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In recent years, there has been a considerable interest in optical fiber communication systems operating in the long wavelength range. This is of particular interest because of the need to increase the capacity of present wavelength division multiplex (WDM) systems by adding channels at longer wavelengths. For example, it was shown that by utilizing a spectrum range up to 1602 nm only, the number of channels can be more than doubled.
Market trends to longer wavelengths create an immediate need for optical photodetectors operable within an extended wavelength range. Photodetectors are spectrally limited on the long wavelength side by the bandgap of semiconductor material which is used as an active region. As a result, most widely used photodetectors based on InGaAs exhibit a decrease in responsivity as the operating wavelength is extended beyond approximately 1580-1600 nm.
Numerous attempts have been made to extend a wavelength range of photodetectors. One of them is to maintain photodetectors at elevated temperatures to reduce their bandgaps and thus to extend spectral responsivities. This approach has a number of drawbacks, namely the reduction of material bandgap is accompanied by high leakage current, which increases exponentially with temperature, shortened device lifetime and increased thermal loading on the system. In another approach, by applying strain in the active region, the bandgap of the material can be reduced. In the case of the InGaAs telecom photodetector, for example, strain is avoided by growing the active layer such that its crystalline lattice constant is matched to the InP substrate. By adjusting the In.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As composition x, layers with larger or smaller lattice constant can be grown, which results in compressive or tensile strain when the layers get deposited on InP. However, the thickness of layers that can be grown without introducing substantial crystalline defects is limited to well known values which depend on the magnitude of the strain. Exceeding such thickness limits causes formation of crystalline defects which can degrade the device performance by increasing the leakage current and limiting its lifetime, see e.g. publication by V. S. Ban, A. M Joshi and N. B. Urli "Characterization of process-induced defects in 2.6 .mu.m InGaAs photodiodes", SPIE, Vol. 1985, pp. 234-243, 1993. Noise can also be increased, as shown, e.g. in publication by D. Pogany, S. Ababou, G. Guillot et. al. "Study of RTS Noise and Excess Currents in Lattice-Mismatched InP/InGaAs/InP Photodetector Arrays", Solid State Electronics, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 37-49, 1995. For strain values of interest, the thickness of substantially defect free layers is generally not sufficient to attain the required responsivity specifications of the photodetector. When layers exceeding the defect free thickness are grown, they become mismatched with the substrate, and mismatch disclocations as well as crystalline defects are introduced. Though lattice mismatched devices are available on the market, they have prohibitively high leakage currents for telecom receiver application. The examples of lattice mismatched photodetectors along with discussions of the associated problems may be found in the following publications: K. R. Linga, G. H. Olsen, V. S.Ban et.al. "Dark Current Analysis and Characterization of In.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As/InAs.sub.y P.sub.1-y Graded Photodiodes with x>0.53 for Response to Longer Wavelengths(>1.7 .mu.m)", Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 10, No. 8, pp. 1050-1054, August 1992; R. U. Martinelli, T. J. Zamerowski and P. A. Longway "2.6 .mu.m InGaAs photodiodes", Applied Physics Letters, vol. 53, No. 11, pp. 989-991, September 1988. Other II-VI and III-V compound semiconductors materials are also available on the market, but their process maturity and performance is somewhat inferior to the requirements of fiberoptic system specifications. In one more approach a sandwiched structure of the active region of the photodetector has been proposed, where layers with different strain interleave, thus allowing to improve some other deteriorating characteristics of the detectors. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,230 a target is to reduce a relatively large dark current of the detector, while U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,948 aims to mitigate defect propagation from the base layer to the detector elements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,857 to Cheng provides a superlattice detector whose wavelength sensitivity is tunable during manufacturing of the device, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,289 to Aoki concentrates on the detector suitable for light signals having different polarizations.
As it follows from the above discussion, an extension of a wavelength range is usually achieved at the expense of deterioration of other important parameters of the photodetectors which remains a significant problem in fiber optic systems.
Accordingly, there is a need for development of alternative structures of optical photodetectors which would provide an operation within an extended wavelength range, while maintaining high performance and reliability. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to scouring apparatus for cleaning cooking utensils and equipment, and particularly to a scouring apparatus incorporating a holder for detachably securing a scouring pad in position of use, and adapted to selectively detachably receive an elongated handle for manipulation of the holder in a scouring motion from a point spaced from the scouring pad and holder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A preliminary patentability and novelty search has revealed the existence of the following United States patents.
1,395,652 1,620,903 1,653,652 1,660,351 1,686,526 1,689,769 1,820,183 1,899,552 1,905,307 2,124,429 2,496,371 2,514,481 2,620,501 2,629,890 2,778,049 2,799,038 3,015,118 3,090,064 3,473,184 4,071,983 4,232,420 4,244,075 5,426,810
It will be seen from the prior art listed above that for an interval spanning more than seventy years a great deal of creativity was exercised to develop the many different types of devices of accomplishing a rather mundane, yet unpleasant, function, namely, the cleaning of cooking equipment and utensils. Close scrutiny of the structures and mode of operation of the devices described and illustrated in the patents listed above also indicate that there prior art devices are structurally and functionally different from the structure and mode of operation of the invention disclosed herein.
There are several different types of scouring pads, each being an article of manufacture that is generally available in a variety of stores where household goods and utensils are sold. One familiar type is sold under the trademark TUFFY and is formed from synthetic resinous strand material formed generally into a spherical body or mass that is customarily held in the hand and compressed when pressure is applied and the mass is manipulated to effect a scouring action. Another type of scouring pad is formed from stainless steel wire or strands, also gathered together during the manufacturing process to form a generally flat circular body or mass that may be manipulated by hand or with a holder to effect a scouring action.
It is not generally known that these two types of scouring pads may be used and re-used following a cleaning operation after use, such as might be effected in a conventional dishwasher. Accordingly, it is one of the important objects of the present invention to provide a holder for such scouring pads that will enable application of scouring pressure on the holder and therefore the detachably secured pad and manipulation thereof to effect a scouring action, while detachably retaining the scouring pad to facilitate removal of the scouring pad from the holder for cleaning, and/or cleaning both in assembled form.
The manipulation of a hand-held scouring pad can be detrimental to the fingers and hands, particularly where it is used to clean metal cooking utensils and barbecue grills. Accordingly, it is another important object of the invention to provide a holder for a scouring pad such that the holder includes a generally cylindrical projection integral at one end with a radially projecting skirt the periphery of which is adapted to impinge on the scouring pad so as to enable maximum localized scouring pressure to be applied to the scouring pad during use, while the cylindrical projection may be grasped by a hand to facilitate manipulation of the holder and thus the scouring pad without the hand coming into contact with the scouring pad or the utensil or equipment being scoured.
The detachable securement of a scouring pad to a holder has been the subject of much research and development effort as indicated by the patents noted above. Accordingly, it is another important object of the invention to provide a holder for a scouring pad such that the holder may be grasped by a hand or by a detachable handle, and the holder is equipped with a helically wound spiral tine adapted to be turned into the scouring pad to detachably impale and secure the scouring pad to the holder.
For some types of cleaning, such as cleaning a hot barbecue grill, or a hot pancake griddle, it is advantageous to be able to manipulate the holder for a scouring pad from a reasonable distance, thus protecting the hands and forearms from coming into contact with the heated grill or griddle. Accordingly, another object of the invention is the provision of a detachable handle that may be selectively attached or detached from the holder and which, when attached, facilitates manipulation of the holder and scouring pad from a safe distance from the holder and scouring pad.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a scouring pad holder equipped with a helically wound wire mounting portion detachable secured to the holder and including a remaining integral wire portion constituting a tine that spirals radially outwardly from the mounting portion and helically from the holder for detachable penetration by the tine of the body of an associated scouring pad for securement thereof to the holder.
The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be apparent from the following description and the drawings. It is to be understood however that the invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated and described since it may be embodied in various forms within the scope of the appended claims. | {
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The commercial production of polyurethanes via isocyanate poly addition reactions requires the use of catalysts. Tertiary amines were widely accepted in the industry as versatile polyurethane catalysts. They are generally stable in the presence of standard polyurethane formulation components and can impact both the blowing (water-isocyanate) and gelling (polyol-isocyanate) reactions. Unfortunately, a number of commonly used tertiary amine catalysts are relatively volatile and have an unpleasant smell. Even at low use levels, they may impart a noticeably pungent odor to the polyurethane formulation. It would be desirable to identify alternatives to standard tertiary amine catalysts which are not malodorous, yet exhibit the same type of activity in isocyanate polyaddition reactions.
One strategy for the reduction of odor associated with tertiary amine catalysts is the identification of less volatile structures. The literature teaches numerous techniques for reducing volatility, particularly increasing molecular weight or improving hydrogen bonding capability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,840 describes the use of hydroxy-functionalized tertiary amines as polyurethane catalysts, particularly useful for the production of polyisocyanurate. In addition to lower volatility, such materials also contain reactive functionality which bind the amine into the final product. Typically, however, catalysts which are non-fugitive by way of reaction with isocyanate must be used at relatively high levels to compensate for immobilization of the tertiary amine functionality during urethane part production.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,124 which is an example of lower volatility being achieved by metal complex formation, describes the use of amidine-metal complexes as polyurethane catalysts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,560 mentions reduced odor emission as an additional advantage of the disclosed expansion catalysts formed from tertiary amines and an acid mixture of (1) boric acid and (2) a carboxylic acid. Unfortunately, strong organic acid containing catalysts tend to show masterbatch instability and corrosivity. Furthermore, carboxylic acid functionality is reactive with and can consume expensive isocyanate functionality, resulting in the formation of amide rather than the more standard urethane or urea segments in a resulting part.
Boric acid derivatives have not otherwise been used in combination with tertiary amines to effect amine odor reduction. Other uses of boric acid in polyurethane formulations, however, have been described.
CA 99(6):39229a notes that boric acid, when used as a filler at 10-40%, decelerates foaming in polyurethanes based on Laprol 805 and Lapramol 294 polyether polyols, polyisocyanate, Freon 113 and water.
"Int. Prog. Urethanes 1980", 2, 153-73 describes the use of boric acid as a blowing agent, its behavior being almost equal to that of water. Neither reference describes the effect of boric acid at use levels typified by a catalyst, nor do they indicate the effect of boric acid on polyurethane catalysis in the presence of a tertiary amine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,013 describes the use of quarternary ammonium borates to effect the concurrent trimerization/carbodiimidization of polyisocyanates. The borates are prepared from boric acid, alcohols and quarternary ammonium hydroxides and as such are not derived from tertiary amines. Other examples are given by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,530,938 and 4,425,444.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,193,515; U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,404 and FR 2,301,554 disclose the use of boric acid in the preparation of an ammonium salt polyurethane catalyst from triethylenediamine and a glycol borate acid. Glycol borate acids are prepared by heating mixtures containing not substantially less than 0.5 moles of boric acid per mole glycerol or alternative vicinal glycol to effect acid complex formation. The advantage of such catalyst composition is delayed activity and/or accelerated cure. Unfortunately, the preferred catalyst compositions are highly viscous because a low glycol/boric acid ratio is required to minimize the amount of glycol delivered into a formulation. The addition of low molecular weight glycol into polyurethane parts, particularly foam parts, is typically avoided to prevent unnecessary consumption of expensive isocyanate. Further, glycols can negatively impact physical properties.
"J. Org. Chem." 1972, 37 (14), 2232 discloses that monodentate nitrogen nucleophiles do not react significantly with boric acid in aqueous solution. | {
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It can be technically complex and time consuming for users to configure User Interface (UI) devices such as a navigation device (e.g., computer mouse, game controller, etc.), keyboard, display and/or audio system (e.g., a loud speaker system, headset, etc.) for a computing device such as a computer, gaming system, media player, or like device. Additionally, there may be instances where a user may desire to vary UI device configurations between software applications with UI-related features. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an oxetane-containing compound, a photoresist composition including the same, a method of preparing patterns using the photoresist composition, and an inkjet print head including polymerization products of the oxetane-containing compound.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photoresists are used in photolithography to form various patterns. A photoresist is a photosensitive resin that is used to obtain images corresponding to exposed patterns depending on changes of solubility of a developing solution due to light exposure. The photoresist can be classified into two types: a positive photoresist and a negative photoresist. In the positive photoresist, a desired pattern is obtained by removing exposed regions during developing since the solubility of the exposed regions of the developing solution increases. In the negative photoresist, a desired pattern is obtained by removing unexposed regions during developing since the solubility of the exposed regions of the developing solution decreases.
The photoresist is mixed with a solvent, etc., and the mixture can be coated on a substrate to prepare a structure having a specific pattern through exposing and developing. For example, a method of preparing a pattern using polycarbomethylsilane derivative as a photoresist is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2004-0037858.
Pattern formation technology using a photoresist can be widely applied in many technological fields, for example, in inkjet print head and micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) switch manufacturing.
Inkjet printers are devices to print an image on a printing medium by ejecting droplets of ink from inkjet print heads onto a desired region of the printing medium. Inkjet print heads can be classified into two types depending on the mechanism to eject ink droplets: thermal inkjet print heads and piezoelectric inkjet print heads. Thermal inkjet print heads generate bubbles in the ink by using heat and eject the ink utilizing an expansion force of the bubbles, and the piezoelectric inkjet print heads eject ink using pressure generated by deforming a piezoelectric material. Inkjet print heads include a chamber layer and/or a nozzle layer having suitable patterns to eject ink and that are attached to a substrate to support the chamber layer and the nozzle layer. Further, thermal inkjet print heads need excellent thermal resistance in the chamber layer and/or the nozzle layer.
Meanwhile, MEMS switches are a type of radio frequency (RF) devices that are widely manufactured using MEMS technologies, and various sacrificial layers are needed to manufacture MEMS switches.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop a photoresist composition that is suitable for a variety of devices, such as inkjet print heads or MEMS switches. | {
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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner cartridge and a control method of displaying the residual toner quantity in the same toner cartridge, and in particular, relates to a toner cartridge that is detachably set to an image forming apparatus that operates based on electrophotography or electrostatic recording technology or the like, and a control method of displaying the residual toner quantity in the same toner cartridge.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, as image forming apparatuses using electrophotography or electrostatic recording technology, copiers, printers, facsimile machines, multi-functional machines and the like have been known. In these image forming apparatuses, image forming is performed by forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor (toner image bearer) surface, supplying toner to the photoreceptor from a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image, transferring the toner image that has been formed on photoreceptor by development to recording paper and fixing the toner image onto the recording paper with heat under pressure by means of a fixing device.
Since in image forming apparatuses of this kind, toner is gradually consumed, it is necessary to supply the toner.
For this purpose, in a prior art example, a toner supplying system in which a toner cartridge that contains toner is removably attached on the top of a developing device so as to supply the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device, has been adopted, and in another prior art example, a toner supplying system in which an intermediate hopper is provided on the top of a developing device and a toner cartridge is removably attached on the top of the intermediate hopper so as to make the toner fall from the toner cartridge to the hopper and then supply the toner from the hopper to the developing device, has been adopted.
Further, when the residual toner quantity in the toner cartridge is detected to be low by detecting the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge or by estimating the consumption of toner by counting the number of pixels, replacement of the toner cartridge is recommended to thereby prevent interruption of operation due to toner supply.
On the other hand, for maintenance of toner cartridges and process cartridges, for prevention against attachment of incompatible units and also for recycling measures, recently the cartridges are equipped with a recording medium such as a barcode, magnetic card, nonvolatile memory, i.e., EEPROM, and the like, in which information for the aforementioned measures are written.
For example, there is a disclosed prior art technology (see patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 2001-22230) in which a contactless IC tag as a recording medium is provided for a toner cartridge so as to enable information on the number of recycled times, life, etc. of the toner cartridge to be written therein or written information to be read out therefrom, to thereby manage the usage conditions of the toner cartridge and its peripherals.
Further, in the color image forming apparatuses which have been increasingly used on the market, at least three, i.e., cyan, magenta and yellow colors of toners are used for development. Accordingly, the process speed for color image forming is low compared to the case of monochrome image forming, so is the number of printouts per minute.
To deal with this, as a prior art technology, for example the controller of the image forming apparatus is adapted to perform an initial adjustment process for its magnetic permeability sensor, immediately after power activation, at the warm-up time that is performed every predetermined number of printouts, at the time of loading the developer and when an environmental change of temperature, humidity and the like has occurred. In this initial adjustment process, the controller measures both the sensor adjustment value Vc for the magnetic permeability sensor at the lowest process speed and the sensor adjustment value Vc at the highest process speed, and determines the relation expression (linear expression) that represents the correlation between the process speed and sensor adjustment value Vc, based on these two sets of process speed and sensor adjustment value Vc. That is, an image forming apparatus with the controller that calculates the sensor adjustment values Vc at other process speeds based on the aforementioned relation expression is disclosed (patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 2004-53744).
Because the toner cartridge is equipped with a contactless IC tag, the configuration in patent document 1 is advantageous in terms of being able to manage the number of recycled times, life and others on the toner cartridge side. However, the contactless type configuration may be affected by noise from other electric parts, possibly causing malfunction. Also, from the viewpoint of cost performance, contact type recording media have been adopted under the existing circumstances.
Further, since, in patent document 2, the toner concentration of the developer is controlled based on the detection level of the detecting device (i.e., the magnetic permeability of the developer), it is possible to attain stable toner concentration control. However, there is no description as to the rotational rate of the drive motor, hence there may occur a case where toner supply cannot be correctly achieved. As a result, the residual toner quantity in the toner cartridge is misestimated, causing a fear that the toner cartridge is replaced by a new one even though the current toner cartridge has toner left therein.
Further, since it is demanded, in recent years, for the image forming apparatus to have a simple configuration and still achieve the full-color imaging function, the rotational drive force of a single motor is used to execute toner supply by means of gears, belts, etc., instead of using a dedicated toner supply motor for each developing device. This shared use of parts entails with the problem that proper toner supply in conformity with each of the developing devices cannot be carried out. | {
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The present invention relates to a fluid controller of the type used to control the flow of fluid from a source of pressurized fluid to a fluid pressure operated device, such as a vehicle steering cylinder.
A typical fluid controller of the type to which the present invention relates includes a housing which defines various fluid ports, and further includes a fluid meter, a primary valve member, a follow-up valve member, and an arrangement for imparting follow-up movement to the follow-up valve member in accordance with the fluid flow through the fluid meter. The flow through the controller valving is directly proportional to the area of the main variable flow control orifice which, in turn, is proportional to the relative displacement between the primary and follow-up valve members.
In conventional fluid controllers of the type described above, the primary valve member has been rotatable, and the follow-up valve member has been relatively rotatable, with the various flow control orifices being defined by the overlap of passages and ports defined by the primary and follow-up valve members, respectively, as the primary valve member is rotated, relative to the follow-up valve member.
Although fluid controllers of the type described above have been satisfactory in operation, and very successful commercially, there are inherent drawbacks to fluid controllers of that type. Typical spool-sleeve fluid controllers which define variable flow control orifices in response to relative rotation of the spool and sleeve typically require that the spool include a substantial number of axially-extending milled slots or passageways on the surface of the spool, thus adding to the cost and complexity of the manufacturing process. In addition, it is more difficult in such controllers to provide suitable pressure balancing of the sleeve, to prevent it from clamping onto the outer surface of the spool, in a region where the sleeve is surrounded by pressurized fluid, for example, in an annular chamber defined by the housing. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head having internal weighting that locates the center of gravity of the golf club head close to the face and sole.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golfers often prefer to use golf clubs having low centers of gravity that are also close to the face, which allows for greater control over golf balls during play. There is a need for golf club heads having improved internal weighting. | {
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The predominant alkaloid found in commercial tobacco varieties is nicotine, typically accounting for 90-95% of the total alkaloid pool. The remaining alkaloid fraction is comprised primarily of three additional pyridine alkaloids: nornicotine, anabasine, and anatabine. Nornicotine is generated directly from nicotine through the activity of the enzyme nicotine N-demethylase (FIG. 1). Nornicotine usually represents less than 5% of the total pyridine alkaloid pool, but through a process termed “conversion,” tobacco plants that initially produce very low amounts of nornicotine give rise to progeny that metabolically “convert” a large percentage of leaf nicotine to nornicotine. In tobacco plants that have genetically converted (termed “converters”), the great majority of nornicotine production occurs during the senescence and curing of the mature leaf (Wernsman and Matzinger (1968) Tob. Sci. 12:226-228). Burley tobaccos are particularly prone to genetic conversion, with rates as high as 20% per generation observed in some cultivars.
During the curing and processing of the tobacco leaf, a portion of the nornicotine is metabolized to the compound N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN; FIG. 1), a tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) that has been shown to be carcinogenic in laboratory animals (Hecht and Hoffmann (1990) Cancer Surveys 8:273-294; Hoffmann et al. (1994) J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 41:1-52; Hecht (1998) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11:559-603). In flue-cured tobaccos, TSNAs were found to be predominantly formed through the reaction of alkaloids with the minute amounts of nitrogen oxides present in combustion gases formed by the direct-fired heating systems found in traditional curing barns (Peele and Gentry (1999) “Formation of Tobacco-specific Nitrosamines in Flue-cured Tobacco,” CORESTA Meeting, Agro-Phyto Groups, Suzhou, China). Retrofitting these curing barns with heat-exchangers virtually eliminated the mixing of combustion gases with the curing air and dramatically reduced the formation of TSNAs in tobaccos cured in this manner (Boyette and Hamm (2001) Rec. Adv. Tob. Sci. 27:17-22). In contrast, in the air-cured Burley tobaccos, TSNA formation proceeds primarily through reaction of tobacco alkaloids with nitrite, a process catalyzed by leaf-borne microbes (Bush et al. (2001) Rec. Adv. Tob. Sci. 27:23-46). Thus far, attempts to reduce TNSAs through modification of curing conditions while maintaining acceptable quality standards have not proven to be successful for the air-cured tobaccos.
In Burley tobaccos, a positive correlation has been found between the nornicotine content of the leaf and the amount of NNN that accumulates in the cured product (Bush et al. (2001) Rec. Adv. Tob. Sci. 27:23-46; Shi et al. (2000)Tob. Chem. Res. Conf. 54:Abstract 27). However, keeping nornicotine levels at a minimum has been difficult because of the conversion phenomenon that results in a continual introduction of high nornicotine-producing plants within commercially grown Burley populations. Minimizing the number of Burley plants that accumulate high levels of nornicotine has traditionally been the responsibility of plant breeders and seed producers. Though the percentage of converter plants that are ultimately grown in farmers' fields can be reduced through the roguing of converter plants during the propagation of seed stocks, this process is costly, time-consuming, and imperfect.
Previous studies have shown that once a plant has converted, the high nornicotine trait is inherited as a single dominant gene (Griffith et al. (1955) Science 121:343-344; Burk and Jeffrey (1958) Tob. Sci. 2:139-141; Mann et al. (1964) Crop Sci. 4:349-353). The nature of this gene, however, is currently unknown. In the most simple of scenarios, the conversion locus may represent a nonfunctional nicotine N-demethylase gene that regains its function in converter plants, possibly through the mobilization of a mutation-inducing transposable element. Alternatively, the converter locus may encode a protein that initiates a cascade of events that ultimately enables the plant to metabolize nicotine to nornicotine, which would mean that multiple genes may be involved.
Regardless of whether there are one or many genes associated with the conversion process, it is clear that the gene(s) encoding polypeptides having nicotine demethylase activity play a pivotal role in this process. Although the inability to purify active nicotine N-demethylase from crude extracts has impeded the isolation and identification of this enzyme, there is some evidence that a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of monooxygenases may be involved (Hao and Yeoman (1996) Phytochem. 41:477-482; Hao and Yeoman (1996) Phytochem. 42:325-329; Chelvarajan et al. (1993) J. Agric. Food Chem. 41:858-862; Hao and Yeoman (1998) J Plant Physiol. 152:420-426). However, these studies are not conclusive, as the classic P450 inhibitors carbon monoxide and tetcylasis have failed to lower enzyme activity at rates comparable to other reported P450-mediated reactions (Chelvarajan et al. (1993) J. Agric. Food Chem. 41:858-862).
Furthermore, the cytochrome P450s are ubiquitous, transmembrane proteins that participate in the metabolism of a wide range of compounds (reviewed by Schuler (1996) Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 15:235-284; Schuler and Werck-Reichhart (2003) Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 54:629-667). Examples of biochemical reactions mediated by cytochrome P450s include hydroxylations, demethylations, and epoxidations. In plants, the cytochrome P450 gene families are very large. For example, total genome sequence examination has revealed 272 predicted cytochrome P450 genes in Arabidopsis and at least 455 unique cytochrome P450 genes in rice (see, for example, Nelson et al. (2004) Plant Physiol. 135(2):756-772). Even though cytochrome P450 has been implicated as having a role in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine, identification of key participating members of this protein family remains a challenge.
Aside from serving as a precursor for NNN, recent studies suggest that the nornicotine found in tobacco products may have additional undesirable health consequences. Dickerson and Janda demonstrated that nornicotine causes aberrant protein glycation within the cell (Dickerson and Janda (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:15084-15088). Concentrations of nornicotine-modified proteins were found to be much higher in the plasma of smokers compared to nonsmokers. Furthermore, this same study showed that nornicotine can covalently modify commonly prescribed steroid drugs such as prednisone. Such modifications have the potential of altering both the efficacy and toxicity of these drugs.
In view of the difficulties associated with conversion and the undesirable health effects of nornicotine accumulation, improved methods for reducing the nornicotine content in tobacco varieties, particularly Burley tobacco, are therefore desirable. Such methods would not only help ameliorate the potential negative health consequences of the nornicotine per se as described above, but should also concomitantly reduce NNN levels. | {
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This application is based on application No. H11-208367 filed in Japan on Jul. 23, 1999, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera that is mounted on the human body to shoot a moving object.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cameras which are put on such a part of the human body as the head to record images and voice and sound are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications Nos. H9-65188, H8-46848, S63-284529, H3-289893. Those cameras permit recording images and voice and sound without taking the trouble to manually level the camera at an object.
However, problems with those cameras are that it is difficult to run the camera for a long time because of limited power and memory capacity. A larger battery could be mounted, but that would boost the costs and increase the size. A larger memory could also be used, but that, too, would increase the costs and it would take long to pick out a desired scene in playback.
If it is possible to run the camera for a long time, the images and voice and sound recorded by the camera will be very helpful to the wearer in recalling details of the past developments such as, for example, who he met, what he did and where he put what. Furthermore, the recording is useful in analyzing the behaviors of the wearer to find out what and how he saw and how he reacted on seeing that.
In view of the prior art described above, including the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera to be mounted on the human body that permits shooting for a longer time by saving the memory capacity and power consumption and which records information useful for the wearer.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a camera is provided with a shooting unit for shooting an image of an object, the shooting unit worn by a user, a detector for detecting a state of the user automatically, the detector worn by the user, a selector for selecting an operation mode, based on the state detected by the detector, from among a plurality of operation modes provided for controlling the shooting unit, and a controller for controlling the shooting unit based on the operation mode selected by the selector.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a camera is provided with a shooting unit for shooting an image of an object, the shooting unit worn by a user, a processor for processing image data representative of the image shot by the shooting unit, a detector for detecting a state of the user automatically, the detector worn by the user, a selector for selecting an operation mode, based on the state detected by the detector, from among a plurality of operation modes provided for controlling the processor, and a controller for controlling the processor based on the operation mode selected by the selector. | {
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There are currently many LED candle lamps on the market that try to mimic the look and feel of the incandescent candle lamps. All current LED candle lamps, with the exception of LED filament bulbs, have some sort of interface part between the bulb and the end cap. However, this compromises the look and feel of an incandescent look-alike.
CN103322460 discloses an LED candle lamp comprising a lamp holder, a drive power source, a lamp support, the LED light source module and a lamp shade. The lamp holder is fixedly connected with the lamp support. The drive power source is arranged in an inner cavity of the lamp support. The LED light source module is fixed at the front end of the lamp support. The lamp shade is sleeved on the periphery face of the lamp support and surrounds the LED light source module and the lamp support. However, a problem with the LED candle lamp in CN103322460 is that it is not makeable in glass, at least not with high volume production methods, because of the gradually thicker cross section of the lamp shade towards the lamp support (see FIG. 3 in CN103322460).
In WO2015/177038 a solid state lighting device is disclosed with an inner envelope and an outer envelope. The solid state light sources are positioned in the inner envelope. The space in between the inner and outer envelope forms a cavity that acts as a heat pipe for transporting the heat generated by the solid state light sources from the inner envelope to the outer envelope from which it is transmitted to the ambient.
WO 2016/012467 discloses a solid state lighting device with light transmissive heat pipe configured to dissipate thermal energy from the light source. The heat pipe comprises a flexible conduit configured as wick. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a bias voltage controlling apparatus, an information reproducing apparatus and an information recording apparatus including such a bias voltage controlling apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bias voltage controlling apparatus for controlling a bias voltage in a focus servo control for controlling a focal point of a light beam when optically recording or reproducing information with respect to an information record surface of an information record medium, and an information reproducing apparatus and an information recording apparatus including such a bias voltage controlling apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
When optically recording or reproducing information with respect to an information record medium such as an optical disc, it is necessary to make a focal point of a light beam, such as a laser light for recording or reproducing the information, accurately coincident with a position on an information track of an information record surface of the information record medium.
At this time, as a positional control of the focal point, there are a positional control in a direction perpendicular to the information record surface and a positional control in a direction parallel to the information record surface. Among them, the positional control in the direction perpendicular to the information record surface is often performed by a so-called focus servo control.
Here, as a method of performing the focus servo control, there is a so-called astigmatic method or a so-called Foucault method. In either of these methods, a so-called S curve as shown in FIG. 14 is obtained as a focus error signal S.sub.FE on the basis of a reflection light of a light beam from an information record medium, and the position of the focal point of the light beam is made coincident with the position of the information record surface by moving an objective lens in a direction perpendicular to the information record surface by an actuator etc., so that the focus error signal S.sub.FE becomes "0" when a servo loop of a focus servo for this S curve (i.e., the focus error signal S.sub.FE) is in a servo close condition.
At this time, the S curve shown in FIG. 14 is obtained as follows. Namely, in case of the focus servo control by means of the astigmatic method for example, the reflection light of the light beam, to which an astigmatism is given, is received or detected by a four divided light detector. Then, a difference between (i) a signal obtained by adding detection signals of two light-detecting portions on one diagonal line of the four divided light detector and (ii) a signal obtained by adding detection signals of two light-detecting portions on another diagonal line of the four divided light detector is calculated. Such an S curve calculated as the difference has an output voltage corresponding to a focus error amount of the focal position with respect to the information record surface.
By the way, in an optical disc reproducing apparatus or an optical disc recording apparatus (which is simply referred to as an "optical disc reproducing apparatus etc.," hereinafter), there may be such a case that the output of the focus error signal S.sub.FE does not become "0" although the focal point of the light beam and the information record surface are coincident with each other as shown in an upper half portion of FIG. 14 (i.e., although it corresponds to a point there the error amount is "0" on the graph shown in the upper half portion of FIG. 14), due to an adjustment drift at the initial time (at the time of manufacturing) with respect to the optical system (e.g., a light detector, a beam splitter, a 1/4.lambda. plate and the like) included in the optical disc reproducing apparatus etc., and/or due to the difference in the sensitivity between the 4 light receiving elements of the 4 divided type light detector (although the sensitivities thereof are originally the same to each other but may be different from each other later due to an aged deterioration or the like).
Here, the adjustment at the initial time with respect to the optical system is to adjust the optical axis, the angle or the like of each constitutional elements of the optical system so that a reflection light of a light beam from the optical disc becomes circle on the light receiving surface of the light detector for receiving the reflection light when the focal point of the light beam is positioned on the information record surface, at the time of manufacturing the apparatus. Then, in the actual optical disc reproducing apparatus etc., since there is a certain limit of the accuracy in the adjustment for the optical system, there may be a case that the output of the focus error signal S.sub.FE does not become "0" although the focal point of the light beam is positioned on the information record surface (i.e., the level of the RF (Radio Frequency) signal S.sub.RF which is the output signal of the light detector is the maximum in a lower half portion of FIG. 14).
In addition, such a phenomenon that the output of the focus error signal S.sub.FE does not become "0" although the focal point of the light beam is positioned on the information record surface may appear outstandingly in a CD (Compact Disc) player of on-vehicle-type. In this case, since an accurate focus error signal S.sub.FE corresponding to the RF signal S.sub.RF cannot be obtained, it is difficult or impossible to perform an accurate focus servo control, resulting in the degradation of the S/N (Signal/Noise) ratio. Thus, it is difficult or impossible to perform an accurate information reproduction.
Therefore, in case that the shift of the S curve is generated as shown in the upper half portion of FIG. 14 (the drift between the focal point and the position of the objective lens where the level of the S curve becomes "0" is generated), it is important to superimpose an appropriate bias voltage onto the S curve so that the focal point (the position where the level of the RF signal S.sub.RF becomes the maximum) and the position of the objective lens where the level of the S curve becomes "0" are coincident with each other.
Then, as a method of detecting this appropriate bias voltage, there is a method of detecting a bias voltage at which the voltage level of the RF signal S.sub.RF becomes the maximum, and then setting this detected bias voltage as an appropriate bias voltage, to thereby perform the focus servo control by using this set bias voltage.
On the other hand, there is a so called MD (Mini Disc) as a small-sized and light-weighted optical disc. As such a MD, there are a so called pre-mastered MD (Music MD) exclusive for reproducing and a so called recordable MD capable of recording for a user.
However, in case of reproducing the pre-mastered MD, if the bias voltage is set so that the level of the RF signal S.sub.RF becomes the maximum, the change on the time axis of the component included in the RF signal S.sub.RF (hereinafter, it is referred to as "jitter on the time axis" or simply "jitter") becomes the minimum, and further the allowable width of the change of the positional relationship between the optical elements in the apparatus due to the aged deterioration and the allowable width of the aged deterioration of the bias voltage which is set once in advance (those allowable width will be collectively called as "mechanical allowable width") becomes the maximum. On the other hand, in case of reproducing the information recorded on the recordable MD, if the bias voltage is set so that the level of the RF signal S.sub.RF becomes the maximum, the jitter included in the RF signal S.sub.RF is increased and the mechanical allowable width is decreased, which is a problem.
The increase of the jitter in the RF signal S.sub.RF means that, if a binary coding is performed by a threshold judgment to reproduce the recorded digital value from the RF signal S.sub.RF, the change on the time axis of the rising up timing or falling down timing of the RF signal S.sub.RF is increased, resulting in such a problem that the digital value cannot be correctly reproduced.
Further, this problem due to the jitter becomes more serious as the change due to the aged deterioration increases than the problem caused by the fact that the level of the RF signal S.sub.RF does not become the maximum, to thereby bring about an erroneous detection of the digital value. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an inverse timer for utilization in process line so as to accommodate for the inertial time lag, i.e., the time of response of an instrument to be activated.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a high speed processing line it is of pedestrian occurrence to take cognizance of processing instrumentation which has a time lag (inertial) response, and preactivate the instrument in anticipation of the arrival of the material to be processed. The time required for the material to travel from some point of detection to the instrument is determined; this is commonly referred to as the transport time. The reaction time of the instrument is either known from the manufacturer's specifications or it is determined empirically. The solution then is to activate the instrument .DELTA.T seconds after detection, where .DELTA.T is the difference between the transport time and the reaction time.
The prior art has solved this classic problem using an operational amplifier-integrator arrangement in which there is one potentiometer at the input end which nominally adjusts for the transport time delay, and one potentiometer in the feedback path of the integrator which nominally adjusts for the reaction time. (A third potentiometer independently adjusts for the distance from the point of detection to the instrument to be activated.)
The word nominally is here used advisedly because adjustment of the transport time potentiometer affects the reaction time setting, and conversely, adjustment of the reaction time potentiometer affects the transport time. These two potentiometers must therefore be laboriously adjusted one at a time in the field until the optimum result is empirically and sometimes (in the case of the less experienced operatives) fortuitously obtained. | {
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The present invention relates to a technology of controlling opening and closing timing of an intake valve and an exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine, especially to a technology of improving engine startability at a low temperature engine start.
There is a technology, for example, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-73797, for controlling opening and closing timing of an intake valve and an exhaust valve in order to improve engine startability.
In this technology, at an engine start time, a valve overlap of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is expanded with respect to valve operation characteristics at a low load and low rotation of an engine to be set by a normal control, to improve a start-up response of an engine rotation (cranking speed) at the engine start time by decreasing intake and exhaust loads, and then the valve control is returned to that in a normal valve timing when the engine rotation speed reaches a predetermined value or above.
In starting the engine at a low temperature, however, there is a case where the engine rotation speed is not increased due to a lack of a combustion pressure in initial explosion. In such a case, according to the above conventional technology, since the valve overlap continues to be expanded during the combustion after the initial explosion, a fluctuation in the combustion pressure becomes large due to an exhaust gas (internal EGR) taken into an intake air at a valve overlapped period, thereby bringing a misfire, an engine stall at the worse, and then a failure of engine start.
The present invention, in view of the forgoing problem, has been achieved and an object of the present invention is to improve engine startability at a low temperature engine start.
In order to achieve the above object, with the present invention, an intake valve and an exhaust valve are controlled as follows.
A temperature and starting of an engine are detected, and if a low temperature engine start at a predetermined temperature or lower is detected, a valve overlap amount in which the opening timing of the intake valve and the opening timing of the exhaust valve are overlapped with each other is set to be equal to or less than a valve overlap amount in reference valve operation characteristics to be normally set, while controlling the closing timing of the intake valve to the vicinity of the intake bottom dead center with respect to the reference valve characteristics.
By controlling the closing timing of the intake valve to the vicinity of the intake bottom dead center, an air amount (air charging efficiency) taken into the engine can be increased, so that a lack of combustion pressure in initial explosion at a low temperature engine start can be made up to ensure good engine startability. At the same time, since the valve overlap amount is set to be equal to or less than the valve overlap amount in the reference valve operation characteristics to be normally set at the engine start, a deterioration of the combustion performance due to an increase of an exhaust gas amount (internal EGR) taken into an intake air at a valve overlapped period after the initial explosion can be avoided.
The other objects and features of this invention will become understood from the following description with accompanying drawings. | {
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The present invention relates to the field of using a bolster plate to support a circuit board, e.g., a backplane. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of insulating the bolster plate from the supported circuit board.
Computers and their peripheral devices are used for a wide variety of purposes including, data storage, communication, and document creation. Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) is a local bus that is commonly used to connect a computer with one or more peripheral devices. A PCI bus provides a high-speed connection with peripherals and can connect multiple peripheral devices to the host computer. The PCI bus typically plugs into a PCI slot on the motherboard of the host computer.
CompactPCI was introduced in 1995 and has since become one of the fastest-growing industrial bus architectures to date. Initially targeted at the telecommunications and industrial control markets, CompactPCI takes the popular PCI interface and packages it into a smaller, more rugged unit. The most noticeable change made to the architecture was the adoption of a form factor in which all dimensions and mechanical components are standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Consequently, numerous vendors can supply mechanically interchangeable components.
One particularly interesting use of the CompactPCI is in a blade server, also called an ultradense server. Blade servers are comprehensive computing systems that include processor, memory, network connections, and associated electronics, all mounted on a single motherboard called a blade. There are many types of blades - server blades, storage blades, network blades and more.
The server blade, along with storage, networking and other blades, are typically installed in a rack-mountable enclosure that houses multiple blades that share common resources such as cabling, power supplies, and cooling fans. With its modular, hot-pluggable architecture, the easily accessible blade server offers increased computing density while ensuring both maximum scalability and ease of management.
Blade servers are smaller than traditional rack-mounted servers and have thinner Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). These thinner server PCBs require reinforcement for attachment of central processing unit (CPU) and Central Electronic Complex (CEC) chips much like their thicker rack-mounted counterparts. CompactPCI does not allow much physical room for the necessary bolster plates or their attachment hardware. It is very difficult to pre-assemble the necessary attachment hardware to the bolster plate prior to assembling it to the blade. The bolster plates require a high stiffness that often requires that they be constructed from a metallic material.
However, because the bolster plate is a metallic and, therefore, conductive component, the bolster plate must be insulated from the server blade or other circuit board that is being supported. Otherwise, the bolster plate may cause shorts in the circuit board being supported.
In the past, layers of insulation have been secured to the bolster plate with an adhesive. However, this tends to cause a number of problems.
First, this adhesive must be flame retardant so as to prevent the possibility of being ignited by the heat and electricity of the server blade or other adjacent circuit board. Thus, it becomes necessary to identify and use a Network Equipment Building Standards (NEBS) Level 3+ compliant flame-retardant adhesive, which poses some difficulty.
Additionally, such adhesives tend to wick out of the bonded joint between the bolster plate and the insulator. The adhesive then wicks up through the vias of the server printed circuit board or other supported circuit board. This causes contamination, and potential malfunction, of the supported circuit board.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides an insulator for electrically insulating a bolster plate. The insulator includes a sheet of insulating material sized and shaped to insulate the bolster plate and at least one hole through the sheet of insulating material for accommodating a fastener for securing the sheet of insulating material to the bolster plate.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a sub-assembly that includes a bolster plate for supporting a circuit board and an insulator for insulating the bolster plate from the circuit board. The insulator is secured to the bolster plate with one or more fasteners. Preferably, these fasteners are screws where each screw has a threaded portion, a head and an unthreaded portion between the head and the threaded portion. The insulator and the bolster plate are held on the unthreaded portion of the screw between the threaded portion and the head.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of forming a sub-assembly by providing a bolster plate for supporting a circuit board, providing an insulator for insulating the bolster plate from the circuit board and securing the insulator to the bolster plate with one or more fasteners. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the addition of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to olefin compounds to obtain hydroxy-substituted cyclic compounds in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst and is more particularly related to such an addition conducted in the presence of a bi-solvent system.
2. Description of Related Processes in the Field
The compound 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran is an important intermediate for producing 1,4-butanediol. A number of methods have been discovered for hydroformylating various unsaturated compounds to useful products.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,467 assigned to Daicel, Ltd. teaches a low pressure hydroformylation process in which the catalyst is a reaction product of a cobalt carbonyl compound with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound having an enolic hydroxyl group on the carbon atom adjacent to the ring-forming nitrogen atom, such as 2-hydroxypyridine. Ordinarily, the pressures employed therein are in the neighborhood of 10 to 100 atmospheres. Unsaturated compounds taught as suitable for this hydroformylation process include ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene, etc. and compounds such as allyl alcohol, allyl acetate, etc.
Closer to the invention disclosed herein are methods which involve rhodium catalysts. U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,670 discloses a process for manufacturing methacrylic acid and butyrolactone by hydroformylation of allyl esters of lower carboxylic acids in the presence of rhodium carbonyl complex catalysts followed by oxidation of the resulting formyl compounds with molecular oxygen to produce 4-acetoxy-n-butyric acid and 3-acetoxy-isobutyric acid as the major products. See also German Offen. No. 2,106,243 to BASF. Unsaturated compounds such as propylene may be hydroformylated by means of rhodium/triphenylphosphine/carbonyl complexes formed in situ using a special pre-forming step described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,549.
Even more on point are the following patents. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,064,145 and 4,083,882 describe a method for producing tetrahydrofuran and 1,4-butanediol by reacting synthesis gas with allyl alcohol under hydroformylation conditions in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl-phosphine catalyst complex and various inert solvents such as organic aromatics, aliphatic hydroxylic organic solvents, etc. In both patents, the allyl alcohol conversion was reported to be 99% and 4-hydroxybutanal was typically obtained in 87 wt. % yield. The major by-product was 2-methyl-3-hydroxypropanal (12 wt. %). A rhodium catalyst complexed with special bisphosphine monooxide ligands is taught as catalyzing the hydroformulation of olefinic compounds in the presence of dimethylformamide solvent according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,548. Again, two phase solvent systems are not disclosed.
In J. Org. Chem., Vol. 45 (1980), 2132, C. U. Pittman, Jr. disclosed the hydroformylation of allyl alcohol to 4-hydroxybutanal and 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanal using HRh(CO)(PPh.sub.3).sub.3 and its polymer-bound analogues. The selectivity of normal/branched products was studied as the function of reaction parameters and ligands employed. The highest normal/branched selectivities were reported with 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene at 80%. Benzene and o-xylene solvents were generally used.
In J. of Mol. Cat., Vol. 11 (1981), 233-246, N. A. deMunck reported a heterogeneous gas phase hydroformylation of allyl alcohol using a supported HRh(CO)(PPH.sub.3).sub.3 catalyst. A very high selectivity to 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde (97%) was achieved. However, the process is limited to only about 20% allyl alcohol conversion.
Kuraray disclosed the hydroformylation of allyl alcohol using rhodium catalyst in organic solvent such as benzene and toluene and a diphosphinoalkane. The overall n-/iso-ratio of the products were 86.6/13.4, (Kuraray, Japan. Pat. Open. No. 29412/1976, and No. 106407/1979 and Chemical Economy of Engineering Review, Vol. 12, No. 9, 1980). In additional patents (Kuraray, Japan. Pat. Open, No. 84508/1979 and British Pat. No. 1,493,154, 1977) to Kuraray, a modified Raney catalyst was claimed for the hydrogenation of hydroxybutyraldehydes into 1,4-butanediol and 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol.
Many of the systems described above lack good conversions of the unsaturated reactant compound and/or good selectivity to the desired product. Further, recovery of expensive rhodium catalysts is a problem in many of these processes. It would be an advance in the art if a method could be devised for hydroformulating compounds such as allyl alcohol while simultaneously solving the conversion, selectivity and catalyst recovery problems noted above. | {
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Ultrafiltration devices have been used in the past for the separation of components of a fluid on the basis of the size, shape or physical character of the components through the use of hydraulic pressure. Using these techniques, one component of the fluid is selectively forced through a membrane to separate that component from the remainder of the mixture.
The selective membranes used in ultrafiltration techniques have conventionally been supported on a porous substrate. The fluid component passing through the selective membrane can then also continue to pass through the porous substrate for collection.
A continuing need exists for the separation of the components of various industrial and waste streams. While certain ultrafiltration membranes are suitable for the separation of many such streams, the configurations of membranes and supports that have heretofore been developed are bulky, and often require extensive and complicated piping arrangements. Accordingly, the investment in equipment and space would preclude their use for the separation of the components of many fluid streams. | {
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Angiotensin II (AII) is an octapeptide hormone which is a component of the renin-angiotensin system. In addition to being a circulating hormone which affects the cardiovascular system, the adrenal cortex, the peripheral autonomic nervous system, and the kidneys, AII is also known to affect the central nervous system. AII is now believed to act as a neuropeptide in the central nervous system (CNS) and may modulate the release and subsequent action of other neurotransmitters (Unger et al. (1988) Circulation 77 (Suppl I): 40-54).
Specific high affinity receptors for AII have been identified and localized in different regions of the CNS (Mann (1982) Exp. Brain Res. 4 (Suppl): 242). Stimulation of AII receptors in the CNS elicits a complex, but highly reproducible and concerted pattern of behavioral, cardiovascular, and endocrine responses (Fritzsimons (1980) Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol. 87:117). These include CNS-induced elevation of blood pressure, increased drinking and sodium appetite, and release of antidiuretic hormone, oxytocin, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin (Scholken et al. (1982) Experientia 38:469). The CNS effects of AII could lead to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases through inhibition of the baroreceptor reflex, increase in salt consumption, volume expansion, and increased peripheral resistance. Besides the cardiovascular system, AII may also influence the reproductive system and other brain functions, such as memory (Koller et al. (1975) Neuroscience Lett. 14: 71-75).
The major functions of AII in the CNS can be classified into three groups which may share, at least in part, overlapping mechanisms of action. The first major function of AII in the CNS is regulation of body fluid volume in response to hypovolemia, involving, for example, regulation of thirst, blood pressure increases, vasopressin release, sodium appetite increase, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release, and aldosterone release (Unger et al. (1988) Circulation 77 (Suppl I): 40-54, and references cited therein). This CNS function of AII is closely related to the peripheral role of AII in hypertension.
A second function of AII in the CNS, although less well defined, is the regulation of gonadotrophic hormone releasing hormones and pituitary hormones during the reproductive cycle and pregnancy (Unger et al., supra).
A third possible CNS function of AII is a synaptic function. AII appears to interact with neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (ACh), catecholamines, serotonin, and other neuroactive peptides (Unger et al., supra). Although the amount of data supporting this CNS function of AII is limited, published results suggest that increased AII activity in the brain exerts an inhibitory effect on cholinergic neurons resulting in impaired cognitive performance. Therefore, compounds that inhibit AII biosynthesis, or block AII receptor activation may enhance cognition.
The role of peptides in learning and memory was initially investigated by D. DeWied in the late 1960's and early 1970's. This led Morgan and Routtenberg (Science (1977) 196: 87-89) to investigate the role of AII in mediating retention of a passive avoidance (PA) response in rats. These authors demonstrated that rats injected with AII into the dorsal neostriatum, a brain area that has a high concentration of AII as well as precursors and metabolic enzymes for AII biosynthesis, showed a disruption in retention of a PA response. The authors demonstrated specificity of the response in terms of both the location in the brain, and the peptide used (unlike AII, thyrotropin releasing hormone or lysine-8-vasopressin had no effect). This study showed that increased AII in the dorsal neostriatum results in a cognitive impairment which is most likely related to AII modulation of neuronal activity that is necessary for consolidation of newly acquired information.
A different approach for investigating the behavioral effects of AII in the CNS was taken by Koller et al. (Neuroscience Letters(1975) 14: 71-75). These authors injected renin into the lateral ventricle of the brain (IVT) and measured increases in AII in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); AII levels increased from 40 to about 5000 fmol per mL. This increase in AII was accompanied by a disruption of avoidance learning. These results suggested that renin-stimulated biosynthesis of AII could disrupt memory. Administration into the IVT of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor SQ 14225 (captopril) prior to the renin injection, prevented the renin-induced avoidance disruption. Applicants have also found that renin administered IVT produces a dose-related amnesia in a PA task, which is prevented by IVT administration of the ACE inhibitor captopril. These results suggest that increased AII levels in the brain lead to a disruption of learned avoidance. This amnesia can be achieved by direct administration into a discrete brain area of either AII or renin, an enzyme involved in endogenous AII biosynthesis.
In the literature on the neuropathology and neurochemistry of Alzheimer's disease (AD), there are two reports of altered levels of dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase (angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE) in human CSF and brain tissue. Arrequi et al. (J. Neurochemistry(1982) 38: 1490-1492) found increased ACE activity in the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, frontal cortex, and caudate nucleus in AD patients. Zubenko et al. (Biol. Psych.21: 1365-1385 (1986) found a correlation between levels of ACE in the CSF and the severity of AD. Whether the alterations in ACE cause the progression of dementia or are correlates of the disease progress remains unknown.
Recent evidence that inhibition of ACE can have a modulatory effect on learning and memory was reported by Usinger et al. (Drug Dev. Research 14: 315-324 (1988); also European Patent application, EP 307,872 to Hoechst, published Mar. 22, 1989).
Similar results were reported by Costall et al. (Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 33: 573-579 (1989)) using the ACE inhibitor captopril. These authors demonstrated that subchronic treatment with captopril increased the rate of acquisition of light/dark habituation performance. Further, anticholinergic scopolamine-induced disruption of performance in this test model was prevented by daily treatment with captopril.
The ACE inhibitor SQ 29852 has also been reported to provide protective effects on memory of
(3) R.sup.3 is PA1 (a) H, PA1 (b) halo, PA1 (c) C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl or alkynyl, PA1 (d) R.sup.14 -(CH.sub.2).sub.x -wherein x is one, two, three, four or five, and R.sup.14 is C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, naphthyl, heteroaryl, phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with from one through five, preferably one through three, substituents comprising C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, halo, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, lower acyloxy, amino, N-lower monoalkylamino, N,N-lower dialkylamino, lower thioalkyl, lower alkylsulfonyl, nitro or -NHCOR.sup.10 wherein R.sup.10 is lower alkyl, phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, or -NHR.sup.11 ; wherein R.sup.11 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, PA1 (e) ##STR3## wherein R.sup.14 is independently as defined above, or (f) R.sup.14 -CH(OH)- wherein R.sup.14 is independently as defined above; PA1 (a) --(CH.sub.2).sub.x OR.sup.7 wherein R.sup.7 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 acyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, phenyl, or benzyl, PA1 (b) --(CH.sub.2).sub.x NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 wherein R.sup.7 is independently as defined above and R.sup.8 is H, C.sub.1 -C4 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 acyl PA1 (c) --(CH.sub.2).sub.x OCH.sub.2 R.sup.7 wherein R.sup.7 and x are as defined above, PA1 (d) --CHO PA1 (e) --CN, PA1 (f) --COOR.sup.9 wherein R.sup.9 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or benzyl; PA1 (a) R.sup.14 -(CH.sub.2).sub.x - wherein x and R.sup.14 are, independently, as defined above, PA1 (b) R.sup.14 R.sup.13 CH(CH.sub.2).sub.y - wherein y is zero, one, two, three, four or five, R.sup.14 is as defined above, and R.sup.13 is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, naphthyl, phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with from one through five substituents, preferably from one through three substituents, comprising alkyl, halo, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-lower monoalkyl amino, N,N-lower dialkylamino, lower thioalkyl, lower alkylsulfonyl, or nitro; PA1 (c) --COR.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 is
(a) R.sup.14 --(CH.sub.2).sub.x -- wherein x and R.sup.14 are, independently, as defined above, PA2 (b) R.sup.14 R.sup.13 CH(CH.sub.2).sub.y -- wherein y is zero, one, two, three, four or five, R.sup.14 is as defined above, and R.sup.13 is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, naphthyl, phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with from one through five substituents, comprising alkyl, halo, tri-fluoromethyl, amino, N,N-lower dialkylamino, lower thioalkyl, lower alkylsulfonyl, or nitro; PA2 (c) --COR.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 is PA2 (i) alkyl of from one to fifteen carbons, inclusive, PA2 (ii) ##STR4## wherein R.sup.14 and y are, independently, as defined above, and R.sup.15 is H, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, naphthyl, phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with from one through five substituents, preferably from one through three substituents, comprising alkyl, halo, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-lower monoalkylamino, N,N-lower dialkylamino, lower thioalkyl, lower alkylsulfonyl, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, or nitro, PA2 (iii) --(CH=CR.sup.12)-R.sup.16, wherein R.sup.12 is hydrogen or lower alkyl and R.sup.16 is PA2 (iv) R.sup.14 (CH.sub.2).sub.y R.sup.12 N- wherein y, R.sup.14 and R.sup.12 are, independently, as defined above, PA2 (v) R.sup.14 -(CH.sub.2).sub.y -0- wherein y and R.sup.14 are independently as defined above, PA2 (vi) ##STR6## wherein R.sup.14, R.sup.15, and y are independently as defined above, (d) --SO.sub.2 R.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 is, independently, as defined above, preferably R.sup.14 -(CH.sub.2).sub.y -wherein R.sup.14 and y are, independently, as defined above;
(i) alkyl of from one to fifteen carbons, inclusive, PA3 (ii) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.14 and y are, independently, as defined above, and R.sup.15 is H, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, naphthyl, phenyl previously learned tasks and to ameliorate, at least in part, an anticholinergic effect on performance (European Patent application EP 288,907 to Squibb, published Nov. 2, 1988). PA3 (a) alkyl of from four to twenty carbons, inclusive, PA3 (b) ##STR5## wherein y, R.sup.14 and R.sup.15 are, independently, as defined above, and
Evidence for a role of AII in cholinergic function was also reported by Barnes et al. (Brain Research 491: 136-143 (1989), who examined the effect of AII in an in vitro model of potassium stimulated release of [.sup.3 H]ACh. AII, but not AI, reduced potassium-stimulated release of ACh without effects on basal levels. This effect was antagonized by the AII antagonist [1-sarcosine, 8-threonine]angiotensin II. These results suggest that AII can inhibit the release of ACh in the entorhinal cortex of rat brain.
The results summarized above suggest that increased AII activity in the brain may exert an inhibitory effect on cholinergic neurons, resulting in impaired cognitive performance. Thus, compounds that block AII receptor activation may enhance cognitive performance.
Carini and Duncia, U.S.S.N. 050,341, filed May 22, 1987, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.S.N. 884,920, filed July 11, 1986, disclose angiotensin II receptor blocking imidazoles (also EP 0253 310, published 20.01.88, and EP 0324 377, published July 19, 1989).
Blankley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,462, issued Mar. 14, 1989, to Warner-Lambert, disclose 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo-[4,5-c]-pyridine derivatives, which are said to be useful for the treatment of hypertension. | {
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During the drilling and completion or oil and gas wells, various wellbore treatments are performed on the wells for a number of purposes. For example, hydrocarbon-producing wells are often stimulated by hydraulic fracturing operations, where a servicing fluid such as a fracturing fluid may be introduced into a portion of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore at a hydraulic pressure sufficient to create or enhance fractures therein. Such a fracturing treatment may increase hydrocarbon production from the well.
At a well stimulation site, there are typically several large pieces of fracturing (or other well stimulation) equipment on location that must be powered including, but not limited to, a gel mixer, liquid handling equipment, sand handling equipment, a blender, a plurality of high pressure hydraulic pumping units, and a control center. The equipment on location is used to deliver large quantities of fluid/proppant mixtures to a wellhead at high pressures to perform the desired operations. Often, the hydraulic pumping units and other machinery on location are powered by diesel engines. In general, these diesel engines operate at relatively low efficiencies (e.g., approximately 32%). The stimulation site will often include several individual diesel powered units (e.g., pumping units, blenders, etc.) that must be refueled multiple times a day throughout a multi-stage stimulation operation. | {
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The present invention relates a tensioning device for at least one trailing rope in an elevator installation. Within the meaning of the invention, a trailing rope can also be a compensating rope, a compensating chain, or similar flexible connection. The terms xe2x80x9cverticalxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9chorizontalxe2x80x9d relate to the direction of travel of the elevator. xe2x80x9cVerticalxe2x80x9d means the direction essentially parallel to the direction of travel of the elevator, and xe2x80x9chorizontalxe2x80x9d means the direction essentially perpendicular to it.
Tensioning devices for trailing ropes have long been known, and are primarily used on traction elevators. The purpose of the tensioning device is, inter alia, to tension the trailing ropes, limit rope vibrations, and prevent the counterweight or elevator car from jumping.
In the German patent specification DE 43 34 253, the trailing rope tensioning device is provided with a single large rope pulley. Disadvantages of this rope pulley are the large amount of space required in the bearing, and that it is not standardized, since it always has to be manufactured individually depending on the size of the elevator installation.
As may be seen from the German patent specification DE 24 25 216, a trailing rope tensioning device is provided with two pulleys of minimal allowable diameter. Disadvantages of this embodiment are the high speed of rotation of the rope pulleys, which increases the noise from the bearings, and the use of several ropes of small diameter.
A purpose of the present invention is to create a tensioning device for at least one trailing rope which does not possess the aforementioned disadvantages, and which permits the use of larger, less noisy tensioning pulleys as well as larger diameters of trailing rope. A further advantage of the present invention is that relatively large standardized pulleys can be used. | {
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The deleterious effects of tobacco smoking on human health have been extensively documented. Among other things, such conditions as cancer and coronary artery disease are dramatically elevated in incidence and severity in the case of smokers, and such patients likewise present significant alterations in lipoprotein profiles and increases in oxidized LDLs. Increased occurrence and severity of coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia, among other things, have also been observed in patients having elevated levels of advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGEs), and the coincidence of these observations set the stage for the discovery that underlies the present invention.
The nonenzymatic reactions between glucose and proteins has been recognized for many years, but molecular details of these reactions, and the biological and medical consequences of nonenzymatic glycation in vivo, are still emerging today. The earliest recognized manifestation of nonenzymatic glycation was in the appearance of brown pigments during the cooking of food, which was identified by Maillard in 1912, and lent the term "browning" to this branch of food chemistry. Maillard observed that glucose or other reducing sugars react spontaneously with amino-containing compounds such as amino acids and peptides to form initial Schiff base adducts. This condensation product then undergoes a series of additional spontaneous dehydrations, rearrangements and other reactions to form the class of brown pigments, now known as advanced glycosylation endproducts, or AGEs.
In the years that followed its initial discovery, food chemists studied the Maillard reaction in detail and determined that stored and heat-treated foods undergo nonenzymatic browning as a development of the initial reaction between glucose and the polypeptide chain, and that the proteins are resultingly crosslinked and correspondingly exhibit decreased bioavailability. At this point, it was determined that the pigments responsible for the development of the brown color in protein glycosylation (or advanced glycation) also possess characteristic absorptive spectra and fluorescent properties.
The reaction between reducing sugars and food constituents discussed above was found in recent years to have its parallel in vivo. Thus, the nonenzymatic rearrangement of the initial Schiff base formed by addition of glucose to a free amino group on a protein forms the stable amino, 1-deoxy ketosyl adduct known as the Amadori product. (A parallel reaction involving a reducing ketose rather than an aldose generates an early glycation product known as the Heyns rearrangement product). Accumulation of this early glycation adduct has been shown to occur with hemoglobin, wherein a rearrangement of the amino terminus of the .beta.-chain of hemoglobin following an initial reaction with alucose forms the modified hemoglobin known as hemoglobin A.sub.1c, a clinically important marker of glucose control in diabetes. Glycation reactions have also been found to occur with a variety of other body proteins, such as lens crystallins, collagen nerve proteins, and low density lipoproteins, as well as DNA and aminophospholipids.
The Maillard browning process generates a widely diverse array of advanced glycosylation products, each of which occurs in very low yield. This diversity has made identification and structural determination of specific AGEs a difficult proposition. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,192 the fluorescent chromophore 2-(2-furoyl)-4(5)-2(furanyl)-1H-imidazole was isolated and identified from certain browned polypeptides such as bovine serum albumin and poly-L-lysine. This success encouraged the subsequent identification of additional advanced glycosylation endproducts and assisted additional investigations seeking to clarify the chemistry of the protein aging process and to identify the specific reactants, intermediates and products involved in order to develop methods and agents for inhibiting glycation.
More recently, other advanced glycosylation products have been identified, such as AFGP (Farmar et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,696, issued May 21, 1991); pyrraline (Hayase et al., "Aging of Proteins: Immunological Detection of a Glucose-derived Pyrrole Formed during Maillard Reaction in vivo", J. Biol. Chem., 263:3758-3764 (1989)), and pentosidine (Sell, D. and Monnier V. Structure Elucidation of a Senescence Cross-link from Human Extracellular Matrix, J. Biol. Chem., 264:21597-21602 (1989)).
A large bodv of evidence has been assembled to show that Maillard products as a whole underlie a wide variety of both normal and pathogenic activities and responses that occur as AGEs accumulate in vivo. Such activities may be direct, as a consequence of the chemical reactivity of glycation products and adducts; or indirect, mediated by the cellular recognition of glycation adducts and products via AGE-specific binding proteins or receptors.
Although most studies describing the pathogenic role of AGE accumulation in vivo have focused on AGE-proteins and AGE-peptides, the reaction between the lipids, and particularly, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and glucose to form lipid-AGEs also has been determined to play a pathogenic role, for instance, in atherogenesis, where the formation of foam cells marks the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. Oxidation and glycation of the protein and lipid components of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) results in the loss of the recognition of the apo B component by cellular LDL receptors, prolonging the circulating half-life of this LDL and resulting in the preferential uptake of oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL) or otherwise modified LDL via macrophage "scavenger" receptors, AGE receptors, and other specialized cellular mechanisms. The enhanced endocytosis of ox-LDL by vascular wall macrophages has been linked to their transformation into lipid-laden foam cells that characterize early atherosclerotic lesions. Previous studies also have shown that AGE modification of LDLs increases the potential for lipid oxidation.
The "family" of AGEs includes relatively stable species which can be isolated and characterized by chemical structure, while others are unstable or reactive and their structural determination has therefore been problematic. Labile or reactive AGEs can be "trapped" by specific chemical agents, and such reactions and trapping have been used not only to gain structural insights but also to inhibit the glycation process for therapeutic purposes. AGE-lipids may also be stable, unstable or reactive.
An appreciation for the pathogenic potential of AGEs has suggested that interference with, or inhibition of, advanced glycation chemistry could be of enormous therapeutic benefit. In this connection, a series of agents has been discovered, as exemplified by aminoguanidine (also known as Pimagedine), that are useful glycation inhibitors. This compound, and others like it, have been theorized to react with the carbonyl moiety of the early glycosylation product of a target protein (or other biomolecule) formed subsequent to the initial nonenzymatic reaction with glucose or another reducing sugar, and thereby prevent further reaction to form advanced glycosylation endproducts.
A variety of other inhibitors of advanced glycation reactions are also known, many of which are thought to be particularly effective at stages of the Maillard reaction other than those which are most susceptible to inhibition by aminoguanidine and its analogs. For instance, certain compounds, or compositions thereof, having an active aldehyde substituent, such as acetaldehyde, are effective inhibitors of the advanced glycation pathway. This activity is thought to arise by the reaction of such active aldehyde agents with the glycosyl-amino moieties of glycation products formed in the initial stages of the Maillard reaction, i.e., these agents react with the Amadori and Heyns rearrangement products, which are early glycation products. Other agents that may serve in a similar capacity, are those that include a conserved binding motif which comprises a common 17-18 amino acid cysteine-bounded hydrophilic peptide loop domain, initially discovered and identified in the antibacterial proteins lysozyme and lactoferrin. More particularly, exemplary agents include molecules having an hydrophilic loop domain, which hydrophilic loop domain has a structure corresponding to R.sub.1 Z.sub.1 Xaa.sub.n Z.sub.2 R.sub.2 (SEQ ID NOS:1-6), wherein Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 are residues capable of forming a cross-link; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently a polypeptide, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl group, or hydrogen; Xaa is any L- or D-amino acid; and n=13-18. Such agents and their uses are set forth in International Publication No. WO 96/31537, published Oct. 10. 1996 incorporated herein by reference. Yet other agents such as certain thiazolium compounds, are particularly effective at preventing advanced glycation, and even reversing the formation of advanced glycation endproducts and associated cross-linking moieties, through reactions with late glycation products.
The compounds, and their compositions, utilized in this invention are thought to react with early glycosylation products, thereby preventing the same from later forming the advanced glycosylation end products which lead to cross-links, and thereby, to molecular or protein aging and other adverse molecular consequences. All of such various glycation pathway inhibitors and other compounds reactive with early and late glycation products, either alone or in combination, find use in ameliorating the pathogenic potential of AGEs that accumulate in the body.
AGEs may accumulate through de novo formation in vivo, through reattachment of AGEs liberated in vivo by cellular activities, or as revealed herein by Applicants, by exposure to exogenous AGEs, for instance by smoking. Accordingly, the significance of the reactive pathways of AGEs and their observed presence in tobacco and tobacco smoke lends further importance and encouragement to the need for the development of effective techniques for monitoring the smoking habits of individuals as well as the development of effective agents and devices to reduce the transfer of AGEs by tobacco use. Such monitoring techniques would be useful for gathering the history of such smokers, and also for monitoring their medical condition and particularly, their predisposition to the conditions that are associated with elevated levels of AGEs. Measurement of AGEs in tobacco would facilitate the evaluation of tobacco crops, as well as providing an index of the amount of AGEs that would be transferred to a smoker during the consumption of smoking materials prepared from the crops in question; in this regard, AGEs may also be evaluated in tobacco smoke. Effective therapeutic strategies, methods and agents in this regard may address the inhibition of AGEs in tobacco, in smoking materials, and would include the development of filter devices and like materials for use in conjunction with tobacco smoking, or in the protection or treatment of individuals of the smoking or smoke-exposed populations. It is toward the fulfillment of all of the above recited objectives that the present invention is directed. | {
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This disclosure is directed toward power machines. More particularly, this discussion is directed toward power machines with lift arms that are capable of carrying a work implement as well as systems and methods for positioning the work implement by controlling the position of the lift arms. Power machines, and more particularly, loaders, have long had lift arms that can carry work implements such as buckets and the like for performing various work tasks. Operators of these machines can advantageously manipulate lift arms carrying such implements to perform various tasks. Not only would an operator have the ability to manipulate the position of the lift arms (known generally as a lift operation), but also to manipulate a position of the work implement with respect to the lift arm (known generally as a tilt operation).
One example of such a task is a digging and loading operation, where an operator may be digging soil with a bucket and then dumping the soil in a truck bed. To perform this task, the operator will have to position the implement via lift and tilt operations to place the bucket in a position to dig soil and then position the implement again to dump the soil into a truck bed. Repetitive positioning of the implement requires that the operator repeatedly concentrate on precisely controlling the lift arm to place the bucket in the dig position and the dump position.
In addition, raising and lowering the lift arms of a power machine and particularly a loader by manipulating one or more lift arm actuators can change the angle of the implement with respect to gravity over the lift arm path of certain loaders. That is, if the path of the lift arm is not perfectly vertical, simply raising or lowering the lift arm will change the orientation of the implement with respect to gravity unless the implement is also tilted with respect to the lift arm. This can cause material contained within a bucket, for example, to spill out during the raising or lowering process. This relationship between an implement and gravity can be further changed if the power machine is travelling over uneven terrain. | {
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This invention relates to the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing insulated gate field effect transistor devices having extremely shallow source and drain regions and reduced overlap capacitances between the gate and the source and drain regions.
In the manufacture of insulated-gate field-effect transistor (hereinafter referred to as IGFET) devices, such as integrated circuits, it is generally desirable to reduce the conduction channel lengths of the IGFETs for the purpose of increasing the packing density and operating speed of the device. It is also generally desirable, from the standpoint of increasing device speed, to reduce the gate to source and drain overlap capacitances of the IGFETs and to provide the device with lower resistance interconnections. Recent advances in lithographic and etching techniques have made it possible to form IGFETs having channel lengths of less than 1 .mu.m. However, in order to avoid undesirable short channel effects, such as threshold voltage falloff, in such submicron channel length IGFETs, the source and drain regions of the IGFETs must be made extremely shallow. For example, in a silicon N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor having an effective channel length of 0.5 .mu.m, a gate oxide thickness of 250 Angstroms and a net channel doping concentration of 4.times.10.sup.16 cm.sup.-3, short channel effects are substantially avoided if the depths of the source and drain regions extend less than 1000 Angstroms below the surface of the channel. Furthermore, the sheet resistance of the source and drain regions of such a transistor must be relatively low (e.g., less than 70 ohms per square) so as not to reduce the current conduction capability of the transistor. Therefore, the fabrication of submicron channel length IGFETs requires the formation of source and drain regions which are extremely shallow and which have low sheet resistances.
In the prior art, source and drain regions of IGFETs are most frequently formed by either conventional diffusion or by ion implantations. In the case of conventional diffusion the source and drain regions are formed by diffusing an appropriate dopant impurity into selected areas of a semiconductor surface from an appropriate gas dopant source or from a predeposition source such as a doped semiconductor oxide layer or a doped polycrystalline semiconductor layer in contact with the surface. The impurity is then thermally driven to a desired depth below the surface. However, because the rate of transport of the dopant impurity into the surface by conventional diffusion is generally limited by the solid solubility of the impurity at the diffusion temperature, conventional diffusion followed later by a standard annealing step has the disadvantage of ordinarily not being able to provide an extremely shallow diffused region with a sufficiently high impurity level to provide the region with a low sheet resistance.
In the case of ion implantation, the source and drain regions are formed by bombarding selected areas of the semiconductor surface with an energetic beam of an appropriate ionized dopant impurity. Although ion implantation can provide extremely shallow impurity regions having very high impurity levels, such regions tend to have high sheet resistances owing to lattice damage in the implanted region caused by the ion implantation. Such lattice damage ordinarily results in a significant portion of the dopant impurity not being in proper substitutional lattice sites and a lowering of the carrier mobility in the implanted region. Consequently, ion implantation has the disadvantage in that a post-implantation annealing treatment for repairing the lattice damage is ordinarily required to lower the sheet resistance of an implanted region. Such an annealing treatment tends to cause the region to diffuse to an excessive depth. For that reason, ion implantation cannot ordinarily be used to provide low sheet rsistance source and drain regions of less than 2000 Angstroms in depth. Therefore, a need exists for a method for manufacturing IGFET devices which provides transistors having extremely shallow source and drain regions of low sheet resistance.
Presently, MOS transistors are preferably fabricated by a self-aligned gate technology in which a patterned gate electrode serves as a diffusion or implantation mask for the formation of the source and drain regions. In such transistors, the gate to source and drain overlap capacitances arise primarily from the lateral diffusion of the source and drain regions under the gate electrode. Since the extent of lateral diffusion of the source or drain region is proportional to the depth of such a region, using shallower source and drain regions generally contributes to reducing the overlap capacitances.
However, even in a self-aligned gate MOS technology, it is generally desirable to achieve further reductions in the overlap capacitances. Such reductions are preferably achieved by providing appropriate offsets between the edges of the gate electrode and the masks for the source and drain regions.
A prior art technique for providing such offsets is to reduce the width of the gate electrode by oxidation after the formation of the source and drain regions. However, this technique has the disadvantage in that the thermal treatment required for oxidizing the gate electrode drives the source and drain regions to excessive depths.
Moreover, it is known that the gate electrode can be oxidized before the implant. But in that case, as well as in the case where oxidation occurs after the formation of the source and drain regions, the length of the gate will be reduced, and the channel length will be variable. Also, in either case the surfaces of the source and drain regions are unavoidably displaced below the surface of the channel.
Another prior art technique for providing the above-described offset is to over-etch the gate electrode during patterning to form an overhanging photoresist layer above the gate electrode. The overhanging photoresist layer is then used, directly or indirectly, to mask the formation of the source and drain regions. However, this technique has the disadvantage in that the extent of the over-etching of the gate electrode is difficult to control, and the gate electrode acquires undesirable nonvertical sidewalls. Therefore, a need also exists for a method for manufacturing an IGFET which provides an offset between the gate electrode and the mask for forming the source and drain regions but which does not require oxidation or over-etching of the gate electrode.
In a typical self-aligned gate MOS technology, the gate electrodes of the transistor are provided by a layer of polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon). The polysilicon layer also provides a first level of interconnection for the transistors and other components of the device. A second level of interconnection is typically provided by a layer of an appropriate metal. Since the sheet resistance of even a heavily doped polysilicon layer is typically several orders of magnitude greater than that of the metal layer, it is desirable, for the purpose of increasing device speed, to reduce the sheet resistance of the polysilicon layer. A known technique for reducing the sheet resistance of the polysilicon layer is to form a layer of an appropriate metal silicide, such as tantalum silicide, on a surface of the polysilicon layer. In the prior art, the silicide layer is formed over the entire polysilicon layer prior to patterning. However, in some instances metal silicide layers are also required as contact layers for the source and drain regions. In those instances, it is desirable from the standpoint of reducing manufacturing cost to form the silicide layers for the polysilicon layer and the source and drain regions in the same processing step. Therefore, a need exists for a method for manufacturing an IGFET device which forms those silicide layers in a single processing step.
In some cases of practical importance, a need also exists for a relatively thin silicide layer for the source and drain regions (thereby establishing a prescribed low resistivity while maintaining shallow junctions) which layer is compatible with a relatively thick silicide layer (even lower resistivity) patterned to form part of the gate electrode. | {
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Protein phosphorylation is now well recognized as an important mechanism utilized by cells to transduce and regulate signals during different stages of cellular function (Hunter, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 353: 583–605 (1998); Chan et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12: 555–592 (1994); Zhang, Curr. Top. Cell. Reg. 35: 21–68 (1997); Matozaki and Kasuga, Cell. Signal. 8: 113–19 (1996); Fischer et al, Science 253:401–6 (1991); Flint et al., EMBO J. 12:1937–46 (1993)). The level of tyrosine phosphorylation is balanced by the opposing action of protein tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases. There are at least two major classes of phosphatases: (1) those that dephosphorylate proteins (or peptides) that contain a phosphate group(s) on a serine or threonine moiety (termed Ser/Thr phosphatases) and (2) those that remove a phosphate group(s) from the amino acid tyrosine (termed protein tyrosine phosphatases or PTPases or PTPs).
The PTPases are a family of enzymes that can be classified into two groups: a) intracellular or nontransmembrane PTPases and b) receptor-type or transmembrane PTPases. In addition, dual-specificity phosphatases and low molecular weight phosphatases are able to dephosphorylate phospho tyrosyl proteins. See, e.g., WO 97/39746; WO 97/40017; WO 99/15529; WO 97/08934; WO 98/27065; WO 99/46236; WO 99/46244; WO 99/46267; WO 99/46268 and WO 99/46237.
Intracellular PTPases: Most known intracellular type PTPases contain a single conserved catalytic phosphatase domain consisting of 220–240 amino acid residues. The regions outside the PTPase domains are believed to play important roles in localizing the intracellular PTPases subcellularly (Mauro, L. J. and Dixon, J. E. TIBS 19: 151–155 (1994)). The first intracellular PTPase to be purified and characterized was PTP1B, which was isolated from human placenta (Tonks et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263: 6722–6730 (1988)). Shortly after, PTP1B was expressed recombinantly (Charbonneau et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 5252–5256 (1989); Chernoff et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87: 2735–2789 (1989)). Other examples of intracellular PTPases include (1) T-cell PTPase/TC-PTP (Cool et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 5257–5261 (1989)), (2) rat brain PTPase (Guan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1501–1502 (1990)), (3) neuronal phosphatase STEP (Lombroso et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 7242–7246 (1991)), (4) ezrin-domain containing PTPases: PTPMEG1 (Guet al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 5867–57871 (1991)). PTPH1 (Yang and Tonks, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 5949–5953 (1991)), PTPD1 and PTPD2 (Møller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 7477–7481 (1994)); FAP-1/BAS (Sato et al., Science 268: 411–415 (1995); Banville et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269, 22320–22327 (1994); Maekawa et al., FEBS Letters 337: 200–206 (1994)), and SH2 domain containing PTPases: PTP1C/SH-PTP1/SHP-1 (Plutzky et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 1123–1127 (1992); Shen et al., Nature Lond. 352: 736–739 (1991)) and PTP1D/Syp/SH-PTP2/SHP-2 (Vogel et al., Science 259: 1611–1614 (1993); Feng et al., Science 259: 1607–1611 (1993); Bastein et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 196: 124–133 (1993)).
Receptor-type PTPases consist of a) a putative ligand-binding extracellular domain, b) a transmembrane segment, and c) an intracellular catalytic region. The structures and sizes of the putative ligand-binding extracellular domains of receptor-type PTPases are quite divergent. In contrast, the intracellular catalytic regions of receptor-type PTPases are very homologous to each other and to the intracellular PTPases. Most receptor-type PTPases have two tandemly duplicated catalytic PTPase domains.
The first receptor-type PTPases to be identified were (1) CD45/LCA (Ralph, S. J., EMBO J. 6: 1251–1257 (1987)) and (2) LAR (Streuli et al., J. Exp. Med. 168: 1523–1530 (1988)) that were recognized to belong to this class of enzymes based on homology to PTP1B (Charbonneau et al., Proc. Natl. Aced. Sci. USA 86: 5252–256 (1989)). CD45 is a family of high molecular weight glycoproteins and is one of the most abundant leukocyte cell surface glycoproteins and appears to be exclusively expressed upon cells of the hematopoietic system (Trowbridge and Thomas, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 12: 85–116 (1994)).
The identification of CD45 and LAR as members of the PTPase family was quickly followed by identification and cloning of several different members of the receptor-type PTPase group. Thus, 5 different PTPases, (3) PTPα, (4) PTPβ, (5) PTPδ, (6) PTPε, and (7) PTPζ, were identified in one early study (Krueger et al., EMBO J. 9: 3241–3252 (1990)). Other examples of receptor-type PTPases include (8) PTPγ(Barnea et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 13: 1497–1506 (1995)) which, like PTPζ (Krueger and Saito, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 7417–7421 (1992)) contains a carbonic anhydrase-like domain in the extracellular region, (9) PTPμ (Gebbink et al., FEBS Letters 290: 123–130 (1991)), (10) PTPκ (Jiang et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 13: 2942–2951 (1993)). Based on structural differences the receptor-type PTPases may be classified into subtypes (Fischer et al., Science 253: 401–406 (19991)): (I) CD45; (II) LAR, PTPd, (11) PTPσ; (III) PTPβ, (12) SAP-1 (Matozaki et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 2075–2081 (1994)), (13) PTP-U2/GLEPP1 (Seimiya et al., Oncogene 10: 1731–1738 (1995); Thomas et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 19953–19962 (1994)), and (14) DEP-1; (IV) PTPα,_PTPε. All receptor-type PTPases except Type III contain two PTPase domains. Novel PTPases are frequently identified, and it is anticipated that between 100 and more than 500 different species will be found in the human genome.
PTPases are the biological counterparts to protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). Therefore, one important function of PTPases is to control, and especially down-regulate, the activity of PTKs. However, a more complex picture of the function of PTPases has emerged. Thus, several studies indicate that some PTPases act as positive mediators of cellular signaling. As an example, the SH2 domain-containing SHP-2 acts as a positive mediator in insulin-stimulated Ras activation (Noguchi et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 14: 6674–6682 (1994)) and of growth factor-induced mitogenic signal transduction (Xiao et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 21244–21248 (1994)), whereas the homologous SHP-1 acts as a negative regulator of growth factor-stimulated proliferation (Bignon and Siminovitch, Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 73: 168–179 (1994)). Another example of PTPases as positive regulators has been provided by studies designed to define the activation of the Src-family of tyrosine kinases. In particular, several lines of evidence indicate that CD45 is positively regulating the activation of hematopoietic cells, and that the mechanism of such positive regulation may involve dephosphorylation of the C-terminal tyrosine of Fyn and Lck (Chan et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12: 555–592 (1994)).
The association of many PTPases with cell proliferation, tranformation and differentiation has now been established. PTP1B, a phosphatase whose structure was the first PTPase to be elucidated (Barford et al., Science 263:1397–1404 (1994)) has been shown to be involved in insulin-induced oocyte maturation (Flint et al., The EMBO J. 12:1937–46 (1993)) and the overexpression of this enzyme has been implicated in p185c-erb B2-associated breast and ovarian cancers (Weiner, et al., J. Natl. cancer Inst. 86:372–8 (1994); Weiner et al., Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 170:1177–883 (1994)). The association with cancer is on the basis of evidence that overexpression of PTP1B is statistically correlated with increased levels of p185 c-erb B2 in ovarian and breast cancer. The role of PTP1B in the etiology and progression of the disease has not yet been elucidated. Inhibitors of PTP1B therefore would help clarify the role of PTP1B in cancer and in some cases provide therapeutic treatment for certain forms of cancer.
PTPases: the Insulin Receptor Signaling Pathway/Diabetes
Insulin is an important regulator of different metabolic processes and plays a key role in the control of blood glucose. Defects related to its synthesis or signaling lead to diabetes mellitus. Binding of insulin to the insulin receptor (IR) causes rapid (auto)phosphorylation of several tyrosine residues in the intracellular part of the β-subunit. Three closely positioned tyrosine residues (the tyrosine-1150 domain) must all be phosphorylated to obtain full activity of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (IRTK) which transmits the signal further downstream by tyrosine phosphorylation of other cellular substrates, including insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) (Wilden et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267: 16660–16668 (1992); Myers and White, Diabetes 42: 643–650 (1993); Lee and Pilch, Am. J. Physiol. 266: C319–C334 (1994); White et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263: 2969–2980 (1988)). The structural basis for the function of the tyrosine-triplet has been provided by X-ray crystallographic studies of IRTK that showed the tyrosine-1150 domain to be autoinhibitory in its unphosphorylated state (Hubbard et al, Nature 372: 746–754 (1994)) and of the activated IRTK (Hubbard, EMBO J. 16: 5572–5581 (1997)).
Several studies clearly indicate that the activity of the auto-phosphorylated IRTK can be reversed by dephosphorylation in vitro (reviewed in Goldstein, Receptor 3: 1–15 (1993); Mooney and Anderson, J. Biol. Chem. 264: 6850–6857 (1989)), with the tri-phosphorylated tyrosine-1150 domain being the most sensitive target for protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) as compared to the di- and mono-phosphorylated forms (King et al., Biochem. J. 275: 413–418 (1991)). This tyrosine-triplet functions as a control switch of IRTK activity and IRTK appears to be tightly regulated by PTP-mediated dephosphorylation in vivo (Khan et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264: 12931–12940 (1989); Faure et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267: 11215–11221 (1992); Rothenberg et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266: 8302–8311 (1991)). The intimate coupling of PTPases to the insulin signaling pathway is further evidenced by the finding that insulin differentially regulates PTPase activity in rat hepatoma cells (Meyerovitch et al., Biochemistry 31: 10338–10344 (1992)) and in livers from alloxan diabetic rats (Boylan et al., J. Clin. Invest 90:174–179 (1992)).
Until recently, relatively little was known about the identity of the PTPases involved in IRTK regulation. However, the existence of PTPases with activity towards the insulin receptor can be demonstrated as indicated above. Further, when the strong PTPase-inhibitor pervanadate is added to whole cells an almost full insulin response can be obtained in adipocytes (Fantus et al., Biochemistry 28: 8864–8871 (1989); Eriksson et al., Diabetologia 39: 235–242 (1995)) and skeletal muscle (Leighton et al., Biochem: J. 276: 289–292 (1991)). In addition, other studies show that a new class of peroxovanadium compounds act as potent hypoglycemic compounds in vivo (Posner et al., supra). Two of these compounds were demonstrated to be more potent inhibitors of dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor than of the EGF-receptor, thus indicating that even such relatively unselective inhibitors may show some specificity in regulating different signal transduction pathways.
It was recently found that mice lacking the protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B gene (PTP1B) (Elchebly et al., Science 283: 1544–1548 (1999)) yielded healthy mice that showed increased insulin sensitivity and were resistant to diet-induced obesity. These results were confirmed by Kaman at al Mol. Cell Biol. 20:5479–5489 (2000). The enhanced insulin sensitivity of the PTP−/− mice was also evident in glucose and insulin tolerance tests.
The PTP-1B knock-out mouse showed many characteristics which would be highly desirable results for an anti-diabetes treatment. Most importantly, the knock-out mice grew normally and were fertile and have exhibited no increased incidence of cancer. Blood glucose and insulin levels were lowered, and insulin sensitivity increased. Moreover, the insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation levels of IR and IRS-1 were found to be increased/prolonged in muscle and liver—but not in fat tissue. Thus, the main target tissues for this type of approach would appear to be insulin action in liver and muscle.
Several other “diabetic” parameters were also improved, including plasma triglycerides which were decreased in the knock-out mice. The knock-animals also exhibited a resistance to weight gain when placed on a high-fat diet. This is in contrast to the action of the PPARγ agonist class of insulin sensitizers, which rather induce weight gain (Murphy & Nolan, Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs 9:1347–1361, 2000), and would suggest that inhibition of PTP-1B could be a particularly attractive option for treatment of obese Type II diabetics.
This is also supported by the fact that the heterozygous mice from this study showed many of these desirable features. The reduction in weight gain of the knock-out animals on the high fat diet was found to be due to a decreased fat cell mass, although differences were observed with respect to fat cell number. Leptin levels were also lower in the knock-out mice, presumably as a reflection of the decreased fat mass. Significantly, the Klaman et al group also found that the knock-out animals had an increased energy expenditure of around 20% and an increased respiratory quotient compared to the wild-type; again, heterozygote animals displayed an intermediate level of energy expenditure. Therefore, inhibition of this enzyme may be an effective anti-diabetic and perhaps also anti-obesity therapy.
It should also be rioted that in the PTP-1B knock-out mice the basal tyrosine phosphorylation level of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase does not appear to be increased, which is in contrast to the situation after insulin treatment where there is an increased or prolonged phosphorylation. This might indicate that other PTPs are controlling the basic phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor in the knock-out mice—and is expected to do so in man.
Also other PTPases have been implicated as regulators of the insulin signaling pathway. Thus, it was found that the ubiquitously expressed SH2 domain containing PTPase, PTP1 D/SHP-2 (Vogel et al., 1993, supra), associates with and dephosphorylates IRS-1, but apparently not the IR it self (Kuhné et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 11479–11481 (1993); (Kuhné et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 15833–15837 (1994)).
Other studies suggest that receptor-type or membrane-associated PTPases are involved in IRTK regulation (Faure et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267: 11215–11221 (1992), (Haring et al., Biochemistry 23: 3298–3306 (1984); Sale, Adv. Prot. Phosphatases 6: 159–186 (1991)).
While previous reports indicate a role of PTPα in signal transduction through src activation (Zheng et al., Nature 359: 336–339 (1992); den Hertog et al., EMBO J. 12: 3789–3798 (1993)) and interaction with GRB-2 (den Hertog et al., EMBO J. 13: 3020–3032 (1994); Su et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 18731–18734 (19.94)), Møller, Lammers and coworkers provided results that suggest a function for this phosphatase and its close relative PTPε as negative regulators of the insulin receptor signal (Møller et al., 1995 supra; Lammers, et al., FEBS Lett. 404:37–40 (1997). These studies also indicated that receptor-like PTPases may play a significant role in regulating the IRTK, including through direct influence on the insulin receptor itself.
Other studies have shown that PTP1B and TC-PTP are likely to be involved in the regulation of several other cellular processes in addition to the described regulatory roles in insulin signaling. Therefore, PTP1B and/or TC-PTP as well as other PTPases showing key structural features with PTP1B and TC-PTP are likely to be important therapeutic targets in a variety of human and animal diseases. The compounds of the present invention are useful for modulating or inhibiting PTP1B and/or TC-PTP and/or other PTPases showing key structural features with said PTPases and thus elucidating their function and for treating disease states in which said modulation or inhibition is indicated.
Further, PTPases influence the following hormones or diseases or disease states: somatostatin, the immune system/autoimmunity, cell—cell interactions/cancer, platelet aggregation, osteoporosis, and microorganisms, as disclosed in PCT Publication WO 99/15529.
PTPases: the Immune System/Autoimmunity
Several studies suggest that the receptor-type PTPase CD45 plays a critical role not only for initiation of T cell activation, but also for maintaining the T cell receptor-mediated signaling cascade. These studies are reviewed in: (Weiss A., Ann. Rev. Genet. 25: 487–510 (1991); Chan et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12: 555–592 (1994); Trowbridge and Thomas, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12: 85–116 (1994)).
CD45 is one of the most abundant of the cell surface glycoproteins and is expressed exclusively on hemopoetic cells. In T cells, it has been shown that CD45 is one of the critical components of the signal transduction machinery of lymphocytes. In particular, there is evidence that CD45 phosphatase plays a pivotal role in antigen-stimulated proliferation of T lymphocytes after an antigen has bound to the T cell receptor (Trowbridge, Ann. Rev. Immunol, 12: 85–116 (1994)). Several studies indicate that the PTPase activity of CD45 plays a role in the activation of Lck, a lymphocyte-specific member of the Src family protein-tyrosine kinase (Mustelin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 6302–6306 (1989); Ostergaard et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 8959–8963 (1989)). Studies using transgenic mice with a mutation for the CD45-exon6 exhibited a lack of mature T cells. These mice did not respond to an antigenic challenge with the typical T cell mediated response (Kishihara et al., Cell 74:143–56 (1993)). Inhibitors of CD45 phosphatase would therefore be very effective therapeutic agents in conditions that are associated with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Another important function of CD45 phosphatase inhibitors is in effecting immunosuppression, where such a result is indicated, e.g., in transplantation and other conditions in need of immunosuppressive treatment.
CD45 has also been shown to be essential for the antibody mediated degranulation of mast cells (Berger et al., J. Exp. Med. 180:471–6 (1994)). These studies were also done with mice that were CD45-deficient. In this case, an IgE-mediated degranulation was demonstrated in wild type but not CD45-deficient T cells from mice. These data suggest that CD45 inhibitors could also play a role in the symptomatic or therapeutic treatment of allergic disorders, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, eczema, urticaria and anaphylaxis. Another PTPase, an inducible lymphoid-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase (HePTP) has also been implicated in the immune response. This phosphatase is expressed in both resting T and B lymphocytes, but not non-hemopoetic cells. Upon stimulation of these cells, mRNA levels from the HePTP gene increase 10–15 fold (Zanke et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 22: 235–239 (1992)).
Likewise, the hematopoietic cell specific SHP-1 acts as a negative regulator and thus appears to play an essential role in immune cell development in accordance with the above-mentioned important function of CD45, HePTP and SHP-1, selective PTPase inhibitors are early development candidates or prototype drugs both as immunosuppressors and as immunostimulants. Recent studies illustrate the potential of PTPase inhibitors as immunmodulators by demonstrating the capacity of the vanadium-based relatively nonselective PTPase inhibitor, BMLOV, to induce apparent B cell selective apoptosis compared to T cells (Schieven et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270: 20824–20831 (1995)).
PTPases: Cell—Cell Interactions/Cancer
Focal adhesion plaques, an in vitro phenomenon in which specific contact points are formed when fibroblasts grow on appropriate substrates, mimic, in certain respects, cells and their natural surroundings. Several focal adhesion proteins are phosphorylated on tyrosine residues when fibroblasts adhere to and spread on extracellular matrix (Gumbiner, Neuron 11: 551–564 (1993)). However, aberrant tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins can lead to cellular transformation. The intimate association between PTPases and focal adhesions is supported by the finding of several intracellular PTPases with ezrin-like N-terminal domains, e.g. PTPMEG1 (Gu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 5867–5871 (1991), PTPH1 (Yang and Tonks, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 5949–5953 (1991)) and PTPD1 (Møller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 7477–7481 (1994)). The ezrin-like domains show similarity to several proteins that are believed to act as links between the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton. PTPD1 was found to be phosphorylated by and associated with c-src in vitro and is hypothesized to be involved in the regulation of phosphorylation of focal adhesions (Møller et al., supra).
PTPases may oppose the action of tyrosine kinases, including those responsible for phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins, and may therefore function as natural inhibitors of transformation. TC-PTP, and especially the truncated form of this enzyme (Cool et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87: 7280–7284 (1990)), can inhibit the transforming activity of v-erb and v-fms (Lammers et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 22456–22462 (1993), Zander et al., Oncogene 8: 1175–1182 (1993)). Moreover, it was found that transformation by the oncogenic form of the HER2/neu gene was suppressed in NIH 3T3 fribroblasts overexpressing PTP1B (Brown-Shimer et al., Cancer Res. 52: 478482 (1992)).
The expression level of PTP1B was found to be increased in a mammary cell line transformed with neu (Zhay et al., Cancer Res. 53: 2272–2278 (1993)). The intimate relationship between tyrosine kinases and PTPases in the development of cancer is further evidenced by the recent finding that PTPe is highly expressed in murine mammary tumors in transgenic mice over-expressing c-neu and v-Ha-ras, but not c-myc or int-2 (Elson and Leder, J. Biol. Chem. 270: 26116–26122 (1995)). Further, the human gene encoding PTPγ was mapped to 3p21, a chromosomal region which is frequently deleted in renal and lung carcinomas (LaForgia et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 5036–5040 (1991)).
PTPases appear to be involved in controlling the growth of fibroblasts. In a recent study it was found that Swiss 3T3 cells harvested at high density contain a membrane-associated PTPase whose activity on an average is 8-fold higher than that of cells harvested at low or medium density (Pallen and Tong, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 6996–7000 (1991)).
Two closely related receptor-type PTPases, PTPκ and PTPμ, can mediate homophilic cell—cell interaction when expressed in non-adherent insect cells, suggesting that a normal physiological function for these PTPases in cell-to-cell signalling (Gebbink et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 16101–16104 (1993), Brady-Kalnay et al., J. Cell Biol. 122: 961–972 (1993); Sap et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 14: 1–9 (1994)). Interestingly, PTPκ and PTPμ do not bind to each other (PTPκ does self-associate), despite their structural similarity (Zondag et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270: 14247–14250 (1995)).
From the studies described above it is apparent that PTPases play an important role in regulating normal cell growth. Additionally, as pointed out above, PTPases may also function as positive mediators of intracellular signaling and thereby induce or enhance mitogenic responses. Increased activity of certain PTPases might therefore result in cellular transformation and tumor formation. See, Zheng, supra; Uchida et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 12220–12228 (1994 Hunter, Cell 80: 225–236 (1995). Inhibitors of specific PTPases are therefore likely to be of significant therapeutic value in the treatment of certain forms of cancer.
PTPases: Platelet Aggregation
PTPases are centrally involved in platelet aggregation. Thus, agonist-induced platelet activation results in calpain-catalyzed cleavage of PTP1B with a concomitant 2-fold stimulation of PTPase activity (Frangioni et al., EMBO J. 12: 4843–4856 (1993)). The cleavage of PTP1B leads to subcellular relocation of the enzyme and correlates with the transition from reversible to irreversible platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma. In addition, the SH2 domain containing PTPase, SHP-1, was found to translocate to the cytoskeleton in platelets after thrombin stimulation in an aggregation-dependent manner (Li et al., FEBS Lett. 343: 89–93 (1994)).
Although some details in the above two studies have been questioned, there is overall agreement that PTP1B and SHP-1 play significant functional roles in platelet aggregation (Ezumi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270: 11927–11934 (1995)). In accordance with these observations, treatment of platelets with the PTPase inhibitor pervanadate leads to significant increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, secretion and aggregation (Pumiglia et al., Biochem. J. 286: 441–449 (1992)).
PTPases: Osteoporosis
The rate of bone formation is determined by the number and the activity of osteoblasts. In turn, these are determined by the rate of proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast progenitor cells, respectively. Histomorphometric studies indicate that the osteoblast number is the primary determinant of the rate of bone formation in humans (Gruber et al., Mineral Electrolyte Metab. 12: 246–254 (1987), reviewed in Lau et al., Biochem. J. 257: 23–36 (1989)). Acid phosphatases/PTPases are implicated in negative regulation of osteoblast proliferation. Thus, fluoride, which has phosphatase inhibitory activity, has been found to increase spinal bone density in osteoporotics by increasing osteoblast proliferation (Lau et al.; supra). Consistent with this observation, an osteoblastic acid phosphatase with PTPase activity was found to be highly sensitive to mitogenic concentrations of fluoride (Lau et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260: 4653–4660 (1985), Lau et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 1389–1397 (1987), Lau et al., Adv. Protein Phosphatases 4: 165–198 (1987)). The mitogenic action of fluoride and other phosphatase inhibitors (molybdate and vanadate) may thus be explained by their inhibition of acid phosphatases/PTPases that negatively regulate the cell proliferation of osteoblasts. The complex nature of the involvement of PTPases in bone formation is further suggested by the recent identification of a novel parathyroid regulated, receptor-like PTPase, OST-PTP, expressed in bone and testis (Mauro et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 30659–30667 (1994)). OST-PTP is up-regulated following differentiation and matrix formation of primary osteoblasts and subsequently down-regulated in the osteoblasts which are actively mineralizing bone in culture. In addition, it was recently observed that vanadate, vanadyl and pervanadate all increased the growth of the osteoblast-like cell line UMR106. Vanadyl and pervanadate were stronger stimulators of cell growth than vanadate. Only vanadate was able to regulate the cell differentiation as measured by cell alkaline phosphatase activity (Cortizo et al., Mol. Cell. Biochem. 145: 97–102 (1995)). More important, several studies have shown that biphosphonates, such as alendronate and tiludronate, inhibit PTPase activity in osteoclasts and that the inhibition of PTPase activity correlated with the inhibition of in vitro osteoclast formation and bone resorption. (Scmidt, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93: 3068–3073, 1996; Murakami et al., Bone 20:399–404, 1997; Opas et al., Biochem. Pharmacol. 54: 721–727, 1997; Skorey et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272: 22472–22480, 1997. Thus other PTPase inhibitors are potentially effective in countering osteoclast activity, and thus treating osteoporosis.
PTPases: Microorganisms
Dixon and coworkers have called attention to the fact that PTPases may be a key element in the pathogenic properties of Yersinia (reviewed in Clemens et al. Molecular Microbiology 5: 2617–2620 (1991)). This finding was rather surprising since tyrosine phosphate is thought to be absent in bacteria. The genus Yersinia comprises 3 species: Y. pestis (responsible for the bubonic plague), Y. pseudoturberculosis and Y. enterocolitica (causing enteritis and mesenteric lymphadenitis). A dual-specificity phosphatase, VH1, has been identified in Vaccinia virus (Guan et al., Nature 350: 359–263 (1991)). These observations indicate that PTPases may play critical roles in microbial and parasitic infections, and they further point to PTPase inhibitors as a novel, putative treatment principle of infectious diseases. Availibility of PTPase inhibitors would help shed light in all the foregoing specualations about PTPase function because they would enable assaying techniques which would answer some of these questions as will be illustrated below. | {
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The invention relates to a pneumatic mail station for the delivery, reception and transit of pneumatic dispatch cases with two pneumatic tube sections placed at mutually opposite limiting walls of the pneumatic mail station for coupling with an incoming forwarding tube path and an outgoing forwarding tube path as well as with an insertion or inward transfer opening for the introduction of pneumatic dispatch cases which are to be sent and an unloading or outward transfer opening for the discharge of received pneumatic dispatch cases in the same limiting surfaces and with a reception tube chamber shiftable into alignment with the pneumatic tube section associated with the incoming forwarding tube path for the reception of pneumatic dispatch cases, there being allocated to said reception tube chamber a closure device functioning at one end of the chamber in the manner of creating an air pillow decelerating the pneumatic dispatch case and an air conduit which, in the reception position of the reception tube chamber, pneumatically connects the incoming pneumatic tube section with the outgoing forwarding pneumatic tube section.
Given such a pneumatic mail station--known from the Austrian Pat. No. 353,172, FIG. 1 as well as page 4, line 33 through page 5, line 12--the closure device is designed as an electromagnetically or, respectively, motor-driven slide. The slide comprises a movable plate which is guided in a slide housing. For this purpose, the slide housing is rigidly connected to the tube chamber and is displaced in common with said tube chamber. The actual drive of the tube chamber ensues via a cog wheel mechanism which engages in the central area of the tube chamber.
Given vertical disposition of the tube chamber--the usual standard position of pneumatic mail stations--the slide is situated in the lower portion of the station. The pneumatic tube sections for the incoming and the outgoing forwarding tube paths have holes near the upper and lower boundaries of the station housing which discharge into the air conduit. A clack valve is situated in the central portion of the air conduit, said clack valve being opened for the air streaming from the top toward the bottom but being closed for the opposite air flow direction. Upon arrival of a pneumatic dispatch case from the upper transmission tube path, the slide is run into the clear cross-section of the tube chamber so that the stream of conveying air is interrupted at the tube chamber. The stream of conveying air proceeds through the holes in the pneumatic tube sections and the air conduit, so that an effective pneumatic drive is available for the incoming traveling tube until the pneumatic dispatch case enters the area of the air holes of the incoming pneumatic tube section. The deceleration path in which the pneumatic dispatch case creates an air pillow in front of it which decelerates it extends from this area to the level of the slide.
Pneumatic dispatch cases arriving from below first traverse the area of the open slide, actuate a contact after the traversal and thus redirect the direction of the conveying air stream on the one hand and, on the other hand, actuate the slide drive so that the tube chamber is closed off at the lower portion thereof. Subsequently, the same operational sequence occurs as in the arrival of a pneumatic dispatch case entering the pneumatic mail station from the top.
In the known pneumatic mail station, thus, the same reception operation is provided given the arrival of pneumatic dispatch cases arriving in the pneumatic mail station both from the top and from below, the pneumatic dispatch case moving from top toward bottom in the final phase of said reception operation. This is to be viewed as being disadvantageous insofar as there is an increasing desire in the planning of contemporary pneumatic mail systems to have the pneumatic dispatch cases enter the pneumatic mail station from below, because this makes it easier to conceal or, respectively, cover the pneumatic mail tubes by means of covers, office furniture or counters. A further disadvantage is to be seen in that the pneumatic deceleration is imperfect insofar as lightweight pneumatic dispatch cases are better and more effectively decelerated than heavy pneumatic dispatch cases; given the same air velocity in tube lines proceeding down from the top, heavy pneumatic dispatch cases exhibit higher conveying speeds than lightweight pneumatic dispatch cases. In order to also be able to effectively decelerate heavy and, thus, faster pneumatic dispatch cases, an air conduit is provided for the known pneumatic mail station given high conveying speeds of heavy pneumatic dispatch cases, said air conduit emerging from the pneumatic mail station and, in an area lying correspondingly far above the pneumatic mail station, discharging into the forwarding tube entering the pneumatic mail station from the top. | {
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(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compounds that are useful in the treatment and prevention of ulcers. More particularly, this invention relates to 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylsulfinyl)methyl!benzenamines that inhibit gastric acid secretion and which are, therefore, useful in the treatment of peptic ulcers. The compounds of this invention directly inhibit acid secretion by parietal cells of the stomach through inhibition of (H.sup.+ +K.sup.+)-ATPase. For review, see, e.g., J. G. Spenney, "Biochemical Mechanisms of Acid Secretion by Gastric Parietal Cells," J. Clin. Gastro., 5 (Suppl. 1), 7-15 (1983). In addition, some of the compounds of this invention also exert cytoprotective activity. For review of cytoprotection, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,465.
(b) Prior Art
Heterocyclylalkylsulfinylbenzimidazoles have been disclosed as gastric acid secretion inhibitors. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,472,409, 4,394,509, 4,337,257, 4,327,102, 4,255,431, 4,045,564, and 4,045,563; British Patent No. 2,134,523; and German Offenlegungeschrift No. 3,415,971. Some heterocyclylalkylsulfinylbenzimidazoles have also been disclosed as cytoprotective agents. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,465. The following structure is illustrative of compounds disclosed in these patents: ##STR1## wherein R' and R" represent hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, carboxy, hydroxy, acyl, and the like; R'" represents hydrogen, alkyl, acyl, alkoxysulfonyl, and the like; and Het represents heterocyclic groups containing at least one endocyclic (ring) nitrogen. No compound disclosed in these patents includes an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group instead of the Het group nor exocyclic amino or acylamino functions attached to the Het group. In contrast, the compounds of the present invention are distinguished from the prior art by having (optionally substituted amino)phenyl groups instead of a Het group. Thus, the compounds of the present invention are clearly distinguished from the prior art compounds cited.
Heterocyclylalkylsulfinylnaphth2,3-d!imidazoles have also been disclosed as gastric acid secretion inhibitors. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,248,880 and 4,182,766. The compounds disclosed in these patents are related to those illustrated in the above structure, except for having a substituted naphth 2,3-d!imidazole group instead of the benzimidazole group. Similarly, other heterocyclylalkylsulfinylbenzimidazoles having a ring fused to the benzimidazole group have been disclosed as gastric acid secretion inhibitors and cytoprotective agents. See European Patent Application Nos. 130,729 and 127,763. Because of the additional ring fusions of these compounds, as well as for the same reasons stated in the preceding paragraph, the compounds of the present invention are structurally distinguished from prior art compounds cited. | {
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} |
In the art of hydrocyclones, commonly referred to as cyclones, a free vortex principle is used for separating and classifying suspended solids, for example, to separate solids from water so that the water may be reused or for separating mud and slime from pulverized coal or for classifying oil drilling muds. Cyclones are also commonly used to separate sand, grit, bark particles and shives from cellulose fibers in the production of a paper making slurry.
In an effort to utilize more of the cellulose in trees, there is a trend in the paper making industry to chip whole trees including the trunks, branches and twigs. Since it is not practical to debark the branches and twigs, the bark is cooked with the chips and must be removed after cooking, even for grades of paper not generally requiring such cleaning. Since a cyclone becomes more efficient with respect to the removal of fine particles as the major diameter of the cyclone decreases, it has become desirable to employ a larger number of smaller cyclones such as cyclones having an inner diameter of six inches or less. The improved efficiency of the smaller cyclones may be partially sacrificed to permit a much lower pressure drop across the cyclones, and the lower pressure drop provides for a significant decrease in the energy required for operating the cyclones so that there is a significant savings in the cost of operating the cyclones, especially when millions of gallons of liquid or fluid are treated per day.
There have been a number of methods either used or proposed for assembling a group of relatively small cyclones into a cluster so as to minimize the space required by the assembly and to provide for a more compact and economic construction. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,860 disclose a cluster arrangement of cyclones which are arranged in a spoke type manner within a circular cast metal housing. Preferably, the cyclones disclosed in this patent are each formed of a ceramic material for obtaining a maximum service life. U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,374 discloses other cluster arrangements of hydrocyclones which are arranged either radially within an annular pattern or in a rectangular pattern with the axes of the cyclones in parallel relation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,931, which issued to the applicant of the present invention, shows another form of arranging cyclones in parallel spaced relation. In addition, a cluster arrangement of hydrocyclones is manufactured by A. B. Fractionator of Stockholm, Sweden and marketed under the trademark "Albia 100". This cleaning device incorporates a cluster arrangement of tubular cyclones arranged in parallel relation. Each cyclone extends through a set of resilient ring seals mounted within aligned holes formed in parallel spaced plates or walls which define chambers therebetween in a manner similar to that shown in above U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,374. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field
This invention relates to a method for anaerobically fermenting biologically degradable organic material, whereby this material is mixed with a quantity of already fermented material as an inoculum for the active anaerobic fermentation, and whereby this mixture is introduced at the top into a fermentation chamber in which a fermenting mass is situated, which moves from an inlet situated at the top towards an outlet situated at the bottom.
B. Related Art
By organic material, here in particular the organic fraction of domestic waste is intended, and of similar industrial waste and other organic fractions, such as, for example, slurry from water purification installations, slurry from the paper industry, or other kinds of organic slurry.
Methods for anaerobically fermenting organic waste can be divided into wet and dry manners of fermentation.
With wet fermentation methods, fresh or recycled water is added to the solid organic waste or slurry in order to form a highly liquid mash or slurry which can be pumped easily and which can easily be mixed in a fermentation tank. Such mash with 6 to 10% of dry matter, depending on the viscosity of the starting material to be treated, is pumped into a fermentation tank and is transformed into biogas, in mixed fermentation systems, in one or two phases and with mesophilic or thermophilic temperatures.
Due to the high water content of the material in the fermentation tank, the density in this tank is relatively uniform, and the produced biogas can easily escape from the mixed mash.
With a dry fermentation, on the contrary, the quantity of water which is added is limited, such that a relatively solid biologically degradable waste is pumped or pushed into a “dry” fermentation tank by means of special pumps. For organic fractions originating from domestic waste, the dry matter content of the material fed into the tank is between 15 and 45%. For more viscous materials, this may be up to 10 to 15%.
In most cases, with dry fermentation the material is pumped at the bottom into the standing tank, whereby gas is injected in order to obtain a mixing and a horizontal movement of the material. The tank may also be installed horizontally and may be provided with a mixing device which realizes the horizontal movement.
Such method of introducing the material at the bottom of a standing tank is described in WO 86/05200. Biogas is brought into the fermentation tank at different locations, through the underside, such that this underside is divided into sectors. The biogas provides for a mixing of the contents of the sectors and a movement of the fermenting mass from one sector to the other and finally towards the outlet, also situated at the bottom.
EP-A-0.476.217 describes a method, whereby a horizontal fermentation tank with therein a mixing device is used. After having been mixed with a portion of fermented material, the biodegradable material is pushed, through a feeding tube realized as a heat exchanger, into the tank and in this tank is mixed by a blender, as a result of which the fermenting mass flows horizontally through the tank, from one extremity to the other, where it is discharged at the bottom.
According to EP-A-0.205.721 and EP-A-0.577.209, the fermentation is performed in a vertical fermentation tank, without a mixing device therein. The biodegradable material is mixed with fermented material as an inoculum and is pumped into the tank at the top.
In the tank, the fermenting mass sinks, as fermenting material is discharged at the bottom. This latter is performed by means of a sliding grid moving to and fro above the flat bottom of the tank, which grid pushes this fermented material into a screw conveyor device situated therebelow. This device pushes the fermented material into another screw functioning as a lock by forming a stopper of fermented material at its conical outlet.
In the method according to EP-A-0.577.209, moreover, due to the design of the device, a fraction division into a liquid and a solid fraction is obtained, such that the content of solid matter in the fermentation tank can be maintained and that the dry matter content of the fed material, which consists of a mixture of inoculum and fresh material, is situated between 15 and 40%.
In these fermentation tanks without mixer, it is typical that the content thereof rises and expands as a result of the produced biogas. This biogas can not bubble immediately upward as in a wet tank and can not easily escape, due to the high viscosity of the material in which it is created and through which it must weave its way upward.
In practice, the material will expand as a consequence thereof, and its density will be reduced by about 10 to 40%. The average density depends on various parameters, such as the degree of biogas production, the feeding frequency, the kind of structure of the added material, and the height of the feeding tank. Depending on the feeding, the density may vary from 0.7 to 1.2 kg/l.
It was noted that this feeding matter, being a mixture of fresh biodegradable waste and fermented material or residue, has a density which mostly is higher than 1.0 kg/l, on account of the fact that the prevailing biogas during mixing of the fermented material and the fresh material can escape from the fermented material.
When this feeding matter with fresh material and inoculum, which, due to the degassification, has obtained a higher density, is brought at the top into the fermentation tank in which the material has a lower density, then, depending on the difference in density, the dimensions and the diameter of the fermentation tank and the extraction system thereof, too fast a sinking of this feeding matter through the mass in the tank can be noted, such that this feeding matter arrives faster at the bottom than the remainder of the fermenting mass and, thus, is discharged from the tank without having undergone an optimum fermentation. | {
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Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to voice processing for broad band communication systems. More specifically, certain embodiments relate to a method and system for an adaptive multimode media queue for supporting data sampled at different rates.
Packet based telephony such as Internet Protocol TIP) telephony may provide an alternative to conventional circuit switched telephony, the latter of which may typically require the establishment of an end-to-end communication path prior to the transmission of information. In particular, IP telephony permits packetization, prioritization and simultaneous transmission of voice traffic and data without requiring the establishment of an end-to-end communication path. IP telephony systems may capitalize on voice-over-packet (VoP) technologies, which may provide a means by which voice, video and data traffic may be simultaneously transmitted across packet networks. The data may include video data.
Voice quality (VQ) may define a qualitative and/or quantitative measure regarding the quality and/or condition of a received voice signal. Voice clarity may be an indicator of the quality or condition of a voice signal. Voice quality may be an important parameter that may ultimately dictate a quality of service (QOS) offered by a network service provider. The following factors, for example, may affect the voice quality and/or condition of a voice signal—noise, echo, and delay or packet latency. However, the effects of these factors may be cumulative. In this regard, factors such as delay and latency may exacerbate the effects of echo. Delays that may affect the voice quality may include, but are not limited to, routing, queuing and processing delays.
Various VoP specifications, recommendations and standards have been created to ensure interoperability between various network components, and to create an acceptable QOS which may include voice quality. For example, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) ratified H.323 specification, which may define the processes by which voice, video and data may be transported over IP networks for use in VoP networks. H.323 addresses, for example, delay by providing a prioritization scheme in which delay-sensitive traffic may b e given processing priority over less delay-sensitive traffic. For example, voice and video may be given priority over other forms of data traffic.
H.323 also addresses voice quality by specifying the audio and video coders/decoders (CODECs) that may be utilized for processing a media stream. A CODEC may be a signal processor such as a digital signal processor (DSP) that may be adapted to convert an analog voice and/or video signal into a digital media stream and for converting a digital media stream into an analog voice and/or video signal. In this regard, a coder or encoder portion of the CODEC may convert an analog voice and/or video signal into a digital media stream. Additionally, a decoder portion of the CODEC may convert a digital media stream into an analog voice and/or video signal. Regarding the CODEC for audio signals, H.323 may support recommendations such as ITU-T G.711, G.722, G.723.1, G.728 and G.729 recommendations. ITU-T G.711 may support audio coding at 64 kbps, G.722 may support audio coding at 64 kbps, 56 kbps and 48 kbps, G.723.1 may support audio coding at 5.3 Kbps and 6.3 Kbps, G.728 may support audio coding at 16 kbps and G.729 may support audio coding at 8 kbps.
The voice quality of a speech CODEC may be dependent on factors such as the type of encoding and/or decoding algorithm utilized by the CODEC. In general, some CODECs may utilize compression algorithms that remove redundant information from the analog signal. Such compression algorithms may permit at least a close replication of an original analog signal. In this case, the bandwidth required for transmitting any resultant signal may be reduced. Other CODECs may utilize algorithms that analyze the signal and retain only those portions that are deemed to be of cognitive importance. These algorithms may reproduce a close approximation to the original signal. Notwithstanding, in this latter case, bandwidth utilization may be superior to the former case where redundant information may be removed. Accordingly, depending on application requirements and hardware limitations, one or more algorithms may be utilized to optimize performance.
Moreover, although economic attractiveness of VoP has lured network access providers and network transport providers away from traditional circuit switching networks, factors such as the extensiveness of embedded legacy systems and customer demands, for example, have dictated the coexistence of both packet switched and circuit switch networks. Accordingly, new technologies and techniques such as audio and video coding and decoding may be required to support various modes of operation utilized by each system.
Traditional voice telephony products are band-limited to 4 kHz bandwidth with 8 kHz sampling, known as “narrowband”. These products include the telephone, data modems, and fax machines. Newer products aiming to achieve higher voice quality have doubled the sampling rate to 16 kHz to encompass a larger 8 kHz bandwidth, which is also known as “wideband” capable. The software implications of doubling the sampling rate are significant. Doubling the sampling rate not only requires doubling the processing cycles, but nearly doubling the memory used to store the data.
Doubling memory and processor cycles requirements is expensive because the memory and processing power footprints of DSPs are generally small. Implementing wideband support thus requires creativeness to optimize both memory and cycles.
Additionally, much of the software providing various functions and services, such as echo cancellation, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) detection and generation, and call discrimination (between voice and facsimile transmission, for example), are written for only narrowband signals. Either software must be written for wideband signals, or the wideband signal down-sampled. Where the software is modified, the software should also be capable of integration with preexisting narrowband devices. Providing software for operation with both narrowband and wideband devices is complex and costly.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous if a scheme for seamlessly integrating services for both narrowband devices and wideband devices were provided.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. | {
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This invention relates to polyurethane adhesives, and to substrates coated with a layer of a polyurethane adhesive.
Polyurethane adhesives and sealants of various types are well known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,779,794, 4,624,996 and 4,625,012.
In certain applications, it is desirable to provide an adhesive which, once applied to a substrate and cured, can be removably attached to an underlying surface. For these applications, a combination of tenacious bonding and yet virtual absence of residual adhesive on the underlying surface upon removal is desired. Upon removal, the exposed adhesive often picks up dirt and dust. It is further desirable that the adhesive is such that it can be washed without destroying its tackiness.
An example of such an application is carpet, especially carpet tiles or automotive floor mats, which must be adhered to the floor or other substrate. This is often done by applying a pressure sensitive adhesive to the floor, and applying the carpet to the adhesive. Although the carpet is easily removed when applied in this manner, the adhesive stays with the floor when the carpet is removed. Moreover, the adhesive often bonds too strongly to the carpet, and weaker carpet backings such as polymeric foams often tear and leave portions of the backing attached to the floor. This increases the difficulty of completely removing the carpet.
It would be desirable to provide a polyurethane adhesive which adheres tenaciously to a substrate, yet is cleanly removable and washable. | {
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1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains generally to the filling of implanted infusion apparatuses, and more particularly to an implantable infusion apparatus, an apparatus for filling the infusion apparatus, and a method for accomplishing such filling.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEMPORARY AND/OR PRIOR ART
The desirability of being able to implant a medication infusion pump in a human or animal body has been recognized by prior and contemporary technology. Patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,405, U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,479, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,292 recognize the desirability of dispensing medication from within the body. Where medication can be dispensed or infused directly to that portion of the body at which the medication is to be applied, lower concentrations of the medication and diminished side effects can be realized.
To achieve longer life for such implantable infusion apparatuses as well as for infusion apparatuses maintained external to the body, a feature of refillability has been suggested by both the prior and contemporary art. Summers, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,220, discloses a pump for administering drug to a body wherein the pump has a "self-sealing" port through which the pump can be filled with an appropriate drug. Similarly, Tucker et al and others in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,951,147 and 4,193,397 discuss the periodic refilling of an infusate pump by injecting drug through an inlet septum into a storage chamber implanted beneath the skin. Likewise, Ellinwood, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,692,027, 3,923,060, 4,003,379, and 4,146,029, discloses a cylindrical inlet through which medication in a dispensing apparatus can be replenished. Similarly, Blackshear, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,681, discloses an inlet which is closed by means of a self-puncture sealing refill stopper. An invention of Blackshear (U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,681) shows another infusion pump wherein drug is fed through a self-sealing plug into an infusate chamber. Such prior and current apparatuses generally disclose the use of a resealable, or self-sealing, septum through which a drug refilling hypodermic needle can pass.
Another implanted device for supplying medicines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,538 which provides for refillability through spring valves.
Those working with implant technology have also recognized the problem of bacteria flowing from a medication infusion pump into the body. Tucker, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,147, addresses this problem by first sterilizing the pump taught therein before implantation and by providing an outlet filter intended to trap air bubbles and debris.
Another problem heretofore unsolved by the prior art is associated with the necessity to refill a medication reservoir under pressure. If the portion of the refilling apparatus which enters the reservoir is not properly placed, a potentially fatal dose of medication can be injected directly into the patient in which the device is implanted.
These various inventions have underscored the benefit and advantages of designing an implantable medication device to be refillable. However, the above-cited technology fails to disclose various features which might render such a refillable implantable device safer, more convenient, and improved in operation. | {
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Many computer-implemented displays consist of two-dimensional arrays of individual picture elements, or pixels. To form an image, a display driver selectively colors the pixels. Because the individual pixels are so small, the display appears to a human viewer to be a continuous rendering of an image. This illusion is particularly effective for complex images of continuous tones such as photographs.
For simple geometric shapes, however, the pixelated nature of the display can become apparent to the human viewer. For example, if the display driver is instructed to draw a straight line, there is no guarantee that the points on that desired line will coincide with the pixels that are available for rendering the line. As a result, the desired line is often rendered by a rasterized line of pixels that are close to but not necessarily coincident with the desired line. This results in rasterized lines that have a jagged or echeloned appearance.
In the course of rendering an image, a large number of straight lines and line segments are often drawn. As a result, given a desired line, the display driver must frequently select those pixels that will minimize the jagged appearance of the resulting rasterized line. A straightforward mathematical approach is to use the equation of the desired line and the coordinates of the available pixels to minimize a least square error across all points on the line. While such an approach has the advantage of globally optimizing the selection of pixels on the rasterized line, the large number of floating point operations required causes this approach to be prohibitively time-consuming.
To meet constraints on speed, display drivers typically implement rasterization methods that avoid time-consuming floating point operations. Among the methods that meet the foregoing constraints is that taught in Bresenham, J. E., “Algorithm for Computer Control of a Digital Plotter,” IBM System Journal, Vol. 4, pp.25-30, 1965, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. Using only integer operations, the Bresenham algorithm reduces the choice of what pixel to select to an examination of the sign of a discriminant.
Even faster rasterization methods exist that select multiple points on the rasterized line based on the outcome of a single decision. There also exist a variety of rasterization methods aimed at rendering conic sections and quadric sections on a pixelated display.
However, the foregoing rasterization methods all rely on the assumption that the array of pixels is arranged in a uniform rectangular grid that can readily be modeled by a Cartesian coordinate system. This is a reasonable assumption given the prevalence of two-dimensional displays such as computer monitors and printers at the time these algorithms were developed.
Since then, however, volumetric, or three-dimensional displays have been developed. Such displays permit the generation, absorption, or scattering of visible radiation from a set of localized and specified regions within a volume. Examples of such systems are taught in Hirsch U.S. Pat. No. 2,967,905, Ketchpel U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,415, Tsao U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,147 and on pages 66-67 of Aviation Week, Oct. 31, 1960.
In a typical volumetric display 1, shown in FIG. 1, a motor 2 spins an imaging plate 3 rapidly about an axis 4. A light source 5 under the control of a display driver 6 illuminates selected spots 7 on the imaging plate 3 at successive instants. If the imaging plate 3 spins rapidly enough, and if the successive instants are separated by short enough time intervals, a continuous curve will appear to hang in mid-air.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the display driver 6 renders a line 8 in a plane perpendicular to the axis 4. In FIG. 2, the imaging plate 3 is shown in six successive instants as it rotates around the axis 4, now perpendicular to the page. At each of the six instants, the light source 5, under the control of the display driver 6, illuminates a spot 7 on the imaging plate 3. As shown in FIG. 2, by aiming the light source 5 at the correct spot and firing the light source 5 at the right time, it is possible to trace out the line 8. It is the function of the display driver 6 to correctly aim and fire the light source 5 so as to trace out the line 8.
To aim the light source 5, the display driver 6 needs a way to identify points in space. In other words, the display driver 6 needs a coordinate system. One possible coordinate system is a Cartesian coordinate system.
Using a Cartesian coordinate system, the display driver 6 would draw the line 8 in FIG. 2 by specifying, for example, that at time t1 the light-source 5 should aim 30 units north, at time t2, the light-source 5 should aim 29 units north and 1 unit east, at time t3, the light-source 5 should aim 28 units north and 2 units east, and so on. To ensure that the imaging plate 3 is at the appropriate location, the display driver 6 also has to specify the values of the times t1, t2 and t3 based on how fast the imaging plate 3 is spinning. Although the spinning of the imaging plate 3 can be resolved into a north-south component and an east-west component, this is a computationally taxing exercise that can easily be avoided by using a polar coordinate system.
As an alternative, the display driver 6 could draw the line in FIG. 2 in polar coordinates by specifying, for example, that at time t1, the light source 5 should aim 30 units away from the axis 4 at a 90 degree angle, at time t2, the light source 5 should aim 29.02 units from the axis 4 at an angle of 88.03 degrees, and at time t3, the light source 5 should aim at 28.07 units from the axis 4 at an angle of 85.91 degrees. This would, of course, draw the same line that was drawn using Cartesian coordinates. The advantage of using polar coordinates becomes apparent when it comes time to specify when to fire the light source 5. Because the imaging plate 3 is spinning, it is far more natural to represent its motion in terms of degrees per second than it is to resolve its motion into a north-south component and an east-west component. For this reason, calculations involving motion of the imaging plate 3 in a volumetric display are best performed in terms of a polar coordinate system, or in a three-dimensional case, a cylindrical coordinate system.
The process of rendering a line in a polar coordinate system is fundamentally different from that of rendering a line in a Cartesian coordinate system. In a Cartesian coordinate system, a line has a constant slope. A unit change in the horizontal direction always results in the same change in the vertical direction, regardless of where that change occurs. This is not the case in a polar coordinate system.
In a polar coordinate system, the slope of a line can vary dramatically with position along the line. In contrast to a Cartesian coordinate system in which the slope of a line is constant at all points on the line, the slope of a line in a polar coordinate system can vary all the way from minus infinity to positive infinity, passing through zero in the process. For those portions of the line that are closest to the origin of the polar coordinate system, the change in distance of the line from the origin changes very slowly with angle. In these portions, the slope of the line is close to zero. For those portions of the line that are far from the origin of the polar coordinate system, even a small change in angle results in a huge change in radial distance from the origin. For these portions of the line, the slope approaches infinity. | {
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The alginate fiber is a biodegradable fiber prepared through wet spinning using sodium alginate as the raw material. The alginate fiber is widely applied due to its excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, great water absorbency and film-forming and fiber-forming capability, and has great potential in applications to high-grade clothing, underwear fabrics and decorative fabrics.
When the alginate fiber currently researched at home and abroad is contacted with a solution containing Na+, K+ and H+ ions, an ion-exchange interaction occurs between these ions and divalent cations contained in the alginate fiber, such that the fiber is swelled to break coordination-crosslinking structures within the alginate fiber, leading to a loss of fiber morphology, and even completely dissolution of the fiber. This defect results in that when the alginate fiber is applied in the textile field, not only is a failure of dyeing and finishing processes of the fiber caused, but also the fabric cannot be washed with a common detergent, which greatly limits the application of the alginate fiber in the textile fabric field.
Although currently there are some reports for researches on salt-resistant alginate fibers in the prior art, some shortages still exist. For example, Chinese patent CN 101956320 A discloses a method for reducing the swelling degree of a calcium alginate fiber, wherein a calcium alginate fiber processed by such a method has a reduced swelling degree in a NaCl solution; there are also some researches on modification of a calcium alginate fiber by aluminum sulfate, and for example Zhang Chuan-jie et al. Modification of calcium alginate fibers with aluminum sulfate solution (Journal of Functional Materials, 2012-7, Vol 43(13), 1752-1755) and Wang Heng-zhou et al. Structure and properties of aluminum sulfate modified calcium alginate fibers (Textile Auxiliaries, 2013-3, Vol 30(3), 5-11) reported methods for improving the salt resistance of calcium alginate fibers through modification by aluminum sulfate, and the calcium alginate fibers processed by such methods has a significantly improved resistance to normal saline, but the alginate fibers processed by the aforementioned methods will be dissolved rapidly when coming into contact with a alkaline detergent, such that a fabric made of such an alginate fiber cannot meet the requirement for daily use; Zhang Min et al. from Tianjin University prepared a degradable alginate hydrogel microcarrier for in vitro culture of mesenchymal stem cells by crosslinking oxidized sodium alginate-gelatin with sodium tetraborate (master's thesis of Tianjin University, 2006-1), wherein such a carrier has excellent resistances to salts and alkalis, but the raw material, the finished product and the preparation process of this method are all significantly different from the existing manufacturing processes of alginate fibers, and thus cannot be applied in manufacture of alginate fibers; Chinese patent CN 101718010 B provides a method for preparing an alginate fiber, in which an alginate fiber is prepared directly from alga as a raw material using epichlorohydrin, borax, toluene diisocyanate or a dialdehyde compound as a crosslinking agent, but since the main object of this method is to prepare a fiber product with mechanical properties similar to the existing alginate fiber directly by using alga as the raw material, the effects of impurities contained in the raw material alga on the salt resistance and the detergent resistance of the alginate fiber had been ignored, such that the salt resistance and the detergent resistance, and particularly the detergent resistance, of the alginate fiber cannot meet the application requirements of textile fabrics.
Therefore, it is an urgent technical problem to be solved in the textile field to provide an alginate fiber which is not only salt-resistant, but also detergent-resistant. | {
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As software systems are created they implement a complex web of caller/provider relationships between various applications and data sources. As changes are made in a system it is presently left to the people who made those changes to properly document how the system has been changed. If no documentation is created then there is no effective way to determine how future changes or additions will impact the system. In the past there have been efforts to manually create metadata repositories for documenting the structure and changes made in a system; however, they were quickly abandoned due to a number of reasons. One reason for abandonment was the large number of man hours needed to create and maintain the repository. Another reason was the fact that the integrity of the entire repository is put in question even if only one change is not properly updated in the repository. Once the integrity is questioned people are less likely to take the time to make future updates since it will add little or no value to the repository.
This problem is further exacerbated in an enterprise where multiple systems are communicating with each other. Still further complexity is added since as an enterprise grows and changes, legacy systems within the enterprise might not present data in a useful way for newer systems that are created. As such there is created a middleware transaction manager that enables communication between various systems.
Within an enterprise the number of man hours needed to manually create a metadata repository for the entire enterprise increases along with the number of systems operating within that enterprise and the number of transactions that need to be managed by the middleware. Further, since there are more changes occurring across an enterprise than just within a single system, there are more people responsible for updating the repository and there is a greater chance that updates to the repository won't be made, causing the repository's utility to be reduced due to the data's lack of integrity. As such, it has not been feasible to create and maintain such a repository to date. | {
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Person-to-person fund transfers today generally involves two agents: a first agent that collects funds from a sender and initiates a transfer of funds to a recipient designated by the sender, and a second agent that completes the transfer by providing the recipient with the funds sent by the sender. Such a process, while functional, limits the sender and recipient in many ways. For example, because agents may be available to provide their services only during the work day, the sender and the recipient must schedule the transfer and collection at a time that conforms to the agent's availability, perhaps at the expense of the sender or recipient's convenience or needs. Recipients who need access to the funds immediately or during the non-work day cannot avail themselves of these services. In another example, the agent offices may be sparsely located, forcing a sender and recipient to travel long distances and therefore lengthening the period of time within which the funds passes between the sender and the recipient. In addition, security protocols sometimes require the recipient to provide the agent with some form of identification in order to collect the funds. Should the recipient neglect to bring appropriate identification, the recipient must leave the agent office empty-handed, expend additional effort to retrieve appropriate identification, and suffer a delay in obtaining the funds. Depending on the circumstances, convenience may not be the only thing sacrificed as a result of the delays inherent in this process; time-sensitive business transactions may be unraveled or personal emergencies unmet.
Security is another aspect of the person-to-person transfer that may be limited to policies set forth by the institution facilitating the funds transfer. Merely requiring a recipient to show picture identification might not be commensurate with the level of security recommended for the transfer of a substantially large amount of funds. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Vinyl ethers represent a relatively new class of chemistry for preparing photopolymerizable coatings. See for example, J. V. Crivello, J. L. Lee, and D. A. Conlon, Radcure VI Conf. Proc., p. 4-28, Soc. Manuf. Eng., Dearborn, Mich. (1982). The general vinyl ether structure is represented as: EQU CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--O--R
where R may comprise various types of chemical groups, typically aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons. R may include moieties such as ester, urethane, ether, ketone, etc., and/or may comprise siloxanes or fluorocarbons, and there may be more than one vinyl ether group per molecule.
Vinyl ethers can be polymerized by ultraviolet (UV) radiation using either cationic or free radical photoinitiators. When cured cationically, vinyl ethers provide an advantage in increased cure speed over both cationically cured epoxies and free radically cured acrylates. This is related to the electron rich nature of the C.dbd.C double bond in the vinyl ether moiety. In addition, cationic curing of vinyl ethers is not subject to oxygen inhibition as is free radical cure of acrylates, where cure speed decreases in the absence of inert gas blanketing. When cured free radically, vinyl ethers do not homopolymerize well, but may be copolymerized with other components such as acrylates or unsaturated esters. See J. R. Snyder et al, "Free-radical Co-polymerization of Acrylates and Vinyl Ethers", U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,713; J. Gaske et al, "Method of Coating Concrete Floors With Photocurable Coatings", U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,216; G. K. Noren et al, "Free-radical Curable Compositions", U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,456. Curing in such hybrid systems may also be carried out by simultaneous free radical and cationic photo polymerization. An anticipated advantage of most vinyl ethers over acrylates is a lower level of skin sensitization. A further benefit of vinyl ethers is increased UV transparency, especially for applications in which optical fiber gratings are written into fiber cores with laser radiation through the optical fiber coating. See J. Aspell, D. Inniss, V. J. Kuck, M. A. Paczkowski, D. A. Simoff, "Formation of Gratings in Polymer Coated Optical Fibers", U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,495. A still further potential benefit of cationically cured fiber coating systems is enhanced corrosion resistance and mechanical strength resulting from an acidic environment. See J. R. Petisce, "Optical Fiber Including Acidic Coating System", U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,269.
Many UV curable coatings contain at least one oligomer component, together with one or more reactive monomer(s) and photoinitiator(s). An increasing variety of vinyl ether monomers are commercially available. Typical synthesis methods proceed via acetylene chemistry, dehydrohalogenation, cracking of acetals, and catalytic transvinylation. See for example, J. W. Reppe, Acetylene Chemistry, Charles A. Meyer, New York (1949); D. H. Lorenz and N. B. Bikales, Encycl. Polym. Sci., Wiley-Interscience, New York (1964); Matzher, Kurkjy and Cotter, Chem. Rev., 64, 645 (1964); C. Y. Yang, Ph. D. Thesis, 1991, Rennselear Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. 12180; M. Dimonie, Teodorscu, Makromol. Chem. Rapid. Commun., 14, 303 (1993); S. -S. Thang, Q. -G Liu and L. -L. Yang, J. Polym. Sci., Part A Polym. Chem., 31, 2313 (1983); J. V. Crivello, K. -D Jo, J. Polym Sci., Part A, 31, 1473 (1993); J. E. McKeon et al, Tetrahedron, 28 223 (1972); M. A. Smith et al, Polymer Reprints, 28(2), 264 (1987). Presently, only a few vinyl ether functional oligomers are commercially available. These typically contain urethane and/or ester groups which are undesirable for some applications. See S. C. Lapin, RadTech '88 Conf. Proc., p. 395, RadTech International, Northbrook, Ill. (1988); S. C. Lapin et al, "Vinyl Ether Terminated Urethane Resins", U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,273. Urethane and ester groups absorb UV light which is detrimental for coatings designed for UV transparency. A further disadvantage of ester and urethane groups is that they tend to decrease cure speed in cationically cured systems, limiting the inherent potential of vinyl ethers for rapid cure. To compensate for the impedance of cure speed by these constituent groups the concentration of the photoinitiator may be increased. However, this adds cost, and is detrimental to UV transparency of the coating because photoinitiators are UV absorbent by design.
Oligomers or polymers that are not vinyl ether functionalized have been used in formulations with vinyl ether monomers. Such oligomers/polymers have included non-reactive resin fillers such as cellulose derivatives or poly(alkyl methacrylates). See S. C. Lapin, "Semi-interpenetrating Polymer Networks", U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,379; E. J. Murphy et al, "Radiation Curable Coating Composition and Coated Optical Fiber", U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,669. Other additives of the prior art are reactive acrylate-functional oligomers, unsaturated polyester oligomers, or epoxy-functional oligomers. See for example C. E. Bayha, "Cationically Initiated Curable Resin System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,682; J. A. Dougherty et al, "Vinyl Ethers for Cationic UV Curing", Radcure '86 Conf. Proc., 15-1, Soc. Manuf. Eng., Dearborn, Mich. (1986); J. A. Dougherty et al, "Triethylene Glycol Divinyl Ether as a Reactive Diluent for Cationic Curing", Radcure Europe '87 Conf. Proc., 5-1, Soc. Manuf. Eng., Dearborn, Mich. (1987). Many of these oligomers/polymers contain urethane and/or ester groups, with attendant disadvantages in UV transparency and cure speed. The epoxy-functional oligomers that are commercially available (e.g., the diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A or its derivatives) often contain aromatic groups which are unacceptable for UV transparency and also increase the tendency toward yellowing. In general, the commercially available cycloaliphatic (non-aromatic) epoxies do not have sufficiently high molecular weight to provide adequate viscosity for optical fiber coating applications.
Earlier patents for vinyl ether based optical fiber coatings tend to rely on oligomers that contain ester and/or urethane groups. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,198 discloses vinyl ether functional oligomers having aromatic urethane moieties. U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,872 discloses vinyl ether based coatings for optical fibers wherein the oligomer is a vinyl ether urethane having a polyester or polyether backbone. U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,712 discloses hydrocarbon polyol based aliphatic vinyl ether urethane oligomers for use in optical fiber coatings.
Aliphatic polyether and aliphatic hydrocarbon based oligomers have long been used in fiber optic coatings, where oligomers having such backbones provide a combination of desirable properties including flexibility, low glass transition temperatures, and resistance to hydrolysis. A particularly desirable backbone is polytetrahydrofuran, which has superior hydrophobicity compared to other polyethers such as polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, and has superior oil resistance as compared with saturated hydrocarbon backbones. Polytetrahydrofuran also has excellent UV transparency at wavelengths above about 240 nm, where it is desirable to be able to write optical fiber gratings through the polymer coating. Polytetrahydrofuran is also known by other names, e.g., poly(tetramethylene oxide), polybutanediol, poly(butylene glycol), and .alpha.-hydroxy-.omega.-hydroxy poly(oxy-1,4-butanediyl).
The term oligomer as used herein, and generally as used in the art, refers to relatively low molecular weight materials, e.g. with molecular weights in the approximate range 500-5000. The distinction between oligomer to polymer in the art is not well defined but the range given is suitable for this description.
A technique for preparing polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) vinyl ethers is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,015. This process reacts polybutanediol with acetylene in the presence of a strong base. However, in commercial practice this process has been limited to synthesis of relatively low molecular weight oligomers, which have viscosities that are too low for commercial optical fiber coating techniques.
It would represent a substantial contribution to the technology if high molecular weight vinyl ether functionalized oligomers or polymers became available which are substantially devoid of aromatic moieties, carbonyl groups and nitrogen, i.e. species that are detrimental to both UV transparency and fiber coating cationic cure speed. Desirable types of oligomer or polymer backbones that meet these requirements include aliphatic polyethers, cycloaliphatic polyethers, aliphatic hydrocarbons, cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, and their copolymers and mixtures. Other desirable backbones include aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon or polyether polyols that have been chain extended with aliphatic or cycloaliphatic di- or multifunctional epoxides. The availability of high molecular weight polytetrahydrofuran based vinyl ether functional oligomers would be of special interest in optical fiber coating technology. | {
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Over the years, the performance criteria of gas turbine engines has steadily increased with corresponding improvements in engine efficiency, better thrust-to-weight ratios, lower emissions and improved fuel consumption. However, gas turbine engine temperatures often reach or exceed the limits of the materials of construction, thereby comprising the structural integrity of components in the hot sections of the engine, particularly the gas turbine engine blades. Thus, as gas turbine operating temperatures have increased, various methods have been developed to help protect blades in both the rotor and turbine sections using, for example, high temperature alloys for the combustors and turbine blades. Initially, ceramic thermal barrier coatings (“TBCs”) were applied to the surfaces of components exposed to the hot effluent combustion gases in order to reduce the heat transfer rate and provide thermal protection to the underlying metal and allow components. Such improvements helped to reduce the peak temperatures and thermal gradients of the base metal.
In more recent times, ceramic matrix composites (“CMCs”) were developed as substitutes for many of the high temperature alloys used in conventional turbine engines. CMCs offered improved temperature capability and density advantages over metal blades, often making them the material of choice at the higher anticipated operating temperatures of newer generation turbine engines. A number of new manufacturing techniques have also been developed to produce better quality engine components, particularly the turbine blades, using CMC construction materials. For example, silicon carbide CMCs are now formed from fibrous material infiltrated with molten silicon, such as products made by the “Silcomp” process. Other techniques for forming CMC components include polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (“PIP”) and the slurry cast melt infiltration (“MI”) process. All such processes focus on improving the structural integrity of gas engine components without sacrificing engine performance.
The efforts to develop improved composite rotor blades, stator vanes and airfoils having high strength with elongated filaments composited in a light weight matrix continues to this day. One problem that has discouraged the introduction of new light weight composite gas turbine engine blades is their relative vulnerability to foreign object damage. Many types and sizes of foreign objects can become entrained in the inlet of a gas turbine engine, particularly aircraft engines, ranging from birds to hailstones, sand and dust particles. Turbine damage from foreign objects typically takes two forms. Smaller objects can erode the CMC blade material and eventually reduce the efficiency and degrade the performance of the engine. Any impact by larger objects can rupture or pierce the blades, and portions of an impacted blade can even be torn loose and cause extensive secondary damage to adjacent and downstream blades or other vital engine components. The consequences of foreign object damage appear to be greatest in the low pressure compressors of high bypass gas turbine engines.
Various design improvements have been attempted in an effort to prevent composite blade failures due to foreign objects, such as the inclusion of a protective leading edge blade strip which helps prevent a catastrophic blade failure while providing some erosion protection to the blade, particularly along the leading edge. The edge protection strips allow the energy of impact (due, for example, to a bird strike) to be transmitted down to the trailing edge of the blade. However, even the dissipation of the impact energy can cause the blade to locally oscillate and/or be displaced to a different amplitude, and ultimately fail. Any oscillations or large rapid displacements of the trailing edge also induce strains to the blade matrix which can exceed material system limits and create internal delamination and/or blade surface fracture. Objects impacting a blade can even lead to the loss of edge material and rotor imbalance which in turn limits engine speed and power.
Even though CMC materials are highly resistant to hot temperatures (much more than metals), water vapor in exhaust streams can cause rapid degradation of the matrix, and thus the materials must normally be coated with an environmental barrier coating (“EBC”) in order to protect the underlying matrix from water vapor present in the combustion stream. Unfortunately, the use of thermal coatings on CMC components cannot prevent breaches to the turbine blade itself due to objects impacting against the blades during operation, particularly along the leading edge. Thus, if any penetration of the EBC occurs due to foreign object damage, or by other means such as thermo mechanical shock, the underlying CMC material faces accelerated degradation due to an increased exposure to any water in the hot gas path.
A significant design problem therefore remains in the gas turbine engine field with respect to the use of ceramic matrix composites in the hot gas path. Although adding a barrier coating (EBC) helps to seal the matrix and protect it from hot gas attack, the problem of foreign object damage remains, particularly impacts that penetrate the coating. As detailed below, a new form of ceramic matrix composite blade has been developed as a significant step change in improving the long-term reliability of both blade and engine performance. | {
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With the development of the advanced motor control technologies in home appliances, more and more new motor control methods have been proposed to make the home appliance cheaper, more intelligent and smart. Sensorless control is one of the key technologies, which can make motors run without a position sensor, such as a Hall sensor, encoder or etc. It is known to use sensorless control in three phase motor control systems. But three phase motors are not often used in the drains systems of home appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. Rather, such systems broadly use a U-shape single phase synchronous permanent magnetic motor (U-SPSPM motor). However, sensorless control of a U-SPSPM motor is not commonly used for several reasons.
A U-SPSPM motor, without knowing the magnetic rotor position, cannot be started in a unidirectional rotation because of cogging torque. Moreover, without rotor position information, any realization of the optimal power regulation will be impossible. Usually a sensor, such as a Hall sensor, is used to get the rotor position information. But there are several trade-offs with use of a sensor-based control: (1) associated costs for a sensor and wiring, (2) required space to add the sensor and circuitry, and (3) added energy consumption. Thus, there is a benefit to achieving sensorless control of a U-SPSPM motor without a physical position sensor.
It is known to provide sensorless control of a U-SPSPM motor with only a voltage signal. Only the voltage signal across the motor is used in this method to estimate the rotor position. A problem with this method is that rotor position information is estimable only when the current is equal to zero, i.e., when u=e0, or when the voltage equals a back-electromotive force. Thus, only detecting motor winding voltage cannot provide a maximum output power and the maximum torque. Consequently, the system will be less efficient based on the same motor design or motor capability. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to connectors for high-speed signal transmission. More specifically, the present invention relates to connectors in which wires are directly connected to contacts of the connectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
High-speed cable routing has been used to transmit signals between substrates, such as printed circuit boards, of electronic devices. Conventional high-speed cable routing often requires routing in very tight and/or low-profile spaces. However, as data rates increase (i.e., the frequency of the high-speed signal increases), the cost of high-performance high-speed transmission systems increases as well. High-speed signals transmitted from between substrates generally follow a path of: 1) a trace of the transmitting substrate; 2) a first connector mounted to the transmitting substrate; 3) a substrate of a second connector that is inserted into the first connector; 4) a high-speed cable connected to the second-connector substrate at a transmitting end of the high-speed cable; 5) a substrate of a third connector connected the high-speed cable at a receiving end of the high-speed cable; 6) a fourth connector, mounted to the receiving substrate, that receives the third-connector substrate; and 7) a trace of the receiving substrate.
Conventional high-speed cable assemblies typically include two connectors (i.e., the second and third connectors listed above) that are connected by high-speed cables. Accordingly, conventional high-speed cable routing also requires an additional two connectors (i.e., the first and fourth connectors listed above) to connect the high-speed cables to transmitting and receiving substrates.
The signal quality is affected every time the transmitted signal transfers from each of the listed items above. That is, the signal quality is degraded when the signal is transmitted between 1) the trace of the transmitting substrate and 2) the first connector mounted to the transmitting substrate, between 2) the first connector mounted to the transmitting substrate and 3) the second-connector substrate that is inserted into the first connector, etc. The signal quality can even be affected within each of the items above. For example, a signal transmitted on the trace of the transmitting or receiving substrate can suffer significant insertion loss.
High-speed cable assemblies are relatively expensive, due in part to the cost of high-speed cable and the two connectors that include substrates (i.e., the second and third connectors listed above). Each connector of the high-speed cable assembly also requires processing time. Thus, the full cost of a high-speed cable assembly cable includes the cable, the high-speed-cable-assembly connectors on each end of the cable, the processing time required for each of these connectors, and the area required on a substrate for each connector.
To reduce the overall size of the high-speed cable assembly, smaller connectors and cables have been attempted. However, using smaller connectors and cables can both increase the cost and reduce the performance of high-speed cable assemblies. Eliminating the high-speed cable assembly has been attempted by transmitting the signal only on substrates. However, signals transmitted on a substrate generally have higher insertion losses compared to many cables, including, for example, micro coaxial (coax) and twinaxial (twinax) cables. Thus, eliminating the high-speed cable assembly can result in reduced signal integrity and degraded performance.
Exotic materials and RF/Microwave connectors have been used to improve the performance of high-speed cable assemblies. However, such materials and connectors increase both the cost and the size of a high-speed cable assembly. Low-cost conductors, dielectrics, and connectors have been used to reduce the overall cost of systems that rely on high-speed cable routing. However, low-cost conductors, dielectrics, and connectors decrease the performance of high-speed cable assemblies and can also increase their size. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Wireless-service providers very often provide their subscribers with access to packet-data networks such as the Internet via wireless communication devices (WCDs) such as cellular phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, laptop computers, air cards, and the like. In addition, and often for an additional fee, some of these providers allow (and enable) their subscribers to extend this data service via their WCDs to one or more additional devices through a feature often referred to as “tethering” (a.k.a. “phone as modem,” “phone as router,” “mobile hotspot,” “personal hotspot,” etc.).
In a typical arrangement, and using just one additional (“tethered”) device for illustration, the WCD acts as both modem and network-access server (NAS) for the tethered device, and may also act as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server by assigning to the tethered device a local IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.101) on a wireless local-area (e.g., Wi-Fi) network (WLAN) provided by the WCD, which may thereafter receive outbound packets from the tethered device (e.g., a Wi-Fi-enabled tablet) via the WLAN and forward at least the content (payload) of those packets to their addressed destination via the WCD's (e.g., 3 G) data connection to a wireless wide-area (e.g., cellular) network (WWAN). In addition, the WCD may also receive inbound packets addressed to the tethered device from the WWAN and forward at least the content (payload) of those packets to the tethered device via the WLAN.
Such WCDs are often able to facilitate (wired and/or wireless) tethered communication at substantially the same time for multiple tethered devices, which (in addition to tablet computers) could be other WCDs, laptop computers, desktop computers, and/or any other data-communication device(s) capable of establishing and engaging in LAN-based (e.g., WLAN-based) and/or peer-to-peer data communication with the tethering-capable WCD. | {
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Migrating data from one application to another is a very fundamental widespread business problem because the underlying formats and structures are different. In some respects, such data migrations between disparate applications is similar to translating from one natural language to another, e.g., English to Russian. While the context may be the same, e.g., “customer owes $25 per month”, the underlying representative structure using words, grammar, and sentences is very different. Simply comparing word-for-word across languages does not work. Moreover, simply expressing the tense or structure does not facilitate the process.
Additionally, there is little time to certify that a migration performed in a production environment is correct, even if the strategy has been tested in a test environment. Where large volumes of data are involved and sufficient test resources are unavailable, it becomes extremely problematic and, in most cases, impractical to manually inspect each record to confirm that the “intent” has been conveyed correctly.
Conventional techniques for checking data integrity during transmission include a cyclic redundancy check checksum, which is widely used to ensure that files are copied correctly. Other networking protocols also use a number of “redundant codes” to ensure correctness of data transmission. Data sampling for testing integrity is also widely used. However, in all of these cases, the data is not structured differently.
What is needed is architecture that can provide a high level of confidence that data transitioned from a first location to a second location or a first state to a second state can be reliably certified as being processed correctly. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Over the past several decades, a large percentage of documents have been created and stored in digital formats. However, during this same time period and earlier, massive volumes of information have been recorded and stored only on physical documents. Such physical documents may include items that were produced using a computer or word processor and were printed, with the associated electronic files no longer available. Such physical documents may also include documents produced using a typewriter, with no associated electronic file ever created. Still further, massive amounts of handwritten records, spanning centuries, may exist.
While many of these documents are decades, if not centuries, old, each may contain information that would be beneficial to be available in an electronic and searchable format. One possible example may include previous population, birth, and death records. Such information may be particularly useful for a genealogist attempting to reconstruct a family tree with members throughout the country or world. In so doing, it may be useful to have access to immigration records, census records, birth certificates, death certificates, and/or any other document that may accurately provide information relating to family structures. Assisting genealogic studies is just one of the near limitless examples of the benefits of digitizing physical documents into an electronic, searchable format.
While digitizing documents previously unavailable in an electronic format may have distinct advantages, several obstacles exist. For example, consider FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a population schedule 100 from the 1930 Census of the United States. As illustrated, this is one page representing partial population information for Allegheny County of Pennsylvania. Considering that the 1930 Census was the 15th census of the United States, and each census has been charged with documenting every person in the country, the volumes of data existing in censuses in the United States alone are enormous.
While computer software and hardware arrangements capable of scanning and digitizing some text (often referred to as optical character recognition (“OCR”)) appearing on physical documents exist, they may have several drawbacks. In many instances they may not be able to produce with sufficient accuracy digitized text representing the text on the physical document. This may be due to one or more different problems. For example, the typing or penmanship may be fully or partially illegible, such as a name 110 in FIG. 1. Corrections or cross-outs, such as correction 120 may exist. Further, scanning errors or document imperfections may exist, such as anomaly 130. Such problems affect the ability of a machine to accurately decipher printed or handwritten text (which may not be decipherable by OCR at all), may prevent the automatic digitization of records, thereby requiring a person to manually review, decipher, and input the correct characters associated with the problem text. Considering the volumes of data, the possibility of frequent problem text appearing on documents, and the resources (especially in terms of a human workforce) required to produce accurate digitized data may be enormous, costly, and time-consuming.
The following invention serves to remedy these and other problems. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to an image coding method, image coding apparatus and data storage medium and, more particularly, to an image coding method and image coding apparatus which perform coding of an image signal having no shape value in combination with coding of a shape value independent of a pixel value, and generate a multiplex coded signal including shape value information and pixel value information, and a data storage medium which contains a program for implementing the coding process according to the image coding method by software.
In recent years, we have greeted the age of multimedia in which audio, video and other data are integrally handled, and the conventional information media (i.e., means for transmitting information to men), such as newspapers, magazines, televisions, radios, and telephones, have been adopted as the subjects of multimedia. Generally, xe2x80x9cmultimediaxe2x80x9d means to represent, not only characters, but also diagrams, speeches, and especially images in relation with each other. In order to handle the conventional information media as the subjects of multimedia, it is necessary to transform the information into a digital format.
When the quantity of data possessed by each information medium described above is estimated as the quantity of digital data, in the case of characters, the data quantity for each character is 1xcx9c2 bytes. However, in the case of speech, the data quantity is 64 kbits per second (quality for telecommunication) and, in the case of moving picture, it is more than 100 Mbits per second (quality for current television broadcasting). So, as for most of the information media described above, it is not practical to handle such massive data as it is in the digital format. For example, although visual telephones have already been put to practical use by ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) having a transmission rate of 64 kbpsxcx9c1.5 Mbps, it is impossible to transmit an image of a television camera as it is by the ISDN.
So, data compression technologies are demanded. In the case of visual telephones, the moving picture compression technologies standardized as H.261 and H.263 by ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Sector) are employed. Further, according to the data compression technology based on MPEG1, it is possible to record image data, together with audio data, in an ordinary music CD (compact disk).
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) is an international standard of data compression for data of a moving picture (an image signal of a moving picture). In MPEG1, data of a moving picture is compressed to 1.5 Mbps, i.e., data of a television signal is compressed to about 1/100. Since the transmission rate to which MPEG1 is directed is limited to mainly about 1.5 Mbps, MPEG2 is standardized to meet the demand for higher image quality. In MPEG2, data of a moving picture is compressed to 2xcx9c15 Mbps.
Under the existing circumstances, standardization of MPEG4 is now proceeded by the working group for standardization of MPEG1 and MPEG2 (ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11). MPEG4 enables coding and signal processing. in object units, and thereby realizes new functions required in the age of multimedia.
MPEG4 is characterized in that the coding of image signals is performed in object units. In MPEG4, the image signals are not coded in units of frame as an image space having a rectangular shape as in MPEG1 and MPEG2, but the coding of the image signals is performed in object units. To be specific, a shape value which indicates the shape of an object and a pixel value which indicates the design of the object are coded as the image signal.
When the shape value of the object is coded in this way, the new function that the users can freely compose images corresponding to coded image signals and display the images can be realized, as in image composition process in the computer graphics. For the pixel value of a pixel located outside of the object. (outside-object pixel value) which does not require the coding, the coding process can be omitted and thereby the compression rate for the image signal can be improved.
FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram for explaining an image signal including shape information.
The image signal including the shape information includes two signal values, i.e., a pixel value which represents the design of an object to be displayed and a shape value which represents the shape of the object to be displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, an image signal including shape information of a moving picture includes pixel values which form each of pixel VOPs (Fv1xcx9cFv5) and shape values which form each of shape VOPs (Fs1xcx9cFs5). Here, the pixel VOPs (Fv1xcx9cFv5) and their corresponding shape VOPs (Fs1xcx9cFs5) are displayed at display times t1xcx9ct5, respectively, as shown in FIG. 24.
When a natural image is taken by a camera, an image signal obtained by picture-taking by the camera as the camera output includes only a pixel value out of the two signal values (shape value and pixel value). Thus, in the prior art image coding process, the process for generating a shape value indicating the shape of a specific area (object) in the natural image is performed on the basis of the pixel value included in the image signal, with using the image processing technology for subjecting the frame of the natural image to a processing such as area separation, area segmentation and area extraction.
FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a prior art image coding apparatus which performs the image coding process, using the shape value according to MEG4.
In MEPG4, the concept equivalent to a frame which constitutes video-of natural images or the like, i.e., the frame which constitutes video of a specific area (object) and which is updated with the passage of time is defined as VOP (video object plane). Further, the coding in MPEG4 is performed in block units and macroblock units as in MPEG1 and MPEG2. Here, the macroblocks are image areas which are obtained by dividing the VOP. Each of the image areas is composed of 16 pixelsxc3x9716 pixels. The blocks are image areas which constitute the macroblock. Each of the image areas is composed of 8 pixelsxc3x97pixels.
This image coding apparatus 200 has an IP decision unit 1 for deciding whether a target VOP for which various parameters are set and which is to be coded on the basis of these parameters is assumed to be a VOP subjected to intra-frame coding (I-VOP) or a VOP subjected to inter-frame coding (P-VOP), and outputting a coding mode signal IPmode indicating which type of the coding is to be performed to the target VOP, and a shape extractor 2 for extracting a shape value Spel indicating the shape of the specific area on the basis of the pixel value Vpel associated with the specific area.
This image coding apparatus 200 further has a transparency judgement unit 3 for judging whether the target block in the target VOP to be subjected to the coding requires the coding or not on the basis of the shape value Spel, and outputting the result of the judgement as block transparency information Dtran of the target block, a shape encoder 4 for coding the shape value Sple on the basis of the block transparency information Dtran and the coding mode signal IPmode, and a pixel encoder 5 for coding the pixel value Vpel on the basis of the block transparency information Dtran, the coding mode signal IPmode, and the shape value Spel.
The transparency judgement unit 3 judges whether the pixels in the target block are all outside-shape pixels located outside of the specific area and the target block does not require coding, or at least part of the pixels in the target block are inside-shape pixels located inside of the specific area and the target block requires coding, and outputs the block transparency information Dtran corresponding to the result of the judgement. The shape encoder 4 has a structure which outputs a code for indicating that the target block is an outside-object block when the block transparency information Dtran indicates this, and outputs a shape coded data Sstr obtained by the coding of the shape value Spel when the block transparency information Dtran indicates that the target block is not an outside-object block. Further, the pixel encoder 5 has a structure which does not perform the coding of the pixel value Vpel when the block transparency information Dtran indicates that the target block is an outside-object block, and outputs pixel coded data Vstr obtained by the coding of the pixel value Vpel when the block transparency information Dtran indicates that the target block is not an outside-object block.
Further, the image coding apparatus 200 has a multiplexer 6 for multiplexing the shape coded data Sstr and the pixel coded data Vstr and outputting a multiplex coded signal Vstr.
Next, the operation of the image coding apparatus 200 will be described.
In the image coding apparatus 200, when an image signal having no shape information is successively input for each frame, the IP decision unit 1 decides whether the target VOP to be coded is assumed to be a VOP subjected to intra-frame coding. (I-VOP) or an VOP subjected to inter-frame coded (P-VOP), and outputs a coding mode signal IPmode indicating which one of the intra-coding and inter-coding is performed to the target VOP.
At this time, in the shape extractor 2, the shape value Spel of the object (VOP) in each frame is extracted on the basis of the pixel value Vpel of each frame successively input. Then, in the block transparency judgement unit 3, the judgement as to whether each of the blocks constituting the target VOP is an outside-object block or not is made on the basis of the shape value Spel, and then the block transparency information Dtran indicating the result of the judgement is output block by block. In MPEG4, the coding is performed in block units and macroblock units as in MPEG1 or MPEG2.
In the shape encoder 4, the coding of the shape value Spel of the target VOP is performed block by block on the basis of the block transparency information Dtran and the coding mode signal IPmode. To be specific, when the block transparency information Dtran indicates that the target block in the target VOP is an outside-object block, a code indicating that the target block is an outside-object block is output. When the block transparency information Dtran indicates that the target block in the target VOP is not an outside-object block, a shape coded data Sstr which is obtained by coding the shape value Spel of the target block are output. At this time, as the coding of the shape value Spel of the target block, one of the intra-frame coding and inter-frame coding is performed in accordance with the coding mode signal IPmode.
In the pixel encoder 5, the coding of the pixel value Vpel of the target VOP is performed block by block on the basis of the shape value Spel, the block transparency information Dtran, and the coding mode signal IPmode. To be specific, when the block transparency information Dtran indicates that the target block in the target VOP is an outside-object block, the coding for the target block is not performed, and when the block transparency information Dtran indicates that the target block in the target VOP is not an outside-object block, the pixel coded data Vstr which is obtained by coding the pixel value Vpel of the target block are output. At this time, as the coding for the pixel value Vpel of the target block, one of the intra-frame coding and inter-frame coding is performed in accordance with the coding mode signal IPmode.
Then, in the multiplexer 6, the shape coded data Sstr and the pixel coded data Vstr are multiplexed and a multiplex coded signal VSstr is output.
When inside-object pixels and outside-pixels are mixed in the target block (unit of coding), in the pixel encoder 5, the target block is subjected to a padding process according to MPEG4 with reference to the shape value Spel, for replacing pixel values of outside-object pixels with pixel values of inside-object pixels, and the coding process is carried out for the pixel values Vpel which have been subjected to the padding process. When this padding process is performed, compression efficiency and image quality improvement of the pixel values can be realized.
FIGS. 26(a) to 26(c) are diagrams for explaining a data structure of a coded signal which is compliant with MPEG4. FIG. 26(a) shows a data structure of an image coded signal having no shape information. As described above, xe2x80x9cVOPxe2x80x9d is a term for representing a screen in MPEG4 and corresponds to the concept of xe2x80x9cframexe2x80x9d.
The coded signal (pixel value signal) Vstr having no shape information is composed of VOP headers Vvoph and pixel-related data Vmb corresponding to each macroblock, like the image coded signal defined in MPEG1 or MPEG2.
The data Vmb of each macroblock is composed of a coding mode signal Vmode and a coded data of a pixel value (pixel value code) Vcode. The coding mode signal Vmode includes coding type information Vtype and a motion vector Vmv. Here, the coding mode signal Vmode includes information for distinguishing between an intra block subjected to the intra-frame coding and an inter block subjected to the inter-frame coding, information for distinguishing between the presence and absence of motion vector data, and information for distinguishing between the presence and absence of pixel data.
In some cases, the coding of the motion vector or pixel value is omitted in accordance with each distinguishing information in the coding mode signal.
FIG. 26(b) shows a data structure of a coded signal having only shape information (shape signal). Here, the coded signal having only the shape information (shape signal) Sstr means that it includes no pixel information.
The coded signal Sstr including only the shape information is composed of VOP headers Svoph and shape-related data Smb corresponding to each macroblock, like the above-mentioned coded signal Vstr having no shape information.
The data Smb of each macroblock is composed of a coding mode signal Smode and coded data of a shape value (shape value code) Scode. The coding mode signal Smode includes a coding type information Stype and a motion vector Smv. The coding mode signal Smode includes information for distinguishing between an intra block subjected to the intra-frame coding and an inter block subjected to the inter-frame coding, information for distinguishing between the presence or absence of motion vector data, and information for distinguishing between the presence or absence of shape data.
FIG. 26(c) shows a data structure of a coded signal (pixel value signal) VSstr having shape information and pixel information. In this coded signal VSstr, the shape-related data Smb and pixel-related data Vmb are alternately arranged subsequent to VOP headers VSvoph, for each macroblock.
The coding of the pixel-related data is omitted for a target macroblock which has been judged to be an outside-object macroblock on the basis of the shape-related data.
However, it is not easy to extract shape information of an object (an image of a specific area) included in a natural image, from an image signal obtained by taking a picture of the natural image by a camera.
Practically, as a method for extracting the shape information, there is almost only a method for taking an image in an equipped environment such as a studio, subjecting an image signal which is obtained by this image-taking to the chromakey processing, and extracting the shape of the specific area in the image. In this shape information extraction method, it is difficult to realize a coding apparatus which makes the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding in object units.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image coding method for making the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding in object units, i.e., separates a desired object (an image of a specific area) in a natural image from another region, and performing the coding for an image signal having no shape information, which is obtained by taking a picture of the natural image, and an image coding apparatus utilizing this image coding method, and a data storage medium which contains a program for realizing the image coding method by software.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and specific embodiments described are provided only for illustration since various additions and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the detailed description.
An image coding method according to a 1st aspect of the present invention, for coding pixel information which is included in an image signal of an image to be reproduced and forms a design of the image on a pixel frame, on the basis of shape information indicating an arbitrary shape on a shape frame, comprises: a pixel coding process for coding pixel information which forms a design of an area in the image, corresponding to a prescribed shape on the basis of predetermined shape information used as the shape information, which has been previously generated independently of the pixel information included in the image signal and indicates the prescribed shape on a predetermined shape frame; and a multiplexing process for generating coded data which include pixel coded data obtained by the coding of the pixel information and shape coded data corresponding to the predetermined shape information. Therefore, the coding process for the image signal having no shape information obtained by taking a picture of a natural image or the like can be performed, with making the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding process in object units, i.e., by separating a desired object (an image of a specific area) in the natural image from another area.
According to a 2nd aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, the pixel coding process is carried out such that, on the basis of decoded shape information used as the shape information, which is obtained by decoding the shape coded data corresponding to the predetermined shape information which has been previously generated independently of the pixel information included in the image signal and indicates the prescribed shape on the predetermined shape frame, pixel information which forms a design of an area in the image corresponding to the decoded shape information is coded. Therefore, the coding process for the image signal having no shape information obtained by taking a picture of a natural image or the like can be performed, with making the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding process in object units, i.e., by separating a desired object (an image of a specific area) in the natural image from other area.
According to a 3rd aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, a shape coding process is carried out for coding predetermined shape information used as the shape information, which has been previously generated independently of the pixel information included in the image signal and indicates the prescribed shape on the predetermined shape frame; and the multiplexing process is carried out such that coded data which include shape coded data obtained by the coding of the predetermined shape information and the pixel coded data obtained by the coding of the pixel information are generated. Therefore, the coding process for the image signal having no shape information obtained by taking a picture of a natural image or the like can be performed, with making the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding process in object units, i.e., by separating a desired object (an image of a specific area) in the natural image from another area.
According to a 4th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, decoded shape information which is obtained by decoding the shape coded data corresponding to the predetermined shape information which has been previously generated independently of the pixel information included in the image signal and indicates the prescribed shape on the predetermined shape frame is used as the shape information, a shape coding process is carried out for coding the predetermined decoded shape information, the pixel coding process is carried out such that pixel information which forms a design of an area in the image, corresponding to the decoded shape information, is coded on the basis of the predetermined decoded shape information, and the multiplexing process is carried out such that coded data which include shape coded data obtained by coding of the predetermined decoded shape information and the pixel coded data obtained by the coding of the pixel information are generated. Therefore, the coding process for the image signal having no shape information obtained by taking a picture of a natural image or the like can be performed, with making the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding process in object units, i.e., by separating a desired object (an image of a specific area) in the natural image from another area.
According to a 5th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, the pixel coding process is carried out such that shape information corresponding to a prescribed number of predetermined shape frames is used as the predetermined shape information, and the prescribed number of the predetermined shape frames are repeatedly allocated to plural pixel frames which are more than the number of the predetermined shape frames, and pixel information corresponding to the plural pixel frames is coded on the basis of the shape information corresponding to the predetermined shape frames. Therefore, the previously prepared predetermined shape information can be used effectively.
According to a 6th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, the pixel coding process is carried out such that shape information corresponding to a prescribed number of predetermined shape frames is used as the predetermined shape information, and the prescribed number of the predetermined shape frames are repeatedly allocated to plural pixel frames which are more than the number of the predetermined shape frames, in an order of the predetermined shape frames, and pixel information corresponding to the plural pixel frames is coded on the basis of the shape information corresponding to the predetermined shape frames. Therefore, the order of the predetermined shape frames which are made to correspond to the pixel frames becomes the same as the original order of the predetermined shape frames, regardless of the display times of the pixel frames. Accordingly, in place of the shape value, a shape signal obtained by coding the shape value can be utilized as the previously prepared shape information.
According to a 7th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, the pixel coding process is carried out such that shape information corresponding to a prescribed number of predetermined shape frames is used as the predetermined shape information, and a predetermined shape frame depending on time information which is set for each pixel frame is allocated to each of plural pixel frames which are more than the number of the predetermined shape frames, and pixel information corresponding to the plural pixel frames is coded on the basis of the shape information corresponding to the predetermined shape frames. Therefore, the display times of the predetermined shape frames which are made to correspond to the pixel frames become almost the same as the display times which are originally set for the predetermined shape frames, and the display of each of the shape frames which are made to correspond to the pixel frames is carried out at approximately original display timing. Consequently, the changes in the shape of a displayed image are prevented from becoming extremely abrupt or slow.
According to an 8th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, the predetermined shape information includes shape coded data which are obtained by previously coding shape values forming the predetermined shape frame, for each of given unit areas partitioning the predetermined shape frame, by a method which is suitable for a coding process of the pixel information. Therefore, the capacity of the memory which contains the shape information can be saved, whereby the costs can be reduced.
According to a 9th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, shape values forming the predetermined shape frame and first shape coded data which are obtained by previously coding the shape values by a method which is suitable for a coding process for the pixel information are used as the predetermined shape information, a shape coding process is carried out for coding the shape values forming the predetermined shape frame, as needed, by a method according to a method of a coding process for a pixel frame corresponding to the predetermined shape frame to generate second shape coded data, and the multiplexing process is carried out such that a suitable stream part in the first shape coded data, the stream part corresponding to a predetermined shape frame which conforms to a method for coding a pixel frame, and the pixel coded data are multiplexed, and an unsuitable stream part in the first shape coded data, the stream part corresponding to a predetermined shape frame which does not conform to the coding method of the pixel frame is replaced with a corresponding stream part in the second shape coded data, and the corresponding stream part and the pixel coded data are multiplexed. Therefore, shape coded data which are obtained by subjecting the shape value to the intra-frame coding are employed when the target pixel frame is an intra-frame coded frame, for example, and in other cases the shape signal included in the input shape information is employed as the shape coded data. Accordingly, this image coding method can handle cases where the input shape coded data are obtained by subjecting the pixel value to the inter-frame coding, all of which correspond to the inter shape frames.
According to a 10th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 9th aspect, the first shape coded data are obtained by subjecting all of the shape values forming the predetermined shape frame to intra-frame coding. Therefore, whether the pixel frame is a frame subjected to intra-frame coding or a frame subjected to inter-frame coding, shape coded data can be used as information of a shape frame corresponding to the pixel frame.
According to an 11th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 8th aspect, the predetermined shape information includes: in addition to the shape coded data, partition data for distinguishing partitions of stream parts corresponding to areas as units of coding, which partition each predetermined shape frame in the shape coded data; and a decoded shape value which is obtained by decoding the shape coded data. Therefore, the capacity of the memory which contains input shape information can be saved.
According to a 12th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 8th aspect, the predetermined shape information includes: in addition to the shape coded data, partition data for distinguishing partitions of stream parts corresponding to areas as units of coding, which partition each predetermined shape frame in the shape coded data; data for distinguishing whether a coding process for a pixel value is to be preformed to an area in a pixel frame corresponding to the area as the unit of coding in the predetermined shape frame; and a decoded shape value which is obtained by decoding the shape coded data. Therefore, the capacity of the memory which contains the input shape information can be saved.
According to a 13th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of a predetermined shape frame corresponding to the pixel frame, predetermined shape information having no corresponding pixel information is assumed to be information outside a coding target, which corresponds to an outside part of a shape on the predetermined shape frame and to which a coding process is not performed. Therefore, also when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of the predetermined shape frame, the coding process for the image signal having no shape information can be performed in object units, with using a shape value independent of the image signal.
According to a 14th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 3rd aspect, the shape coding process is carried out such that, when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of a predetermined shape frame corresponding to the pixel frame, a shape size conversion process for converting the predetermined shape information so that the size of the predetermined shape frame matches the size of the corresponding pixel frame is carried out, as well as coding of predetermined shape information having the converted size being carried out, the pixel coding process is carried out such that pixel information which forms a design of an area in the image, corresponding to the predetermined shape information having the converted size, is coded on the basis of the predetermined shape information having the converted size, and the multiplexing process is carried out such that coded data which include shape coded data obtained by coding of the predetermined shape information having the converted size and the pixel coded data obtained by the coding of the pixel information are generated. Therefore, when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of the predetermined shape frame, a process for matching the size of the predetermined shape frame with the size of the pixel frame can be performed easily without processing the pixel information.
According to a 15th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 4th aspect, the shape coding process is carried out such that, when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of a predetermined shape frame corresponding to the pixel frame, a shape size conversion process for converting the predetermined shape information so that the size of the predetermined shape frame matches the size of the corresponding pixel frame is carried out, as well as coding of predetermined shape information having the converted size being carried out, the pixel coding process is carried out such that pixel information which forms a design of an area in the image, corresponding to the predetermined shape information having the converted size, is coded on the basis of the predetermined shape information having the converted size, and the multiplexing process is carried out such that coded data which include shape coded data obtained by coding of the predetermined shape information having the converted size and the pixel coded data obtained by the coding of the pixel information are generated. Therefore, when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of the predetermined shape frame, a process for matching the size of the predetermined shape frame with the size of the pixel frame can be performed easily without processing the pixel information.
According to a 16th aspect of the present invention, in the image coding method of the 1st aspect, the pixel coding process is carried out such that, when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of a predetermined shape frame corresponding to the pixel frame, a pixel size conversion process for converting pixel information corresponding to the pixel frame so that the size of the pixel frame matches the size of the corresponding predetermined shape frame is carried out, as well as coding of the pixel information having the converted size in the image, which forms the design of the area corresponding to the prescribed shape, being carried out on the basis of the predetermined shape information, and the multiplexing process is carried out such that coded data which include pixel coded data obtained by coding the pixel information having the converted size and shape coded data corresponding to the predetermined shape information are generated. Therefore, when the size of the pixel frame is different from the size of the predetermined shape frame, a process for matching the size of the pixel frame with the size of the predetermined shape frame can be performed easily without processing the shape information.
An image coding apparatus according to a 17th aspect of the present invention, for coding pixel information which is included in an image signal of an image to be reproduced and forms a design of the image on a pixel frame, on the basis of shape information indicating an arbitrary shape on a shape frame, comprises: a pixel encoder for coding pixel information which forms a design of an area in the image, corresponding to a prescribed shape on the basis of predetermined shape information used as the shape information, which has been previously generated independently of the pixel information included in the image signal and indicates the prescribed shape on a predetermined shape frame, and outputting pixel coded data; and a multiplexer for generating coded data which include the pixel coded data and shape coded data corresponding to the predetermined shape information. Therefore, the coding process for the image signal having no shape information obtained by taking a picture of a natural image or the like can be performed, with making the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding process in object units, i.e., by separating a desired object (an image of a specific area) in the natural image from another area. Further, the quantity of the operation of the shape encoder can be reduced and the high-speed image coding apparatus can be realized.
According to an 18th aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data storage medium which contains a program for implementing an image coding process for coding pixel information which is included in an image signal of an image to be reproduced and forms a design of the image on a pixel frame, on the basis of shape information indicating an arbitrary shape on a shape frame, by a computer, this program is an image coding program for performing, by the computer: a pixel coding process for coding pixel information which forms a design of an area in the image, corresponding to a prescribed shape on the basis of predetermined shape information previously generated independently of pixel information used as the shape information, which is included in the image signal and indicates the prescribed shape; and a multiplexing process for generating coded data which include pixel coded data obtained by the coding of the pixel information and shape coded data corresponding to the prescribed shape information. Therefore, the coding process for the image signal having no shape information obtained by taking a picture of a natural image or the like can be performed by the computer, with making the most of the features of MPEG4 principally executing the coding in object units. | {
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The invention relates to a pneumatic nailing machine in which, even when actual hammering is repeatedly conducted on asphalt roofing shingles or the like, tar adhering to a driver is prevented from sticking to the interior of a nose portion.
When an asphalt roofing shingle which is formed into a sheet-like shape is to be attached to a roof base member, usually, nails are driven via the asphalt roofing shingle into the roof base member.
In a conventional nailing machine, when actual hammering is conducted on asphalt roofing shingles, tar easily sticks to the tip end of a driver, particularly during the hot season. When the driver which has been once driven by compressed air is returned to its initial position, therefore, the tar is pulled into a nose portion. When actual hammering is repeated for a long time period, the tar is stickingly deposited on the inner wall of the nose portion, so that the sliding resistance between the driver and the nose portion is increased. As a result, there may take place a phenomenon in which the returning operation of the piston (the operation of returning the piston to the initial position) is disabled.
Conventionaly, therefore, a nailing machine must be periodically cleaned by gasoline or the like in order to remove tar.
However, the cleaning of a nailing machine must be frequently conducted during the nailing work. Furthermore, the cleaning must be conducted also after the nailing work is ended, because, when a nailing machine is left to stand overnight, tar is hardened and such hardened tar is hardly removed away. It is very cumbersome to clean a nailing machine after the nailing work is ended. | {
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The present invention meets the needs described above in a health monitoring and diagnostic device referred to as a LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter. This meter is configured as a self-contained testing and diagnostic unit in a clam-shell type case. One side of the case includes a biological sample gathering device, such as spring-loaded finger stick, and a compartment for carrying one or more packages of disposable items, typically including a test strip, a needle for the finger stick, and an alcohol swipe. The other half of the case includes a test strip reader, a user input device such as a key pad, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The meter reads a test strip carrying a biological sample, such as a droplet of blood, and within minutes displays test results, such as total cholesterol levels, on the meter""s display.
The hand-held LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter drastically reduces the costs and inconvenience associated with obtaining cholesterol tests by performing total cholesterol tests in virtually any location, including a physician""s office, a pharmacy, a clinic, or in the privacy of the patient""s home.
The meter produces the test results within minutes using on-board circuitry and programming. The meter also includes an on-board diagnostic program that prompts for additional diagnostic information, such as the patient""s age, gender, weight, family history of heart disease, blood pressure, and so forth. The meter then translates this diagnostic information, along with the test results, into diagnostic results that may be more meaningful to the user than the test results alone. For example, the meter may use a well-known methodology, such as the Framingham Medical Study, to produce diagnostic results including the user""s cardiac age (as compared to chronological age), recommended weight loss, 5-year risk of heart attack, 10-year risk of heart attack, an assessment of stroke risk, and other results that will be easily and immediately understood by the patient. Like the test results themselves, these more meaningful diagnostic results are displayed on the meter within minutes.
Producing diagnostic results like xe2x80x9ccardiac agexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9c5-year risk of heart attackxe2x80x9d rather than total cholesterol levels alone may motivate more people to change their lifestyles and reduce their cholesterol levels. Moreover, producing these diagnostic results instantaneously, inexpensively, and in a convenient location encourages frequent testing and provides patients with the positive feedback necessary to encourage continued compliance with drug therapies and lifestyle changes. Ultimately, widespread use of the LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter can be expected to improve cardiac health nationwide, shift the focus of cardiac treatment from corrective to preventative, improve the cardiac health of the population in general, and reduce medical costs and health insurance rates.
The benefits of the LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter may be improved over time and extended to other health problems because the meter is programmable and configured to perform multiple types of tests. That is, although the meter will be initially configured to perform total cholesterol tests using test strips and human blood samples, it is also configured to perform multiple types of tests using different types of test strips or other test media carrying other types of biological fluid or tissue samples. For example, the meter may also produce other types of blood lipid test results, such as HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, etc. The meter may also perform other types of tests, such as blood glucose tests, AIDS tests, cancer tests, and virtually any other type of test that can be performed using a test strip or another suitable test medium carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue. To accommodate multiple tests, the meter typically includes four romkey sockets that allow the meter to carry and read four different romkeys.
The LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter also works in connection with a network-based comprehensive health analysis and reporting system. The meter includes a data drive that writes patient data stored within the meter to a patient-held data storage device, such as a smartcard. This patient data typically includes patient identification information, the test results, the diagnostic information, and the diagnostic results. A computer station, such as a typical desktop or laptop personal computer, can then read the smartcard and establish a network connection with a health report server, typically over the Internet. The computer then downloads the patient data to the health report server, which prepares a comprehensive health report. This report is then transmitted back to the computer station, where it is printed out and delivered to the patient.
The health report server typically works in concert with the patient""s physician or pharmacist, who may provide additional diagnostic information to the server, such as a newly-prescribed drug therapy, other currently-prescribed drugs for the patient, exercise and dietary recommendations, and so forth. Within minutes, the health report server assembles a comprehensive health report including a data sheet for the newly-prescribed drug, cross-reaction information for the newly-prescribed drug and the other currently-prescribed drugs, weight and total cholesterol goals, exercise and dietary recommendations, any food or activity warnings associated with the overall therapy package, and recommendations for on-going monitoring using the meter. This provides a complete written record of the patient""s current condition, the therapy prescribed by the physician and filled by the pharmacist, and a roadmap for monitoring the patient""s progress during the ensuing therapy.
The comprehensive health report may also include additional patient-specific information such as the diagnostic information and results compiled by the meter, and additional diagnostic and health assessment information compiled by the server. For example, the report may include a trend analysis showing how cholesterol, blood glucose, and weight levels have changed over multiple readings. The report may also include generally-applicable educational information, such as coronary risk factors, dietary guidelines for reducing cholesterol levels, diabetes information, cancer information, and the like. At present, a patient may have to undergo a physical examination, pay thousands of dollars, and wait weeks to obtain a similar comprehensive health report. The network-based comprehensive health analysis and reporting system, working in concert with the LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter, allows the patient to obtain the report within minutes at a fraction of the cost.
The meter also includes a number of advantageous security features. For example, the meter cannot be activated until a user enters a proper activation code. This typically requires that the user call the manufacturer, which provides an opportunity to verify the meter""s authenticity, set up a data file for the meter in the health report server, and tell the user how to update the meter software, if necessary. If a software update is indicated, the user may be instructed to activate the meter, initialize a smartcard, load the smartcard into a computer station, and establish a network connection with the health report server. The server can then download the new software (e.g., new version of an existing software module or a new software module) to the smartcard, which, in turn, can be placed back in the meter. The new software can then be uploaded to the meter.
The meter may also require validation of all test strips. Validation is important for some types of tests because readings obtained from each test strip will have to be interpreted correctly to obtain correct test results, and the calibration data used to interpret the readings from different lots of test strips may vary significantly. To allow proper calibration, each lot of test strips has a corresponding memory device, such as a romkey, that must be placed into the meter. The romkey includes a code number, an expiration date, and the calibration data for interpreting readings from the corresponding test strips. A test strip identification number that is mathematically derived from the code number is printed on the test strips or their packaging. The user must enter the proper test strip identification number into the meter, which the meter verifies with reference to the code number and the expiration date read from the romkey. This allows the meter to prevent the use of expired test strips and to also prevent test strips from being used in combination with incorrect romkeys.
Test strip validation is also an important aspect of one business model for deploying the meters. That is, the meters themselves may be provided for use at little or no charge to individual patients, whereas proprietary test strips will be sold to generate revenue from use of the meter. This may be a desirable business model for deploying the devices because it minimizes the initial cost that an individual patient must pay to begin using the device. Having to sell each device at its full cost, on the other hand, would undermine the economic feasibility of using the device in many contexts. For this business model, the meter should only activate for use with proprietary test strips after validation of the test strips.
The meter may also require each smartcard to be initialized with a personal identification number (PIN). Patient-specific PINs allow multiple patients to use the same meter, and also allows each patient""s data to be secure to that patient. That is, only the patient or someone authorized by the patient (i.e., knowing the patient""s PIN) can read the medical data stored on the smartcard. In this manner, each patient controls his or her own medical data, which can be a particularly important attribute for highly sensitive medical data, such as AIDS tests, cancer tests, and the like.
Generally described, the invention provides a test strip for use with a health monitoring device or meter. The test strip, when carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue, may be read by the meter to obtain test results based on the sample and calibration data specific to the test strip. The test strip also corresponds to a memory device that stores a code number and the calibration data, which may also be read by the meter. The test strip has an associated test strip identification number that is mathematically derived from the code number and printed on the test strips, the packaging for the test strips, or a tag packaged with the test strips.
To verify test strips, the meter reads the code number from the memory device, mathematically derives a test strip identification number corresponding to the code number, compares the received test strip identification number to the derived test strip identification number, and activates the meter for use with the test strip only if the received test strip identification number corresponds to the derived test strip identification number.
The memory device may also store an expiration date for the test strip, which may be read by the meter. In this case, the meter may activate for use with the test strip only if the expiration date is prior to a current date read by the meter from an internal clock. The memory device may be a romkey that is inserted into a socket housed within the meter. The romkey is typically packaged with an associated group of the test strips, and the test strip identification number is typically printed on the test strips, printed on packaging for the test strips, or printed on a tag packaged with the test strip.
The invention also provides a hand-held health monitoring device or meter that includes an enclosure for housing a disposable test strip for use with the meter. The meter also includes a holder for removably supporting a device for gathering a sample of biological fluid or tissue, such as a finger stick. The meter also includes a test strip reader operable for reading the test strip carrying the sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining test results based on the sample and calibration data specific to the test strip. A memory reading device (e.g., romkey socket) functionally connected to the test strip reader reads the calibration data from a memory device (e.g., romkey). A user input device, such as a key pad, receives user input commands and a display device, such as a liquid crystal display, displays information on the meter.
The meter also includes a processor that is functionally connected to the test strip reader, the user input device, and the display device. The processor contains a program module that obtains the test results from the test strip reader and causes the display device to display the test results. A data drive functionally connected to the processor writes the test results to a removable memory storage device, such as a smartcard. The meter may be packaged in a clam-shell case that opens to reveal first and second compartments. The first compartment may contain the enclosure for housing the disposable test strip and the holder for removably supporting the biological fluid or tissue gathering device, and the second compartment may contain the test strip reader, the memory reading device, the display device, the processor, and the data drive.
To provide activation verification, the meter may receive an activation code through the user input device, compute an activation code based on the current date and instructions contained in an activation routine stored within the meter, and activate the meter only if the computed activation code corresponds to the received activation code. In addition, to provide security to a patient""s medical data, the meter may determine whether a PIN has been previously stored on the removable memory storage device. If a PIN has not been previously stored on the removable memory storage device, the meter prompts the user to enter a PIN and stores the received PIN on the removable memory storage device. Alternatively, if a PIN has been previously stored on the removable memory storage device, the meter prompts the user to enter a PIN, compares the stored PIN to the received PIN, and writes the test results to the removable memory storage device only if the stored PIN corresponds to the received PIN.
The test strip reader may also be operable for reading a second type of test strip carrying a second sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining health-related test results based on the second sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the second type of test strip. In this case, the meter may include a second memory reading device (e.g., romkey socket) functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for reading calibration data from a second memory device (e.g., romkey) corresponding to the second type of test strip. For example, the meter may read both blood lipid test strips and blood glucose test strips. As noted previously, the meter typically includes four romkey sockets that allow the meter to carry and read four different romkeys.
The meter may also prompt the user to enter diagnostic information using the user input device, such as gender, ethnicity, family history of heart disease, personal history of heart disease, personal history of diabetes, personal history of smoking, height, weight, age, blood pressure, and fitness level. The meter may then perform a diagnostic analysis and produce diagnostic results based on the test results and diagnostic information, and display diagnostic results. For example, the diagnostic results may include a medical risk index, a recommended weight loss, a five-year risk of heart attack, a ten-year risk of heart attack, a cardiac age, an extended age, and a risk of stroke.
The invention also provides a system for remotely producing health reports. This system includes a health monitoring device or meter, as described above, a computer station, and a health report server connected with the computer station through a network, such as the Internet. The meter writes health-related test results to a memory storage device. The computer station reads the test results from the memory storage device, establishes a network connection with the health report server, receives additional diagnostic information from a user, and transmits the test results and the additional diagnostic information to the health report server. The server, in turn, compiles a health report based on the test results and the additional diagnostic information and transmits the health report to the computer station, where the report may be printed and delivered to the patient.
The health report may include a trend analysis with test results compiled for a number of samples, such as total cholesterol level and blood glucose level trend reports. The additional diagnostic information may include a newly-prescribed drug and other currently-prescribed drugs, and the health report may include a data sheet for the newly-prescribed drug and information relating to cross-reactions between the newly-prescribed drug and the other currently-prescribed drugs. The health report may also include a target weight and total cholesterol levels, a schedule for future testing using the meter, health assessment summary, a coronary risk assessment, dietary guidelines to lower cholesterol, and other educational information.
The business model described above is largely dependent on the sale of proprietary test strips for the collection of revenue from end users. That is, the health monitoring device itself may be made available to individual patients at little or no cost, with the sale of proprietary test strips providing a major source of revenue for the proprietor of the health monitoring device. As noted previously, this may be a desirable business model for deploying the devices because it minimizes the initial cost that an individual patient must pay to begin using the device. Having to sell each device at its full cost, on the other hand, would undermine the economic feasibility of using the device in many contexts.
Nevertheless, it may also be desirable to provide a health monitoring device that does not rely on the sale of proprietary test strips as a major source of revenue. For example, the health monitoring device may be adapted to read non-proprietary test strips, or may incorporate a reusable and/or non-invasive testing device, such as an electrode, blood pressure monitoring device, sonic testing device, thermometer, saliva testing device, optical testing device, and the like. Of course, a non-invasive multi-use testing device may be used many times without affording the proprietor of the health monitoring device an opportunity collect revenue associated with each use of the device.
To provide an opportunity for the proprietor of the health monitoring device to collect revenue based on use of the device, the removable memory storage device may be utilized as a type of xe2x80x9cdebit cardxe2x80x9d or payment source for use with the health monitoring device. That is, the removable memory storage device may be purchased with a monetary value, or it may have a monetary value that is replenishable over the Internet using a bank credit or debit card or other conventional payment source. The health monitoring device may then deduct the cost of performing particular services from the monetary value represented by the monetary balance stored on the removable memory storage device. In other words, the health monitoring device may be configured to activate for the performance of a service upon deducting a charge for the service from a monetary value stored on a removable memory storage device inserted into the device.
This business model includes a health monitoring device operable for obtaining medical data associated with a patient and reading an initial monetary balance stored on a removable memory storage device. The health monitoring device determines whether the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay a monetary value assigned to performance of a test involving the medical data to be performed by the testing device. If the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay for the test, the health monitoring device computes a revised monetary balance by deducting the monetary value assigned to performance of the test from the initial monetary balance, replaces the initial monetary balance with the revised monetary balance on the removable memory storage device, and activates the health monitoring device for performance of the specified service.
The business model also includes a system that includes one or more of the health monitoring devices described above, one or more removable memory storage devices, and a network-based server operable for remotely charging a cost to a payment source and crediting the cost to an initial balance stored on the removable memory storage device. The network-based server may also remotely store the monetary value assigned to performance of the test on the removable memory storage device. In this case, the health monitoring device reads the monetary value assigned to performance of the test from the removable memory storage device. Thus, rate schedules for various services to be performed by the health monitoring device may be changed from time to time, based on quantity discounts or other considerations.
The invention also includes a secure medical records maintenance system. Although this system is specifically adapted for use with the health monitoring device described above, it may be used to store any type of electronic data including a wide variety of medical records, and is particularly convenient for storing a wide range of electronic medical data generated remotely from the hospital or doctor""s office environment. The secure medical records maintenance system includes a number of removable memory storage devices, which are each operable for storing medical data for an associated patient. Each removable memory storage device also stores a patient-specified personal identification number (PIN), a medical records identification number secured by the PIN, and a patient identification number secured by the PIN.
The data stored on the removable memory storage device is downloadable to a two-server system including a first remote server that stores patient identification information indexed by patient identification numbers, and a second remote server that stores patient medical data indexed by the medical records identification number. For security purposes, the medical data maintained in the second remote server cannot be correlated to the associated patient identification information maintained in the first remote server based onthe information contained in the first and second remote servers.
To allow correlation of the data stored in the two servers, the secure medical records maintenance system includes a correlation table uniquely associating each medical records identification number with a particular one of the patient identification numbers. The correlation table for a particular patient typically resides on the patient""s removable memory storage device. The correlation table for a practitioner""s patients may also reside on the practitioner""s computer, such as a doctor""s or pharmacist""s computer, that is associated with a licensed medical practitioner having an assigned professional registration number. For further security, the first and second remote servers are accessed by the practitioner""s computer through encrypted communications secured by an application procedure that includes validation of the practitioner""s registration number. The application procedure may be further secured by receipt and validation of a practitioner-supplied PIN. Moreover, the application procedure typically includes issuance of a client certificate insuring that access to the first and second remote servers occurs from the same practitioner""s computer and browser that initiated the application procedure.
Because the data on the servers is separate and secure from each other, access may be granted to either server without identifying any particular patient""s medical data. For example, access may be granted to the first remote server, but not to the second server, for the purpose of generating a mailing list of patients without divulging any medical data associated with the patients. Similarly, access may be granted to the second remote server, but not to the first server, for the purpose of conducting investigative analyses involving the medical data without divulging any patient identification information associated with the patients.
For further data security and because each removable memory storage device only has a limited data storage capability, the medical data stored on each removable memory storage device may be automatically erased from the memory storage device after the data is entered into the second remote server. To obtain the medical data, the removable memory storage device is receivable within a hand-held health monitoring device operable for storing the medical data on the removable memory storage device. And to download the medical data to the medical records maintenance system, the removable memory storage device is receivable within a computer operable for reading the medical data and transmitting it to the second remote server over the Internet.
That the invention improves over the drawbacks of health monitoring and diagnostic systems and accomplishes the advantages described above will become apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments and the appended drawings and claims. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tie-down straps, and more specifically, to an adjustable tie-down apparatus having two strap members with double loops on each end and a tensioning mechanism for securing boats, motorcycles, aircraft and other objects during storage or transport.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other strap tie-down devices. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,443 issued to Veldon Waters on Apr. 25, 1989 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,641 issued on Nov. 12, 1991 to Chiang C. Chuan.
Another patent was issued to Hans-Werner Kamper on Apr. 14, 1992 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,536. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,955 was issued to An-Chuan Chou on Mar. 16, 1993 and still yet another was issued to Donald L. Dickerson Sr. on Dec. 17, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,622.
Another patent was issued to Frederick R. Dahlin on Aug. 24, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,665. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,666 was issued to Donald R. Waters on Aug. 24, 1999. Another was issued to Russell L. Dumcum on Feb. 27, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,554 B1 and still yet another was issued on Mar. 6, 2001 to Stephen D. Jackson et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,848 B1.
A patent was issued on Jun. 11, 1980 to Nissim Alfassa as U.K. Patent Application GB 2 061 436 A and on Oct. 3, 1999 U.K. Patent Application GB 2 328 919 A was issued to William James Millar Robb.
Another patent was issued to Richard C. First on Jun. 13, 1995 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,644.
A strap tie down device combining the winch-pulley effect comprising an elongated rigid frame made up of a base and two spaced parallel side plates attached perpendicular to opposite sides of said base, at both ends of the frame a set of at least two transverse extending connecting rods joined to both sides of the plate members, the connecting rods being separated from each other by sufficient distance to permit a looping of the strap between the rods, the loops are capable of being held in place by adding a removable rod under the loop, and a winch-type strap tightening apparatus attached to the side plate members between the inner connecting rods at both ends of the frame, and a device for rotating the winch-type strap tightening apparatus so as to tighten any strap placed in the strap adjusting device, and a device for holding the tightening apparatus to prevent unwinding.
A buckle for locking straps used for fastening goods includes a belt having two loop ends each enclosing a pair of rectangular lower and upper rings and a rectangular loosening ring with a flat side. A strap winds each pair of rings. One of said straps encloses the rectangular loosening ring such that it is locked when the loosening ring is in a horizontal position, and is allowed to slacken when said loosening ring is in a vertical position.
A tensioning assembly for the stepwise tightening and releasing of a tensioning strap includes a frame, a tensioning lever, and a wind-up spindle supporting ratchet wheels. A driving pawl which is movably mounted on the tensioning lever serves to rotate the wind-up spindle when the strap is being tightened. Reverse rotation of the wind-up spindle is prevented by a pair of locking pawls which are movably mounted on the frame. The lower or bearing end of the tensioning lever has an unlatching cam which permits the locking pawls to be alternatingly moved out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels, thus promoting safety by relieving the strap tension in stages. An isolating cam at the bearing end of the tensioning lever permits both locking pawls to be disengaged after the strap tension has been reduced.
A cargo binding device includes a net member, a plurality of intermediate cargo strap members, and a plurality of strap tensioners. The net member is formed of a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending and intersecting cargo straps whose intersection areas are secured each to the other. Each end portion of the individual longitudinally and transversely extending cargo straps of the net member is formed into a loop. Each strap tensioner includes a spring-loaded push plate member. The push plate member is provided with a plurality of teeth for grippingly engaging an intermediate cargo strap member.
A cargo tie-down device in one embodiment includes hooks and/or loops for connection to the vehicle, a buckle assembly comprising a pair of buckles, and straps which extend through the buckles and interconnect the hooks and/or loops. The straps extend a plurality of times between the buckles to provide a mechanical advantage for the tie-down device. Loops or handles on the straps allow the user to easily pull a take-up strap to initially take in the slack in the strap, and then to pull a winch strap to tightly secure the tie-down device over the load. Releasable cam locking mechanisms on the buckles normally engage the straps during the tightening process, but can be manually manipulated to release the straps to remove the tie-down device from the vehicle. In a second embodiment, the tie-down device comprises a pair of hooks for connection to the vehicle, a single buckle, and a strap which extends through the buckle and interconnects the hooks. The strap again extends a plurality of times between the buckle and one hook to provide a mechanical advantage. The buckle in the second embodiment also includes a releasable cam locking mechanism which normally engages the strap but can be manually manipulated out of engagement with the strap.
A tie down device for securing an automotive vehicle by its wheels and tires into a transport vehicle, is described. The tie down device includes a first strap and a second strap with the second strap connected at its first end to the first strap near the first end of the first strap. The first end of the first strap has a first loop which forms the first end of the device. The second end of the second strap has a second loop which forms the intermediate end of the device. To configure the device, the second end of the device is passed first through the second loop and then through the first loop. The device is then positioned on the tire such that the second strap extends over the top of the tire on the wheel and the first strap extends around the tire. The second end of the device is wrapped around the spool of a ratchet which is part of a securing mechanism which connects the device to the bed of the transport vehicle. The first strap is able to slide within the loops in order to allow the device to adjust to any size wheel for better fit during tensioning.
A hold down system for securing a vehicle to a transporter includes at least one hold down device for each wheel of the vehicle. The hold down device includes a short strap having two end loops and a long strap. The extremities of the long strap pass through the end loops of the short and the ends of the long strap are attached and tightened to the transporter so that the harness loop formed by the central portion of the long strap and the short strap encircles a portion of the wheel and secures such to the transporter. Each wheel of the vehicle may be individually secured to the transporter to stably maintain the position of the vehicle on the transporter while it is in transit.
A tie-down device to hold tractor trailer dunnage securely to the landing gear of a trailer when the dunnage is not in use. The tie-down device includes a pawl and ratchet winding mechanism having a securement strap which wraps around the dunnage and hooks to an eye hook which is resiliently mounted to a support member to maintain tension upon the securement strap.
An adjustable, flexible tie strap with low insertion and release forces but which provides significantly greater holding force. A tapered head has rearwardly extending ears which engage the body of the strap to prevent withdrawal after the head is passed through a retaining hole in the strap. The design of the ears is such that the lock, or brace, against each other in response to tension on the strap, reducing distortion of the head and increasing the holding power. The strap may also have a tab for attachment to a cord or rope.
A strap tensioning device that uses ratchet means to wind up and secure a tension strap in a tensioned condition for securing loads for hauling or transport. The device is adapted to be moveable along the length of a tension strap prior to tensioning the strap and includes a slotted member having a guide slot through which the strap is threaded for facilitating movement of the device along the strap and to prevent the device from cocking or twisting away from the device when the device is actuated to tension the strap. A slidable hook for a tensioning strap is also provided for use with the tensioning device. The hook includes a guide clip that provides for a receiving slot through which the strap is also threaded. The receiving slot maintains the strap in alignment with the guide slot.
A buckle has a body portion and a pivotally attached lever plate portion, the body having a striker plate and a first latch portion attached thereto and the lever plate having a corresponding second latch portion such that the latch portions interengage on closing the buckle with the plate engaging over the portion to secure the buckle and disengagement being effected on pressure being applied to the striker plate. Improperly latched buckles are caused to latch fully by tension on the cargo straps by virtue of their passage over the cross member.
A cargo strap coiler comprises a hub onto which an elongate flexible member, e.g. a vehicle cargo strap, is coiled, a base which remains stationary during coiling and a rotating member which rotates relative to the base about the axis of the hub to facilitate coiling. Preferably the base and the rotating member both comprise a substantially rectangular member and are removably connected together via cooperating cylindrical stubs forming the hub when connected, located towards one end of the rectangular members. Preferably the rotating member has a retaining means, e.g. a rod parallel to the hub axis located adjacent to the hub, for securing one end of the elongate flexible member. The device may be manually operated via a handle on the rotating member, or be provided with a powered driving means, e.g. an electric motor. Preferably a U-shaped guide means is provided on the base at an opposite end to the stub, and the base may be provided with a handle or alternatively be mountable on a vehicle, e.g. by magnetic means.
While these tie down devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. For example, none allow an attachment to a typical dock cleat having two legs and a cross member forming a cleat opening, where a first loop can be draped about the cleat generally and then its end be routed through the opening as the first loop is routed back to the first loop to be attached to the first loop using a fastening member such as an S-hook.
A primary object of this invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap that allows an attachment to a typical dock cleat having two legs and a cross member forming a cleat opening, where a first loop can be draped about the cleat generally and then its end be routed through the opening as the first loop is routed back to the 2nd loop to be attached to the 2nd loop using a clasping member such as an S-hook.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap that offers the user a plurality of options for securing an object to another for storage or transport.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap that can quickly secure a boat in a dock slip in a manner that will allow the user to attach one end of the strap to a boat cleat and the other end to a dock cleat without tying a knot.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap with elongated loops on the distal ends that can secure motorcycles to trailers, beds of pick-up trucks and other such surfaces without the hooks making contact with the motorcycle and possibly scratching and marring the components thereof.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap wherein the tensioning mechanism could be a cam-type ratchet buckle, a compression buckle or any other mechanism that would serve the purpose of connecting and tightening the two cooperating strap members.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap with a clasping element joining double loops of different lengths, wherein the clasping element could include S-hooks, spring loaded locking clamps or any other applicable clasping device.
One more object of the present invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap that is simple and easy to use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a tensionable tie-down strap that is economical in cost to manufacture.
Further objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
A tie down apparatus is provided that has two strap portions, each with an end having double loops of unequal length and a clasping member for joining the two loops after the longer loop is routed to, and back from, an object. A tensioning mechanism is used to adjust the length and tension of the strap as it is being used for securing boats, motorcycles, aircraft and other objects during storage or transport.
An apparatus is provided for affixing a first object to a second object, the first object having a fastening receptacle and the second object having a fastening receptacle, comprising: an elongated strap having a first portion and a second portion; a length adjustment member, the first strap portion and the second strap portion extending from the length adjustment member, for alternately shortening and lengthening the combined length of the first and second strap portions; the first strap portion further having a first loop and an elongated, longer second loop extending from the first strap portion and beyond the first loop, the extent to which the second loop extends beyond the first loop being large enough such that the elongated second loop can be routed to encompass the first object fastening receptacle and then routed back to the first loop; a fastening member for securing the first loop to the second loop when the second loop is routed back to the first loop from the first object fastening receptacle; and the second strap portion having a distal portion, the distal portion being attachable to the second object fastening receptacle.
In another embodiment, the second strap portion distal portion is a loop, the second strap portion further having an elongated, longer second loop extending from the second strap portion and beyond the second strap portion distal loop, the extent to which the second loop extends beyond the distal loop being large enough such that the elongated second loop can be routed to encompass the second object fastening receptacle and then routed back to the distal loop, the apparatus further comprising a second fastening member for securing the distal loop to the second strap portion second loop when the second loop is routed back to the distal loop from the second object fastening receptacle.
In another embodiment, the second fastening member has a first closing hook for hooking and closing about the second strap portion distal loop, and a second closing hook for hooking and closing about the second strap portion second loop.
In another embodiment, the first object fastening receptacle is a cleat having two legs, a cross piece joining the two legs and, with the first object, forming a cleat opening between the legs, and further wherein the second loop has a distal end and a length such that the second loop can be placed to loop the two cleat legs and the second loop distal end can then be drawn through the cleat opening as the second loop distal end is routed back to the first loop, wherein it is fastenable to the first loop using the fastening member.
In another embodiment, the second object fastening receptacle is a cleat having two legs, a cross piece joining the two legs and, with the second object, forming a cleat opening between the legs, and further wherein the second strap portion second loop has a distal end and a length such that the second loop can be placed to loop the two cleat legs and the second loop distal end can then be drawn through the cleat opening as the second loop distal end is routed back to the second strap portion distal loop, wherein it is fastenable to the distal loop using the second fastening member.
In another embodiment, the fastening member has a first closing hook for hooking and closing about the first loop, and a second closing hook for hooking and closing about the second loop.
In another embodiment, the length adjustment member is ratchetable.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a flotation member, the flotation member being sized such that the apparatus will float.
In another embodiment, the flotation member is attached to the second strap portion.
In another embodiment, the flotation member is attachable to either the first or second strap portions.
In another embodiment, the length adjustment member is a compression buckle attached to the second strap member, the first strap portion adjustably extending through the compression buckle.
In another embodiment, the fastening member is an S-hook.
In another embodiment, the second fastening member is an S-hook.
In another embodiment, the first and second strap portions are separate portions joined by the length adjustment member.
An apparatus is provided in one embodiment for affixing a first object to a second object, the first object having a fastening receptacle and the second object having a fastening receptacle, comprising: an elongated strap having a first portion and a second portion; length adjusting means for adjusting the combined length of the first strap portion and the second strap portion, said portions extending from the length adjustment means; the first strap portion further having a first loop and an elongated, longer second loop extending from the first strap portion and beyond the first loop, the extent to which the second loop extends beyond the first loop being large enough such that the elongated second loop can be routed to encompass the first object fastening receptacle and then routed back to the first loop; fastening means for securing the first loop to the second loop when the second loop is routed back to the first loop from the first object fastening receptacle; and the second strap portion having a distal portion, the distal portion being attachable to the second object fastening receptacle.
In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for affixing a first object to a second object, the first object having a fastening receptacle and the second object having a fastening receptacle, comprising: an elongated strap having a first portion and a second portion; a length adjustment member, the first strap portion and the second strap portion extending from the length adjustment member, for alternately shortening and lengthening the combined length of the first and second strap portions; the first strap portion further having a first loop and an elongated, longer second loop extending from the first strap portion and beyond the first loop, the extent to which the second loop extends beyond the first loop being large enough such that the elongated second loop can be routed to encompass the first object fastening receptacle and then routed back to the first loop; a fastening member for securing the first loop to the second loop when the second loop is routed back to the first loop from the first object fastening receptacle; and the second strap portion having a first loop and an elongated, longer second loop extending from the second strap portion and beyond the second strap portion first loop, the extent to which the second loop extends beyond the first loop being large enough such that the elongated second loop can be routed to encompass the second object fastening receptacle and then routed back to the first loop, the apparatus further comprising a second fastening member for securing the first loop to the second strap portion second loop when the second loop is routed back to the first loop from the second object fastening receptacle.
In another embodiment, the first object fastening receptacle is a cleat having two legs, a cross piece joining the two legs and, with the first object, forming a cleat opening between the legs, and further wherein the second loop has a distal end and a length such that the second loop can be placed to loop the two cleat legs and the second loop distal end can then be drawn through the cleat opening as the second loop distal end is routed back to the first loop, wherein it is fastenable to the first loop using the fastening member.
In another embodiment, the second object fastening receptacle is a cleat having two legs, a cross piece joining the two legs and, with the second object, forming a cleat opening between the legs, and further wherein the second strap portion second loop has a distal end and a length such that the second loop can be placed to loop the two cleat legs and the second loop distal end can then be drawn through the cleat opening as the second loop distal end is routed back to the second strap portion first loop, wherein it is fastenable to the first loop using the second fastening member.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described in the appended claims. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates generally to perceiving acceleration upon an object. More specifically the invention relates to the devices used for making such perceptions, known as accelerometers. In greater specificity, the invention relates to an optical accelerometer created through the technology known as micro-electro-mechanical systems or xe2x80x9cMEMSxe2x80x9d.
Micro-electro-mechanical systems use microelectronic processing techniques wherein mechanical devices are reduced to the scale of microelectronics. These processing techniques enable the integration of both mechanical and electrical components onto a single chip, typically made of silicon. Prior to MEMS, accelerometer components were for the most part manufactured separately. These components were then assembled together in a process that could easily be complex and expensive.
Current MEMS accelerometer designs have numerous advantages over their conventional counterparts. The MEMS accelerometers are of small size, light weight and low cost. Their sensitivity, however, has fallen largely in the low performance regime. Because of their relative low sensitivity and cost, current MEMS accelerometers have been used primarily in the automobile industry as collision airbag sensors and for other low sensitivity applications. Although the collision airbag sensor market is significant, it is but a small fraction of the potential market for low cost ultra-sensitive MEMS accelerometers.
Existing MEMS accelerometer technology is based upon either capacitive or piezo-based designs. State of the art MEMS capacitive accelerometers measure the charge on a capacitor to detect small movements of a proof mass attached to a spring. However, in order to detect sub milliG (1 G=9.8 m/s2) perturbation forces with this technique, elaborate amplification circuitry capable of measuring on the order of nanovolt changes in potential is necessary. For example, typical steady state capacitance values for MEMS accelerometers are in the 100 fFarad range, where 1f=10xe2x88x9215. Furthermore, a 1 G accelerating force results in a minute change in capacitance, on the order of 100 aF where a=10xe2x88x9218. This is equivalent to sensing a change of 625 electrons across the plates of a capacitor at an applied bias of 1 volt. Alternatively stated, this is commensurate with detecting the presence/absence of approximately 1 out of every 1000 electrons. To amplify this small change in capacitance extremely sensitive circuitry is required to translate the capacitance variations into a detectable voltage output signal. Even with the addition of low noise amplification circuitry, these MEMS accelerometers do not have the sensitivity required for many potential applications.
Piezoelectric or piezoresistive materials produce either a potential difference or a change in resistance when an external pressure/force is applied. This property lends itself to accelerometer designs. A shortcoming of piezoelectric or piezoresistive materials is that they are also pyroresistive, meaning that they change resistance with temperature. High sensitivity piezo-based accelerometers are therefore difficult to maintain. In addition, the resistance or change in potential of such accelerometers is usually extracted from a large resistor fabricated in the material. This large resistance leads to increased noise, e.g. resistive noise/Johnson noise. These problems are significant for piezo-based accelerometers. More commonly used accelerometers therefore use the capacitive methodxe2x80x94which also suffers from noise but not as severely.
To realize the full potential of MEMS accelerometers, a significant improvement in sensitivity is required. Ideally, this improvement will minimize accelerometer inherent noise. Possible applications of such low cost, light weight, ultra-sensitive MEMS accelerometers include bio-mechanics, seismology, condition monitoring of machines and structures, and robotics. In addition, an ultra-sensitive MEMS accelerometer would dramatically improve the accuracy of guidance, navigation, and global positioning systems (GPS) that require sensitivity not on the order of the 1 G scale but rather the on the order of the xcexcG scale or better.
The invention has structural similarities to an optical switch and amplifier described in the article titled: xe2x80x9cMicromechanical Optoelectric Switch and Amplifier (MIMOSA)xe2x80x9d by R. Waters et al, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 5, 33 (January/February 1999) incorporated by reference herein.
An example of the invention is based upon the monolithic integration of a Fabry-Perot interferometer and a p+n silicon photodiode. The transmission of light through a Fabry-Perot etalon is exponentially sensitive to small displacements in the position of a movable mirror due to changes in an applied accelerating force. The photosensor converts this displacement to an electrical signal as well as provides for additional amplification. Because both the Fabry-Perot modulator and photodiode are monolithically integrated on a silicon substrate, the combination is compact and has minimal parasitic elements, thereby reducing the accelerometer""s noise level and increasing its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
The sensitivity of the invention is user-controlled based upon any one or a combination of factors: providing an electrostatic potential across the mirrors of the Fabry-Perot etalon hence selecting a desired gap therebetween; adjusting the power of the light projected through the mirrors to the photodiode; and activating and deactivating the light at a selected frequency to minimize 1/f inherent system noise in the response of the accelerometer.
It is calculated that the MEMS accelerometer of the invention is capable of producing 1 V/G without the use of amplification circuitry. It is estimated that when amplification circuitry is used with the novel MEMS accelerometer of the invention, it will be more than three orders of magnitude more sensitive than present MEMS accelerometers using amplification circuitry. This implies that the xcexcG sensitivity needed for navigation and GPS applications is obtainable if voltage levels on the order of 1 xcexcV are detectable.
In opposition to prior art designs, the invention uses a light source rather than capacitive or piezo-based techniques for sensing acceleration. The advantages of this include use of a small wavelength of light for accurately measuring the movement of a suspended inertial mass and utilizing the wave nature of light for creating an exponentially sensitive accelerometer that is more than three orders of magnitude more sensitive than the previous art.
An object of this invention is to provide an accelerometer of high sensitivity.
Another object of the invention is to provide an accelerometer of high sensitivity in which inherent (1/frequency) noise is minimized.
A further object of this invention is to provide an optical accelerometer of high sensitivity.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an optical accelerometer in which light power is varied to adjust the accelerometer""s sensitivity.
Still yet another object of this invention is to provide an optical accelerometer in which light power is varied to adjust the accelerometer""s sensitivity by decreasing system inherent noise.
Still a further object of this invention is to provide an optical accelerometer in which light is selectively pulsed to adjust the accelerometer""s sensitivity.
Still yet a further object of this invention is to provide an optical accelerometer that includes a Fabry-Perot etalon in which the distance between the etalon""s mirrors is adjusted to adjust the accelerometer""s sensitivity.
Yet still a further object of this invention is to provide an optical accelerometer of high sensitivity that is fabricated through micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) processing. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to a magneto casing of a sealed construction for an engine in which the internal pressure undergoes changes as if the magneto casing breathed as the engine operates.
In engines such as marine engines wherein large quantities of water tend to flow into the engine rooms, magneto casings are constructed in a manner to have a sealed construction for preventing the invasion of water so as to provide protection to the magneto against water. The magneto casings of the sealed construction of the prior art have encountered problems which are presently to be described.
Generally, the magneto is mounted on one end portion of the crankshaft which projects outwardly of the crankcase. Thus an oil seal is provided between the crankcase and the magneto casing for preventing leakage of oil from the crankcase side to the magneto casing side. The oil seal is effective to prevent leakage of oil but has no effect in cutting off the passage of air. Consequently, the internal pressure of the magneto casing undergoes changes as if the magneto casing breathed due to variations in the pressure in the crankcase and variations in the temperature in the magneto casing as the engine operates. Such changes in the internal pressure of the magneto casing are especially marked in the case of a two-cycle engine in which the crank chamber is sometimes subjected to a negative pressure of over 0.3 kg/cm.sup.2 when compression and expansion strokes are repeated. This causes invasion of the magneto casing having a starter by water. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
During the lifetime of a patient, it may be necessary to perform a total shoulder replacement procedure on the patient as a result of, for example, disease or trauma. In a total shoulder replacement procedure, a humeral component having a head portion is utilized to replace the natural head portion of the arm bone or humerus. The humeral component typically has an elongated intramedullary stem which is utilized to secure the humeral component to the patient's humerus. In such a total shoulder replacement procedure, the natural glenoid surface of the scapula is resurfaced or otherwise replaced with a glenoid component which provides a bearing surface for the head portion of the humeral component.
During surgery, first the humeral head is prepared as is known in the art. Then, the surgeon moves to prepare the glenoid. First, it is useful to inspect the posterior aspect of the capsule and glenohumeral space. The surgeon then releases the posterior capsule from the glenoid rim. This step allows for complete removal of the anterior inferior capsule. Any osteophytes are removed and the tissue is then placed back into physiologic tension. The surgeon then needs access to achieve final exposure to the glenoid. However, gaining access to the glenoid during a total shoulder replacement procedure is challenging. Various “shoe-horn” type retractors have been used to gain access to the glenoid. However, these types of retractors need to be held in place by people during the surgery, so they increase the number of people who are required to be involved in the surgical procedure. Also, because of the shape, the retractors may actually limit exposure to the wound site, giving the surgeon less access than may be needed or desired.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved retractor that can expose the glenoid with limited number of people having to hold it. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Current women's apparel does not provide many places to put personal items. Purses are a favored location for personal items, but they are bulky, expensive, are a target for theft, can be easily stolen, occupy hands and arms, can be difficult to keep track of while dancing or socializing, small items can be lost in them, are subject to being searched in various venues (such as airports, courts, and sporting events) causing delay and embarrassment, and can cause potential health problems—such as misalignment of the spine—due to weight and asymmetric weight distribution on the bearer.
Pockets are another place to put personal items. Pockets, however, are not typically found in dresses and skirts and, even when found in a garment, the pocket and/or items placed in the pocket may alter the fit or appearance of the garment in an undesirable way. Also, typical pockets can be picked and items in a pocket can be broken, such as when a person sits down with an item in a pocket. Boots also may be used to store personal items, though they are seasonal, difficult to access quickly, lack security, the item may cause discomfort when in the boot, and boots may clash with a desired outfit. Thigh holsters are also used to store personal items, though they can be difficult to access through or under pants, they can be uncomfortable, constrain movement, items in them are easily dislodged, and they are another item to remember to don and manage. Fanny packs are frequently not considered fashionable or feminine, lack organization, and are another item to remember to don and manage. Travel belts are frequently considered masculine, may not match attire, may be too thick for daily use, may be considered unprofessional, and may be difficult to access. Hands may hold personal items, but then the hand(s) are occupied, the item(s) in the hands may be exposed to weather, the items may be dropped, and socialization opportunities will be reduced when the hands are occupied. Bra cups are sometimes used to store items, between cups or inside of a cup. Bra cups, however, lack security, items can slip out, the items can be exposed to perspiration, and it may be inappropriate or inconvenient to access the bra cup to retrieve an item.
For some decades, bras have been designed with pockets to accommodate personal items. In many instances, the bra pockets were designed with “secret” pockets with limited or difficult access, or assume access only to the front of the bra, provide difficult to access pocket openings, provide only enough space for a key or similar small item, do not provide sufficient space to enclose larger items such as mobile phones, do not provide a closure which both allows access to and limits accidental release of enclosed items, require integration with the bra cup (which causes difficulties with the wide range of sizes and styles of bra cups), do not protect items from perspiration, and/or do not provide a closure or realistic opportunity for a closure (such as a zipper).
Needed is a bra with a pocket, which pocket provides sufficient space to be accommodate a mobile phone or other mobile computing device, a driver's license, credit card, key-card, medical device, or similar, wherein the bra and pocket, even with items in the pocket, is reasonably discrete, wherein access to the pocket is simple, wherein the entire interior of the pocket can be accessed with only one hand, wherein the pocket may be made to protect items from perspiration, and wherein the bra and pocket can be manufactured without customization of or integration with the bra cup. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The drive to continuously increase the integration of microelectronic devices has spurred considerable effort toward decreasing the size of the capacitive components such devices. Future technologies will require the use of materials with higher dielectric constants than are presently employed.
Barium Strontium Titanate, Ba.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x TiO.sub.3 (BST), has emerged as a leading potential dielectric material for applications such as DRAMs, (T. Eimori et al. IEDM 93 631 (1993)) and is widely studied. Although the dielectric constants of BST perovskites are high, they are also highly temperature dependent. This is a limiting factor in the thermal stability of microelectronics based on the use of BST perovskites.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dielectric material which has a decreased temperature coefficient of the dielectric constant (TCK) as compared to BST. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a hydrocracking process comprising at least one matrix, an IM-5 zeolite, at least one hydrodehydrogenating metal preferably selected from the group formed by metals from group VIB and group VIII of the periodic table, optionally at least one promoter element selected from the group formed by phosphorous, boron and silicon, optionally at least one group VIIA element, optionally at least one group VIIB element and optionally at least one group VB element. The invention also relates to a catalyst based on IM-5 zeolite, containing at least one hydrodehydrogenating metal selected from the group formed by group VI and group VIII metals, and containing at least one promoter element selected from the group formed by boron and silicon.
Hydrocracking heavy petroleum feeds is a very important refining process which produces lighter fractions such as gasoline, jet fuel and light gas oil from surplus heavy feeds of low intrinsic value, which lighter fractions are needed by the refiner to enable production to be matched to demand. Some hydrocracking processes can also produce a highly purified residue which can constitute an excellent base for oils. The advantage of catalytic hydrocracking over catalytic cracking is that it can provide very good quality middle distillates, jet fuels and gas oils. The gasoline produced has a much lower octane number than that resulting from catalytic cracking.
All catalysts used for hydrocracking are bifunctional, combining an acid function and a hydrogenating function. The acid function is supplied by large surface area supports (150 to 800 m2/g in general) with a superficial acidity, such as halogenated aluminas (in particular fluorinated or chlorinated), combinations of boron and aluminum oxides, amorphous silica-aluminas and zeolites. The hydrogenating function is supplied either by one or more metals from group VIII of the periodic table, or by a combination of at least one metal from group VIB of the periodic table, and at least one group VIII metal.
The equilibrium between the two, acid and hydrogenating, functions is the fundamental parameter which governs the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. A weak acid function and a strong hydrogenating function produces low activity catalysts which generally operate at a high temperature (390xc2x0 C. or above), and at a low supply space velocity (HSV, expressed as the volume of feed to be treated per unit volume of catalyst per hour, and is generally 2 hxe2x88x921 or less), but have very good selectivity for middle distillates. In contrast, a strong acid function and a weak hydrogenating function produces very active catalysts but selectivities for middle distillates are poorer. The search for suitable catalysts thus revolves around the proper selection of each of the functions to adjust the activity/selectivity balance of the catalyst.
Thus one of the great interests of hydrocracking is to have a high degree of flexibility at various levels: flexibility as regards the catalysts used, which provides flexibility in the feeds to be treated and in the products obtained. One parameter which is easily mastered is the acidity of the catalyst support.
The vast majority of conventional hydrocracking catalysts are constituted by low aridity supports such as amorphous silica-aluminas. These systems are more particularly used to produce very high quality middle distillates and again, when their acidity is very low, base oils.
Amorphous silica-aluminas are low acidity supports. Many of the catalysts in the hydrocracking industry are based on silica-alumina associated either with a group VIII metal or, as is preferable when the heteroatomic poison content in the feed to be treated exceeds 0.5% by weight, a combination of sulphides of group VIB and VIII metals. These systems have very good selectivity for middle distillates, and good quality products are formed. The least acid of such catalysts can also produce lubricating bases. The disadvantage of all of such catalytic systems based on an amorphous support is, as has been stated, their low activity.
Catalysts comprising a Y zeolite with structure type FAU, or beta type catalysts have a catalytic activity which is higher than that of amorphous silica-aluminas, but have hither selectivities for light products.
The research carried out by the Applicant on numerous zeolites and microporous crystalline solids have led to the surprising discovery that a catalyst based on an IM-5 zeolite can achieve a catalytic activity and kerosine and gasoline selectivities which are substantially improved over catalysts containing a prior art zeolite.
More precisely, the invention provides a process for hydrocracking hydrocarbon-containing feeds in which the feed to be treated is brought into contact with a catalyst comprising at least one amorphous or low crystallinity matrix of an oxide type, at least one IM-5 zeolite and at least one hydrodehydrogenating element.
The IM-5 zeolite used in the present invention has been described in French patent FR-A-2 754 809. The invention also encompasses any zeolite of the same structure type as that of IM-5 zeolite.
The zeolitic structure, termed IM-5, has a chemical composition with the following formula, expressed in terms of the mole ratios of the oxides for the anhydrous state:
100XO2, mY2O3, pR2/nO
where
m is 10 or less;
p is in the range 0 (excluded) to 20;
R represents one or more cations with valency n;
X represents silicon and/or germanium, preferably silicon;
Y is selected from the group formed by the following elements: aluminum, iron, gallium, boron, and titanium, Y preferably being aluminum; and is characterized by an X ray diffraction diagram, in its as synthesised state, which comprises the peaks shown in Table 1.
The IM-5 zeolite in its hydrogen form, designated H-IM-5, is obtained by calcining step(s) and/or ion exchange step(s) as will be explained below. The H-IM-5 zeolite has an X ray diffraction diagram which comprises the results shown in Table 2.
These diagrams were obtained using a diffractometer and a conventional powder method utilising the Kxcex1line of copper. From the position of the diffraction peaks represented by the anole 2xcex8, the characteristic interplanar distances dhkl of the sample can be calculated using the Bragg equation. The intensity is calculated on the basis of a relative intensity scale attributing a value of 100 to the line representing the strongest peak on the X ray diffraction diagram, and then:
very weak (vw) means less than 10;
weak (w) means less than 20;
medium (m) means in the range 20 to 40;
strong (s) means in the range 40 to 60;
very strong (vs) means more than 60.
The IM-5 zeolite can thus be used in its xe2x80x9cas synthesisedxe2x80x9d form and in forms obtained by dehydration and/or calcining and/or ion exchange. The expression xe2x80x9cin its as synthesised formxe2x80x9d means the product obtained by synthesis and washing with or without drying or dehydration. In its xe2x80x9cas synthesisedxe2x80x9d form, the IM-5 zeolite can comprise a cation of metal M, which is an alkali, in particular sodium, and/or ammonium, and it can comprise organic nitrogen-containing cations such as those described below or their decomposition products, or precursors thereof. These organic nitrogen-containing cations are designated here by the letter Q, which also includes decomposition products and precursors of said nitrogen-containing organic cations.
The calcined forms of the IM-5 zeolite contain no organic nitrogen-containing compounds, or a lower quantity than in the xe2x80x9cas synthesised formxe2x80x9d, provided that the majority of the organic substance has been eliminated, generally by a heat treatment consisting of burning the organic substance in the presence of air, the hydrogen ion (H+) thus forming the other cation.
Of the TM-5 zeolite form5 which can be obtained by ion exchange, the ammonium form (NH4+) is important as it can readily be converted into the hydrogen form by calcininig. The hydrogen form and forms containing metals introduced by ion exchange will be described below.
In some cases, the fact that the zeolite of the invention is subjected to the action of an acid can give rise to partial or complete elimination of a base element such as aluminum, as well as generation of the hydrogen form. This may constitute a means of modifying the composition of the substance after it has been synthesised.
IM-5 zeolite in its hydrogen form (acid form), termed H-IM-5, is produced by calcining and ion exchange as will be described below.
The IM-5 zeolite can also be used at least partially in its H+ form (as defined above) or in its NH4+ form or in its metallic form, said metal being selected from the group formed by groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB (including the rare earths), VIII, Sn, Pb and Si, preferably at least partially in its H+ form or at least partially in its metal form.
Preferably, the IM-5 zeolite is at least partially in its acid form (and preferably completely in its H form) or partially exchanged with metal cations, for example alkaline-earth metal cations.
The IM-5 zeolites which form part of the composition of the invention are used with the silicon and aluminum contents obtained on synthesis.
It is also possible to use dealuminated IM-5 zeolite, which is described in French patent FR-A-2 758 810, and which has an overall Si/Al atomic ratio of more than 5, preferably more than 10, more preferably more than 15, and still more preferably in the range 20 to 400.
The IM-5 zeolite is advantageously at least partially and preferably almost completely in its acid form.
The Na/Al atomic ratio is generally less than 0.45, preferably less than 0.30 and still more preferably less than 0.15.
To prepare the dealuminated IM-5 zeolite of the invention, at least two delamination methods can be used starting from as synthesised IM-5 zeolite comprising an organic structuring agent. They are described below. However, any other method which is known to the skilled person can also be used.
The first method, direct acid attack, comprises a first calcining step carried out in a stream of dry air, at a temperature which is generally in the range 450xc2x0 C. to 550xc2x0 C., which eliminates the organic structuring agent present in the micropores of the zeolite, followed by a step in which the zeolite is treated with an aqueous solution of a mineral acid such as HNO3 or HCl or an or, organic acid such as CH3CO2H. This latter step can be repeated as many times as is necessary to obtain the desired degree of dealumination. Between these two steps, one or more ion exchange steps can be carried out using at least one NH4NO3 solution, to at least partially and preferably almost completely eliminate the alkaline cation, in particular sodium. Similarly, at the end of the direct acid attack dealumination step, one or more optional ion exchange steps can be carried out using at least one NH4NO3 solution to eliminate residual alkaline cations, in particular sodium.
In order to obtain the desired Si/Al ratio, the operating conditions must be correctly selected; the most critical parameters in this respect are the temperature of the treatment with the aqueous acid solution, the concentration of the latter, its nature, the ratio between the quantity of acid solution and the mass of the treated zeolite, the treatment period and the number of treatments carried Out.
The second method, heat treatment (in particular using steam, by steaming)+acid attack, comprises firstly calcining in a stream of dry air at a temperature which is generally in the range 450xc2x0 C. to 550xc2x0 C., to eliminate the organic structuring agent occluded in the micropores of the zeolite. The solid obtained then undergoes one or more ion exchanges using at least one NH4NO3 solution, to eliminate at least a portion and preferably practically all of the alkaline cation, in particular sodium, present in the cationic position of the zeolite. The zeolite obtained then undergoes at least one framework dealumination cycle comprising at least one heat treatment which is optionally and preferably carried out in the presence of steam, at a temperature which is generally in the range 550xc2x0 C. to 900xc2x0 C., and optionally followed by at least one acid attack using an aqueous solution of a mineral or organic acid. The conditions for calcining in the presence of steam (temperature, steam pressure and treatment period), also the post-calcining acid attack conditions (attack period, concentration of acid, nature of acid used and the ratio between the volume of the acid and the mass of zeolite) are adapted so as to obtain the desired level of dealumination. For the same reason, the number of heat treatment- acid attack cycles can be varied.
The framework dealumination cycle, comprising at least one heat treatment step, optionally and preferably carried out in the presence of steam, and at least one attack step of the IM-5 zeolite carried out in an acid medium, can be repeated as often as is necessary to obtain the dealuminated IM-5 zeolite having the desired characteristics. Similarly, following the heat treatment, optionally and preferably carried out in the presence of steam, a number of successive acid attacks can be carried out using different acid concentrations.
In a variation of this second calcining method, heat treatment of the IM-5 zeolite containing the organic structuring agent can be carried out at a temperature which is generally in the range 550xc2x0 C. to 850xc2x0 C., optionally and preferably in the presence of steam. In this case, the steps of calcining the organic structuring agent and dealumination of the framework are carried out simultaneously. The zeolite is then optionally treated with at least one aqueous solution of a mineral acid (for example HNO3 or HCl) or an organic acid (for example CH3CO2H). Finally, the solid obtained can optionally be subjected to at least one ion exchange step using at least one NH4NO3 solution, to eliminate practically all of the alkaline cations, in particular sodium, present in the cationic position in the zeolite.
The zeolite is then used with the Si/Al ratio obtained after dealumination.
The catalyst also comprises a hydrogenating function which is generally ensured by at least one metal selected from the group formed by metals from group VIB and group VIII of the periodic table.
The catalyst of the present invention can comprise an element from group VIII such as iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum. Preferred group VIII elements are non noble metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel. The catalyst of the invention can comprise a group VIB element, preferably tungsten and molybdenum. Advantageously, combinations of at least one non noble metal from group VIII and at least one group VIB metal are used. Preferred combinations are: nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-molybdenum, iron-molybdenum, iron-tungsten, nickel-tungsten, cobalt-tungsten. Preferred combinations are: nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-molybdenum and nickel-tungsten. It is also possible to use combinations of three elements, for example nickel-cobalt-molybdenum.
The catalyst of the present invention also comprises at least one porous amorphous or low crystallinity oxide type mineral matrix. Non limiting examples are alumina, silica and silica-alumina, clays (for example natural clays such as kaolin or bentonite), magnesia, titanium oxide, boron oxide, zirconia, aluminum phosphates, titanium phosphates, zirconium phosphates, charcoal. Aluminates can also be selected. Preferably, matrices containing alumina are used in any of its forms which are known to the skilled person, more preferably aluminas, for example gamma alumina.
In one implementation of the invention, the catalyst comprises at least one promoter element selected from the group formed by boron, silicon and phosphorous. A preferred catalyst comprises boron and/or silicon as the promoter element, more preferably boron and silicon.
The catalyst can optionally comprise at least one group VIIA element, preferably chlorine and fluorine, and optionally at least one group VIIB element (preferably Mn).
The catalyst can optionally comprise at least one group VB element (Ta, Nb, V), preferably niobium.
When the catalyst contains silicon, the silicon is introduced onto the support of the invention as a promoter. The silicon is primarily located on the support matrix and can be characterized by techniques such as a Castaing microprobe (distribution profile of the various elements), transmission electron microscopy coupled with X ray analysis of the catalyst components, or by establishing a distribution map of the elements present in the catalyst using an electron microprobe.
The invention also provides a catalyst comprising at least one amorphous or low crystallinity oxide type matrix, an IM-5 zeolite, at least one hydrodehydrogenating element selected from the group formed by group VIII metals and group VIB metals, and at least one promoter element selected from the group formed by boron and silicon. Advantageously, the catalyst also comprises phosphorous. Optionally, the catalyst can also comprise at least one group VIIB element and/or at least one group VIIA element and/or at least one group VB element. These catalysts are advantageously used for hydrocracking.
The catalyst of the present invention generally comprises, as a % by weight with respect to the total catalyst mass:
0.1% to 60%, preferably 0.1% to 50%. More preferably 0.1% to 40% of at least one hydrodehydrogenating metal, advantageously selected from the group formed by group VIB and group VIII metals;
0.1% to 99%, preferably 1% to 98%, of at least one porous amorphous or low crystallinity oxide type mineral matrix; said catalyst also comprising 0.1% to 99.8%, preferably 0.1% to 90%, preferably 0.1% to 80%, still more preferably 0. 1% to 60%, of IM-5 zeolite; said catalyst optionally containing:
0 to 20%, advantageously 0.1% to 20%, preferably 0.1% to 15%, still more preferably 0.1% to 10%, of at least one promoter element selected from the group formed by silicon, boron and phosphorous, not including the silicon which is optionally contained in the IM-5 zeolite;
0 to 20%, advantageously 0.1% to 20%, preferably 0.1% to 15%, still more preferably 0.1% to 10%, of at least one element selected from group VIIA, preferably fluorine;
0 to 20%, advantageously 0.1% to 20%, preferably 0.1% to 15%, still more preferably 0.1% to 10%, of at least one element selected from group VIIB, preferably manganese;
0 to 60%, preferably 0. 1% to 60%, advantageously 0. 1% to 50%, still more preferably 0.1% to 40%, of at least one element selected from group VB.
A preferred catalyst comprises, in % by weight with respect to the total catalyst mass:
0.1% to 99.7% of IM-5 zeolite;
0.1% to 60% of at least one hydrodehydrogenating metal;
0.1% to 99% of at least one matrix;
0 0.1% to 20% of boron and/or silicon;
0 to 20% of phosphorous, the sum of the quantities of boron and/or phosphorous and/or silicon being at most 20%;
0 to 20% of at least one group VIIA element;
0 to 20% of at least one group VIIB element;
0 to 60% of at least one group VB element.
This catalyst can also comprise all the characteristics described above: the preferred ranges of values for the components, the preferred components, and optional groups VIIA, VIIB and VB.
The group VIB metals, group VIII metals, group VIIB metals and group VBI metals of the catalyst of the present invention can also be present completely or partially in the form of the metal and/or oxide and/or sulphide.
The catalyst can be prepared by any method which is known in the art. Advantageously, it is obtained by mixing the matrix and the zeolite then forming the mixture. The hydrogenating element is introduced during mixing, or preferably after forming.
Forming can be carried out by extrusion, pelletization, by the oil drop method, by rotating plate granulation or using any other method which is well known to the skilled person. Forming is followed by calcining; the hydrogenating element is introduced before or after calcinin. The preparation is completed by calcining at a temperature of 250xc2x0 C. to 600xc2x0 C.
One preferred method of the present invention consists of mixing the IM-5 zeolite powder in a moist alumina gel for several tens of minutes, then passing the paste obtained through a die to form extrudates with a diameter in the range 0.4 to 4 mm.
The hydrogenating function can be introduced in part only (for example in the case of combinations of oxides of group VIB and VIII metals) or in its entirety on mixing the zeolite, i.e., the IM-5 zeolite, with the gel of the oxide selected as the matrix.
The hydrogenating function can also be introduced by one or more ion exchange operations carried out on the calcined support constituted by an IM-5 zeolite, dispersed in the selected matrix, using solutions containing precursor salts of the selected metals.
The hydrogenating function can also be introduced by one or more operations for impregnating the formed and calcined support, using a solution containing at least one precursor of at least one oxide of at least one metal selected from the group formed by group VIII metals and group VIB metals, the precursor(s) of at least one oxide of at least one group VIII metal preferably being introduced after those of group VIB or at the same time as the latter, if the catalysts contain at least one group VIB metal and at least one group VIII metal.
When the catalyst contains at least one group VIB element, for example molybdenum, it is possible, for example, to impregnate the catalyst with a solution containing at least one group VIB element, dry then calcine. Molybdenum impregnation can be facilitated by adding phosphoric acid to solutions of ammonium paramolybdate, which thus also introduces the phosphorous function to promote the catalytic activity.
In a preferred implementation of the invention, the catalyst contains, as a promoter, at least one element selected from silicon, boron and phosphorous. These elements are introduced into a support already containing at least one IM-5 zeolite, at least one matrix as defined above, and preferably also containing at least one metal selected from the group formed by group VIB and group VIII metals.
When the catalyst contains boron and/or silicon and/or phosphorous and optionally an element selected from group VIIA, halogen ions, optionally at least one element selected from group VIIB and optionally at least one element selected from group VB, these elements can also be introduced into the catalyst at various stages of the preparation and in various manners.
The matrix is preferably impregnated using the xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d impregnation method which is well known to the skilled person. Impregnation can be carried out in a single step using a solution containing all of the constituent elements of the final catalyst.
The P, B, Si and the element selected from group VIIA halide ions can be introduced into the calcined precursor by one or more impregnation operations using an excess of solution.
When the catalyst contains boron, one preferred method of the invention consists of preparing an aqueous solution of at least one boron salt such as ammonium biborate or ammonium pentaborate in an alkaline medium and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and carrying out dry impregnation, in which the pore volume of the precursor is filled with the solution containing boron.
When the catalyst contains silicon, a silicone type silicon compound is used.
When the catalyst contained boron and silicon, the boron and silicon can also be deposited simultaneously using a solution containing a boron salt and a silicone type silicon compound. Thus where the precursor is a nickel-molybdenum type catalyst supported on a support containing alumina and IM-5 zeolite, for example, it is possible to impregnate this precursor with an aqueous solution of ammonium biborate and Rhodorsil ELP silicone from Rhxc3x4ne Poulenc, to dry at 80xc2x0 C., for example, impregnate with an ammonium fluoride Solution, then dry at 80xc2x0 C., for example, followed by calcining, preferably in air in a traversed bed, for example at 500xc2x0 C. for 4 hours.
When the catalyst contains at least one group VIIA element, preferably fluorine, it is possible to impregnate the catalyst with an ammonium fluoride solution, to dry at 80xc2x0 C. for example, followed by calcining, preferably in air in a traversed bed, for example at 500xc2x0 C. for 4 hours.
Other impregnation sequences can be used to obtain the catalyst of the invention.
When the catalyst contains phosphorous, it is possible to impregnate the catalyst with a solution containing phosphorous, to dry, then to calcine.
When the elements contained in the catalyst, i.e., at least one metal selected from the group formed by group VIII and group VIB metals, optionally boron, silicon, phosphorous, at least one group VIIA element, at least one group VIIB element, at least one group VB element, are introduced in a number of steps for impregnating the corresponding precursor salts, an intermediate step for drying the catalyst is generally carried out at a temperature which is generally in the range 60xc2x0 C. to 250xc2x0 C. and an intermediate catalyst calcining step is generally carried out at a temperature in the range 250xc2x0 C. to 600xc2x0 C.
To finish the catalyst preparation, the moist solid is left in a moist atmosphere at a temperature in the range 10xc2x0 C. to 80xc2x0 C., then the moist solid obtained is dried at a temperature in the range 60xc2x0 C. to 1 50xc2x0 C., and finally the solid obtained is calcined at a temperature in the range 150xc2x0 C. to 800xc2x0 C.
A preparation process consists of carrying out the following operations:
a) preparing a solid termed the precursor, comprising at least the following compounds: at least one matrix, at least one IM-5 zeolite, optionally at least one element selected from the group formed by group VIB and group VIII elements, optionally at least one promoter element selected from the group boron and silicon, optionally phosphorous, and optionally at least one group VIIA element, the whole preferably having been formed;
b) calcining the dry solid obtained in step a) at a temperature of at least 150xc2x0 C.;
c) if necessary, impregnating the solid precursor obtained from step b) with at least one solution containing at least one element from group VIIB, VB, VIII, VIB or VIIA;
d) leaving the moist solid in a moist atmosphere at a temperature in the range 10xc2x0 C. to 120xc2x0 C.;
e) drying the moist solid obtained in step d) at a temperature in the range 60xc2x0 C. to 150xc2x0 C.
Sources of group VIB elements which can be used are well known to the skilled person. Examples of molybdenum and tungsten sources are oxides and hydroxides, molybdic acids and tungstic acids and their salts, in particular ammonium salts such as ammonium molybdate. ammonium heptamolybdate, ammonium tungstate, phosphomolybdic acid, phospliotunostic acid and their salts, silicomolybdic acid, silicotungstic acid and their salts. Preferably, oxides and ammonium salt are used, such as ammonium molybdate, ammonium heptamolybdate and ammonium tungstate.
The sources of the group VIII elements which can be used are well known to the skilled person. Examples of sources of non noble metals are nitrates, sulphates, phosphates, halides, for example chlorides, bromides and fluorides, and carboxylates, for example acetates and carbonates. Examples of sources of noble metals are halides, for example chlorides, nitrates, acids such as chloroplatinic acid, and oxychlorides such as ammoniacal ruthenium oxychloride.
The preferred phosphorous source is orthophosphoric acid H3PO4, but its salts and esters such as ammonium phosphates are also suitable. Phosphorous can, for example, be introduced in the form of a mixture of phosphoric acid and a basic organic compound containing nitrogen, such as ammonia, primary and secondary amines, cyclic amines, pyridine group compounds, quinolines, and pyrrole group compounds.
A variety of silicon sources can be used. Examples are ethyl orthosilicate Si(OEt)4, siloxanes, polysiloxanes, silicones and halogenated silicates such as ammonium fluorosilicate (NH4)2SiF6 or sodium fluorosilicate Na2SiF6.
Silicomolybdic acid and its salts, and silicotungstic acid and its salts can also advantageously be used. Silicon can be added, for example, by impregnation using ethyl silicate in solution in a water/alcohol mixture. Silicon can also be added, for example, by impregnation using a silicone type silicon compound suspended in water.
The boron source can be boric acid, preferably orthoboric acid H3BO3, ammonium biborate or pentaborate, boron oxide, or boric esters. Boron can, for example, be introduced in the form of a mixture of boric acid, hydrogen peroxide and a basic organic compound containing nitrogen, such as ammonia, primary and secondary amines, cyclic amines, pyridine group compounds, quinlolines, and pyrrole group compounds. Boron can, for example, be introduced using a solution of boric acid in a water/alcohol mixture.
Sources of group VIIA elements which can be used are well known to the skilled person. As an example, fluoride anions can be introduced in the form of hydrofluoric acid or its salts. Such salts are formed with alkali metals, ammonium or an organic compound. In the latter case, the salt is advantageously formed in the reaction mixture by reacting the organic compound with hydrofluoric acid. It is also possible to use hydrolysable compounds which can liberate fluoride anions in water, such as ammonium fluorosilicate (NH4)2SiF6, silicon tetrafluoride SiF4 or sodium fluorosilicate Na2SiF6. Fluorine can be introduced, for example, by impregnating an aqueous hydrofluoride solution or ammonium fluoride.
Sources of group VIIB elements which can be used are well known to the skilled person. Preferably, ammonium salts, nitrates and chlorides are used.
Sources of the group VB element which can be used are well known to the skilled person. Examples of niobium sources are oxides such as diniobium pentoxide Nb2O5, niobic acid Nb2O5.H2O, niobium hydroxides and polyoxoniobates, niobium alkoxides with formula Nb(OR1)3 where R1 is an alkyl radical, niobium oxalate NbO(HC2O4)5, and ammonium niobate. Preferably, niobium oxalate or ammonium niobate are used.
Niobium impregnation can be facilitated by adding oxalic acid and optionally ammonium oxalate to niobium oxalate solutions. Other compounds can be used to improve Solubility and facilitate niobium impregnation, as is well known to the skilled person.
At least part of the catalysts obtained, which are in the oxide form, can be placed in the metallic or sulphide form.
The catalysts obtained in the present invention are formed into grains of different shapes and dimensions. They are generally used in the form of cylindrical or polylobed extrudates such as bilobes, trilobes, or polylobes with a straight or twisted shape, but they can also be produced and used in the form of compressed powder, tablets, rings, beads or wheels. The specific surface area is measured by nitrogen adsorption using the BET method (Brunauer, Emmett, Teller, J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 60, 309-316 (1938)) and is in the range 50 to 600 m2/g, the pore volume measured using a mercury porisimeter is in the range 0.2 to 1.5 cm3/g and the pore size distribution may be unimodal, bimodal or polymodal.
The catalysts obtained in the present invention are used for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feeds such as petroleum cuts. The feeds used in the process are gasolines, kerosines, gas oils, vacuum gas oils, atmospheric residues, vacuum residues, atmospheric distillates, vacuum distillates, heavy fuels, oils, waxes and paraffins, spent oil, deasphalted residues or crudes, feeds from thermal or catalytic conversion processes, and their mixtures. They contain heteroatoms Such as sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen and possibly metals.
The catalysts obtained are advantageously used for hydrocracking, in particular of vacuum distillate type heavy hydrocarbons, deasphalted residues or hydrotreated residues or the like. The heavy cuts are preferably constituted by at least 80% by volume of compounds with a boiling point of at least 350xc2x0 C., preferably in the range 350xc2x0 C. to 580xc2x0 C. (i.e., corresponding to compounds containing at least 15 to 20 carbon atoms). They generally contain heteroatoms such as sulphur and nitrogen. The nitrogen content is usually in the range 1 to 5000 ppm by weight and the sulphur content is in the range 0.01% to 5% by weight.
The catalyst of the present invention can advantageously be used for hydrocracking vacuum distillate type cuts which are highly charged with sulphur and nitrogen.
The catalysts of the present invention preferably undergo sulphurisation to transform at least part of the metallic species to the sulphide before bringing them into contact with the feed to be treated. This activation treatment by sulphurisation is well known to the skilled person and can be carried out using any method already described in the literature, i.e., either in the reactor or ex-situ.
One conventional sulphurisation method which is well known to the skilled person consists of heating in the presence of hydrogen sulphide (pure or, for example, in a stream of a hydrogen/hydrogen sulphide mixture or a nitrogen/hydrogen sulphide mixture) to a temperature in the range 150xc2x0 C. to 800xc2x0 C., preferably in the range 250xc2x0 C. to 600xc2x0 C., generally in a traversed bed reaction zone.
The hydrocracking conditions such as temperature, pressure, hydrogen recycle ratio, and hourly space velocity, can vary widely depending on the nature of the feed, the quality of the desired products and the facilities available to the refiner. The temperature is generally over 200xc2x0 C. and usually in the range 250xc2x0 C. to 480xc2x0 C. The pressure is over 0.1 MPa and usually over 1 MPa. The quantity of hydrogen is a minimum of 50 litres of hydrogen per litre of feed and usually in the range 80 to 5000 litres of hydrogen per litre of feed. The hourly space velocity is generally in the range 0.1 to 20 volumes of feed per volume of catalyst per hour.
In a first implementation, or partial hydrocracking, also known as mild hydrocracking, the degree of conversion is below 55%. The catalyst of the invention is thus used at a temperature which is generally 230xc2x0 C. or more, preferably 300xc2x0 C., generally at most 480xc2x0 C., and usually in the range 350xc2x0 C. to 450xc2x0 C. The pressure is generally over 2 MPa and preferably 3 MPa, less than 12 MPa and preferably less than 10 MPa. The quantity of hydrogen is a minimum of 100 normal litres of hydrogen per litre of feed and usually in the range 200 to 3000 normal litres of hydrogen per litre of feed. The hourly space velocity is generally in the range 0.1 to 10 hxe2x88x921. Under these conditions, the catalysts of the present invention have better activities for conversion, hydrodesulphuration and hydrodenitrogenation than commercially available catalysts.
In a second implementation, the process is carried out in two steps, the catalyst of the present invention being used for partial hydrocracking, advantageously under moderate hydrogen pressure conditions, of cuts such as vacuum distillates containing high sulphur and nitrogen contents which have already been hydrotreated. In this hydrocracking mode, the degree of conversion is below 55%. In this case, the petroleum cut is converted in two steps, the catalysts of the invention being used in the second step. The catalyst of the first step can be any hydrotreatment catalyst which is known in the art. This hydrotreatment catalyst advantageously comprises a matrix, preferably alumina-based, and at least one metal with a hydrogenating function. T he hydrotreatment function is ensured by at least one metal or metal compound, used alone in combination, selected from group VIII and group VIB metals, such as nickel, cobalt, molybdenum or tungsten in particular. Further, this catalyst can optionally contain phosphorous and optionally boron.
The first step is generally carried out at a temperature of 350-460xc2x0 C., preferably 360-450xc2x0 C.; the pressure is at least 2 MPa, preferably at least 3 MPa; and the hourly space velocity is 0.1-5 hxe2x88x921, preferably 0.2-2 hxe2x88x921, with a quantity of hydrogen at least 100 Nl/Nl of feed, preferably 60-3000 Nl/Nl of feed.
In the conversion step using the catalyst of the invention (or second hydrocracking step), the temperatures are generally 230xc2x0 C. or more and usually in the range 300xc2x0 C. to 480xc2x0 C., preferably in the range 330xc2x0 C. to 450xc2x0 C. The pressure is generally at least 2 MPa, preferably at least 3 MPa; it is less than 12 MPa and preferably less than 10 MPa. The quantity of hydrogen is a minimum of 100 l/l of feed and usually in the range 200 to 3000 l/l of feed.
The hourly space velocity is generally in the range 0.15 to 10 hxe2x88x921. Under these conditions, the catalysts of the present invention have better activities for conversion, hydrodesulphuration, and hydrodenitrogenation and a better selectivity for middle distillates than commercially available catalysts. The service life of the catalysts is also improved in the moderate pressure range.
In a further implementation carried out in two steps, the catalyst of the present invention can be used for hydrocracking under high hydrogen pressure conditions of at least 5 MPa. The treated cuts are, for example, vacuum distillates containing high sulphur and nitrogen contents which have already been hydrotreated. In this hydrocracking mode, the degree of conversion is over 55%. In this case, the petroleum cut conversion process is carried out in two step, the catalyst of the invention being used in the second step.
The catalyst of the first step can be any hydrotreatment catalyst which is known in the art. This hydrotreatment catalyst advantageously comprises a matrix, preferably alumina-based. and at least one metal with a hydrogenating function. The hydrogenating function is ensured by at least one metal or metal compound, used alone or in combination, selected from group VIII and group VI13 metals, such as nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and tungsten in particular. Further, this catalyst can optionally contain phosphorous and optionally boron.
The first step is generally carried out at a temperature of 350-460xc2x0 C., preferably 360-450xc2x0 C.; the pressure is over 3 MPa; the hourly space velocity is 0.1-5 hxe2x88x921, preferably 0.2-2 h xe2x88x921; and the quantity of hydrogen is at least 100 Nl/Nl of feed, preferably 260-3000 Nl/Nl of feed.
For the conversion step using the catalyst of the invention (or second step), the temperatures are generally 230xc2x0 C. or more, usually in the range 300xc2x0 C. to 480xc2x0 C., preferably in the range 300xc2x0 C. to 440xc2x0 C. The pressure is generally over 5 MPa, preferably over 7 MPa. The quantity of hydrogen is a minimum of 100 l/l of feed, usually in the range 200 to 3000 l/l of hydrogen per litre of feed. The hourly space velocity is generally in the range 0.15 to 10 hxe2x88x921.
Under these conditions, the catalysts of the present invention have better activity for conversion and better selectivity for middle distillates than for commercially available catalysts, even though the zeolite contents are considerably lower than those of commercially available catalysts. | {
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A gas turbine engine generally includes a fan and a core arranged in flow communication with one another. Additionally, the core of the gas turbine engine general includes, in serial flow order, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. In operation, air is provided from the fan to an inlet of the compressor section where one or more axial compressors progressively compress the air until it reaches the combustion section. Fuel is mixed with the compressed air and burned within the combustion section to provide combustion gases. The combustion gases are routed from the combustion section to the turbine section. The flow of combustion gasses through the turbine section drives the turbine section and is then routed through the exhaust section, e.g., to atmosphere.
More commonly, non-traditional high temperature materials, such as ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials, are being used as structural components within gas turbine engines. For example, typical combustion sections include an inner liner, an outer liner, and a dome. More commonly, the inner and outer liners are being formed of CMC materials, while the dome is formed of a metal material. The metal dome has conventionally been required to attach certain fuel-air injection assemblies.
However, certain gas turbine engines have had problems accommodating certain mechanical properties of the CMC materials incorporated therein. For example, CMC materials have different coefficients of thermal expansion than the traditional metal materials. Therefore, the attachment of the inner and outer liners, formed of a CMC material, to the dome, formed of a metal material, may require a fairly complicated attachment assembly. Such attachment assemblies may create aerodynamic hurdles for a flow of combustion gasses through the combustion chamber, such as a disruption of the flow of combustion gasses through the combustion chamber. Accordingly, a combustor assembly capable of utilizing CMC materials while improving the aerodynamics within the combustion chamber would be useful. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a micro-accelerometer made by micromachining techniques and used to detect earthquakes. The invention also relates to a preloaded linear beam vibration sensor (i.e. an unbalanced see-saw type vibration sensor) made by micromachining techniques.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Individual terminals of a gas supply network must be shut quickly and reliably in the event of large-scale earthquakes. For this purpose, an earthquake sensor is equipped with each user's terminal of the network to detect earthquakes and to shut the terminal in response to a detection signal.
Existing accelerometers for detecting an earthquake can be classified into two types: one of a broad band type using a small vibrator and capable of detecting vibrations over broad bands, and the other of a narrow band type whose frequency characteristics are limited to low frequencies so as to detect only earthquake frequencies. These accelerometers have arrangements in which a mass is connected to a frame via a spring so as to detect acceleration in terms of changes in relative position between the mass and the frame.
In order to implement a linear accelerometer with a low natural frequency to be sensitive only to low frequencies; i.e. vibrations contained in earthquakes, the accelerometer needs to be large. For instance, to detect an acceleration of 100 Gal below 1 Hz with an accelerometer having a natural frequency of 1 Hz, a displacement of the mass-spring system in the accelerometer of 2.5 cm is required. For allowing such a large displacement in a linear system, its vibrator must be, at least, as long as the length of the displacement, and cannot take advantage of using micromachining techniques to fabricate the accelerometer.
Accelerometers for detecting earthquakes should ignore accelerations of frequencies above 5 Hz in order to eliminate influences of noise. Existing wide band accelerometers have very high band resonant frequencies, typically 1000 Hz or more. If such a wide band accelerometer is used to detect earthquake waves, then it may erroneously recognize traffic or other vibrations as earthquakes. In order to overcome the problem, they need an electric filter for removing high frequency components from detection signals so as to extract only earthquake signals.
FIG. 15 shows a basic structure of an earthquake sensor currently used in gas meters. The earthquake sensor 100 uses a steel ball 150 housed in a container 110 having a funnel-like cavity 130 in the center of its bottom 120. When an acceleration is applied to the container 110, the steel ball 150 runs up the slope 131 of the cavity 130, and touches an electrode 141 provided on the circumferential wall 140 of the container 110, thus short-circuiting the electrode 141 and another electrode 121 at the bottom, causing a signal indicating application of an acceleration above a predetermined value to be exerted.
This acceleration sensor exhibits the characteristics shown in FIG. 16 indicating acceleration (Gal) on the ordinate and displacement (mm) on the abscissa. That is, when the inner diameter of the housing 110 is 21.6 mm, the diameter of the steel ball 150 is 15.9 mm, and the angle .alpha. of the slope of the cavity 130 is 6.42 degrees, the steel ball moves by 2.477 mm at the acceleration of (5/7).multidot.M.multidot.g.multidot.sin.alpha..multidot.cos and causes a detection signal to be exerted. In the equation, M is the mass of ball, and g is the gravitational acceleration.
An accelerometer used as a seismograph requires sensitivity to accelerations of 85 to 150 Gal for frequencies between 1 and 5 Hz, and requires a roll-off (decrease in sensitivity) of approximately 60 dB per decade of frequencies above 5 Hz.
In order that a detector element does not largely deform when an earthquake acceleration is applied, the detector element must be small, and the use of micromachining techniques to make such accelerometers would be advantageous. In addition, such accelerometers themselves for detecting earthquake waves must have a narrow detection bandwidth of approximately 1 to 5 Hz to eliminate the need for an expensive low pass electric filter. | {
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The present invention relates to infusion members and more particularly to a novel multi-angle U-shaped hub for an infusion member.
Conventional medical practice often requires an intravenous infusion to be performed to allow blood, nutriments or other desirable fluids to be fed directly into the vascular system of a patient being treated. A venipuncture is performed at a site on the patient's body and a hollow infusion member is inserted therethrough. Typically, a length of tubing is attached between the infusion member and a supply bottle located in the vicinity of the patient. It is extremely important to prevent lateral movement of the infusion member relative to the venipuncture site, to reduce abrasion and laceration of the flesh around the venipuncture site and so minimize its irritation and susceptibility to phlebitis, and to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the infusion member, to minimize hematoma or blood loss.
It is known to provide a structure, adjacent to the junction of the infusion member and tube, to be grasped during the venipuncture operation. It is also known to utilize the structure to provide a surface for taping the junction region to the patient's body, after the infusion member had been inserted, to reduce the undesirable lateral movements thereof.
Desirable infusion apparatus should also utilize a structure allowing the infusion member and tube to be manufactured in an axially aligned condition, and still provide a doctor or technician complete choice of the final angular orientation of the infusion tube with respect to the infusion member. A medical practitioner, especially when preparing a patient for surgery, requires a choice of angles of the infusion tube relative to the infusion member. Various surgical procedures require that the infusion tube: remain axially aligned with the infusion member, as when the intravenous supply is positioned toward the lower extremity of the patient; have a 90.degree. bend with respect to the axis of the infusion member, as when filters are attached thereto; have a 135.degree. bend with respect to the infusion member axis, to allow the flexible tube to point towards the head of the operating table when the venipuncture site is situated in the outstretched arm of the patient; or have a 180.degree. bend if the arm is at and parallel to the patient's side and the intravenous source is near the head of the patient. Thus, an infusion member hub capable of maintaining the flexible infusion tube at one of a plurality of angles relative to the axis of the infusion member, yet minimizing the radial pressure on the tube to prevent a pinch effect and subsequent decrease of both internal cross-section of and flow through the tube, is desirable. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting system and a data processing method.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A digital broadcasting system which can deliver a variety of broadcasting contents has come into wide use. For example, since a vestigial sideband (VSB) transmission scheme is employed as the digital broadcasting standard in North America and Korea, users can transmit/receive a variety of broadcasting programs. The VSB transmission scheme which is employed as the digital broadcasting standard in North America and Korea uses a single carrier scheme. A broadcast receiving system obtains system information necessary for transmitting/receiving a broadcast from a broadcast transmitting system through a program and system information protocol. | {
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With the development of network information technology, more and more users are accustomed to store files in their work and life on the network side for backup.
When uploading a file to a server for backup, a user may firstly select the corresponding file on a terminal, and click a function button for uploading a file. At the same time the terminal may transmit the corresponding file to the server. After receiving the file, the server may store it in a storage space corresponding to the user.
In the process of implementing the present disclosure, the inventor finds that there is at least the following problem: if a certain file already exists in the server and a user uploads the file repeatedly, the resource for file transmission of the server will be greatly wasted. | {
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The present invention relates generally to digital signature generation, and more specifically, to optimization of digital signature generation for records that may be selectively removed in groups from storage at a later time.
The demand for long-term, secure storage of electronic records, including, but not limited to computing logs, such as event logs, continues to grow, for example, due to increased regulations and auditing requirements. The need for such storage to be provided in a performance-sensitive manner also has become increasingly important, for example, as result of the potentially high throughput of logging that may be performed. This need is particularly acute among organizations that do large amounts of logging.
Digital signatures have been implemented in some existing log management systems to provide security for electronic records. For example, in some existing systems, a digital signature may be used for each event log entry rather than implementing a standard secure protocol. In existing systems, each event log has been provided with an individual digital signature, which may be subsequently used to validate the record, or ensure the individual log entry has not been tampered with during an intervening time period. In existing systems, groups of signed events may later be removed from storage, transferred in bulk, and then individually validated.
However, the computing time required to generate digital signatures for large numbers of records in some cases may become burdensome. For example, the generation of large numbers of digital signatures for stored records may effectively limit the throughput of logging that may be performed, or even negatively affect overall computer performance. | {
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The field of the invention is felts for use in a papermaking machine, and more particularly, press felts for use in the press section of a papermaking machine.
In the conventional papermaking process, a water slurry or suspension of cellulose fibers, known as the paper "stock", is fed onto the top of the upper run of a traveling endless forming belt. The forming belt provides a papermaking surface and operates as a filter to separate the cellulosic fibers from the aqueous medium to form a wet paper web. In forming the paper web, the forming belt serves as a filter element to separate the aqueous medium from the cellulosic fibers by providing for the drainage of the aqueous medium through its mesh openings, also known as drainage holes, by vacuum means or the like located on the drainage side of the fabric.
After leaving the forming medium, the somewhat self-supporting paper web is transferred to the press section in the machine and onto a press felt, where still more of its water content is removed by passing it through a series of pressure nips formed by cooperating press rolls, these press rolls serving to compact the web as well. It is this press felt which is the subject of the present invention.
Subsequently, the paper web is transferred to a dryer section where it is passed about and held in heat transfer relation with a series of heated generally cylindrical rolls to remove still further amounts of water therefrom.
Ideally, press felts should have at least the following properties. First, they should have a top surface that is fine enough to produce a smooth finish and minimize marking of the sheet of paper being produced. Second, they should be open enough to allow water to drain through without significant impedance. Third, they should be resilient enough to quickly recover from repeated high nip pressures over a long period of time. Fourth, they should be tough and strong enough to provide good stability, wear resistance and felt life.
Generally, press felts are assembled in the following manner. If the fabrics are not woven endless, the ends are joined by stitching a seam in a conventional manner. The base fabric is then installed on a needle loom, with the fine layer comprising the outside or top loop, where multilayer base fabrics are employed. Batt fibers are applied to the top side or paper contacting surface, in sufficient quantity and weight to give good bulk and cushion properties. The fibers are anchored to the base fabric assembly by one or more needling operations. Thus, the surface of the press felt (top) which contacts the paper web is a felt, formed as the batting material fibers are needled to the base fabric. Fibers may also be needled to the bottom of the woven base fabric to ensure good anchoring of the fibers on the top side.
Needling the entire structure gives the felt a uniform thickness. Needling also provides a cushioned absorbency to the felt and distributes the pressure uniformly across the width of the felt for efficient water removal. Both uniform thickness and pressure distribution significantly reduce or eliminate vibration of the press rolls of the papermaking machine. Needling is necessary to compress the felt to a given density and resiliency and to entangle the fibers in the base fabric so they do not come loose during the papermaking operation. The batt material may be made up of fibers of any of a number of well known compositions, including natural fibers such as wool, but preferably will be made in whole or in part from synthetic materials such as nylon, dacron, etc. In this connection, it is desirable that these fibers be relatively coarse or of large diameter. They will be selected for their stiffness, or "rigidity"; that is their tendency to resist bending or deformation at fiber cross-over points since this enhances their ability to produce a good papermaking surface.
As noted above, the felt should be strong enough to provide good stability, wear resistance, and fabric life. One of the problems with existing felts is that the batt fibers are soft and do not make a strong fabric. Furthermore, the fabrics tend to shift and/or widen on the machine, making it very difficult to predict how a fabric will perform on the press roll. This is a particular problem with fibers made of nylon, since nylon tends to expand upon exposure to water.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved papermaking fabric having greater strength and longer felt life.
It is another object of the invention to provide a papermaker's fabric which remains stable on the papermaking machine.
It is another object of the invention to provide a papermaker's fabric which limits expansion upon exposure to water.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a papermaker's fabric which does not shift or widen upon installation on the paper machine. | {
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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp, and particularly to a technique for hermetically sealing tube end parts of an arc tube that is made from a translucent ceramic material.
(2) Related Art
As a typical material for an arc tube used in a metal halide lamp that is one type of a high-pressure discharge lamp, silica glass has been conventionally used. In recent years, however, an arc tube made from a translucent ceramic material has been developed and commercialized. Because translucent ceramic has a higher heat resistance than silica glass, a metal halide lamp using a translucent ceramic arc tube can be lit at higher temperatures and can exhibit better lamp characteristics such as color rendering properties than a metal halide lamp using a silica glass arc tube.
In the commercialization process, however, such a translucent ceramic arc tube was found to require a relatively long total length for the following reason. A frit-sealing technique is employed to seal a translucent ceramic arc tube. Here, ceramic cement (frit) is used as a sealing material. At high temperatures, such a frit reacts with a metal halide that is a light-emitting material used in the arc tube. To prevent this reaction from occurring, parts (tube end parts) to be sealed using the frit need to be positioned away from a high-temperature part (a discharge space).
The resulting long arc tube inevitably degrades the compactness of a metal halide lamp as a whole. Further, the heat capacity of such long arc tube as a whole is high, thereby degrading the luminous efficiency and failing to satisfy the recent demands for energy-saving.
In view of this, a technique for sealing by way of metallizing (hereafter referred to as a xe2x80x9cmetallize-sealing techniquexe2x80x9d) as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application Nos. 2000-100385 and 2001-58882 is now calling attentions as a new sealing technique. A sealing part formed according to the metallize-sealing technique has been known to be less reactive to a metal halide and to provide stronger sealing than a sealing part formed according to the above frit-sealing technique. Particular techniques disclosed in the above-cited applications further enable thermal shock resistance to be improved by providing an impregnated glass phase in each sealing part formed according to the metallize-sealing technique.
However, these disclosed techniques are found to have various problems. An excessively shortened arc tube with both sealing parts being too close to a high-temperature part may suffer from such a problem that its inner surface is blackened and thereby the luminous flux is greatly degraded. The excessively shortened arc tube with both sealing parts being too close to a high-temperature part may also suffer from such problems that its sealing parts are cracked, and that luminescent colors are changed due to a material for the impregnated glass phase being eroded by a metal halide that is a light-emitting material used in the arc tube.
The first object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure discharge lamp that can use an arc tube whose total length is as short as possible and that can prevent such a problem as blackening of the arc tube. The second object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure discharge lamp that can use an arc tube whose total length is as short as possible and that can prevent such problems as crack generation and luminous color change.
The first object of the present invention can be achieved by a high-pressure discharge lamp, including: an arc tube that is made up of a main-tube part in which a discharge space is formed, and two thin-tube parts extending from both ends of the main-tube part, the main-tube part and the two thin-tube parts being made from a translucent ceramic material; and a pair of electrodes having rods that respectively extend through the two thin-tube parts into the discharge space so that tops thereof face each other with a predetermined distance in-between, the rod of at least one of the electrodes being held by a tubular electrode holder embedded in and bonded to the thin-tube part via an adhesive agent, the electrode-holder being made of a halide-resistant metal, the adhesive agent including a sintered halide-resistant metal impregnated with mixture glass, wherein the electrode holder is at such a position that satisfies the expression xe2x80x9cLxe2x89xa70.012P+2.5 [mm]xe2x80x9d where xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d is a distance [mm] between (a) a top of the electrode whose rod is held by the electrode holder and (b) one end of the electrode holder closer to the discharge space, and xe2x80x9cPxe2x80x9d is a lamp wattage [W].
According to this construction, a glow discharge is not generated from the end of the conductive electrode holder at the discharge space side when the lamp is started. Therefore, the blackening phenomenon of the inner surface of the arc tube can be prevented during the effective lifetime of the lamp. Further, the thin-tube part can be shortened in a range of the distance xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d calculated using the above expression, so that the luminous efficiency can be improved as compared with a conventional lamp employing the frit-sealing technique.
The second object of the present invention can be achieved by a high-pressure discharge lamp, including: an arc tube that is made up of a main-tube part in which a discharge space is formed, and two thin-tube parts extending from both ends of the main-tube part, the main-tube part and the two thin-tube parts being made from a translucent ceramic material; and a pair of electrodes having rods that respectively extend through the two thin-tube parts into the discharge space so that tops thereof face each other with a predetermined distance in-between, the rod of at least one of the electrodes being held by a tubular electrode holder embedded in and bonded to the thin-tube part via an adhesive agent, the electrode holder being made of a halide-resistant metal, the adhesive agent including a sintered halide-resistant metal impregnated with mixture glass, wherein a temperature of one end, closer to the discharge space, of a bonding area formed using the adhesive agent does not exceed a lowest temperature at which an erosion action of a light-emitting material enclosed in the discharge space on the mixture glass occurs. The second object of the present invention can also be achieved by a high-pressure discharge lamp, including: an arc tube that is made up of a main-tube part in which a discharge space is formed, and two thin-tube parts extending from both ends of the main-tube part, the main-tube part and the two thin-tube parts being made from a translucent ceramic material; and a pair of electrodes having rods that respectively extend through the two thin-tube parts into the discharge space so that tops thereof face each other with a predetermined distance in-between, the rod of at least one of the electrodes being held by a tubular electrode holder embedded in and bonded to the thin-tube part via an adhesive agent, the electrode holder being made of a halide-resistant metal, the adhesive agent including a sintered halide-resistant metal impregnated with mixture glass, wherein the adhesive agent is at such a position that is away from a top of the electrode whose rod is held by the electrode holder, by a distance that is out of a range where the mixture glass receives an erosion action of a light-emitting material enclosed in the discharge space at steady lighting.
According to these constructions, such a problem that the light-emitting material enclosed in the discharge space erodes the mixture glass at steady lighting can be prevented. Therefore, cracking damage in the art tube or luminous color change can be prevented, enabling the luminous efficiency to be improved. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure is generally directed to the field of semiconductor processing, and, more particularly, to a method of forming metal gate structures and metal contacts in a common fill process.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a constant drive within the semiconductor industry to increase the operating speed of integrated circuit devices, e.g., microprocessors, memory devices, etc. This drive is fueled by consumer demands for computers and electronic devices that operate at increasingly greater speeds. This demand for increased speed has resulted in a continual reduction in the size of semiconductor devices, e.g., transistors. That is, the size of many components of a typical field effect transistor, e.g., channel length, source/drain junction depths, gate dielectric thickness, etc., are reduced. For example, all other things being equal, the smaller the channel length of the transistor, the faster the transistor will operate. Thus, there is a constant drive to reduce the size, or scale, of the components of a typical transistor to increase the overall speed of the transistor, as well as integrated circuit devices incorporating such transistors.
By way of background, many semiconductor devices, e.g., transistors, may be manufactured using either a “gate-first” technique or a “gate-last” technique. The techniques selected depends upon many factors, such as the type of device under construction, the desired performance characteristics, etc. As it relates to transistors, in a typical “gate-first” approach, the final gate electrode structure is formed earlier in the process as compared to when the final gate electrode is formed in a typical “gate-last” approach. More specifically, in a “gate-first” approach, the gate material is deposited on a previously formed gate insulation layer, and thereafter an etching process is performed to define the final gate electrode. Processing continues with the formation of other related structure, e.g., source/drain regions, sidewall spacers, silicide regions, etc., with the final gate electrode in place In the “gate-first” technique, the final gate electrode must be made of a material that is able to withstand all of the subsequent processing operations, e.g., various heat treatments, etc. For that reason, use of the “gate-first” technique tends to limit the material that may be used for the gate electrode. In contrast, in the “gate-last” technique, a “dummy gate” material is formed early in the process and serves as a placeholder for what will ultimately be the final gate electrode structure. At some point after other aspects of the transistor have been formed, e.g., after the source/drain regions, the sidewall spacers, etc. have been formed, the dummy gate material will be removed and a replacement gate electrode material will be formed in its place. This replacement gate electrode is the final gate electrode for the transistor. Since the replacement gate electrode material is not subject to all of the processing conditions that the gate electrode in a “gate-first” technique is subjected to, the final gate electrode in a “gate-last” technique may be made of a variety of different metals or other conductive material. Thus, the “gate-last” technique gives designers more flexibility as to the final gate electrode material which can be important in the ultimate performance of the device.
In a typical “gate-last” approach, the contacts to the active area are formed at a different time than when the replacement gate electrode is formed. One problem with this typical technique is that it involves multiple deposition and chemical mechanical polishing (“CMP”) steps. Among other things, CMP steps tend to create defects, such as microscratches, slurry defects, and the like, all of which tend to reduce product yields.
The present invention is directed to solving, or at least reducing, some or all of the aforementioned problems. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Controlled release systems deliver a drug at a predetermined rate for a definite time period, that may range from days to years. These systems provide advantages over conventional drug therapies. For example, after ingestion or injection of standard dosage forms, the blood level of the drug rises, peaks, and then declines. Since each drug has a therapeutic range above which it is toxic and below which it is ineffective, oscillating drug levels may cause alternating periods of ineffectiveness and toxicity. In contrast, a controlled release preparation maintains the drug in the desired therapeutic range by a single administration. Other potential advantages of controlled release system include: (i) localized delivery of the drug to a particular body compartment, thereby lowering the systemic drug level; (ii) preservation of medications that are rapidly destroyed by the body (this is particularly important for biologically sensitive molecules such as proteins); (iii) reduced need for follow up care; (iv) increased comfort; and (v) improved compliance.
Optimal control of drug release may be achieved by placing the drug in a polymeric material. Polymeric materials generally release drugs by diffusion, chemical reaction, or solvent activation.
The most common release mechanism is diffusion, whereby the drug migrates from its initial position in the polymeric system to the polymer's outer surface and then to the body. Diffusion may occur through a reservoir, in which a drug core is surrounded by a polymer film, or in a matrix, where the drug is uniformly distributed through the polymeric system. Drugs can also be released by chemical reaction such as degradation of the polymer or cleavage of the drug from a polymer backbone.
Combinations of the above mechanisms are possible. Release rates from polymeric systems can be controlled by the nature of the polymeric material (for example, crystallinity or pore structure for diffusion controlled systems; the hydrolytic lability of the bonds or the hydrophobicity of the monomers for chemically controlled systems) and the design of the system (for example, thickness and shape). The advantage of having systems with different release mechanisms is that each can accomplish different goals.
For many years, controlled release systems were only capable of slowly releasing drugs of low molecular weight (<600). Large molecules, such as proteins, were not considered feasible candidates, because polypeptides were considered too large to slowly diffuse through most polymeric materials, even after swelling of the polymer. The discovery that matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing powdered macromolecules enabled molecules of nearly any size to be released for over 100 days permitted controlled delivery of a variety of proteins, polysaccharides, and polynucleotides. See Langer, 1990.
The proteins and polypeptides incorporated up to this date in polymeric materials for controlled release are mainly effector molecules, such as insulin, as opposed compositions for controlled release of molecules that will bind and neutralize effector molecules produced in the human body.
Tumor necrosis factor-.alpha. (TNF.alpha.) is a potent cytokine which elicits a broad spectrum of biological responses. TNF.alpha. is cytotoxic to many tumor cells and may be used in the treatment of cancer. TNF.alpha. enhances fibroblast growth and acts as a tissue remodeling agent, being thus suitable in wound healing. It further induces hemorrhagic necrosis of transplanted tumors in mice, enhances phagocytosis and cytotoxicity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, and modulates the expression of many proteins, including lipoprotein lipase, class I antigens of the major histocompatibility complex, and cytokines such as interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. TNF.alpha. has been shown to have an effect against virus, bacteria and multicellular, particularly intracellular, parasites. TNF.alpha. appears to be necessary for a normal immune response, but large quantities produce dramatic pathogenic effects. TNF.alpha. has been termed "cachectin" since it is the predominant factor responsible for the wasting syndrome (cachexia) associated with neoplastic disease and parasitemia. TNF.alpha. is also a major contributor to toxicity in gram-negative sepsis, since antibodies against TNF.alpha. can protect infected animals.
TNF.alpha. has been shown to be involved in several diseases, examples of which are adult respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary fibrosis, malaria, infectious hepatitis, tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, septic shock, AIDS, graft-versus host reaction, autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and juvenile diabetes, and skin delayed type hypersensitivity disorders.
Evidence that some of the effects of TNF.alpha. can be detrimental to the host have attracted attention to the mechanisms that regulate TNF.alpha. function. The intracellular signals for the response to TNF.alpha. are provided by cell surface receptors (herein after TNF-R), of two distinct molecular species, to which TNF.alpha. binds at high affinity.
The cell surface TNF-Rs are expressed in almost all cells of the body. The various effects of TNF.alpha., the cytotoxic, growth-promoting and others, are all signalled by the TNF receptors upon the binding of TNF.alpha. to them. Two forms of these receptors, which differ in molecular size, 55 and 75 kilodaltons, have been described, and will be called herein p55 and p75 TNF-R, respectively. It should be noted, however, that there exist publications which refer to these receptors also as p60 and p80 TNF-R.
Both receptors for TNF.alpha. exist not only in cell-bound, but also in soluble forms, consisting of the cleaved extracellular domains of the intact receptors, derived by proteolytic cleavage from the cell surface forms. These soluble TNF.alpha. receptors (sTNF-Rs) can maintain the ability to bind TNF.alpha. and thus compete for TNF.alpha. with the cell surface receptors and thus block TNF.alpha. activity. The sTNF-Rs thus function as physiological attenuators of the activity of TNF.alpha., safeguarding against its potentially harmful effects. It has, however, also been reported that the sTNF-Rs affect TNF.alpha. function also by stabilizing its activity, most likely by preventing dissociation of its bioactive trimeric structure to inactive monomers (Aderka et al., 1992). Thus, the sTNF-Rs may affect TNF.alpha. activity in two different ways: either they compete for TNF.alpha. with the cell surface receptors and block TNF.alpha. deleterious effects, or they act as buffering agents and stabilize TNF.alpha. activity.
The two sTNF-Rs, hereinafter p55 sTNF-R and p75 sTNF-R, have been formerly designated TNF Binding Proteins I and II, or TBPI and TBPII, respectively (see, for example, EP 398327, EP 412486, and EP 433900). In the present application we will use both designations: p55 sTNF-R or TBPI and p75 sTNF-R or TBPII; by either designation the proteins are the same.
The sTNF-Rs are present constitutively in serum at concentrations that increase significantly in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory disease states. The effect of these proteins may differ, however, depending on their concentrations at the site of TNF.alpha. action, the relation of their concentration to the local concentration of TNF.alpha., and the rates at which the sTNF-Rs and TNF.alpha. are cleared from the site of TNF.alpha. action in relation to the rate of decay of TNF.alpha. activity. Dependent on these parameters, the sTNF-Rs may, in different situations, affect the function of TNF.alpha. in quite a different manner, either by inhibiting the effects of TNF.alpha., or serving as carriers for TNF.alpha. or even augmenting the effects of TNF.alpha. by prolonging its function (Aderka et al., 1992).
The effectivity of the sTNF-Rs as anti-TNF.alpha. drugs can be affected by a number of different factors: The affinity at which the sTNF-Rs bind TNF.alpha., compared to the affinity of the cell-surface receptors, the accessibility of the soluble receptors to the site of TNF.alpha. action and the rate of the clearance of the soluble receptors and of the complexes which they form with TNF.alpha. from the site of TNF.alpha. formation. The natural forms of the sTNF-Rs are likely to act in the most physiologically relevant manner. However, a major limitation in their use is their rather rapid clearance from the blood. Several attempts have been made to improve these molecules, examples of which are the so-called chimeric "immunoadhesins", in which the sTNF-Rs are linked to the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin molecule (developed by Hoffman La Roche and Immunex), and "PEGulated" sTNF-Rs, in which the sTNF-Rs are cross-linked through PEG molecules (developed by Synergen). Both approaches result in formation of divalent sTNF-R molecules which have longer clearance time and can bind more effectively to the trivalent TNF.alpha. molecule. However, they are quite likely to be more immunogenic than the natural soluble receptors, and the clearance of their complex with TNF.alpha. from the circulation may not occur at a sufficient efficiency.
Many harmful effects of TNF.alpha. result from chronic formation of this cytokine at certain distinct loci in the body. A major foreseen limitation to the use of soluble forms of TNF receptors for defense against such pathological conditions is the difficulty in maintaining therapeutically effective concentration of the soluble receptors, for prolonged durations, at sites of need. | {
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Advancements in semiconductor technology have lead to the production of large scale integrated circuits (e.g., chips) which have brought about a revolution in the electronics industry. Packaged and unpackaged semiconductor dice and associated micro-circuitry are now widely used in the production of a variety of electronic devices (e.g., portable computers, calculators, watches, cordless telephones, radios, tape recorders, security systems, etc.). As the development of such portable electronic devices continues, a need has arisen for advancements in the technology relating to forming and packaging devices which employ micro-circuitry.
One of the problems associated with conventional micro-circuitry is that the components typically are mounted on a rigid substrate such as a printed circuit board. This substrate must be such that its structural integrity is sufficient to support the weight of the components and to protect the components from damage. The resulting structural rigidity is often a detriment. Some applications require some flexibility in the substrate to accommodate odd configurations or to avoid breaking of the substrate upon impact with other objects.
To allow the miniaturization to advance while providing sufficient support and flexibility, enclosed micro-circuits have evolved. In the past, these enclosed micro-circuits were sometimes manufactured using a flexible substrate, for example, polyester. A conductive trace was formed on the substrate and various electronic components were then attached to substrate in electrical communication with the conductive trace to form the micro-circuit. The micro-circuit was enclosed by bonding a second polyester sheet over the top of the circuitry. In this configuration, the micro-circuitry was enclosed by a flexible polyester sheet on either side of the micro-circuit.
The method of manufacturing the micro-circuit by enclosing it within two polyester sheets has been somewhat successful. On the other hand, if the components of the circuit are too large, this method of manufacture does not function satisfactorily. Specifically, in the situation where components are more than 1.0 mm tall, the top, and sometimes both the top and bottom sheet, had to stretch over or around the oversized component. The unequal stretching of the top and bottom sheets resulted in wrinkles in the sheets and misalignment between the sheets. Both the wrinkles and the misalignment are unacceptable.
The unacceptable nature of this design was especially apparent where components approached 2.5 mm or more in thickness. Examples of larger components would be batteries which are often necessary for a self-contained electrical circuit. Likewise, this enclosed micro-circuit failed where components had variable heights and outside configurations. As was the case with individually excessive heights, the unequal heights and unequal configurations resulted in stretching, bunching and misalignment. When manufacturers attempted to build arrays of enclosed micro-circuits, they found that the stretching, bunching and misaligning problems were additive and necessitated even thinner components and more equally spaced and sized components to fall within acceptable production limits.
For some applications, a rugged, completely self-contained micro-circuit capable of receiving information, storing information and transmitting information, without physical connection to other components is necessary. The previously described enclosed circuit design was not able to accommodate this need.
In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention is directed to an improved micro-circuit design that allows the circuit components to be enclosed in a flexible package. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved micro-circuit and method of manufacture.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an enclosed micro-circuit that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture, yet offers a high degree of reliability while minimizing the possibility of damage to the internal components.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a micro-circuit that is enclosed using a flexible substrate and an encapsulant that entirely surrounds the components, yet still allows a relatively high degree of flexibility.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a micro-circuit that can be manufactured in multiple units and then singulated into individual micro-circuits.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a self-contained, enclosed micro-circuit able to receive information, store the information in a memory and transmit information as required.
Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds. | {
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Implementation of high definition television (HDTV) in the United States is now undergoing testing by the Federal Communications Commission. It is contemplated that such an HDTV system will require additional channel allocations on UHF frequencies which will carry a digital signal. Thus alterations to existing transmitting antennas will be required. The existing TV signal is normally designated an NTSC signal which is analog. It is contemplated that the HDTV digital signal will be located on the same transmission tower. However because the normal NTSC signal is in the VHF frequency range, such VHF antenna cannot simultaneously serve UHF channels. In such cases, the HDTV operation will require separate antenna which may be in a different location of the tower or preferably in a common antenna aperture.
Normally two separate coaxial feed cables would be utilized for each antenna. This is expensive and cumbersome. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a downhole tool for wireline or monitoring while drilling applications, and in particular relates to a method and apparatus for sorption cooling of sensors and electronics and heating of chambered samples deployed in a downhole tool suspended from a wireline or a drill string.
2. Summary of Related Art
In underground drilling applications, such as oil and gas or geothermal drilling, a bore hole is drilled through a formation deep in the earth. Such bore holes are drilled or formed by a drill bit connected to the end of a series of sections of drill pipe, so as to form an assembly commonly referred to as a “drill string.” The drill string extends from the surface to the bottom of the bore hole. As the drill bit rotates, it advances into the earth, thereby forming the bore hole. In order to lubricate the drill bit and flush cuttings from its path as it advances, a high pressure fluid, referred to as “drilling mud,” is directed through an internal passage in the drill string and out through the drill bit. The drilling mud then flows to the surface through an annular passage formed between the exterior of the drill string and the surface of the bore.
The distal or bottom end of the drill string, which includes the drill bit, is referred to as a “downhole assembly.” In addition to the drill bit, the downhole assembly often includes specialized modules or tools within the drill string that make up the electrical system for the drill string. Such modules often include sensing modules. In many applications, the sensing modules provide the drill string operator with information regarding the formation as it is being drilled through, using techniques commonly referred to as “measurement while drilling” (MWD) or “logging while drilling” (LWD). For example, resistivity sensors may be used to transmit and receive high frequency signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves) that travel through the formation surrounding the sensor.
As can be readily appreciated, such an electrical system will include many sophisticated electronic components, such as the sensors themselves, which in many cases include printed circuit boards. Additional associated components for storing and processing data in the control module may also be included on printed circuit boards. Unfortunately, many of these electronic components generate heat. For example, the components of a typical MWD system (i.e., a magnetometer, accelerometer, solenoid driver, microprocessor, power supply and gamma scintillator) may generate over 20 watts of heat. Moreover, even if the electronic component itself does not generate heat, the temperature of the formation itself typically exceeds the maximum temperature capability of the components.
Overheating frequently results in failure or reduced life expectancy for thermally exposed electronic components. For example, photo multiplier tubes, which are used in gamma scintillators and nuclear detectors for converting light energy from a scintillating crystal into electrical current, cannot operate above 175° C. Consequently, cooling of the electronic components is important. Unfortunately, cooling is made difficult by the fact that the temperature of the formation surrounding deep wells, especially geothermal wells, is typically relatively high, and may exceed 200° C.
Certain methods have been proposed for cooling electronic components in applications associated with the monitoring and logging of existing wells, as distinguished from the drilling of new wells. One such approach, which requires isolating the electronic components from the formation by incorporating them within a vacuum insulated Dewar flask, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,157 (Boesen). The Boesen device includes thermoelectric coolers that are powered from the surface. The thermoelectric coolers transfer heat from the electronics area within the Dewar flask to the well fluid by means of a vapor phase heat transfer pipe. Such approaches are not suitable for use in drill strings since the size of such configurations makes them difficult to package into a downhole assembly.
Another approach, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. (Owens) involves placing a thermoelectric cooler adjacent to an electronic component or sensor located in a recess formed in the outer surface of a well logging tool. This approach, however, does not ensure that there will be adequate contact between the components to ensure efficient heat transfer, nor is the electronic component protected from the shock and vibration that it would experience in a drilling application.
Thus, one of the prominent design problems encountered in downhole logging tools is associated with overcoming the extreme temperatures encountered in the downhole environment. Thus, there exists a need to reduce the temperature within the downhole tool in the region containing the electronics, to the within the safe operating level of the electronics. Various schemes have been attempted to resolve the temperature differential problem to keep the tool temperature below the maximum electronic operating temperature, but none of the known techniques have proven satisfactory.
Downhole tools are exposed to tremendous thermal strain. The downhole tool housing is in direct thermal contact with the bore hole drilling fluids and conducts heat from the bore hole drilling fluid into the downhole tool housing. Conduction of heat into the tool housing raises the ambient temperature inside of the electronics chamber. Thus, the thermal load on a non-insulated downhole tool's electronic system is enormous and can lead to electronic failure. Electronic failure is time consuming and expensive. In the event of electronic failure, downhole operations must be interrupted while the downhole tool is removed from deployment and repaired. Thus, various methods have been employed in an attempt to reduce the thermal load on all the components, including the electronics and sensors inside of the downhole tool. To reduce the thermal load, downhole tool designers have tried surrounding electronics with thermal insulators or placed the electronics in a vacuum flask. Such attempts at thermal load reduction, while partially successful, have proven problematic in part because of heat conducted from outside the electronics chamber and into the electronics flask via the feed-through wires connected to the electronics. Moreover, heat generated by the electronics trapped inside of the flask also raises the ambient operating temperature.
Typically, the electronic insulator flasks have utilized high thermal capacity materials to insulate the electronics to retard heat transfer from the bore hole into the downhole tool and into the electronics chamber. Designers place insulators adjacent to the electronics to retard the increase in temperature caused by heat entering the flask and heat generated within the flask by the electronics. The design goal is to keep the ambient temperature inside of the electronics chamber flask below the critical temperature at which electronic failure may occur. Designers seek to keep the temperature below critical for the duration of the logging run, which is usually less than 12 hours.
Electronic container flasks, unfortunately, take as long to cool down as they take to heat up. Thus, once the internal flask temperature exceeds the critical temperature for the electronics, it requires many hours to cool down before an electronics flask can be used again safely. Thus, there is a need to provide an electronics and or component cooling system that actually removes heat from the flask or electronics/sensor region without requiring extremely long cool down cycles which impede downhole operations. As discussed above, electronic cooling via thermoelectric and compressor cooling systems has been considered, however, neither have proven to be viable solutions.
Thermoelectric coolers require too much external power for the small amount of cooling capacity that they provide. Moreover, few if any of the thermoelectric coolers are capable of operating at downhole temperatures. Additionally, as soon as the thermoelectric cooler system is turned off, the system becomes a heat conductor that enables heat to rapidly conduct through the thermoelectric system and flow back into the electronics chamber from the hotter regions of the downhole tool. Compressor-based cooling systems also require considerable power for the limited amount of cooling capacity they provide. Also, most compressors seals cannot operate at the high temperatures experienced downhole because they are prone to fail under the thermal strain.
Thus, there is a need for a cooling system that addresses the problems encountered in known systems discussed above. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a rugged yet reliable system for effectively cooling the electronic components and sensors utilized downhole that is suitable for use in a wellbore. It is desirable to provide a cooling system that is capable of being used in a downhole assembly of a drill string or wireline.
Another problem encountered during downhole operations is cooling and associated depressurization of hydrocarbon samples taken into a downhole tool. As the tool is retrieved from the bore hole the sample cools and depressurizes. Thus there is a need for heating method and apparatus to prevent cooling and depressurization of downhole hydrocarbon samples. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to image processing and more specifically to labeling images based on their content.
2. Description of the Related Art
Simultaneously segmenting and labeling of images according to their content is a fundamental problem in computer vision. Such technology is important for applications such as content-based retrieval and object recognition. For example, in mapping applications utilizing large database of street view images, it is desirable to have a technique for automatically labeling objects appearing in the images. However, conventional labeling techniques fail to provide sufficient scalability and performance. | {
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The present invention relates to a power supplier, and more particularly to an improved type of power supplier for a magnetron employed in electric appliances, such as a microwave oven.
In a magnetron, it is known that the current voltage characteristic is non-linear. More particularly, the voltage, in the initial stage, increases rapidly up to a certain level, namely a threshold voltage, with a slight increase of the current. Then, in the second stage, i.e., after the voltage reaches the threshold voltage, only a slight further increase of voltage occurs in relation to a considerable increase in the current. It is in the second stage that the magnetron is operated to produce the microwaves. In operating the magnetron, even trivial change or fluctuation in the voltage applied to the magnetron may cause an extreme change in the current, thus causing undesirable fluctuations in the output power. Therefore, in the conventional power supplier for the magnetron, the type of transformer employed therein is a so called constant-current transformer for stabilizing the output power of the magnetron. Such a constant-current transformer is designed to effect voltage regulation by means of a saturated core resonant circuit structure having an inductance portion constituted by a leakage transformer for voltage step-up, and a capacitance portion connected to the secondary side of the transformer.
Such type of transformer requires a comparatively large size core which makes the power supplier large in size and heavy.
Furthermore, in the conventional power supplier, the input power to be applied to the magnetron is controlled in the transformer in which the secondary winding is provided with a plurality of tabs each connected to the secondary winding at particular turns of the winding. The input power can be changed by a change of the tab connected to the magnetron. Such a change in the connection can not be easily carried out because the current flowing therethrough is comparatively large. | {
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The present invention relates generally to oscillating wave engines and refrigerators, and, more particularly, to Stirling engines, Stirling refrigerators, orifice pulse tube refrigerators, thermoacoustic engines, thermoacoustic refrigerators, and hybrids and combinations thereof.
Historically, Stirling""s hot-air engine of the early 19th century was the first heat engine to use oscillating pressure and oscillating volume flow rate in a working gas in a sealed system, although the time-averaged product thereof was not called acoustic power. Since then, a variety of related engines and refrigerators have been developed, including Stirling refrigerators, Ericsson engines, orifice pulse-tube refrigerators, standing-wave thermoacoustic engines and refrigerators, free-piston Stirling engines and refrigerators, and thermoacoustic-Stirling hybrid engines and refrigerators. Combinations thereof, such as the Vuilleumier refrigerator and the thermoacoustically driven orifice pulse tube refrigerator, have provided heat-driven refrigeration.
Much of the evolution of this entire family of acoustic-power thermodynamic technologies has been driven by the search for higher efficiencies, greater reliabilities, and lower fabrication costs. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show some prior art engine examples in which simplicity, reliability, and low fabrication costs have been achieved by the elimination of moving parts, especially elimination of moving parts at temperatures other than ambient temperature.
FIG. 1 shows a free-piston Stirling engine 10 integrated with a linear alternator 12 to form a heat-driven electric generator. High-temperature heat, such as from a flame or from nuclear fuel, is added to the engine at hot heat exchanger 14, ambient-temperature waste heat is removed from the engine at ambient heat exchanger 16, and oscillations of working gas 18, piston 22, and displacer 24 are thereby encouraged. The oscillations of piston 22 cause permanent magnet 26 to oscillate through wire coil 28, thereby generating electrical power, which is removed from the engine to be used elsewhere.
The conversion of heat to acoustic power occurs in regenerator 32, which is a solid matrix smoothly spanning the temperature difference between hot heat exchanger 14 and ambient heat exchanger 16 and containing small pores through which working gas 18 oscillates. The pores must be small enough that working gas 18 in the pores is in is excellent local thermal contact with the solid matrix. Proper design of the dynamics of moving piston 22 and displacer 24, their gas springs 34/36, and working gas 18 throughout the system causes the working gas in the pores of regenerator 32 to move toward hot heat exchanger 14 while the pressure is high and toward ambient heat exchanger 16 while the pressure is low. The oscillating thermal expansion and contraction of the working gas in regenerator 32, attending its oscillating motion along the temperature gradient in the pores, is therefore temporally phased with respect to the oscillating pressure so that the thermal expansion occurs while the pressure is high and the thermal contraction occurs while the pressure is low.
The absence of crankshafts and connecting rods contributes to the simplicity, reliability, and low fabrication costs of the free-piston Stirling engine.
FIG. 2 shows a xe2x80x9ctoroidalxe2x80x9d regenerator-based engine: a thermoacoustic-Stirling hybrid engine delivering acoustic power to an unspecified load 42 (e.g., a linear alternator or any of the aforementioned refrigerators) to the right. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,464, xe2x80x9cTraveling Wave Device with Mass Flux Suppression, issued Mar. 7, 2000, to Swift et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,740, xe2x80x9cThermoacoustic System,xe2x80x9d issued Nov. 13, 2001, to deBlok et al. High-temperature heat, such as from a flame, from nuclear fuel, or from ohmic heating, is added to the engine at hot heat exchanger 44, most of the ambient-temperature waste heat is removed from the engine at main ambient heat exchanger 46, and oscillations of the working gas are thereby encouraged. Mass flux suppressor 50 acts to minimize time-averaged mass flux of the working gas and attendant heat loss. The oscillations deliver acoustic power to load 42.
FIG. 3 shows a xe2x80x9ccascadexe2x80x9d thermoacoustic-Stirling hybrid engine comprising a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine and a Stirling engine in series, without any piston therebetween, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/125,268 xe2x80x9cCascaded Thermoacoustic Devices,xe2x80x9d G. W. Swift et al., filed Apr. 18, 2002. High-temperature heat is added at the two hot heat exchangers 52, 54; ambient-temperature waste heat is removed at the three ambient heat exchangers 56, 58, 62; and oscillations of the working gas are thereby encouraged. The oscillations deliver acoustic power to a load 64, such as a linear alternator or a pulse tube refrigerator, below the bottom of FIG. 3. The conversion of heat to acoustic power occurs in regenerator 66 according to the same processes as described in the context of FIG. 1 above. Stack 68 has larger pore sizes than regenerator 66, and conversion of heat to acoustic power in stack 68 occurs by a similar process, but with some different details regarding time phasing, as described in the ""268 patent application.
The simplicity, reliability, and low fabrication cost of the toroidal thermoacoustic-Stirling hybrid engine and of the cascade thermoacoustic-Stirling hybrid engine, compared to earlier Stirling engines, comes from the elimination of pistons previously needed.
FIG. 4A shows a piston-driven orifice pulse tube refrigerator, as described for example by R. Radebaugh in xe2x80x9cA review of pulse tube refrigeration,xe2x80x9d Adv. Cryogenic Eng., volume 35, pages 1191-1205 (1990). The motion of piston 70 causes oscillations in the working gas throughout the refrigerator. Low-temperature heat is removed from a load by the refrigerator at cold heat exchanger 72, and ambient-temperature waste heat is rejected from the refrigerator at the two ambient-temperature heat exchangers 74, 76, the larger of which is commonly called the aftercooler, i.e., heat exchanger 74. Heat pumping up the temperature gradient occurs in regenerator 78 because the working gas in the pores of regenerator 78 is caused to move toward cold heat exchanger 72 while the pressure is high and toward aftercooler 74 while the pressure is low. This necessary time phasing between oscillating pressure and oscillating motion is created by acoustic impedance network 82 above pulse tube 84, which sets the relative amplitudes and time phasing of the pressure and velocity at its entrance. Earlier Stirling refrigerators achieved the correct time phasing by means of a cold piston (whose motion was coordinated with that of the drive piston) instead of by means of the acoustic impedance network. However, the technical challenge of sealing around such a piston at cryogenic temperatures was severe. Hence, the simplicity, reliability, and low fabrication cost of the orifice pulse tube refrigerator compared to earlier Stirling refrigerators comes from the elimination of the cold piston.
Although much progress has recently been made in the elimination of moving parts from these oscillating-wave engines and refrigerators, the simplification of the heat exchangers offers a second opportunity for dramatic improvement in simplicity, reliability, and low fabrication cost, particularly in engines and refrigerators of high power. All engines and refrigerators must reject waste heat to ambient temperature, and the ambient temperature is often present as a flowing fluid stream, such as a fan-driven air stream or a flowing water stream. Engines must also accept heat from a source at a higher temperature, which may be in the form of a flowing stream of combustion products from a burner. Refrigerators must withdraw heat from a load at lower temperature, which is sometimes in the form of a flowing stream; examples include a stream of indoor air to be cooled and dehumidified, or a stream of methane to be cooled and cryogenically liquefied. Hence, the typical heat exchanger in these engines and refrigerators must transfer heat between a steadily flowing xe2x80x9cprocess fluidxe2x80x9d stream and an oscillating xe2x80x9cworking gasxe2x80x9d stream that is the thermodynamic working substance of the oscillating-wave engine or refrigerator. The working gas is often pressurized helium gas. At small power levels, simple geometries such as stacks of copper screens suffice as heat exchangers, but at higher powers the thermal conductivity of solids is insufficient to carry the required heats, so that geometrically complicated heat exchangers must usually be used to bring the process fluid and working gas into intimate thermal contact.
M. Mitchell, xe2x80x9cPulse tube refrigerator,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,942, Oct. 19, 1999, teaches a design to avoid a geometrically complicated heat exchanger for the ambient heat exchanger 76 (FIG. 4A) at the ambient end of the pulse tube 84 of an orifice pulse tube refrigerator. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, which is adapted from FIGS. 1 and 11 in the ""942 patent, ambient heat exchanger 76 and orifice 86 can be replaced by a dissipative heat-transfer loop 88 containing one or more (two are shown in FIG. 4B) fluidic diodes 92, 94 that convert some of the oscillatory power in the oscillating wave into circulating flow of the working gas around loop 88. The dissipation in fluidic diodes 92,94 and other oscillatory dissipation in loop 88 serve the function of orifice 86, and the surface area along the entire path length of loop 88 serves the function of heat exchanger 76.
A shell and tube heat exchanger 102, illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, is typical of the complicated, geometries that must otherwise be used at high power throughout oscillating-wave engines and refrigerators. Working gas 104 oscillates through the insides of the many tubes 106, while process fluid 108 flows around and between the outsides of tubes 106.
Particular features of oscillating-wave engines and refrigerators impose size constraints on such heat exchangers as they are scaled up to higher powers. Higher power demands more heat-transfer surface area for efficient heat transfer. However, tube diameters cannot be increased, because this would reduce the total heat-transfer coefficient on the working-gas side, thereby decreasing the efficiency. Tube lengths cannot be increased, because having such tube lengths greater than the oscillatory displacement of the working gas does not help transfer more heat.
The usual solution to the scaleup of heat exchangers is to increase the number of tubes in proportion to the power, keeping the length and diameter of each tube constant. Such heat exchangers can have hundreds or thousands of tubes. Building such heat exchangers is expensive (because many parts must be handled, assembled, and joined) and such heat exchangers are unreliable (because so many joints must be leak tight). Thermally induced stress imposes an additional challenge to reliability when a geometrically complex heat exchanger is at an extreme temperature, such as a red-hot temperature for an engine or a cryogenic temperature for a refrigerator. Sometimes a pool boiler or heat pipe must be used to enforce isothermality in these circumstances so that thermally induced stresses are eliminated.
Another shortcoming of oscillating-wave engines and refrigerators is that their heat exchangers often must be located close to one another, simply because each heat exchanger must typically be adjacent to one end or the other of the nearest stack or regenerator or pulse tube or thermal buffer tube, and these components themselves are typically short. The practical importance of this shortcoming is easily appreciated by considering the food refrigerator in the typical American kitchen. The xe2x80x9cvapor compressionxe2x80x9d (also known as xe2x80x9creverse Rankinexe2x80x9d) cooling technology employed therein allows complete flexibility in the geometrical separation of the cold heat exchanger, where heat is absorbed from the inside of the cold box, and the ambient heat exchanger, where waste heat is rejected outside, to the air in the kitchen. The cold heat exchanger is typically located inside, above, or under the freezer, and the ambient heat exchanger is typically located behind or under the refrigerator cabinet. Not only can these heat exchangers be located freely, but their shapes can be chosen as needed for their circumstances, e.g., to accommodate fan-driven or natural convection as chosen, and to fit in and around the desired shape of the cold box or cabinet. In contrast, when one tries to adapt an oscillating-wave refrigerator to this application, the cold heat exchanger and main ambient heat exchanger must be very close together, separated only by the regenerator whose length is typically only a few inches. Hence, in, order to put the cold heat exchanger and the main ambient heat exchanger into thermal contact with the inside of the cold box and with the outside air, respectively, intermediate heat transfer means, such as heat pipes or pumped fluid heat transfer loops, must typically be employed. These add complexity and cost, and reduce efficiency.
Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide simplicity, reliability, and low fabrication cost of heat exchangers for oscillating-wave engines and refrigerators. More specifically, the present invention is directed to eliminating the need for massively parallel heat-exchanger structures in oscillating-wave engines and refrigerators of high power. The present invention also allows the heat exchangers of oscillating-wave engines and refrigerators to be located distant from one another and from the nearest regenerator or stack.
Those skilled in the art understand that xe2x80x9cambientxe2x80x9d temperature, referring to the temperature at which waste heat is rejected, need not always be a temperature near ordinary room temperature. For example, a cryogenic refrigerator intended to liquefy hydrogen at 20 Kelvin might reject its waste heat to a liquid-nitrogen stream at 77 Kelvin; for the purposes of this particular cryogenic refrigerator, xe2x80x9cambientxe2x80x9d would be 77 Kelvin.
Those skilled in the art also understand that fluidic diodes are typically much less perfect than electronic diodes. Fluidic diodes usually offer a difference between forward and backward flow resistances of less than a factor of ten, and sometimes even less than a factor of two, whereas the difference in forward and backward resistances in electronic diodes is typically orders of magnitude. Fluidic diodes include the vortex diodes described in ""942, the valvular conduit described by Nikola Tesla in U.S. Pat. No. 1,329,559, Feb. 3, 1920, and the conical and tapered structures called jet pumps in many recent publications such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,464, xe2x80x9cTraveling Wave Device with Mass Flux Suppression,xe2x80x9d supra; S. Backhaus, et al., xe2x80x9cA thermoacoustic-Stirling heat engine: Detailed study,xe2x80x9d J. Acoust. Soc. Am., volume 107, pages 3148-3166 (2000); G. W. Swift, Thermoacoustics: A unifying perspective for some engines and refrigerators, to be published by The Acoustical Society of America, 2002.
Various objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The present invention is directed to an oscillating-wave engine or refrigerator having a regenerator or a stack in which oscillating flow of a working gas occurs in a direction defined by an axis of a trunk of the engine or refrigerator, and having an improved heat exchanger. First and second connections branch from the trunk at locations along the axis in selected proximity to one end of the regenerator or stack, where the trunk extends in two directions from the locations of the connections. A circulating heat exchanger loop is connected to the first and second connections. At least one fluidic diode within the circulating heat exchanger loop produces a superimposed steady flow component and oscillating flow component of the working gas within the circulating heat exchanger. A local process fluid is in thermal contact with an outside portion of the circulating heat exchanger loop. | {
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Consumers desire antiperspirant and deodorant compositions that provide a desired and long-lasting fragrance or scent each time the composition is applied or used. Particularly in the case of deodorants, consumers may also expect compositions that provide a scent that can mask or override other undesirable odors. While current antiperspirant and deodorant compositions provide desirable scents, consumers become habituated to the perfume raw materials (PRMs) and perfumes utilized in the existing compositions. As a result, for consumers to perceive the desired scent consumers can use increasingly large amounts of the product to overcome the habituation or the consumer can to switch to a different product utilizing a different perfume for a significant period of time to reverse the habituation. There is, therefore, a need for antiperspirant and deodorant compositions that provide long-lasting and desirable scents that do not cause a habituation effect in consumers and do not require consumers to modify their habits. | {
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a. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates to catheters. In particular, the instant invention relates to a catheter with a steerable distal section having reduced variation in planarity during deflection.
b. Background Art
It is well-known that the pumping action of the heart is controlled by electrical stimulation of myocardial tissue. Stimulation of this tissue in various regions of the heart is controlled by a series of conduction pathways contained within the myocardial tissue.
Cardiac arrhythmias arise when the pattern of the heartbeat is changed by abnormal impulse initiation or conduction in the myocardial tissue. Such disturbances often arise from additional conduction pathways which are present within the heart either from a congenital developmental abnormality or an acquired abnormality which changes the structure of the cardiac tissue, such as a myocardial infarction.
One of the ways to treat such disturbances is to identify the conductive pathways and to sever part of this pathway by destroying these cells which make up a portion of the pathway. Traditionally, this has been done by either cutting the pathway surgically; freezing the tissue, thus destroying the cellular membranes; or by heating the cells, thus denaturing the cellular proteins. The resulting destruction of the cells eliminates their electrical conductivity, thus destroying, or ablating, a certain portion of the pathway. By eliminating a portion of the pathway, the pathway may no longer maintain the ability to conduct, and the arrhythmia ceases.
The success and advancement of current therapies is dependent upon the development and use of more precise localization techniques which allow accurate anatomical determination of abnormal conductive pathways and other arrythmogenic sites. Historically, the electrophysiologist has had to compromise between placing the catheter in the place of greatest clinical interest and areas that are anatomically accessible.
One area of advancement in improving localization techniques and accessing additional sites includes the use of curved and steerable catheters. Curved catheters offer improved maneuverability to specific, otherwise inaccessible sites by being shaped specifically to access a particular site. Although perhaps useful for some more accessible sites, the use of this type of catheter has limitations in reaching sites requiring active articulation during placement. Steerable catheters, which may also be pre-curved, proved additional advantages.
While steerability of catheters has improved, there is a need to eliminate significant variations in planarity during deflection of the distal tips of catheters. In accordance with this invention, a catheter is provided that addresses and potentially eliminates significant variation in planarity during catheter tip deflection. The invention also offers a catheter capable of a multitude of angular shaft deflection trajectories through a two or three dimensional range including a catheter that could initially be straight and, upon complete deflection, turn into a loop-shaped catheter. This invention would improve product reliability, consistency, and performance, as well as improve safety of electrophysiology ablation or diagnostic procedures. | {
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Wireless display (WD) or Wi-Fi Display (WFD) systems include a source device and one or more sink devices. The source device and each of the sink devices may be either mobile devices or wired devices with wireless communication capabilities. One or more of the source and the sink(s) may, for example, include mobile telephones, tablet computers, portable computers with wireless communication cards, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable media players, or other such devices with wireless communication capabilities, including so-called “smart” phones and “smart” pads or tablets, or other types of wireless communication devices. One or more of the source device and the sink devices may also include wired devices such as televisions, desktop computers, monitors, projectors, and the like, that include communication capabilities.
The source device sends media data, such as audio video (AV) data, to one or more of the sink device(s) participating in a particular media share session. The media data may be played back at both a local display of the source device and at each of the displays of the sink devices. More specifically, each of the participating sink devices renders the received media data on its screen and audio equipment. | {
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The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
As is known in itself, it is generally suitable to provide an exhaust cone/primary nozzle assembly at the rear of an aircraft turbojet engine, so as to optimize the flow of the hot gasses expelled by the turbojet engine on the one hand, and to absorb at least some of the noise created by the interaction of those hot gasses with the ambient air and with the cold air flow expelled by the fan of the turbojet engine on the other hand.
These elements are commonly referred to as a “cone” and a “nozzle” or “primary nozzle”.
One such traditional exhaust cone 1 is shown in FIG. 1 appended hereto, on which the front and rear of the structure along an engine axis are situated on the left and right sides of the figure, respectively.
This exhaust cone is intended to be positioned downstream from the turbine of the turbojet engine, above which the primary nozzle is placed concentrically. The exhaust cone and the primary nozzle are both fastened on a casing of the turbojet engine by a flange fastening system.
More specifically, the exhaust cone 1 comprises, strictly speaking, a front part 5 (commonly called the “front cone”), which is substantially cylindrical, and a rear part 7 (commonly called the “rear cone”), which is conical.
The front part 5 can in particular be acoustic or stiffened monolithic.
If the first part 5 is acoustic, that means that it comprises at least one peripheral sound attenuation structure of the sandwich type comprising at least one resonator, in particular of the honeycomb type, covered by a perforated outer skin and a solid inner skin.
The outer skin also constitutes an outer surface (sheet) of the front part 5 of the exhaust cone.
If the front part 5 is stiffened monolithic, that means that the structure is made up of a single sheet reinforced by stiffeners.
The rear part 7 is monolithic and stiffened by stiffeners 9d.
The front part 5 and the rear part 7 of the exhaust cone may in particular be made from sheets of metal alloy of the Inconel 625 type and may be assembled using a flange junction system denoted 9b for the front flange part and 9c for the rear flange part.
The front part 5 further comprises an upstream connecting flange 9a designed to allow it to be attached to the rear of the turbojet engine.
FIG. 2 shows that, traditionally, the flange 9b of the front part 5 has a part 11 with a diameter substantially equal to that of the outer skin of said front part 5 on the one hand, and a part 13 with a diameter smaller than that of the flange 9c of the rear part 7 to which it is designed to be connected, such that said part 13 of the flange 9b can be inserted inside the flange 9c of the rear part 7, on the other hand.
Housings 15 formed in the thickness of the flange 9c make it possible to receive bolts 17 passing through said flange 9c and the flange 9b, fastened using nuts 18 attached through the inside of the exhaust cone 1 thus assembled.
The housings 15 make it possible to prevent the heads 19 of the bolts 17 from protruding toward the outside of the cone 1, and thus do not cause aerodynamic losses.
As can be understood in light of the preceding, an exhaust cone of the prior art (FIG. 2) is a complex structure, involving many parts, and has a high manufacturing cost and affects the mass of the assembly, which is not desirable.
There is therefore a constant need to simplify the assembly structure of such an exhaust cone, so as to reduce both the mass and manufacturing cost thereof.
In particular, according to the prior art, if the front part is of the acoustic type, the acoustic panel is closed at its front and rear ends, respectively, by peripheral flanges having a C-shaped section and commonly called closing Cs.
These closing Cs are connected, in particular by brazing, to the corresponding front and rear flanges respectively providing the connection with the turbojet engine and the rear cone part and provide a large portion of the maintenance of the sound attenuation structure.
These closing Cs are expensive parts made by machining, and above all they represent a non-negligible mass relative to the total mass of the exhaust cone. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related with an apparatus for reproducing information of an information record medium such as an optical disk, on which the information is recorded magnetically or by means of a phase pit and the like, and in which an information record layer is formed in multiple layers or a one-layer. The present invention is also related with an apparatus for automatically setting, in the reproducing apparatus for reproducing the multiple-layer disk, each loop gain value and/or equalizer value in a focus servo and a tracking servo, and a level value and/or an equalizer value in an RF (Radio Frequency) signal, which are optimal for each layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, DVD (Digital Video or Versatile Disk) has been remarkably developed which dramatically improves a memory density over a conventional CD and services as a high density record medium that can record one movie and the like.
Although this DVD has a different disk substrate thickness from the CD, the principle of reading a record pit responsible for storing information is similar to that of the CD. Thus, a CD/DVD compatible type of a reproducing apparatus may be proposed. In this CD/DVD compatible type of the reproducing apparatus, in order to optimally collect an information recording beam on an information record surface of each disk, it is considered to employ a bifocal lens that can emit two light beams focused on different positions on one straight line, or a method of exchanging lenses so as to change a focal length in corresponding with the type of the disk, or other methods.
Incidentally, in the DVD, it is prescribed that a linear velocity thereof is higher than that of the CD from a request of making a density higher. So, it is necessary that servo gains and servo frequency bands in focus and tracking servo circuits are made different between the CD and the DVD. More actually, the DVD is set to be wider in servo band on a high frequency side than the CD. The DVD is set to be larger in servo gain than the CD.
Therefore, in order to share the servo circuit between the CD and the DVD in the CD/DVD compatible type of the reproducing apparatus, it is necessary to adjust the servo gain and the servo band based on the disk. Namely, prior to a reproduction operation, it is judged whether or not an optical disk to be reproduced is the CD or the DVD. The servo gain and the servo band for the disk are correctly adjusted on the basis of a signal indicative of a reflectance factor of the optical disk based on the judged result, for example, the S-shaped signal of the focus error, an RF signal or the like. The once adjusted value is maintained until the disk is exchanged.
There are a single layer disk, where an information record surface on which a pit responsible for recording the information is recorded is composed of a single layer, and a multiple-layer disk having a plurality of record layers (for example, two layers) within a same thickness portion, in the DVD. In a case of the multiple-layer disk, there is, for example, such a problem that if a gain set for a record layer of a first layer in a two-layer disk is used for a record layer in a second layer as it is, the optimization is not performed at the record layer in the second layer, because of a relative slope between the respective record layers, different reflectance factors of the respective record layers, and other reasons. To solve this problem, it is enough to perform a setting operation of the gain on the basis of the focus error signal and the like so as to set to a gain corresponding to the record layer at the jump destination, each time the reading beam is jumped from the record layer in the first layer to the record layer in the second layer during reproducing or from the record layer in the second layer to the record layer in the first layer. However, in this case, initial setting for the gain and the band should be carried out each time the jump operation between the layers is performed. This results in a problem that the jump operation takes a long time to complete. Therefore, in a case of recording a series of related information, such as movies or the like, over two layers, the jump operation between the layers causes a continuous reproduction to be interrupted.
In this manner, there is a first problem in the above mentioned reproducing apparatus.
On the other hand, to reproduce the DVD, an apparatus is used which comprises an optical pickup for collecting light beams on a focus position of an information record layer of the DVD and keeps a distance between an object lens of the optical pickup and the information record layer constant by using a focus servo control, to stably read the information.
Here since an area in which a servo error signal can be detected is narrow in this focus servo control, a so-called focus search operation is required. In this focus search operation, prior to performing the focus servo control, a servo loop is made open, the objective lens is moved by a predetermined amount in a direction vertical to the information record layer, and a zero cross of a focus error signal (S-shaped signal) outputted at that time is checked, and thereby the servo loop is made close.
However, in case of the DVD of the multiple-layer disk type, since the information record layer is composed of multiple layers so as to record much information, it is required to perform the focus search operation for each layer, to reproduce such a multiple-layer disk from one side thereof.
That is, in a case of the multiple-layer disk type of the reproducing apparatus, it is necessary to jump the objective lens of the optical pickup to an appropriate position, each time the information record layer to be reproduced is switched. However, since intervals between the respective information record layers are different from each other in the respective disks within a disk standard, it is not possible to unconditionally set the jump amount. Thus, a standard position for the focus servo must be set by performing the focus search operation for each disk and each layer.
Therefore, in a case of the conventional apparatus for performing the focus search operation, it is necessary to detect the zero cross of the focus error signal each time the information record layers are switched. As a result, it is difficult to quickly switch between the information record layers in the multiple-layer DVD.
In this manner, there is a second problem in the above mentioned reproducing apparatus. | {
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The present disclosure is related generally to sutureless prosthetic devices such as for native heart valve replacements, and more particularly, to devices, systems and methods for treatment of valvular diseases such as aortic stenosis using a sutureless prosthetic heart valve.
Aortic stenosis is a condition where the aortic valve becomes more narrow and does not open fully, leading to increased pressure within the left ventricle, as well as decreased blood flow from the heart. Such a condition may lead to shortness of breath, due to blood backing up in the lungs, as well as light-headedness and fainting, due to insufficient blood flow from the heart to the brain and the rest of the body. Aortic stenosis is one of the most common valvular diseases, affecting 2-4% of adults over the age of 65 in the United States.
Aortic stenosis is typically treated by replacement of the aortic valve via open heart surgery. During open heart surgery, the patient is placed on cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain blood flow through the body while the surgery on the heart is performed. It is commonly understood that many risks associated with open heart surgery are directly related to the time the patient spends on bypass, and thus, the longer the time spent on bypass, the greater the risk of complications during the surgery. Moreover, due to this correlation, many patients are believed to be left untreated.
A recent trend, as an alternative to open heart surgery, aims to implant a replacement valve through a catheter, thereby eliminating the need for any bypass. Prosthetic heart valves that are collapsible to a relatively small circumferential size can be delivered into a patient less invasively than valves that are not collapsible. For example, a collapsible valve may be delivered into a patient via a tube-like delivery apparatus such as a catheter, a trocar, a laparoscopic instrument, or the like. This collapsibility can avoid the need for a more invasive procedure such as full open-chest, open-heart surgery.
Collapsible prosthetic heart valves typically take the form of a valve structure mounted on a stent. One type of stent on which the valve structures are ordinarily mounted is a self-expanding stent. To place such a valve into a delivery apparatus and ultimately into a patient, the valve must first be collapsed or crimped to reduce its circumferential size.
When a collapsed prosthetic valve has reached the desired implant site in the patient (e.g., at or near the annulus of the patient's heart valve that is to be replaced by the prosthetic valve), the prosthetic valve can be deployed or released from the delivery apparatus and re-expanded to full operating size. The self-expanding stent automatically begins to expand as the sheath covering the valve is withdrawn. Once the self-expanding valve has been fully deployed, it expands to a diameter larger than that of the sheath that previously contained the valve in the collapsed condition.
While collapsible prosthetic heart valves avoid the risks associated with open heart surgery, there remains unanswered issues regarding the longevity of the prosthetic heart valves compared to those implanted via open heart surgery. Further, it is commonly understood that the collapsible design feature of the valve limits the leaflet thickness and leaflet profile of the valve thereby limiting the maximum durability that can be achieved through a collapsible valve. There therefore is a need for improvements to the devices, systems and methods for sutureless prosthetic heart valves when treating valvular diseases which require cardiopulmonary bypass, by way of example, aortic stenosis. | {
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Otitis media is a common disease in children. The term “otitis media” encompasses a number of clinical disorders including myringitis, otitis media with effusion (OME), chronic suppurative otitis media and acute otitis media (AOM) (24). Acute otitis media (AOM) is a symptomatic illness associated with upper respiratory symptoms, pain, fever and otorrhea. It is the most common infectious disease worldwide, leading to excessive antibiotic consumption in children in most countries and to a substantial burden of deafness and other complications in the developing countries (1-3).
AOM is fairly common and about 60-70% of children experience at least one episode of AOM during the first 3 years of their life (4,5). A subpopulation of children experience recurrent otitis media. Those who experience 3 or more episodes of AOM within 6 months or 4 infections within a year are considered otitis-prone, and represent 10-30% of the total population of children (4;5).
Nasopharyngeal (NP) colonization with one or more otopathogens is a necessary precedent to the development of AOM. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), non-typeable Haemophilia influenzae (NTHi) and Moraxella Catarrhalis are the most common otopathogcns causing AOM, and of these three, Spn predominates (6). A direct relationship between frequency of colonization with NTHi and the frequency of AOM has been noted (J. Infect Dis 170:862-866).
Recurrent AOM is currently treated with different antibiotics of escalating strength on the presumption that the recurrent infections are caused by increasingly antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When recurrences occur at a frequency of 3 in 6 months or 4 in 12 months, then tymnpanostomy tube surgery is often performed, with or without concurrent adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy.
In regards to prophylactic measures, at present, there are two available types of pneumococcal vaccines. The first includes capsular polysaccharides from 23 types of S. pneumoniae, which together represent the capsular types of about 90% of strains causing pneumococcal infection. This vaccine, however, is not very immunogenic in young children (Fedson, and Musher 2004, “Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine”, pp. 529-588; In Vaccines. S. A. Plotikin and W. A. Orenstein (eds.), W.B. Saunders and Co., Philadelphia, Pa.; Shapiro et. al., N. Engl. J. Med. 325:1453-1460 (1991)) as they do not generate a good immune response to polysaccharide antigens prior to 2 years of age. This vaccine is not recommended for the prevention of otitis media.
Conjugate vaccines represent the second available type of pneumococcal vaccine. These vaccines which include serotype specific capsular polysaccharide antigens conjugated to a protein carrier, elicit serotype-specific protection. Currently available are 7-valent and 13-valent conjugate vaccines: the 7-valent includes 7 polysaccharide antigens (derived from the capsules of serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F) and the 13-valent conjugate includes 13 polysaccharide antigens (derived from the capsules of serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A, plus those covered by the 7-valent). 9-valent and 11-valent conjugate vaccines have also been developed and each includes serotype-specific polysaccharides in addition to those in the 7-valent serotypes 1 and 5 in the 9-valent and types 3 and 7F in the 11-valent).
There are however limitations to conjugate vaccines. For example, as such vaccines elicit serotype-specific protection, to protect against additional serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae including those that dominate in the developing world, additional serotype-specific polysaccharides must be included which increases the difficulty of manufacture (Di Fabio et al., Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 20:959-967 (2001); Mulholland, Trop. Med. Int. Health 10:497-500 (2005)). The use of the 7-valent conjugate vaccine has also led to an increase in colonization and disease with strains of capsule types not covered by the polysaccharides included in the vaccine (Bogaert et al., Lancet Infect. Dis. 4:144-154 (2004); Eskola et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 344-403-409 (2001); Mbelle et al., J. Infect. Dis. 180:1171-1176 (1999)). As for pneumococcal otitis media, the available conjugate vaccines do not work as well in protecting against the disease as they do to against invasive disease. In addition, AOM recurrences are still possible following vaccination; for example, the subpopulation of children who are particularly prone to recurrent episodes of AOM, experience a number of recurrences and go on to become otitis prone, despite conjugate immunization.
Therefore, there is still a need for compositions for use in, and methods of, preventing or treating recurring pneumococcal AOM. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The disclosed embodiments relate generally to red-eye repair techniques, and more particularly, to specific characterization, discernment, and repair techniques utilizing multiple recognition channels (e.g., red, golden, and white recognition channels). In certain embodiments, the red-eye repair techniques may be applied to an image automatically with limited or no input from a user.
In photography, red-eye is the occurrence of glowing red pupils in a color photograph due to eye shine. Red-eye is believed to be caused by the red reflection of the blood vessels in the retina when a strong and sudden light strikes the eye. The tonality and intensity of red-eye may vary from person to person based on ethnicity, pigmentation levels, and other factors. Today's compact digital cameras commonly used in embedded systems exacerbate the problem of red-eye artifacts because of the proximity of the camera's flash unit and the lens. One common technique to mitigate red-eye is to use multiple flashes to contract the pupils before capturing the final image. However, this provides incomplete red-eye reduction, lengthens the amount of time needed to capture the final image, and presents more of a drain on the camera device's power source.
Other techniques that attempt to programmatically mitigate red-eye only work well when red-eye artifacts are actually predominantly red in color and/or are present in familiar orientations and shapes, i.e., front-facing and circular. Still other existing red-eye repair techniques use red-eye replacement techniques that are overly simplified, often resulting in jagged pupils or solid black pupils that may actually make the photo look more unnatural and less realistic than the original, unaltered photo with red-eye artifacts.
In addition to red artifacts, the inventor has noticed that the color of a “red-eye” may also be golden (i.e., a mixture of various degrees of red, orange, yellow, and white), or even pure white. This condition can occur, e.g., when photographing faces using a strong light source such as a flash that exists at a small displacement from the lens, and most often when the pupil is wide open. While the return signal from a red-eye artifact has a predominantly red hue, the hue can be altered by the color filter array chromaticities in the camera image sensor, and the color may also be distorted by erroneous clipping of the image's red, green, and blue signals during color processing. This artifact can be exacerbated by the gain factors required in low-light situations in which the flash is required. Further, artifacts may come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and overlapping topological layers. Specular shine, i.e., the reflection of light off the cornea or sclera (i.e., the whites of the eyes), is another aspect that may be considered in red-eye repair and replacement to achieve photographically reasonable results.
Accordingly, there is a need for techniques to implement a programmatic solution to red-eye repair that is robust enough to handle a large number of red-eye cases and color types automatically. By discerning between red, golden, and white eye artifacts, and locating and characterizing human faces in an image, for example, more specific automatic repair techniques may be employed to achieve photographically reasonable results. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wet multiplate clutch, which is useful primarily in a transmission for an automotive vehicle.
b) Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 shows the basic construction of a wet multiplate clutch in cross-section. The wet multiplate clutch generally designated at numeral 1 is provided with a clutch case 2 and a hub 3, which are rotatable relative to each other. Plural separator plates 11 and plural friction plates 5 are spline-fitted on the clutch case 2 and the hub 3, respectively, such that the separator plates 11 and friction plates are movable in an axial direction. In the conventional example illustrated in FIG. 4, the separator plate 11 and the friction plates 5 are alternately arranged one by one.
Via the clutch 1, power is transmitted between the clutch case 2 and the hub 3. FIG. 4 also shows a spline groove 21 of the clutch case 2, a spline groove 31 of the hub 3, a piston 6, and a return spring 6 for the piston 6.
When transmission of power is desired, an application of pressure to a right side of the piston 6 as viewed in the drawing causes the piston 6 to move leftwards against the spring 7 so that the friction plates 5 and the separator plates 11 are brought into contact under pressure to transmit the power from the clutch case 2 to the hub 3. Designated at numeral 22 is a snap spring for supporting pressures from the piston. Release of the pressure on the right side of the piston 6 allows the piston 6 to return rightwards owing to the arrangement of the return spring 7, and the clutch is disengaged. In the drawing, an alternate long and short dash line X—X indicates a central axis.
When the separator plates 11 are caused to slidingly rotate relative to the friction plates 5, heat is produced. The wet multiplate clutch of the conventional construction, however, does not permit good transfer of the heat, resulting in development of thermal deformation called “heat spots” on the separator plates 11. FIG. 5 illustrates conditions of the separator plates 11 of the conventional wet multiplate clutch after a test. As shown in this drawing, heat spots 11H have been formed on the surfaces of the separator plates 11. Incidentally, sign 11A indicates spline tabs which are maintained in engagement with the corresponding spline grooves of the clutch case 2. | {
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1. Technical Field
This application relates to the useful manipulation of magnetic components found in toners as commonly utilized in various printer and electrostatographic print environments. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to at least one realization of magnetic encoding of data elements or magnetic marks in combination with distraction patterns.
2. Description of Related Art
To detect counterfeiting, various document security systems are available. For example, watermarking is a common way to ensure security in digital documents. Many watermarking approaches exist with different trade-offs in cost, fragility, robustness, etc. One prior art approach is to use special ink rendering where the inks are invisible under standard illumination. These inks normally respond to light outside the visible range and thereby may be made visible. Examples of such extra-spectral techniques are UV (ultra-violet) and IR (infrared). This traditional approach is to render the encoded data with special inks that are not visible under normal light, but that have strong distinguishing characteristics under the special spectral illumination. Determination of the presence or absence of such encoding may be thereby subsequently performed using an appropriate light source and detector. One example of this approach is found in U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0017990 to Katsurabayashi et al. However, these special inks and materials are often difficult to incorporate into standard electro-photographic or other non-impact printing systems like solid ink printers, either due to cost, availability or physical/chemical properties. This in turn discourages their use in variable data printing arrangements, such as for redeemable coupons or other personalized printed media for example.
Another approach taken is a document where copy control is provided by digital watermarking, as for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,752 to Knox, where there is provided a method for generating data encoding in the form of a watermark in a digitally reproducible document which are substantially invisible including the steps of: (1) producing a first stochastic screen pattern suitable for reproducing a gray image on a document; (2) deriving at least one stochastic screen description that is related to said first pattern; (3) producing a document containing the first stochastic screen; (4) producing a second document containing one or more of the stochastic screens in combination, whereby upon placing the first and second document in superposition relationship to allow viewing of both documents together, correlation between the first stochastic pattern on each document occurs everywhere within the documents where the first screen is used, and correlation does not occur where the area where the derived stochastic screens occur and the image placed therein using the derived stochastic screens becomes visible.
With each of the above patents and citations, and those mentioned below, the disclosures therein are totally incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for their teachings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The ever-increasing use of video and audio in the military, law enforcement and surveillance fields has resulted in the need for an integrative system that may combine several known detecting and monitoring systems. There are several questions related to real-time and off-line analysis and processing of information regarding the existence and behavior of people and objects in a certain monitored area.
Examples of such typical questions include questions regarding presence and identification of people (e.g. Is there anybody? If so, who is he?), movement (e.g. Is there anything moving?), number of people (e.g. How many people are there?), duration of time (e.g. for how long have they stayed in the area?), identifications of sounds, content of speech, number of articles and the like.
Currently, a dedicated system having a separate infrastructure is usually installed to provide a limited solution to each of the above-mentioned questions. Non-limiting examples of these systems include a video and audio recording system such as NiceVision of Nice Systems Ltd., Ra'anana, Israel, a movement-detecting system such as Vicon8i of Vicon Motion Systems, Lake Forest, Calif., USA and a face-recognition system such as FaceIt system of Visionics Corp., Jersey City, N.J., USA.
The separate infrastructure for each application also limits the area of surveillance. For example, a face recognition system, which is connected to a single dedicated video sensor, can cover only a narrow area. Moreover, the separated applications provide only a limited and partial integration between various monitoring applications.
An integrated monitoring system may enable advanced solutions for combined and conditioned questions. An example of conditioned questions is described below. “If there is a movement, is anyone present? If someone is present, can he be identified? If he can be identified, what is he saying? If he cannot be identified, record the event.”
It would be advantageous to have an integrated monitoring system for analysis and processing of video and audio signal from a plurality of sources in real-time and off-line. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure is directed to a light having a device for controlling operation based on ambient light, and, more particularly to a light having a device for controlling operation based on ambient light that includes omnidirectional light collection.
2. Related Art
Many lighting devices operate utilizing multiple operating modes. For example, many lights such as streetlights have a night mode in which they operate and a day mode in which they do not operate. Similarly, obstruction lights, which are lights arranged at the top of a tall buildings, towers, or the like operate in a first mode emitting a first color light during daylight hours and operate in a second mode emitting a different color light during night hours.
One of the approaches to controlling operation and/or modes of such lights is to utilize a light detector. Such light detectors are typically arranged on an upper portion of the light structure and the light detection portion is positioned and/or directed toward the North by the installation personnel. This ensures that the light detector will properly receive ambient light and control the light for consistent operation. However, if the light detector is incorrectly installed, or its arrangement is modified, the light detector will fail to reliably detect the ambient light and fail to properly change modes.
In a particular aspect, obstruction lights are required to be installed at the top of wind turbines. Wind turbines present an additional problem as they rotate 360° in order for the wind turbine to be correctly orientated with respect to the prevailing winds. This ensures that the wind turbine operates with the highest efficiency generating the greatest amount of power. The problem with this movement is that an obstruction light mounted to the top of the wind turbine and its associated light detector moves. This means that the light detector is only occasionally pointing north and the ambient light that is collected may not correctly control the particular mode of operation of the obstruction light.
Accordingly, there is a need for a light and light detector that is able to operate more reliably in various implementations. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and tools for data visualization and, more specifically, to a system and tools for generating a data visualization interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
As businesses have become increasing reliant upon information technology as their employees, customers, and vendors generate large and increasing amounts of data during business operations. The data may include items such as data entered in a database by employees regarding customer relationships or sales leads, data entered by customers regarding new orders or feedback on previous transactions, or data entered by vendors regarding orders placed by the company. The data may also include manufacturing data, such as inventory numbers, pricing, quality-control data, equipment data logs, and data tracking work in progress.
Further, some data may reflect potentially complex interrelationships between other portions of the data. For example, a serial number may be related in a database to vendor data, inventory data, customer order data, sales lead data, and customer feedback data. Similarly, for example, data identifying an employee may be related to data generated in the course of work for which that employee is responsible.
Other types of data generated in various businesses include real-estate data, intellectual-property portfolio data, data regarding portfolios of assets generally, data regarding commercial property asset management, financial data, e.g., mortgages, accounts receivable, accounts payable, etc. These are just a few examples that illustrate the volume and complexity of data stored in many companies' databases.
The data often relates to the ongoing operation of the business, and analyzing the data in a timely fashion may allow business managers to make better business decisions. Frequently, however, the amount of data and complexity of relationships between various fields of data impedes efforts by those managing a business to quickly understand the significance of the data to their business. To this end, some businesses employ specialized data analysts or consultants whose sole function is querying databases and generating reports, for example using Microsoft Excel from Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash. These reports are typically tedious to generate, offer relatively limited understanding of the data, and in the event that the reports inspire additional lines of inquiry by their audience, another round of querying and reports is often required, thereby slowing the process of investigating the data.
More sophisticated tools for analyzing business data than Excel exist, but these tools are often difficult to operate and are often implemented by employees or consultants with higher levels of training and greater labor costs than those limited to use of Excel. The more sophisticated tools often include a more detailed view of the data that can include additional dimensions of the data displayed simultaneously or accessible through user interaction with an analysis of the data, but users often experience difficulties when selecting among a potentially large number of fields in a database to represent visually, e.g., in a graph or other form of data visualization, particularly when selecting which fields should be displayed on, or mapped to, which visual aspects of a data visualization to convey information precisely and with concision.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The drawings may not be to scale. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. | {
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This invention concerns a procedure and a measuring cell for drilling fluids which make it possible to determine the adhesion and friction characteristics of the fluid during drilling.
It is known that, during the drilling of a geothermal or mining oil well, the physical-chemical equilibrium of the drilling fluid, termed the "drilling mud," undergoes constant modification because of changes in its constituents. The various load products (bentonite. polymers, etc.) undergo continuous violent shearing processes, both at the pumps and at the turbines or ventilation holes of the tool to these shearing stresses are added rises in temperature and pressure. Furthermore, the imperative maintenance of a fluid density sufficient to counterbalance the pore pressure of the formations being drilled dictates, additionally, that the soil loads will increase the concentration of the solid materials content or that the addition of barium sulfate will be purposefully made. In this content, the characteristics of the drilling fluid change substantially as the drilling continues, with the result that the preponderant coefficients change at the point of contact between the drilling wall and the drilling tool fitting, including the coefficient of adhesion to the fitting, the moment of adhesion to the fitting the moment of friction on the fitting, etc. The poor control of these characteristics leads to a deterioration of drilling performance: for example, through the poor transmission of weight over the tool, especially as regards the drilling of deviated or horizontal wells, and through an increased moment which hinders the proper rotation of the fitting and of the tool. It also leads to jamming of the fitting and to problems in the walls especially in cases in which clayey soils are being drilled. Clayey formations or layers often give rise, moreover, to a sudden increase in pressure, which must be overcome during drilling. This pressure is called "abnormal pressure" and is due to the addition of the pressure arising from the weight of the layers of underlying sediments to the hydrostatic pore pressure. | {
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The present invention is directed to a method for transmitting data via a number of interfaces arranged in parallel, whereby each interface comprises a receiver unit for receiving data packets and for intermediately storing these data packets and comprises a transmitter unit for sending data packets.
In order to enable data traffic between a number of communication units, interfaces are provided between these communication units. Such interfaces respectively comprise a receiver unit that receives data packets of a communication unit and further comprises a transmitter unit that sends the received data packets to a different communication unit. Further, means for intermediate storage of data packets are provided in the interface because of different degrees of data incidence at the interface and due to a limited transmission capacity of the interface.
Each interface must be able to transmit high data rates of up to more than 10 Mbit/s. Neither a data loss nor a noticeable delay in the data transmission dare thereby occur.
In order to meet these demands, a buffer memory of a specific, defined size was previously disclosed for each interface. The size of the buffer memory was dimensioned such that, even given an extremely great data incidence at the receiver unit of the respective interface, the received data packets could always be intermediately stored until they had been sent by a transmitter unit of an interface. Since the buffer memories of the respective interfaces are statically allocated, if data packets that are stored in the buffer memory of the receiver unit of an interface are to be sent by the transmitter unit of a different interface, a copy onto the buffer memory of a different interface from the buffer memory of an interface must be made before the transmission by the transmitter unit of the other interface.
This known solution for the transmission of data exhibits the following disadvantages: the total buffer memory space made available is very inefficiently utilized. For example, relatively low data transmission rates can usually arise at a first interface, by contrast whereto extremely high data transmission rates usually arise at a second interface. When the same buffer memory space is always made available to each interface in this case, the buffer memory space of the first interface will usually be empty, resulting in a waste of memory space. Even when, however, a buffer memory of a smaller size is made available to the first interface in such a case, this possibility is inflexible and can lead to problems when, for example, an unusually high data occurrence arises by way of exception at the first interface. In such a case, the first interface cannot intermediately store all arising data, so that data loss occurs.
An object of the present invention is to offer a method for transmitting data via a number of interfaces arranged in parallel wherein a data loss can be prevented and, simultaneously, the buffer memory space made available for the interfaces is efficiently and flexibly utilized.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention is a method for transmitting data via a number of interfaces arranged parallel that respectively comprise a receiver unit for receiving data packets and for intermediately storing these data packets and comprise a transmitter unit for sending data packets, wherein an overall buffer memory is provided for the number of interfaces. The method comprises the following steps: buffer memory capacity of the overall buffer memory is allocated to the receiver unit of each interface in an initialization; a data packet is transmitted to a receiver unit of an interface by a communication unit. The data packet transmitted to a receiver unit is intermediately stored in the buffer memory location allocated to the receiver unit, and a further buffer memory location is requested at a memory location manager. The further, requested buffer memory location is allocated to the requesting receiver unit by the memory location manager. The buffer memory location allocation is transmitted to a transmitter unit. The intermediately stored data packet is sent from this transmitter unit. Subsequently, the buffer memory location of the transmitted data packet is released, so that this buffer memory location of the overall buffer memory can be re-allocated by the memory location manager.
What is advantageous about the inventive method is that the buffer memory location allocated to each interface is dynamically and automatically adapted to the given conditions. Whenever a receiver unit makes use of buffer memory space, this receiver unit requests further buffer memory capacity. As a result thereof, the buffer memory space made available at the initialization can be minimized for the receiver unit, since, if this receiver unit must receive a greater amount of data, it has further memory space allocated to it. Since, further, the receiver and transmitter units of each interface access an overall buffer memory, data packets, which are received by the receiver unit of an interface and are to be sent by a transmitter unit of a different interface, no longer need to be copied between different buffer memories. A possible source of error is thereby suppressed. Further, a loss of data given an extremely high data occurrence at the receiver unit of an interface is largely precluded, since this receiver unit can theoretically make use of the entire buffer memory capacity that is provided for all interfaces.
Advantageously, a specific, minimum size of free buffer memory capacity can be allocated to each receiver unit at any time. This assures that each receiver unit always has a certain reserve of free buffer memory capacity.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the overall buffer memory is divided into overall buffer memory parcels, whereby one or more overall buffer memory parcels are respectively allocated to the receiver units.
Further, the receiver units can comprise pointer lists that contain the allocated buffer memory location and in which a pointer that indicates where the intermediately stored data packet is stored in the overall buffer memory is entered in the buffer memory location given intermediate storage of the data packet transmitted to a receiver unit.
What is advantageous about this embodiment is that the division into parcels simplifies the memory location manager. Further, the concept of pointer lists for the receiver units is advantageous in that the receiver units only contain information about the memory capacity allocated to them and the addresses of the intermediately stored data packets.
Further, the transmitter units can also comprise pointer lists into which the buffer memory space allocation transmitted from the receiver unit is entered. What is advantageous about this is that the receiver unit only has to transmit the list entry with the address of the intermediately stored data packet to the transmitter unit and not the data packets themselves.
Advantageously, the pointer lists contain status markers in addition to each pointer with information about a status of segments of the list to which the pointer points, and contain a length indicator that indicates the length of the intermediately stored data to which the pointer points.
Given a division of the overall buffer memory capacity into parcels, the size of a data packet can be dimensioned such that it can only be intermediately stored in a number of overall buffer memory parcels. In such a case, the buffer memory space allocation of the parcels occupied firs: is only transmitted to the transmitter unit when all data packets of the data packet covering a number of parcels have been received by the receiver unit. Since the information about the size of the data packet is always only contained at the end in data packets, the receiver unit can only decide whether it has completely received the data packet after reception of this last part of the data packet. If the receiver unit already transmits the first part of the data packet in the first parcels to the transmitter unit after the intermediate storage of this first part, a correction would be extremely difficult given an incomplete reception, which could only be identified by the receiver unit after reception of the complete data packet, since parts of the data packet have already been sent to the transmitter unit and have already potentially been sent from the latter.
Further, the memory capacity manager can comprise occupancy lists that contain information about the occupation of the overall buffer memory parcels of the overall buffer memory. As a result of such occupancy lists, it becomes simpler for the memory location manager to identify location and size of the free memory capacity of the overall buffer memory.
If the transmission of the buffer memory capacity allocation from a receiver unit of an interface to a specific transmitter unit is not possible, the buffer memory capacity allocation of this receiver unit is given back to the memory location manager and is entered into a FIFO list in the memory location manager in an embodiment of the present invention. After a transmission to the specific transmitter unit is possible again, the memory location manager transmits the buffer memory capacity allocation to this transmitter unit from the FIFO list.
A case can occur in the data transmission that a specific transmitter unit is blocked but other transmitter units can send. When a receiver unit receives data packets both for the blocked transmitter unit as well as for transmitter units that are not blocked, a problem arises that the data packets for the blocked transmitter unit backup in the transmitter units. Due to the rerouting of the buffer memory space allocation of these data packets intended for the blocked transmitter unit, each receiver unit that wishes to transmit buffer memory space allocations to the blocked transmitter unit is relieved. At the same time, it is assured with the memory location manager that, when the previously blocked transmitter unit is again ready to transmit, the memory capacity allocation for these data packets is transmitted to this transmitter unit in sequence.
The memory location manager can have provided a FIFO list for each interface, whereby this always either comprises a specific buffer memory location or the buffer memory location for each FIFO list can be allocated variably and dependent on the corresponding need of the respective FIFO list for buffer memory capacity.
These and other features of the invention(s) will become clearer with reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and accompanied drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field
This disclosure relates to photoelectric conversion elements and, in particular, to a photosensitized photoelectric conversion element. The term, photosensitized photoelectric conversion element, is used also to refer to dye-sensitized solar cells and dye-sensitized power-generating elements capable of generating power in an environment, such as an indoor environment, with a relatively low illuminance.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, dye-sensitized solar cells known as Gratzel cells have attracted much attention as new photoelectric conversion elements (refer to Japanese Patent No. 2664194). A Gratzel cell is constituted by a photoanode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte medium disposed between the photoanode and the counter electrode. A photoanode typically includes a conductive layer that transmits visible light and a semiconductor layer containing a photosensitizer and formed on the conductive layer. The semiconductor layer contains, for example, porous titanium oxide. A dye serving as a photosensitizer is supported on a surface of porous titanium oxide. The dye is, for example, a ruthenium (Ru) complex. The counter electrode is, for example, a platinum electrode. The electrolyte medium is, for example, an electrolyte solution containing an oxidation-reduction substance (mediator).
Various studies have been conducted on improvements of properties of Grätzel cells. One of the studies involves search for a dye that can improve photoelectric conversion efficiency (hereinafter simply referred to as “conversion efficiency”). Ru complexes, merocyanine (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-115636 (Japanese Patent No. 4080288)), and various other dyes (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-200068 and International Publication No. 2012/121192) have been investigated so far.
However, sufficiently high conversion efficiency has not been achieved with existing dyes. In particular, photoelectric conversion elements that exhibit high conversion efficiency even in an environment, such as an indoor environment, with a relatively low illuminance are highly anticipated. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the temperature balancing control of a plurality of heat exchangers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As various plants become larger in size, various heat exchangers for use in them ought to be enlarged correspondingly. It is the actual situation, however, that the enlargement of the heat exchangers is limited in relation to manufacturing equipment and fabricating techniques.
For this reason, in a large-sized plant, the case of using a plurality of heat exchangers connected in parallel by piping is increasing. On that occasion, the control of the distribution of fluid flow rates to the respective heat exchangers becomes a problem.
More specifically, even when the respective heat exchangers are fabricated in accordance with the same specifications, the dispersion of fluid resistances is inevitable, and dispersions arise also in the fluid resistances of pipes connecting the heat exchangers, the fluid resistances of valves disposed midway of pipes, etc. Therefore, the flow rate distribution to the individual heat exchangers becomes unbalanced, with the result that unbalanced temperatures develop in various parts of the heat exchangers.
It is necessary to correct the unbalance and to operate all the parallel heat exchangers while their temperatures are being balanced.
The temperature balancing control is performed by equipping the respective heat exchangers with control valves for regulating the fluid flow rates and regulating the control valves individually. When only the temperature balance is considered, the temperatures may be balanced with all the control valves kept close to their fully closed states. In order to realize the stable operation and efficient operation of the plant, however, the temperatures should preferably be balanced with the control valves kept close to their fully open states.
A known prior-art method for the temperature control of a plurality of heat exchangers is disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 51-30304.
In the aforementioned known temperature control method for a multiple heat exchanger in which a plurality of heat exchangers are arranged in parallel, temperatures are sensed at the same positions of the respective heat exchangers except for the inlets thereof for a fluid subject to heat exchange, the mean temperature of the sensed temperatures is evaluated, and the sensed temperatures are compared with the mean temperature so as to regulate the flow rates of a heat exchanging fluid, whereby the temperatures of the fluid subject to the heat exchange are averaged.
With this known method, the flow rates of the heat exchanging fluid in the respective heat exchangers are controlled using the mean temperature as a reference value. It is theoretically possible, however, that the balanced relationship of the temperatures holds in the state in which the openings of all control valves for controlling the flow rates are close to the full opening or the full closure. Therefore, the method left intact is problematic in practical use.
In addition, a prior-art control method according to which the temperatures do not become balanced in the full closure direction is disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 58-9920.
In a multiple heat exchanger wherein a plurality of heat exchangers are used in parallel, this method consists in sensing the temperatures of the same positions of the respective heat exchangers except for the inlets thereof for a fluid subject to heat exchange and the inlets thereof for a heating fluid, selecting the temperature of any desired one of the positions as a control reference value, and adjusting the fluid flow rates of the respective heat exchangers so that the sensed temperatures may agree with the control reference value.
In such method, using the desired position for the control reference value, the fluid flow rates of the respective heat exchangers are adjusted so that the sensed temperatures may agree. However, when control valves have become fully open, they cannot be opened more, and the method becomes uncontrollable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a focusing device for use in optical apparatuses such as microfilm readers or microfilm reader-printers for enlarging and projecting images of various types of microfilms such as roll type or fiche type to read or print the projected image.
In optical system in the microfilm readers or the microfilm reader-printers for enlarging and projecting images of a microfilm, high magnifications are required. Accordingly, the microfilm readers are so constructed that a distance between a microfilm and a projective lens is very short as compared with the distance between the projective lens and an image surface. Under such construction, a little fluctuation in the distance between the microfilm and the projective lens results in a seriously blurred image because of the shift of focus.
Nevertheless, conventional microfilm readers or microfilm reader-printers employ a manual focusing operation method which is difficult and consumes much time to achieve the in-focus condition. Even once the in-focus condition has been achieved, the condition is likely to be lost or shifted by vibration or by operator's slight touching or hitching on the device, and so forth. Such a shift will raise particularly serious problems when printing is made by projecting an image of a microfilm on a photoreceptor. Consequently, it is necessary to manually make focusing operation and to correct the operation again and again when being out of focus. Thus, the operators sustain inconvenience.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 60-227241 and 61-247157 (laid open on Nov. 12, 1985 and on Nov. 4, 1986 respectively) disclose known devices provided with automatic focusing function which enables automatic attainment of the in-focus condition for microfilm readers.
Such Japanese conventional devices include a sensor for receiving light located at the side of an image surface for automatic focusing achieved by means of the fact that the sensor receives light coming through a projective lens to detect condition of an image formed.
This method is convenient, because the focusing is automatically performed. However, the known sensor in the conventional devices is positioned out of the screen on which the image to be read is projected through an ordinal optical path. With this arrangement, it is necessary for the film to be provided with a special mark or image so as to project the image thereof onto the sensor for detecting the focus condition. Another known sensor in the conventional devices is positioned in the other optical path which is divided or changed from the ordinal optical path by deflection of a mirror. With this arrangement, the body of the microfilm reader will be increased in size because the part of the projection light temporarily deviating from the ordinal optical path must be accommodated in the body which is mostly occupied by the optical path. A mechanism for temporarily deflecting the projection light is further necessary, resulting in complex structure and high cost. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stroboscopic controller disposed in a camera and controlling a light emitting operation of a stroboscope and a stopping operation thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stroboscopic controllers having various kinds of structures are generally proposed and manufactured. In a stroboscopic controller shown in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application (KOKAI) No. 56-114937, data indicative of a light emitting time and a quantity of emitted light in a stroboscope are stored to a ROM as a memory element in advance. A light emitting operation of the stroboscope is controlled by using these data. In a stroboscopic controller shown in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application (KOKAI) No. 56-159622, the light emitting time is determined on the basis of a quantity of light required to perform a photographing operation, a guide number of the stroboscope and a suitable coefficient. In a stroboscopic controller shown in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 44-30905, light reflected from a photographed object is integrated to stop the light emitting operation. In a known stroboscopic controller of an automatic flashing system, a diaphragm value of a photographing lens is changed in accordance with distance. The stroboscopic controller of this system does not constitute an automatic stroboscope.
In the stroboscopic controller shown in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application (KOKAI) No. 56-114937, it is necessary to store a large amount of data indicative of the relation between the light emitting time and the emitted light quantity to the ROM. In the stroboscopic controller shown in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application (KOKAI) No. 56-159622, no voltage of a main capacitor before the light emission is considered so that it is impossible to control the operation of the stroboscopic controller with a high degree of accuracy. In the stroboscopic controller shown in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 44-30905, it is necessary to dispose parts requiring high operating speed and accuracy in a light-receiving and integrating circuit. Accordingly, the cost of this stroboscopic controller is increased and a space therefor is large. Further, in this stroboscopic controller, there is a case in which an exposure value is shifted from a predetermined value by a difference in reflectivity of the photographed object, different stroboscopic light incident to the stroboscope, etc. In the automatic flashing system, no arbitrary diaphragm value can be obtained and light is emitted in a full state thereof at any time since this system does not constitute an automatic stroboscope. Therefore, it takes time to perform the next light emitting operation.
Accordingly, the general stroboscopic controllers have various kinds of practical problems mentioned above. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to tacking devices, especially to devices for engaging soft, textured surfaces such as upholstery or upholstered walls to facilitate nondestructive attachment of items to such surfaces.
It is well-known that normal tacking devices, such as traditional tacks with sharp spikes and large heads, do not adhere well to soft surfaces, such as upholstered furniture, carpet, or upholstered wall dividers commonly found in offices. While these traditional tacks may hold to the soft surface for a short time, if at all, they soon lose their hold, largely because they require a high frictional resistance to withdrawal from the surface they penetrate. Because fabric and other soft textured surfaces do not provide this frictional resistance, the tacks fall out. Also, when traditional tacks are used to attach objects, such as paper, to a wall, the tack must also penetrate the object, leaving marks and perforations on the paper, leaving an undesireable scar on the paper.
An object of the present invention is to provide a soft-surface tacking device, ("soft tack") that does not rely on significant penetration of an object's surface and high frictional resistance to withdrawal of the device from the object. Specifically, it is the object of the present invention to provide a soft tack that adheres to the surface of a textured, upholstered material, typically woven, rather than penetrate significantly beyond the material surface.
A further object is to use this soft tack in combination with clasping or adherent means such that various and sundry objects can be attached to soft, textured surfaces.
Another object is that the soft tack provide a nondestructive mechanism for removably attaching an object having nominally flat and smooth surfaces, such as paper, foil, or plastic sheets, to soft, textured surfaces without perforating the object.
Yet another object is that the soft tack be reusable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to safety enclosures of the type that increasingly are being referred to as "secondary containment buildings," namely walk-in storage structures that have walls and roofs that typically are formed from metal, that typically are used to store containers of "hazardous materials" such as cans of paint, drums of lubricant and the like, and that customarily are provided with sump-type "secondary containment" vessels into which spillage and leakage are directed for temporary collection and safe disposal. More particularly, the present invention relates to safety enclosures of modular construction that preferably employ wall panels and other components and assemblies that are protectively coated prior to final assembly, with wall panel components having complementary edge formations that extend vertically and connect with recess-carried framing members that rigidify and strengthen the walls of the resulting structures as well as providing columnar-like supports that extend between the base and roof assemblies, with the wall components and framing members preferably being bolted together to effect final assembly either at a factory or at sites where the enclosures are to be installed.
2. Prior Art
Increased emphasis is being placed on the importance of assuring that solvents, lubricants, paint related products and the like are handled and stored with adequate safeguards. Increasingly it is being recognized that even small spills and relatively minute leakages of the growing number of substances that are being referred to by the term "hazardous material" easily can detrimentally affect persons, property, plants, animals, ground water and other aspects of ecology and environment. Moreover, in view of increasing concern about the lasting nature of the adverse effects that can result from spills and unchecked leakage of hazardous material, these topics are receiving increasing attention by law-makers, by regulating agencies, and by those who have been elected to govern and to enforce laws and regulations.
In circumstances of heightened awareness and concern such as are described above, it is inevitable that those who have responsibility for the safe handling and/or storage of "hazardous materials" are being called upon to use only such equipment and techniques as have been duly "approved" and "tested" to assure that even small, inadvertent "spills" are contained, and that container leakage is caught, collected and confined until its cause can be ascertained and corrected, and until the leaked material can be processed for safe disposal. The use of safety enclosures that provide "secondary containment" increasingly is becoming mandatory for storing even relatively small quantities of solvent, paint, lubricants and the like, even in small businesses such as garages, repair shops, and the like.
While a number of proposals have been made in efforts to provide a variety of types of "secondary containment buildings," prior proposals have been characterized by a number of drawbacks, whereby the need for well-designed, versatile, multi-use safety enclosures continues to grow.
One drawback that has characterized many prior proposals for safety enclosures has been the need for structures that feature strong walls which provide easy-to-use connection points for mounting shelf brackets and other needed items such as electrical conduits and fixtures for hazardous-environment lighting, pipes and heads for sprinkler systems, and the like. It has proven not to be enough to simply provide a safety enclosure that has simply a strong floor, atop which containers can be positioned for storage. Rather, in addition to providing a strong floor, today's safety storage enclosure needs to provide strong walls having conveniently located, easy- to-use connection points for mounting shelf brackets and other devices at eye-level and at other suitable heights above the surface of the floor.
Versatility is needed in today's safety enclosure so that the needs that it has been purchased to immediately address can be well served, but also so that the unanticipated needs of tomorrow likewise can be accommodated to the fullest possible extent. Often a safety enclosure that has been purchased for resolving a first type of storage problem at a first location gets "passed down" for use in resolving a very different second type of storage problem at a second location. Frequently, this happens when a different, typically larger enclosure eventually is needed to again address the first problem at the first location. Longevity of service life, and a capability to be transported from place to place without likelihood of incurring damage during transport also are characteristics that are needed so that, as the character of the need for a safety enclosure at a particular location changes, the safety enclosure that already is installed there can be "passed down" to another department or sold to a new owner, whereby a full and appropriate measure of value and service can be gotten from the product. Many of the prior proposals for safety enclosures do not provide desirably long-lived, strong and portable units that permit their being successively redeployed during lengthy service lives.
Modularity and scaleability of product design also tend to be lacking in many prior proposals. Rather than to use combinations of modular bolt-together wall panels and wall-corner panels (together with "door panels" that can be substituted as needed for selected wall panels), many prior proposals use welded together, specially configured, non-modular components that are specially made for use in forming only one or a very limited number of sizes of safety enclosures.
In order for a wide range of safety enclosure sizes and capacities to be offered by any one manufacturer, the use of sets of "standardized" components that can be connected quite simply and securely by bolting them together is desirable. However, the safety enclosures of many prior proposals do not utilize and are not well adapted to utilize "standardized" components; and, in many instances, the strength of the resulting enclosures would be significantly diminished if reasonably priced, easily implemented fastening techniques (such as the use of threaded fasteners) were substituted for welding.
Even the character of the "secondary containment vessels" or "sumps" that are provided in many previously proposed safety enclosures leaves a great deal to be desired. Often, the sumps that have been provided by the manufacturers have a lesser total capacity (in comparison with the combined capacities of the containers that are intended to be stored within the enclosures) than is desired. If the sumps do not have a capacity to contain at least about twenty five percent of the combined capacities of the containers that are housed within the their associated enclosures, there is a danger that the level of protection that is afforded by the "secondary containment" will fail to meet needs that a particular enclosure quite likely may encounter during the course of a reasonable service life.
For these and other reasons, there remains a very genuine and real need for well-designed, heavy-duty, secondary containment enclosures that appropriately address today's increasing concern for the way in which "hazardous materials" are stored. Likewise, there remains a need for high quality safety enclosures that are of adequately versatile construction to permit their being suitably "passed down" from one form of service to another during the course of a reasonably lengthy service life. | {
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The present invention is concerned with the mechanism for manipulating transversely elongated longitudinal clamping rails in automatic carton closing machines for adjusting the intervening space therebetween to convert them to suitably spaced lateral side guide rails extending longitudinally through the machine to define a path of forward travel of a plurality of successive cartons. It is particularly concerned with the satisfaction of a desire to space them transversely with a tolerance which will permit free advance, without damage, of all of a group of set-up cartons, which may be loaded for shipping contents, and intended to be of about the same size while accommodating small degrees of variances in widths thereof and to accomplish this by relatively simple equipment that is easily added to conventional equipment for manipulating the side guide rails of automatic carton closing machines of the types disclosed in U.S. Pats. No. Re. 26,440 of Aug. 13, 1968 (and its parent U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,022); U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,645 of May 14, 1968; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,697 of Feb. 24, 1970. Disclosures of those patents which are pertinent to the present invention are embodied herein by reference. In order to accomplish this end automatic control mechanism will be set to cause widely spread side guide rails to respond to a dictated command to move transversely inward toward opposite sides of an entering first loaded carton of such a group of intended same size and then to be separated transversely back through the desired relatively small additional space of tolerance. Following the teaching of the present invention a variety of types of means may occur to one which might be substituted for a preferred means to adjust the width of the transverse space between the opposed longitudinal side guide rails when first set to process successively therebetween a series of assumed similar width loaded cartons of a group intended to be of the same size and then provide a moderate tolerance between these guide rails that will avoid damaging or jamming of any of these cartons, that may be slightly wider due to overfilling or other cause, as these cartons are moved successively forward therebetween.
The first carton of the group of similar size to be advanced through the machine may serve as a gauge for the primary adjustment of the spacing between these side guide rails and then various types of differing devices may serve to assure the attainment of the small amount of the desired supplementary spacing tolerance. For example, the mechanisms which move these guide rails inward and outward relative to each other may be connected to the latter by resilient means which provides the desired tolerance. A longitudinally extending facing shoe may be mounted to the face of one of these guide rails, or both may be so equipped, and resilient means between the rail face and such facing shoe may provide the requisite tolerance, particularly if the entrance ends of these facing shoes are flared outwardly to define a feeding tapered space therebetween. Also, the guide rails moving mechanism may impose the transverse movement thereto through camming devices wherein relatively high lobe means dictate initial or primary relative rail spacing and then relatively low cam lobe means attain the secondary or additional tolerance spacing. However, the preferred mechanism for such a spacing tolerance service is that which is detailed herein as pertaining to a latching device associated with the side guide rails transverse driving mechanism, with this latching device being biased by alterable or change means to effect the needed repositioning of the latch or the change in the holding action.
It is thus an object of the present invention to attain such relatively minor tolerance spacing of the side guide rails by embodying in their transverse moving equipment means that moves in proportion to the degree of motion of such equipment for attaining the basic spacing of the side guide rails for such a size of loaded cartons, and means which then further spaces them apart the desired relatively small additive tolerance distance.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to embody in the side guide rails transverse moving equipment a toothed rack or pinion means which moves in proportion to the degree of motion of this equipment, and associate therewith a floatably mounted means to engage such rack or pinion so that the motion freedom that this latter means has determines and allows the relatively minor amount of tolerance adjustment desired.
A preferred form of the equipment to effect the basic spacing of the side guide rails includes a double-ended pneumatic motive cylinder having its piston connected by flexible pull tether means, e.g., cable or linked chain, to the side guide rails. Valving of pressurized gaseous medium, such as air, in the supply ducts connected to the cylinder permits the latter and its piston to act as an elastic cushioning means, so that additional driving force applied to such tether means may translate the latter a limited additional amount, to provide the desired additional spacing tolerance. Such additional driving force may be applied by suitable rack or gear means that moves with the tether means and is engageable by latch means to apply therethrough the desired additional translation of this tether means. Desirably gear means may be rotated by longitudinal translation of the tether means, and vice versa, so that after the primary rail spacing is attained by drive of the tether means from the double-ended cylinder, the secondary tolerance spacing may be added by rotating the gear means through a radial angle by engaging it with the latch means as a driver and swinging the latter.
In accordance with the present invention it has been found that a practical and preferred means for effecting such swing of the gear means driver may be in the form of a pair of single-ended pneumatic motive cylinders with the front end of one pivoted on the axis of the gear means and its projecting piston rod carrying the latch means to engage this gear means for the relatively small angular drive of the latter. In turn, the latch means is swung by arcuate swing of this motive cylinder and, for this purpose, the back end of the latter may be pivotally connected to the projecting piston of the other of this pair of single-ended cylinders with the latter having its back end pivotally mounted to a fixed position support. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a radiological image detection apparatus used in the medical X-ray imaging system etc., and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Art
In recent years, DR (Digital Radiography) using the X-ray image detection apparatus such as FPD (Flat Panel Detector) that converts an X-ray image into digital data, or the like is already put to practical use. In contrast to the former CR (Computed Radiography) system using the imaging plate formed of the stimulative phosphor (accumulative phosphor), this X-ray image detection apparatus has such a merit that the picked-up image can be checked on the spot, and thus its spread is proceeding apace.
Various systems have been proposed for an X-ray image detection apparatus. As one of them, the indirect conversion system, which converts the X rays into the visible lights once by the scintillator such as CsI:Tl, GOS (Gd2O2S:Tb), or the like, and then converts the visible lights into the electric charges by the semiconductor layers and stores such electric charges, has been known (see Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2007-163467), Patent Document 2 (JP-A-2008-51793) and Patent Document 3 (JP-A-2011-17683), for example).
In the X-ray image detection apparatus, in many cases it is preferable that the X-ray exposure should be set low when this detecting device is used for the X-ray radiography of a living body, for example. Therefore, the scintillator whose sensitivity to the X-rays is high and whose amount of luminescence is large is demanded. In Patent Document 1, an amount of luminescence is enhanced by providing the scintillator on both sides of the photodetector respectively to put it between them.
Also, in Patent Document 2, an amount of luminescence is enhanced by adding the activator to the base material of the fluorescent material. In Patent Document 2, it is set forth that, in the X-ray image detection apparatus which includes the photodetector and the scintillator and in which the X-rays are incident on the scintillator from the opposite side to the photodetector, the activator density in the region of the scintillator on the X-ray incident side should be enhanced.
Also, in Patent Document 3, an amount of luminescence is enhanced by setting the region of the scintillator, which is located in vicinity to the photodetector, as the main luminescence region S in the situation that the scintillator is irradiated with the X-rays from the photodetector side.
Here, it may be considered that an activator density on the X-ray incident side should be increased, as set forth in Patent Document 2, and also the photodetector side should be set as the main luminescence region, as set forth in Patent Document 3. In this manner, when an activator density is enhanced in vicinity to the photodetector on the X-ray incident side, the effect of increasing amount of luminescence and improving MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) can be achieved to a certain extent. However, when such main luminescence region of the scintillator is examined in detail, the following problems still remain. That is, an increase of an activator density poses clearly the technical problems mentioned hereunder.
The crystallinity of the part of the main luminescence region, which is located in vicinity of the photodetector, is disordered due to the increase of the activator density, and accordingly the degradation of MTF is caused. In particular, when an activator density is enhanced in the initial phase of the vapor deposition of the scintillator, such enhancement has a tremendous adverse influence on the crystal growth of the scintillator, and the crystallinity is disordered. Therefore, the lights are diffused between the columnar crystals, and thus degradation of MTF is caused.
Also, the absorption of lights in the scintillator is increased due to an increase of the activator density. Here, as shown in FIG. 14, such a case is considered that an activator density is enhanced in the situation that the part of a scintillator 91 located on the X-ray incident side is set as the main luminescence region S. As shown in FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, in a part P2 that is positioned away from a photodetector 92 (FIG. 14) in the main luminescence region S, an amount of luminescence incident on the photodetector 92 is small, and a light emitting condition is spread, and thus blurriness of the image is caused (MTF is worsened). As a result, even though such a configuration is employed that, as shown in FIG. 14, the scintillator 91 is irradiated with the X rays from the photodetector 92 side, a further increase of an amount of luminescence and a further improvement in MTF cannot be expected unless such problems are solved. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polygonal mirror assembly having an improved structure capable of absorbing vibration generated by a polygonal mirror which rotates to deflectingly scan incident light beams, a laser scanning unit for a printer adopting the same, and a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptor medium such as a photoreceptor belt which rotates along a predetermined path by a driving source, a developing unit for forming an image on an electrostatic latent image area formed on the photoreceptor medium, a transcribing unit for transcribing an image formed on the electrostatic latent image area to paper, and a laser scanning unit (LSU) for scanning laser light onto the photoreceptor medium to form an electrostatic latent image.
The laser scanning unit includes an optical source for irradiating light, an optical means for converting the scanning direction of light toward the photoreceptor medium, and a polygonal mirror assembly for deflecting light emitted from the optical source toward the optical means.
The polygonal mirror assembly includes a motor, and a polygonal mirror having a plurality of reflective facets formed on the side surface to reflect light, emitted from the optical source while the polygonal mirror is rotated by the motor, to the optical means.
However, in the conventional polygonal mirror assembly having such a configuration, it is not possible to precisely meet the center of mass and the center of rotation of the polygonal mirror on the same axis, thus resulting in vibration due to rotation of the polygonal mirror. The polygonal mirror shakes in the radial direction with the vibration, consequently deteriorating the linearity of a scan line scanned from the polygonal mirror. This deterioration of the linearity affects the quality of printing. | {
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This invention relate; to a computer having memory protection function, a computer readable recording medium adapted so that address validity collation program is recorded, and an address validity collation method at such a computer, and more particularly to a computer having function in which, in response to request of an object, other object provides memory access, a computer readable recording medium adapted so that address validity collation program executed at such a computer is recorded, and an address validity collation method at such a computer.
In order to execute program on the computer, it is necessary to protect memory by any means. For example, there are instances where object executed on the computer may intentionally or resultantly issue invalid or inaccurate access request with respect to memory area except for address area permitted with respect to the own object during its execution. Here, it is preferable that object is parallel object referred to in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/678,288 U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,140, in which the invention by the same applicant as this applicant is described. Parallel object is execution unit of process, and is such an object capable of carrying out processing in parallel to other parallel object. In order to maintain stable operation of security or the system, it is necessary to exclude access to invalid address area. In view of the above, in many operating systems, memory protection is realized by utilizing memory management system of processor.
Explanation will now be given in connection with processing of memory protection when access to invalid address area takes place.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining conventional memory protective operation. Operating system 110 carries out context switch in starting execution of object 101 and sets memory protection information that corresponding object 101 has at memory management system 121 of processor 120. Further, accesses from the object 101 to memory 102 are carried out all through the memory management system 121. In this instance, the memory management system 121 carries out check as to whether or not designated address infringes memory protection information set at present in the memory management system 121. As a result, in the case where there is no infringement, access to actual memory 102 is provided. On the other hand, in the case where there is any infringement, memory access is not carried out, but exception is generated by the memory management system 121. Information of that exception is notified to the operating system 110. The operating system 110 analyses exception phenomenon to provide exception processing service corresponding thereto.
In a manner as stated above, access only to a predetermined memory space can be provided from the object 101. Thus, memory is protected.
Moreover, there are also cases where object 101 carries out memory access through operating system 110. In such cases, collation relating to validity of address is carried out in the operating system 110. For example, the operating system 110 provides service for responding to request from object 101, e.g., system call or API (Application Programing Interface) and there are instances where address is delivered from object 101 at the time of such service request. Ordinarily, this address designates address area permitted for the object 101 and the operating system 110 provides access to such area to carry out service. The operation at this time will be described below.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of address collation by the operating system 110. When the operating system 110 receives service request including address from the object 101, it investigates or checks validity of address at address collation module 111 before it executes actual service at service processing object 112. This is necessary processing for the reason described below.
Ordinarily, the operating system 110 has access right with respect to address area of object 101 in addition to address area of the operating system 110 itself for the purpose of realizing service. For this reason, even in the case where address delivered from the object 101 inaccurately designates address area of the operating system 110, validity cannot be discriminated in memory management system 121 that processor 120 has so that access thereto can be provided. Accordingly, there arises the necessity to discriminate validity of address in advance.
Validity collation of address is ordinarily carried out by sequentially collating, by address collation module 111, whether or not address delivered infringes memory protection information that object 101 has. Collation result of address is delivered to service processing object 112. In the case where it is judged that its result is invalid (inaccurate) address, error is sent back to the, object 101 as service result.
However, when there is carried out memory access utilizing function that the operating system 110 provides by the above-described method, it is necessary to carry out validity collation of address at address collation module 111 before address delivered from object 101 is actually used in the operating system 110, giving rise to the problem that execution processing speed is lowered.
In addition, a method which dose does not collate validity of address is conceivable. In this case, however, since the case where address delivered from the object 101 designates destination of storage of data within the operating system 110, etc. cannot be checked, there arise the problems that data of the operating system 110 is broken and access is inaccurately provided.
As stated above, the conventional operating systems are required to necessarily carry out validity collation of address before address delivered from object is actually used. For this reason, when validity collation of address is carried out, there was the drawback that the execution speed is lowered in accordance with quantity of memory protective information.
This invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its object is to provide a computer capable of carrying out, at high speed, with high reliability, memory access that, in accordance with request of an object, other object executes.
Another object of this invention is to provide a computer readable recording medium adapted so that there is recorded exception processing program for permitting the computer to carry out, at high speed, with high reliability, memory access that, in accordance with request of an object, other object executes.
A further object of this invention is to provide an exception processing method for executing, at high speed, with high reliability, memory access that, in accordance with request of an object, other objects executes.
In order to solve the above-described problems, the computer according to this invention is directed to a computer having a function to protect memory by permitting access only to address area designated by memory protection information, the computer comprising: request processing means adapted so that when it receives processing request including memory access to designated address, it executes processing in accordance with the processing request, and when memory access takes place, it outputs access request to address designated by processing request; memory access proxy (agent) means adapted to receive the access request that the request processing means outputs to set memory protection information in which area where object which has outputted processing request can access is caused to be accessible area to output, to processor, memory access instruction corresponding to the access request; and memory management means adapted so that when the memory access instruction that the memory access proxy (agent) means outputs is access except for area set in the memory protection information, it generates exception with respect to the memory access instruction.
In accordance with such a computer, when processing request including memory access to designated address is outputted, its processing request is received the by request processing means. Thus, processing in accordance with the request is executed. In this instance, when memory access takes place, access request to address designated by processing request is outputted by the request processing means. Thus, access request is received by the memory access proxy means. As a result, there is set memory protection information in which area that object which has outputted processing request can access is caused to be accessible area. In that state, by the memory access proxy means, memory access instruction corresponding to the access request is outputted to the processor. On the other hand, when memory access instruction that the memory access proxy means outputs is access except for area set in the memory protection information, exception with respect to the memory access instruction is caused to take place by the memory management means.
Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, the recording medium adapted so that address validity collation program is recorded according to this invention is directed to a computer readable recording medium adapted so that there is recorded address validity collation program executed by processor having such a memory management function that when memory access instruction is access except for area set in memory protection information, exception with respect to memory access instruction is caused to take place, wherein computer is caused to function as request processing means such that when it receives processing request including memory access to designated address, it executes processing: in accordance with the processing request, and when memory access takes place, it outputs access request to address designated by processing request, and memory access proxy (agent) means adapted to receive access request that the request processing means has outputted to set memory protection information in which area that object which has outputted processing request can access is caused to be accessible area to output, to the processor, memory access instruction in accordance with the access request.
When address validity collation program recorded with respect to such a recording medium is caused to be executed by computer, functions necessary for the above-described computer according to this invention are constructed.
In addition, in order to solve the above-described problems, the address validity collation method according to this invention is directed to an address validity collation method using processor having function to protect memory by permitting access only to address area designated by memory protection information, wherein when processing request including memory access to designated address is outputted, processing in accordance with the processing request is executed, and when memory access takes place during execution of processing request, memory protection information in which area that object which has outputted processing request can access is caused to be accessible area is set to output, to the processor, instruction for carrying out memory access taking place during execution of the processing request.
In accordance with the address validity collation method as stated above, when processing request including memory access to the designated address is outputted, its processing request is executed. When memory access takes place during execution, there is set memory protection information in which area that object which has outputted processing request can access is caused to be accessible. Thereafter, instruction for carrying out memory access is outputted to the processor. | {
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a form of cardiac arrhythmia characterized by rapid randomized contractions of atrial myocardium, causing an irregular, often rapid ventricular rate. The regular pumping function of the atria is replaced by a disorganized, ineffective quivering. Atrial fibrillation is caused, in large part, by chaotic conduction of electrical signals through the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation is often associated with other forms of cardiovascular disease, including congestive heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, coronary artery disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy or hypertension.
Various techniques have been proposed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation by blocking errant electrical signal conduction in the heart. For example, the “Maze procedure” was developed in the early 1990s to treat atrial fibrillation by forming a series of physical incisions (in the form of a maze) to create scar tissue in the heart that would stop or redirect the electrical impulses. Although these procedures were originally performed with a scalpel, various other techniques have also been developed to form lesions.
Researchers have come to realize that the origins of AF often lie in the left atrium in the vicinity of the pulmonary veins. A lesion encircling the pulmonary veins is currently considered to be one of the most important areas to isolate. Additionally, a second lesion extending from the pulmonary veins to the mitral valve annulus is also considered advantageous. This mitral valve annulus lesion is sometimes referred to as the “left isthmus block.”
Typically, such lesions are formed from within the heart (by applying a scalpel or other ablation instrument to the endocardial tissue). In fact, it is becoming increasingly commonplace for patients undergoing open heart cardiac surgery (e.g., for mitral valve replacement) to also have an ablative procedure if they have a history of AF.
These procedures are very invasive (requiring a sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, cardioplegic arrest, and cardiac incisions) to enter the left atrium of the heart and create the lesions. Despite various advances in rapid lesion-forming devices (such as ultrasound, radio-frequency (RF), laser and cryogenic instruments), open heart surgery has a significant morbidity and remains a procedure of last resort for treating AF except when other conditions mandate such surgery.
Considerable effort has been made to find ways to treat atrial fibrillation without cardiac arrest and open-heart surgery. For example, light based systems for creating lesions on the outer surface of the heart have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,375 entitled “Surgical Ablation Instruments for Forming an Encircling Lesion” herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In such systems, radiant energy is applied to the epicardium to induce a transmural lesion. These systems permit the surgeon to encircle the pulmonary veins with an instrument and create a lesion by photoablation. Others have proposed similar epicardial devices based on ultrasound and the like. Such systems avoid the need to stop the heart (cardioplegic arrest).
Although epicardial ablation devices have been proposed to create lesions around the pulmonary veins, access to the regions of the atrium extending from the pulmonary veins to the mitral valve annulus remains a problem, primarily because other cardiac structures can preclude epicardial access. In particular, the coronary sinus and circumflex artery lie directly above the target region for creation of the left isthmus block or lesion. If ablative energy is applied to the circumflex coronary artery in an effort to form an atrial lesion, stenosis of this blood vessel can occur and potentially result in a myocardial infarction or even death.
Thus, there exists a need for better ablation instruments and techniques. In particular, instruments capable of forming lesions extending from the pulmonary veins to the mitral valve annulus would satisfy an important need in the field. | {
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Carbonates with aromatic ester groups are suitable for preparing polycarbonates by the melt transesterification method, for preparing phenyl urethanes or are intermediates for active substances in the pharmaceutical and plant protection sector.
It is known that aryl carbonates may be obtained by phase interface phosgenation (Schotten-Baumann reaction) of aromatic hydroxy compounds. Here, the use of solvents and caustic soda solution is a disadvantage because partial saponification of phosgene or chloroformates can take place due to the presence of alkali. In all cases large amounts of common salt are obtained as a side product. Furthermore, care must be taken to recover the solvent.
Therefore condensation without the use of solvents in the presence of tetramethylammonium halides as catalysts has been suggested (U.S. Pat. No. 2,837,555). Here, the amounts of catalyst which are required are relatively large. In general, 5 to 7 wt. % of catalyst, with respect to the amount of phenol used, is needed in order to obtain economic rates of reaction. The reaction temperatures of 180.degree. to 215.degree. C. are linked with the risk of decomposition of the thermally labile tetramethyl ammonium halides. Furthermore, the catalyst has to be removed subsequently by washing with water, which makes its recovery much more difficult. In addition, far more than the stoichiometrically required amount of phosgene is consumed.
According to another process (U.S. Pat. No. 3,234,263), diaryl carbonates are obtained by heating phenyl chloroformates in the presence of large amounts of alkali (or alkaline earth) metal compounds using tertiary nitrogen bases as catalysts. However, this process has the disadvantage that elevated temperatures are used and the catalysts such as the alkali or alkaline earth metal compounds have to be partially dissolved in order to achieve only approximately economically acceptable reaction times. In this process half of the phosgene originally introduced is lost in the form of CO.sub.2. In addition, the chloroformates have to be synthesised in a quite separate process step.
According to CA-A-2 058 359 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,946), diaryl carbonates are obtained by phosgenation of aromatic hydroxy compounds in the presence of aluminium compounds which are at least partially soluble under the reaction conditions, or are converted into soluble aluminium halides and obviously act as homogeneous catalysts in this form (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 2 362 865, col. 1, 1. 45 to 53). That is the reason why aluminium trichloride (solubility) is particularly preferred. Although very good yields are obtained, it is difficult to separate the catalysts from the products. In fact, it must be reckoned that these compounds have a certain degree of volatility and that thermal decomposition may take place due to these aluminium compounds, leading to impurities, reductions in quality and decreased yields. The same applies to the process in U.S. Pat. No. 2,362,865, which still mentions the use of titanium, iron, zinc and tin as the metals or in the form of their soluble salts, particularly the chlorides and phenolates.
Thus it seemed sensible to use heterogeneous, non-soluble catalysts, which makes working up the reaction mixture a great deal easier. Proposals have also been put forward relating to this. Thus, the disclosure in EP-A-516 355 recommends in particular aluminium trifluoride, which is optionally applied to a support such as aluminosilicates. However, the synthesis of aluminium trifluoride is very complicated and expensive due to handling fluorine or hydrofluoric acid. Furthermore, metal salts on porous supports are described as catalysts for the reactions according to the invention in WO 91/06526. As can be seen from the test examples, fully continuous phosgenation of phenol on such catalysts was only possible in the gas phase, which is associated with relatively elevated reaction temperatures and the risk of decomposition of sensitive chloroformates. Obviously phosgenation of phenol with these catalysts cannot be performed in the liquid phase because the hot, liquid phenol washes out the active catalyst constituents. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus using elements which interact with one another, and more particularly to apparatus using lattice arrays of interactive elements where the positions of the elements within the lattice are substantially determined by the interactive forces existing between the elements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, various systems have been described using elemnts which have the capability of interacting with one another. For instance, cylindrical magnetic bubble domains have stray magnetic fields which cause interactive forces to exist between bubble domains which are sufficiently close that the stray magnetic fields of each couple to one another. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,689,902 and 3,701,125 describe magnetic bubble domain systems in which the functions of memory, storage, decoding, writing, and reading are described. These prior art systems are usually designed so that interactions between bubble domains are minimized. Since interactions can lead to adverse deflection of the bubbles, such a design has always been considered advantageous. Also, these prior systems used defined structures for determining the path of all bubble domains in the system. Generally, these prior systems are characterized by information storage in the form of the presence and absence of magnetic bubble domains.
Recently, there has been some work in magnetic bubble domain technology using information which is coded by other than the presence and absence of magnetic bubble domains. For instance, copending application Ser. No. 319,130, filed Dec. 29, 1972, describes a magnetic bubble domain apparatus in which different size magnetic bubble domains provide the various information states. In this manner, all bit positions of the system can be filled, the size of the domain at each position determining the information state of that position. In that copending application, functions such as writing, storage, and reading of the information states are described.
Another apparatus using magnetic bubble domains which have different properties is described in copending application Ser. No. 375,285, filed June 29, 1973. This copending application utilizes different vertical Bloch line configurations for domain wall magnetization in order to code magnetic bubble domains in accordance with their properties in a magnetic field tending to collapse the domains. It has been discovered that the field at which a bubble domain collapses is a function of the number of vertical Bloch lines in its domain wall; therefore, various logic states can be provided by domains which have differing numbers of vertical Bloch lines in the domain walls. Of course, this leads to levels of logic higher than merely binary levels.
Still another bubble domain apparatus using bubble domains having different properties is shown in copending application Ser. No. 375,289, filed June 29, 1973. This copending application codes the magnetic bubble domains in terms of their properties of movement in a gradient magnetic field normal to the plane of the medium in which they exist. Depending upon the angle through which these domains are deflected, various information levels can be provided.
A still further technique for coding magnetic bubble domains is described in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 13, No. 10, March 1971, at page 3021. In this publication, G. R. Henry describes coding in terms of the chirality of wall magnetization of bubble domains. A technique for reading different chiral states uses a reference domain into which an unknown domain is forced, leading to a collision which determines the chiral state of the unknown domain.
While the prior art has addressed various aspects of magnetic bubble domain technology, and information storage in general, very little emphasis has been placed on the provision of systems which would have ultimate density configurations, be very stable, and be as structureless as possible. Thus, the prior art has attempted to obtain high densities by, for instance, using smaller and smaller magnetic bubble domains, and by reducing the line width of structures used to move these domains (for instance, electron beam technology has been used to make smaller T and I permalloy overlay bars). However, the prior art has not attempted to divert from established procedures in an attempt to find new approaches which may lead to significant improvements in system performance and in packing density.
The present invention is directed to an entirely new approach for providing apparatus which has a high degree of stability, significantly increased storage densities, and a minimum of structural requirements. In the present invention, a lattice of interactive elements is utilized where the positions of the interactive elements with respect to one another are largely determined by the forces existing between the elements, rather than by the locations of structures used to move the interactive elements. This leads to extremely high density, which can be varied easily, and to structureless arrays of elements having great internal stability. The interactive elements are any elements which can have positions determined by forces existing between them, and are particularly exemplified by magnetic elements such as cylindrical bubble domains. Various means are used to manipulate the interactive elements into and out of the lattice as well as within the lattice array. If desired, information can be coded in the elements within the array, thus providing an extremely high density, structureless storage having internal stability over a wide range of operating conditions.
The existence of arrays of interactive magnetic bubble domains has been shown in the prior art. For instance, the following technical publications describe some of the physical characteristics of bubble domain lattice arrays.
1. S. H. Charap et al, "Behavior of Circular Domains in GdIG", IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. Mag-5, No. 3, September 1969, page 566. PA1 2. J. A. Cape et al, "Magnetic Bubble Domain Interactions", Solid State Communications, Vol. 8, pages 1303-1306, 1970. PA1 3. W. F. Druyvesteyn et al, "Calculations on Some Periodic Magnetic Domain Sturctures; Consequences for Bubble Devices", Philips Research Reports, Vol. 26, No. 1, pages 11-28, February 1971. PA1 4. J. W. F. Dorleijn et al, "Repulsive Interactions Between Magnetic Bubbles: Consequences for Bubble Devices", IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. Mag-7, No. 3, page 355, September 1971. PA1 5. F. A. DeJonge et al, "Bubble Lattices", American Institute of Physics Proceedings of 17th Annual Conference on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, Chicago, Illinois, 1971, Section 4, page 130.
Even though others have studied the various theories and physical properties of lattices containing magnetic bubble domains, no one has heretofore thought of utilizing such lattices in practical systems. Thus, these articles contain no suggestion or statement directed to a usable system incorporating the many features which can be present in lattice arrays of interactive elements. Despite the known existence of lattices of various elements, it remained for the present inventors to recognize that many features can be obtained by the use of lattice arrays to provice apparatus and systems having numerous advantages over those found in the prior art. Rather than utilize known directions for providing storage and memory systems, the present inventors have taken a fresh approach and have obtained systems which are significantly improved over those of the prior art.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide techniques for very high density storage of information.
It is another object of this invention to provide storage of information in accordance with natural interactive phenomenon, rather than by imposed limitations due to auxiliary structure.
It is still another object of this invention to provide information handling apparatus using arrays of elements whose positions are substantially determined by interactions existing therebetween.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which requires only a minimum of structural elements.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a system for storing magnetic bubble domains with extremely high density.
It is another object of this invention to provide systems using lattice arrays of magnetic bubble domains.
It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus utilizing arrays of interactive magnetic elements.
It is a further object of this invention to provide storage and memory with extremely high density using interaction between magnetic elements for determination of storage positions.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide techniques for storage of information at very high densities with minimum cost.
It is another object of this invention to provide techniques for high density confinement of interactive elements with high degrees of inherent stability.
It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus having high density storage where operating margins are significantly enhanced.
It is still another object of this invention to provide storage of information which achieves high density without constraints due to auxiliary structure.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide information storage using lattice arrays of coded elements whose positions are substantially determined by interactive forces existing between the elements.
It is still another object of this invention to provide techniques for utilizing arrays of interactive elements in new ways.
It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for moving a plurality of interactive elements whose positions are determined by interactions existing between the elements.
It is another object of this invention to provide techniques for accessing interactive elements within lattice arrays.
It is still another object of this invention to provide techniques for controllably moving interactive elements into and out of lattice arrays of such elements.
It is a further object of this invention to utilize multiple lattice arrays of interactive elements.
It is a further object of this invention to provide displays using lattice arrays of interactive elements.
It is another object of this invention to provide interacting elements in confined arrays which have information associated with them. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor having improved reliability, and more particularly to an axial movement restriction mechanism and a circular movement restriction mechanism of a shaft and a rotor core affixed to the shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
A motor used in a vehicle such as a passenger car, or the like, is expected to operate reliably in various environments. In particular, the motor is expected to withstand external vibrations and/or shocks applied to the motor. In order to achieve the expected durability and reliability, the motor includes multiple layers of security features. For example, a plurality of elements forming a rotor of the motor rotating centered about the central axis are configured so as not to move excessively in the axial direction and the circumferential direction.
Hereafter, a configuration of a conventional rotor of a motor will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the conventional rotor.
According to FIG. 10, a rotor 6 includes a shaft 61 arranged concentrically with a predetermined central axis J1, a rotor core 62 having an inner circumferential surface which is affixed to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft 61 by adhesive, press fitting, or the like, and a rotor magnet 63 affixed to an outer circumferential surface of the rotor core 62.
Due to such configuration in which the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 61 and the inner circumferential surface of the rotor core 62 are secured to one another via adhesive or press fitting, when an external impact is applied thereto in an axial direction, the shaft 61 and the rotor core 62 may be displaced with respect to one another. When an external diameter of the shaft 61 is small, a contact surface between the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 61 and the inner circumferential surface of the rotor core 62 is limited, and consequently, reliability of the connection between the shaft 61 and the rotor core 62 is compromised. | {
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Because audio equipment installed in vehicles are essentially expensive, light weight and small in size, audio equipment has historically been the subject of much theft. With the thriving aftermarket network, the stolen equipment may be installed in almost any other vehicle.
Automobile manufacturers have employed numerous methods to prevent the audio equipment from being stolen out of the vehicles. For ease of description, the audio equipment will be referred to as a car radio. It is, however, understood that the audio equipment would encompass any sound system installed within an automobile, including cassette tapes and compact disc ("CD") players. One such method employed by automobile manufacturers to reduce car radio theft is to use special security screws to fasten the radio to the vehicle. These screws may only be unfastened using specially adapted tools.
Another method used to prevent audio equipment theft is to equip the car radio with a security code and a flashing anti-theft LED. Such a system requires the operator to manually input a multi-digit security code to "unlock" the car radio whenever the radio has been disconnected from the vehicle battery. A variation of this anti-theft method is to allow for after-market initialization of the car radio. Here, the consumer inputs a security code into the car radio's memory during initialization. Once the car radio is disconnected from its power source, for example, the car battery, the radio locks up. The operator must then reinsert the same security code to unlock the car radio. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,700 to Seibold et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,894 to Bochmann, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,462 to Takeda et al. all disclose car radio security systems that automatically sense whenever the car radio is disconnected from its power source. Whenever the operating voltage is interrupted, the car radio shuts off until a code word, known only to the authorized user, is reentered by the authorized user. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,981 to Seibold discloses an automotive electronic communication apparatus which prevents the connection of an external battery to a car radio prior to stealing it, in order to prevent an interruption in the power supplied to the car radio. Here, the system measures the impedance of a connected accessory, for example the loudspeaker, and if the impedance of the loudspeaker does not match the impedance stored in the memory of the car radio, the radio will not operate, until the appropriate code word is reinserted.
Yet another method used to prevent car radio theft is to equip the car radio with a removable face plate. Whenever the operator leaves the vehicle, the operator removes the radio face plate, thereby rendering the car radio inoperative. Along these same lines, removable radios have also been designed. Here, the customer removes the entire radio when leaving the vehicle.
Each of these prior art methods are either cumbersome or inconvenient to the consumer. For the methods where the radio, or parts of the radio, are removed from the vehicle, the consumer is required to carry the radio around with him/her. For the methods employing a security code, the consumer is required to memorize this security code in order to "unlock" a radio which has been removed from a permanent power source. Also, the security code would have to be reentered every time the battery is changed or disconnected for ordinary maintenance of the vehicle. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to mobile phones, and in particular relates to a mobile phone having an image projection function. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to aqueous L-lysine-containing animal feed supplements, which optionally contain preferably inactivated microorganisms from the fermentation process, and a process for the production of such supplements.
2. Background Information
The essential amino acid L-lysine is widely used as an animal feed supplement.
It is known that L-lysine is produced by fermentation of strains of coryneform bacteria, in particular Corynebacterium glutamicum. Due to its great significance, efforts are constantly being made to improve the production process. Improvements to the process may relate to the intrinsic performance characteristics of the microorganisms by for example mutagenesis and selection, to measures concerning fermentation technology, for example stirring and oxygen supply, to the composition of the nutrient media, such as for example sugar concentration during fermentation, or to working up to the product presentation by, for example, ion exchange chromatography or crystallization.
According to the prior art, there are three different groups of L-lysine-containing product presentations which are produced from L-lysine-containing fermentation broths. The best known group comprises pulverulent or crystalline product presentations obtained from cleaned-up or pure L-lysine, which is typically present in the form of a salt such as, for example, L-lysine monohydrochloride. Another group of solid product presentations, such as are described in EP-B-0533039, for example, contains, in addition to L-lysine, the feedstock used during fermentative production and optionally the inactivated biomass of the microorganism used.
Pulverulent, crystalline or indeed granular product presentations exhibit clear disadvantages with regard to handling properties and application. The quality of the product may be influenced to a considerable extent by the weather, for example, high air humidity levels, since the caking which may occur as a consequence of such atmospheric influences impairs the shelf life and dispensing properties of the product when used. Processing of dry, pulverulent L-lysine-containing products may lead, in turn to undesirable dust development.
The third group of L-lysine-containing products comprises concentrated, aqueous, alkaline solutions and thereby circumvents the above-mentioned problems (EP-B-0534865). Given the various product presentations, many different processes are known for producing L-lysine-containing products from L-lysine-containing fermentation broths. There are essentially two different processes currently known for producing solid, pure L-lysine.
Lysine may be obtained as a monohydrochloride (Lys-HCl) by crystallization from the corresponding fermentation broths, after the inactivated biomass has been separated off by suitable methods. Cleaning-up of the filtrate prior to further concentration is performed in general by ion exchange chromatography over several stages. First of all, the fermentation broth separated from the biomass is acidified, preferably by the addition of hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4), to ease adsorption of the lysine on the ion-exchange resins. In addition to the L-lysine produced by fermentation, various other cations which are present in the fermentation broth are also bound. In general, various ion-exchange columns connected in sequence are necessary for obtaining a pure product. The adsorbed lysine is then preferably eluted by an ammoniacal solution and the ion-exchange column is regenerated. The lysine solution obtained in this way is then concentrated and lysine-HCl is obtained in crystalline form after neutralization with hydrochloric acid.
Another method enables lysine to be obtained in the form of a crystalline salt after purifying with activated carbon (SU-183581). The lysine-containing fermentation broth is inactivated by standard processes using moist heat and separated off from the biomass by filtration. After acidification of the filtrate to pH 5, 4-5% activated carbon is added with constant stirring at 50-55xc2x0 C., in order to separate off undesirable impurities from the filtrate and to prevent discoloration of the crystallizate. In a further filtration stage thereafter, the activated carbon is separated off and the dissolved sulfate is then precipitated as calcium sulfate by the addition of calcium hydroxide. This is filtered off, the ammonia content being removed in a rotary evaporator under vacuum and the solution being concentrated until crystallization occurs on cooling.
The disadvantage of these two preparation methods lies in the numerous individual stages and the complex cleaning processes using ion-exchange chromatography. The elimination of troublesome salts or the use of different elution media creates additional waste streams, which have either to be cleaned by complex methods or expensively disposed of.
EP-B-0533039 counters these disadvantages in that all the fermentation feedstock, optionally including the biomass, is concentrated and spray-dried at elevated temperature. U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,350 describes a process for producing biomass-free L-lysine-containing granules. In this process, the biomass is first isolated from the fermentation broth by ultrafiltration and discarded. The filtrate recovered in this way is then concentrated by extensive evaporation of the water content. The concentrate obtained in this way is finally dried and worked up in a complex manner by fluidised bed spray granulation to produce granules. A process is known from EP-B-0534865 for producing aqueous, basic, L-lysine-containing solutions from fermentation broths. In the process described therein, the biomass is separated from the fermentation broth and discarded. A pH value of between 9 and 11 is established using a base such as sodium, potassium or ammonium hydroxide, for example. The mineral constituents (inorganic salts) are separated from the broth by crystallization after concentration and cooling and either used as fertiliser or discarded (land-filled).
The object of the invention consists in providing novel, aqueous preparations of L-lysine and its salts suitable as a feed supplement. In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a production process that is more economical and efficient than processes currently known.
The essential amino acid lysine is widely used as an animal feed supplement.
Microorganisms of the genus Corynebacterium are distinguished by the capacity to secrete high concentrations of L-lysine into the corresponding fermentation medium over a relatively short period. The production processes are generally performed as fed batch processes. L-lysine produced by fermentation is currently predominantly worked up to produce a crystalline product, powder or granules.
The present invention provides a fermentation broth-based animal feed supplement, characterized in that it contains
a) L-lysine and/or salts thereof,
b) the biomass formed during fermentation in an amount of from 0 to 100%, preferably from 50 to 100% and very particularly from 90 to 100%,
c) at least the majority of the other dissolved and suspended constituents of the fermentation broth are present in liquid form, optionally as a suspension and
e) has a pH of less than 7.
The animal feed supplement has a lysine content (as lysine base) of 10 wt. % to 35 wt. %, preferably 15 wt. % to 35 wt. %, particularly preferably 18 wt. % to 35 wt. % and very particularly preferably 21 wt. % to 34 wt. %, relative to the total amount of supplement. The pH is less than 7, preferably 2 to 6.5, particularly preferably 2.5 to 6 and very particularly preferably 2.5 to 5.
The total solids content of the supplement amounts to from 10 wt. % to 55 wt. %, preferably 20 wt. % to 55 wt. %, particularly preferably 35 wt. % to 55 wt. % and very particularly preferably 45 wt. % to 54 wt. %. The solids content contains, in addition to lysine
preferably the biomass of the producing microorganism,
the inorganic and other organic constituents of the fermentation broth and
the by-products produced during fermentation,
insofar as they have not been separated off by suitable processes such as, for example, separation or filtration. If the biomass is left completely or partially in the supplement, the latter contains the microorganism protein in a concentration of up to a maximum of 4 wt. %. The supplement contains as inorganic constituents inter alia calcium, magnesium, phosphorus in the form of phosphate and sulfur in the form of sulfate and as organic constituents inter alia vitamins, such as biotin and thiamin, for example, or sugar, such as isomaltose, for example.
The organic by-products formed in small amounts during fermentation include L-amino acids selected from the group comprising L-alanine, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, L-methionine, L-threonine and L-valine. They additionally include organic acids which carry one to three carboxyl groups, such as for example lactic acid, acetic acid and malic acid. Finally, they also include sugars, such as trehalose, for example. These compounds may be desirable if they improve the valency of the supplement.
The invention further provides a process for producing aqueous solutions/suspensions containing lysine and/or the salts thereof, which process is characterized in that
a) an L-lysine-containing broth is produced by fermentation,
b) the desired lysine concentration is optionally established by the addition of an L-lysine-containing substance,
c) the pH value of the solution/suspension is adjusted to less than 7, and
d) the broth obtained in this way is optionally concentrated under vacuum,
wherein the order of the steps b), c) and d) may vary.
Finally, the invention further provides a process for producing aqueous solutions/suspensions containing lysine and/or salts thereof, which process is characterized in that
a) an L-lysine-containing broth is produced by fermentation,
b) the pH value of the broth obtained in this way is adjusted to less than 7,
c) the biomass is optionally separated off completely or partially from the solution/suspension,
d) the desired lysine concentration is optionally established by the addition of an L-lysine-containing substance,
e) and the broth obtained in this way is optionally concentrated under vacuum,
wherein the order of the steps b), c), d) and e) may vary.
Mutant coryneform bacteria producing L-lysine are described in detail in the prior art, such as for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,860.
For the purpose of L-lysine production, these strains may be cultured continuously or discontinuously using the batch process or the fed batch process or the repeated fed batch process. A summary of known culture methods is given in the textbook by Chmiel (Dioprozesstechnik 1. Einfxc3xchrung in die Bioverfahrenstechnik (Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1991)) or in the textbook by Storhas (Bioreaktoren und periphere Einrichtungen (Vieweg Verlag, Braunschweig/Wiesbaden, 1994)).
The culture medium to be used must adequately satisfy the requirements of the particular strains. Carbon sources which may be used are sugars and carbohydrates, such as glucose, sucrose, lactose, fructose, maltose, molasses, starch and cellulose for example, oils and fats, such as soya oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil and coconut oil for example, fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid for example, alcohols, such as glycerol and ethanol for example, and organic acids, such as acetic acid for example. These substances may be used individually or as a mixture. Nitrogen sources which may be used are organic, nitrogen-containing compounds such as peptones, yeast extract, meat extract, malt extract, corn steep liquor, soya flour and urea or inorganic compounds such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate, ammonium carbonate and ammonium nitrate. The nitrogen sources may be used individually or as a mixture. Phosphorus sources which may be used are potassium dihydrogen phosphate or dipotassium hydrogen phosphate or the corresponding sodium-containing salts. The culture medium has additionally to contain salts of metals, such as magnesium sulfate or iron sulfate for example, which are necessary for growth. Finally, essential growth-promoting substances, such as amino acids and vitamins, may be used in addition to the above-mentioned substances. Suitable precursors may furthermore be added to the culture medium. The stated feedstock substances may be added to the culture as a single batch or be fed appropriately during cultivation.
Basic compounds, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonia, or acidic compounds, such as phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid, are used appropriately to control the pH of the culture. Foaming may be controlled by using antifoaming agents such as fatty acid polyglycol esters for example. Plasmid stability may be maintained by the addition to the medium of suitable selectively acting substances, for example antibiotics. The introduction of oxygen or oxygen-containing gas mixtures such as air into the culture and thorough mixing using suitable stirring systems or the gas stream may be used to maintain aerobic conditions. The temperature of the culture is typically 25xc2x0 C. to 37xc2x0 C. The culture is continued until the maximum quantity of L-lysine has formed. This aim is normally achieved within 10 to 160 hours.
Examples of suitable fermentation media may be found, for example, in patent specifications EP-B-0 532 867, U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,551 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,350.
Analysis of L-lysine may be performed by anion exchange chromatography with subsequent ninhydrin derivatisation, as described in Spackman et al. (Analytical Chemistry, 30, (1958), 1190) or it may be performed by reversed phase HPLC, as described in Lindroth et al. (Analytical Chemistry (1979) 51: 1167-1174).
The fermentation broths used for the process according to the invention preferably have an L-lysine content greater than 60 g/L (as lysine base) for a content of non-metabolised sugar of less than 5.0 g/L. Out of a total solids content of greater than 10 wt. %, the biomass preferably accounts for 1 to 4 wt. %. The content of by-products and vitamins from fermentation (amino acids, organic acids) is preferably less than 2 wt. %.
In the process according to the invention, the biomass present in the fermentation broth is generally inactivated or destroyed at the start, for example by heat treatment. Inactivation may optionally be dispensed with, however. A pH value of less than 7, preferably 2 to 6.5, particularly preferably 2.5 to 6 and very particularly preferably 2.5 to 5 is then established in the fermentation broth by means of an inorganic acid, such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid for example, or an organic acid, such as citric acid, acetic acid or formic acid for example, or a mixture of different acids. The biomass is optionally separated off completely or partially by generally known separation or filtration methods before or after acidification. It is not generally necessary to separate off the mineral constituents. The acidic L-lysine-containing solution or suspension is then concentrated using known methods (such as for example a rotary evaporator, film evaporator or falling-film evaporator), preferably under vacuum, until a liquid product is obtained with a lysine content (as lysine base) of 10 wt. % to 35 wt. %, preferably 15 wt. to 35 wt. %, particularly preferably 20 wt. % to 35 wt. % and very particularly preferably 21 wt. % to 34 wt. %, for a total solids content of 10 wt. % to 55 wt. %, preferably 20 wt. % to 55 wt. %, particularly preferably 35 wt. % to 55 wt. % and very particularly preferably 45 wt. % to 54 wt. %. It is generally the case that the broth is so concentrated that preferably no mineral constituents (inorganic salts) precipitate out of the fermentation broth and the lysine is present in solution. A desired concentration of L-lysine may optionally be established in the product by the addition of an L-lysine-containing substance at any process stage. The solution/suspension obtained in this way has an acid pH value, is easy to transport, may be readily dispensed, is microbially stable and has a longer shelf life than an alkaline solution.
Acidification may also be performed after or during concentration. The anions acting as sulfate, chloride, phosphate, citrate etc. may be added to the medium in the form of commercially available salts even prior to fermentation.
The term xe2x80x9csuspensionxe2x80x9d is used to indicate that the preferably inactivated microorganisms are present in the product according to the invention in undissolved form. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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