. 20. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 including an Orthopoxvirus vaccine. 21. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 including an antiviral pharmaceutical. 22. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 21 wherein the antiviral pharmaceutical is Cidofovir™. 23. A colorimetric assay for measuring vaccinia virus neutralizing antibodies comprising: adding a quantity of vaccinia virus to a sample suspected of containing vaccinia neutralizing antibodies, thereby forming a mixture; incubating the mixture; adding the mixture to cultured animal cells susceptible to vaccinia virus infection; and adding a vital dye to the cells, wherein the amount of neutralizing antibodies present in the sample is proportional to staining of the cultured cells by the vital dye. 24. A pharmaceutical kit for treatment of a Orthopoxvirus infection in a subject in need thereof, the kit comprising in packaged combination: an immune globulin effective against an Orthopoxvirus, and an antiviral agent effective against an Orthopoxvirus. 25. The kit according to claim 24 including instruction for use in treating an Orthopoxvirus Infection. 26. A method of testing a sample for vaccinia DNA comprising: providing a sample suspected of containing vaccinia DNA under conditions suitable for oligonucleotide; adding to said sample reagents needed for nucleotide amplification, said reagents including an enzyme capable of synthesizing nucleotide molecules, buffers and appropriate substrates for nucleotide synthesis, said reagents further comprising: a forward primer comprising an oligonucleotide molecule binding to a first region of Vaccinia virus DNA; a reverse primer comprising an oligonucleotide molecule binding to a second region of Vaccinia virus DNA, said second region being sufficiently proximal to the first region that an amplification product may be produced; and a reporter primer comprising a reporter oligonucleotide molecule binding to a third region of Vaccinia virus DNA, said third region being between the first region and the second region, said reporter primer further comprising a reporter molecule attached to a first end of the reporter oligonucleotide and an effector molecule attached to a second end of the reporter oligonucleotide, said effector molecule altering a signal generated by the reporter molecule when the effector molecule and the reporter molecule are both attached to the reporter oligonucleotide; and incubating the sample and reagents under conditions suitable for nucleotide amplification by the enzyme. 27. The method according to claim 26 wherein the forward primer is an oligonucleotide molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No. 1. 28. The method according to claim 26 wherein the reverse primer is an oligonucleotide molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No. 2. 29. The method according to claim 26 wherein the reporter oligonucleotide is an oligonucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No. 3. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH> |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is one object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate some of the above noted limitations. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing an intravenously injectable immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus comprising: vaccinating a plurality of donors with an Orthopoxvirus vaccine; isolating plasma from each of said donors after a period of time sufficient to allow production of antibodies against said Orthopoxvirus vaccine; and preparing an intravenously injectable immune globulin from the plasma. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of treating or preventing an Orthopoxvirus infection in an individual comprising administering intravenously to an individual in need of such treatment an intravenously injectable immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with adverse reaction to Orthopoxvirus vaccination comprising administering intravenously to an individual in need of such treatment an intravenously injectable immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an intravenously injectable pharmaceutical composition comprising immune globulin effective against Orthopoxvirus. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a colorimetric assay for measuring vaccinia virus neutralizing antibodies comprising: adding a quantity of vaccinia virus to a sample suspected of containing vaccinia neutralizing antibodies, thereby forming a mixture; incubating the mixture; adding the mixture to cultured animal cells susceptible to vaccinia virus infection; and adding a vital dye to the cells, wherein the amount of neutralizing antibodies present in the sample is proportional to staining of the cultured cells by the vital dye. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical kit for treatment of a Orthopoxvirus infection in a subject in need thereof, the kit comprising in packaged combination: an immune globulin effective against an Orthopoxvirus, and an antiviral agent effective against an Orthopoxvirus. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of testing a sample for vaccinia DNA comprising: providing a sample suspected of containing vaccinia DNA under conditions suitable for oligonucleotide; adding to said sample reagents needed for nucleotide amplification, said reagents including an enzyme capable of synthesizing nucleotide molecules, buffers and appropriate substrates for nucleotide synthesis, said reagents further comprising: a forward primer comprising an oligonucleotide molecule binding to a first region of Vaccinia virus DNA; a reverse primer comprising an oligonucleotide molecule binding to a second region of Vaccinia virus DNA, said second region being sufficiently proximal to the first region that an amplification product may be produced; and a reporter primer comprising a reporter oligonucleotide molecule binding to a third region of Vaccinia virus DNA, said third region being between the first region and the second region, said reporter primer further comprising a reporter molecule attached to a first end of the reporter oligonucleotide and an effector molecule attached to a second end of the reporter oligonucleotide, said effector molecule altering a signal generated by the reporter molecule when the effector molecule and the reporter molecule are both attached to the reporter oligonucleotide; and incubating the sample and reagents under conditions suitable for nucleotide amplification by the enzyme. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. |
Peptide-immobilized substrate and method for measuring target protein |
Disclosed is a peptide-immobilized substrate for measuring a target protein, with which the peptide can have a structure required for being recognized by the target protein, with which the accurate loading amount of the peptide can be attained, and by which a trace amount of the target protein may be measured accurately and simply. The peptide-immobilized substrate for measuring a target protein according to the present invention comprises a chemically synthesized peptide having an. expected spatial structure or having a binding ability with the target protein, which peptide can bind with the target protein and is immobilized on the substrate. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.