text
stringlengths 0
1.67M
|
|---|
Doped alumina catalysts |
Described is a catalyst for the removal of pollutants from the exhaust gases of automotive internal combustion engines wherein the catalyst is alumina doped with cations of two groups of metals M and M′ being present in a quantity in the range 10 to 25% by weight of the catalyst and the weight ratio of M:M′ lies in the range 0.5-2.0. |
1-10. (Cancelled). 11. A catalyst for a removal of pollutants from exhaust gases of an automotive internal combustion engine which comprises alumina doped with cations of other metals, wherein the dopants comprise cations of two groups of metals M and M′, where M and M′ are one of: (a) monovalent M and pentavalent M′, (b) divalent M and quadravalent M′, (c) divalent M and a combination of divalent and pentavalent M′, (d) divalent M and a combination of trivalent and pentavalent M′, (e) divalent M and a combination of divalent and hexavalent M′, (f) trivalent M and trivalent M′, and (g) trivalent M and a combination of divalent and quadravalent M′, and wherein each of M and M′ is present in a quantity in a range of 10 to 25% by weight of the catalyst and the weight ratio of M:M′ lies in a range of 0.5 to 2.0. 12. A catalyst as claimed in claim 11, wherein in the form of a sol-gel of alumina doped with the said cations of other metals. 13. A catalyst as claimed in claim 12, wherein the alumina doped with the cations of other metals is in a homogenous phase in the sol-gel. 14. A catalyst as claimed in claim 11, wherein the weight ratio of M:M′ is substantially 1:1. 15. A catalyst as claimed in claim 12, wherein the weight ratio of M:M′ is substantially 1:1. 16. A catalyst as claimed in claim 13, wherein the weight ratio of M:M′ is substantially 1:1. 17. A catalyst as claimed in claim 11, wherein the catalyst is deposited on one of a monolithic ceramic and a metallic substrate. 18. A catalyst as claimed in claim 12, wherein deposited on one of a monolithic ceramic and metallic substrate. 19. A catalyst as claimed in claim 13, wherein the catalyst is deposited on one of a monolithic ceramic and a metallic substrate. 20. A method of preparing a catalyst for a removal of pollutants from the exhaust gases of automotive internal combustion engines, comprising the steps of: forming a sol-gel of alumina doped with cations of other metals, the dopants comprising of cations of two groups of metals M and M′, where M and M′ are one of: (a) monovalent M and pentavalent M′, (b) divalent M and quadravalent M′, (c) divalent M and a combination of divalent and pentavalent M′, (d) divalent M and a combination of trivalent and pentavalent M′, (e) divalent M and a combination of divalent and hexavalent M′, (f) trivalent M and trivalent M′, and (g) trivalent M and a combination of divalent and quadravalent M′, and wherein each of M and M′ is present in a quantity in a range of 10 to 25% by weight of the catalyst and the weight ratio of M:M′ lies in a range of 0.5 to 2.0. 21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sol-gel is formed in situ on a support substrate. 22. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sol-gel is prepared by the following steps: (a) a salt of M and a salt of M′ in a selected ratio and selected concentrations are dissolved in an organic complexing agent, and the resulting solution is refluxed; (b) aluminium alkoxide is dissolved in a further quantity of the complexing agent used for M and M′ and this solution is also refluxed; (c) the refluxed solutions of (a) and (b) are mixed and further refluxed; (d) the mixed solution is diluted in a controlled manner by addition of a specified quantity of water and the refluxing is continued; and (e) the diluted mixed solution is aged in the presence or absence of a pore templating agent and is then either (i) diluted with alcohol, corresponding to the Al alkoxide used, to a suitable viscosity to provide a sol-gel suitable for coating on to a substrate; or (ii) dried in vacuum, sub-or super-critically and calcined to give a homogeneous material. 23. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the sol-gel is prepared by the following steps: (a) a salt of M and a salt of M′ in a selected ratio and selected concentrations are dissolved in an organic complexing agent, and the resulting solution is refluxed; (b) aluminium alkoxide is dissolved in a further quantity of the complexing agent used for M and M′ and this solution is also refluxed; (c) the refluxed solutions of (a) and (b) are mixed and further refluxed; (d) the mixed solution is diluted in a controlled manner by addition of a specified quantity of water and the refluxing is continued; and (e) the diluted mixed solution is aged in the presence or absence of a pore templating agent and is then either (i) diluted with alcohol, corresponding to the Al alkoxide used, to a suitable viscosity to provide a sol-gel suitable for coating on to a substrate; or (ii) dried in vacuum, sub-or super-critically and calcined to give a homogeneous material. 24. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein sols of M Ox and M′ OX sols are introduced to the sol-gels at selected times through the procedure to give a less-homogeneous, partially-segregated material. 25. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein sols of M Ox and M′ OX sols are introduced to the sol-gels at selected times through the procedure to give a less-homogeneous, partially-segregated material. 26. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein sols of M Ox and M′ OX sols are introduced to the sol-gels at selected times through the procedure to give a less-homogeneous, partially-segregated material. 27. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein sols of M Ox and M′ OX sols are introduced to the sol-gels at selected times through the procedure to give a less-homogeneous, partially-segregated material. 28. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein sols of M Ox and M′ OX sols are introduced to the sol-gels at selected times through the procedure to give a less-homogeneous, partially-segregated material. 29. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sol-gel is prepared in-situ on a substrate by organo-metallic chemical vapour deposition. |
Electric field detector |
The detector utilises the microstructure and effects integration of an electric field over the volume of a ferrite core. The detector, in one form, includes upper ferrite pole half (1), lower ferrite pole half (7), circuit board (4), insulating washer (5) and spring conductor (2). Assembled, between the ferrite halves (1 and 7) is the spring conductor (2) compressed against the upper ferrite (1) and the circuit board (4) with the washer (5) between the circuit board (4) and the lower ferrite (7). There are two conducting plates (3), either side of the circuit board (4), a first insulated from the lower ferrite (7) by the washer (5) and the second in electrical contact with the upper ferrite (1) via spring conductor (2). A voltage produced across the plates (4) is related to the detected electric field. |
1. An electric field intensity detector comprising: a ferrite element as the major detection element, wherein the ferrite micro-structure inherently improves detector output signal levels and stability; and means for detecting charge induced on the ferrite element by a time harmonic electric field comprising a printed circuit board with appropriately placed copper sections on the upper and lower side; and means for fixing the ferrite member in relation to the printed circuit board and for providing an electrical connection between the ferrite and one of the copper sections; and circuitry to monitor the induced voltages on the copper sections on the printed circuit board, and produce a stable time harmonic output voltage proportional to the incident time harmonic electric field intensity. 2. An electric field intensity detector, as in claim 1, that integrates the field intensity over the ferrite detector element volume by: allowing the electric field to penetrate into the volume of the ferrite due to its relatively high resistivity and hence poor Faraday shielding effect; and using the grains in the ferrite to act a miniature free body electric field detectors; and using the intrinsic resistance and capacitance between the ferrite grains to algebraically add the charges induced on each grain and conduct a charge flow to a connection point on the ferrite. 3. A electric field intensity detector, as in claims 1 and 2, that achieves high intrinsic capacitance and hence high output signal levels by using the dielectric properties of ferrite. 4. A electric field intensity detector, as in claims 1 and 2, that minimizes the effects of stray coupling capacitance by: reducing the physical size of the detector which reduces the surface area for any coupling to act on and hence reduces coupling capacitance; and by increasing the capacitance of the sensor which will swamp any small coupling capacitance resulting in minimal net capacitance change, and hence minimal signal output disturbance. 5. A passive electric field intensity detector system, as in claims 1 and 2, that requires no power supply, hence making it suitable for use in micro-powered applications. 6. A detector, as in claims 1 and 2, that achieves a high signal output with a very compact physical format making it suitable for miniaturized, low weight applications. 7. A passive detector system, as in claim 1, that has a low intrinsic noise factor. 8. A low cost detector system, as in claim 1, that can be constructed using readily available components. 9. A detector system, as in claim 1, that intrinsically provides signal damping, thus reducing spurious outputs, with this damping being achieved by utilizing the resistive properties of the ferrite element and the inductance of the physical assembly. 10. An electric field intensity detector, as in claim 1, that utilizes the micro-structure of ferrite to enhance detector output, stability and noise while reducing size, cost and weight. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND <EOH>In the past, time harmonic electric fields were detected using free-body electric field meters. These detectors were typically of spherical or cubic geometry and were constructed from conductive material. When placed in a time harmonic electric field a charge will oscillate between two electrically isolated halves of the detector. Mathematically this charge can be described by: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Q=A·ε o ·E in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? |
Composite mat |
The invention relates to a composite mat (1) comprising a rough structured surface on the upper side and a smooth closed-planar, watertight surface on the underside. Said composite mat consists of two layers, which are joined to one another, in particular, by welding, adhering or a similar technique, namely of an upper layer made of a woven material (3) and of an underlayer made of an elastic synthetic material (2). |
1. Composite mat (1) comprising a rough structured surface on the upper side and a smooth closed-planar watertight surface on the under side, said composite mat consisting of two layers, which are joined to one another, in particular by welding, adhering or a similar technique, namely of an upper layer made of a woven material (3) and of an under layer made of an elastic synthetic material (2). 2. Composite mat (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper layer (3) consists of a tress tissue, in particular a ribbon tissue, wherein the type of yarn of the woven fibres (4) is splace yarn. 3. Composite mat (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the kind of tissue of the tress tissue or ribbon tissue comprises a diagonal web bond in a plaited form. 4. Composite mat (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the woven fibres (4) of the tress tissue or ribbon tissue of the upper layer (3) are turned. 5. Composite mat (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the woven fibres (4) of the tissue material of the upper layer (3) are made of polypropylene or polyethylen. 6. Composite mat (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the upper layer (3) has a thickness of 1.3 mm to 3.3 mm, in particular 1.5 mm to 1.9 mm, and especially 1.7 mm. 7. Composite mat (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the upper layer (3) has an area density of about 360 g/m2 to 940 g/m2, and in particular of about 500 g/m2. 8. Composite mat (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the under layer (2) is a closed watertight polypropylene or polyethylen sheet having a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, especially 1.0 mm. 9. Composite mat (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the under layer (2) has a tear strength of about 17 N/mm2 (according to NEN ISO 527), a breaking elongation of >800% (according to NEN ISO 527), and a further tear strength of more than 40 N/mm2 (according to DIN 53515). 10. Method for producing a composite mat (1) comprising a rough structured surface (3) on the upper side and a smooth closed-planar watertight surface (2) on the under side, characterized in that the composite mat (1) is produced by two layers, which are joined to one another, in particular by welding, adhering or a similar technique, namely by an upper layer made of a woven material (3) and an under layer made of an elastic synthetic material (2). 11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the compound of said tissue-like upper layer and said sheet-like under layer is effected by a high temperature bond method, by which the still warm ductile under layer immediately after extrusion is applied on said woven material of said upper layer fixedly joined within said tissue material. 12. Use of a composite mat (1) according to one of the previous claims as an agricultural product, in particular as a cover of a cow mattress. |
Appliance for recovering solid component in liquid sample |
An assembled unit for collecting solid substance is provided for quickly and accurately collecting the solid substance in a liquid sample. The liquid sample introduced with suction is separated according to solid-liquid separation by the filter means 2 and the solid substance so separated is kept hermetically in the filter means 2. The solid substances are collected by applying pneumatic pressure from the inner side of the unit toward the filter matrix 3 and drifting the solid substances from the conduit 4, wherein the press means 13 is inserted into the support member 14 connected to the filter means 2. |
1. An assembled unit for collecting solid substance from liquid samples comprising a path that connects outside of the unit to a filter means that keeps solid substance remained by separating, according to solid-liquid separation, the liquid samples introduced thereinto through the path. 2. The assembled unit according to claim 1, wherein the filter means has a filter matrix that separates the liquid samples according to solid-liquid separation. 3. The assembled unit according to claim 2, wherein the filter matrix is sterilized. 4. The assembled unit according to claim 2, wherein the filter matrix has taper holes. 5. The assembled unit according to any of claim 2, wherein a pore diameter of the filter matrix is from about 0.05 μm to about 0.2 μm. 6. The assembled unit according to any of claim 1 further comprises a press means for drifting the solid substance in the liquid sample to the outside of the filter means. 7. The assembled unit according to claim 6 further comprises a support member which can be connected to the filter means and allow insertion of the press means thereinto. 8. A method for collecting solid substances in a liquid sample with the assembled unit according to claim 1 any comprising the steps of; introducing the liquid sample into a filter means with suction; separating the liquid sample according to solid-liquid separation; and keeping the solid substance separated according to the solid-liquid separation in the filter means. 9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of drifting the solid substance into the path of the filter means by a press means. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the solid substance is drifted together with a liquid medium. 11. The assembled unit according to claim 3, wherein the filter matrix has taper. 12. The assembled unit according to any of claim 3, wherein a pore diameter of the filter matrix is from about 0.05 μm to about 0.2 μm. 13. The assembled unit according to any of claim 4, wherein a pore diameter of the filter matrix is from about 0.05 μm to about 0.2 μm. 14. The assembled unit according to any of claim 2 further comprises a press means for drifting the solid substance in the liquid sample to the outside of the filter means. 15. The assembled unit according to any of claim 3 further comprises a press means for drifting the solid substance in the liquid sample to the outside of the filter means. 16. The assembled unit according to any of claim 4 further comprises a press means for drifting the solid substance in the liquid sample to the outside of the filter means. 17. The assembled unit according to any of claim 5 further comprises a press means for drifting the solid substance in the liquid sample to the outside of the filter means. 18. A method for collecting solid substances in a liquid sample with the assembled unit according to claim 2 comprising the steps of; introducing the liquid sample into a filter means with suction; separating the liquid sample according to solid-liquid separation; and keeping the solid substance separated according to the solid-liquid separation in the filter means. 19. A method for collecting solid substances in a liquid sample with the assembled unit according to claim 3 comprising the steps of; introducing the liquid sample into a filter means with suction; separating the liquid sample according to solid-liquid separation; and keeping the solid substance separated according to the solid-liquid separation in the filter means. 20. A method for collecting solid substances in a liquid sample with the assembled unit according to claim 4 comprising the steps of; introducing the liquid sample into a filter means with suction; separating the liquid sample according to solid-liquid separation; and keeping the solid substance separated according to the solid-liquid separation in the filter means. 21. A method for collecting solid substances in a liquid sample with the assembled unit according to claim 5 comprising the steps of; introducing the liquid sample into a filter means with suction; separating the liquid sample according to solid-liquid separation; and keeping the solid substance separated according to the solid-liquid separation in the filter means. 22. A method for collecting solid substances in a liquid sample with the assembled unit according to claim 6 comprising the steps of; introducing the liquid sample into a filter means with suction; separating the liquid sample according to solid-liquid separation; and keeping the solid substance separated according to the solid-liquid separation in the filter means. 23. A method for collecting solid substances in a liquid sample with the assembled unit according to claim 7 comprising the steps of; introducing the liquid sample into a filter means with suction; separating the liquid sample according to solid-liquid separation; and keeping the solid substance separated according to the solid-liquid separation in the filter means. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Conventionally, in the clinical analysis for samples, in particlular, the solid samples (hereinafter simply referred to as “solid substance(s)”) taken from biological sources, they have generally been prepared by applying collected specimens to a physical process like centrifugation. For example, when human urine was going to be analyzed, precipitate thereof was prepared as a solid substance by centrifuging fresh urine taken from the subject, then removing the supernatant so made and subjecting the remained solid to an analysis. Such precipitate is then analyzed microscopically on the presence of hemacytes, epithelial cells, cylindroids, salts, protozoa, bacteria and so on in the subjected sample (specimen), otherwise, they are incubated for determining the presence therein on bacteria and fungi. Conventionally, raw liquids like drinkable water, tap water, sewage, industrial waste water, seawater, river water, lake water and so on were carried in an analysis organization, and were centrifuged for separating and collecting the solid substances in the raw liquids. Accordingly, it was a routine practice in the conventional analysis on solid substance to apply a raw liquid to a separation process like centrifugation. Though a part of such separation process may be automated, considerable labor and skill are necessary to perform it, and the necessary labor will be larger synergistically according to an increase of sample number to be analyzed. Further, raw liquid often contains some components that will easily be substantially changed by bacteria, oxygen, light or the like and, in order to realize accurate analysis, such samples are therefore usually preserved under frozen or refrigerated condition until the analysis. In particular, when the large number of samples are going to be analyzed in a short time, the conventional art relied on an ineffective method comprising the steps of hermetically packing samples, then preserving them under frozen (refrigerated) condition, and thawing the same at the analyzing of them. The art needed quick and reliable separation process to collect solid substances from raw liquid, nevertheless, the prior arts aforenoted have not yet fairly responded to such demands in the art. |
Device for transporting parts for supplying machines |
A device for transporting parts (1) includes a transporting member (3) whereon the parts to be transported (2) are to be arranged. The transporting member (3) is mounted mobile relative to a frame (9) of the device for reciprocating movement, which occurs in a plane (P) in which the parts are transported. A driving device comprises at least a drive cam (4) co-operating with at least a roller that is displaced with the transporting member, so that the movement in the plane is a reciprocating translational movement generated by the rotation of the drive cam (4). |
1. A device for transporting parts comprising: a transporting member on which the parts are transported, said transporting member being movably mounted relative to a frame of the device for reciprocating movement along a plane, in which the parts are transported; a driving device for driving the transporting member with the reciprocating movement, the driving device including: at least one drive cam, at least one roller mounted to the transporting member and cooperating with the drive cam, so that the movement in the plane is a reciprocating translational movement generated by the rotation of the drive cam. 2. The device for transporting parts according to claim 1, wherein the drive cam has a non-constant radius and further including: a compensating means for causing the roller to maintain contact with the cam. 3. The device for transporting parts according to claim 1, wherein the transporting member includes a rail of curved shape, circular or spiral, whose movement in the plane is a movement of alternative rotation generated by rotation of the drive cam. 4. The device for transporting parts according to claim 1, wherein the transporting member is carried by a rail support which carries the roller which drives the rail support in translation along a longitudinal axis when the roller cooperates with the rotary cam. 5. The device for transporting parts according to claim 4, wherein the driving device further includes: a motorized device which drives the cam to rotate around an axis of revolution, said rotation of the cam causing the reciprocating translational movement of the rail support and the roller along the longitudinal axis. 6. The device for transporting parts according to claim 5, wherein the axis of rotation of the cam and an axis of rotation of the drive roller are parallel. 7. The device for transporting parts according to claim 1, wherein the cam presents an involute surface curve which comprises: a short acceleration zone, then an advancement zone in which a radius of the cam increases in constant fashion over its angular segment, then a short deceleration zone, and a draw-back-zone in which the radius diminishes. 8. The device for transporting parts according to claim 7, wherein the transporting member moves forward when the roller contacts the acceleration, advancement, and deceleration zones, which zones span an angular segment of the cam ranging between 200° and 300° and the draw-back zone spans an angular segment ranging between 60° and 160°. 9. The device for transporting parts according to claim 7, wherein when the cam travels one full turn, the roller and thus the transporting member undergo a forward movement from an initial position corresponding to the acceleration, advancement, and deceleration zones of the cam, during approximately two thirds of the turn, then a more abrupt reverse movement corresponding to the draw-back zone during the last third of the turn, during the acceleration zone accelerating the parts to a displacement speed, advancing the parts constantly at the displacement speed during the advancement zone, and allowing the parts to slide during the deceleration zone (C), then the draw-back zone quickly returns the transport member to the initial position to re-start the cycle. 10. The device for transporting parts according to claim 1, further including: a motorized device which rotates the cam in one direction to move the parts forward along the transport member, and rotates the cam in an opposite direction to move the parts rearward along the transport member. 11. The device for transporting parts according to claim 1, wherein the cam is sandwiched between two rollers. 12. The device for transporting parts according to claim 11, wherein the cam is composed of two superposed cams, an upper cam with which cooperates a first of the two rollers and a lower cam which cooperates a second of the two rollers. 13. A reciprocating feeder for transporting parts, the reciprocating feeder comprising: a longitudinally elongated transport member; a mounting structure for mounting the transporting member on a frame for longitudinal reciprocating motion; at least one roller mounted for longitudinal movement with the transporting member; an eccentric cam mounted on a rotary drive which is connected with the frame, the cam being mounted to engage the roller and urge the roller along one direction of the longitudinal reciprocating movement; a compensating means for maintaining the roller in contact with the eccentric cam and moving the transporting member in an opposite direction along the longitudinal reciprocating movement. 14. The feeder according to claim 13, wherein the eccentric cam drives the roller and reciprocating member in one of the first and second directions over at least 200° of rotation and less than 300° of rotation and allows the compensating means to move the roller and reciprocating member in the other of the first and second directions for between 60° and 160° of cam rotation. 15. The feeder according to claim 13, wherein the compensating means includes one of a spring, a second roller, and a second roller and cam assembly. 16. A method for transporting parts on a transporting member which is movably mounted for reciprocating movement relative to a frame along a plane in which the parts are to be transported, the method comprising: rotating an eccentric cam which engages at least one roller that is connected with the transporting member for displacement therewith; through co-operating interaction between the cam and the roller, causing a reciprocating translational movement in the plane of the transporting member. |
Flavonoid concentrates |
A method of producing a flavonoid aglycone concentrate from plant material containing a suitable flavonoid glycoside and/or conjugate thereof comprising the steps of: (i) enzymatically converting the flavonoid glycoside or conjugate thereof into the flavonoid aglycone; and (ii) adjusting the pH to render the flavonoid aglycone relatively insoluble and forming a concentrate containing the same. |
1. A method of producing a flavonoid aglycone concentrate from plant material containing a suitable flavonoid glycoside and/or conjugate thereof comprising the steps of: (i) enzymatically converting the flavonoid glycoside or conjugate thereof into the flavonoid aglycone; and (ii) adjusting the pH to render the flavonoid aglycone relatively insoluble and forming a concentrate containing the same. 2. A method of producing an enriched flavonoid concentrate from plant material containing a suitable flavonoid glycoside and/or conjugate thereof comprising the steps of: (i) disrupting the cellular structure of the plant material to achieve enzymatic conversion of the flavonoid glycoside or conjugate thereof into the flavonoid aglycone; (ii) adjusting the pH to render the flavonoid aglycone relatively insoluble and forming a concentrate containing the same. 3. A method of producing an enriched flavonoid concentrate from plant material containing a suitable flavonoid glycoside and/or conjugate thereof comprising the steps of: (i) disrupting the cellular structure of the plant material and adding additional exogenous enzyme to achieve enzymatic conversion of the flavonoid glycoside or conjugate thereof into the flavonoid aglycone; (ii) adjusting the pH to render the flavonoid aglycone relatively insoluble and forming a concentrate containing the same. 4. A method of producing a flavonoid aglycone concentrate from plant material in the form of germinating sprouts containing a suitable flavonoid glycoside and/or conjugate thereof comprising the steps of: (i) cooling the germinating sprouts for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature; (ii) enzymatically converting the flavonoid glycoside or conjugate thereof into the flavonoid aglycone; and (iii) adjusting the pH to render the flavonoid aglycone relatively insoluble and forming a concentrate containing the same. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Flavonoids are a class of phytochemicals with wide ranging applications including their use as therapeutics, anti-microbials and antioxidants. They are capable of treating and or preventing a range of medical disorders and diseases including degenerative diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and cancer, to mention a few. The characteristics and properties of flavonoids are well documented in the scientific literature. The demand for ‘natural’ phytochemical remedies is increasing and will increase further as the average age of the world population steadily increases. Furthermore, the younger sections of the population are turning more to natural alternatives for treating or preventing medical conditions. In addition, there is a strong demand for such materials to be free of organic solvent residues, particularly those that are industrially synthesised, and for products produced with minimum burden to the environment. Society is also placing a high value on the use of biodegradable materials and processes that have minimal environmental impact. The flavonoids are a sub-group of the plant polyphenols, double or triple ringed structures consisting of a basic fifteen carbon atoms skeleton. Plant flavonoid aglycones (i.e. flavonoids without attached sugars) occur in a variety of structural forms. However, all contain fifteen carbon atoms in their basic nucleus and these are arranged in a C 6 -C 3 -C 6 configuration, that is two aromatic rings linked by a three carbon unit which may or may not form a third ring. The important role of flavonoids in diet and medicine is becoming more and more recognised. It is the flavonoids in red wine, green tea, extra virgin olive oil, soy products, fruit and vegetables, various traditional herbal medicines teas and tinctures that are at least partly responsible for the benefits gained from their consumption. One group of flavonoids whose value is well established is the isoflavones. The isoflavones have a characteristic structure and form a particular isomeric class of flavonoids. The interest in isoflavones has been extensive including the suggestion that they are the factor in traditional oriental diets responsible for the lower incidence of breast and prostrate cancers in some populations of the eastern Asian region. The isoflavones while appearing in other plant families are most strongly associated with the legumes, in particular with the Papilionoideae subfamily of the Leguminosase which includes many well known fodder crops such as clover, pulses—beans, soy beans, and peas, and shrubs such as gorse and broom. In addition to the benefits of isoflavones to human and animal health, there has recently been shown application in the animal feeds industry where swine administered feed supplemented with isoflavones showed increased average daily weight gains, but no increase in feed intake. The pigs also had increased percentages of carcass muscle and higher estimated muscle gain per day. While in an ideal world we would all obtain enough of these compounds from the careful selection of foods, meals and drinks, in reality especially for city workers, this is frequently just not possible. Therefore there exists a need and demand for flavonoid rich preparations that can be conveniently and effectively used as dietary supplements or therapeutics. Prior art techniques for producing concentrates containing isoflavonoids from seeds generally suffer from the following drawbacks: (i) of only containing relatively low levels of isoflavones and (ii) they result in loss of raw material isoflavones and need complex multistep processing to recover them from the wastes. The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a simple and convenient method for obtaining isoflavonoids in plant concentrates at higher levels and yields compared to prior art methods.” |
Pressure medium-actuated brake system of a tractor-trailer combination |
The invention relates to a pressure medium-actuated brake system of a tractor-trailer combination comprising at least one first brake circuit and one second brake circuit. The inventive brake system contains a multiple-circuit braking power sensor, which is connected to a first compressed-air reservoir for the first brake circuit and to a second compressed-air reservoir for the second brake circuit. The brake system also contains an electronic controlling and regulating unit, a control valve device and a tractor protection valve, which can be brought into connection with at least one compressed-air reservoir and via which a brake pressure for a brake system of the trailer can be controlled. The invention provides that at least the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control device are placed in immediate proximity to one another and are combined to form a modular unit. |
1-11. (canceled) 12. A pressure-medium-actuated brake system of a tractor-trailer combination, having at least a first brake circuit and a second brake circuit, and comprising: a) a multiple-circuit braking power sensor connected to a first compressed-air reservoir for the first brake circuit and to a second compressed-air reservoir for the second brake circuit, the multiple-circuit braking power sensor generating, as a function of a driver's desire, at least a first pneumatic control signal assigned to the first brake circuit, at least a second pneumatic control signal assigned to the second brake circuit, as well as electric signals, b) an electronic controlling and regulating unit by which electric control signals can be generated as a function of the electric signals of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, c) a control valve device which is controllable with a first priority as a function of the electric control signals of the controlling and regulating unit and with a second priority as a function of at least one of the first pneumatic control signal and the second pneumatic control signal for generating a modulated control pressure, d) a tractor protection valve which is connectable with at least one of said first and second compressed-air reservoirs and, by which, a supply pressure and, as a function of the modulated control pressure, also a brake pressure can be modulated for a brake system of the trailer, e) wherein at least the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control valve device are arranged in a direct vicinity of one another and are combined into a constructional unit. 13. The pressure-medium-actuated brake system according to claim 12, wherein a first shuttle valve and a second shuttle valve are provided, the first shuttle valve switching a larger one of the supply pressures of the first and second compressed-air reservoirs, which are present at its inputs, through to a supply pressure input of the control valve device, and the second shuttle valve switching the control signal with the larger pressure of the first and second pneumatic control signals, which are present at its inputs, through to a control pressure input of the control valve device. 14. The pressure-medium-actuated brake system according to claim 13, wherein the first and the second shuttle valves are integrated as additional elements arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and of the control valve device into the constructional unit. 15. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 14, wherein the inputs of the first shuttle valve are connected without intermediately arranged lines or conduits directly to a supply pressure input of a rear-axle duct and a supply pressure input of a front-axle duct of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, and wherein the inputs of the second shuttle valve are connected without intermediately arranged lines or conduits directly to a control pressure output of the rear-axle duct and a control pressure output of the front-axle duct of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor. 16. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 13, wherein the tractor protection valve is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device and the first and second shuttle valves. 17. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 16, wherein a brake light switch is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 18. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 13, wherein a rapid-release valve, which is arranged behind the tractor protection valve, for rapidly reducing trailer brake pressure, is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 19. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic controlling and regulating unit is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 20. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 19, wherein a function of a brake light switch is integrated in the electronic controlling and regulating unit. 21. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 12, wherein communication between the electronic controlling and regulating unit and components of the constructional unit, or between the components takes place by way of at least one of a data bus and analog electric signals. 22. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim, wherein components of the constructional unit are accommodated in a separate housing, connections for a releasable fastening of electric lines and pneumatic conduits leading to and from the constructional unit being provided in an exterior housing wall of the separate housing. 23. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 14, wherein the tractor protection valve is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device and the first and second shuttle valves. 24. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 15, wherein the tractor protection valve is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device and the first and second shuttle valves. 25. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 15, wherein a rapid-release valve, which is arranged behind the tractor protection valve, for rapidly reducing trailer brake pressure, is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 26. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 17, wherein a rapid-release valve, which is arranged behind the tractor protection valve, for rapidly reducing trailer brake pressure, is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 27. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 13, wherein the electronic controlling and regulating unit is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 28. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 15, wherein the electronic controlling and regulating unit is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 29. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 17, wherein the electronic controlling and regulating unit is integrated into the constructional unit as an additional element arranged in the direct vicinity of the multiple-circuit braking power sensor, the control valve device, the first and second shuttle valve and the tractor protection valve. 30. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 13, wherein communication between the electronic controlling and regulating unit and components of the constructional unit, or between the components takes place by way of at least one of a data bus and analog electric signals. 31. The pressure-medium-actuated vehicle brake system according to claim 13, wherein components of the constructional unit are accommodated in a separate housing, connections for a releasable fastening of electric lines and pneumatic conduits leading to and from the constructional unit being provided in an exterior housing wall of the separate housing. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention is based on a pressure-medium-actuated brake system of a tractor-trailer combination. Such a brake system is known from the state of the art and contains at least a first brake circuit and a second brake circuit as well as the following: a) a multiple-circuit braking power sensor connected to a first compressed-air reservoir for the first brake circuit and to a second compressed-air reservoir for the second brake circuit, for generating, as a function of the driver's desires, at least a first pneumatic control signal assigned to the first brake circuit, at least a second pneumatic control signal assigned to the second brake circuit, as well as electric signals; b) an electronic controlling and regulating unit by which electric control signals can be generated as a function of the electric signals of the multiple-circuit brake power sensor; c) a control valve device (pressure control module), which can be controlled with a first priority as a function of the electric control signals of the controlling and regulating unit and with a second priority as a function of the first pneumatic control signal and/or the second pneumatic control signal for generating a modulated control pressure for the trailer; and d) a tractor protection valve, which can be connected with at least one compressed-air reservoir and by which a supply pressure and, as a function of the modulated control pressure, also a brake pressure can be modulated for a brake system of the trailer. In this case, two supply pressure conduits exist between the multiple-circuit brake power sensor and the first and the second compressed air reservoirs; two additional supply pressure conduits exist between the control valve device and the first and second compressed-air reservoir; and a control pressure conduit exists between the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control valve device. Since the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control valve device, as well as additional components of the brake system, are arranged at a certain spatial distance from one another, a plurality of relatively long pneumatic conduits and electric lines are obtained for the mutual connection of these components. As a result of the number and the length of the pneumatic conduits and electric lines, the number of required connection and fastening points is also increased, which has an unfavorable effect on the production and manufacturing costs of such a brake system. Furthermore, the leakage and error probability of the brake system also rises. It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop a pressure-medium-operated brake system of the above-mentioned type in such a manner that its production becomes simpler and more cost-effective. Furthermore, its reliability is to be increased. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that at least the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control valve device (pressure control module) are arranged directly adjacent to one another and are combined into a constructional unit. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention is based on a pressure-medium-actuated brake system of a tractor-trailer combination. Such a brake system is known from the state of the art and contains at least a first brake circuit and a second brake circuit as well as the following: a) a multiple-circuit braking power sensor connected to a first compressed-air reservoir for the first brake circuit and to a second compressed-air reservoir for the second brake circuit, for generating, as a function of the driver's desires, at least a first pneumatic control signal assigned to the first brake circuit, at least a second pneumatic control signal assigned to the second brake circuit, as well as electric signals; b) an electronic controlling and regulating unit by which electric control signals can be generated as a function of the electric signals of the multiple-circuit brake power sensor; c) a control valve device (pressure control module), which can be controlled with a first priority as a function of the electric control signals of the controlling and regulating unit and with a second priority as a function of the first pneumatic control signal and/or the second pneumatic control signal for generating a modulated control pressure for the trailer; and d) a tractor protection valve, which can be connected with at least one compressed-air reservoir and by which a supply pressure and, as a function of the modulated control pressure, also a brake pressure can be modulated for a brake system of the trailer. In this case, two supply pressure conduits exist between the multiple-circuit brake power sensor and the first and the second compressed air reservoirs; two additional supply pressure conduits exist between the control valve device and the first and second compressed-air reservoir; and a control pressure conduit exists between the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control valve device. Since the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control valve device, as well as additional components of the brake system, are arranged at a certain spatial distance from one another, a plurality of relatively long pneumatic conduits and electric lines are obtained for the mutual connection of these components. As a result of the number and the length of the pneumatic conduits and electric lines, the number of required connection and fastening points is also increased, which has an unfavorable effect on the production and manufacturing costs of such a brake system. Furthermore, the leakage and error probability of the brake system also rises. It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop a pressure-medium-operated brake system of the above-mentioned type in such a manner that its production becomes simpler and more cost-effective. Furthermore, its reliability is to be increased. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that at least the multiple-circuit braking power sensor and the control valve device (pressure control module) are arranged directly adjacent to one another and are combined into a constructional unit. |
Low-noise amplifying circuit |
A low-noise amplifier circuit is specified which has a switchable gain ratio. For this purpose, a parallel circuit comprising a first and a second current path (3, 4) is provided between a radio-frequency signal input and output (1, 2), with the first current path (3) having a transistor which is connected in a common-base circuit for signal amplification, and the second current path (4) having a transistor which is connected in a common-emitter circuit (7) for signal amplification, and has input impedance matching (25, 27). Owing to the good noise characteristics and the good linearity characteristics, the described low-noise amplifier circuit is suitable for use in radio-frequency receivers in which adaptive pre-amplification is required even before a frequency converter, that is to say at the radio-frequency level, because the input signal has a wide dynamic range, such as that in the case of UMTS. |
1-10. (canceled) 11. A low-noise amplifier circuit, comprising: a signal input for receiving a radio-frequency signal; a signal output for providing an amplified signal which is derived from the radio-frequency signal; a first current path coupled between the signal input and the signal output, said first current path including a first transistor connected in a common-base circuit; a second current path coupled between the signal input and the signal output, said second current path including a second transistor connected in a common-emitter circuit, the second transistor having a collector and a base, and including a feedback path coupled between the collector and the base of the second transistor; a third transistor connected in a common-base circuit; a resistor coupled between the collector of the second transistor and an emitter of the third transistor; and a switching device coupled to the first and second current paths for activation of one of the first and second current paths as a function of a desired gain. 12. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, wherein the feedback path includes a resistor and a capacitance connected in series. 13. The amplifier circuit of claim 12, including a resonant circuit coupled to the signal output and the first and second current paths, the resonant circuit adapted for connection to a supply potential. 14. The amplifier circuit of claim 13, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 15. The amplifier circuit of claim 12, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 16. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, wherein the signal input, the signal output and the first and second current paths are for carrying differential signals. 17. The amplifier circuit of claim 16, including a resonant circuit coupled to the signal output and the first and second current paths, the resonant circuit adapted for connection to a supply potential. 18. The amplifier circuit of claim 17, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 19. The amplifier circuit of claim 16, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 20. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, wherein the first current path includes a cascode stage connected between the first transistor and the signal output. 21. The amplifier circuit of claim 20, including a resonant circuit coupled to the signal output and the first and second current paths, the resonant circuit adapted for connection to a supply potential. 22. The amplifier circuit of claim 21, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 23. The amplifier circuit of claim 20, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 24. The amplifier circuit of claim 20, wherein the switching device includes a first switch connected to the first transistor for selectively connecting a first bias voltage to the first transistor, and a second switch connected to the third transistor for selectively connecting a second bias voltage to the third transistor. 25. The amplifier circuit of claim 24, including a resonant circuit coupled to the signal output and the first and second current paths, the resonant circuit adapted for connection to a supply potential. 26. The amplifier circuit of claim 25, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 27. The amplifier circuit of claim 24, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 28. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, including a resonant circuit coupled to the signal output and the first and second current paths, the resonant circuit adapted for connection to a supply potential. 29. The amplifier circuit of claim 28, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 30. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, including an inductance for coupling the emitter of the second transistor to a reference potential. 31. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, including a capacitance coupled in series between the signal input and the first current path. 32. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, including a first current source coupled to the first current path for feeding the first current path, the first current source selectively connectable to the first transistor. 33. The amplifier circuit of claim 32, including a second current source for feeding the second current path, and a current mirror transistor for coupling the second current source to the second current path, the second current source selectively connectable to the second transistor via the current mirror transistor. 34. The amplifier circuit of claim 11, including a second current source for feeding the second current path, and a current mirror transistor for coupling the second current source to the second current path, the second current source selectively connectable to the second transistor via the current mirror transistor. |
Apparatus and method for obtaining location information of mobile stations in a wireless communications network |
A data processing device for use in a communications network capable of supporting users of mobile stations, as well as a method of processing data elements exchanged between a pair of entities in such a network. The invention relies on techniques for receiving and processing the content of data elements that are exchanged or generated in the course of ordinary network operation in order to derive information that can be used to ascertain the location of mobile stations in the network. The location information is provided to a location-based services (LBS) application. Thus, mobile station location information is obtained without the LBS application specifically requesting that such information be generated or exchanged, which potentially relieves the network of a considerable amount of congestion and resource scarcity. |
1. A data processing device, comprising: an input for receiving data elements exchanged between at least two entities in a communication network providing communication services to mobile stations; a processing unit for deriving location information about a plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements; an output for releasing the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations to a location-based services application; wherein the releasing of the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is unrelated to the receipt of the data elements exchanged between the at least two entities from which the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is derived. 2. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least two entities communicate via an interface, said input being adapted to passively monitor the interface. 3. A data processing device as defined in claim 2, said input including a passive signal splitter. 4. A data processing device as defined in claim 2, said input including a non-contact electro-inductive coupler. 5. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least two entities communicate via a first interface, said input being adapted to receive copies of the data elements along a second interface different from the first interface. 6. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, said input including a module capable of intercepting the data elements destined for at least one of the at least two entities and providing the intercepted data elements to the processing unit. 7. A data processing device as defined in claim 6, said module being further capable of re-transmitting the intercepted data elements towards the at least one of the at least two entities. 8. A data processing device as defined in claim 6, wherein any delay introduced by said module in intercepting the data elements is negligible. 9. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the receipt of the data elements is sporadic. 10. A data processing device as defined in claim 9, wherein the releasing of location information occurs periodically. 11. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein deriving location information about the plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements includes: determining whether a received data element conveys location information about a mobile station; and if the received data element conveys location information about a mobile station, extracting the location information about the mobile station from the received data element. 12. A data processing device as defined in claim 11, wherein determining whether a received data element conveys location information about a mobile station includes determining a data element type associated with the received data element and comparing the data element type to a set of data element types known to convey location information about a mobile station. 13. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein deriving location information about the plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements includes: determining whether a received data element conveys information regarding a mobile station belonging to a predetermined set of mobile stations; if the received data element conveys information regarding a mobile station belonging to a predetermined set of mobile stations, determining whether the received data element conveys location information about the mobile station belonging to the predetermined set of mobile stations and if so, extracting the location information about the mobile station belonging to the predetermined set of mobile stations from the received data element. 14. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the location information about the plurality of mobile stations includes information regarding a geographic location of each mobile station. 15. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the location information about the plurality of mobile stations includes information regarding a presence of each mobile station. 16. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a location cache for storing the location information about the plurality of mobile stations derived by the processing unit. 17. A data processing device as defined in claim 16, said location cache being capable of storing at least two sets of location information about the plurality of mobile stations derived by the processing unit at different instants in time. 18. A data processing device as defined in claim 16, said location cache being capable of replacing stale location information about the plurality of mobile stations with fresh location information about the plurality of mobile stations. 19. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the data elements include messages exchanged between the at least two entities. 20. A data processing device as defined in claim 19, wherein the messages include messages other than requests for location information originated by the location-based services application, said processing unit being adapted to derive the location information about the plurality of mobile stations from the messages other than requests for location information originated by the location-based services application. 21. A data processing device as defined in claim 19, wherein the messages are in accordance with the ANSI-41 protocol. 22. A data processing device as defined in claim 19, wherein the messages are in accordance with the GSM protocol. 23. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the data elements include billing records. 24. A data processing device as defined in claim 23, wherein the at least two entities include a computer and a memory. 25. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the data elements include messages indicative of a measured strength of a wireless signal. 26. A data processing device as defined in claim 25, wherein the wireless signal is a pilot signal. 27. A data processing device as defined in claim 25, said processing unit being adapted to derive the location information about the plurality of mobile stations by estimating a mobile station location from the measured strength of the wireless signal. 28. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the data elements include messages indicative of a measured propagation time of a wireless signal. 29. A data processing device as defined in claim 28, said processing unit being adapted to derive the location information about the plurality of mobile stations by estimating a mobile station location from the measured propagation time of the wireless signal. 30. A data processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein data elements include datagrams indicative of a network address of a router. 31. A data processing device as defined in claim 30, said processing unit being adapted to derive the location information about the mobile units by mapping the network address of the router to a geographic location. 32. A data processing device as defined in claim 30, wherein the network is a mobile IP network and wherein the network address of the router is a care-of address. 33. A data processing device as defined in claim 30, wherein the network is a fixed IP network and wherein the network address of the router is the IP address of an IP gateway. 34. A method of collecting mobile station location information, comprising: receiving data elements exchanged between at least two entities in a communication network providing communication services to mobile stations; deriving location information about a plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements; releasing the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations to a location-based services application; wherein the releasing of the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is unrelated to the receipt of the data elements exchanged between the at least two entities from which the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is derived. 35. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the at least two entities communicate via an interface and wherein receiving data elements exchanged between the at least two entities includes intercepting the data elements at the interface. 36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein receiving data elements exchanged between the at least two entities further includes generating a copy of the intercepted data elements. 37. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein deriving location information about the plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements includes: determining whether a received data element conveys location information about a mobile station; and if the received data element conveys location information about a mobile station, extracting the location information about the mobile station from the received data element. 38. A method as defined in claim 37, wherein determining whether a received data element conveys location information about a mobile station includes determining a data element type associated with the received data element and comparing the data element type to a set of data element types known to convey location information about a mobile station. 39. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein deriving location information about the plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements includes: determining whether a received data element conveys information regarding a mobile station belonging to a predetermined set of mobile stations; if the received data element conveys information regarding a mobile station belonging to a predetermined set of mobile stations, determining whether the received data element conveys location information about the mobile station belonging to the predetermined set of mobile stations and if so, extracting the location information about the mobile station belonging to the predetermined set of mobile stations from the received data element. 40. A system for collecting mobile station location information, comprising: means for receiving data elements exchanged between at least two entities in a communication network providing communication services to mobile stations; means for deriving location information about a plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements; means for releasing the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations to a location-based services application; wherein the releasing of the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is unrelated to the receipt of the data elements exchanged between the at least two entities from which the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is derived. 41. Computer-readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of collecting mobile station location information, the method comprising: receiving data elements exchanged between at least two entities in a communication network providing communication services to mobile stations; deriving location information about a plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements; releasing the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations to a location-based services application; wherein the releasing of the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is unrelated to the receipt of the data elements exchanged between the at least two entities from which the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is derived. 42. A computer readable storage medium containing a program element for execution by a computing device to implement a method of processing data elements exchanged between a pair of entities in a communication network capable of supporting users of mobile stations, the program element including: program code means for receiving data elements exchanged between at least two entities in a communication network providing communication services to mobile stations; program code means for deriving location information about a plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements; program code means for releasing the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations to a location-based services application; wherein the releasing of the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is unrelated to the receipt of the data elements exchanged between the at least two entities from which the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is derived. 43. Apparatus for use in a communications network capable of supporting users of mobile stations, said apparatus comprising: an input for receiving data elements, at least some of the data elements being unrelated to requests for location information capable of being originated by a location-based services (LBS) application; a processing unit capable of deriving mobile station location information from the at least some of the data elements; and an output capable of providing the mobile station location information to the LBS application. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In the current age of significant telecommunications competition, mobile network operators continuously seek new and innovative ways to create differentiation and increase profits. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is through the delivery of highly personalized services, such as location-based services (LBS). Moreover, mobile network operators are required under the laws of certain national governments to equip their infrastructure with the ability to provide LBS, particularly having regard to emergency services. In all, there are at least four major categories of LBS, namely location-based information, location-sensitive billing, emergency services and tracking. One of the most obvious and important aspects of LBS is positioning, i.e., the ability to determine the position of a mobile station in the network. One example of a widely recognized positioning technology is the Global Positioning System (GPS). In addition to GPS, other positioning techniques typically rely on various means of triangulation of the signal from cell sites serving a mobile station. In addition, the serving cell site can be used as a fix for location of the user. Geographic data is another important aspect of any location system. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the tools to provision and administer base map data such as man-made structures (streets, buildings) and terrain (mountains, rivers). GIS is also used to manage point-of-interest data such as location of gas stations, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. Finally, GIS information also includes information about the radio frequency characteristics of the mobile network. This allows the system to determine the serving cell site of the user. Finally, it is not enough to be able to position the mobile user and know the map data around that position. There must also be provided a location management function to process positioning and GIS data on behalf of LBS applications. The location management function is middleware that acts as a gateway and mediator between positioning equipment and the LBS infrastructure. Among other things, the location management function may be employed to convert positioning information into useful location information and make it available for various LBS applications. In conventional wireless intelligent networks, a request/answer mechanism involving the location management function and one or more of the base station controller (BSC), mobile switching center (MSC), home location register (HLR) and visited location register (VLR) is used to determine position information regarding a mobile station in the network. This is done by leveraging the SS7 signaling that is supported by both of today's prevailing wireless network protocols, namely American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-41 and Global System for Mobility (GSM). For example, the Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) standard—also known as IS-848 and based on the ANSI-41 protocol—provides for the position of a mobile station to be obtained in the following manner. The location management function at a given service control point interrogates an HLR using a specific position request (PosReq) message. The HLR knows the last VLR that served the mobile user. Accordingly, the HLR launches a request to this VLR for position information (such as a cell site identifier) and, upon receiving this information, sends it back to the service control point in a PosReq response message. Similarly, the Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) standard—based on the GSM protocol—provides for a location management function at a given service control point to launch a mobile application part (MAP) any time interrogation (ATI) message to the HLR for position information. The HLR responds with approximate information (such as the cell of origin) or more precise information achieved through use of a mobile network operation called timing advance or a procedure called network measurement report. As can be appreciated, conventional techniques such as those just described require that the network be capable of specifically addressing each location request soon after it is generated. Moreover, in order for most LBS applications to be of any value, it will be necessary to request user location information at intervals of minutes or less. It is therefore apparent that the network will become increasingly, if not overly, congested as it attempts to satisfy frequent requests on behalf of each LBS application, for each user of interest. As a result, the switching and transport capacity of a wireless network will be eroded by the burdensome requirements of obtaining location information in a conventional manner. Against this background, there is clearly a need to enable convenient and/or necessary LBS applications by obtaining valuable location information without the location management function having to query the network for such information on behalf of the LBS application. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relies on the content of data elements that are exchanged or generated in the course of ordinary network operation in order to derive information that can be used to ascertain the location of mobile stations in the network. Thus, mobile station location information is obtained without specifically requesting that such information be generated or exchanged, which potentially relieves the network of a considerable amount of congestion and resource scarcity. Accordingly, the present invention may be broadly summarized as a data processing device, including an input for receiving data elements exchanged between at least two entities in a communication network providing communication services to mobile stations, a processing unit for deriving location information about a plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements and an output for releasing the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations to a location-based services application, wherein the releasing of the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is unrelated to the receipt of the data elements exchanged between the at least two entities from which the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is derived. By the release of the location information being “unrelated” to the receipt of the data elements exchanged between the at least two entities, it is meant that the data elements are received at a first set of time instants, while mobile station location information is released at a second set of time instants and there is no causal relationship between the two sets of time instants. Thus, for example, the mobile station location information may contain location information that has been derived very recently or it may contain “stale” location information that is about to be updated, unbeknownst to the device. Thus, mobile station location information is obtained without the location-based services application having to request that such information be generated or exchanged, which potentially relieves the network of a considerable amount of congestion and resource scarcity. According to a second broad aspect, the present invention may be summarized as a method of collecting mobile station location information. The method includes receiving data elements exchanged between at least two entities in a communication network providing communication services to mobile stations, deriving location information about a plurality of the mobile stations from the data elements and releasing the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations to a location-based services application, wherein the releasing of the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is unrelated to the occurrence of messages exchanged between the at least two entities from which the location information about the plurality of the mobile stations is derived. According to a third broad aspect, the present invention may be summarized as computer-readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform the above method. According to a fourth broad aspect, the present invention may be summarized as a computer readable storage medium containing a program element for execution by a computing device to implement the above method. According to a fifth broad aspect, the present invention may be summarized as an apparatus for use in a communications network capable of supporting users of mobile stations. The apparatus includes an input for receiving data elements, at least some of the data elements being unrelated to requests for location information capable of being originated by a location-based services (LBS) application, a processing unit capable of deriving mobile station location information from the at least some of the data elements and an output capable of providing the mobile station location information to the LBS application. Furthermore, the invention may be embodied in a processing platform programmed for implementing the above method. Also, it should be understood that the term “processing” in the following is meant to encompass actions including but not limited to collecting, sorting, manipulating, transforming, filtering or storing, or any combination thereof. These and other aspects and features of the present invention will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. |
Optical add/drop structures |
An optical drop structure comprising a multi-port optical circulator (MOC), a first reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a first port and a second port of the MOC, a second reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a third port and a fourth port of the MOC, and the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that, a first optical signal entering through a fifth port of the MOC is subjected to the first reflection filter unit and exits at a sixth port of the MOC and a reflected portion of the first optical signal exits at a seventh port of the MOC, and a second optical signal entering through the sixth port of the MOC is subjected to the second reflection filter unit and exits at the fifth port of the MOC and a reflected portion of the second optical signal exits at an eights port of the MOC. |
1. An optical drop structure comprising: a multi-port optical circulator (MOC); a first reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a first port and a second port of the MOC, a second reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a third port and a fourth port of the MOC, and the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that: a first optical signal entering through a fifth port of the MOC is subjected to the first reflection filter unit and exits at a sixth port of the MOC and a reflected portion of the first optical signal exits at a seventh port of the MOC, and a second optical signal entering through the sixth port of the MOC is subjected to the second reflection filter unit and exits at the fifth port of the MOC and a reflected portion of the second optical signal exits at an eights port of the MOC. 2. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that a third optical signal entering at an ninth port of the MOC is added to the first optical signal prior to the first optical signal exiting the MOC, and such that a fourth optical signal entering at a tenth port of the MOC is added to the second optical signal prior to the second optical signal exiting the MOC. 3. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, such that the third and fourth optical signals are reflected at the first and the second reflection filter units respectively for being added to the first and second optical signals respectively. 4. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical drop structure further comprises: third and fourth reflection filter units optically connected to an eleventh port and a twelfth port of the MOC respectively, and wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that: the first optical signal is filtered at the third reflection filter unit prior to exiting the MOC, and the second optical signal is filtered at the fourth reflection filter unit prior to exiting the MOC. 5. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical drop structure further comprises a bi-directional amplifier structure disposed in series between a thirteenth port and a fourteenth port of the MOC, and the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second optical signals are amplified in a bi-directional amplifier structure prior to exiting the MOC. 6. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the amplifier unit comprises a gain medium or a semiconductor amplifier or a Raman amplifier. 7. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein, where the amplifier unit comprises a gain medium, the amplifier structure comprises at least one pump laser coupled to the gain medium. 8. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pump laser is coupled to the gain medium via a wavelength coupler. 9. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gain medium comprises an active optical fibre or an active planar waveguide. 10. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the active optical fibre comprises Erbium-doped fibre or rare earth doped fibre. 11. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second optical signals are amplified prior to or after being subjected to the first and second reflection filter units respectively. 12. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second optical signals are filtered at the third and fourth reflection filter units prior to being subjected to the first and second reflection filter units respectively. 13. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the optical drop structure further comprises: fifth and sixth reflection filter units optically connected to a fifteenth port and a sixteenth port of the MOC respectively, and wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second amplified signals are filtered at the fifth and sixth reflection filter units respectively, prior to exiting the MOC. 14. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical structure is implemented with two MOCs interconnected in series. 15. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the two MOCs have opposite circulation directions. 16. An optical drop structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein any one or all of the reflection filter units comprises a fibre Bragg grating structure or a Fabry-Perot filter. 17. An optical add structure comprising: a multi-port optical circulator (MOC); a first reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a first port and a second port of the MOC, a second reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a third port and a fourth port of the MOC, and the optical add/drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that: a first optical signal entering through a fifth port of the MOC is subjected to the first reflection filter unit and exits at a sixth port of the MOC, a second optical signal entering through the sixth port of the MOC is subjected to the second reflection filter unit and exits at the fifth port of the MOC, a third optical signal entering at a seventh port of the MOC is reflected at the first reflection filter unit and exits at the sixth port of the MOC for adding to the first optical signal, and a fourth optical signal entering at an eighth port of the MOC is reflected at the second reflection filter unit and exits at the fifth port of the MOC for adding to the second optical signal. 18. A method of adding/dropping signal portions from a bi-directional optical transmission path, the method comprising: utilising at least one MOC to distinguish between first and second optical signals having opposite transmission directions on the transmission path, subjecting the first and second optical signals to first and second filtering units for adding/dropping said signal portions in a uni-directional mode, and utilising said at least one MOC to direct the first and second signal portions for continued propagation along the transmission path in their respective transmission directions. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>There is a trend in the design of bi-directional WDM ring networks that optical signals travel along single-fibre connections in both directions. Typically, different groups of wavelengths propagate in opposite directions. The allocation of propagation directions to individual wavelengths may e.g. be interleaved in the spectral domain, i.e. adjacent wavelengths within the spectral domain propagate in opposite directions, resulting in symmetric traffic conditions. Bi-directional optical add/drop structures may be implemented with an N×N array waveguide grating in-line in the single fibre bi-directional link. However, such adding/dropping of wavelengths in a bi-directional mode can have the disadvantage of increased likelihood of cross talk between the different channels, i.e. wavelength signals, as the adding/dropping is performed on the bi-directional optical signal covering the entire bandwidth used on the single-fibre connection. In at least preferred embodiments, the present invention seeks to provide an optical add/drop structure with reduced likelihood of cross talk between the different channels. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In the summary of invention and the claims components of the same name have been identified as e.g. “first”, “second”, “third” etc. This is intended to mean “first identified”, “second identified”, “third identified” etc. rather than being intended to define a total number of the same components in individual embodiments of the invention. For example, where an embodiment is defined with MOCs having a first, a second and a fifth port, this does not define that there must be a third and a fourth port. In other words, in such an embodiment each MOC has at least 3 ports. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical drop structure comprising: a multi-port optical circulator (MOC); a first reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a first port and a second port of the MOC, a second reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a third port and a fourth port of the MOC, and the optical add/drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that: a first optical signal entering through a fifth port of the MOC is subjected to the first reflection filter unit and exits at a sixth port of the MOC and a reflected portion of the first optical signal exits at a seventh port of the MOC, and a second optical signal entering through the sixth port of the MOC is subjected to the second reflection filter unit and exits at the fifth port of the MOC and a reflected portion of the second optical signal exits at an eights port of the MOC. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a bi-directional optical drop structure with reduced likelihood of crosstalk between different channels by implementing the dropping filtering in a uni-directional mode. Preferably, the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that a third optical signal entering at an ninth port of the MOC is added to the first optical signal prior to the first optical signal exiting the MOC, and such that a fourth optical signal entering at a tenth port of the MOC is added to the second optical signal prior to the second optical signal exiting the MOC. In one embodiment, the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, such that the third and fourth optical signals are reflected at the first and the second reflection filter units respectively for being added to the first and second optical signals respectively. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a bi-directional optical add/drop structure with reduced likelihood of crosstalk between different channels by implementing the adding/dropping filtering in a uni-directional mode. Advantageously, the optical drop structure further comprises: third and fourth reflection filter units optically connected to an eleventh port and a twelfth port of the MOC respectively, and wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that: the first optical signal is filtered at the third reflection filter unit prior to exiting the MOC, and the second optical signal is filtered at the fourth reflection filter unit prior to exiting the MOC. Preferably, the optical drop structure further comprises a bi-directional amplifier structure disposed in series between a thirteenth port and a fourteenth port of the MOC, and the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second optical signals are amplified in a bi-directional amplifier structure prior to exiting the MOC. In one embodiment, the amplifier unit comprises a gain medium or a semiconductor amplifier or a Raman amplifier. The amplifier unit may comprise a gain medium, the amplifier structure comprises at least one pump laser coupled to the gain medium. The pump laser may be coupled to the gain medium via a wavelength coupler. The gain medium may comprise an active optical fibre or an active planar waveguide. The active optical fibre may comprise Erbium-doped fibre or rare earth doped fibre. Advantageously, the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second optical signals are subjected to the first and second reflection filter units prior to being subjected to the first and second reflection filter units respectively. Preferably, the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second optical signals are amplified prior to or after being filtered at the third and fourth reflection filter units respectively. In such an embodiment, the optical drop structure may further comprise: fifth and sixth reflection filter units optically connected to a fifteenth port and a sixteenth port of the MOC respectively, and wherein the optical drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that the first and second amplified signals are filtered at the fifth and sixth reflection filter units respectively, prior to exiting the MOC. In one embodiment, the optical structure is implemented with two MOCs interconnected in series. The two MOCs may have opposite circulation directions. Advantageously, any one or all of the reflection filter units comprises a fibre Bragg grating structure or a Fabry-Perot filter. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical add structure comprising: a multi-port optical circulator (MOC); a first reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a first port and a second port of the MOC, a second reflection filter unit optically connected in series between a third port and a fourth port of the MOC, and the optical add/drop structure is arranged, in use, in a manner such that: a first optical signal entering through a fifth port of the MOC is subjected to the first reflection filter unit and exits at a sixth port of the MOC, a second optical signal entering through the sixth port of the MOC is subjected to the second reflection filter unit and exits at the fifth port of the MOC, a third optical signal entering at a seventh port of the MOC is reflected at the first reflection filter unit and exits at the sixth port of the MOC for adding to the first optical signal, and a fourth optical signal entering at an eighth port of the MOC is reflected at the second reflection filter unit and exits at the fifth port of the MOC for adding to the second optical signal. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of adding/dropping signal portions from a bi-directional optical transmission path, the method comprising the steps of utilising at least one MOC to distinguish between first and second optical signals having opposite transmission directions on the transmission path, subjecting the first and second optical signals to first and second filtering units for adding/dropping said signal portions in a uni-directional mode, and utilising said at least one MOC to direct the first and second signal portions for continued propagation along the transmission path in their respective transmission directions. |
Method and device for preparing a sensor signal of a position sensor for transmission to an evaluation unit |
The present invention is based on the finding that the evaluation of the sensor signals of a position sensor with a mechanical period or, in general terms, the cooperation between position sensors and evaluation units, can be improved by eliminating divergence between the electrically optimal period and the mechanically optimal period. According to the present invention this is achieved in that the position sensor signal, which has a period which depends on the mechanical period of the scale of the position sensor, is translated into a translated signal with a period which corresponds to a second mechanical period, which e.g. has been set to the electrically optimal period, prior to—or for the purpose of—transmitting it to an evaluation unit, whereby not only can transmission errors be minimized and the evaluability improved but a complicated mechanical adjustment of the scale of the position sensor relative to the evaluation unit is avoided. |
1. A method for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising the following steps: receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the step of translating the analog sensor signal comprises the following substeps: determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to k, where k is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the step of generating the translated analog signal comprises the following steps: calculating the result of multiplying by k the remainder of the digital absolute position value divided by k to obtain a calculated digital value; and converting the calculated digital value into the translated analog signal. 2. A method for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising the following steps: receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the step of translating the analog sensor signal comprises the following substeps: determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to 2x, where x is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the step of generating the translated analog signal comprises the following steps: blanking out the x most significant bits of the digital absolute position value; and converting the unblanked-out part of the digital absolute position value into the translated analog signal. 3. A device for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising: an input for receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; a unit for translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and an output for issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the unit for translating the analog sensor signal comprises: a unit for determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and a unit for generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to k, where k is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the unit for generating the translated analog signal comprises: a unit for calculating the result of multiplying by k the remainder of the digital absolute position value divided by k to obtain a calculated digital position value; and a digital/analog converter for converting the calculated digital position value into the translated analog signal. 4. A device for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising: an input for receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; a unit for translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and an output for issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the unit for translating the analog sensor signal comprises: a unit for determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and a unit for generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to 2x, where x is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the unit for generating the translated analog signal comprises: a unit for blanking out the x most significant bits of the digital absolute position value; and a digital/analog converter for converting the unblanked-out part of the digital absolute position value into the translated analog signal. 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first mechanical period and the second mechanical period have a lowest common multiple and the section of the scale relative to which the absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a first number of contiguous period sections of the first sequence of period sections and to a second number of contiguous period sections of the second sequence of period sections, and wherein the unit for determining the digital absolute position value comprises: a unit for monitoring the analog sensor signal to establish to which of the period sections of the first number of contiguous period sections within the section of the scale the first instantaneous period section corresponds relative to which the analog sensor signal indicates the position on the scale; and a unit for calculating the digital absolute position value on the basis of the result of the monitoring and the analog sensor signal. 6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first mechanical period is an integral multiple of the second mechanical period and the section of the scale relative to which the absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to the first instantaneous period section. 7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the unit for determining the position on the scale relative to the section of the scale comprises: an analog/digital converter for converting the analog sensor signal into a digital absolute position value. 8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the analog sensor signal comprises two analog subsignals in quadrature to each other which indicate a position on the scale which is only unambiguous relative to the instantaneous period section. 9. The device according to claim 3, wherein the device is connected to the position sensor via a short transmission path, so that transmission losses of the analog sensor signal until it reaches the input of the device are small. 10. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first mechanical period is adapted so as to be optimal as regards manufacture, attachment and readability of the scale and the second mechanical period is adapted so as to be optimal as regards signal transmission of the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit and evaluation of the translated analog signal by the evaluation unit. 11. The device according to claim 3, wherein the second mechanical period is adjustable. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to position sensors which have a scale with a mechanical period and which emit sensor signals with a period which depends on the mechanical period such as e.g. a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) or a rotational variable differential transformer (RVDT) and in particular to the preparation of such a sensor signal of a position sensor for output to an appropriate evaluation unit. 2. Description of the Related Art: Examples of position sensors which employ a mechanical scale to perform a path measurement or an angular measurement are linear variable differential transformers and rotational variable differential transformers, described hereafter as resolvers, and special arrangements of magnetoresistive resistors or Hall sensors which are used to measure a path or an angle of rotation α for mechanical arrangements or machines. These sensors supply two output signals which vary depending on the mechanical position, so that the position referred to a period section of the mechanical scale can be unambiguously determined from the signals. FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 c show examples of two different arrangements for measuring the linear position, while FIG. 1 b shows an arrangement for measuring an angle of rotation. FIG. 1 a exhibits an excitation coil 10 and two measurement coils 20 and 30 and a measurement object 40 with suitable material properties, such as e.g. a suitable magnetic susceptibility, which is arranged between the excitation coil 10 on one side and the measurement coils 20 and 30 on the other and which is moveable linearly along an axis 50 . The arrangement is so conceived that a linear displacement of the measurement object 40 or the excitation coil 10 causes a change in the coupling relationship between the excitation coil 10 and the measurement coil 20 and between the excitation coil 10 and the measurement coil 30 . An excitation voltage on the excitation coil 10 therefore produces signals in the measurement coils 20 and 30 which are in quadrature to each other. The position of the measurement object 40 can be defined as an angle α which determines the relationship between the two measurement signals, as will be explained below. The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 b corresponds to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 a with the exception of the measurement object 40 . In this case the measurement object is represented by a rotatable body 50 . When the body 50 is rotated the relationship between the measurement signals registered in the measurement coils 20 and 30 varies as in the arrangement in FIG. 1 a according to the angle of rotation α, whereby the angle of rotation α can be determined. FIG. 1 c shows an alternative arrangement to that in FIG. 1 a . It has magnetoresistive sensors 60 and 70 and a magnetic scale 80 constitutes the linearly displaceable measurement object. The magnetic scale 80 has two suitably oriented magnetic regions which generate opposing magnetic fields at the location of the magnetoresistive sensors 60 and 70 , these regions being represented in FIG. 1 c by four bar magnets 80 a, 80 b, 80 c and 80 d, the orientation of which alternates from one to the next. When the scale 80 is displaced along an axis 90 the magnetic field at the location of the magnetoresistive sensors 60 and 70 changes and so also therefore does the electrical resistance in such a way that the signals measured at the sensors 60 and 70 are in quadrature to each other. In consequence, the variation of the signals is characterized in the first instance by the fact that they are substantially in quadrature to each other. FIG. 2 shows the connection between the value α on the one hand and the measurement signals at the coil 20 and the coil 30 on the other in relation to an excitation voltage U 0 for the measurement arrangement shown in FIG. 1 b . The connection is also essentially true for the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 c and FIG. 1 a. As can be seen from FIG. 2 , the periodic signals Usin and Ucos defined in terms of the mechanical period l PER of the mechanical scale can be described by the following equations: Eq. 1 Eq. 2 where U 0 may be a direct or alternating voltage or a direct or alternating current, such as U 0 =Upp cos(ωt), Upp being the amplitude of the alternating voltage U 0 . FIG. 3 shows the signal profiles of the measurement signals Usin and Ucos of the sensors of FIG. 1 b and 1 c as a function of the angle α or the linear displacement α. As can be seen, the variation of these signals is characterized by the fact that they are in quadrature to each other, i.e. they relate to one another like cosine and sine, and that the signals Ucos and Usin are periodic and that their period is equal to the mechanical period l PER of the mechanical scale. In the case of FIG. 1 b the mechanical period l PER is e.g. equal to a full rotation, i.e. 360°, and in the case of FIG. 1 c it is equal to the distance between two magnets with the same orientation. In other words, the signals Usin and Ucos only have a unique relationship to the measurement value α within a period l PER and they repeat themselves periodically when a number of period sections of length l PER succeed one another, e.g. in the case of two rotations. In FIG. 4 the variation with time of the sensor signals Ucos and Usin is shown for the case of a constant rotational or translational movement. As can be seen, the signals Usin and Ucos are periodic signals which cover the value range of the signal profiles shown in FIG. 3 in successive periods. The time period length of the signals Ucos and Usin is equal to the quotient of the mechanical period l PER and the linear velocity or angular velocity v. After a time duration of l PER /v the relative rotation or displacement of the scale to the position sensor has covered a mechanical period l PER . A non-constant rotation or speed of motion also produces periodic signals which do not, however, have a constant period but a fluctuating period. Since nearly all the controls and regulators of mechanical systems are to an increasing extent realized digitally, the output signals Usin and Ucos of the sensors must normally be digitalized. To find a digital equivalent α DIG of the position α, the ratio of Usin to Ucos must be evaluated. The required relationship is generally as follows: Eq. 3 Some evaluation methods digitalize both voltages Usin and Ucos and then calculate the arctangent digitally, others digitalize the two voltages Usin and Ucos simultaneously and hereby form the digital value α DIG directly. To transmit the sensor signals as generated by one of the sensors in FIG. 1 a - 1 c and as shown as examples in FIG. 4 to an evaluation unit, where they are evaluated, e.g. digitalized, the solutions shown in FIG. 5, 6 and 7 are traditionally used to connect the position sensor to an evaluation unit. In the following description of FIG. 5 to 7 it should be noted that identical elements in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and that a repetition of the description of these identical elements is dispensed with. FIG. 5 to 7 show in each case a position sensor 100 , which, by means of a scale 110 with a mechanical period l PER , registers a relative linear displacement 120 of the scale 110 in relation to the position sensor 100 or a displacement of the position sensor 100 in relation to the scale 110 . In the case of FIG. 5 the position sensor is connected directly to an evaluation unit 130 , the position sensor 100 being connected to the evaluation unit 130 via four transmission lines 140 a, 140 b, 140 c and 140 d in order to transmit the sensor signal Usin and the sensor signal Ucos differentially to the evaluation unit 130 . To reduce the transmission errors arising during the transmission from the position sensor 100 to the evaluation unit 130 due to the length of the transmission lines 140 a - 140 d, in the solution for transmitting the sensor signals which is shown in FIG. 6 analog line drivers 150 a and 150 b, which are connected to the sensor 100 over lines 155 a, 155 b, 155 c and 155 d and which guarantee a better transmission through amplification or preparation of the sensor signals Usin and Ucos, are inserted in front of the transmission lines 140 a - 140 d. The solution for transmitting the sensor signals of the position sensor 100 to the evaluation unit 130 shown in FIG. 7 increases the reliability of the transmission of these signals by preparing or digitalizing them before transmitting them to the evaluation unit 130 . Digitalization is achieved by means of an analog/digital converter 160 connected to the position sensor 100 and which receives the analog sensor signals Usin and Ucos, which are fed in differentially, digitalizes them, amplifies them in digitalized form by means of line drivers 160 a and 160 b at an output stage of the converter and sends them, in their digitalized and amplified form, to the evaluation unit 130 on transmission lines 170 a and 170 b. In contrast to the transmissions according to FIG. 5 and 6 , the sensor signals Usin and Ucos are already digitalized in the immediate vicinity of the position sensor 100 by the analog/digital converter 160 rather than later in the evaluation unit 130 . The digital evaluation unit 130 can perform the previously mentioned calculation of the arc tangent on the basis of the digital sensor signals. The evaluation of the sensor signals Usin and Ucos is substantially independent of the variation of the excitation voltage U 0 , which means that the interference which occurs equally on both signals or on both line pairs 140 a, 140 b or 140 c and 140 d or on both lines 170 a and 170 b, has almost no effect on the evaluation result. Interference which is superimposed on only one of the two sensor signals Usin and Ucos, on the other hand, directly affects the measurement result. To achieve the best possible result it is therefore desirable to use the smallest possible mechanical period l PER so that the quotient of the sensor signals Usin and Ucos has to be determined only very imprecisely and only a few points of a period have to be evaluated at a certain resolution, thus minimizing the effect of unsymmetrical interference on the evaluation. An extreme case is that where the zero transitions and the maxima of both signals are sampled. In the digital representation of the sensor signals with one bit each the result is the increment signal which is common in industrial control engineering. However, some problems stand in the way of achieving the smallest possible mechanical period in order to counteract asymmetrical interference with the in-quadrature signals. In the first place, mechanical and manufacturing problems mean that it is not always possible to make the scales sufficiently small, to attach them or to read them. Secondly, the frequency of the sensor signals of the position sensor 100 becomes very high at high rotational or translational velocities. In FIG. 4 , in which exemplary sensor signals Ucos and Usin are shown as a function of time t for the case of a constant rotational or translational motion, the sampling time Δt between two samplings in the evaluation unit is also shown. As far as the maximum translational or rotational velocity is concerned, the evaluability of the sensor signals Ucos and Usin is therefore restricted by the bandwidth and the sampling speed Δt of the evaluation electronics or the evaluation unit, so that e.g. Δt ≦{fraction ( 1 / 2 )}l PER /v must hold true. A lower bound for the mechanical period also arises from the fact that higher frequency signals in the region of several megaherz can no longer be transmitted with little loss in the transmission lines. In addition to the interference from outside there is now also distortion of the signals due to line losses. Taking into account the bandwidth and the sampling speed of the evaluation electronics as well as the transmission losses of the sensor signals, for any particular application characterized by a certain desired resolution of α DIG , the maximum actual translational or rotational velocity, the length of the transmission path over which the sensor signals must be transmitted to the evaluation unit, and the amount of interference incident along the transmission path, there is for the position sensor a mechanical period which generates sensor signals which can be transmitted and evaluated optimally. This mechanical period will be described as the electrically optimal period in what follows. On the other hand, however, there exists a mechanical period which would be optimal as regards manufacture, attachment and readability from the mechanical point of view, and which is usually greater than the electrically optimal period and which will be called the mechanically optimal period in what follows. At high translational velocities it is, however, equally possible that the sensor is moved very quickly and that the optimal mechanical period from the mechanical viewpoint is smaller than the electrically optimal period. Deviations of the mechanically optimal period from the electrically optimal period occur primarily when a position sensor of an existing machine control system is replaced. If, for example, a sensor of greater accuracy or of higher resolution and which operates according to a different principle is installed in an existing machine control system, the period of the output signal changes as well and is no longer optimally adjusted. DE 19815438A1 relates to a position measurement device and a method for operating a position measurement device. In particular the use of a signal period variation unit is described which is connected between a position measurement device and an evaluation unit in order to increase the signal frequencies of periodically modulated analog increment signals from the position device or to virtually decrease the geometric period. One embodiment of the signal period variation unit consists of two interpolation devices, which receive the analog increment signals output by the position device and which are out of phase by 90° and which produce digital words which indicate a position value, a conversion table which, via the digital words or the position value, accesses a number of conversion tables in which each position value among the digital words is assigned a particular modified position value so that the result is always a sine- or cosine-shaped signal profile with increased signal period, and two D/A converters, which generate quasi-analog sine- and cosine-shaped increment signals from the table entries which are read out and passes them on to the evaluation unit. In another embodiment, instead of there being two digital words indicating the instantaneous position value, an interpolation unit and a direction recognition unit generate a pulsed digital signal and a direction-indicating direction signal from the analog signals. These signals are fed into an address counter unit 24 which, depending on the desired signal period variation factor, advances by a predetermined number of entries in a conversion table 21 A and a conversion table 21 B using an address pointer 34 A or 34 B, the conversion tables storing in digital form signal amplitude values of a sine or cosine function. By increasing the step size when advancing within the tables 21 A and 21 B the simulated signal period can be adjusted step by step. EP 0463561B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,355 describe a signal processing method and a signal processing device and also a system, such as e.g. a displacement detection device in which they are used. From the sine and cosine signals S 1 and C 1 of a displacement detection device and with the aid of adders, multipliers etc., i.e. using analog circuitry, sine and cosine signals are generated whose signal frequency is a whole number of times greater. The circuit for frequency doubling is incorporated in a processing circuit which, on its input side, doubles the frequency of the sine and cosine signals, which are 90° out of phase, and then converts them by zero transition analysis into division pulses whose number corresponds to the distance between an optical system 101 , 102 , 104 - 107 and a diffraction grating 103 . JP 02099826A describes a device for processing a signal of an encoder wherein detection signals with phases from 0 to 90 degrees emitted by detectors are first converted into pulse signals and are then converted into binary code signals in an incremental/decremental counter. By extracting binary code signals of optional weighting in data selection units, pulse signals a and b are obtained which correspond to different frequency divisions of the detection signals. In particular the pulse frequency of the signal a obtained by extracting the slower changing binary code signals is a factor 2 smaller than that of signal b obtained from the binary code signals changing with higher frequency, the lowest valued of these changing with the same frequency as the signal b. A pulse signal c which is phase-shifted by 90° relative to the pulse signal b and which has the same, i.e. halved, frequency as the signal a, is obtained by XORing of the signals a and b. The signals a and c thus generated ensure high precision even when a control circuit with low signal processing speed is employed. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for preparing a signal of a position sensor for transmission to an evaluation unit such that the cooperation between position sensors and evaluation units is improved and/or simplified. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a method for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising the following steps: receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the step of translating the analog sensor signal comprises the following substeps: determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to k, where k is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the step of generating the translated analog signal comprises the following steps: calculating the result of multiplying by k the remainder of the digital absolute position value divided by k to obtain a calculated digital value; and converting the calculated digital value into the translated analog signal. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a method for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising the following steps: receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the step of translating the analog sensor signal comprises the following substeps: determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to 2 x , where x is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the step of generating the translated analog signal comprises the following steps: blanking out the x most significant bits of the digital absolute position value; and converting the unblanked-out part of the digital absolute position value into the translated analog signal. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a device for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising: an input for receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; a unit for translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and an output for issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the unit for translating the analog sensor signal comprises: a unit for determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and a unit for generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to k, where k is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the unit for generating the translated analog signal comprises: a unit for calculating the result of multiplying by k the remainder of the digital absolute position value divided by k to obtain a calculated digital position value; and a digital/analog converter for converting the calculated digital position value into the translated analog signal. In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a device for preparing an analog sensor signal of a position sensor having a scale with a first mechanical period for output to an evaluation unit, the analog sensor signal having a first period which depends on the first mechanical period, comprising: an input for receiving the analog sensor signal from the position sensor; a unit for translating the analog sensor signal into a translated analog signal, the translated analog signal having a second period corresponding to a second mechanical period; and an output for issuing the translated analog signal to the evaluation unit, wherein the analog sensor signal indicates a position on the scale relative to a first instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a sequence of period sections constituting the scale of the position sensor, and the translated analog signal indicates the position on the scale relative to a second instantaneous period section, the one containing the position, of a second sequence of period sections determined by the second mechanical period, and wherein the unit for translating the analog sensor signal comprises: a unit for determining from the analog sensor signal a digital absolute position value which determines the position on the scale relative to a section of the scale comprising at least the first instantaneous period section and the second instantaneous period section; and a unit for generating the translated analog signal from the digital absolute position value, and wherein the section of the scale relative to which the digital absolute position value determines the position on the scale corresponds to a number of period sections of the second sequence of period sections, the number being equal to 2 x , where x is a whole number, and the digital absolute position value is a digital value with a plurality of bits and the unit for generating the translated analog signal comprises: a unit for blanking out the x most significant bits of the digital absolute position value; and a digital/analog converter for converting the unblanked-out part of the digital absolute position value into the translated analog signal. The present invention is based on the finding that the evaluation of the sensor signals of a position sensor with a mechanical period or, in general terms, the cooperation between position sensors and evaluation units, can be improved by eliminating divergence between the electrically optimal period and the mechanically optimal period. According to the present invention this is achieved in that the position sensor signal, which has a period which depends on the mechanical period of the scale of the position sensor, is translated into a translated signal with a period which corresponds to a second mechanical period, which e.g. has been set to the electrically optimal period, prior to—or for the purpose of—transmitting it to an evaluation unit. Although the outlay for signal preparation prior to the actual evaluation is increased hereby, the period conversion makes it possible to adapt successfully position sensors which, on account of their unfavourable signals or their unfavourable mechanical period, could not hitherto be employed in connection with an existing control or evaluation unit, or only at the cost of increased signal errors, and also to “simulate” an otherwise non-producible, unattachable or unreadable electrically optimal period in preparation for the evaluation by an evaluation unit, whereby not only can transmission errors be minimized and the evaluability improved but a complicated mechanical adjustment of the scale of the position sensor relative to the evaluation unit is avoided. To translate the sensor signal into a translated signal with a period which corresponds to a different mechanical period than that of the position sensor, an absolute position value can first be determined from the sensor signal which indicates a position on the scale relative to a section of the scale which contains at least one instantaneous period section of the mechanical scale of the position sensor and one instantaneous period section of a scale defined by the simulated mechanical period, whereupon the translated signal is generated from the absolute position value. In the case where the electrically optimal period is e.g. greater than the mechanical period of the position sensor, the second mechanical period, in relation to which the translated signal is defined, can be set e.g. to a whole number fraction of the mechanical period of the position sensor and the section of the scale for determining the absolute position value corresponds to the instantaneous period section of the sequence of period sections of the scale. In order e.g. to achieve a period conversion of the sensor signal period, which depends on the mechanical period of the position sensor, to a period which corresponds to a mechanical period which is equal to 1/K of the sensor period, K being a whole number greater than zero, an analog/digital converter e.g. can be used to convert the sensor signal of the position sensor into a digital value D B to obtain the absolute position value D B in digital form. Subsequently a simple arithmetic unit can be used to calculate the result of multiplying by K the remainder of the division by K of the digital absolute position value D B , i.e. K·(D B mod K), in order to convert the digital value thus obtained into the analog translated signal in a digital/analog converter. The technical effort required for the arithmetic unit for the calculation of the formula K·(D B mod K) reduces to zero for K=2 N since in this case the calculation of D B mod 2 N can be realized by blanking out the N bits of highest significance by discontinuing the corresponding bit lines and the multiplication can be realized by rewiring the lower significance bit lines to the higher significance bit lines. To achieve e.g. a period conversion of the sensor signal period, which depends on the mechanical period of the position sensor, to a period which corresponds to a mechanical period which is equal to 2 −N of the sensor period, with whole number N greater than 0, an analog/digital converter e.g. can be used to convert the sensor signal of the position sensor into a digital value to obtain the absolute position value D B in digital form. Subsequently the most significant bits of the digital absolute position value can be blanked out and the digital value so obtained can be converted into the analog translated signal in a digital/analog converter. In a further embodiment the second mechanical period, in relation to which the translated signal is to be defined, and the mechanical period of the position sensor have e.g. a lowest common multiple, where the second mechanical period may be either smaller or greater than the mechanical period of the position sensor. The section of the scale for calculating the absolute position value then encompasses several successive period sections. To obtain an absolute position value the sensor signal is monitored to establish the period section within the section of the scale for determining the absolute position value to which the instantaneous period section corresponds, in relation to which the sensor signal indicates the position of the scale. If the device according to the present invention is connected to the position sensor over a short transmission path, the transmission losses of the sensor signals of the position sensor until they reach the input of the device according to the present invention are small even if e.g. the mechanical period of the position sensor has been optimized as regards manufacturability, attachment and readability of the scale and deviates from the electrically optimal period, so that a significant reduction in the transmission losses can be achieved with the present invention. |
Apparatus for the production of meat products |
An apparatus (10) for the production of meat products includes a support structure (12). A container (14) is mounted support structure (12). A conveyor (20) has a first, upstream end (20.1) in communication with the container (14) and a second, downstream end (20.2) arranged downstream of the first end (20.2) and outside the container (14). A comb (34) is arranged downstream of the second end (20.2) of the conveyor (20) for working meat pieces conveyed to the comb (34) by the conveyor (20). The comb (34) is operable independently of the conveyor (20). A processing station (40) is arranged downstream of the comb (34), the processing station (40), together with the comb (34), processing the meat to obtain a desired finnished product. |
1. An apparatus for the production of meat products, the apparatus including: a support structure; a container mounted on the support structure; a conveying means having a first, upstream end in communication with the container and a second, downstream end arranged downstream of the first end and outside the container; a working means arranged downstream of the second end of the conveying means for working meat conveyed to the working means by the conveying means, the working means being operable independently of the conveying means; and a processing station arranged downstream of the working means, the processing station, together with the working means, processing the meat to obtain a desired finished product. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the container is a feed hopper. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, which includes an agitating means carried in the feed hopper. 4. The apparatus of claims 1 in which the conveying means is a screw conveyor. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the first end of the screw conveyor is received in a bottom of the container, the screw conveyor having a part extending through an opening in a wall of the container. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which the part of the screw conveyor extending beyond the container is housed in a tubular member mounted about the opening of the container. 7. The apparatus of claims 1, in which the processing station comprises a housing displaceably arranged relative to the conveying means, the housing defining a discharge opening, downstream of the working means, through which the finished product is discharged. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the processing station comprises a pressurising means for pressurising the meat in the processing station. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, in which the pressurising means is a pressure plate which openably closes the discharge opening of the housing. 10. The apparatus of claims 7 in which the processing station includes a control means for controlling displacement of the housing relative to the tubular member for controlling pressure applied to meat in the processing station. 11. The apparatus of claims 1, in which the working means is in the form of a comb arranged proximate the second end of the conveying means. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the comb is mounted at the end of a comb shaft, the comb shaft being co-axially received in a passage extending through the conveying means. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, which includes a drive arrangement, the drive arrangement comprising a first drive means for rotatably driving the conveying means and a second drive means for rotatably driving the comb shaft, independently of the conveying means. 14. A meat product produced by an apparatus as claimed in claims 1. 15. The meat product of claim 14 which is an extended meat product. 16. The meat product of claim 15 which is substantially phosphate-free. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION <EOH>Meat derived from livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and the like varies considerably as between the various muscle masses in any given animal as does meat derived from birds and fish. The meat also often varies considerably as between different animals of the same species. These variations make it difficult for the meat trade to offer to the public an essentially consistent meat product or for those selling processed or cooked meat products to offer a standardised, portion controlled, product. As used in this specification, “meat” is taken to mean any proteinaceous muscle mass including the flesh of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and birds. One type of meat product that attempts to address the above noted problems is extended meat products. By “extended”, it is understood that the meat product incorporates additives that constitute a certain proportion of the final meat product. For example, a typical extended pressed ham meat product may comprise a ratio of 100 parts pork to 50 parts aqueous solution. This product is known in the art as a 50% extension. Products up to 150% extension are produced commercially. Another type of meat product is a restructured product where meat pieces are worked to provide a meat product of uniform quality. Currently, pressed ham and related products are manufactured in a batch process by tumbling the meat pieces with curing and binding solutions in a cylindrical tumbler for up to 16 hours. These cylindrical tumblers are known in the art as “massagers” and must be operated under refrigerated conditions. Tumblers having a capacity of up to 6000 litres are known. The principle behind “massaging” is to extract the available meat protein which then assists in agglomerating the meat pieces together to form the pressed, cured meat product, such as ham and corned beef when cooked. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for the production of meat products, the apparatus including: a support structure; a container mounted on the support structure; a conveying means having a first, upstream end in communication with the container and a second, downstream end arranged downstream of the first end and outside the container; a working means arranged downstream of the second end of the conveying means for working meat conveyed to the working means by the conveying means, the working means being operable independently of the conveying means; and a processing station arranged downstream of the working means, the processing station, together with the working means, processing the meat to obtain a desired finished product. The support structure may be a cabinet. The container may be a feed hopper mounted on the cabinet. An agitating means may be carried in the feed hopper. The agitating means may be a paddle rotatably mounted in the feed hopper. When the product being produced is an extended meat product, the paddle may mix non-meat ingredients and additives into the meat. Such additives may include curing and binding agents, such as water, nitrite, phosphates, seasonings, spices, sugars, thickening agents and proteinaceous substances such as soy, gluten and plasma. The applicant has, surprisingly, found that with the apparatus of the invention, the need for phosphates may be obviated in the production of extended meat products. The conveying means may be a screw conveyor or auger. Preferably, the screw conveyor is a variable pitch screw conveyor. The first end of the screw conveyor may be received in a bottom of the feed hopper, the screw conveyor having a part extending through an opening in a wall, preferably a side wall, of the feed hopper. The part of the screw conveyor extending beyond the container may be housed in a tubular member mounted about the opening of the hopper. The processing station may comprise a housing, in the form of a sleeve, displaceably arranged relative to the tubular member, the housing defining a discharge opening, downstream of the working means, through which the finished product is discharged. The tubular member may have a low friction element, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bush, arranged at a downstream end of the tubular member, the sleeve of the processing station being slidably supported on the low friction element. The processing station may further comprise a pressurising means for pressurising the meat in the processing station. The pressurising means may be a pressure plate which openably closes the discharge opening of the housing. The pressure plate may be slidably received in a holder fast with a downstream end of the sleeve. The plate may be slidable to selectively open and close the discharge opening. The closing of the discharge opening may cut a length of meat product discharged through the discharge opening from a remainder of a meat product in the processing station. The sleeve may be supported on a carriage which is displaceably arranged relative to the cabinet. The processing station may include a control means for controlling displacement of the carriage and, hence, the sleeve relative to the tubular member for controlling pressure applied to meat in the processing station. The control means may be a fluid operable control means. More particularly, the control means may be a pair of pneumatic rams which support the carriage to impart a predetermined pressure via the pressure plate to the meat product in the processing station. The working means may be in the form of a comb arranged proximate the second end of the screw conveyor The comb may be mounted at the end of a comb shaft, the comb shaft being co-axially received in a hollow, rotational shaft of the screw conveyor. The apparatus may include a drive arrangement, the drive arrangement comprising a first drive means for rotatably driving the screw conveyor and a second drive means for rotatably driving the comb shaft, independently of the screw conveyor. The first drive means and the second drive means may each be a variable speed motor. The drive arrangement may include a third drive means, which may also be a variable speed motor, for rotatably driving the paddle in the hopper. All the motors may be inverter controlled. The invention extends also to a meat product produced by an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. The meat product may be an extended meat product. The meat product is, preferably, substantially phosphate-free. |
Method for manufacturing articless of jewellery |
Method for manufacturing an article of jewellery, which comprises a step involving manufacture of a first hollow element in tubular form, said element being made of precious metal or a precious metal alloy and intended to act as a lining; a step involving preparation of a second tubular element made of metal or metal alloy and intended to act as a core for said first element in tubular form; a step involving coaxial joining together of the two elements by means of arrangement of a layer of solder in between so as to obtain a tubular assembly which is then subject to a first drawing step aimed at compressing the first element onto the second element; this is then followed by a step involving brazing of the tubular assembly so as to melt the layer of solder and fix together the two elements before a second drawing step for reducing the thickness of the brazed tubular assembly to the desired value. |
1. Method for manufacturing an article of jewellery, comprising the following operating steps: a step involving manufacture of a first hollow element in tubular form, said element being made of precious metal or a precious metal alloy and intended to act as a lining; a step involving preparation of a second tubular element made of metal or metal alloy and intended to act as a core for said first element in tubular form; a step involving coaxial joining together of said first element and said second element by means of arrangement of a layer of solder in between so as to obtain a tubular assembly; a first drawing step involving drawing of said tubular assembly, intended to compress said first element onto said second element; a step involving brazing said tubular assembly following said first drawing step so as to melt said layer of solder and fix together said first element and said second element; a second drawing step performed after said brazing step, for reducing the thickness of said brazed tubular assembly. 2. Method according to claim 1, in which said joining step is performed during said step involving manufacture of said first element in tubular form, which manufacturing step envisages a step for forming said first element in the form of an open channel with a substantially U-shaped cross-section from a sheet-like strip, a step involving insertion of said second tubular element inside said U-shaped channel and a step involving closing said U-shaped channel with said second element inside. 3. Method according to claim 2, in which said closing step envisages continuous welding on said first element in a longitudinal direction of closing of the adjacent edges of said U-shaped channel. 4. Method according to claim 1, in which said joining step is performed after said step involving manufacture of said first element in tubular form and consists in coaxial insertion of said second tubular element inside said first tubular element. 5. Method according to claim 4, in which said step of manufacturing said first element is performed by means of continuous extrusion casting. 6. Method according to claim 4, in which said step of manufacturing said first tubular element envisages a forming step in which said first element is transformed from a sheet-like strip into the form of a tube by passing through pairs of pressure rollers arranged in sequence. 7. Method according to claim 6, in which said step of manufacturing said first element is followed by a step involving continuous welding on said first element in a direction of longitudinal extension of the latter so as to close together the adjacent edges of said first element following its deformation into a tubular form. 8. Method according to claim 1, in which said layer of solder is initially arranged on one joining surface of said first element or said second element, which surface is intended to be interfaced with the corresponding joining surface of said second element or said first element, so that said layer of solder is arranged between said first element and said second element. 9. Method according to claim 8, in which said layer of solder continuously lines the joining surface. 10. Method according to claim 8, in which said layer of solder extends continuously over said joining surface in the axial direction of said tubular assembly and in a discontinuous manner along its circumferential extension. 11. Method according to claim 10, in which said layer of solder is composed of one or more strip-like or filiform portions. 12. Method according to claim 8, in which said layer of solder is applied to the joining surface of said first element before the step involving manufacture thereof in tubular form. 13. Method according to claim 1 in which said first element is made of precious metal chosen in particular from gold, platinum and silver or is made of an alloy of precious metal chosen in particular from a gold alloy, silver alloy or platinum alloy. 14. Method according to claim 1, in which said second element is made of a metal chosen in particular from gold, silver, copper, titanium, aluminium, steel or alloys thereof. 15. Method according to claim 1, in which said second element is in turn formed by a brazed tubular assembly obtained using said method. 16. Method according to claim 1, in which said second tubular element is hollow. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>During the last few years the market for articles of jewellery with a low gold content has expanded considerably and is now comparable, in particular in certain countries, to that of traditional articles of jewellery made of solid gold. The expansion of this new market is associated essentially with the fact that these products, although they are marketed at a selling price corresponding to the smaller quantity of gold necessary for their manufacture, cannot be distinguished—except in terms of their weight—from the traditional solid gold articles. The techniques and degree of finishing applied during the production of goldware are in fact such that products with the same form, but different gold content, are essentially indistinguishable from each other from an aesthetic point of view. Many products have been proposed in order to respond to the demand of this new market and numerous production techniques have been adopted in order to reduce the quantity of precious metal used without necessarily altering the final aesthetic appearance of the said articles. A known production technique has resulted in the marketing of products which are hollow or have an “empty structure”, i.e. are formed only by a thin layer of gold alloy. The main drawbacks of this type of product lie mainly in the poor mechanical strength properties of these empty structures which are in fact very fragile and sometimes likely to collapse already during the processing operations envisaged. The production of these “empty structure” products involves the use of filiform cores, such as cords or threads of copper, aluminium, iron or plastic, which mechanically support the external gold lining during the processing steps, which cores are then eliminated at the end of the processing by means of dissolving in acid or caustic baths. The use of this technique involving filiform cores of non-precious material has made it possible to obtain hollow thin-walled gold products as required. More recently, as is known, a notable degree of commercial success has been enjoyed by articles, in particular chains and bracelets, which are made by combining portions of gold and portions of other less precious metals, such as silver and copper, with the aim of obtaining special and sought-after aesthetic effects resulting from the combination of the different tones of the metals used. In this connection, U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,228 in the name of Hillel describes an article of goldware which is obtained by processing a cord composed of several coaxial tubular layers which are made of different metals. The innermost tubular layers are rendered visible by means of a deep diamond-machining process which cuts into the cord until the surfaces portions thereof are removed. The technique which has allowed the marketing of jewellery articles with layers made of metals which are common or in any case less costly than gold has in fact resulted in the possibility of being able to manufacture goldware articles with a gold content even lower than that of articles with an “empty structure”. The use of gold has generally been limited to the surface lining layers, while the internal structural part of the articles has normally been envisaged as being made of less costly materials such as, for example, silver, copper, aluminium and steel. Owing to the mechanical support provided by the internal structure, the structural limitations of “empty structure” articles have been essentially overcome. In fact the gold lining layer no longer has structural functions and may be made with the desired thickness owing to the high malleability of gold, by drawing through normal die holes. With reference to this type of goldware articles, the patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,942 in the name of Grosz teaches how to manufacture filiform articles with a core made of metal which is less precious than gold and with a gold lining having a thickness varying between 0.0001 inch (˜0.0025 mm) and 0.002 inch (˜0.05 mm). According to a first embodiment claimed by Grosz the filiform article is made from a thin sheet of gold of predefined length and width, which is initially shaped in the form of a U-shaped channel. A tubular core, for example made of silver, is then inserted inside this channel, following which the free edges of the gold sheet are closed so as to envelop the core inside a gold lining. The assembly composed of the silver core and the gold lining are then drawn in order to reduce the overall thickness thereof and ensure its maximum cohesion. The edges of the external layer may if necessary be welded together. The join between the core and the gold lining is obtained by means of compression of the latter onto the core. The main drawback of this first embodiment of Grosz is essentially associated with the fact that the gold lining is not firmly attached to the inner core, being associated therewith only by means of mechanical compression. When the filiform assembly is subjected to steps involving mechanical deformation, modelling, cutting or diamond-machining, separation of the core and lining with consequent relative slipping frequently occurs, with all the production-related drawbacks resulting therefrom. This drawback limits considerably the processing operations which may be performed on the assemblies thus obtained. According to a second embodiment claimed by Grosz, the filiform article is made from a multiple-layer or sandwich sheet-like element which is composed of a thin sheet of gold and a thin sheet of silver with the arrangement of a layer of solder in between. The multiple-layer element is then pressed between steel plates and conveyed into an oven where melting of the layer of solder occurs. At this point the multiple-layer element is rolled until it reaches its desired thickness, with intermediate annealing operations. Once cut to the desired dimensions, the multiple-layer element is processed until a tubular form is achieved by means of the action of a succession of pressing rollers. After this processing operation the tubular shaped multiple-layer element may undergo welding along its connecting edges. In order to form a solid filiform element from a multiple-layer tubular element of the type illustrated above, Grosz again envisages insertion therein of a solid core, for example made of silver, which is then attached to the tubular body again by means of mechanical compression. The reduction in the thickness of the outermost layer of gold may be performed in both embodiments by means of drawing until the desired values are reached. The drawback of this second embodiment is similar to that encountered in the first embodiment. An article of jewellery formed by means of insertion of the core inside the multiple-layer tubular body is in fact subject to relative sliding of these two parts, in particular when it undergoes the most common mechanical machining operations involving deformation or diamond-machining. In fact, the inner core, which may be solid or empty, is not firmly associated with the multiple-layer tubular body, but is again attached thereto only by means of mechanical compression. Moreover, during transformation of the multiple-layer sheet-like element from the flat form into the tubular form, tension is created between the different layers, in particular owing to the different radii of curvature which are disadvantageous for the subsequent processing steps. |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>The characteristic features of the invention, in accordance with the abovementioned objects, may be clearly understood from the contents of the claims indicated below and the advantages thereof will emerge more clearly during the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a purely exemplary and non-limiting embodiment thereof and in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a roller machine suitable for use in the method according to the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an article of jewellery made using the method according to the present invention, having an empty core or with a continuous layer of solder; FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the article of jewellery according to FIG. 1 along the plane indicated by III-III in FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an article of jewellery similar to that of FIG. 2 but with a solid core; FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the article according to FIG. 4 along the plane indicated by V-V in FIG. 4 ; FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an article of jewellery similar to that of FIG. 2 , but with a discontinuous layer of solder formed with strip-like portions; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the article according to FIG. 6 along the plane indicated by VII-VII in FIG. 6 ; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an article of jewellery similar to that of FIG. 6 , but with a solid core; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the article according to FIG. 8 along the plane indicated by IX-IX in FIG. 8 ; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an article of jewellery similar to that of FIG. 6 , but with a discontinuous layer of solder formed with filiform portions; FIG. 11 is cross-sectional view of the article according to FIG. 10 along the plane indicated by XI-XI in FIG. 10 ; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an article of jewellery similar to that of FIG. 10 , but with a solid core; FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the article according to FIG. 12 along the plane indicated by XIII-XIII in FIG. 12 . detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
CREAM FOR TREATMENT OF SKIN INJURED BY THE SUN |
Abstract of the Disclosure This invention relates to a cream of the kind described in the preamble of claim 1 for topical treatment of visibly photodamaged skin caused by processes involving the influence of free radicals and where the cream also affects the energy production of the cells, wherein the active ingredients of the cream is carried in stabilizing cream base. The cream is characterized in 0.5% and 7% by weight d,l-α-lipoic acid, between 0.05 and 0.5% by weight coenzyme Q-10, between 0.001 and 3% by weight acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride, which constitute the active ingredients, whereby having a compound synergy effect. |
1. A cream for external treatment of visible sun injuries casued by processes involving the action of free radicals, the active ingredients of which being carried in a stabilising cream base, characterised in that 0.5-7 % by weight of d,l-α-lipoic acid, 0.05-0.5 % by weight of coenzyme Q-10 and 0.01-3 % by weight of acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride constitute the active ingredients. 2. A cream according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises 5 % by weight of d,l-α-lipoic acid, 0.3 % by weight of coenzyme Q-10 and 0.03 % by weight of acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride. 3. A cream according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises 1 % by weight of d,l-α-lipoic acid, 0.3 % by weight of coenzyme Q-10 and 0.03 % by weight of acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride. 4. A method of preparing a cream comprising d,l-α-lipoic acid, characterised in that prior to mixing with the remainder of the components of the cream, the active ingredient d,l-α-lipoic acid is dissolved in caprylic/capric triglyceride, whereafter said mixture of d,l-α-lipoic acid and caprylic/capric triglyceride is added to a cream base. |
Methods of administering vectors to synaptically connected neurons |
The present invention relates generally to efficient delivery of viral vectors to cells of the CNS, particularly useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and motor neuron diseases. The invention involves selecting a first population and a second population of synaptically connected neurons, wherein a therapeutic polypeptide is to be expressed in said second population of neurons; and administering rAAV virions comprising a therapeutic gene to said first subpopulation of neurons of said subject such that the rAAV virions are transported across a synapse between synaptically connected neurons. In another aspect the present invention also comprises the use of rAAV virions carrying a transgene in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disease in a subject, wherein a first population and a second population of synaptically connected neurons are selected and a therapeutic polypeptide is to be expressed in said second population of neurons; and a medicament comprising recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) virions is delivered to said first population of neurons of the subject, wherein said virions comprise a nucleic acid sequence that is expressible in transduced cells to provide a therapeutic effect in the subject, and wherein said rAAV virions are capable of transducing a synaptically connected neurons. |
1. A method for delivering recombinant AAV virions to a subject, comprising: selecting a first population and a second population of synaptically connected neurons, wherein a polypeptide of interest is to be expressed in said second population of neurons; administering rAAV virions to said first subpopulation of neurons of said subject, wherein said rAAV virions comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide of interest, and wherein said rAAV virions are capable of transducing synaptically connected neurons. 2. A method for delivering recombinant AAV virions to a subject, comprising: identifying a subject suspected of suffering from, or susceptible to developing, a condition characterized by the degeneration of at least a first and a second specific neuronal population that are synaptically connected; administering said rAAV virions intracerebrally such that rAAV virions are delivered to neurons of said subject, wherein said rAAV virions comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a therapeutic polypeptide. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said rAAV virions are administered to said first subpopulation of neurons in said subject, wherein said rAAV virions are capable of being transported across at least one synapse between said first and said second populations of connected neurons. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least one synapse. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least two synapses. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least three synapses. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting the expression of said therapeutic polypeptide in a CNS cell of said subject. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the transduction by said rAAV virions of a CNS cell of said subject. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said rAAV virions transduce cells consisting essentially of neurons synaptically connected to one another. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide of interest is a therapeutic polypeptide and/or detectable polypeptide. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said second population of neurons is a population of motor neurons. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the administration comprises direct intracerebral administration. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the administration comprises intrathecal administration. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the administration comprises stereotactic microinjection. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a human. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is a non-secreted polypeptide. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is a secreted polypeptide. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the rAAV is a AAV-2, AAV-4 or AAV5 subtype. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide capable of preventing or decreasing the rate of degeneration of a neuron. 20. A method for treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease in a subject, said method comprising: providing a preparation comprising recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) virions, wherein said virions comprise a nucleic acid sequence that is expressible in transduced cells to provide a therapeutic effect in the subject; and selecting a first population and a second population of synaptically connected neurons, wherein a therapeutic polypeptide is to be expressed in said second population of neurons; delivering the preparation to said first population of neurons of the subject wherein said rAAV virions are capable of transducing synaptically connected neurons, and wherein the nucleic acid sequence is expressed to provide a therapeutic effect in the subject suitable for treating said neurodegenerative disease. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said preparation is delivered to the corpus amygdaloideum of the subject. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein said preparation is delivered to the entorhinal cortex of the subject. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of inhibiting or reducing the formation of Aβ production. 25. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of modifying APP processing. 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of stimulating α-secretase cleavage activity. 27. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of inhibiting the β-secretase pathway. 28. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of inhibiting the γ-secretase pathway. 29. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of inhibiting tau protein hyperphosphorylation. 30. The method of claim 20, wherein said rAAV virions comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding an antisense nucleic acid or a catalytic RNA capable of reducing APP gene expression. 31. The method of claim 20, wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least one synapse. 32. The method claim 20, wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least two synapses. 33. The method of claim 20, wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least three synapses. 34. The method of claim 20, further comprising detecting the expression of said therapeutic polypeptide in a CNS cell of said subject. 35. The method of claim 20, further comprising detecting the transduction by said rAAV virions of a CNS cell of said subject. 36. The method of claim 20, wherein said rAAV virions transduce cells consisting essentially of neurons synaptically connected to one another. 37. The method of claim 20, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is expressed in second population of neurons. 38. The method of claim 20, wherein the administration comprises direct intracerebral administration. 39. The method of claim 20, wherein the administration comprises intrathecal administration. 40. The method of claim 20, wherein the administration comprises stereotactic microinjection. 41. The method of claim 20, wherein the subject is a human. 42. The method of claim 20, wherein the polypeptide is a non-secreted polypeptide. 43. The method of claim 20, wherein the polypeptide is a secreted polypeptide. 44. The method of claim 20, wherein the rAAV is a AAV-2, AAV-4 or AAV5 subtype. 45. A method for treating or preventing a motor neuron disease in a subject, said method comprising: providing a preparation comprising recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) virions, wherein said virions comprise a nucleic acid sequence that is expressible in transduced cells to provide a therapeutic effect in the subject; and selecting a first population and a second population of synaptically connected neurons, wherein a therapeutic polypeptide is to be expressed in said second population of neurons; delivering the preparation to said first population of neurons of the subject wherein said rAAV virions are capable of transducing synaptically connected neurons, and wherein the nucleic acid sequence is expressed to provide a therapeutic effect in the subject suitable for treating said a motor neuron disease. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein said motor neuron disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 47. The method of claim 45, wherein rAAV virions are delivered to the ruber nucleus. 48. The method of claim 45, wherein rAAV virions are delivered to the ventralis lateralis. 49. The method of claim 45, wherein rAAV virions are delivered to the anterior nuclei of the thalamus. 50. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). 51. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of inhibiting apoptotic cell death. 52. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is a trophic factor. 53. The method of claim 45, wherein said motor neuron disease is SMA. 54. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is SMN2. 55. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is a trophic factor. 56. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of decreasing glutamate toxicity. 57. The method of claim 45, wherein said motor neuron disease is Kennedy's disease (bulbospinal atrophy). 58. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is a chaperone polypeptide, or a polypeptide capable of increasing chaperone polypeptide expression. 59. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is a trophic factor. 60. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic polypeptide is a polypeptide capable of decreasing glutamate toxicity. 61. The method of claim 45, wherein said motor neuron disease is paraplegia. 62. The method of claim 45, wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least one synapse. 63. The method of claim 45, wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least two synapses. 64. The method of claim 45, wherein said first and second populations of neurons are separated by at least five synapses. 65. The method of claim 45, further comprising detecting the expression of said therapeutic polypeptide in a CNS cell of said subject. 66. The method of claim 45, further comprising detecting the transduction by said rAAV virions of a CNS cell of said subject. 67. The method of claim 45, wherein said rAAV virions transduce cells consisting essentially of neurons synaptically connected to one another. 68. The method of claim 45, wherein said first or second population of neurons comprises neurons of the CNS. 69. The method of claim 45, wherein said second population of neurons is a population of motor neurons. 70. The method of claim 45, wherein the administration comprises direct intracerebral administration. 71. The method of claim 45, wherein the administration comprises intrathecal administration. 72. The method of claim 45, wherein the administration comprises stereotactic microinjection. 73. The method of claim 45, wherein the subject is a human. 74. The method of claim 45, wherein the polypeptide is a non-secreted polypeptide. 75. The method of claim 45, wherein the polypeptide is a secreted polypeptide. 76. The method of claim 45, wherein the rAAV is a AAV-2, AAV-4 or AAV5 subtype. 77. The method of claim 45, further comprising administering to the subject at least one additional therapeutic compound. 78-101. (canceled) |
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams of the human brain showing neural connections between different areas of the brain cortex, the entorhinal cortex and the hippocampus. Studies have shown that the progression of neural lesions in Alzheimer's disease follows particular neural connections. FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2 C show the spatial progression of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease. In FIG. 2A , neurofibrillary tangles accumulate in the entorhinal cortex ( 2 A, in blue). Then, in FIG. 2B , amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles ( 2 B, in green) are present in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus whereas amyloid deposits are present in the associative areas of brain ( 2 B, in yellow). In FIG. 2C , at a late stage, neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid deposits are present in most cortical areas ( 2 C, in green). The primary cortex areas are the last involved brain regions where amyloid deposits accumulate ( 2 C, in yellow). FIG. 3A is a diagram showing efferent connections of the corpus amygdaloideum to the cerebral cortex. Delivery of rAAV to the corpus amygdaloideum can be used to target rAAV to various associative brain areas. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing direct and indirect afferent connections to he hippocampus. Delivery of rAAV to the entorhinal cortex can be used to target rAAV to various associative brain areas (7, 9, 22, 46). FIG. 4 is a diagram of the CNS showing components of the two-neuron pathway involved in motor neuron diseases, also indicated. Cell bodies of upper motor neurons in the primary motor cortex in the cerebral cortex project long axons to the spinal cord and brainstem, where they are in synaptic connection with lower motor neurons, which in turn project axons out through cranial and spinal nerves to synapses on muscle fibers of the head and body. FIG. 5 is a diagram of the brain showing neuronal connections of the pyramidal system. rAAV vectors can advantageously be delivered to limited brain structure such as the ruber nucleus (9 and/or 10) which projects to scattered motor neurons in the spinal cord. FIG. 6 is a diagram of the brain showing projections from the nucleus ventralis lateralis of the thalamus to the premotor cortex. Transducing neurons of the ventralis lateralis with rAAV vectors allows the transduction of a large number of motor neurons in the premotor cortex. FIG. 7 is a diagram of the brain showing projections from the nucleus ventralis lateralis and nucleus medialis of the thalamus to the prefrontal cortex. Transducing neurons of the nucleus ventralis lateralis and nucleus medialis with rAAV vectors allows the transduction of a large number of motor neurons in the prefrontal cortex. FIG. 8 shows the localization of ALDP positive cells in the brain of adult and newborn ALD mice after injection of PGK-hALD-AAV in corpus callosum, pons (adult mice) and subventricular zone (newborn mice). The distribution and density of ALDP positive cells in the injected hemisphere is indicated by dots. Identical results were obtained in two other adult ALD mice at 7 months and 4 other newborn ALD mice at 6 and 12 months. The localization of each brain section is indicated by horizontal lines in the left column. Injection sites are indicated by vertical arrows. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Compounds having prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitory activity, methods for their preparation and their use |
Compounds of the formula (I), wherein the symbol aa means a residue of an α-amino acid. The invention is also directed to a method for the preparation of the compounds of formula (I), as well as their use as prolyl oligopeptide inhibitors, for example for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. |
1. A compound of the formula (I) wherein in the formula, the symbol Q means: a covalent bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being hydroxy, oxo, lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, halogen, carboxyl or lower acyl, a straight or branched alkenylene chain having 2 to 10 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the alkylene group above, an arylene group optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, halogen, carboxyl or lower acyl, a cycloalkylene or a cycloalkenylene group with 3 to 10 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkylene group above, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene or alkenylene chain as defined above incorporating as a chain member a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene or an arylene group as defined above; the symbol A means: a straight or branched alkyl chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being COOR1, COR1, CR1(OR2)2, COCH2OR3, cyano, hydroxy, oxo, lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, halogen or one of the structures: wherein R1 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R2 is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R3 is H, lower alkyl, lower acyl or halogen, and n is an integer from 1 to 4, a straight or branched alkenyl chain having 2 to 10 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the alkyl group above, a 3 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated carbocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group above, a 3 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group above, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above incorporating as a group member a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring as defined above, or lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the alkyl group above; the symbol G means -aa′-E, wherein E means: a straight or branched alkyl chain having 1 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being COOR1, COR1, CR1(OR2)2, COCH2OR3, cyano, hydroxy, oxo, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino, aryl lower alkyl amino, halogen or one of the structures: wherein R1 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R2 is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R3 is H, lower alkyl, lower acyl or halogen, and n is an integer from 1 to 4, a straight or branched alkenyl chain having 2 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a 3 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, carbocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a 3 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above incorporating as a group member a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring as defined above, or hydroxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above; or the symbol G means E′, wherein E′means: a 3 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, amino functionality containing heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being COOR1, COR1, cyano, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino, aryl lower alkyl amino or halogen, wherein R1 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, or amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the heterocyclic group, in the meaning of E′, above; the symbols aa and aa′mean a residue of an α-amino acid, whereby aa can be the same or different from aa′, or a Pharmaceuticallv acceptable salt or ester thereof. 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein Q is a covalent bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a straight or branched alkenylene chain having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenylene group optionally substituted with lower alkyl, a cycloalkylene or a cycloalkenylene group with 5 to 7 carbon atoms optionally substituted with lower alkyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene or alkenylene chain as defined above incorporating as a chain member a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, cycloalkylene or cycloalkenylene group as defined above; A is a straight or branched alkyl chain having 1 to 6 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being COOR1, COR1, CR1(OR2)2, COCH2OR3, cyano, halogen or the cyclic acetal: wherein R1 is H or lower alkyl, R2 is lower alkyl, R3 is H, lower alkyl, lower acyl or halogen, and n is an integer from 2 to 4, a straight or branched alkenyl chain having 2 to 6 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the alkyl group above, a 5 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated carbocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group above, a 5 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group above, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above incorporating as a group member a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring as defined above, G means -aa′-E, wherein E is a straight or branched alkyl chain having 1 to 6 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being COOR1, COR1, CR1(OR2)2, COCH2OR3 cyano, hydroxy, amino, halogen or the cyclic acetal: wherein R1 is H or lower alkyl, R2 is lower alkyl, R3 is H, lower alkyl, acyl or halogen, and n is an integer from 2 to 4, a straight or branched alkenyl chain having 2 to 6 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a 5 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, carbocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a 5 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above incorporating as a group member a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring as defined above, or hydroxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above; or G means E′, wherein E′is a 5 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, amino functionality containing heterocyclic ring linked from the nitrogen to the rest of the structure in the formula (I), which heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with lower alkyl, or E′is lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino; aa and aa′are L-prolyl, L-alanyl, L-methionyl, L-glycyl or L-phenylalanyl, whereby aa can be the same or different from aa′. 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein Q is a straight unsubstituted alkylene chain having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, 2,2-dimethylpropylene, or a phenylene group, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, halogen, carboxyl or lower acyl; A is a methyl, a 5 membered saturated carbocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl, COOR1, COR1, CR1(OR2)2, COCH2OR3, cyano, hydroxy, oxo, lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, halogen or one of the structures: Wherein R1 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R2 is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R3 is H, lower alkyl, lower acyl or halogen, and n is an integer from 1 to 4, or a 5 to 7 membered saturated amino functionality containing heterocyclic ring linked from the nitrogen to the rest of the structure in formula (I), which heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the carbocyclic group above; G means -aa′-E, wherein E is a straight or branched alkyl chain having 1 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being COOR1, COR1, CR1(OR2)2, COCH2OR3, cyano, hydroxy, oxo, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino, aryl lower alkyl amino, halogen or one of the structures: wherein R1 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R2 is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, R3 is H, lower alkyl, lower acyl or halogen, and n is an integer from 1 to 4, a straight or branched alkenyl chain having 2 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a 3 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, carbocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a 3 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, heterocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above incorporating as a group member a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring as defined above, or hydroxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being lower alkyl or as defined for the alkyl group, in the meaning of E, above; or G means E′, wherein E′is a 3 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, amino functionality containing heterocyclic ring linked from the nitrogen to the rest of the structure in formula (I), which heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) each independently being COOR′, COR′, cyano, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino, aryl lower alkyl amino or halogen, wherein R1 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, or E′is amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituent(s) as defined for the heterocyclic group, in the meaning of E′, above; aa is L-prolyl and aa′is a residue of an α-amino acid, or when Q is 1,3-phenylene, G is aa′E and A and E are both 1-pyrrolidinyl, then aa′and aa are methionyl or phenylalanyl, whereby aa can be the same or different from aa′. 4. The compound according to claim 1 wherein G=-aa′-E. 5. The compound compounds according to claim 1 3, wherein G=E′. 6. The compound according to claim 1, wherein Q is a branched or unbranched alkylene with 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the linking chain, or wherein Q is 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene or 1,2-phenylene. 7. The compound according to claim 1, wherein A is methyl, cyclopentyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2(S) cyanopyrrolidin-1-yl, 2(S)-(hydroxyacetyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2(Syformylpyrrolidin-1-yl, 2(S)-(methoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl, 1-azepanyl or 4-morpholinyl. 8. The compound according to claim, wherein E is a branched or unbranched alkyl with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or wherein E is cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidinyl, 2(S)-cyanopyrrolidin-1-yl, 2(S)-(methoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl, 4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl, methoxy, 1-piperazinyl, 4-morpholinyl, 1-azepanyl, phenyl, benzyl or benzyl amino. 9. The compound according to claim 1, wherein E′is 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidinyl, 4-morpholinyl or 1-azepanyl. 10. The compound according to claim 1, wherein aa and aa′are independently L-prolyl, L-alanyl or L-methionyl, whereby aa can be the same or different from aa′. 11. The compound according to claim 1, wherein aa and aa′are both L-prolyl. 12. The compound according to claim 1 any one of claims 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 10 or 11, wherein Q is a branched or unbranched alkylene with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or wherein Q is 1,4-phenylene or 1,3-phenylene, A is cyclopentyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2(S)-cyanopyrrolidin-1-yl, 2(S)-(hydroxyacetyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl or 2(Syformylpyrrolidin-1-yl, E is a branched or unbranched alkyl with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, alkyl amino with alkyl groups having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 1-azepanyl, phenyl, benzyl or benzyl amino, and aa and aa′are L-prolyl. 13. The compound according to claim 1, wherein Q is a branched or unbranched alkylene with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or wherein Q is 1,4-phenylene or 1,3-phenylene, A is cyclopentyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2(S)-cyanopyrrolidin-1-yl, 2(S)-(hydroxyacetyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl or 2(S)-formylpyrrolidin-1-yl, E′is alkyl amino with alkyl groups having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 1-azepanyl or benzyl amino, and aa is L-prolyl. 14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound as claimed in claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier and/or excipient. 15-18. (Canceled) 19. A method for the treatment of a disease or the enhancement of a condition where prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors are indicated to be useful, which comprises administering to a subject in need of the treatment an effective amount of at least one compound as claimed in claim 1. 20. The method according to claim 19, which comprises treating a neurodegenerative disease, and/or improving learning and memory functions. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia. |
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Prolyl oligopeptidase (EC, 3.4.21.26), also known as prolyl endopeptidase, is the only serine protease that catalyses the hydrolysis of peptides at the C-terminal side of L-proline residues. It is widely distributed in mammals and can be purified from various organs, including the brain. The enzyme plays an important role in the breakdown of proline-containing neuropeptides related to learning and memory functions (Wilk, S., Life Sci ., 33, 2149-2157 (1983); O'Leary, R. M., O'Connor, B., J. Neurochem ., 65, 953-963 (1995)). Compounds capable of inhibiting prolyl oligopeptidase are effective for preventing experimental amnesia induced by scopolamine in rats, inferring that prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors have functions in the fixation of memory (Yoshimoto, T., Kado, K., Matsubara, F., Koryama, N., Kaneto, H., Tsuru, D., J Pharmacobio - Dyn ., 10, 730-735 (1987)). In recent years it has been found that β-amyloid protein shows neurotoxic action in in vitro and in vivo experiments and that it plays an important role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. In view of the hypothesis that substance P can suppress neurotoxic action of β-amyloid protein (Kowall, N. W., Beal, M. F., Busciglio, J., Duffy, L. K., Yankner, B. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci . USA, 88, 7247-7251 (1991)), it is speculated that prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors that inhibit also metabolism of substance P can make an effective drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. |
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to novel prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors having the general formula: In the formula, the symbol Q means: a covalent bond, a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkylene chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylene chain having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylene or a cycloalkenylene group with 3 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene or alkenylene chain as defined above incorporating as a chain member a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene or an arylene group as defined above; the symbol A means: a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl chain having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a 3 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring, a 3 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above incorporating as a group member a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring as defined above, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups can be substituted or unsubstituted; the symbol G means-aa′-E, wherein E means: a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chain having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl chain having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, a 3 to 7 membered, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring, a 3 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, heterocyclic ring, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above incorporating as a group member a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring as defined above, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups can be substituted or unsubstituted; or the symbol G means E′, wherein E′means: a 3 to 7 membered saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, amino functionality containing heterocyclic ring, amino, lower alkyl amino, aryl amino or aryl lower alkyl amino, wherein the alkyl, aryl or aralkyl subgroups can be substituted or unsubstituted; the symbols aa and aa′mean a residue of an α-amino acid, whereby aa can be the same or different from aa′. The present invention also relates to the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters of the compounds of the formula (I). Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, e.g. acid addition salts with both organic and inorganic acids are well known in the field of pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutically acceptable esters, when applicable, may be prepared by known methods using pharmaceutically acceptable acids that are conventional in the field of pharmaceuticals and that retain the pharmacological properties of the free form. The invention is also directed to a method for the preparation of the novel compounds of the formula (I). Such methods will be described in detail below. A further object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, and/or excipient, as well as a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (1) as the active agent. Still a further object of the invention is the use of the compounds of the formula (I) as a prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitor, for example in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as for Alzheimer's disease, and senile dementia, as well as for improving learning and memory functions. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? |
Layered structure providing shielding characteristics |
The invention relates to a layered structure comprising a plastic substrate, at least one intermediate metallic layer on top of this plastic substrate and a metal or metal alloy layer on top of this intermediate metallic layer. The metal or metal alloy layer is applied from the melt of a metal or metal alloy. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a layered structure. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.