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TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to compounds having pharmacological activity, to compositions containing these compounds, and to a method of treatment employing the compounds and compositions. More particularly, this invention concerns certain non-imidazole tertiary amine derivatives and their salts and solvates. These compounds alter H 3 histamine receptor activity. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and to a method of treating disorders in which histamine H 3 receptor blockade is beneficial.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Histamine is a chemical messenger involved in various complex biological actions. When released, histamine interacts with specific macromolecular receptors on the cell surface or within a target cell to elicit changes in many different bodily functions. Various cell types including smooth muscle, blood cells, cells of the immune system, endocrine and exocrine cells as well as neurons respond to histamine by modulating the formation of intracellular signals, including of phosphatidylinositol, or adenylate cyclase. Evidence that histamine plays a role as a neurotransmitter was established by the mid-to-late 1970's (Schwartz, 1975) Life Sci. 17:503-518. Immunohistochemical studies identified histaminergic cell bodies in the tuberomammillary nucleus of the posterior hypothalamus with widespread projections in the dicencephalon and telencephalon (Inagaki et al., 1998) J. Comp. Neurol. 273:283-300.
[0003] Two histamine receptors (H 1 and H 2 ) were reported to mediate the biochemical actions of histamine on neurons. More recently, studies have demonstrated the existence of a third subtype of histamine receptor, the histamine H 3 receptor (Schwartz et al., 1986) TIPS 8: 24-28. Various studies have now demonstrated that histamine H 3 receptors are found on the histaminergic nerve terminals in the brains of several species, including man (Arrang et al., 1983) Nature 302: 832-837. The H 3 receptor found on the histaminergic nerve terminal was defined as an autoreceptor and could intimately control the amount of histamine released from the neurons. Histamine, the natural compound, was capable of stimulating this autoreceptor but testing of known H 1 and H 2 receptor agonists and antagonists suggested that the H 3 receptor has a distinct pharmacological profile. Further, H 3 receptors have been identified on cholinergic, serotoninergic and monoamine nerve terminals in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system including the cerebral cortex and cerebral vessels. These observations suggest that H 3 receptors are uniquely located to modulate histamine as well as other neurotransmitter release, and compounds that bind H 3 receptors could be important mediators of neuronal activity.
[0004] As stated, CNS histaminergic cell bodies are found in the magnocellular nuclei of the hypothalamic mammillary region and these neurons project diffusely to large areas of the forebrain. The presence of histaminergic cell bodies in the tuberomammillary nucleus of the posterior hypothalamus, a brain area involved in the maintenance of wakefulness, and their projections to the cerebral cortex suggest a role in modulating the arousal state or sleep-wake cycle. The histaminergic projection to many limbic structures such as the hippocampal formation and the amygdaloid complex suggest roles in functions such as autonomic regulation, control of emotions and motivated behaviors, and memory processes.
[0005] The concept that histamine is important for the state of arousal, as suggested by the location of histaminergic pathways, is supported by other types of evidence. Lesions of the posterior hypothalamus are well known to produce sleep. Neurochemical and electrophysiological studies have also indicated that the activity of histaminergic neurons is maximal during periods of wakefulness and is suppressed by barbiturates and other hypnotics. Intraventricular histamine induces the appearances of an arousal EEG pattern in rabbits and increased spontaneous locomotor activity, grooming and exploratory behavior in both saline and pentobarbital-treated rats.
[0006] In contrast, a highly selective inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, the sole enzyme responsible for histamine synthesis, has been shown to impair waking in rats. These data support the hypothesis that histamine may function in modulating behavioral arousal. The role of the H 3 receptor in sleep-waking parameters has been demonstrated (Lin et al., 1990) Brain Res. 592: 325-330. Oral administration of RAMHA, a H 3 agonist, caused a significant increase in deep slow wave sleep in the cat. Conversely, thioperamide, a H 3 antagonist/inverse agonist, enhanced wakefulness in a dose-dependent fashion. Thioperamide has also been shown to increase wakefulness and decrease slow-wave and REM sleep in rats. These findings are consistent with in vivo studies demonstrating that thioperamide caused an increase in synthesis and release of histamine. Together, these data demonstrate that selective H 3 antagonists or inverse agonists may be useful in the treatment of arousal states and sleep disorders.
[0007] Serotonin, histamine, glutamate and acetylcholine have all been demonstrated to be diminished in the Alzheimer's (AD) brain. The histamine H 3 receptor has been demonstrated to regulate the release of each of these neurotransmitters. An H 3 receptor antagonist or inverse agonist would therefore be expected to increase the release of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Since histamine has been demonstrated to be important in arousal and vigilance, H 3 receptor antagonists or inverse agonists might enhance arousal and vigilance via increasing levels of neurotransmitter release and thereby improve cognition. Thus, the use of compounds that bind the use of H 3 receptor in AD, attention deficit disorders (ADD), age-related memory dysfunction, schizophrenia and other cognitive disorders would be supported.
[0008] H 3 receptor antagonists or inverse agonists may be useful in treating several other CNS disorders. It has been suggested that histamine may be involved in cerebral circulation, energy metabolism, and hypothalmic hormone secretion. For example, H 3 receptor antagonists or inverse agonists have been demonstrated to affect food intake and body weight gain in rodents. Recent evidence has indicated the possible use of H 3 antagonists or inverse agonists in the treatment of epilepsy. Work has demonstrated an inverse correlation between the duration of clonic convulsions and brain histamine levels. Thioperamide was also shown to significantly and dose-dependently decrease the durations of every convulsive phase after electrically-induced convulsions and increase the electroconvulsive threshold.
[0009] In spite of their low density, H 3 receptor binding sites can be detected outside the brain. Several studies have revealed the presence of H 3 heteroreceptors in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as upon neurons of the respitory tract. Accordingly, an H 3 receptor binding compound may be useful in the treatment of diseases and conditions such as asthma, rhinitis, airway congestion, inflammation, hyper and hypo motility and acid secretion of the gastrointestinal tract. Peripheral or central blockage of H 3 receptors may also contribute to changes in blood pressure, heart rate and cardiovascular output and could be used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and in the treatment of diseases or conditions such as obesity, migraine, inflammation, motion sickness, pain, ADHD, dementia, depression, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, narcolepsy, acute myocardial infarction and asthma.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides, in its principal aspect, compounds of the general formula:
where X is O, S or CH 2 ;
Y is N or CH; Z is N or C; R and R 1 are independently:
(C1-C8) straight or branched alkyl optionally substituted with halogens or heteroatom groups, or (C3-C8) cyloalkyl substituted with halogens or heteroatom groups; or
R and R 1 taken together form a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group optionally substituted with:
(C1-C8) straight or branched alkyl; (C3-C8) cycloalkyl; halogens; or heteroatom groups; where one or more of the methylene groups may be replaced by —O, N or S;
R 3 and R 4 taken together form:
R 5 and R 6 taken together form —(CH 2 ) 3-5 — where of one or more of the methylenes is replaced by O, N or S; and R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, alkyl, aryl, O-alkyl, S-alkyl, NH-alkyl, N(alkyl) 2 , acyl and N-acyl.
[0024] The pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and individual stereoisomers of compounds of structural formulae (I) and (II) above, as well as mixtures thereof, are also contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention.
[0025] This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in combination with an effective amount of at least one compound of formulae (I) and (II).
[0026] The present invention also provides a method of treating conditions in which modulation of histamine H 3 receptors may be of therapeutic importance such as inflammation, migraine, motion sickness, pain, Parkinson's Disease, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease (i.e. hyper or hypotension, acute myocardial infarction), gastrointestinal disorders (acid secretion, motility) and CNS disorders involving attention or cognitive disorders (i.e., Alzheimer's, Attention Deficit Disorder, age-related memory dysfunction, stroke, etc.), psychiatric disorders (i.e., depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorders, etc.); sleep disorders (i.e. narcolepsy, sleep apnea, insomnia, disturbed biological and circadian rhythms, hyper and hypsomnolence), and disorders such as obesity, anorexia/bulimia, thermoregulation, hormone release) comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formulae (I) or (II) to a patient in need of such treatment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Preferably for compounds of formulae (I) or (II), X is O, Y is N, Z is N or C, R and R 1 are —(CH 2 ) 3 —, —CH 2 —CH 2 CH(CH 3 )— or —CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 —, R 3 and R 4 are
and R 5 and R 6 are —(CH 2 ) 3-5 —, —CH 2 OCH 2 or —CH 2 CH 2 CH(CH 3 )—.
[0028] Presently preferred compounds include:
10-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; 10-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; Furan-2-ylmethyl-methyl-{3-[4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-amine; Diethyl-{3-[4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-amine; (2-Methoxy-ethyl)-{3-[4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-amine; 10-[3-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; (2-Methoxy-ethyl)-{3-[3-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-amine; Furan-2-ylmethyl-{3-[3-(6,7,8,9,9a,10-hexahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-methyl-amine; Diethyl-{3-[3-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-amine; 10-[3-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; 10-{3-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; 9-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 9-[4-(3-Morpholin-4-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; Dimethyl-{3-[4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-amine; 9-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 9-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 10-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; 8-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-[4-(3-Morpholin-4-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; {3-[4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-dimethyl-am ine; 8-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrol idin-1-yl)-propoxyl]-phenyl}-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 10-{4-[3-(2,5-Dimethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; 9-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 11-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-cyclohepta[b]quinoline; 9-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridine; 9-{2-[2-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 8-[2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl)-benzofuran-5-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-[2-(2-Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-benzofuran-5-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-[2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl-ethyl)-benzofuran-5-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-{2-[2-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 9-[2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl-ethyl)-benzofuran-5-yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 9-[2-(2-Morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-benzofuran-5-yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; and 9-{2-[2-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline.
[0064] Particularly preferred compounds include:
9-[4-(3-Morpholin-4-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 10-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene; 8-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 8-{4-[3-(2-(R)-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; 9-{4-[3-(2-(R)-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 9-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline; 8-{4-[3-(2-(R)-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene; and 8-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrol idin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene.
[0074] Certain compounds of the invention may exist in different isomeric (e.g. enantiomers and distereoisomers) forms. The invention contemplates all such isomers both in pure form and in a mixture, including racemic mixtures. Enol and tautomeric forms are also included.
[0075] The compounds of the invention can exist in unsolvated as well as solvated forms, including hydrated forms, e.g., hemi-hydrate. In general, the solvated forms, with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water, ethanol, and the like are equivalent to the unsolvated forms for the purposes of the invention.
[0076] Certain compounds of the invention also form pharmaceutically acceptable salts, e.g., acid addition salts. For example, the nitrogen atoms may form salts with acids. Examples of suitable acids for salt formation are hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric, acetic, citric, oxalic, malonic, salicylic, malic, fumaric, succinic, ascorbic, maleic, methanesulfonic and other mineral carboxylic acids well known to those in the art. The salts are prepared by contacting the free base form with a sufficient amount of the desired acid to produce a salt in the conventional manner. The free base forms may be regenerated by treating the salt with a suitable dilute aqueous base solution such as dilute aqueous hydroxide, potassium carbonate, ammonia, and sodium bicarbonate. The free base forms differ from their respective salt forms somewhat in certain physical properties, such as solubility in polar solvents, but the acid salts are equivalent to their respective free base forms for purposes of the invention. (See, for example S. M. Berge, et al., “Pharmaceutical Salts,” J. Pharm. Sci., 66: 1-19 (1977) which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0077] As throughout this specification and appended claims, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them:
[0078] The term “alkyl” as used herein refers to straight or branched chain radicals derived from saturated hydrocarbons by the removal of one hydrogen atom. Representative examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, and the like.
[0079] The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein refers to an aliphatic ring system having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 rings, including, but not limited to cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl, and adamantly among others. Cycloalkyl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted with one, two or three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, hydroxyl, halo, mercapto, nitro, carboxaldehyde, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl and carboximide.
[0080] “Cycloalkyl” includes cis or trans forms. Furthermore, the substituents may either be in endo or exo positions in the bridged bicyclic systems.
[0081] The term “halo” or “halogen” as used herein refers to I, Br, Cl or F.
[0082] The term “heteroatom” as used herein refers to at least one N, O or S atom.
[0083] The term “heterocyclyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to a non-aromatic 3- to 10-membered ring containing at least one endocyclic N, O, or S atom. The heterocycle may be optionally aryl-fused. The heterocycle may also optionally be substituted with at least one substituent which is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, nitro, triflouromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, alkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, carboxy, carboalkoxy, carboxyalkyl, oxo, arylsulfonyl and aralkylaminocarbonyl among others.
[0084] As used herein, the term “composition” is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from a combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts.
[0085] The compounds of the present invention can be used in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts derived from inorganic or organic acids. The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” means those salts which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well-known in the art. For example, S. M. Berge et al. describe pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1977, 66: 1 et seq. The salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention or separately by reacting a free base function with a suitable organic acid. Representative acid addition salts include, but are not limited to acetate, adipate, alginate, citrate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, digluconate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, fumarate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethansulfonate (isothionate), lactate, maleate, methanesulfonate, nicotinate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, oxalate, palmitoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, succinate, tartrate, thiocyanate, phosphate, glutamate, bicarbonate, p-toluenesulfonate and undecanoate. Also, the basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quaternized with such agents as lower alkyl halides such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates like dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates; long chain halides such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; arylalkyl halides like benzyl and phenethyl bromides and others. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products are thereby obtained. Examples of acids which can be employed to form pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts include such inorganic acids as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid and such organic acids as oxalic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid and citric acid.
[0086] Basic addition salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of compounds of this invention by reacting a carboxylic acid-containing moiety with a suitable base such as the hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate of a pharmaceutically acceptable metal cation or with ammonia or an organic primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, cations based on alkali metals or alkaline earth metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and aluminum salts and the like and nontoxic quaternary ammonia and amine cations including ammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, methylammonium, dimethylammonium, trimethylammonium, triethylammonium, diethylammonium, and ethylammonium among others. Other representative organic amines useful for the formation of base addition salts include ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, piperidine, piperazine and the like.
[0087] Dosage forms for topical administration of a compound of this invention include powders, sprays, ointments and inhalants. The active compound is mixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any needed preservatives, buffers or propellants which can be required. Opthalmic formulations, eye ointments, powders and solutions are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention.
[0088] Actual dosage levels of active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active compound(s) which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, compositions and mode of administration. The selected dosage level will depend upon the activity of the particular compound, the route of administration, the severity of the condition being treated and the condition and prior medical history of the patient being treated. However, it is within the skill of the art to start doses of the compound at levels lower than required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and to gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved.
[0089] When used in the above or other treatments, a therapeutically effective amount of one of the compounds of the present invention can be employed in pure form or, where such forms exist, in pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug form. Alternatively, the compound can be administered as a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound of interest in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The phrase “therapeutically effective amount” of the compound of the invention means a sufficient amount of the compound to treat disorders, at a reasonable benefit/risk ratio applicable to any medical treatment. It will be understood, however, that the total daily usage of the compounds and compositions of the present invention will be decided by the attending physician within the scope of sound medical judgment. The specific therapeutically effective dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the disorder being treated and the severity of the disorder; activity of the specific compound employed; the specific composition employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the specific compound employed; the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination or coincidental with the specific compound employed; and like factors well known in the medical arts. For example, it is well within the skill of the art to start doses of the compound at levels lower than required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and to gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved.
[0090] The total daily dose of the compounds of this invention administered to a human or lower animal may range from about 0.0001 to about 1000 mg/kg/day. For purposes of oral administration, more preferable doses can be in the range of from about 0.001 to about 5 mg/kg/day. If desired, the effective daily dose can be divided into multiple doses for purposes of administration; consequently, single dose compositions may contain such amounts or submultiples thereof to make up the daily dose.
[0091] The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions that comprise compounds of the present invention formulated together with one or more non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. The pharmaceutical compositions can be specially formulated for oral administration in solid or liquid form, for parenteral injection or for rectal administration.
[0092] The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be administered to humans and other mammals orally, rectally, parenterally, intracisternally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments or drops), bucally or as an oral or nasal spray. The term “parenterally,” as used herein, refers to modes of administration which include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrastemal, subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion.
[0093] In another aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a component of the present invention and a physiologically tolerable diluent. The present invention includes one or more compounds as described above formulated into compositions together with one or more non-toxic physiologically tolerable or acceptable diluents, carriers, adjuvants or vehicles that are collectively referred to herein as diluents, for parenteral injection, for intranasal delivery, for oral administration in solid or liquid form, for rectal or topical administration, among others.
[0094] The compositions can also be delivered through a catheter for local delivery at a target site, via an intracoronary stent (a tubular device composed of a fine wire mesh), or via a biodegradable polymer. The compounds may also be complexed to ligands, such as antibodies, for targeted delivery.
[0095] Compositions suitable for parenteral injection may comprise physiologically acceptable, sterile aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions and sterile powders for reconstitution into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers, diluents, solvents or vehicles include water, ethanol, polyols (propyleneglycol, polyethyleneglycol, glycerol, and the like), vegetable oils (such as olive oil), injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate, and suitable mixtures thereof.
[0096] These compositions can also contain adjuvants such as preserving, wetting, emulsifying, and dispensing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be ensured by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents, for example sugars, sodium chloride and the like. Prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form can be brought about by the use of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.
[0097] Suspensions, in addition to the active compounds, may contain suspending agents, as for example, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminum metahydroxide, bentonite, agar-agar and tragacanth, or mixtures of these substances, and the like.
[0098] In some cases, in order to prolong the effect of the drug, it is desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This can be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle.
[0099] Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissues.
[0100] The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable medium just prior to use.
[0101] Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound may be mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier, such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol and silicic acid; b) binders such as carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sucrose and acacia; c) humectants such as glycerol; d) disintegrating agents such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates and sodium carbonate; e) solution retarding agents such as paraffin; (f) absorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds; g) wetting agents such as cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate; h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite clay and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage form may also comprise buffering agents.
[0102] Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.
[0103] The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings and other coatings well-known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and may also be of a composition such that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substances and waxes.
[0104] The active compounds can also be in micro-encapsulated form, if appropriate, with one or more of the above-mentioned excipients.
[0105] Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethyl formamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan and mixtures thereof.
[0106] Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions may also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents.
[0107] Compositions for rectal or vaginal administration are preferably suppositories which can be prepared by mixing the compounds of this invention with suitable non-irritating excipients or carriers such as cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol or a suppository wax which are solid at room temperature but liquid at body temperature and therefore melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.
[0108] Compounds of the present invention can also be administered in the form of liposomes. As is known in the art, liposomes are generally derived from phospholipids or other lipid substances. Liposomes are formed by mono- or multi-lamellar hydrated liquid crystals which are dispersed in an aqueous medium. Any non-toxic, physiologically acceptable and metabolizable lipid capable of forming liposomes can be used. The present compositions in liposome form can contain, in addition to a compound of the present invention, stabilizers, preservatives, excipients and the like. The preferred lipids are natural and synthetic phospholipids and phosphatidyl cholines (lecithins) used separately or together.
[0109] Methods to form liposomes are known in the art. See, for example, Prescott, Ed., Methods in Cell Biology , Volume XIV, Academic Press, New York, N.Y. (1976), p. 33 et seq.
[0110] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs” as used herein represents those prodrugs of the compounds of the present invention which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, and the like, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio, and effective for their intended use, as well as the zwitterionic forms, where possible, of the compounds of the invention. Prodrugs of the present invention may be rapidly transformed in vivo to the parent compound of the above formula, for example, by hydrolysis in blood. A thorough discussion is provided in T. Higuchi and V. Stella, Pro - drugs as Novel Delivery Systems , V. 14 of the A.C.S. Symposium Series, and in Edward B. Roche, ed., Bioreversible Carriers in Drug Design , American Pharmaceutical Association and Pergamon Press (1987), hereby incorporated by reference.
[0111] Compounds of the present invention that are formed by in vivo conversion of a different compound that was administered to a mammal are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
[0112] Compounds of the present invention may exist as stereoisomers wherein asymmetric or chiral centers are present. These stereoisomers are “R” or “S” depending on the configuration of substituents around the chiral carbon atom. The present invention contemplates various stereoisomers and mixtures thereof. Stereoisomers include enantiomers and diastereomers, and mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers. Individual stereoisomers of compounds of the present invention may be prepared synthetically from commercially available starting materials which contain asymmetric or chiral centers or by preparation of racemic mixtures followed by resolution well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These methods of resolution are exemplified by (1) attachment of a mixture of enantiomers to a chiral auxiliary, separation of the resulting mixture of diastereomers by recrystallization or chromatography and liberation of the optically pure product from the auxiliary or (2) direct separation of the mixture of optical enantiomers on chiral chromatographic columns.
[0113] The compounds of the invention can exist in unsolvated as well as solvated forms, including hydrated forms, such as hemi-hydrates. In general, the solvated forms, with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water and ethanol among others are equivalent to the unsolvated forms for the purposes of the invention.
[0114] The invention may be illustrated by the following representative schemes and examples.
EXAMPLE 1
[0115] 2-Cyclohexylideneamino-benzoic acid: Anthranilic acid (10 g, 73 mmol) and cyclohexanone (9.8 mL, 95 mmol) were dissolved in xylenes (110 mL) in a flask equipped with a Dean-Stark apparatus and heated to reflux over 18 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and the resulting precipitate collected by filtration. The filter cake was washed with hexanes and dried in vacuo to give the desired imine (11 g, 69% yield) as a beige solid.
[0116] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 13 H 16 NO 2 , 218; found, 218.
[0117] 9-Chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridine: 2-Cyclohexylideneamino-benzoic acid (1.5 g, 6.9 mmol) was added to phosphorus oxychloride (4 mL) at 0° C. and stirred for 5 minutes followed by heating to 100° C. for 45 minutes. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and slowly poured onto ice (−100 g) and stirred for 30 minutes. CH 2 Cl 2 (100 mL) was added and the mixture stirred for 5 minutes and the organic layer separated. The aq. layer was extracted with CH 2 Cl 2 (50 mL). The combined CH 2 Cl 2 layers were washed with sat. aq. NaHCO 3 (2×50 mL), sat. aq. NaCl (50 mL), dried over Na 2 SO 4 , decanted and concentrated to give 9-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridine, which, was used without further purification.
[0118] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 13 H 13 ClN, 218; found, 218.
[0119] 9-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridine: A mixture of 9-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridine (282 mg, 1.30 mmol), 4-Benzyloxyphenyl boronic acid (443 mg, 1.94 mmol), tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium (15 mg, 0.01 mmol), and 2 M aq Na 2 CO 3 (0.97 mL, 1.94 mmol) was heated to 80° C. in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (2 mL) with vigorous stirring overnight in a sealed vial. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and partitioned between EtOAc (50 mL) and H 2 O (10 mL). The aq. layer was extracted with EtOAc (25 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with sat. aq. NaCl (25 mL), dried over Na 2 SO 4 , filtered, and concentrated. The residue was triturated with hexanes (50 mL) and to give a mixture of the desired product and starting chloride, which was used without further purification.
[0120] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 26 H 24 NO, 366; found, 366.
[0121] 4-(1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-acridin-9-yl)-phenol: BBr 3 (3.2 mL, 1 M solution in CH 2 Cl 2 , 3.2 mmol) was added dropwise to a stirred solution of 9-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridine (0.23 g 0.64 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2 (3 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was warmed to room temperature over a period of 3 hours followed by dilution with CH 2 Cl 2 (50 mL). The solution was washed with sat. aq. NaHCO 3 until aq. washings were basic (pH ˜9). The CH 2 Cl 2 layer was dried over Na 2 SO 4 , decanted and concentrated. The residue was washed with hexanes (2×10 mL) and decanted to remove benzyl bromide. The resulting product was used without further purification.
[0122] LC-Mass (ES): [M−1] − calc'd for C 19 H 16 NO, 274; found, 274.
[0123] 9-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridine: The product from the previous step, 4-(1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-acridin-9-yl)-phenol (22 mg, 0.08 mmol), 1-(3-Chloropropyl)-pyrrolidine (18 mg, 0.12 mmol), and K 2 CO 3 (17 mg, 0.12 mmol) were mixed in NMP (267 uL) and stirred rapidly at 80° C. for 90 minutes in a sealed vial. The reaction mixture was cooled, partitioned between Et 2 O (50 mL) and H 2 O (10 mL). The organic layer was washed with H 2 O (3×10 mL), sat. aq. NaCl (10 mL), dried over Na 2 SO 4 , decanted and concentrated. The residue was purified using preparative LCMS to give product the desired product.
[0124] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 26 H 31 N 2 O, 387; found, 387.
[0125] 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 , 300 MHz): δ 8.00 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.54-7.63 (m, 1H), 7.28-7.40 (m, 2H), 7.14 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 4.12 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 3.19 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 2.70-2.80 (m, 2H), 2.51-2.70 (m, 4H), 1.67-2.03 (m, 12H)
EXAMPLE 2
[0126] 6,7,8,9-Tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-ol: A solution of 2-oxo-cycloheptanecarboxylic acid methyl ester (5 g, 29.4 mmol) and 2H-pyrazol-3-ylamine (2.44 g, 29.4 mmol) in acetic acid (5 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 1 hour and resulted in the formation of a colorless precipitate. The solid was collected via filtration and washed with ethanol and ethyl ether to give 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-ol (5 g, 85% yield). The product was used without further purification.
[0127] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 11 H 14 N 3 O, 204; found, 204.
[0128] 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ 7.81 (d, J=0.8, 1H), 6.05 (d, J=0.8, 1H), 2.77-2.69 (m, 4H), 1.79-1.75 (m, 2H), 1.67-1.63 (m, 2H), 1.50-1.47 (m, 2H).
[0129] 10-Chloro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene: To a suspension of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-ol (5 g, 29.4 mmol) in toluene (20 mL) was added phosphorus oxychloride (37 g, 246 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (3.1 g, 24.6 mmol). The mixture was heated to reflux for 40 min then cooled to room temperature. The product crystallized from the reaction mixture on standing over a two-day period at room temperature. The solid was collected and washed with ether to give 10-chloro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene (2.3 g, 42.5% yield). The product was used without further purification.
[0130] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 11 H 13 ClN 3 , 222; found, 222.
[0131] 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ 8.21 (d, J=0.7, 1H), 6.70 (d, J=0.7, 1H), 3.07-2.99 (m, 4H), 1.82-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.70-1.69 (m, 4H).
[0132] 10-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene: To a solution of 10-chloro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene (221 mg, 11.0 mmol) in toluene (4 mL) was added 4-benzyloxyphenyl boronic acid (100 mg, 2.0 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium (5.7 mg, 0.0047 mmol), and 2M aq Na 2 CO 3 (11.0 mL, 2.0 mmol). The reaction was flushed with argon and stirred at 80° C. overnight. The solution was cooled, followed by dilution with EtOAc (3 mL). The organic layer was washed with H 2 O, brine, dried over MgSO 4 , and concentrated. The residue was purified via flash chromatography (5-30% EtOAc/Hexane) to provide 10-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene (200 mg, 54% yield).
[0133] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 24 H 24 N 3 O, 370; found: 370.
[0134] 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 , 300 MHz): δ 7.96 (m, 1H), 7.48-7.36 (m, 7H), 7.20 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 6.55-6.59 (m, 1H), 5.12 (s, 2H), 3.11 (t, J=4.0 Hz, 2H), 2.68 (t, J=5.3 Hz, 2H), 1.82-1.86 (m, 4H), 1.68-1.61(m, 2H).
[0135] 4-(6,7,8,9-Tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenol: 10-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene (100 mg, 0.27 mmol) was dissolved in CH 3 OH (5 mL) and EtOAc (2 mL) followed by the addition of palladium (10% by weight on carbon, 5 mg). The resulting mixture was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere (balloon) at room temperature overnight. The catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate concentrated to give 4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenol as a colorless solid (60 mg, 79% yield).
[0136] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 17 H 18 N 3 O, 280; found: 280.
[0137] 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 , 300 MHz): δ 7.94 (s, 1H), 7.29 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.01 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 6.57 (s, 1H), 3.11 (t, J=4.0, 6.3, 2H), 2.70 (t, J=3.0, 5.3 Hz, 2H), 1.88-1.85 (m, 4H), 1.69-1.66 (m, 2H).
[0138] 10-[4-(3-Chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene: To a solution of 4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenol (60 mg, 0.2 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) was added 1-bromo-3-chloropropane (67 mg, 0.4 mol) and K 2 CO 3 (45 mg, 0.3 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 5 hours, then cooled, diluted with EtOAc (3 mL) and washed with H 2 O. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over MgSO 4 , and concentrated. The residue was purified via preparative LCMS to give 10-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene (13 mg, 32% yield).
[0139] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 20 H 23 ClN 3 O, 356; found: 356.
[0140] 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 , 300 MHz): δ 7.97 (s, 1H), 7.39 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 7.09 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 6.57 (s, 1H), 4.20 (t, J=4.0 Hz 2H), 3.78 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 3.11 (t, J=6.2 Hz, 2H), 2.68 (t, J=5.3 Hz, 2H), 2.38-2.24 (m, 2H), 1.84 (m, 4H), 1.72 (m, 2H).
[0141] 10-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene: A mixture of 10-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene (50 mg, 0.2 mmol), 2-methyl-pyrrolidine (71 mg, 1.0 mmol) and K 2 CO 3 (45 mg, 0.3 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) was stirred at 80° C. overnight. The reaction was cooled, diluted with EtOAc (3 mL) and washed with H 2 O, brine, dried over MgSO 4 , and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative LCMS to give 10-{4-[3-(2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene (33 mg, 66% yield).
[0142] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 25 H 33 N 4 O, 405; found: 405.
[0143] 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 , 300 MHz): δ 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.34 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.07 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 6.57 (s, 1H), 4.13-4.08 (m, 2H), 3.29 (m, 1H), 3.13-3.04 (m, 3H), 2.68 (d, J=5.4 Hz,2H), 2.49-2.46 (m, 1H), 2.37-2.26 (m, 2H), 2.11-2.04 (m, 2H), 2.05-1.95 (m, 1H), 1.90-1.80 (m, 6H), 1.70-1.60 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.40 (m, 1H), 1.45 (d, J=4.3 Hz,3H). MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 25 H 33 N 4 O, 405; found: 405.
EXAMPLE 3
[0144]
[0145] 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-ol. Using the method described for the preparation of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-ol, the reaction of 2-oxo-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid methyl ester and 2H-pyrazol-3-ylamine in acetic acid provided the title compound.
[0146] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 10 H 12 N 3 O, 190; found: 190.
[0147] 9-Chloro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline. Using the method described for the preparation of 10-chloro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-ol and phosphorus oxychloride provided the title compound.
[0148] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 10 H 11 ClN 3 , 208; found: 208.
[0149] 9-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline. Using the method described for the preparation of 10-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 9-chloro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline and 4-benzyloxyphenyl boronic acid provided the title compound. MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 23 H 22 N 3 O, 356; found: 356. 4-(5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-yl)-phenol. Using the method described for the preparation of 4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenol, (4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline and hydrogen in the presence of 10% Pd/C provided the title compound.
[0150] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 16 H 16 N 3 O, 266; found: 266.
[0151] 9-[4-(3-Chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline. Using the method described for the preparation of 10-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-yl)-phenol and 1-bromo-3-chloropropane provided the title compound.
[0152] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 19 H 21 ClN 3 O, 342; found: 342.
[0153] 9-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-{4-[3-(2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 9-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline and 2-methyl-pyrrolidine provided the desired compound 9-{4-[3-(2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazoline.
[0154] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 24 H 30 N 4 O, 390; found: 390.
EXAMPLE 4
[0155]
[0156] 6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-ol. Using the method described for the preparation of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-ol, the reaction of 2-oxo-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid methyl ester and 2H-pyrazol-3-ylamine in acetic acid provided the title compound.
[0157] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 9 H 10 N 3 O, 176; found: 176.
[0158] 8-Chloro-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene. Using the method described for the preparation of 10-chloro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-ol and phosphorus oxychloride provided the title compound.
[0159] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 9 H 8 ClN 3 , 194; found: 194.
[0160] 8-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene. Using the method described for the preparation of 10-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 8-chloro-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s indacene and 4-benzyloxyphenyl boronic acid provided the title compound.
[0161] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 22 H 20 N 3 O, 342; found: 342.
[0162] 4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-phenol. Using the method described for the preparation of 4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenol, the reaction of 8-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and hydrogen in the presence of 10% Pd/C provided the title compound.
[0163] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 15 H 14 N 3 O, 252; found: 252.
[0164] 8-[4-(3-Chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene. Using the method described for the preparation of 10-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 4-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-phenol and 1-bromo-3-chloropropane provided the title compound.
[0165] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 18 H 19 ClN 3 O, 328; found: 328.
[0166] 8-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-{4-[3-(2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 8-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and 2-methyl-pyrrolidine provided the title compound.
[0167] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 23 H 29 N 4 O, 377; found: 377.
EXAMPLE 5
[0168]
[0169] 1-{3-[4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-pyrrolidin-3-(R)-ol: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-{4-[3-(2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 8-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and 3-(R)-hydroxy-pyrrolidine provided the title compound.
[0170] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 22 H 27 N 4 O 2 , 379; found: 379.
EXAMPLE 6
[0171]
[0172] 1-{3-[4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}-pyrrolidin-3-(S)-ol: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-{4-[3-(2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 8-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and 3-(S)-hydroxy-pyrrolidine provided the title compound.
[0173] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 22 H 27 N 4 O 2 , 379; found: 379.
EXAMPLE 7
[0174]
[0175] 8-{3-Chloro-4-[3-(2-(R)-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 8-[(3-chloro)-4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and 2-(R)-methyl-pyrrolidine provided the title compound. MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd C 23 H 28 ClN 4 O, 411; found: 411.
[0176] The following compounds were prepared according to the procedures described in Scheme 2.
[M + 1] + Structure Chemical Name Calculated [M + 1] + Found 10-[4-(3-Piperidin-1- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene 405 405 Furan-2-ylmethyl methyl-{3-[4-(6,7,8,9- tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10- yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine 431 431 Diethyl-{3-[4-(6,7,8,9- tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10- yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine 393 393 (2-Methoxy-ethyl)-{3- [4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro- 5H-1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10- yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine 395 395 10-[3-(3-Pyrrolidin-1- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene 391 391 Diethyl-{3-[3-(6,7,8,9- tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10- yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine 393 393 10-[3-(3-Piperidin-1- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene 405 405 10-[3-(3-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene 405 405 9-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 377 377 9-[4-(3-Morpholin-4- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 394 394 Dimethyl-{3-[4- (5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazolin-9-yl)- phenoxy]-propyl}- amine 351 351 9-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 391 391 10-{4-[3-(2-(R)- Methyl-pyrrolidin-1- yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene 405 405 8-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene 363 363 8-[4-(3-Morpholin-4- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]6,7-dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene 379 379 {3-[4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacen-8-yl)- phenoxy]-propyl}- dimethyl-amine 337 337 8-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-2-indacene 377 377 9-{4-[3-(2-(R)-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 391 391
[0177]
EXAMPLE 8
[0178] 4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-2-iodo-phenol: 4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-phenol (500 mg, 0.002 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (10 mL) followed by addition of NaI (368 mg, 2.45 mmol) and NaOH (98 mg, 2.45 mmol). The solution was cooled to 0° C. followed by dropwise addition of NaOCl (5.25% aq, 3.8 ml) over 3 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour followed by warming to room temperature and quenching with sodium thiosulphate (saturated. aq., 6 ml). The pH of the reaction was adjusted to ˜7 by addition of sodium dihydrogen phosphate. The solution was extracted with CH 2 Cl 2 . The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified on silica gel (10%→60% EtOAc in hexane) to give 4-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-2-iodo-phenol.
[0179] LC-Mass (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 15 H 13 IN 3 O, 378; found, 378.
[0180] 2-[5-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzofuran-2-yl]-ethanol: 4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-2-iodo-phenol (440 mg, 1.17 mmol), homopropargyl alcohol (147.3 mg, 2.1 mmol) and triethyl amine (295 mg, 2.92 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (15 ml). To this solution was added copper (I) iodide (66.3 mg, 0.34 mmol) and bis-triphenylphosphine palladium (II) chloride (81.9 mg, 0.117 mmol). The reaction was flushed with nitrogen and heated at 65° C. for 12 hours. Solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue purified on silica gel (10%-75% EtOAc in hexane) to give 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzofuran-2-yl]-ethanol.
[0181] [M+1] + calc'd for C 19 H 18 N 3 O 2 , 320; found, 320.
[0182] Methanesulfonic acid 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzo-furan-2-yl]-ethyl ester: To a room temperature solution of 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzofuran-2-yl]-ethanol (200 mg, 0.91 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2 (10 ml) was added triethylamine (303 mg, 3 mmol) and methanesulfonyl chloride (525 mg, 4.56 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. Water was added to the reaction and the organic layer separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with CH 2 Cl 2 and the combined organic extracts were dried and concentrated to give methanesulfonic acid 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzo-furan-2-yl]-ethyl ester, which was used in the next reaction without further purification.
[0183] [M+1] + calcd for C 20 H 20 N 3 O 4 S, 398; found, 398.
[0184] 8-{2-[2-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Methanesulfonic acid 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzo-furan-2-yl]-ethyl ester (0.085 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (2 ml) followed by addition of 2-methylpyrrolidine (0.85 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.425 mmol) and heated to 70° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified via preparative HPLC to give the title compound.
[0185] [M+1] + calc'd for C 24 H 27 N 4 O, 387; found, 387.
EXAMPLE 9
[0186]
[0187] 1-{2-[5-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzofuran-2-yl]-ethyl}-pyrrolidin-3-(S)-ol: Methanesulfonic acid 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzo-furan-2-yl]-ethyl ester (0.085 mmol) described above was dissolved in acetonitrile (2 ml) followed by addition of 3-(S)-hydroxypyrrolidine (0.85 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.425 mmol) and heated to 70° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified via preparative HPLC to give 1-{2-[5-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzofuran-2-yl]-ethyl}-pyrrol idin-3-(S)-ol.
[0188] [M+1] + calc'd for C 23 H 25 N 4 O 2 , 389; found, 389.
EXAMPLE 10
[0189]
[0190] 8-12-[2-(2-(S)-Methoxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Methanesulfonic acid 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzo-furan-2-yl]-ethyl ester (0.085 mmol) described above was dissolved in acetonitrile (2 ml) followed by addition of 2-(S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (0.85 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.425 mmol) and heated to 70° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified via preparative HPLC to give the title compound.
[0191] [M+1] + calc'd for C 25 H 29 N 4 O 2 , 417; found, 417.
EXAMPLE 11
[0192]
[0193] 8-{2-[2-(2-(R)-Methoxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Methanesulfonic acid 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzo-furan-2-yl]-ethyl ester (0.085 mmol) described above was dissolved in acetonitrile (2 ml) followed by addition of 2-(R)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (0.85 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.425 mmol) and heated to 70° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified via preparative HPLC to give the desired 8-{2-[2-(2-(R)-Methoxymethyl-pyrrol idin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene.
[0194] [M+1] + calc'd for C 25 H 29 N 4 O 2 , 417; found, 417.
EXAMPLE 12
[0195]
[0196] 8-{2-[2-(3-(R)-Dimethylamino-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Methanesulfonic acid 2-[5-(6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-yl)-benzo-furan-2-yl]-ethyl ester (0.085 mmol) described above was dissolved in acetonitrile (2 ml) followed by addition of 3-(R)-dimethylaminopyrrolidine (0.85 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.425 mmol) and heated to 70° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified via preparative HPLC to give 8-{2-[2-(3-(R)-Dimethylamino-pyrrol idin-1-yl)-ethyl]-benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene.
[0197] [M+1] + calc'd for C 25 H 30 N 5 O, 416; found, 416.
[0198] The following compounds were prepared according to the procedures described in Scheme 3.
[M + 1] + Structure Chemical Name Calculated [M + 1] + Found 9-{2-[2-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]- benzofuran-5-yl}- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 387 387 8-[2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacene 373 373 8-[2-(2-Morpholin-4- yl-ethyl)-benzofuran- 5-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacene 389 389 8-[2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacene 387 387 8-{2-[2-(2-(R)-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]- benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene 387 387 9-[2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 401 401 9-[2-(2-Morpholin-4-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 403 403 9-[2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline 387 387
[0199]
EXAMPLE 13
[0200] 4-Oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester. To a stirred slurry of sodium hydride (1.67 g, 60% in mineral oil, 44.0 mmol) in dried ether was added with ethyl glycolate, dropwise over 15 minutes. The reaction was warmed up to room temperature for 30 min while stirring and concentrated in vacuo to provide white solid. The solid was treated with methyl acrylate (4.16 g, 49 mmol) in DMSO (20 mL) at 0° C. for 15 minutes and room temperature for 45 minutes. The mixture was poured into 5% H 2 SO 4 and extracted with ethyl acetate. Organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Mg 2 SO 4 and concentrated to give 4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester as a colorless oil.
[0201] MS (ES): [M−1] − cal'cd for C 6 H 7 O 3 , 143; found: 143.
[0202] 5H,7H-6-Oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-ol: Using the method described for the preparation of 6,7,8,9-Tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]inden-10-ol, the reaction of 4-oxo-tetrahydro-furan-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester and 2H-pyrazol-3-ylamine in acetic acid provided the desired 5H,7H-6-Oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-ol.
[0203] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 8 H 8 N 3 O 2 , 178; found: 178.
[0204] 8-Chloro-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-chloro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 5H,7H-6-Oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacen-8-ol and phosphorus oxychloride provided the title compound.
[0205] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 8 H 6 ClN 3 O, 196; found: 196.
[0206] 8-[4-(Tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 8-Chloro-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and 4-(Tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-phenyl boronic acid provided the title compound.
[0207] MS (ES): [M+1] + calc'd for C 19 H 20 N 3 O 3 , 338; found: 338.
[0208] 4-(5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-yl)-phenol: 8-[4-(Tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene (500 mg, 2.5 mmol) was suspended in methanol and added with p-toluenesulfonic acid (50 mg) was catalyst. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was carried on to the next reaction without purification.
[0209] 8-[4-(3-Chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-[4-(3-Chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[f]indene, the reaction of 4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-yl)-phenol and 1-bromo-3-chloropropane provided the title compound which was used without further purification.
[0210] 8-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene: Using the method described for the preparation of 10-{4-[3-(2-Methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza-cyclohepta[t]indene, the reaction of 8-[4-(3-Chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and 2-methyl-pyrrolidine provided compound.
[0211] MS (ES): [M+1] + calcd C 22 H 27 N 4 O 2 , 379; found: 379.
[0212] Representative compounds of the present invention that were prepared by the procedures of the Examples were evaluated in binding assays against cells expressing the mouse and human H 3 receptor by the following procedure.
[0000] Cell Culture
[0213] An HT1080 cell line was produced that expresses the human H 3 receptor. Expression of this receptor was provided by utilization of the RAGE methodology (Harrington et al., 2001) Nature Biotechol. 19:440-5. This cell line was transfected with the chimeric G-protein Gqαi5 (Conklin et al., 1993) Nature 363:274-6 to facilitate assessment of receptor activation through the analysis of intercellular Ca ++ levels using a fluorescence assay. The HT1080 cells expressing human histamine H 3 receptor and Gqαi5 were grown in alpha-modified MEM containing 10% FBS, 3 ug/ml puromycin, 7 ug/ml blasticidin, and 3.2 uM methotrexate at 37° C. in 5% CO 2 /95% atmosphere.
[0000] Membrane Preparation
[0214] Cells were washed with cold PBS buffer twice, scraped off the plates, and centrifuged at 1000×g for 5 minutes. Cells were resuspended in ice-cold buffer of 10 mM Tris, pH 7.4, 5 mM EDTA, protease inhibitor cocktail tablets (Roche Molecular Biochemicals) and incubated on ice for 10 minutes. The mixture was then homogenized with a dounce homogenizer or a polytron tissue grinder and centrifuged at 1000×g for 10 min at 4° C. The supernatant was centrifuged at 32, 000×g for 30 min at 4° C. The membrane pellet was resuspended in a buffer of 50 mM Tris, pH 7.4 with protease inhibitor cocktail tablets and stored at −80° C. until use. Protein concentration was determined by the methods of Bradford.
[0000] Radioligand Binding Assays
[0215] Membranes were homogenized in buffer containing 50 mM Tris/HCl, 1 mM EDTA pH 7.4, and protease inhibitor cocktail tablets. Dissociation constants of radioligand (K D values) and maximum binding sites (B max ) were determined in saturation binding experiments. K i and IC 50 were determined in competition binding assays using a fixed amount of radioligand.
[0216] Saturation binding assays were carried out in 96-well polypropylene plates in triplicate or quadruplicate. Reaction mixtures contained 100 μl of membrane suspension (˜100 μg/well), 50 μl of 4% DMSO, 50 μl of increasing amounts of [ 3 H]N α -methylhistamine (final concentration of 0.01-20 nM). Nonspecific binding was defined with 10 uM clobenpropit. Competition binding assays were performed in a reaction mixture containing 100 μl of membrane suspension, 50 μl of [H]N α -methylhistamine (final concentration of ˜2 nM), and 50 μl compounds. Compounds were dissolved in DMSO to 10 mM and then diluted with 4% DMSO; the final DMSO concentrations did not exceed 1%. Incubations were carried out for 1.5 hours at room temperature. Reactions were terminated by rapid filtration over glass fibre GF/C filters (Perkin Elmers, MA) that had been presoaked in 0.3% PEI, using a Brandel cell harvester. The filters were washed with 500 ml of ice-cold buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, and were subsequently dried, impregnated with Meltilex wax scintillate (Perkin Elmers, MA) and counted with a Betaplate scintillation counter (Perkin Elmers, MA).
[0000] Calcium Mobilization
[0217] NT1050 cells expressing human H 3 receptor (10 4 /well) were seeded in black 384-well plates and incubated overnight at 37° C. in a 5% CO2/95% atmosphere. After removing medium, cells were treated with CsCl Ringer's buffer (136 mM CsCl, 5.4 mM KCl, 5.5 mM D-Glucose, 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.5, 2.1 mM MgCl 2 , 1.2 mM CaCl 2 ) containing the Calcium3 dye (Molecular Device, CA) and probenecid (3.75 mM) for 60 minutes according to manufacture's instruction. Compounds were diluted in CsCl Ringer's buffer containing 0.2% bovine serum albumin and 1.0% DMSO. The concentration of R-α-methylhistamine required to stimulate 75% of maximum response was used to test compounds. Ligand-induced fluorescence was measured on a Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR, Molecular Device, CA).
[0000] Data Analysis
[0218] All data were analyzed by nonlinear least square curve fitting using Prism 4.0 software. The K D for [ 3 H]N α -methylhistamine and the B max were derived from equation RL=R f L/(K D +L). RL is concentration of receptor-bound ligand at equilibrium, L is the free ligand concentration, R f is the total receptor concentration. For competition binding experiments, IC 50 (the concentration of compound producing 50% inhibition of specific binding) was derived from fitting to a 4-parameter logistic equation. Apparent Ki values were calculated using the Cheng-Prussof equation of Ki=IC 50 /(1+(L)/Kd), L is the ligand concentration. Agonist stimulation and antagonist inhibition in FLIPR were fitted to sigmoidal dose response using equation Y=Bottom+(Top−Bottom)/(1+10ˆ((LogEC50−X))), X is the logarithm of concentration of compounds. Y is the response.
Mouse H3 Human H3 Structure Chemical Name (μM) (μM) 10-[4-(3-Piperidin-1- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene <0.05 <0.05 10-{4-[3-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene <0.05 <0.05 Furan-2-ylmethyl- methyl-{3-[4-(6,7,8,9- tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10- yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine <0.5 <5 Diethyl-{3-[4-(6,7,8,9- tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10-yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine <0.5 <0.05 (2-Methoxy-ethyl)-{3- [4-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro- 5H-1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10- yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine <5 nd 10-[3-(3-Pyrrolidin-1- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene <5 <0.5 Diethyl-{3-[3-(6,7,8,9- tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]inden-10- yl)-phenoxy]-propyl}- amine <5 10-[3-(3-Piperidin-1- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene <5 <0.5 10-{3-[3-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene <5 9-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <0.05 <0.05 9-[4-(3-Morpholin-4- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <0.05 <0.05 Dimethyl-{3-[4- (5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazolin-9-yl)- phenoxy]-propyl}- amine <0.5 <0.05 9-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <0.05 <0.05 9-{4-[3-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <0.05 <0.05 10-{4-[3-(2-(R)- Methyl-pyrrolidin-1- yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene <0.05 <0.05 8-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.05 <0.05 8-[4-(3-Morpholin-4-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.5 <0.05 {3-[4-(6,7-Dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacen-8-yl)- phenoxy]-propyl}- dimethyl-amine <0.5 <0.05 8-[4-(3-Piperidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.05 <0.05 8-{4-[3-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.05 <0.05 10-{4-[3-(2,5-(R,R)- Dimethyl-pyrrolidin-1- yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}- 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H- 1,4,10a-triaza- cyclohepta[f]indene <0.5 <0.05 9-{4-[3-(2-(R)-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <0.05 <0.05 8-{3-Chloro-4-[3-(2- (R)-methyl-pyrrolidin- 1-yl)-propoxy]- phenyl}-6,7-dihydro- 5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacene <0.05 <0.05 1-{3-[4-(6,7-Dihydro- 5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacen-8-yl)- phenoxy]-propyl}- pyrrolidin-3-(R)-ol <0.05 <0.05 1-{3-[4-(6,7-Dihydro- 5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacen-8-yl)- phenoxy]-propyl}- pyrrolidin-3-(S)-ol <0.05 <0.05 11-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1- yl-propoxy)-phenyl]- 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro- 6H- cyclohepta[b]quinoline <0.5 <0.05 9-[4-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- propoxy)-phenyl]- 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- acridine <0.5 <0.05 9-{2-[2-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]- benzofuran-5-yl}- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <0.5 <0.05 8-[2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacene <0.5 <0.05 8-[2-(2-Morpholin-4-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacene <0.5 <0.05 8-[2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H- 1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacene <0.5 <0.05 8-{2-[2-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]- benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.05 <0.05 8-{2-[2-(2-(R)-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]- benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.05 <0.05 9-[2-(2-Piperidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <5 <0.05 9-[2-(2-Morpholin-4- yl-ethyl)-benzofuran- 5-yl]-5,6,7,8- tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <0.5 <0.05 9-[2-(2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl- ethyl)-benzofuran-5- yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro- pyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazoline <5 <0.5 8-{2-[2-(R)-(2- Methoxymethyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]- benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.5 <0.5 8-{2-[2-(2-(S)- Methoxymethyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]- benzofuran-5-yl}-6,7- dihydro-5H-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.05 <0.05 (1-{2-[5-(6,7-Dihydro- 5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacen-8-yl)- benzofuran-2-yl]- ethyl}-pyrrolidin-3-yl)- (R)-dimethyl-amine <0.5 <0.5 1-{2-[5-(6,7-Dihydro- 5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s- indacen-8-yl)- benzofuran-2-yl]- ethyl}-pyrrolidin-3- (S)-ol <0.5 <0.05 8-{4-[3-(2-Methyl- pyrrolidin-1-yl)- propoxy]-phenyl}- 5H,7H-6-oxa-1,4,8a- triaza-s-indacene <0.05 <0.05
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This invention relates to compounds having pharmacological activity, to compositions containing these compounds, and to a method of treatment employing the compounds and compositions. More particularly, this invention concerns certain non-imidazole tertiary amine derivatives and their salts and solvates. These compounds have H 3 histamine receptor antagonist activity. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and to a method of treating disorders in which histamine H 3 receptor blockade is beneficial.
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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/905,046, filed 1 Aug. 1997, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,883, issued 22 Aug. 2006, which claims the benefit of provisional application 60/023,075, filed 2 Aug. 1996.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
This invention was made by employees of the United States Army. The government has rights in the invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a monoclonal antibody to a consensus peptide of the formula:
VEKNITVTASVDPTIDLLQADGSALPSAVALTYSPA. (SEQ ID NO:1)
The monoclonal antibody of the invention binds exclusively to the sequence
SAVALTYS.
(SEQ ID NO:2)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The effect of E. coli in mammals is dependent on the particular strain of organism. Many beneficial E. coli are present in the intestines. Since the initial association of E. coli with diarrheal illness, five categories of diarrheagenic E. coli have been identified and are presently recognized: enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), enteroaggregative (EAggEC), and enteroinvasive (EIEC). These categories are grouped according to characteristic virulence properties, such as elaboration of toxins and colonization factors and/or by specific types of interactions with intestinal epithelial cells. ETEC are the most common of the diarrheagenic E. coli and pose the greatest risk to travelers. E. coli of the family CS4-CFA/I are some of the more common enterotoxigenic E. coli . There is need for vaccines which are specific against this class of E. coli that give rise to antibodies that cross-react with and cross-protect against the more common members of the CS4-CFA/I family. Six members of this family of ETEC fimbrial proteins are CFA/I, CS1, CS2, CS4, CS17 and PCF 0166. ETEC are responsible for high infant mortality in developing countries, with an estimate that almost 800,000 deaths per year are due to these organisms. These organisms also cause illness in adult travelers to regions where the disease is endemic.
Colonization factor antigens (CFA) of ETEC are important in the initial step of colonization and adherence of the bacterium to intestinal epithelia. In epidemiological studies of adults and children with diarrhea, CFA/I is found in a large percentage of morbidity attributed to ETEC. The CFA/I is present on the surfaces of bacteria in the form of pili (bimbriae), which are rigid, 7 nm diameter protein fibers composed of repeating pilin subunits. The CFA/I antigens promote mannose-resistant attachment to human brush borders with an apparent sialic acid sensitivity.
A study of proteins in E. coli belonging to the CS4-CFA/I family resulted in the finding that the N-terminal region of the protein maintains a high degree of sequence identity between members of this group. Immunological evidence shows that cross-reaction exists between members of the family CS4-CFA/I.
Cassels, et al. have identified a consensus peptide of 36 amino acids which acts as an immunogen raising antibodies against the proteins of all members of the E. coli family CS4-CFA/I. The region of the protein represented in the subunit encompasses known linear B- and T-cell epitopes of CFA/I. The consensus peptide has a high level of homology to strains bearing six different colonization factors. The consensus peptide is of the formula:
VEKNITVTASVDPTIDLLQADGSALPSAVALTYSPA.
(SEQ ID NO:1)
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is the purpose of this invention to identify a monoclonal antibody raised to the consensus peptide of Cassels and which will agglutinate all bacteria bearing CS4-CFA/I family proteins.
Preparation of the Immunogen:
A: Iodoacetylation of tetanus toxoid:
To 0.64 ml of a composition containing 18.9 mg/ml (12 mg) of tetanus toxoid (TT) (obtained from SmithKline Beecham) was added 5× HEPES buffer (75 μl of 0.75 M HEPES, 5 mM EDTA, pH 7.3). The TT was labeled with a 40 fold molar excess of N-hydroxysuccinimidyl iodoacetate (32 μl of 0.1 mM in dimethylformamide). After two hours, the protein was desalted on 2 P6 cartridges (BioRad) in series, equilibrated with HEPES buffer (0.15M HEPES, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.3). The void volume fraction was concentrated to about 0.7 ml using a MACROSEP™ 50 device (Filtron Corp).
B: Reduction of peptide:
About 10 mg of peptide consensus peptide of the formula
CVEKNITVTASVDPTIDLLQADGSALPSAVALTYSPA (SEQ ID NO:3)
was solubilized in 1.1 ml HEPES buffer containing 100 μl acetonitrile and reduced by the addition of solid dithiothreitol to a final concentration of 0.5M. After 1 hour the peptide was desalted in two parts on a 1×50 cm G10 column (Pharmacia), equilibrated with acetate buffer (10 mM sodium acetate, 0.1 M NaCl, 2 mM EDTA and 0.02% sodium azide at pH 5) and run at 1 ml/min. The void volume fractions were pooled.
Ellman's reagent (G. L. Ellman, Arch. Biochem. & Biophys., 82:70 (1959)) was used to determine that the peptide was reduced to a thiol.
C: Coupling of peptide to Tetanus toxoid:
Six ml of the reduced peptide was added to 0.3 ml of TT labeled with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl iodoacetate and 1 ml 5× HEPES buffer. After overnight incubation at 4° C., the conjugate was concentrated to about 1 ml using a MACROSEP™ 50 device, then desalted into HEPES buffer using P6 cartridges, concentrated again (MACROSEP™ 50), and, finally, filtered through a 0.45 micron Millex HV filter (Millipore). Evaluation of the protein content using the BioRad assay showed total protein content to be about 2.6 mg/ml.
Monoclonal Antibody Production:
A: Preparation of anticonsensus peptide monoclonal antibody:
Six BALB/c mice identified as numbers 8378-8383, were immunized with the consensus peptide-TT conjugate. On designated day 1, each mouse was injected subcutaneously with 25 μg conjugate in 0.2 ml emulsified in 60% complete Freund's adjuvant. On day 23, a serum sample was obtained from each mouse. On day 35, all mice except # 8382 received a boost of 10 μg consensus peptide conjugate in 0.2 ml 60% incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Mouse 8382 was given 10 μg conjugate of the peptide in 0.1 ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
On day 37, mouse 8382 was used for fusion (96-104). This fusion did not result in production of a monoclonal anti-consensus peptide.
On day 82, the mice received booster immunizations of 10 μg consensus peptide conjugate in 0.2 ml emulsified in 60% incomplete Freund's adjuvant.
On day 85, the spleen from mouse #8383 was fused with FOX-NY myeloma wherein the myeloma population viability was 97.4%. 1.36×10 8 spleen cells were fused with 1.37×10 7 myeloma cells, using PEG (1400 molecular weight) as a fusogen. The hybridomas was assigned culture number 96-109.
Hybridomas were planted into 8 96-well tissue culture dishes with 100 μl/well in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 10% Hybridoma Serum Free Media (SFM), 100 μM hypoxanthine and 16 μM thymidine (the hypoxanthine and thymidine combination being referred to herein as HT). Eight wells were also planted with FOX-NY myeloma cells only (no hybridomas) as a control. All samples were incubated at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO 2 in air. After 24 hours, all wells received 100 μl RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 10% hybridoma SFM, 200 μM hypoxanthine, 0.8 μM aminopterin and 32 μM thymidine. (The hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thymidine combination being referred to herein as HAT.)
Approximately 96 hours after the fusion, the FOX-NY myelomas in control wells appeared to be dead. Many other wells contained growing colonies of hybridomas seven days after fusion. The growing cells were fed by addition of RPMI 1640, supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 10% hybridoma SFM and HT. Four days thereafter, the supernatants were tested for the presence of anti-consensus peptide antibodies.
For analysis of peptide binding, an ELISA was used. Nunc MAXISORP™ stripwells were coated overnight at room temperature with 100 μl/well of consensus peptide at 1 μg/ml PBS. The wells were then washed four times with PBS containing 0.05% TWEEN-20™ (PBS-T) to remove unbound material. Each well then received 50 μl of PBS-T. Fifty μl of supernatant was then transferred from the cell culture plate to the corresponding wells of the immunoassay dish. Prior to the transfer of the cell culture, wells were screened microscopically to identify wells without hybridomas. One such well from each plate was used as a background control by substituting PBS-T or medium for the culture supernatant. The plates were then sealed and incubated for 30 to 60 minutes at room temperature in the dark in a draft-free environment. The wells were thereafter washed four times with PBS-T to remove unbound material. Each well then received 95 μl of sheep anti-mouse IgG-HRP (horse radish peroxidase), diluted 1:10000 in PBS-T. Following a 30 minute incubation, the wells were again washed and each well received 100 μl of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate solution. The plates were then incubated in the dark for 15 minutes at room temperature, after which the reactions were stopped by addition of 80 μl of TMB Stop Solution. The absorbance of each well was determined at 450 nm using a Molecular Devices microplate reader.
Absorbance values for 32 of the supernatants from wells with growing hybridomas was greater than 0.200 units. Of these, only two wells, designated CA8 (1.743) and FE8 (1.092) had absorbance values of greater than 1.000. All thirty-two cultures were expanded by transfer into 24-well culture dishes and grown on RPMI 1640 with 10% FBS. Upon retest, only colony FE8 continued to produce antibodies reactive with the consensus peptide. This culture was expanded to growth in a T75 culture flask and samples were cryopreserved.
The isotype of the antibody secreted by 96-109FE8 was determined using a Zymed isotype kit. The results indicated that the antibody was an IgM with a kappa light chain. The 96-109FE8 culture was cloned into 96-well culture dishes by diluting the cells to a concentration of 4.5-5 cells/ml in RPMI 1640 with 20% FBS and 10% hybridoma SFM. Each well received 200 μl of the cell suspension. Each well was checked for the presence of a single focus of growing hybridomas. The supernatants from each such well were tested for binding of the antibody to the consensus peptide epitope. All of the supernatants were active, suggesting that all of the surviving cells in the original culture were secretors of the antibody of interest, and that the genotype was stable. One clone, designated 96-109FE8 Ih11, was expanded, cryopreserved and used in the production of ascites.
Testing of hybridoma tissue culture supernatant for agglutinating activity:
Bacterial culture: ETEC strains bearing the colonization factors CFA/I, CS 1, CS2 and CS4 were grown overnight at 37° C. on colonization factor antigen agar (10 gm Casamino acids, 1% (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.); 1.5 gm yeast extract (Difco), 0.15%; 0.1 gm MgSO 4 .7H 2 O), 0.005% (Sigma, St. Louis); 0.008 gm MnCl 2 , 0.0005% MnCl 2 (Sigma); 20 gm agar (Difco);, q.s. to 1 liter with deionized water). Those ETEC strains bearing the colonization factors CS 17 and PCF 0166 are also grown on colonization factor antigen agar, which was also supplemented with 0.15% bile salts (bile salts #3, Difco). Bacteria were harvested into phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution and the concentration of bacterial suspension was adjusted to an optical density of 20 (when diluted 1/20 gives an OD of 1.00+/−0.005 at 600 nm). Bacterial culture supernatant was tested at full strength or serially diluted 1:2 with PBS.
The following assay was used: Eight μl of bacterial suspension was mixed with an equal volume of tissue culture supernatant dilution on a glass microscope slide (25×75 mm) at room temperature. In a separate place on the same slide there is a control consisting of bacterial suspension with 8 μl of PBS (autoagglutination control). The mixture is rocked back and forth continuously and the agglutination is observed at 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute and 2 minutes. The results are visually scored as follows:
4=agglutination in less than 10 seconds with large clumps
3=agglutination in less than 30 seconds with large clumps
2=agglutination in less than 60 seconds with medium clumps
1=agglutination in less than 2 minutes with small clumps
0=no agglutination within 2 minutes.
Results
At undiluted tissue culture supernatant (estimated at 1 μg/ml of antibody), no bacterial strains were agglutinated. After concentration of tissue culture supernatant to 20 fold concentration (YM 100 centrifugal ultrafilter, Amicon, Danvers, Massachusetts), only the bacterial strain expressing CFA/I was agglutinated (H10407NM). The monoclonal antibody supernatant was then concentrated 130 fold from original strength and tested. Under these circumstances, the antibody agglutinated all bacteria bearing CS4-CFA/I family proteins.
The hybridoma identified as 96-109FE8 IH11 has been deposited in the American Type Culture Collection at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209 and given the designation ATCC HB-12163.
As indicated above the antibody may be used for purposes of identifying E. coli bearing the CS4-CFA/I protein family. The samples suspected of containing E. coli of the CS4-CFA/I protein may be grown by usual methods in the clinical laboratory. The colonies of organisms may then be suspended by the method disclosed above. The suspended organisms are then exposed to a composition containing at least 30 μg/ml of antibody. In a preferred embodiment, the suspended organisms would be exposed to a composition containing an antibody concentration of 100 to 130 μg/ml. Appropriate samples would include stools from patients suffering from diarrhea and for testing food and environmental samples for contamination with ETEC E. coli organisms.
The monoclonal antibody (MAB) is useful for identifying members of the CS4-CFA/I family in cultures. Assay kits containing the MAB may be prepared and may contain, in addition to the MAB of the invention, agents for tagging for facilitate identification of the MAB/antigen complex. Such tags include radioactive isotopes, fluorescing agents and colorometric indicators. Such agents may be attached to solid supports. For example, an ELISA test kit system may be used to identify the MAB/antigen complex.
Compositions containing the MAB of the invention may be prepared using as a carrier appropriate for addition to a growth media. Saline and other buffered solutions known in the art are appropriate as carriers for the MAB.
MABs of the invention may also be prepared in pharmaceutically acceptable carrier solutions and may be administered to the infected area to agglutinate the bacteria bearing CS4-CFA/I proteins. Administration would provide means for the compositions to contact the organisms. For example, the compositions could be administered orally in capsules which protect the antibody from destruction in the stomach and duodenum. The compositions are appropriate for use both for short-term prophylaxis and for treatment of ETEC E. coli infections by administration of an ETEC E. coli agglutinating effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition.
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A monoclonal antibody to a consensus peptide of the formula:
VEKNITVTASVDPTIDLLQADGSALPSAVALTYSPA. (SEQ ID NO:1)
The monoclonal antibody of the invention binds exclusively to the sequence SAVALTYS (SEQ ID NO:2) and has use as a diagnostic and for prophylaxis against illness arising from E. coli which produce the CS4-CFA/I family of proteins and for treatment of disease arising therefrom.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is essential to the processes which allow translation of the genetic code to form proteins necessary for all cellular functions, both in normal and neoplastic cells. While the genetic code structurally exists as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), it is the function of RNA, existing as the subtypes transfer-RNA, messenger-RNA or messenger-like RNA, and ribosomal-RNA, to carry and translate this code to the cellular sites of protein production. In the nucleus, this RNA may further exist as or in association with ribonucleoproteins (RNP). The pathogenesis and regulation of cancer is dependent upon RNA-mediated translation of specific genetic codes, which often reflects mutational events within oncogenes, to produce proteins involved with cell proliferation, regulation, and death. Furthermore, other RNA and their translated proteins, although not necessarily those involved in neoplastic pathogenesis or regulation, may serve to delineate recognizable characteristics of particular neoplasms by either being elevated or inappropriately expressed. Thus, recognition of specific RNA can enable the identification, detection, inference, monitoring, or evaluation of any neoplasm, benign, malignant, or premalignant, in humans and animals. Furthermore, since RNA can be repetitively created from its DNA template, for a given gene within a cell there may be formed a substantially greater number of associated RNA molecules than DNA molecules. Thus, an RNA-based assay should have greater sensitivity, and greater clinical utility, than its respective DNA-based assay. Note that the term RNA denotes ribonucleic acid including fragments of ribonucleic acid consisting of ribonucleic acid sequences.
[0002] RNA based nucleic acid amplification assays, including the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, also known as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or RNA-PCR), branched DNA signal amplification, and self-sustained sequence replication assays, such as isothermal nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), have proven to be highly sensitive and specific methods for detecting small numbers of RNA molecules. As such, they can be used in direct assays of neoplastic tissue ( 1 - 3 ). Since peripheral blood is readily obtainable from patients with cancer, and metastatic cancer cells are known to circulate in the blood of patients with advanced cancer, several investigators have recently used RT-PCR to detect intracellular RNA extracted from circulating cancer cells ( 4 - 7 ). It must be emphasized that currently investigators apply RT-PCR to detect extracted intracellular RNA from a predominately cellular fraction of blood in order to demonstrate the existence of circulating cancer cells. RT-PCR is applied only to the cellular fraction of blood obtained from cancer patients, i.e., the cell pellet or cells within whole blood. The plasma or serum fraction of blood is usually discarded prior to analysis, but is not examined separately. Since such a cellular fraction approach relies upon the presence of metastatic circulating cancer cells, it is of limited clinical use in patients with early cancers, and is not useful in the detection of non-invasive neoplasms or pre-malignant states.
[0003] The invention described by this patent application demonstrates the novel use of that human or animal tumor-derived or tumor-associated RNA found circulating in the plasma or serum fraction of blood, as a means to detect, monitor, or evaluate cancer and premalignant states. This invention is based upon the application of RNA extraction techniques and nucleic acid amplification assays to detect tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA found circulating in plasma or serum. In contrast to the detection of viral-related RNA in plasma or serum, and the detection of tumor-associated DNA in plasma and serum, the detection of human or mammalian RNA, and particularly tumor-derived or associated RNA, has never been detected specifically within the plasma or serum fraction of blood using nucleic acid amplification methodology, and thus represents a novel and non-obvious use for these RNA extraction methods and nucleic acid amplification assays. Since this invention is not dependent upon the presence of circulating cancer cells, it is clinically applicable to cases of early cancer, noninvasive cancers, and premalignant states, in addition to cases of invasive cancer and advanced cancer. Further, this invention allows the detection of RNA in previously frozen or otherwise stored plasma and serum, thus making plasma and serum banks available for analysis and otherwise increasing general usefulness.
[0004] Tumor-derived or tumor-associated RNA that is present in plasma and serum may exist in two forms. The first being extracellular RNA, but the second being extractable intracellular RNA from cells occasionally contaminating the plasma or serum fraction. In practice, it is not necessary to differentiate between intracellular and extracellular in order to detect RNA in plasma or serum using the invention, and this invention can be used for detection of both. The potential uses of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA have not been obvious to the scientific community, nor has the application of nucleic acid amplification assays to detect tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA been obvious. Indeed, the very existence of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA has not been obvious to the scientific community, and is generally considered not to exist. It is generally believed that plasma ribonucleases rapidly degrade any extracellular mammalian RNA which might circulate in blood, rendering it nondetectable ( 8 ). Komeda et al., for example, specifically added free RNA to whole blood obtained from normal volunteers, but were unable to detect that RNA using PCR ( 54 ). However, nucleases appear inhibited in the plasma of cancer patients ( 9 ). In addition, extracellular RNA, either complexed to lipids and proteolipids, protein-bound, or within apoptotic bodies, would be protected from ribonucleases. Thus, although still undefined, tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA may be present in plasma or serum via several mechanisms. Extracellular RNA could be secreted or shed from tumor in the form of lipoprotein (proteo-lipid)-RNA or lipid-RNA complexes, it could be found within circulating apoptotic bodies derived from apoptotic tumor cells, it could be found in proteo-RNA complexes released from viable or dying cells including or in association with ribonucleoproteins, or in association with other proteins such as galectin-3, or RNA could be released from necrotic cells and then circulate bound to proteins normally present in plasma. Additionally it could exist circulating within RNA-DNA complexes including those associated with ribonucleoproteins and other nucleic RNA. Further, RNA may exist within several of these moieties simultaneously. For example, RNA may be found associated with ribonucleoprotein found within proteo-lipid apoptotic bodies. The presence of extracellular RNA in plasma or serum makes their detection by nucleic acid amplification assays feasible.
[0005] Several studies in the literature support the existence of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA. RNA has been shown to be present on the cell surface of tumor cells, as demonstrated by electrophoresis ( 10 ), membrane preparations ( 11 ), and P 32 release ( 12 ). Shedding of phospholipid vesicles from tumor cells is a well described phenomena ( 13 , 14 ), and similar vesicles have been shown to circulate in the blood of patients with cancer ( 15 ). Kamm and Smith used a fluorometric method to quantitate RNA concentrations in the plasma of healthy individuals ( 55 ). Rosi and colleagues used high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to demonstrate RNA molecules complexed with lipid vesicles which were shed from a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line ( 16 ). Further characterization of these lipid-RNA complexes demonstrated the vesicles additionally contained triglycerides, cholesterol esters, lipids, oligopeptide, and phospholipids ( 17 ). Mountford et al. used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify a proteolipid in the plasma of a patient with an ovarian neoplasm ( 18 ). While further evaluation of the proteolipid using the orcinol method suggested RNA was present, this could not be confirmed using other methods. Wieczorek and associates, using UV spectrometry and hydrolysis by RNases, claimed to have found a specific RNA-proteolipid complex in the serum of cancer patients which was not present in healthy individuals ( 19 - 20 ). The complex had unvarying composition regardless of the type cancer. Wieczorek et al. were further able to detect this specific RNA-proteolipid complex using a phage DNA cloned into E. coli and hybridized to RNA from neoplastic serum, a method distinctly different from the method of this invention. The DNA was then detected by immunoassay ( 21 ). However, the RNA found in this complex is described as 10 kilobases, which is so large as to make it questionable whether this truly represents RNA as described. More recently, DNA and RNA-containing nucleoprotein complexes, possibly representing functional nuclear suborganellular elements, were isolated from the nuclei of lymphoma cells ( 22 ). It was not shown, however, that these complexes can be shed extracellularly. other ribonucleoprotein complexes have been associated with c-myc oncogene RNA ( 56 ).
[0006] While plasma and serum are generally presumed to be cell-free, in the practical sense, particularly under conditions of routine clinical fractionation, plasma and serum may occasionally be contaminated by cells. These contaminating cells are a source of intracellular RNA which is detectable by the methods of the invention. While the level of contaminating cells may be reduced by filters or high speed centrifugation, these methods may also reduce extracellular RNA, particularly larger apoptotic bodies. Clinical utility of the invention is not dependent upon further separating of plasma or serum RNA into its extracellular and intracellular species.
[0007] While not related to the claims of this patent, similar analogy likely exists for detection of normal RNA (non-tumor derived or non-tumor associated RNA) in plasma and serum. subsequent to the filing of the provisional patent application for this patent, the inventor has shown that normal RNA (non-tumor derived RNA) could similarly be detected in the plasma or serum of both healthy volunteers and cancer patients using extraction methods and amplification methods as described by this invention. Qualitative results suggested that amplified product was greater when obtained from cancer patients. Further, use of a 0.5 micron filter prior to amplification reduced, but did not eliminate amplifiable RNA, consistent with extracellular RNA being of variable size, with additional contaminating cells possible.
[0008] While the methods of RNA extraction utilized in this invention have been previously used to extract both viral RNA and intracellular RNA, their applicability to extracellular tumor-related or tumor-associated RNA was not obvious. The physical characteristics of the extracellular RNA complexes remain largely unknown, and thus it was not known prior to this invention if the methods of extraction to be described could effectively remove extracellular RNA from their proteo-lipid, apoptotic, vesicular, or protein-bound complexes. This invention describes the applicability of these RNA extraction methods to the extraction of extracellular RNA from plasma or serum, and thus describes a new use for these extraction methods.
[0009] In summary, this invention describes a method by which RNA in plasma or serum can be detected and thus utilized for the detection, monitoring, or evaluation of cancer or premalignant conditions. This method utilizes nucleic acid amplification assays to detect human or animal tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA circulating in plasma or serum. It also enables extraction and amplification of intracellular RNA should cells be present in plasma or serum. The described extraction methods and various nucleic acid amplification assays, including but not limited to RT-PCR, branched DNA signal amplification, transciption-based amplification, amplifiable RNA reporters, boomerang DNA amplification, strand displacement activation, cycling probe technology, isothermal NASBA amplification, and other self-sustained sequence replication assays, have not been used for the detection of tumor-derived or tumor-associated RNA in plasma or serum, reflecting the general scientific bias that mammalian extracellular RNA does not exist circulating in plasma or serum, despite isolated studies to the contrary. Thus, this invention represents both a novel and non-obvious method of detecting, monitoring, and evaluating cancer or premalignant conditions, and a novel and non-obvious application of both RNA extraction methodology and nucleic acid amplification assays. This invention, as described below entails a multi-step procedure applied to plasma or serum which consists of three parts, with the initial step (Part A) involving extraction of tumor-derived or associated RNA from plasma or serum, a second step (Part B) involving application of a nucleic acid amplification assay, in which reverse transcription of RNA to its cDNA may be involved, and a third step (Part C) involving detection of the amplified product. Any nucleic acid amplification assay capable of permitting detection of small numbers of RNA molecules or their corresponding cDNA may be used in Part B. Similarly, various methods of detection of amplified product may be used in Part C, including but not limited to agarose gel electrophoresis, ELISA detection methods, electrochemiluminescence, high performance liquid chromatography, and reverse dot blot methods. Furthermore, Part B and Part C may utilize assays which enable either qualitative or quantitative RNA analysis. Thus, while this invention uses various methods described in the literature, it is the unique application of these methods to the detection of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA from plasma or serum that makes this invention novel. This invention provides a simple means for testing blood plasma or serum for tumor-derived or associated RNA, with the result of identifying patients harboring tumor cells. Since this invention enables detection of extracellular RNA, and does not depend upon the presence of circulating cancer cells, it offers a sensitive yet inexpensive screen for both malignancy and pre-malignancy, as well as a way for monitoring cancer and obtaining other prognostically important clinical information.
OBJECTS AND APPLICATIONS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore the object of this invention to detect or infer the presence of cancerous or precancerous cells whether from non-hematologic or hematologic malignancy, within a human or animal body, both in those known to have cancer and in those not previously diagnosed, by examining the plasma or serum fraction of blood for tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA, including, but not limited to, that derived from mutated oncogenes, using nucleic acid amplification assays, such as, but not limited to, polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), branched DNA signal amplification, isothermal nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), other self-sustained sequence replication assays, transcription-based amplification, boomerang DNA amplification, strand displacement activation, cycling probe technology, and amplifiable RNA reporters.
[0011] An application of this invention is to allow identification or analysis, either quantitatively or qualitatively, of tumor-derived or associated RNA in the blood plasma or serum of humans or animals during or following surgical procedures to remove premalignant or malignant lesions, and thus to allow stratification of such patients as to their risk of residual cancer following the surgery.
[0012] Another application of this invention is to allow identification or analysis, either quantitatively or qualitatively, of tumor-derived or associated RNA in the blood plasma or serum of humans or animals who are receiving cancer therapies, including but not limited to biotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, as a guide to whether adequate therapeutic effect has been obtained or whether additional or alternative therapy is required, and further, to assess prognosis in these patients.
[0013] Another application of this invention is to allow identification or analysis, either quantitatively or qualitatively, of tumor-derived or associated RNA in the blood plasma or serum of humans or animals who have completed therapy as an early indicator of relapsed cancer, impending relapse, or treatment failure.
[0014] Another application of this invention is to allow identification, either by detection or by inference, of the presence of premalignant neoplasms including dysplasias or adenomas by the examination of blood plasma or serum for RNA derived from or associated with those neoplasms. Furthermore, analysis, for example by a panel of assays to detect various RNA, may serve to distinguish malignant from premalignant conditions, or assist in medical monitoring to detect transformation of a neoplasm to an outright malignancy, or to detect regression.
[0015] Thus, an application of this invention is to provide a method of screening both individuals without known risk, and individuals at risk, for cancer and premalignant conditions, and further, for defining risk of cancer when that risk is unknown.
[0016] Another application of this invention is to allow identification or analysis, either quantitatively or qualitatively, of tumor-derived or associated RNA in the blood plasma or serum of humans or animals either newly or recently diagnosed with cancer or a premalignant condition in order to clarify when to initiate therapy, including adjuvant therapies.
[0017] Another application of this invention is to allow identification or analysis of tumor-derived or associated RNA, either singularly or by a panel approach detecting varied RNA, in the blood plasma or serum of humans or animals in order to determine specific characteristics of a given patient's tumor, as to assist in the development of patient-specific therapies, help direct a given patient into a given treatment regimen, or help predict prognosis or tumor behavior.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The objects, advantages and applications of the present invention are achieved by the hereinafter described method for detecting tumor derived or associated extracellular RNA from body fluids, in particular from mammalian blood plasma or serum by (A) extraction of RNA from blood plasma or serum; (B) amplification of the RNA by nucleic acid amplification assays, including (1) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), ligase chain reaction, branched DNA signal amplification, transcription-based amplification, amplifiable RNA reporters, Q-beta replication, boomerang DNA amplification, strand displacement activation, cycling probe technology, isothermal nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) and self-sustained sequence replication assays. The primers used may be selected for their ability to characterize the tumor; and (C) detection of the specific amplified RNA.
[0019] This method of detection can be employed in various methods of use including the detection of early cancers and premalignant neoplasms and invasive or advanced cancers, and for the monitoring of patients during treatment therapy and for post-operative monitoring, and to develop appropriate patient-specific treatment strategies as described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The use of RNA detection is preferred in many circumstances over DNA detection since a greater number of RNA molecules are potentially available, thus allowing potentially greater sensitivity. Furthermore, since wild-type DNA genetic information is identical in all somatic cells of an individual, discrimination between normal and tumor-associated DNA is dependent upon the presence of a mutation. Detection of RNA, by reflecting activity of the gene, allows demonstration of an inappropriately expressing non-mutated gene, as is typically seen in malignancy. Thus, RNA amplification methods allow a way to detect gene expression, whether normal or mutated, which is turned on in cancer. The present invention provides a much greater applicability and versatility to monitoring cancer than do any methods based on DNA analysis. For a DNA method to detect cancers from normals, there must be some mutation or genetic rearrangement present in the cancer, but not in the normal. The present process of using RNA will similarly detect the mutant RNA produced from this DNA. However, it further allows detection of inappropriately expressing “normal” genes. Thus, compared to methods detecting DNA, methods detecting RNA provide greater versatility and applicability in addition to the expected greater sensitivity.
[0021] This invention relates to a method of detecting or inferring the presence of cancerous or precancerous cells, whether from a non-hematologic malignancy (i.e., solid tumor) or from a hematologic malignancy, in a human or animal by the combination of three steps applied to plasma or serum. The first step (Part A) involves the extraction of tumor-derived or associated RNA from blood plasma or serum. The second step (Part B) applies a nucleic acid amplification assay to the extracted RNA. In this step, the extracted RNA may first be reverse transcribed to cDNA prior to amplification of the cDNA. The third step (Part C) allows for the detection of the amplified product. Parts B and C may be performed as to allow either qualitative or quantitative detection of the RNA, depending upon the ultimate clinical objective or application, as described herein. Various methods, as, detailed below, may be used in Part A. Similarly, any nucleic acid amplification assay which can be utilized in the detection of small numbers of RNA or corresponding cDNA molecules, including but not limited to the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), branched DNA signal amplification, ligase chain reaction, isothermal nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), Q-beta replication, transcription-based amplification, amplifiable RNA reporters, boomerang DNA amplification, strand displacement activation, cycling probe technology, and other self-sustained sequence replication assays, as well as variations on these including methods for nucleic acid enrichment such as by using restriction digestion with polymerase chain reaction and the use of nested primers, may be used in Part B. Similarly, any method capable of demonstrating amplified nucleic acid product, including but not limited to agarose gel electrophoresis, ELISA detection methods, electrochemiluminescence, high performance liquid chromatography, and reverse dot blot methods, may be used in Part C. In this invention, any of the various. methods in Part A may be combined with any method applicable for Part B, which can then be combined with any applicable method in Part C. It is the new application of these methods to the detection of tumor-derived or associated RNA in plasma or serum, and in particular to extracellular RNA but also to plasma or serum intracellular RNA, that makes this invention novel. Several methods applicable for each of Part A, Part B, and Part C, will be described in detail below as a description of the invention. Again, it is to be emphasized that any method in Part A can be combined with any method in Part B, with any method in Part C to follow. Furthermore, it should be emphasized that while the contribution of extracellular RNA versus intracellular RNA as detected in plasma or serum may be defined, for example by using filters or high speed centrifugation, it is not a requirement of the invention that such a definition be made.
[0022] Either “fresh” blood plasma or serum, or frozen (stored) and subsequently thawed plasma or serum may be used for purposes of this invention. Frozen (stored) plasma or serum should optimally be maintained at storage conditions of −20 to −70 degrees centigrade until thawed and used. “Fresh” plasma or serum should be refrigerated or maintained on ice until used, with RNA extraction being performed as soon as possible.
[0023] Blood is drawn by standard methods into a collection tube, preferably siliconized glass, either without anticoagulant for preparation of serum, or with EDTA, sodium citrate, heparin, or similar anticoagulants for preparation of plasma. The preferred method if preparing plasma or serum for storage, although not an absolute requirement, is that plasma or serum be first fractionated from whole blood prior to being frozen. This reduces the burden of extraneous intracellular RNA released from lysis of frozen and thawed cells which might reduce the sensitivity of the amplification assay or interfere with the amplification assay through release of inhibitors to PCR such as porphyrins and hematin. “Fresh” plasma or serum may be fractionated from whole blood by centrifugation, using preferably gentle centrifugation at 300-800×g for five to ten minutes, or fractionated by other standard methods. High centrifugation rates capable of fractionating out apoptotic bodies should be avoided. Since heparin may interfere with RT-PCR, use of heparinized blood may require pretreatment with heparinase as described ( 23 ), followed by removal of calcium prior to reverse transcription, as described ( 23 ). Thus, EDTA is the preferred anticoagulant for blood specimens in which PCR amplification is planned.
[0024] PART A: Extraction of Extracellular RNA from Plasma or Serum
[0025] In Part A, RNA extraction methods previously published for the extraction of mammalian intracellular RNA or viral RNA may be adapted, either as published or with modification, for extraction of tumor-derived or associated RNA from plasma and serum. The volume of plasma or serum used in part A may be varied dependent upon clinical intent, but volumes of 100 microliters to one milliliter of plasma or serum are sufficient in part A, with the larger volumes often indicated in settings of minimal or premalignant disease. For example:
[0026] Both extracellular RNA and intracellular RNA may be extracted from plasma or serum using silica particles, glass beads, or diatoms, as in the method or adaptations of Boon et al. ( 24 ). Application of the method adapted by Cheung et al. ( 25 ) is described:
[0027] Size fractionated silica particles are prepared by suspending 60 grams of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 , Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) in 500 milliliters of demineralized sterile double-distilled water. The suspension is then settled for 24 hours at room temperature. Four-hundred thirty (430) milliliters of supernatant is removed by suction and the particles are resuspended in demineralized, sterile double-distilled water added to equal a volume of 500 milliliters. After an additional 5 hours of settlement, 440 milliliters of the supernatant is removed by suction, and 600 microliters of HCl (32% wt/vol) is added to adjust the suspension to a pH2. The suspension is aliquotted and stored in the dark.
[0028] Lysis buffer is prepared by dissolving 120 grams of guinidine thiocyanate (GuSCN, Fluka Chemical, Buchs, Switzerland) into 100 milliliters of 0.1 M Tris hydrochloride (Tris-HCl ) (pH 6.4), and 22 milliliters of 0.2 M EDTA, adjusted to pH 8.0 with NaOH, and 2.6 grams of Triton X-100 (Packard Instrument Co., Downers Grove, Ill.). The solution is then homogenized.
[0029] Washing buffer is prepared by dissolving 120 grams of guinidine thiocyanate (GuSCN) into 100 milliliters of 0.1 M Tris-HCl (pH 6.4).
[0030] One hundred microliters to two hundred fifty microliters (with greater amounts required in settings of minimal disease) of plasma or serum are mixed with 40 microliters of silica suspension prepared as above, and with 900 microliters of lysis buffer, prepared as above, using an Eppendorf 5432 mixer over 10 minutes at room temperature. The mixture is then centrifuged at 12,000×g for one minute and the supernatant aspirated and discarded. The silica-RNA pellet is then washed twice with 450 microliters of washing buffer, prepared as above. The pellet is then washed twice with one milliliter of 70% (vol/vol) ethanol. The pellet is then given a final wash with one milliliter of acetone and dried on a heat block at 56 degrees centigrade for ten minutes. The pellet is resuspended in 20 to 50 microliters of diethyl procarbonate-treated water at 56 degrees centigrade for ten minutes to elute the RNA. The sample can alternatively be eluted for ten minutes at 56 degrees centigrade with a TE buffer consisting of 10 millimolar Tris-ris-HCl-one millimolar EDTA (pH 8.0) with an RNase inhibitor (RNAsin, 0.5 U/microliter, Promega), with or without Proteinase K (100 ng/ml) as described by Boom et al. ( 26 ). Following elution, the sample is then centrifuged at 12,000×g for three minutes, and the RNA containing supernatant recovered. The RNA extract is now used in Part B.
[0031] As an alternative method, both extracellular RNA and intracellular RNA may be extracted from plasma or serum in Part A using the Acid Guanidinium Thiocyanate-Phenol-chloroform extraction method described by Chomozynski and Sacchi ( 27 ) as follows:
[0032] The denaturing solution consists of 4 M guanidinium thiocyanate, 25 millimolar sodium citrate, pH 7.0, 0.5% sarcosyl, 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol. The denaturing solution is prepared as follows: A stock solution is prepared by dissolving 250 grams of guanidinium thiocyanate (GuSCN, Fluka Chemical) with 293 milliliters of demineralized sterile double-distilled water, 17.6 milliliters of 0.75 M sodium citrate, pH 7.0, and 26.4 milliliters of 10% sarcosyl at 65 degrees centigrade. The denaturing solution is prepared by adding 0.36 milliliters 2-mercaptoethanol/50 milliliters of stock solution.
[0033] One hundred microliters to one milliliter of plasma or serum is mixed with one milliliter of denaturing solution. Sequentially, 0.1 milliliter of 2 M sodium acetate, pH 4.0, 1 milliliter of phenol, and 0.2 milliliter of chloroform-isoamyl alcohol (49:1) are added, with mixing after addition of each reagent. The resultant mixture is shaken vigorously for 10 seconds, cooled on ice for 15 minutes, and then centrifuged at 10,000×g for 20 minutes at 4 degrees centigrade. The aqueous phase is then transferred to a clean tube and mixed with 1 milliliter of isopropanol. The mixture is then cooled at −20 degrees centigrade for 1-2 hours to precipitate RNA. After centrifugation at 10,000×g for 20 minutes the resulting RNA pellet is dissolved in 0.3 milliliter of denaturing solution, and then reprecipitated with 1 volume isopropanol at −20 degrees centigrade for one hour. Following another centrifugation at 10,000×g for ten minutes at 4 degrees centigrade, 75% ethanol is added to resuspend the RNA pellet, which is then sedimented and vacuum dried, and then dissolved in 5-25 microliters of 0.5% SDS at 65 degrees centigrade for ten minutes. The RNA extract is now used in Part B.
[0034] As the preferred embodiment for Part A, and as an alternative method, extracellular RNA and intracellular RNA may be extracted from plasma or serum in Part A using variations of the acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction method. For example, in the preferred embodiment RNA is extracted from plasma or serum using TRI reagent, a monophase guanidine-thiocyanate-phenol solution, as described by Chomczynski ( 28 ). One hundred microliters to one milliliter of plasma or serum is processed using one milliliter of TRI Reagent(TM) (TRI Reagent, Sigma Trisolv(TM), BioTecx Laboratories, Houston, Tex., TRIzol(TM), GIBCO BRL/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md., ISOGEN(TM), Nippon Gene, Toyama, Japan, RNA Stat(TM) 60, Tel-test, Friendsword, Tex.) according to manufacturer's directions. Minor adaptations may be applied as currently practiced within the art. Thus, from one hundred microliters to one milliliter of plasma or serum is mixed with one milliliter of TRI Reagent. Then 0.2 milliliter of chloroform is mixed for 15 seconds, and the mixture allowed to stand for 3 minutes at room temperature. The mixture is then centrifuged at 4 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes at 12,000×g. The upper aqueous phase is removed to which 0.5 milliliter of isopropanol is mixed, and then left at room temperature for five minutes, followed by centrifugation at 4 degrees centigrade for ten minutes at 12,000×g. The RNA pellet is then washed with one milliliter of 75% ethanol by centrifuging at 12,000×g for 5 minutes. The pellet is air dried and resuspended in 11.2 microliters of RNAse free water. Contamination by polysaccharides and proteoglycans, which may be present in extracellular proteolipid-RNA complexes, may be reduced by modification of the precipitation step of the TRI Reagent(TM) procedure, as described by Chomczynski and Mackey ( 29 ) as follows:
[0035] One hundred microliters to one milliliter of plasma or serum is mixed with TRI Reagent(TM) as per manufacturer's directions, being subjected to phase separation using either chloroform or bromo-chloropropane ( 30 ) and centrifugation at 10,000×g for 15 minutes. The aqueous phase is removed and then mixed with 0.25 milliliters of isopropanol followed with 0.25 milliliters of a high-salt precipitation solution (1.2 M NaCl and 0.8 M sodium citrate). The mixture is centrifuged at 10,000×g for 5 minutes and washed with one milliliter of 75% ethanol. The RNA pellet is then vacuum dried and then dissolved in 5-25 microliters of 0.5% SDS at 65 degrees centigrade for ten minutes. The RNA extract is now used in Part B.
[0036] Alternative methods may be used to extract RNA from plasma or serum in Part A, including but not limited to centrifugation through a cesium chloride gradient, including the method as described by Chirgwin et al. ( 31 ), and co-precipitation of extracellular RNA from plasma or serum with gelatin, such as by adaptations of the method of Fournie et al. ( 32 ) to RNA extraction.
[0037] Circulating extracellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), including tumor-derived or associated extracellular DNA, is also present in plasma and serum ( 33 ). Since this DNA will additionally be extracted to varying degrees during the RNA extraction methods described above, it may be desirable or necessary (depending upon clinical objectives) to further purify the RNA extract and remove trace DNA prior to proceeding to Part B. This may be accomplished using DNase, for example by the method as described by Rashtchian ( 34 ), as follows:
[0038] For one microgram of RNA, in a 0.5 milliliter centrifuge tube placed on ice, add one microliter of 10×DNase I reaction buffer (200 micromolar Tris-HCl (pH 8.4), 500 micromolar KCl, 25 micromolar MgCl 2 , one micromolar per milliliter BSA). Add to this one unit DNase I (GIBCO/BRL catalog #18068-015). Then bring the volume to ten microliter with DEPC-treated distilled water, and follow by incubating at room temperature for 15 minutes. The DNase I is then inactivated by the addition of 20 millimolar EDTA to the mixture, and heating for 10 minutes at 65 degrees centigrade. The treated RNA may now go directly to Part B.
[0039] Alternatively, primers in Part B may be constructed which favor amplification of the RNA products, but not of contaminating DNA, such as by using primers which span the splice junctions in RNA, or primers which span an intron. Alternative methods of amplifying RNA but not the contaminating DNA include the methods as described by Moore et al. ( 35 ), and methods as described by Buchman et al. ( 36 ), which employs a dU-containing oligonucleotide as an adaptor primer.
[0040] PART B: Nucleic Acid Amplification
[0041] In Part B, RNA which has been extracted from plasma or serum during Part A, or its corresponding cDNA, is amplified using any nucleic acid amplification assay utilized for detection of low numbers of RNA molecules. Applicable assays include but are not limited to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), ligase chain reaction ( 37 ), branched DNA signal amplification ( 38 ), amplifiable RNA reporters, Q-beta replication, transcription-based amplification, boomerang DNA amplification, strand displacement activation, cycling probe technology, isothermal nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) ( 39 ), and other self-sustained sequence replication assays. It is not necessary to modify these assays from their published methods for Part B. The referenced publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for their descriptions for performing the various assays identified therein. It is the application of these nucleic acid amplification assays to the detection of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA in plasma or serum that makes their use novel. The preferred embodiment for Part B uses the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
[0042] Primers used in the amplification assay should be based on the specific tumor-derived or associated RNA of interest which characterizes the tumor. Tumor-derived or associated RNA includes but is not limited to:
[0043] mRNA related to mutated oncogenes or mutated DNA, a partial list of which includes H-ras, K-ras, N-ras, c-myc, her-2-neu, bcr-abl, fms, src, fos, sis, jun, erb-B-1, VHL, PML/RAR, AML1-ETO, EWS/FLI-1, EWS/ERG.
[0044] mRNA related to tumor suppressor genes, a partial list of which includes p53, RB, MCC, APC, DCC, NF1, WT.
[0045] mRNA related to tumor-associated protein which is found elevated in certain cancers, a partial list of which includes alpha-feto protein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), TAG-72, CA 19-9, CA-125, prostate specific antigen (PSA), CD44, and hcg (human chorionic gonadotropin).
[0046] mRNA related to tumor-derived protein not normally found circulating in blood, a partial list of which includes tyrosinase mRNA, keratin 19 mRNA.
[0047] mRNA related to tumor-specific antigens, such as in MAGE 1, MAGE 2, MAGE 3, MAGE 4, GP-100, and MAGE 6, MUC 18, P97.
[0048] mRNA or messenger-like RNA associated with ribonucleoproteins and RNA within ribonucleoproteins, a partial list of which includes telomerase RNA, and RNA associated with heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein Al (hn RNP-A1) and A2/B1 (hn RNP-A2/B1) complexes, and heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hn RNP-K), such as c-myc oncogene RNA, in addition to those RNA previously described above when associated with ribonucleoprotein.
[0049] For example, oligonucleotide primer sequences for the bcr-abl transcript may be as follows ( 40 ):
[0050] Primer 1 at the M-bcr location:
[0051] (5′-TGGAGCTGCAGATGCTGACCAACTCG-3′).
[0052] Primer 2 at the exon II abl location:
[0053] (5′-ATCTCCACTGGCCACAAAATCATACA-3′).
[0054] Primer 3 at the M-bcr location:
[0055] (5′-GAAGTGTTTCAGAAGCTTCTCC-3′).
[0056] Primer 4 at the exon II abl location:
[0057] (5′-TGATTATAGCCTAAGACCCGGA-3′).
[0058] The nested RT-PCR assay yields a 305 or a 234 base pair product, depending upon bcr exon 3 expression.
[0059] As another example, nested primers for human tyrosinase cDNA amplification can be as follows ( 41 ):
[0060] Primer 1 (outer, sense)—(5′-TTGGCAGATTGTCTGTAGCC-3′)
[0061] Primer 2 (outer, anti-sense)—(5′-AGGCATTGTCATGCTGCTT-3′)
[0062] Primer 3 (nested, sense)—(5′-GTCTTTATGCAATGGAACGC-3′)
[0063] Primer 4 (nested, anti-sense)—(5′-GCTATCCCAGTAAGTGGACT-3′)
[0064] The outer primers result in a PCR amplification product of 284 base pairs, and the nested primers result in a fragment of 207 base pairs.
[0065] The preferred oligonucleotide primer sequences for specific tumor-related or tumor-associated mRNA are previously published, with referenced publications incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
[0066] Some, but not all, amplification assays require reverse transcription of RNA to cDNA. As noted, the method of reverse transcription and amplification may be performed by previously published or recommended procedures, which referenced publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and modification is not required by the invention beyond steps as described in Part A. Various reverse transcriptases may be used, including, but not limited to, MMLV RT, RNase H mutants of MMLV RT such as Superscript and Superscript II (Life Technologies, GIBCO BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.), AMV RT, and thermostable reverse transcriptase from Thermus Thermophilus. For example, one method, but not the only method, which may be used to convert RNA extracted from plasma or serum in Part A to cDNA is the protocol adapted from the Superscript II Preamplification system (Life Technologies, GIBCO BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.; catalog no. 18089-011), as described by Rashtchian ( 34 ), adapted as follows:
[0067] 1-5 micrograms of RNA extracted from plasma or serum in Part A in 13 microliters of DEPC-treated water is added to a clean microcentrifuge tube. Then one microliter of either oligo (dT) (0.5 milligram/milliliter) or random hexamer solution (50 ng/microliter) is added and mixed gently. The mixture is then heated to 70 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes and then incubated on ice for one minute. Then, it is centrifuged briefly followed by the addition of 2 microliters of 10×synthesis buffer (200 mM Tris-HCI, pH 8.4, 500 mM KCl, 25 mm magnesium chloride, one milligram/milliliter of BSA), one microliter of 10 mM each of dNTP mix, 2 microliters of 0.1 M DTT, one microliter of SuperScript II RT (200 U/microliter) (Life Technologies, GIBCO BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). After gentle mixing, the reaction is collected by brief centrifugation, and incubated at room temperature for ten minutes. The tube is then transferred to a 42 degrees centigrade water bath or heat block and incubated for 50 minutes. The reaction is then terminated by incubating the tube at 70 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes, and then placing it on ice. The reaction is collected by brief centrifugation, and one microliter of RNase H (2 units) is added followed by incubation at 37 degrees centigrade for 20 minutes before proceeding to nucleic acid amplification.
[0068] Nucleic acid amplification then proceeds as follows:
[0069] To the cDNA mixture add the following: 8 microliters of 10×synthesis buffer (200 mM Tris-HCl , pH 8.4, 500 mM KCl, 25 mM magnesium chloride, 1 mg/ml of BSA), 68 microliters sterile double-distilled water, one microliter amplification primer 1 (10 micromolar), one microliter amplification primer 2 (10 micromolar), one microliter Taq DNA polymerase (2-5 U/microliter). Mix gently and overlay the reaction mixture with mineral oil. The mixture is heated to 94 degrees centigrade for 5 minutes to denature remaining RNA/cDNA hybrids. PCR amplification is then performed in an automated thermal-cycler for 15-50 cycles, at 94 degrees centigrade for one minute, 55 degrees centigrade for 30 to 90 seconds, and 72 degrees centigrade for 2 minutes. The amplified PCR product is then detected in Part C.
[0070] Furthermore, if the primers contain appropriate restriction sites, restriction digestion may be performed on the amplified product to allow further discrimination between mutant and wild-type sequences.
[0071] Cycling parameters and magnesium concentration may vary depending upon the specific case. For example, an alternative method using nested primers useful for detection of human tyrosinase mRNA in Part B is the method described by Smith et al. ( 4 ), as follows:
[0072] Primer sequences are as described above for human tyrosinase. Ten microliters of RNA extracted in Part A from plasma or serum are treated for reverse transcription by heating at 90 degrees centigrade for 4 minutes, cooling rapidly, and diluting to 20 microliters with a mixture consisting of 1×PCR buffer (10 mmol/liter Tris-HCl , pH 8.4, 50 mmol/liter KCl, 100 microgram/milliter gelatin), 8 mmol/liter magnesium chloride, 1 mmol/liter each DATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP, 25 pmol tyrosinase primer 2 (as previously described), 20 units of ‘RNA guard’ (Pharmacia), and 4 units of murine moloney leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (Pharmacia). The total mixture is then incubated at 37 degrees centigrade for one hour, half the sample removed, and diluted to 50 microliters containing 1×PCR buffer, 200 micromol/liter each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP, 1.6 mmol/liter magnesium chloride, 150 pmol primer 1 and primer 2, 0.1% Triton X-100, and 1 unit Taq DNA polymerase (Promega). The mixture is overlaid with oil, and heated at 95 degrees centigrade for 5 minutes, followed by 30 cycles of PCR in a thermal cycler at 95 degrees centigrade for 65 seconds, 55 degrees centigrade for 65 seconds, and 72 degrees centigrade for 50 seconds. The products are then reamplified with nested primer 3 and nested primer 4 using 5 microliters in a 1:100 dilution. These were amplified in a 25 microliter reaction volume for an additional 30 cycles. This final amplified PCR product is now detected in Part C, either by being electrophoresed on an agarose gel, or by other method.
[0073] The preferred embodiments for Part B amplification of specific tumor-related or tumor-associated RNA, including specific primers, method of reverse transciption, and method of RT-PCR, are described by the following referenced publications which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for their description for performing the various assays identified therein.
[0074] For Part B amplification of tyrosinase mRNA, a mRNA associated with malignant melanoma, the preferred method is that of Brossart et al. ( 41 ).
[0075] For Part B amplification of Keratin 19 mRNA, a mRNA associated with breast cancer and other epithelial malignancies, the preferred method is that of Datta et al. ( 5 ).
[0076] For Part B amplification of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA, a mRNA associated with prostate cancer, the preferred method is that of Katz, et al. ( 72 ).
[0077] For Part B amplification of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA, a mRNA associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, testicular cancer, and other cancers, the preferred method is that of Komeda et al. ( 54 ).
[0078] For Part B amplification of BCR/abl mRNA, a mRNA associated with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the preferred method is that of Stock et al. ( 57 ), or alternatively, by the method of Edmonds et al. ( 40 ).
[0079] For Part B amplification of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA, a mRNA associated with gastrointestinal cancers and breast cancer, the preferred method is that of Gerhard et al. ( 58 ).
[0080] For Part B amplification of P97 mRNA, a mRNA associated with malignant melanoma, the preferred method is that of Hoon et al. ( 59 ).
[0081] For Part B amplification of MUC 18 mRNA, a mRNA associated with malignant melanoma, the preferred method is that of Hoon et al. ( 59 ).
[0082] For Part B amplification of PML/RAR −α mRNA, a mRNA associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia, the preferred method is that of Miller et al. ( 60 ).
[0083] For Part B amplification of CD44 mRNA, a mRNA associated with lung cancer, the preferred method is that of Penno et al. ( 61 ).
[0084] For Part B amplification of EWS/FLI-1 mRNA, a mRNA associated with Ewing's sarcoma and other Ewing's tumors, the preferred method is that of Pfleiderer et al. ( 62 ).
[0085] For Part B amplification of EWS/ERG mRNA, a mRNA associated with Ewing's sarcoma and other Ewing's tumors, the preferred method is that of Pfleiderer et al. ( 62 ).
[0086] For Part B amplification of AML1/ETO mRNA, a mRNA associated with acute myelogenous leukemia, the preferred method is that of Maruyama et al. ( 63 ).
[0087] For Part B amplification of MAGE mRNA, including mRNA of MAGE-1, MAGE-2, MAGE-3, and MAGE-4, which are associated with bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and others, the preferred method is that of Patard et al. ( 64 ).
[0088] For Part B amplification of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin mRNA, a mRNA associated with malignant melanoma, germ cell tumors, and other cancers, the preferred method is that of Doi et al. ( 65 ).
[0089] For Part B amplification of human Telomerase-associated RNA, the preferred method is by application of the TRAP PCR method as described by Kim et al ( 69 ). Alternatively, other amplification methods may be used as described herein where primer selection is designed based upon the human Telomerase template sequence as described by Peng et al ( 76 ).
[0090] Alternative methods of nucleic acid amplification which may be used in Part B include other variations of RT-PCR, including quantitative RT-PCR, for example as adapted to the method described by Wang et al. ( 43 ) or by Karet et al. ( 44 ).
[0091] An alternative method of nucleic acid amplification which may be used in Part B is ligase chain reaction ( 66 ). Extracellular RNA extracted from plasma or serum in Part A must be reverse transcribed to cDNA. Oligonucleotide primers are selected which lie directly upon the cDNA site of interest. If a mutation site is present, oligonucleotides which are complementary to the site are made to contain the mutation only at their 3-prime end, excluding hybridization of non-mutated, wild-type DNA. Restriction sites can also be utilized to discriminate between mutant and wild-type sequences if necessary.
[0092] An alternative method of either qualitative or quantitative amplification of nucleic acid which may be used in Part B is branched DNA signal amplification, for example as adapted to the method described by Urdea et al. ( 38 ), with modification from the reference as follows: plasma or serum should only be centrifuged at lower speeds, as previously outlined. Extracellular RNA is then extracted from plasma or serum as described in Part A, and then added directly to microwells. The method for detection of tumor-related or tumor-associated RNA then proceeds as referenced ( 38 ), with target probes specific for the tumor-related or tumor-associated RNA or cDNA of interest, and with chemiluminescent light emission proportional to the amount of tumor-associated RNA in the plasma or serum specimen. The specifics of the referenced method are described further bu Urdea et al ( 71 ) with this reference incorporated herein in its entirety.
[0093] An alternative method of either qualitative or quantitative amplification of nucleic acid which may be used in Part B is isothermal nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), for example as adapted to the method described by Kievits et al. ( 39 ), or by Vandamme et al. ( 45 ). The method of Sooknanan et al. ( 67 ) may be used for the detection and quantification of BCR/ABL mRNA.
[0094] Alternative methods of either qualitative or quantitative amplification of nucleic acids which may be used in Part B include, but are not limited to, Q-beta replication, other self-sustained sequence replication assays, transcription-based amplification assays, and amplifiable RNA reporters, boomerang DNA amplification, strand displacement activation, and cycling probe technology.
[0095] The amplified product from Part B is next detected in Part C. Depending upon the detection method used in Part C, primers may need to be biotinylated or otherwise modified in Part B.
[0096] Part C: Detection of Amplified Product
[0097] There are numerous methods to detect amplified nucleic acid product, any of which may be used in Part C to detect the amplified product from Part B. The referenced publications, including those pertaining to detection of specific tumor-related or associated RNA or its corresponding cDNA as previously cited, and those pertaining to RNA or its corresponding cDNA detection as follows, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for the descriptions for performing the various assays identified therein.
[0098] In the preferred method, amplified product is detected in Part C using gel electrophoresis. In the preferred embodiment, 25 microliters of amplified (or post-amplification digested) product is electrophoresed through a 3% agarose gel in 1×TBE at 75 VDC. Electrophoresis is carried out for one to two hours before staining with ethidium bromide. As an alternative to ethidium bromide, the amplified product can be transferred from the gel to a membrane by blotting techniques to be detected with a labeled probe ( 46 ).
[0099] An alternative method which may be used in Part C to detect the amplified product from Part B is ELISA detection. Depending upon the ELISA detection method used, it may be necessary to biotinylate or otherwise modify the primers used in part B.
[0100] For example, one ELISA detection method which may be used in Part C is the method described by Landgraf et al. ( 47 ), as follows:
[0101] Primers are modified with biotinylamidocaproat-N-hydroxysuccinimidester (Sigma) and fluoroescein isothiocyanate (FITC) (Sigma) by the method of Landgraf et al. ( 48 ). Following invention Part B, the ELISA is carried out in microtiter plates coated with 1 microgram/milliliter affinity-purified avidin (13 U/mg, Sigma). One microliter of the final amplification product (or post-digestion product) is diluted with 50 microliters of PBS-Tween, and then incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes in the microtiter plate well. Non-incorporated primers are removed by washing with PBS-Tween. The plates are then incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes after adding 50 microliters per well of anti-FITC antibody-HRPO conjugate (Dakopatts) which Is at a 1:500 dilution with PBS-Tween. Following this, 80 microliters of an ELISA solution made from one milligram 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidin (Sigma) dissolved in one milliliter dimethyl sulfoxide, and diluted 1:10 with 50 millimol Na-acetate: citric acid, pH 4.9, with 3 microliter of 30% (vol/vol) H 2 O 2 added, is added to each well. After 2-5 minutes, the reaction is stopped by adding 80 microliter of 2 M H 2 O 4 . The optical density is then read at 450 nm.
[0102] Alternative methods of ELISA detection which may be used in Part C include, but are not limited to, immunological detection methods using monoclonal antibody specific for RNA/DNA hybrids, such as by adapting methods described by Coutlee et al. ( 49 ), or by Bobo et al. ( 50 ), which publications are also incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for their description of the detection methods identified therein.
[0103] Alternative methods of ELISA detection which may be used in Part C include, but are not limited to, commercial detection systems such as the SHARP signal system (Digene Diagnostics, Inc.), and the DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA), (GEN-ETI-K DEIA, Sorin Biomedica).
[0104] Alternative methods by which amplified product from Part B may be detected in Part C include but are not limited to all methods of electrochemiluminescence detection, such as by adapting the method described by Blackburn et al. ( 51 ), or by DiCesare et al. ( 52 ), and all methods utilizing reverse dot blot detection technology ( 53 ), and all methods utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography.
Therapeutic Applications
[0105] The extraction of extracellular tumor-associated or derived RNA from plasma or serum, and the amplification of that RNA or its corresponding cDNA to detectable levels, permits further analysis or other manipulation of that RNA, or the corresponding cDNA, from which further clinical utility is realized. In this optional step of the invention, amplified extracellular RNA or the corresponding cDNA is analyzed to define the characteristics or composition of the tumor from which the RNA originates. Any of several methods may be used, dependent upon the desired information, including. nucleic acid sequencing, spectroscopy including proton NMR spectroscopy, biochemical analysis, and immunologic analysis. In the preferred embodiment, amplified cDNA is isolated—for example by excising DNA bands from an agarose gel—reamplified, cloned into a plasmid vector, for example the PGEM-T vector plasmid (Promega) and sequenced using a commercial kit such as Sequenase 2.0 (USB). Analysis to define the characteristics or composition of the tumor-associated RNA in plasma or serum, and thus the tumor of origin, affords a wide array of clinical utility, including the description, characterization, or classification of the tumor, whether known or occult, such as by tissue of origin, by type (such as premalignant or malignant), phenotype, and genotype, and by description or characterization of tumor behavior, physiology and biochemistry, as to gain understanding of tumor invasiveness, propensity to metastasize, and sensitivity or resistance to various therapies, thereby allowing the prediction of response to either ongoing or planned therapy and, further, allowing evaluation of prognosis. Comparison of the characteristics of extracellular RNA to previous biopsy or surgical specimens permits further evaluation of tumor heterogeneity or similarity in comparison to that specimen, and thus evaluation of tumor recurrence.
[0106] Following extraction of extracellular tumor-derived or tumor-associated RNA from plasma or serum and amplification of the corresponding cDNA, ribonucleic acid (RNA) may be transcribed or manufactured back from the amplified DNA as a further option. Transcription of RNA may be performed by employing a primer with an RNA polymerase promoter region joined to the standard primer sequence of the cDNA in an amplification reaction. RNA is then transcribed from the attached promoter region. In the preferred embodiment, amplified cDNA is cloned into an expression vector, and RNA is transcribed. Furthermore, as an optional preferred embodiment, the RNA is used in an in vitro translation reaction to manufacture tumor-associated or tumor-specific protein or associated peptides or oligopeptides, according to methods currently known in the art ( 73 - 76 ). Note, these cited references, and those to follow, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for their description for performing the various assays identified therein.
[0107] Extraction of tumor-derived or tumor-associated extracellular RNA, its amplification, characterization, and translation to tumor-associated or tumor-specific protein, provides significant utility, both in the assignment of therapy and in the development of tumor-specific therapies. Sequencing of RNA or cDNA allows assignment or development of antisense compounds, including synthetic oligonucleotides and other antisense constructs appropriately specific to the DNA, such as by construction of an expression plasmid such as by adapting the method of Aoki et al. ( 68 ) which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, or by other construction and use as referenced ( 77 - 81 ). Thus, application of the invention in this manner would entail the extraction of tumor-associated RNA from plasma or serum, followed by an optional step of reverse transcribing to cDNA, followed by amplification of the RNA or cDNA. The amplified product can then be sequenced to define the nucleic acid sequence of the tumor-associated RNA or cDNA. An antisense oligonucleotide is then constructed in such a manner as referenced above specific to the defined sequence, or alternatively, an already manufactured antisense compound is determined to be applicable, or may be manufactured when the sequence is known based upon knowledge of the primer sequence. Similarly, defining tumor characteristics by analysis of extracellular RNA allows assignment of specific monoclonal antibody or vaccine therapies appropriately specific to the tumor. Production of corresponding immunologic protein can be used in the development of tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies. Thus, application of the invention in this manner would entail the extraction of tumor-associated RNA from plasma or serum, followed by amplification to obtain a tumor-associated amplified product. The amplified product is translated, or transcribed and translated, into a protein or associated peptides or oligopeptides as previously described, thus providing a tumor-associated antigen. The tumor-associated antigen thus enables production of a monoclonal antibody directed against the antigen by use of hybridoma technology or other methods as currently practiced by the art ( 82 ). Said monoclonal antibody may further be conjugated with a toxin or other therapeutic agent ( 83 ), or with a radionucleotide ( 84 ) to provide further therapeutic or diagnostic use directed against the tumor. Similarly, translated protein or associated peptides or oligopeptides can be used in tumor-specific vaccine development. Furthermore, the extracellular RNA and complimentary DNA permit a means of defining or allowing the construction of a DNA construct which may be used in vaccine therapy. Specifically, the invention is applied to either define or obtain tumor-associated protein or peptides, RNA, or cDNA, by methods as previously described, and from which a tumor-directed vaccine may be developed or constructed. The methods by which the vaccine is further developed or constructed vary, but are known to the art ( 85 - 90 ), and are referenced herein in their entirety.
[0108] Of particular value, the invention allows the development and application of these tumor-specific therapies even when only premalignant tumors, early cancers, or occult cancers are present. Thus, the invention allows therapeutic intervention when tumor burden is low, immunologic function is relatively intact, and the patient is not compromised, all increasing the potential for cure.
Hypothetical Examples of the Invention
[0109] In the following examples, illustrative hypothetical clinical cases are presented to demonstrate the potential clinical use of the invent ion.
[0110] Case 1
[0111] A 26 year old asymptomatic hypothetical man presents for evaluation after learning his 37 year old brother was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. Peripheral blood is drawn in order to use the invention to evaluate for the presence of extracellular CEA mRNA in the patient's plasma. Plasma extracellular RNA is extracted during invention Part A by the Acid Guanidinium thiocyanate-Phenol-chloroform extraction method as previously described, followed by qualitative RT-PCR amplification in Invention Part B using CEA mRNA primers as previously described. The amplification assay as previously described ( 58 ) is performed in invention Part B. The final amplified product is detected by gel electrophoresis on a 3% agarose gel in invention Part C. Results are positive in this patient indicating the presence of CEA mRNA in the blood plasma.
[0112] CEA has been associated with colon cancer. While colon cancer is highly curable if diagnosed at an early stage, it is fatal when diagnosed at advanced metastatic stages. The positive results of the invention for this patient, in the setting of a strongly positive family history for colon cancer, are suggestive of either premalignant or malignant colon cancer. it is recommended that the patient undergo colonoscopy, and if no lesion is found, receive surveillance more frequently than would normally be given.
[0113] This hypothetical case illustrates how the invention can be used to screen high risk patients for cancer, detect either premalignant or malignant conditions prior to the metastatic state, and play a role in clinical management. While CEA mRNA is associated with other cancers, such as liver cancer, the addition of a multiplex panel approach using the invention to detect multiple different tumor-associated extracellular RNA, including for example K-ras, P53, DCC, and APC RNA, enables clarification as to whether the CEA mRNA is likely associated with a colon tumor, and further, whether the findings are consistent with a premalignant or a malignant tumor.
[0114] Case 2
[0115] A 33 year old hypothetical woman sees her local dermatologist after noting a “bleeding mole” on her back. Local excision diagnoses a malignant melanoma of 0.3 millimeter depth. Wide surgical re-excision is performed, and the patient is told she is likely cured and no further therapy is needed. Three months following her surgery the patient seeks a second opinion regarding the need for further therapy. Peripheral blood is drawn to evaluate her plasma for the presence of extracellular tyrosinase messenger RNA by the invention. Plasma extracellular RNA is extracted in invention Part A using the preferred TRI-Reagent method as previously described, followed by RT-PCR using nested primers for tyrosinase cDNA in invention Part B as previously described, with ELISA detection in invention Part C. Invention results detect the presence of tyrosinase mRNA in the patient's plasma. Tyrosinase is common to both normal melanocytes and malignant melanoma. However, tyrosinase mRNA does not normally circulate in blood, and its presence in plasma indicates latent malignant melanoma. Consequently, the patient is started on adjuvant therapy with interferon-alpha. Plasma extracellular tyrosinase RNA levels are subsequently serially followed in a quantitative fashion using the invention. Blood is drawn from the patient every two months, and plasma extracellular RNA is extracted in invention Part A using the silica extraction method as previously described. Quantitative RT-PCR amplification for tyrosinase mRNA is then performed in invention Part B using biotinylated primer using electrochemiluminescence based detection in invention Part C. Invention data demonstrates a serial rise in the patient's plasma extracellular tyrosinase mRNA levels. Consequent to this data, the interferon is stopped, and the patient is enrolled into an experimental adjuvant therapy protocol.
[0116] This hypothetical case illustrates several uses of the invention, including the detection of latent cancer, predicting prognosis and cancer recurrence following surgical excision, determining the need for additional therapy, evaluating the benefit of therapy and the need to change therapies, and evaluating prognosis of patients on therapy.
[0117] Case 3
[0118] A 76 year old hypothetical man is noted to have a pancreatic mass on CT scan imaging. His chest x-ray and colonoscopy are normal. The patient refuses to consider surgery because of the significant surgical risks. He elects to receive patient-specific therapy made possible by use of the invention. Since K-ras mutations are present in 80-90% of pancreatic cancers, peripheral blood is drawn to evaluate for and characterize extracellular mutant K-ras RNA circulating in plasma using the invention. Plasma extracellular RNA is extracted in invention Part A using the TRI reagent extraction method as previously described, followed by RT-PCR in invention Part B, with high performance liquid chromatography detection in Part C. Mutant K-ras amplification products are then separated following chromatography and the K-ras mutation is sequenced using standard techniques as previously described. Detection of mutant K-ras mRNA in the plasma confirms the likelihood of the pancreatic mass being a pancreatic cancer. Based upon the mutation sequence, a patient-specific therapy (i.e., specific to the patient's own cancer) is developed, in this case a ras vaccine specific to the mutant oncogene in this patient's pancreatic cancer. Alternatively, mutant K-ras specific protein, generated as previously described, may be used to develop a tumor-specific monoclonal antibody.
[0119] In this hypothetical case, the invention is used not only to help confirm a suspected diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, but to develop a patient-specific therapy. Patient-specific therapies—i.e., therapies specifically designed for a given patient's cancer, or a given type of cancer, are possible when specific characteristics of the tumor are recognized. Since the invention results in amplification of pure tumor product, it becomes possible to characterize the tumor, in this case using sequence analysis and/or transcription and translation. The technological leap that the invention enables is that it allows tumors to be characterized without the need for biopsy or surgery. Thus, it becomes possible to treat tumors even before they become clinically evident, i.e., treating at latent stages, pre-recurrence stages, or even pre-malignant stages. Early treatment of cancer before metastatic cells enter the bloodstream increases the likelihood of cure.
[0120] Case 4
[0121] A 36 year old hypothetical woman who has three small children at home was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She had been treated with surgery followed by six months of chemotherapy. In addition, her blood serum has been serially evaluated for extracellular keratin 19 mRNA using the invention in which serum extracellular kerain 19 mRNA is extracted in invention Part A using the silica extraction method, followed by RT-PCR amplification in invention Part B with ELISA detection in invention Part C. Keratin 19 mRNA encodes for an intermediate filament protein not normally found in blood which can serve as a marker for breast cancer. While previous results for this patient had been negative, her blood serum is now testing positive for extracellular keratin 19 mRNA by the invention, suggesting an impending cancer recurrence. A multiplex panel for serum extracellular myc, ras, P53, EGFr, and Her-2-neu RNA is performed using the invention. This data confirms that tumor characteristics are identical to those of the original breast cancer primary, confirming a recurrence rather than a new primary. Consequently, serum extracellular keratin 19 mRNA is measured in a quantitative fashion using a branched DNA signal amplification assay in invention Part B, with measurements performed 2 months and 4 months later. Quantitative measurements indicate increasing levels of keratin 19 mRNA, and allow extrapolation to predict that clinical recurrence will be noted in approximately 2 years. This information allows both the physician and the patient to plan future therapeutic options in the context of the patient's current social and family situation.
[0122] This hypothetical case illustrates the use of the invention to monitor patients following therapy for recurrence of their cancer, to determine characteristics of their tumor, and to predict prognosis. Breast cancer patients have a high incidence of second primaries, but the invention permits delineation of primary versus recurrent cancer by using a multiplex panel approach to evaluate tumor characteristics. Furthermore, since quantitative analysis in invention Part B allows clarification of prognosis, the patient is in a better position to plan therapy within the context of her social/family situation. Lastly, since the invention allows detection of tumor-derived extracellular RNA, and does not depend upon the presence of circulating cancer cells, recurrence can be detected at a very early stage (in this hypothetical case—2 years before clinical detection), which increases the likelihood of effective therapy.
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This invention relates to the use of tumor-derived or associated extracellular ribonucleic acid (RNA) found circulating in the plasma or serum fraction of blood for the detection, monitoring, or evaluation of cancer or premalignant conditions. Extracellular RNA may circulate as non-bound RNA, protein-bound RNA, lipid-RNA complexes, lipoprotein (proteolipid)—RNA complexes, protein-RNA complexes including within or in association with ribonucleoprotein complexes, nucleosomes, or within apoptotic bodies. Any intracellular RNA found in plasma or serum can additionally be detected by this invention. Specifically, this invention enables the extraction of circulating RNA from plasma or serum and utilizes nucleic acid amplification assays for the identification, detection, inference, monitoring, or evaluation of any neoplasm, benign, premalignant, or malignant, in humans or other animals, which might be associated with that RNA. Further, this invention allows the qualitative or quantitative detection of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA circulating in the plasma or serum of humans or animals with or without any prior knowledge of the presence of cancer or premalignant tissue.
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BACKGROUND
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a terminal apparatus and a communication method thereof.
Description of the Related Art
In the uplink of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE), single carrier transmission is performed to maintain a low cubic metric (CM). More specifically, in the presence of data signals, the data signals and control information are time multiplexed and transmitted in a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The control information includes response signals (positive/negative acknowledgments (ACK/NACK), hereinafter called “ACK/NACK signals”) and channel quality indicators (hereinafter called the “CQIs”). Data signals are divided into code blocks (CB), and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code is added to each code block for error correction.
ACK/NACK signals and CQIs have different allocation methods. (See Non-Patent Literatures 1 and 2, for example). More specifically, ACK/NACK signals are allocated in parts of a data signal resource by puncturing parts of the data signals (4 symbols) mapped to the resource adjacent to Reference Signals (RSs) (i.e., overwriting the data signals with the ACK/NACK signals). In contrasts, CQIs are allocated over entire sub-frames (2 slots). Since the data signals are allocated in resources other than the CQI allocated resource, no CQIs are punctured (see FIG. 1 .) The reasons for the difference in allocation are as follows: the allocation or non-allocation of an ACK/NACK signal depends on the presence or absence of data signals in downlink. In other words, it is more difficult to predict the occurrence of ACK/NACK signals than it is to predict that of CQIs; hence, puncturing capable of allocating the resource of a suddenly occurring ACK/NACK signal is used during mapping of ACK/NACK signals. Meanwhile, the timing of CQI transmission (i.e., sub-frames) is predetermined based on notification information, which allows the determination of allocation of data signal and CQI resources. Since ACK/NACK signals are important information, they are assigned to symbols in the vicinity of pilot signals, which have high estimation accuracy of transmission paths, thereby reducing ACK/NACK signal errors.
A modulation and coding rate scheme (MCS) for data signals in uplink is determined by a base station apparatus (hereinafter called the “base station” or “eNB”) based on the channel quality of the uplink. An MCS for control information in the uplink is determined by adding an offset to the MCS for data signals (see Non-Patent Literature 1, for example). More specifically, since control information is more important than data signals, the MCS for control information is set to a lower transmission rate than the MCS for data signals. This guarantees high-quality transmission of control information.
For example, in the 3GPP LTE uplink, if control information is transmitted in a PUSCH, the amount of resource assigned to the control information is determined based on a coding rate indicated in the MCS for data signals. More specifically, as shown in equation 1 below, the amount of the resource Q assigned to the control information is obtained by multiplying the inverse of the coding rate of data signal by an offset.
(
Equation
1
)
Q
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
·
β
offset
PUSCH
∑
r
=
0
C
-
1
K
r
⌉
[
1
]
With reference to equation 1, O indicates the number of bits in control information (i.e., ACK/NACK signal or CQI) and P indicates the number of bits for error correction added to the control information (for example, the number of bits in CRC and in some cases, P=0). The total of O and P (O+P) indicates the number of bits in uplink control information (UCI). M SC PUSCH-initial , N Symb PUSCH-initial , C and K r indicate the transmission bandwidth for PUSCH, the number of symbols transmitted in the PUSCH per unit transmission bandwidth, the number of code blocks into which data signals are divided, and the number of bits in each code block, respectively. UCI (i.e., control information) includes ACK/NACK, CQI, a rank indicator (RI), which indicates rank information, and a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), which provides precoding information.
With reference to equation 1, (M SC PUSCH-initial ·N Symb PUSCH-initial ) indicates the amount of transmission data signal resources, ΣK r indicates the number of bits in a single data signal (i.e., the total number of bits in code blocks into which the data signal is divided). Accordingly, ΣK r /(M SC PUSCH-initial ·N Symb PUSCH-initial ) represents a value that depends the coding rate of the data signal (hereinafter, called “coding rate”). The (M SC PUSCH-initial ·N Symb PUSCH-initial )/ΣK r shown in equation 1 indicates the inverse of the coding rate of data signal (i.e., the number of resource elements (RE: resource composed of one symbol or one sub-carrier) used to transmit one bit) β offset PUSCH indicates the amount of offset by which the above-mentioned inverse of the coding rate of data signal is multiplied, and is reported from a base station to each terminal apparatus (hereinafter, called the “terminal” or UE) via upper layers. More specifically, a table indicating candidates of the amounts of offset β offset PUSCH is defined for each part of control information (i.e., ACK/NACK signal and CQI). For example, a base station selects one amount of offset β offset PUSCH from the table (for example, see FIG. 2 ) containing candidates for the amount of offset β offset PUSCH defined for ACK/NACK signal and then notifies a terminal of a notification index corresponding to the selected amount of offset. As is evident from the term “PUSCH-initial,” (M SC PUSCH-initial ·N Symb PUSCH-initial ) represents the amount of transmission resource for the initial transmission of a data signal.
The standardization of 3GPP LTE-Advanced, which provides higher-speed transmission than 3GPP LTE, has started. The 3GPP LTE-Advanced system (hereinafter, may be called “LTE-A system”) follows the 3GPP LTE system (hereinafter, called “LTE system”). In 3GPP LTE-Advanced, base stations and terminals that can communicate in a wideband frequency range of 40 MHz or higher will be introduced to achieve downlink transmission rates of up to 1 Gbps.
In an LTE-Advanced uplink, the use of single user multiple input multiple output (SU-MIMO) transmission in which a single terminal transmits data signals in a plurality of layers has been studied. In the SU-MIMO communications, data signals are generated in a plurality of code words (CWs), each of which is transmitted in different layers. For example, CW#0 is transmitted in layers #0 and #1, and CW#1 is transmitted in layers #2 and #3. In each CW, a data signal is divided into a plurality of code blocks and CRC is added to each code block for error correction. For example, a data signal in CW#0 is divided into five code blocks and a data signal in CW#1 into eight code blocks. The “code word” can be regarded as a unit of data signals to be retransmitted. The “layer” is a synonym of a stream.
Unlike the above-mentioned LTE-A system, the LTE systems disclosed in the above-mentioned Non-Patent Literatures 1 and 2 assume the use of the non-MIMO transmission in uplink. In the non-MIMO transmission, a single layer is used at each terminal.
In the SU-MIMO transmission, control information is transmitted in a plurality of layers in some cases, and it is transmitted in one of the plurality of layers in other cases. For example, in an LTE-Advanced uplink, allocation of an ACK/NACK signal in a plurality of CWs and of a CQI in a single CW has been studied. More specifically, since an ACK/NACK signal is the most important information in all parts of control information, the same ACK/NACK signal is allocated in all the CWs (i.e., the same information is assigned to all layers (rank-1 transmission)), thereby reducing inter-layer interference. The same ACK/NACK signals transmitted in a plurality of CWs (i.e., space-division multiplexed) are combined into a single part of information on a transmission path, thereby eliminating the need for the receiving side (base station) to separate the ACK/NACK signals transmitted in a plurality of CWs. Accordingly, inter-layer interference that may occur on the receiving side during the separation does not occur. Thus, high receiving quality can be achieved. Note that the description below assumes that the control information is an ACK/NACK signal and allocated in two CWs (CW#0 and CW#1).
CITATION LIST
Non-Patent Literatures
NPL1
TS36.212 v8.7.0, “3GPP TSG RAN; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Multiplexing and channel coding”
NPL2
TS36.213 v8.8.0, “3GPP TSG RAN; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical Layer Procedure”
BRIEF SUMMARY
Technical Problem
In the SU-MIMO communications, when transmitting control information in a PUSCH, the amount of the resource required to allocate control information (ACK/NACK signals) is determined based on the coding rate of one of the two CWs, just as in the LTE system (for example, Non-Patent Literature 1). For example, as shown in equation 2 below, the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 of the two CWs (i.e., CW#0 and CW#1) is used to determine the amount of the resource Q CW#0 required to assign control information in each layer.
(
Equation
2
)
Q
CW
#0
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
×
1
r
CW
#0
×
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
[
2
]
In equation 2, L indicates the total number of layers (the total number of layers to which CW#0 and CW#1 are assigned). In equation 2, as in equation 1, the amount of the resource required to allocate control information in each layer is determined by multiplying the inverse (1/r CW#0 ) of the coding rate r CW#0 by an offset amount β offset PUSCH and then dividing the result by the total number of layers L. A terminal uses the amount of the resource Q CW#0 determined in accordance with equation 2 to transmit CW#0 and CW#1 assigned to the layers (i.e., L layers).
In this case, however, when CW#0 and CW#1 are combined in the base station, there is a concern that the reception quality of control information after the combination may be poor and fail to meet a requirement.
CW#0, for example, is transmitted using the amount of the resource Q CW#0 which is determined based on the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0, that is, the amount of resource appropriate for CW#0. Accordingly, control information allocated in CW#0 is likely to meet required reception quality. In contrast, CW#1 is transmitted using the amount of the resource Q CW#0 which is determined based on the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 (that is, the other CW). Thus, control information allocated in CW#1 may degrade in the reception quality if the layer to which CW#1 is allocated has a poor transmission path environment.
As shown in FIG. 3 , for example, CW#0 is allocated in layer #0 and layer #1 and CW#1 is allocated in layer #2 and layer #3. A description is given of a case where the coding rate of CW#0 is higher than the coding rate of CW#1. To put it differently, the amount of resource required for the control information allocated in CW#0 is smaller than that required for the control information allocated in CW#1.
In layers #0 and #1, control information allocated in CW#0 can meet the reception quality required by each CW (i.e., reception quality required for control information for the LTE system/the number of CWs). In contrast, in layers #2 and #3, the control information allocated in CW#1 has an amount of resource determined based on CW#0; thus, the amount of resource to meet the required reception quality runs short, thus failing to meet the reception quality required for each CW. Thus, a combination of the control information allocated in CW#0 and CW#1 may result in a lower reception quality than that required for all the CWs (i.e., reception quality required for control information in the LTE system).
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal capable of preventing the degradation of reception quality of control information even in a case of adopting the SU-MIMO transmission method, and also to provide a communication method thereof.
Solution to Problem
A first aspect of the present invention provides a terminal apparatus that transmits two code words to which control information is allocated, in a plurality of different layers, the apparatus including: a determination section that determines the amount of resource of the control information in each of the plurality of layers; and a transmission signal generating section that generates a transmission signal through modulation of the control information using the amount of the resource and allocation of the modulated control information to the two code words, in which the determination section determines the amount of the resource based on a lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two code words, or the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two code words.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a communication method including: determining an amount of resource of control information in each of a plurality of different layers in which two code words are transmitted, the control information being allocated in the two code words; modulating the control information using the amount of the resource; and allocating the modulated control information in the two code words to generate a transmission signal, in which the amount of the resource is determined based on a lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two code words, or the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two code words.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
The present invention can prevent the degradation of reception quality of control information even in a case of adopting the SU-MIMO transmission method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a conventional allocation of ACKs/NACKs and CQIs;
FIG. 2 is a diagram provided for describing a table containing candidates for an offset amount in the conventional case;
FIG. 3 is a diagram provided for describing a technical problem;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a base station according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 6 shows exemplary correction factors according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 7 shows exemplary correction factors according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 8 shows exemplary correction factors according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIG. 9 shows a technical problem in the case where the number of layers differs between initial transmission and re-transmission according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; and
FIG. 10 shows a process for determining the amount of resource of control information according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments, the same components are given the same reference numerals without redundant descriptions.
Embodiment 1
(Overview of Communication System)
In the following description, a communications system including base station 100 and terminal 200 as described hereinafter is an LTE-A system, for example. Base station 100 is an LTE-A base station, and terminal 200 is an LTE-A terminal, for example. The communication system is assumed to be a frequency division duplex (FDD) system. Terminal 200 (LTE-A terminal) can be switched between non-MIMO and SU-MIMO transmission modes.
(Configuration of Base Station)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of base station 100 according to this embodiment.
In base station 100 as shown in FIG. 4 , setting section 101 sets control parameters related to resource allocation for control information (including at least ACK/NACK signals or CQIs) transmitted in an uplink data channel (PUSCH) used to communicate with a terminal for which the control parameters are set based on the transmitting and receiving capability of the terminal (i.e., UE capability) or the state of the transmission path. The control parameters include, for example, an amount of offset (for example, an amount of offset β offset PUSCH as shown in equation 2) used in allocation of resource of control information transmitted by the terminal for which the control parameters are set. Setting section 101 outputs setting information including the control parameters to coding and modulating section 102 and ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 .
For terminals performing the non-MIMO transmission, setting section 101 generates MCS information for a single CW (or transport block) and allocation control information including resource (or resource block (RB)) allocation information, while for terminals performing SU-MIMO transmission, setting section 101 generates allocation control information including MCS information for the two CWs (or transport blocks), or the like.
The allocation control information generated by setting section 101 includes uplink allocation control information indicating uplink resource (for example, physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) to which uplink data of a terminal is assigned, and downlink allocation control information indicating downlink resource (for example, physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)) to which downlink data addressed to a terminal is assigned. In addition, the downlink allocation control information includes information indicating the number of bits of ACK/NACK signals for the downlink data (i.e., ACK/NACK information). Setting section 101 outputs the uplink allocation control information to coding and modulating section 102 , reception processing sections 109 in reception sections 107 - 1 to 107 -N, and ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 and outputs the downlink allocation control information to transmission signal generating section 104 and ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 .
Coding and modulating section 102 codes and modulates the set information and uplink allocation control information received from setting section 101 , and then outputs the modulated signals to transmission signal generating section 104 .
Coding and modulating section 103 codes and modulates transmission data to be received and then outputs the modulated data signals (for example, PDSCH signals) to transmission signal generating section 104 .
Transmission signal generating section 104 allocates the signals received from coding and modulating section 102 and the data signals received from coding and modulating section 103 to a frequency resource to generate frequency domain signals based on the downlink allocation control information received from setting section 101 . Transmission signal generating section 104 then converts the frequency domain signals into time-waveform signals using inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) processing, and adds a cyclic prefix (CP) to the time waveform signals, thereby obtaining orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals.
Transmitting section 105 performs radio transmission processing (upconversion and digital-analogue (D/A) conversion and/or the like) on the OFDM signals received from transmission signal generating section 104 , and then transmits the signals through antenna 106 - 1 .
Reception sections 107 - 1 to 107 -N are provided to antennas 106 - 1 to 106 -N, respectively. Reception sections 107 include respective radio processing sections 108 and reception processing sections 109 .
More specifically, radio processing sections 108 in respective reception sections 107 - 1 to 107 -N receive radio signals through respective antennas 106 , perform radio processing (downconversion and analog-digital (A/D) conversion and/or the like) on the received radio signals and then output the resulting reception signals to respective reception processing sections 109 .
Reception processing sections 109 remove CP from the reception signals and perform fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the signals to convert the signals into frequency domain signals. Reception processing sections 109 extract uplink signals for each terminal (including data signals and control signals (i.e., ACK/NACK signal and CQI)) from the frequency domain signals based on the uplink allocation control information received from setting section 101 . If the reception signals are space-division multiplexed (that is, a plurality of CWs are used (i.e., on the SU-MIMO transmission)), reception processing sections 109 separate and combine the CWs. Reception processing sections 109 then perform inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) processing on the extracted (or extracted and separated) signals to convert the signals into time domain signals. Reception processing sections 109 output the time domain signals to data reception section 110 and ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 .
Data reception section 110 decodes the time domain signals received from reception processing sections 109 and then outputs the decoded uplink data as reception data.
ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 calculates the amount of uplink resource to which ACK/NACK signals are assigned, based on the setting information (i.e., control parameters), the MCS information for uplink data signals (i.e., MCS information for each CW in the case of the SU-MIMO transmission), and the downlink allocation control information (for example, ACK/NACK information showing the number of bits of ACK/NACK signals for downlink data) received from setting section 101 . For CQIs, ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 further calculates an amount of uplink resource (e.g., PUSCH) to which the CQI is assigned, using information concerning the preset number of bits of a CQI. Based on the calculated amount of resource, ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 then extracts ACK/NACKs or CQIs from each terminal for downlink data (PDSCH signals) from the channel (for example, PUSCH) to which uplink data signals have been assigned.
If the traffic state in cells covered by base station 100 remains unchanged or if the measurement of an average reception quality is needed, control parameters (for example, the amount of offset β offset PUSCH ) to be notified by base station 100 to terminal 200 should preferably be transmitted in an upper layer at a long notification interval (RRC signaling) from a perspective of signaling. Transmitting all or part of these control parameters as broadcast information leads to a reduction in an amount of resource required for the notification. On the contrary, if control parameters need to be dynamically changed in response to the traffic state in cells covered by base station 100 , all or part of these control parameters should preferably be notified in a PDCCH at a short notification interval.
(Terminal Configuration)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of terminal 200 in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Terminal 200 is an LTE-A terminal which receives data signals (downlink data) and transmits an ACK/NACK signal corresponding to the data signals through a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or PUSCH to base station 100 . Terminal 200 transmits a CQI to base station 100 in accordance with instruction information notified through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).
In terminal 200 shown in FIG. 5 , reception section 202 performs radio processing (down-conversion and analog-digital (A/D) conversion and/or the like) on radio signals received through antenna 201 - 1 (i.e., OFDM signals herein) and outputs the resulting reception signals to reception processing section 203 . The reception signals include data signals (for example, PDSCH signals), allocation control information and upper layer control information including setting information.
Reception processing section 203 removes CP from the reception signals and performs fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the remaining signals to convert the signals into frequency domain signals. Reception processing section 203 then separates the frequency domain signals into upper layer control signals (for example, RRC signaling) including setting information, allocation control information, and data signals (i.e., PDSCH signals), and then demodulates and decodes the separated signals. Reception processing section 203 also checks the data signals for an error, and if the received data contains an error, a NACK signal is generated, and if not, it generates an ACK signal as the ACK/NACK signal. Reception processing section 203 outputs ACK/NACK signals and ACK/NACK information and MCS information in the allocation control information to resource amount determining section 204 and transmission signal generating section 205 , and outputs setting information (for example, control parameters (an amount of offset)) to resource amount determining section 204 , and outputs the uplink allocation control information in the allocation control information (for example, uplink resource allocation results) to transmission processing sections 207 in respective transmitting sections 206 - 1 to 206 -M.
Resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of resource required to allocate ACK/NACK signals, based on the ACK/NACK information (the number of bits of ACK/NACK signals), MCS information and control parameters (an amount of offset or the like) concerning resource allocation of control information (ACK/NACK signals) received from reception processing section 203 . For CQIs, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of resource required to allocate CQIs, based on the MCS information and control parameters (an amount of offset or the like) concerning resource allocation of control information (CQIs) received from reception processing section 203 , and the preset number of bits of a CQI. In the case of the SU-MIMO transmission, where the two CWs (CW#0 and CW#1) are transmitted in a plurality of layers, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of resource for each of the plurality of layers, the amount of the resource being allocated to control information (ACK/NACK signals) allocated in the two CWs (CW#0 and CW#1). More specifically, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource based on either the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs or the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two CWs. Details on methods for determining the amount of the resource required to allocate control information (ACK/NACKs or CQIs) in resource amount determining section 204 is given hereinafter. Resource amount determining section 204 outputs the determined amount of resource to transmission signal generating section 205 .
Transmission signal generating section 205 generates a transmission signal by allocating an ACK/NACK signal (error detection result of downlink data), data signals (uplink data) and CQIs (downlink quality information) in CWs allocated to one or more layers based on the ACK/NACK information (the number of bits of an ACK/NACK signal) and MCS information received from reception processing section 203 .
More specifically, transmission signal generating section 205 first modulates the ACK/NACK signal based on the amount of the resource (i.e., the amount of resource of the ACK/NACK signal) received from resource amount determining section 204 . Transmission signal generating section 205 also modulates the CQI based on the amount of the resource (i.e., the amount of resource of the CQIs) received from resource amount determining section 204 . Transmission signal generating section 205 modulates transmission data using the amount of the resource specified by using the amount of the resource (i.e., CQI resource amount) received from resource amount determining section 204 (the amount of the resource is specified by subtracting the amount of CQI resource from the amount of the resource for each slot).
In the case of non-MIMO transmission, transmission signal generating section 205 generates a transmission signal by allocating the ACK/NACK signal, data signals and CQI that have been modulated using the above-mentioned amount of resource in a single CW. Meanwhile, in the case of SU-MIMO transmission, transmission signal generating section 205 generates a transmission signal by allocating the ACK/NACK signal and data signals that have been modulated using the above-mentioned amount of resource in the two CWs and by allocating the CQI in one of the two CWs. Furthermore, in the case of non-MIMO transmission, transmission signal generating section 205 assigns a single CW to a single layer, and in the case of SU-MIMO transmission, transmission signal generating section 205 assigns the two CWs to a plurality of layers. For example, in the case of the SU-MIMO transmission, transmission signal generating section 205 assigns CW#0 to layer #0 and layer #1 and assigns CW#1 to layer #2 and layer #3.
In the presence of data signals and CQIs to be transmitted, transmission signal generating section 205 assigns the data signals and CQIs to an uplink data channel (PUSCH) by time multiplexing or frequency division multiplexing using a rate matching in one of the plurality of CWs as shown in FIG. 1 . In the presence of data signals and ACK/NACK signals to be transmitted, transmission signal generating section 205 overwrites part of the data signals with ACK/NACK signals in all of the plurality of layers (i.e., puncturing). To put it differently, ACK/NACK signals are transmitted in all the layers. In the absence of data signals to be transmitted, transmission signal generating section 205 assigns CQIs and ACK/NACK signals to an uplink control channel (for example, PUCCH). Transmission signal generating section 205 then outputs the transmission signals thus generated (including ACK/NACK signals, data signals or CQIs) to transmitting sections 206 - 1 to 206 -M.
Transmitting sections 206 - 1 to 206 -M correspond to antennas 201 - 1 to 201 -M, respectively. Transmitting sections 206 include respective transmission processing sections 207 and radio processing sections 208 .
More specifically, transmission processing sections 207 in respective transmitting sections 206 - 1 to 206 -M perform discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to the transmission signals received from transmission signal generating section 205 (i.e., signals corresponding to respective layers) to convert the data signals, ACK/NACK signals and CQIs into frequency domain signals. Transmission processing sections 207 then maps the plurality of frequency components obtained by the DFT processing (including ACK/NACK signals and CQIs transmitted on the PUSCH) to the uplink data channels (PUSCH) based on the uplink resource allocation information received from reception processing section 203 . Transmission processing sections 207 convert the plurality of frequency components mapped to the PUSCH into time domain waveforms and add CP thereto.
Radio processing sections 208 perform radio processing (upconversion and digital-analog (D/A) conversion and/or the like) on the signals to which CP has been added, and then transmit the signals through respective antennas 201 - 1 to 201 -M.
(Operations of Base Station 100 and Terminal 200 )
The operations of base station 100 and terminal 200 having the above-mentioned configurations will be described below. In particular, the method used by resource amount determining section 204 of terminal 200 to determine the amount of the resource required to allocate control information (ACK/NACKs or CQIs) will be described in details. In the following description, the method for determining the amount of the resource in the SU-MIMO transmission, where a plurality of CWs to which control information is allocated are transmitted in a plurality of layers, will be described.
In the following description, terminal 200 (transmission signal generating section 205 ) allocates ACK/NACK signals, which are control information, in the two CWs (i.e., CW#0 and CW#1).
Determination Methods 1 to 5 for determining the amount of the resource of control information are described below.
<Determination Method 1>
In Determination Method 1, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource required to allocate control information in each layer based on the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs to which control information is allocated. More specifically, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource required to allocate control information in each layer Q CW#0+CW#1 based on the lower coding rate of the coding rates of CW#0 and CW#1 (coding rate r lowMCS ) in accordance with equation 3.
(
Equation
3
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
×
1
r
lowMCS
×
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
[
3
]
With reference to equation 3, O indicates the number of bits in control information and P indicates the number of bits for error correction added to control information (for example, the number of bits in CRC and in some cases, P=0). L indicates the total number of layers (the total number of layers containing CWs).
Resource amount determining section 204 , as shown in equation 3 and as in equation 1, determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer by multiplying the inverse (1/r lowMCS ) of the coding rate r lowMCS by the amount of offset β offset PUSCH , and then dividing the result by the total number of layers L.
In this manner, the reception quality required by each CW can be ensured in all the layers. More specifically, in the layer containing CW#0 or CW#1 having the lower coding rate (i.e., CW with the coding rate r lowMCS ), the amount of resource Q CW#0+CW#1 determined based on the coding rate r lowMCS , that is, an appropriate amount of resource is used for transmission, thus ensuring the control information allocated in that CW meets the required reception quality. In the layer containing CW#0 or CW#1 having the higher coding rate, the amount of the resource Q CW#0+CW#1 determined based on the coding rate r lowMCS (that is, the coding rate of the other CW) is used for transmission, but that amount is equal to or more than the appropriate amount of resource. Thus, the control information allocated in that CW can sufficiently meet the required reception quality.
As shown above, in accordance with Determination Method 1, resource amount determining section 204 uses a CW with the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the plurality of CWs to determine the amount of the resource of control information in each layer. In other words, resource amount determining section 204 uses a CW assigned to a layer in a poor transmission path environment among a plurality of CWs to determine the amount of the resource of control information in each layer, thus ensuring that required reception quality is sufficiently met in all the CWs, including the CW assigned to a layer in a poor transmission path environment. Thus, base station 100 can meet reception quality required by all the CWs (i.e., reception quality required by control information in an LTE system). Accordingly, by combining CW#0 and CW#1 into control information, base station 100 can ensure that the combined control information can meet the required reception quality, and prevent the degradation of reception quality of the control information.
<Determination Method 2>
In Determination Method 2, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer based on the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two CWs. More specifically, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource Q CW#0+CW#1 of control information in each layer in accordance with equation 4 below.
(
Equation
4
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
×
1
r
CW
#0
+
1
r
CW
#1
2
×
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
[
4
]
In equation 4, r CW#0 indicates the coding rate of CW#0 and r CW#1 indicates the coding rate of CW#1.
Resource amount determining section 204 , as shown in equation 4 and as in equation 1, determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer by multiplying an average of the inverse (1/r CW#0 ) of the coding rate r CW#0 and the inverse (1/r CW#1 ) of the coding rate r CW#1 by an amount of offset β offset PUSCH and dividing the result by the total number of layers L.
One bit of the control information allocated in CW#0 is coded into (1/r CW#0 ) bit. Likewise, one bit of the control information allocated in CW#1 is coded into (1/r CW#1 ) bit. In other words, the average of the number of bits obtained by coding one bit of the control information in each CW ((1/r CW#0 )+(1/r CW#1 )/2) corresponds to the average of the number of bits appropriate for combining CW#0 and CW#1. Thus, the average of the inverses of the CW coding rates ((1/r CW#0 )+(1/r CW#1 )/2) equals the inverse of the coding rate of a combined CW obtained by combining CW#0 and CW#1.
In accordance with Determination Method 1 (equation 3), the amount of resource is determined based on the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs (i.e., CW#0 and CW#1). This means that an appropriate amount of resource is determined for the layer containing a CW with the lower coding rate among CW#0 and CW#1, while an amount of resource equal to or more than an appropriate amount of resource is determined for the layer containing the other CW (i.e., CW with the higher coding rate), which results in wasteful use of resource.
In contrast, in accordance with Determination Method 2, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of resource of control information in each layer based on the inverse of the coding rate of a combined CW obtained by combining CW#0 and CW#1 (the average of the inverses of the coding rates of CW#0 and CW#1).
an amount of resource smaller than that determined by Determination Method 1 for the layer containing a CW with a higher coding rate between CW#0 and CW#1 is determined. In other words, Determination Method 2 can reduce more wasteful use of resource than Determination Method 1 for a layer allocated to a CW with the higher coding rate. In contrast, an amount of resource less than an appropriate amount of resource is determined for a layer allocated to a CW having the lower coding rate. As described above, since resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource such that a combined CW obtained by combining all the CWs can meet required reception quality, base station 100 combines CW#0 and CW#1 and ensures that the combined control information can meet required reception quality.
As described above, in accordance with Determination Method 2, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of resource required to assign control information in each layer based on the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the plurality of CWs. This prevents the degradation of reception quality of control information while reducing wasteful use of resources.
<Determination Method 3>
In Determination Method 3, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer based on the inverse of the coding rate of one of the two CWs and a correction factor notified from base station 100 . More specifically, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource Q CW#0+CW#1 of control information in each layer in accordance with equation 5 below.
(
Equation
5
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
×
1
r
CW
#0
×
β
offset
PUSCH
×
γ
offset
/
L
⌉
[
5
]
In equation 5, r CW#0 indicates the coding rate of CW#0 and γ offset indicates a correction factor notified from base station 100 as a control parameter.
Resource amount determining section 204 , as shown in equation 5 and as in equation 1, determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer by multiplying the inverse (1/r CW#0 ) of the coding rate r CW#0 by an amount of offset β offset PUSCH , further multiplying the resulting resource amount by a correction factor γ offset , and dividing the result by the total number of layers L.
An exemplary correction factor γ offset notified from base station 100 is shown in FIG. 6 . Base station 100 selects a correction factor γ offset based on a difference in coding rate between two CW#0 and CW#1 (difference in reception quality) or a coding rate ratio between CW#0 and CW#1 (ratio of reception quality).
More specifically, if the coding rate of a single CW (coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in this case) used to determine the amount of the resource of control information is lower than the coding rate of the other CW (coding rate r CW#1 of CW#1 in this case), base station 100 uses a correction factor γ offset of a value less than 1.0 (any of the correction factors for the signaling #A to #C shown in FIG. 6 ).
On the other hand, if the coding rate of a single CW (coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in this case) used to determine the amount of the resource of control information is higher than the coding rate of the other CW (coding rate r CW#1 of CW#1 in this case), base station 100 uses a correction factor γ offset exceeding 1.0 (one of correction factors for the signaling #E and #F shown in FIG. 6 ).
The smaller the difference in coding rate between the CWs (difference in reception quality) is, the closer to 1.0 the correction factor γ offset selected by base station 100 is (if there is no difference in coding rate between the CWs (i.e., the rates are identical), the correction factor for signaling #D shown in FIG. 6 (1.0) is selected).
Base station 100 notifies terminal 200 of setting information including control parameters including the selected correction factor γ offset (the signaling number of the correction factor γ offset ) via the upper layers.
As described above, resource amount determining section 204 uses a correction factor γ offset set in accordance with a difference in coding rate (a difference in reception quality) between the two CWs to correct the amount of the resource determined based on the coding rate (inverse) of one of the two CWs.
As shown above, determination of the amount of the resource based on the inverse of the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs (coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in this case) results in setting of an excess amount of resource for the other CW (CW#1 in this case), for example. To cope with this problem, resource amount determining section 204 can reduce the excess use of resource for the other CW (CW#1 in this case) by multiplying the amount of the resource determined based on the inverse of the lower coding rate by a correction factor γ offset of a value less than 1.0. Likewise, determination of the amount of the resource based on the inverse of the higher coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs results in an insufficient amount of resource for the other CW. To address this problem, resource amount determining section 204 can increase the amount of the resource of the other CW by multiplying the amount of the resource determined based on the inverse of the higher coding rate by a correction factor γ offset of a value exceeding 1.0.
As described above, equation 5 corrects the amount of the resource determined based on the coding rate of one of CWs (coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in this case) with a correction factor γ offset set in accordance with a difference in coding rate between the two CWs, thereby allowing the calculation of the amount of the resource based on the two CWs (i.e., required reception quality of a combined CW obtained by combining the two CWs).
To put it differently, resource amount determining section 204 corrects the coding rate (inverse) of one of the two CWs in accordance with the difference in coding rate between the two CWs. More specifically, resource amount determining section 204 adjusts the corrected coding rate such that the coding rate is approximated to the average of the coding rates of the two CWs by adopting a larger correction factor (γ offset ) for the coding rate (i.e., inverse) of one of the two CWs in response to a larger difference in coding rate between the two CWs. Accordingly, the inverse of the corrected coding rate (γ offset /r CW#0 in equation 5) corresponds to the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two CWs (i.e., the value to which the corrected coding rate is approximated). Resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer based on the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two CWs (i.e., the inverse of the corrected coding rate (γ offset /r CW#0 in equation 5).
As shown above, in accordance with Determination Method 3, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource required to allocate control information in each layer based on the inverse of the coding rate of one CW and a correction factor set in accordance with a difference in coding rate between the two CWs. In this manner, the amount of the resource in consideration of both of the two CWs can be determined, which in turn, prevents the degradation in reception quality of control information while reducing wasteful use of resource.
In accordance with Determination Method 3, even in the case where the coding rate of one of the two CWs (coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in equation 5) is extremely low (for example, r CW#0 is infinitely close to 0), assignment of an excessive amount of resource to control information can be prevented by multiplying the amount of the resource calculated based on the coding rate r CW#0 by a correction factor γ offset set in accordance with a difference in coding rate between the two CWs. This means that the correction factor can prevent the assignment of an excessive assignment of resources.
If it is pre-determined that the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs is used to determine the amount of the resource Q CW#0+CW#1 , instead of the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 shown in equation 5, only correction factors γ offset of values equal to 1.0 or lower may be used as candidates. For example, among the candidates for correction factor γ offset in FIG. 6 , only the correction factors γ offset for the signaling #A to #D may be set. This leads to a reduction in the amount of signaling used for notification of the correction factors γ offset .
Likewise, if it is pre-determined that the higher coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs is used to determine the amount of the resource Q CW#0+CW#1 , instead of the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 shown in equation 5, only correction factors γ offset of values equal to 1.0 or higher may be used as candidates. For example, among the candidates for correction factor γ offset in FIG. 6 , only the correction factors γ offset for the signaling #D to #F may be set. This leads to a reduction in the amount of signaling used for notification of the correction factors γ offset .
A plurality of correction factor γ offset candidate tables may be provided and switched depending on whether the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in equation 5 is the lower or higher coding rate of the coding rates of two CWs. For example, if the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in equation 5 is the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs, a candidate table containing the correction factors γ offset for the signaling #A to #D shown in FIG. 6 may be used. In contrast, if the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 in equation 5 is the higher coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs, a candidate table containing correction factors γ offset for the signaling #D to #E shown in FIG. 6 may be used.
<Determination Method 4>
Determination Method 4 is identical to Determination Method 3 (equation 5) in that the amount of the resource of control information is calculated based on the coding rate (inverse) of one of the two CWs, except for the calculation method of the correction factor.
Hereinafter, Determination Method 4 is described in details.
Since the two CWs to which control information is allocated are combined at base station 100 as described above, focusing on “reception quality of one” of the two CWs, reception quality of (“reception quality of a combined CW”/“reception quality of one of the two CWs”) fold is obtained after combining the two CWs. The “reception quality of a combined CW” is obtained when the two CWs are combined.
To maintain the reception quality required for the entire CWs, the correction factor for the amount of the resource of control information calculated based on the coding rate (inverse) of one of CWs may be set to (“reception quality of one of CWs”/“reception quality of a combined CW”). This ensures the reception quality necessary to maintain the reception quality required by each CW to which control information is allocated at a minimum amount of resource required after combination of the two CWs.
In general, the following relationship holds between the reception quality and the coding rate: The higher the reception quality of a signal is, the higher the coding rate of the signal is. Thus, (“coding rate of one of CWs”/“coding rate of a combined CW”) can be substituted for (“reception quality of one of CWs”/“reception quality of a combined CW”) as a correction factor. The “coding rate of a combined CW” is obtained by combining two CWs.
Resource amount determining section 204 uses equation 6 below to set a correction factor γ offset which is represented by (“coding rate of one of CWs (r CW#0 )”/“coding rate of a combined CW (r CW#+CW#1 )”). In equation 6, the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 of the CW#0 and CW#1 is used as the “coding rate of one of CWs”.
(
Equation
6
)
γ
offset
=
coding
rate
of
one
of
CWs
(
r
CW
#0
)
coding
rate
of
a
combined
CW
(
r
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
)
=
r
CW
#0
×
M
CW
#0
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#0
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
+
M
CW
#1
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#1
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
[
6
]
In equation 6, M CW#SC PUSCH-initial indicates a PUSCH transmission bandwidth for CW#0, M CW#1SC PUSCH-initial indicates a PUSCH transmission bandwidth for CW#1, N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial indicates the number of transmission symbols in PUSCH per unit transmission bandwidth for CW#0, and N CW#1Symb PUSCH-initial indicates the number of transmission symbols in PUSCH per unit transmission bandwidth for CW#1. C CW#0 indicates the number of code blocks into which a data signal allocated in CW#0 is divided, C CW#1 indicates the number of code blocks into which a data signal allocated in CW#1 is divided, K r CW#0 indicates the number of bits in each code block in CW#0 and K r CW#1 indicates the number of bits in each code block in CW#1. For example, if CW#0 is assigned to two layers and assigned to 12 transmission symbols and has 12 sub-carriers in each layer, the amount of the resource of CW#0 (M CW#0SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial ) is 288 (RE). To be more precise, the M CW#0SC PUSCH-initial equals 12 sub-carriers, and the N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial equals 24 transmission symbols (two layers each have 12 transmission symbols); thus, the amount of the resource of CW#0 (M CW#0SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial ) is 288 (=12×24). Note that M CW#0 SC PUSCH-initial , M CW#1SC PUSCH-initial , N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial and N CW#1Symb PUSCH-initial represent values at initial transmission.
(M CW#0SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial +M CW#1SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#1Symb PUSCH-initial ) shown in equation 6 indicates the total amount of transmission resources of respective data signals in CW#0 and CW#1, and (ΣK r CW#0 +ΣK r CW#1 ) indicates the total number of transmission symbols in a PUSCH (or the total number of bits in CW#0 and CW#1) to which respective data signals in CW#0 and CW#1 (all code blocks) are assigned. Accordingly, (M CW#0SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial +M CW#1SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#1Symb PUSCH-initial )/(ΣK r CW#0 +ΣK r CW#1 ) shown in equation 6 indicates the inverse of the coding rate of a combined CW (1/(coding rate of a combined CW (r CW#0+CW#1 ))).
Resource amount determining section 204 assigns the correction factor γ offset shown in equation 6 to, for example, equation 5. Resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource of control information Q CW#0+CW#1 in each layer in accordance with equation 7 below:
(
Equation
7
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
M
CW
#0
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#0
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
+
M
CW
#1
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#1
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
[
7
]
Resource amount determining section 204 , as shown in equation 7 and as in equation 1, determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer by multiplying the inverse (1/r CW#0 ) of the coding rate r CW#0 by an amount of offset β offset PUSCH to obtain an amount of resource, multiplying the resulting amount of resource by a correction factor γ offset , and then dividing the result by the total number of layers L.
the result obtained by multiplying the inverse (1/r CW#0 ) of the “coding rate of one of CWs (r CW#0 )” in equation 5 by a correction factor γ offset shown in equation 6 (“coding rate of one of CWs (r CW#0 )”/“coding rate of a combined CW (r CW#0+CW#1 )”) is equivalent to the inverse of the coding rate of a CW obtained by combining CW#0 and CW#1 (1/(coding rate of a combined CW (r CW#0+CW#1 ))). In other words, the inverse of the coding rate of a combined CW (1/(coding rate of a combined CW (r CW#0+CW#1 ))), that is, the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two CWs can be obtained by correcting the inverse of the coding rate of one of the two CWs (1/r CW#0 ) with a correction factor γ offset (equation 6). Accordingly, resource amount determining section 204 uses the inverse of the coding rate of a combined CW as the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two CWs to determine the amount of the resource of control information in each layer.
As shown above, in Determination Method 4, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource required to allocate control information in each layer based on the inverse of the coding rate of one of CWs, and the correction factor calculated based on the ratio of reception quality (i.e., the ratio of coding rates) between the two CWs. In other words, resource amount determining section 204 uses the ratio between the coding rate (reception quality) of one of CWs and the coding rate (reception quality) of a combined CW obtained by combining the two CWs, that is, the ratio of coding rates (i.e., ratio of reception quality) between the two CWs as a correction factor. This allows resource amount determining section 204 to obtain the reception quality necessary to maintain the reception quality required by each CW to which control information is allocated at a minimum amount of resource required. As shown above, Determination Method 4 can determine the amount of the resource in consideration of both the two CWs, thus preventing the degradation of reception quality of control information without wasteful use of resource.
Furthermore, Determination Method 4 allows terminal 200 to calculate a correction factor based on the coding rates (reception quality) of the two CWs, thus eliminating the need for base station 100 to notify terminal 200 of a correction factor, unlike in Determination Method 3. More specifically, Determination Method 4 can reduce the amount of signaling from base station 100 to terminal 200 , as compared with Determination Method 3.
In Determination Method 4, the denominator of the correction factor γ offset shown in equation 6 indicates the total number of bits in CW#0 and CW#1. Accordingly, even if the coding rate of either CW#0 or CW#1 is extremely low (data size is extremely small), the correction factor γ offset is determined, taking the coding rate of the other CW into account, thereby preventing assignment of an excess amount of resource to the control information.
<Determination Method 5>
If the same control information is transmitted in a plurality of layers at the same time and at the same frequency, that is, if a rank-1 transmission is performed, the amount of the resource allocated to control information transmitted in each of a plurality of layers is equal.
In such a case, resource amount determining section 204 should preferably determine the amount of the resource of control information in each layer based on the number of bits that can be transmitted in the same amount of resource (for example, a certain number of REs (for example, a single RE)) in each layer.
More specifically, the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 indicates the number of bits in CW#0 that can be transmitted using a single RE, and the coding rate r CW#1 of CW#1 indicates the number of bits in CW#1 that can be transmitted using a single RE. Assuming that the number of layers in which CW#0 is allocated is indicated by L CW#0 and the number of layers in which CW#1 is allocated is indicated by L CW#1 , and the number of bits W RE that can be transmitted using a single RE in all the layers ((L CW#0 +L CW#1 ) layers) is obtained from equation 8:
(Equation 8)
W RE =r CW#0 ×L CW#0 +r CW#1 ×L CW#1 [8]
To put it more specifically, this equation indicates that each layer can transmit (W RE /(L CW#0 +L CW#1 )) bits of data signal using a single RE on average. Namely, (W RE /L CW#0 +L CW#1 )) may be used as the average of coding rates (i.e., the number of bits that can be transmitted using a single RE) of a CW allocated to each layer. This achieves reception quality necessary to maintain the reception quality required by each CW to which the control information is allocated at a minimum amount of resource required after combination of the two CWs transmitted in a plurality of layers.
Resource amount determining section 204 , in accordance with equation 9 below, determines the amount of the resource of control information Q CW#0+CW#1 in each layer based on the inverse of the average of the coding rates of the CWs assigned to each layer ((r CW#0 ×L CW#0 +r CW#1 ×L CW#1 )/(L CW#0 +L CW#1)).
(
Equation
9
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
L
CW
#0
+
L
CW
#1
r
CW
#0
×
L
CW
#0
+
r
CW
#1
×
L
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
[
9
]
Resource amount determining section 204 , as shown in equation 9 and as in equation 1, determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer by multiplying the inverse of the average of the coding rates of the CWs assigned to each layer ((L CW#0 +L CW#1 )/(r CW#0 ×L CW#0 +r CW#1 ×L CW#1 )) by the amount of offset β offset PUSCH and then dividing the result by the total number of layers L.
The average of the coding rates of the CWs assigned to each layer ((r CW#0 ×L CW#0 +r CW#1 ×L CW#1 )/(L CW#0 +L CW#1 )), as shown in equation 9, can be represented by r CW#0 ×(L CW#0 /(L CW#0 +L CW#1 ))+r CW#1 ×(L CW#1 /(L CW#0 +L CW#1 )). This indicates that the coding rate r CW#0 of CW#0 is weighted by the proportion of the number of layers to which CW#0 is assigned (L CW#0 ) in all the number of layers (L CW#0 +L CW#1 ), and that the coding rate r CW#1 of CW#1 is weighted by the proportion of the number of layers to which CW#1 is assigned (L CW#1 ) in all the number of layers (L CW#0 +L CW#1 ).
In other words, resource amount determining section 204 weights the coding rate of each CW by the proportion of the number of layers to which the CW is assigned in all the layers to which a plurality of CWs are assigned. To be more precise, the greater the proportion of the number of layers to which a CW is assigned in all the layers to which a plurality of CWs are assigned is, the greater the weight given to the coding rate of the CW is. For example, in Determination Method 2 (equation 4), the average of the coding rates of the two CWs is simply calculated, and the number of layers to which each CW is assigned is not taken into account. In contrast, in Determination Method 5 (equation 9), the average of the coding rates of a CW in all the layers containing the CW can be calculated accurately.
As shown above, in accordance with Determination Method 5, resource amount determining section 204 determines the amount of the resource of control information in each layer using the average of the numbers of bits that can be transmitted in the same amount of resource (for example, a single RE) in each layer as the average of the coding rates of the CWs allocated to each layer. In this manner, the amount of the resource in consideration of the two CWs assigned to a plurality of layers can be determined. Thus, the degradation of reception quality of control information can be prevented without wasteful use of resource.
Since the rank-1 transmission is used for control information, the amount of resource is identical for each layer. In contrast, a transmission mode other than the rank-1 transmission may be used for data signals, in which case the amount of the resource varies depending on layers. In such a case, the same amount of resource is assumed for each layer and the average number of transmittable bits is calculated, as shown in Determination Method 5, which allows calculation of an appropriate amount of resource. In other words, Determination Method 5 is applicable to data signals with different transmission bandwidths. Suppose, for example, that, on initial transmission (i.e., in sub-frame 0 ), CW#0 is responded with ACK and CW#1 is responded with NACK, and on retransmission (i.e., in sub-frame 8 ), a new packet is assigned for CW#0 and a retransmission packet is assigned for CW#1. In this case, there may be a case where the transmission bandwidth differs between the new packet and the retransmission packet in sub-frame 8 . In this case, the amount of the resource of control information is calculated by assigning the information on CW#0 that is transmitted initially in sub-frame 8 as CW#0 information, and the information on CW#1 that was transmitted initially in sub-frame 0 in equation 9 as CW#1 information. This method allows calculations of the amount of the resource, assuming that each layer uses the same amount of resource to transmit control information, and is effective when the same control information in a plurality of layers is transmitted at the same time and at the same frequency, that is, when rank-1 transmission is performed.
Furthermore, Determination Method 5 allows terminal 200 to calculate the correction factor based on the coding rates (reception quality) of the two CWs, thereby eliminating the need for base station 100 to notify terminal 200 of the correction factor, unlike in Determination Method 3. Accordingly, Determination Method 5 can reduce the amount of signaling from base station 100 to terminal 200 , as compared with Determination Method 3.
In Determination Method 5, the denominator of the portion corresponding to the inverse of the coding rates in equation 9 ((L CW#0 +L CW#1 )/(r CW#0 ×L CW#0 +r CW#1 ×L CW#1 )) indicates the total number of bits transmittable using a single RE in all the layers to which CW#0 and CW#1 are assigned. This can prevent assignment of an excess amount of resource to control information since the coding rate of the other CW is taken into account, even if either CW#0 or CW#1 has an extremely lower coding rate (extremely small data size).
Assuming that the same amount of resource is assigned to layers to each of which a CW is assigned, the following equations are obtained: M CW#0SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial =M SC PUSCH-initial(0) ·N Symb PUSCH-initial(0) ·L CW#0 and M CW#1SC PUSCH-initial ·N CW#1Symb PUSCH-initial =M SC PUSCH-initial(1) ·N Symb PUSCH-initial(1) ·L CW#1 . The M SC PUSCH-initial(0) ·N Symb PUSCH-initial(0) indicates an amount of the resource of data signals on initial transmission for each of layers to which CW#0 is assigned, and the M SC PUSCH-initial(1) ·N Symb PUSCH-initial(1) indicates an amount of the resource of data signals on initial transmission for each of layers to which CW#1 is assigned. Equation 9 can be simplified to equation 10 using the abovementioned equations. Since L CW#0 +L CW#1 =L, equation 10 is equivalent to equation 11.
(
Equation
10
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
L
CW
#0
+
L
CW
#1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
CW
#0
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#0
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
×
L
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
CW
#1
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#1
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
×
L
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
L
CW
#0
+
L
CW
#1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
[
10
]
(
Equation
11
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
[
11
]
Assuming that the same amount of resource is assigned to each of layers to which a CW is assigned (W layer =M SC PUSCH-initial ·N Symb PUSCH-initial ), equation 9 can be simplified to equation 12.
(
Equation
12
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
L
CW
#0
+
L
CW
#1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
CW
#0
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#0
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
×
L
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
CW
#1
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
CW
#1
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
×
L
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
L
CW
#0
+
L
CW
#1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
L
CW
#0
×
W
layer
×
L
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
L
CW
#1
×
W
layer
×
L
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
L
CW
#0
+
L
CW
#1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
W
layer
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
W
layer
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
(
L
CW
#0
+
L
CW
#1
)
×
W
layer
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
⌉
[
12
]
((L CW#0 +L CW#1 )×W layer ) in equation 12 is equivalent to equation 13 below:
(Equation 13)
M CW#0sc PUSCH-initial ·N CW#0symb PUSCH-initial +M CW#1sc PUSCH-initial ·N CW#1symb PUSCH-initial [13]
Since W layer =M SC PUSCH-initial ·N Symb PUSCH-initial and L CW#0 +L CW#1 =L, equation 10 can be simplified to equation 14 below:
(
Equation
14
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
M
SC
PUSCH
-
initial
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
[
14
]
Determination Methods 1 to 5 for determining the amount of the resource of control information have been described.
ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 of base station 100 determines the amount of the resource of control information (ACK/NACK signals or CQIs) in a reception signal using a method similar to Determination Methods 1 to 5 used in resource amount determining section 204 . Based on the determined amount of the resource, ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 extracts an ACK/NACK or CQI to downlink data (PDSCH signals) sent by each terminal from a channel (for example, PUSCH) to which uplink data signals have been assigned.
As shown above, this embodiment can prevent the degradation in reception quality of control information even in the case of adopting the SU-MIMO transmission method.
Embodiment 2
In Embodiment 1, the amount of the resource of control information is determined based on the lower coding rate of the coding rates of the two CWs (code words) or the average of the inverses of the coding rates of the two CWs. Meanwhile, in Embodiment 2, besides the processing in Embodiment 1, the amount of the resource of control information is determined in consideration of a difference in interference between layers for data signals and for control information.
Since the basic configurations of the base station and the terminal in accordance with Embodiment 2 are the same as those in Embodiment 1, FIGS. 4 and 5 are used to describe Embodiment 2.
Besides the processing similar to that of Embodiment 1, setting section 101 ( FIG. 4 ) in base station 100 in accordance with Embodiment 2 sets a correction factor (α offset (L)).
Besides the processing similar to that of Embodiment 1, ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 determines the amount of the resource using the correction factor (α offset (L)) received from setting section 101 .
Meanwhile, resource amount determining section 204 in terminal 200 according to Embodiment 2 ( FIG. 5 ) uses a correction factor (α offset (L)) notified from base station 100 to determine the amount of the resource.
(Operations of Base Station 100 and Terminal 200 )
The operations of base station 100 and terminal 200 having the above-mentioned configurations will be described below:
<Determination Method 6>
If the number of layers or the number of ranks for control information equals the number of layers or the number of ranks for data signals, the same inter-layer interference occurs between data signals and control information. For example, if spatial multiplexing is performed with CW#0 to which control information is allocated and which is assigned to layer #0 and CW#1 containing data signals assigned to layer #1, a rank-2 transmission is performed for data signals and for control information, causing inter-layer interference of the same level.
Alternatively, if the number of ranks differs between control information and data signals, different inter-layer interference occurs between data signals and control information. If the same control information is allocated in CW#0 and CW#1 and transmitted in layer #0 and layer #1, that is, if a rank-1 transmission is performed, less inter-layer interference occurs, as compared with when different signals are allocated in CW#0 and CW#1 and transmitted in layer #0 and layer #1.
In this respect, resource amount determining section 204 increases or decreases the amount of the resource calculated with an above equation (for example, equation 1), depending on the number of ranks or the number of layers for data signals and for control information.
More specifically, resource amount determining section 204 , as shown in equation 15 below, calculates the amount of the resource Q CW#0+CW#1 by determining the amount of the resource of control information in each layer based on the coding rate of one of CWs (CW#0 or CW#1) or the coding rates of both CWs using the above equation 1, multiplying the determined amount of the resource by a correction factor α offset (L) which depends on the number of ranks or the number of layers, and then dividing the result of multiplication by the total number of layers L.
(
Equation
15
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
×
1
r
CW
#0
×
β
offset
PUSCH
/
L
×
α
offset
(
L
)
⌉
[
15
]
In equation 15, α offset (L) represents a correction factor that depends on the number of layers or the number of ranks for data signals and for control information.
For example, if the number of ranks or the number of layers for data signals is larger than that of control information, the correction factor α offset (L), as shown in FIG. 7 , implicitly decrease as a difference in the number of ranks or the number of layers between data signals and control information increases. As the difference in the number of ranks or the number of layers between data signals and control information decreases, the correction factor is approximated to 1.0.
Alternatively, if the number of ranks or the number of layers for data signals is smaller than that for control information, the correction factor α offset (L), as shown in FIG. 8 , implicitly increases as a difference in the number of ranks or the number of layers between data signals and control information increases.
The inter-layer interference is dependent on channel variations (or channel matrix): thus, inter-layer interference varies even if the number of ranks or the number of layers is identical, which means an appropriate correction is difficult using one set value. To cope with this problem, a plurality of correction factors α offset shared between base station 100 and terminal 200 are provided in each layer to allow base station 100 to select one from the correction factors and notify terminal 200 via upper layers or PDCCH. Terminal 200 receives the correction factor α offset from base station 100 and uses it to calculate the amount of the resource, as in Determination Method 6. Base station 100 may report the amount of offset β offset PUSCH for each layer (or each rank).
the amount of the resource can be set in consideration of a difference in inter-layer interference between data signals and control information. Thus, the degradation of reception quality of control information can be prevented, while wasteful use of resource can be reduced.
Since inter-layer interference is dependent on channel variations (or channel matrix), upper layers cannot change channels frequently. To cope with frequently-occurring channel variations, the presence or absence of a correction factor may be reported using one bit in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) message having a shorter notification interval than upper layers. The PDCCH message is conveyed in each sub-frame, thereby facilitating flexible switching. Furthermore, use of one bit in the PDCCH to direct switching between use or non-use of the correction factor leads to a reduction in the amount of signaling.
The above-mentioned correction factor has a variable set value, depending on the control information (ACK/NACK signals and CQIs and/or the like), but a common notification (notification using a common set value) may be used for the control information (ACK/NACK signals and CQIs and/or the like). For example, if a set value 1 is conveyed to a terminal, the terminal selects a correction factor for ACK/NACK signals that corresponds to the set value 1 and a correction factor for CQIs that corresponds to the set value 1. This allows notification using a single set value for a plurality of parts of control information, thereby reducing the amount of signaling for notification of a correction factor.
this embodiment, the correction factor is increased or decreased, depending on the number of ranks or the number of layers for data signals and for control information, but since the number of layers and the number of ranks are closely related with CWs, the correction factor may be increased or decreased, depending on the number of CWs containing data signals and control information. Furthermore, the correction factor may be changed, depending on whether the number of ranks, the number of layers or the number of CWs for data signals and for control information is equal to or exceeds 1.
Embodiment 3
Embodiment 1 assumes that the number of layers is identical between initial transmission and retransmission. In contrast, in Embodiment 3, the amount of the resource of control information is determined in consideration of a difference in the number of layers between initial transmission and retransmission in the processing shown in Embodiment 1.
Since the basic configurations of the base station and the terminal according to Embodiment 3 is the same as those of Embodiment 1, FIGS. 4 and 5 are used to describe Embodiment 3.
ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 in base station 100 according to Embodiment 3 ( FIG. 4 ) performs processing similar to that of Embodiment 1 and calculates the amount of the resource required to allocate control information based on the number of layers on initial transmission and on retransmission. ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section 111 in Embodiment 3 differs from that in Embodiment 1 in that the equation to calculate the amount of the resource of control information is expanded.
Meanwhile, resource amount determining section 204 in terminal 200 according to Embodiment 3 ( FIG. 5 ) performs processing similar to that of Embodiment 1 and calculates the amount of the resource required to allocate control information based on the number of layers on initial transmission and retransmission. Resource amount determining section 204 in Embodiment 3 differs from that in Embodiment 1 in that the equation to calculate the amount of the resource of control information is expanded.
(Operations of Base Station 100 and Terminal 200 )
The operations of base station 100 and terminal 200 having the above-mentioned configurations will be described.
<Determination Method 7>
Determination Methods 1 to 6 assume that the number of layers is identical between initial transmission and retransmission. On initial transmission, the reception quality that is equal to or greater than a certain level (required reception quality) can be achieved for control information by setting the amount of the resource of control information using, for example, equation 9 (Determination Method 5).
Since Determination Methods 1 to 6 (for example, equation 9) assume that the amount of the resource of control information is identical for each layer between initial transmission and retransmission, the total amount of the resource of control information in all the layers also decreases due to a reduction in the number of layers when the number of layers is changed on retransmission (for example, decreases). This results in the degradation of reception quality of control information on retransmission, as compared with that on initial transmission (for example, see FIG. 9 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 9 , if allocation notification information (UL grant) is used to change the number of layers from four (on initial transmission) to two (on retransmission), the amount of resource of data signals decreases and thus the total amount of the resource of control information (for example, ACK/NACK signals) also decreases in all the layers.
resource amount determining section 204 re-sets the amount of the resource of control information on retransmission based on the number of layers in which each CW is allocated on retransmission. More specifically, on retransmission, resource amount determining section 204 does not use the amount of the resource per layer which was calculated on initial transmission, and instead, assigns the number of layers in which each CW is allocated on retransmission (i.e., current number) in equation 9 to re-calculate the amount of the resource per layer on retransmission (i.e., current amount). For the information other than the number of layers (i.e. M CW#0SC PUSCH-initial , M CW#1SC PUSCH-initial , N CW#0Symb PUSCH-initial , N CW#1Symb PUSCH-initial , ΣK r CW#0 and ΣK r CW# ), the numerical values used on initial transmission that have been set to meet a certain error rate requirement (for example, 10%) are used. More specifically, taking L CW#0 +L CW#1 =L into account, equation 9 on retransmission (i.e., currently) can be transformed into equation 16.
(
Equation
16
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
r
CW
#0
×
L
CW
#0
current
+
r
CW
#1
×
L
CW
#1
current
·
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
[
16
]
L CW#0 current and L CW#1 current indicate the number of layers to which CW#0 and CW#1 are assigned on retransmission (i.e., currently), respectively, and L CW#0 initial and L CW#1 initial indicate the number of layers to which CW#0 and CW#1 are assigned on initial transmission, respectively. Since Determination Methods 1 to 6 assume that the number of layers is identical between initial transmission and retransmission, the number of layers is not considered on initial transmission and retransmission. Hence, the number of layers used in Determination Methods 1 to 6 represents the information on initial transmission, just like the number of bits in each CW and/or the amount of the resource in each CW.
Equation 16 is derived by multiplying each term in the denominator of equation 9 by the ratio of the number of layers on retransmission to that on initial transmission (i.e., L CW#0 current /L CW#0 initial , L CW#1 current /L CW#1 initial ). Equation 17 is derived from equations 16 and 11.
(
Equation
17
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
r
CW
#0
×
L
CW
#0
initial
×
L
CW
#0
current
L
CW
#0
initial
+
r
CW
#1
×
L
CW
#1
initial
×
L
CW
#1
current
L
CW
#1
initial
·
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
×
L
CW
#0
current
L
CW
#0
initial
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
×
L
CW
#1
current
L
CW
#1
initial
·
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
[
17
]
Equation 19 indicates that if the number of layers for transmitting data signals decreases, the amount of the resource of control information per layer increases. This means that the total amount of resource of layers containing control information is almost identical (i.e., the number of layers containing control information×the amount of the resource of control information per layer) is almost identical) between initial transmission and retransmission, thereby achieving the reception quality that is equal to or exceeds a certain level (required reception quality) for control information even on retransmission (see FIG. 10 .).
This allows the amount of the resource of control information to be set in consideration of the number of layers on retransmission (currently) even if the number of layers transmitting data signals differs between initial transmission and retransmission. Thus, the degradation of reception quality of control information can be prevented without wasteful use of resource.
If the ratio of the number of layers on retransmission to that on initial transmission (i.e., the number of layers on retransmission/the number of layers on initial transmission) is 1/A fold (A: integer) for both of CW#0 and CW#1, equation 18 below may be substituted for equation 17.
(
Equation
18
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
β
offset
PUSCH
×
L
current
L
initial
⌉
[
18
]
L initial and L current indicate the total number of layers on initial transmission and on retransmission, respectively. Unless the above-mentioned condition (i.e., the number of layers on retransmission/the number of layers on initial transmission)=1/A) is met, the amount of the resource of control information may be excessive or insufficient, which results in wasteful use of the resource or low quality. If the probability of not meeting the above condition is low, or if the system is designed so as to avoid such occurrence, resource amount determining section 204 may use equation 18 to calculate the amount of the resource of control information.
The case in which the total amount of resource (for example, the number of layers) on retransmission is reduced from that on initial transmission has been described above. The total amount of resource (for example, the number of layers) on retransmission may increase from that on initial transmission. In that case, resource amount determining section 204 may use equation 16, 17 or 18 to prevent the assignment of an excess amount of resource to control information.
The number of layers may be replaced with the number of antenna ports. For example, the number of layers on initial transmission in the above description (i.e., four layers in FIG. 10 ) is replaced with the number of antenna ports (four ports in FIG. 10 ), the number of layers on retransmission (currently) (two layers in FIG. 10 ) is replaced with the number of antenna ports on retransmission (currently) (two ports in FIG. 10 ), and the total number of layers is replaced with the total number of antenna ports. In other words, resource amount determining section 204 replaces the number of layers in equation 16, 17 or 18 with the number of antenna ports to calculate the amount of the resource of control information.
Note that if the number of layers is defined as the number of antenna ports through which different signaling sequences are transmitted, the number of layers is not always identical to the number of antenna ports. For example, when a rank-1 transmission is performed through four antenna ports, the number of layers is one since the same signaling sequence is transmitted through the four antenna ports. In this case, if a 4-layer transmission is performed using four antenna ports on initial transmission, while a 1-layer transmission (rank-1 transmission) is performed using four antenna ports on retransmission, the amount of the resource of control information need not be corrected. In contrast, if a 4-layer transmission is performed using four antenna ports on initial transmission, while a 1-layer transmission (using one layer) is performed using one antenna port on retransmission, the amount of the resource of control information needs to be corrected.
If the number of antenna ports used for retransmission decreases, transmission power per antenna port is increased to compensate for the decrease, thereby avoiding the correction of the amount of the resource of control information. For example, if the number of antenna ports is reduced from four to two, the transmission power per antenna port may be increased by 3 dB (i.e., doubled), and if the number of antenna ports is reduced from four to one, the transmission power per antenna port may be increased by 6 dB (i.e., quadruplicated).
If a precoding vector (or matrix) in which the number of antenna ports used on retransmission is identical to that on initial transmission is used, equation 11 or 14, for example, may be used. If a precoding vector (or matrix) in which the number of antenna ports used on retransmission is different from that on initial transmission is used, for example, the number of layers in equation 16, 17 or 18 may be used with the number of layers replaced with the number of antenna ports.
Equations 16 and 17 may be applicable to a case in which one of CWs is responded with ACK and the other CW is responded with NACK, resulting in a decrease in the number of CWs. More specifically, if CW#0 is responded with ACK, while CW#1 is responded with NACK on initial transmission, and only CW#1 is thus retransmitted, L CW#0 current=0 is assigned in equation 16 or 17 and the amount of the resource of control information is calculated from equation 19. Equation 19 indicates a case in which only CW1 is responded with NACK, but if only CW0 is responded with NACK, the CW1 information in equation 19 may be replaced with CW0 information.
(
Equation
19
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
×
L
CW
#1
current
L
CW
#1
initial
·
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
[
19
]
If signals are transmitted in the two CWs, equation 11 or 14 may be used. If signals are retransmitted in a single CW, equation 19 may be used as exception processing. For example, if 4-antenna-port transmission is performed using the two CWs on initial transmission and if 2-antenna-port transmission is performed using a single CW on retransmission, equation 19 is used on retransmission. In the fallback mode, which is used when reception quality undergoes extreme degradation, for example, 1-antenna-port transmission may be performed using a single CW on retransmission, in which case equation 19 may be used as exception processing. Equation 19 may incorporate a correction value as shown in equation 20.
(
Equation
20
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
==
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
×
W
×
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
[
20
]
W in equation 20 indicates a correction factor. Correction value W may be determined based on the number of layers (or number of antenna ports) for CW0 or CW1 on initial transmission and on retransmission. For example, the correction value W in equation 20 is the ratio of number of antenna ports to which CW0 or CW1 is assigned on retransmission to the number of antenna ports to which CW0 or CW1 is assigned on initial transmission. The correction value W may be included in the amount of offset β offset PUSCH . For example, the amount of offsetβ offset PUSCH is determined based on the number of layers (or number of antenna ports) for CW0 or CW1 on initial transmission and on retransmission.
The case in which the calculation of the amount of resource on retransmission using CW information used in initial transmission has been described. A reason for calculating the amount of the resource on retransmission using CW information used in initial transmission is that the data signal error rate on retransmission may not be set to a constant value such as 10%. More specifically, on initial transmission, a base station allocates resource to each terminal such that the data signal error rate is 10%, while on retransmission the base station is likely to assign a smaller amount of resource to data signals than on initial transmission since it is sufficient as long as an improvement in the initial data signal error rate on retransmission is made. In other words, in the equation calculating the amount of the resource of control information, a reduction in the amount of the resource of data signals (i.e. M SC PUSCH-retransmission ·N Symb PUSCH-retransmission ) on retransmission results in a reduction in the amount of the resource of control information, which leads to the degradation of reception quality of control information. To cope with this problem, the information on initial transmission is used to determine the amount of resource, thereby keeping the reception quality that is equal to or exceeds a certain level (i.e., required reception quality) for control information. Note that ΣK r , ΣK r CW#0 and ΣK r CW#1 are identical between initial transmission and retransmission.
Even if a data error rate is set to 10% (0.1) on initial transmission, the data signal error rate may exceed 10% due to delay on retransmission (i.e., the error rate may further increase.) To address this problem, preferably, the correction value (K) is multiplied when the amount of the resource on retransmission is determined. For example, as shown in equation 21, the ratio of the number of layers for each CW on initial transmission (L CW#0 initial , L CW#1 initial ) to the number of layers for each CW on retransmission (L CW#0 current , L CW#1 current ) may be multiplied by a correction value specific to the term generated for each CW (K CW#0 , K cw#1 ). Alternatively, as shown in equation 22, the ratio of the number of layers (L initial ) on initial transmission to the number of layers (L current ) on retransmission may be multiplied by the correction value (K). Correction values are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and one or more time delays may be multiplied by a correction value.
(
Equation
21
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
==
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
×
L
CW
#0
current
L
CW
#0
initial
×
K
CW
#0
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
×
L
CW
#1
current
L
CW
#1
initial
×
K
CW
#1
·
β
offset
PUSCH
⌉
[
21
]
(
Equation
22
)
Q
CW
#0
+
CW
#1
=
⌈
(
O
+
P
)
·
1
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#0
-
1
K
r
CW
#0
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
0
)
+
∑
r
=
0
C
CW
#1
-
1
K
r
CW
#1
M
sc
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
N
symb
PUSCH
-
initial
(
1
)
·
β
offset
PUSCH
×
L
current
L
initial
×
K
⌉
[
22
]
Unlike Determination Methods 1 to 7, a restriction that the same number of layers as that on initial transmission should be always used on retransmission may be imposed. For example, changing the number of layers for each CW on retransmission with allocation information (UL grant) or the like may be prohibited. ACK/NACKs may be transmitted in the same number of layers as that on initial transmission even if the number of layers for each CW decreases on retransmission.
The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
Other Embodiments
(1) The MIMO transmission mode in the above-mentioned embodiments may be transmission mode 3 or 4, as set forth in LTE, that is, a transmission mode that supports transmission of two CWs, and the non-MIMO transmission mode may be any other transmission mode, that is, a transmission mode in which only single CW is transmitted. The description of the above-mentioned embodiments has assumed the MIMO transmission mode using a plurality of CWs and the non-MIMO transmission mode using a single CW. More specifically, as described above, the above description has been made on the assumption that signals are transmitted in a plurality of layers (or a plurality of ranks) in the MIMO transmission mode and that signals are transmitted in a single layer (or single rank) in the non-MIMO transmission mode. The transmission modes, however, should not be limited to these examples; signals may be transmitted through a plurality of antenna ports in the MIMO transmission mode (for example, the SU-MIMO transmission) and signals may be transmitted through a single antenna port in the non-MIMO transmission mode.
The code words in the above-mentioned embodiments may be replaced with transport blocks (TB).
(2) In the above-mentioned embodiments, ACK/NACKs and CQIs are used as examples of control information, but the control information is not limited to the information. Any information (control information) that requires higher reception quality than data signals is applicable. For example, CQIs or ACK/NACKs may be replaced with PMIs (information concerning pre-coding) and/or RI (i.e., information concerning ranks) (3) The term “layer” in the above-mentioned embodiments refers to a virtual transmission path in the space. For example, in the MIMO transmission, data signals generated in each CW are transmitted in different virtual transmission paths (i.e., different layers) in the space at the same time and at the same frequency. The term “layer” may be referred to as a “stream.” (4) In the above-mentioned embodiments, a terminal that determines the amount of resource of control information based on a difference in coding rates between the two CWs to which control information is allocated (or coding rate ratio) has been described. A difference in MCS between the two CWs (or an MCS ratio) may be used, instead of a difference in coding rates between the two CWs to which control information is allocated (or coding rate ratio). Alternatively, a combination of a coding rate and a modulation method may be used as a coding rate. (5) The above-mentioned amount of offset may be referred to as a correction factor, and the correction factor may be referred to as an amount of offset. Any two or three of the correction factors and amounts of offset (α offset (L), β offset PUSCH and γ offset ) used in the above-mentioned embodiments may be combined into one correction factor or offset. (6) In the above-mentioned embodiments, the description has been given with antennas, but the present invention can be applied to antenna ports as well.
The antenna port refers to a logical antenna composed of one or more physical antennas. Thus, an antenna port does not necessarily refer to one physical antenna, and may refer to an antenna array composed of a plurality of antennas.
For example, in 3 GPP LTE, how many physical antennas are included in the antenna port is not specified, but an antenna port is specified as a minimum unit allowing the base station to transmit a different reference signal.
In addition, the antenna port may be specified as a minimum unit in multiplication of a weight of the precoding vector.
The number of layers may be defined as the number of different data signals transmitted concurrently in the space. Furthermore, the layer may be defined as a signal transmitted through an antenna port associated with data signals or reference signals (or as a communication path thereof in the space). For example, a vector used for weight control (precoding vector) that has been studied for uplink demodulation pilot signals in LTE-A has one-to-one relationship with a layer.
(7) The above-mentioned embodiments have been described by taking an example of the present invention being implemented by hardware, but the present invention may be implemented by software in cooperation with hardware.
Functional blocks used to describe the above-mentioned embodiments are typically achieved by LSIs, which are integrated circuits. The integrated circuits may be implemented individually into separate chips, or all or part of the integrated circuit may be implemented into one chip. Although such integrated circuits are referred to as LSIs herein, they may be called ICs, system LSIs, super LSIs or ultra LSIs, depending on the degree of integration.
The methods for manufacturing integrated circuits are not limited to LSIs, and dedicated circuits or general-purpose processors may be used to implement them. After LSI production, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or reconfigurable processors that allow connection or setting of circuit cells within LSIs may be used.
If advancement in semiconductor technology or other technology derived therefrom leads to emergence of integrated circuit manufacturing technology that takes the place of LSI, obviously, such technology may be used to integrate functional blocks. Biotechnology may also be applicable.
The entire disclosure of the specifications, drawings and abstracts in Japanese Patent Application No 2010-140751 filed on Jun. 21, 2010 and Japanese Patent Application No 2010-221392 filed on Sep. 30, 2010 are incorporated herein by reference.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention is useful in mobile communication systems and/or the like.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
100 base station
200 terminal
101 setting section
102 , 103 coding and modulating section
104 , 205 transmission signal generating section
105 , 206 transmitting section
106 , 201 antenna
107 , 202 reception section
108 , 208 radio processing section
109 , 203 reception processing section
110 data reception section
111 ACK/NACK and CQI receiving section
204 resource amount determining section
207 transmission processing section
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This invention is directed to a terminal apparatus capable of preventing the degradation of reception quality of control information even in a case of employing SU-MIMO transmission system. A terminal ( 200 ), which uses a plurality of different layers to transmit two code words in which control information is placed, comprises: a resource amount determining unit ( 204 ) that determines, based on a lower one of the encoding rates of the two code words or based on the average value of the reciprocals of the encoding rates of the two code words, resource amounts of control information in the respective ones of the plurality of layers; and a transport signal forming unit ( 205 ) that places, in the two code words, the control information modulated by use of the resource amounts, thereby forming a transport signal.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/533,679, filed on Sep. 20, 2006, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/101,855, filed on Apr. 8, 2005, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,831, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/811,559, filed on Mar. 29, 2004, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/893,505, filed on Jun. 27, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,153, which are each incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a downhole non-metallic sealing element system. More particularly, the present invention relates to downhole tools such as bridge plugs, frac-plugs, and packers having a non-metallic sealing element system.
[0004] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0005] An oil or gas well includes a wellbore extending into a well to some depth below the surface. Typically, the wellbore is lined with tubulars or casing to strengthen the walls of the borehole. To further strengthen the walls of the borehole, the annular area formed between the casing and the borehole is typically filled with cement to permanently set the casing in the wellbore. The casing is then perforated to allow production fluid to enter the wellbore and be retrieved at the surface of the well.
[0006] Downhole tools with sealing elements are placed within the wellbore to isolate the production fluid or to manage production fluid flow through the well. The tools, such as plugs or packers for example, are usually constructed of cast iron, aluminum, or other alloyed metals, but have a malleable, synthetic element system. An element system is typically made of a composite or synthetic rubber material which seals off an annulus within the wellbore to prevent the passage of fluids. The element system is compressed, thereby expanding radially outward from the tool to sealingly engage a surrounding tubular. For example, a bridge plug or frac-plug is placed within the wellbore to isolate upper and lower sections of production zones. By creating a pressure seal in the wellbore, bridge plugs and frac-plugs allow pressurized fluids or solids to treat an isolated formation.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional bridge plug 50 . The bridge plug 50 generally includes a metallic body 80 , a synthetic sealing member 52 to seal an annular area between the bridge plug 50 and an inner wall of casing there-around (not shown), and one or more metallic slips 56 , 61 . The sealing member 52 is disposed between an upper metallic retaining portion 55 and a lower metallic retaining portion 60 . In operation, axial forces are applied to the slip 56 while the body 80 and slip 61 are held in a fixed position. As the slip 56 moves down in relation to the body 80 and slip 61 , the sealing member is actuated and the slips 56 , 61 are driven up cones 55 , 60 . The movement of the cones and slips axially compress and radially expand the sealing member 52 thereby forcing the sealing portion radially outward from the plug to contact the inner surface of the well bore casing. In this manner, the compressed sealing member 52 provides a fluid seal to prevent movement of fluids across the bridge plug 50 .
[0008] Like the bridge plug described above, conventional packers typically comprise a synthetic sealing element located between upper and lower metallic retaining rings. Packers are typically used to seal an annular area formed between two co-axially disposed tubulars within a wellbore. For example, packers may seal an annulus formed between production tubing disposed within wellbore casing. Alternatively, packers may seal an annulus between the outside of a tubular and an unlined borehole. Routine uses of packers include the protection of casing from pressure, both well and stimulation pressures, as well as the protection of the wellbore casing from corrosive fluids. Other common uses include the isolation of formations or leaks within a wellbore casing or multiple producing zones, thereby preventing the migration of fluid between zones. Packers may also be used to hold kill fluids or treating fluids within the casing annulus.
[0009] One problem associated with conventional element systems of downhole tools arises in high temperature and/or high pressure applications. High temperatures are generally defined as downhole temperatures above 200° F. and up to 450° F. High pressures are generally defined as downhole pressures above 7,500 psi and up to 15,000 psi. Another problem with conventional element systems occurs in both high and low pH environments. Low pH is generally defined as less than 6.0, and high pH is generally defined as more than 8.0. In these extreme downhole conditions, conventional sealing elements become ineffective. Most often, the physical properties of the sealing element suffer from degradation due to extreme downhole conditions. For example, the sealing element may melt, solidify, or otherwise loose elasticity.
[0010] Yet another problem associated with conventional element systems of downhole tools arises when the tool is no longer needed to seal an annulus and must be removed from the wellbore. For example, plugs and packers are sometimes intended to be temporary and must be removed to access the wellbore. Rather than de-actuate the tool and bring it to the surface of the well, the tool is typically destroyed with a rotating milling or drilling device. As the mill contacts the tool, the tool is “drilled up” or reduced to small pieces that are either washed out of the wellbore or simply left at the bottom of the wellbore. The more metal parts making up the tool, the longer the milling operation takes. Metallic components also typically require numerous trips in and out of the wellbore to replace worn out mills or drill bits.
[0011] There is a need, therefore, for a non-metallic element system that will effectively seal an annulus at high temperatures and withstand high pressure differentials without experiencing physical degradation. There is also a need for a downhole tool made substantially of a non-metallic material that is easier and faster to mill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A non-metallic element system is provided which can effectively seal or pack-off an annulus under elevated temperatures. The element system can also resist high differential pressures as well as high and low pH environments without sacrificing performance or suffering mechanical degradation. Further, the non-metallic element system will drill up considerably faster than a conventional element system that contains metal.
[0013] The element system comprises a non-metallic, composite material that can withstand high temperatures and high pressure differentials. In one aspect, the composite material comprises an epoxy blend reinforced with glass fibers stacked layer upon layer at about 30 to about 70 degrees.
[0014] A downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, frac-plug, or packer, is also provided that comprises in substantial part a non-metallic, composite material which is easier and faster to mill than a conventional bridge plug containing metallic parts. In one aspect, the tool comprises one or more support rings having one or more wedges, one or more expansion rings and a sealing member disposed in a functional relationship with the one or more expansion rings This assemblage of components is referred to hereing as “an element system.”
[0015] In another aspect, a non-metallic mandrel for the downhole tool is formed of a polymeric composite material reinforced by fibers in layers angled at about 30 to about 70 degrees relative to an axis of the mandrel. Methods are provided for the manufacture and assembly of the tool and the mandrel, as well as for sealing an annulus in a wellbore using a downhole tool that includes a non-metallic mandrel and an element system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
[0017] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a partial section view of a conventional bridge plug.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a partial section view of a non-metallic sealing system of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a support ring of the non-metallic sealing system.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along lines A-A of FIG. 2 .
[0022] FIG. 5 is partial section view of a frac-plug having a non-metallic sealing system of the present invention in a run-in position.
[0023] FIG. 6 is section view of a frac-plug having a non-metallic sealing system of the present invention in a set position within a wellbore.
[0024] FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a non-metallic sealing system activated within a wellbore.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view along lines B-B of FIG. 6 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] A non-metallic element system that is capable of sealing an annulus in very high or low pH environments as well as at elevated temperatures and high pressure differentials is provided. The non-metallic element system is made of a fiber reinforced polymer composite that is compressible and expandable or otherwise malleable to create a permanent set position.
[0027] The composite material is constructed of a polymeric composite that is reinforced by a continuous fiber such as glass, carbon, or aramid, for example. The individual fibers are typically layered parallel to each other, and wound layer upon layer. However, each individual layer is wound at an angle of about 30 to about 70 degrees to provide additional strength and stiffness to the composite material in high temperature and pressure downhole conditions. The tool mandrel is preferably wound at an angle of 30 to 55 degrees, and the other tool components are preferably wound at angles between about 40 and about 70 degrees. The difference in the winding phase is dependent on the required strength and rigidity of the overall composite material.
[0028] The polymeric composite is preferably an epoxy blend. However, the polymeric composite may also consist of polyurethanes or phenolics, for example. In one aspect, the polymeric composite is a blend of two or more epoxy resins. Preferably, the composite is a blend of a first epoxy resin of bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin and a second cycoaliphatic epoxy resin. Preferably, the cycloaphatic epoxy resin is Araldite® liquid epoxy resin, commercially available from Ciga-Geigy Corporation of Brewster, N.Y. A 50:50 blend by weight of the two resins has been found to provide the required stability and strength for use in high temperature and pressure applications. The 50:50 epoxy blend also provides good resistance in both high and low pH environments.
[0029] The fiber is typically wet wound, however, a prepreg roving can also be used to form a matrix. A post cure process is preferable to achieve greater strength of the material. Typically, the post cure process is a two stage cure consisting of a gel period and a cross linking period using an anhydride hardener, as is commonly know in the art. Heat is added during the curing process to provide the appropriate reaction energy which drives the cross-linking of the matrix to completion. The composite may also be exposed to ultraviolet light or a high-intensity electron beam to provide the reaction energy to cure the composite material.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of a non-metallic element system 200 made of the composite, filament wound material described above. The element system 200 includes a sealing member 210 , a first and second cone 220 , 225 , a first and second expansion ring 230 , 235 , and a first and second support ring 240 , 245 disposed about a body 250 . The sealing member 210 is backed by the cones 220 , 225 . The expansion rings 230 , 235 are disposed about the body 250 between the cones 220 , 225 , and the support rings 240 , 245 , as shown in FIG. 2 .
[0031] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the support ring 240 , 245 . As shown, the support ring 240 , 245 is an annular member having a first section 242 of a first diameter that steps up to a second section 244 of a second diameter. An interface or shoulder 246 is therefore formed between the two sections 242 , 244 . Equally spaced longitudinal cuts 247 are fabricated in the second section to create one or more fingers or wedges 248 there-between. The number of cuts 247 is determined by the size of the annulus to be sealed and the forces exerted on the support ring 240 , 245 .
[0032] Still referring to FIG. 3 , the wedges 248 are angled outwardly from a center line or axis of the support ring 240 , 245 at about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees. As will be explained below in more detail, the angled wedges 248 hinge radially outward as the support ring 240 , 245 moves axially across the outer surface of the expansion ring 230 , 235 . The wedges 248 then break or separate from the first section 242 , and are extended radially to contact an inner diameter of the surrounding tubular (not shown). This radial extension allows the entire outer surface area of the wedges 248 to contact the inner wall of the surrounding tubular. Therefore, a greater amount of frictional force is generated against the surrounding tubular. The extended wedges 248 thus generate a “brake” that prevents slippage of the element system 200 relative to the surrounding tubular.
[0033] Referring again to FIG. 2 , the expansion ring 230 , 235 may be manufactured from any flexible plastic, elastomeric, or resin material which flows at a predetermined temperature, such as Teflon® for example. The second section 244 of the support ring 240 , 245 is disposed about a first section of the expansion ring 230 , 235 . The first section of the expansion ring 230 , 235 is tapered corresponding to a complementary angle of the wedges 248 . A second section of the expansion ring 230 , 235 is also tapered to complement a sloped surface of the cone 220 , 225 . At high temperatures, the expansion ring 230 , 235 expands radially outward from the body 250 and flows across the outer surface of the body 250 . As will be explained below, the expansion ring 230 , 235 fills the voids created between the cuts 247 of the support ring 240 , 245 , thereby providing an effective seal.
[0034] The cone 220 , 225 is an annular member disposed about the body 250 adjacent each end of the sealing member 210 . The cone 220 , 225 has a tapered first section and a substantially flat second section. The second section of the cone 220 , 225 abuts the substantially flat end of the sealing member 210 . As will be explained in more detail below, the tapered first section urges the expansion ring 230 , 235 radially outward from the body 250 as the element system 200 is activated. As the expansion ring 230 , 235 progresses across the tapered first section and expands under high temperature and/or pressure conditions, the expansion ring 230 , 235 creates a collapse load on the cone 220 , 225 . This collapse load holds the cone 220 , 225 firmly against the body 250 and prevents axial slippage of the element system 200 components once the element system 200 has been activated in the wellbore. The collapse load also prevents the cones 220 , 225 and sealing member 210 from rotating during a subsequent mill up operation.
[0035] The sealing member 210 may have any number of configurations to effectively seal an annulus within the wellbore. For example, the sealing member 210 may include grooves, ridges, indentations, or protrusions designed to allow the sealing member 210 to conform to variations in the shape of the interior of a surrounding tubular (not shown). The sealing member 210 , however, should be capable of withstanding temperatures up to 450° F., and pressure differentials up to 15,000 psi.
[0036] In operation, opposing forces are exerted on the element system 200 which causes the malleable outer portions of the body 250 to compress and radially expand toward a surrounding tubular. A force in a first direction is exerted against a first surface of the support ring 240 . A force in a second direction is exerted against a first surface of the support ring 245 . The opposing forces cause the support rings 240 , 245 to move across the tapered first section of the expansion rings 230 , 235 . The first section of the support rings 240 , 245 expands radially from the mandrel 250 while the wedges 248 hinge radially toward the surrounding tubular. At a predetermined force, the wedges 248 will break away or separate from the first section 242 of the support rings 240 , 245 . The wedges 248 then extend radially outward to engage the surrounding tubular. The compressive force causes the expansion rings 230 , 235 to flow and expand as they are forced across the tapered section of the cones 220 , 225 . As the expansion rings 230 , 235 flow and expand, they fill the gaps or voids between the wedges 248 of the support rings 240 , 245 . The expansion of the expansion rings 230 , 235 also applies a collapse load through the cones 220 , 225 on the body 250 , which helps prevent slippage of the element system 200 once activated. The collapse load also prevents the cones 220 , 225 and sealing member 210 from rotating during the mill up operation which significantly reduces the required time to complete the mill up operation. The cones 220 , 225 then transfer the axial force to the sealing member 210 to compress and expand the sealing member 210 radially. The expanded sealing member 210 effectively seals or packs off an annulus formed between the body 250 and an inner diameter of a surrounding tubular.
[0037] The non-metallic element system 200 can be used on either a metal or more preferably, a non-metallic mandrel. The non-metallic element system 200 may also be used with a hollow or solid mandrel. For example, the non-metallic element system 200 can be used with a bridge plug or frac-plug to seal off a wellbore or the element system may be used with a packer to pack-off an annulus between two tubulars disposed in a wellbore. For simplicity and ease of description however, the non-metallic element system will now be described in reference to a frac-plug for sealing off a well bore.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a partial cross section of a frac-plug 300 having the non-metallic element system 200 described above. In addition to the non-metallic element system 200 , the frac-plug 300 includes a mandrel 301 , slips 310 , 315 , and cones 320 , 325 . The non-metallic element system 200 is disposed about the mandrel 301 between the cones 320 , 325 . The mandrel 301 is a tubular member having a ball 309 disposed therein to act as a check valve by allowing flow through the mandrel 301 in only a single axial direction.
[0039] The slips 310 , 315 are disposed about the mandrel 302 adjacent a first end of the cones 320 , 325 . Each slip 310 , 315 comprises a tapered inner surface conforming to the first end of the cone 320 , 325 . An outer surface of the slip 310 , 315 , preferably includes at least one outwardly extending serration or edged tooth, to engage an inner surface of a surrounding tubular (not shown) when the slip 310 , 315 is driven radially outward from the mandrel 301 due to the axial movement across the first end of the cones 320 , 325 thereunder.
[0040] The slip 310 , 315 is designed to fracture with radial stress. The slip 310 , 315 typically includes at least one recessed groove (not shown) milled therein to fracture under stress allowing the slip 310 , 315 to expand outwards to engage an inner surface of the surrounding tubular. For example, the slip 310 , 315 may include four sloped segments separated by equally spaced recessed grooves to contact the surrounding tubular, which become evenly distributed about the outer surface of the mandrel 301 .
[0041] The cone 320 , 325 is disposed about the mandrel 301 adjacent the non-metallic sealing system 200 and is secured to the mandrel 301 by a plurality of shearable members 330 such as screws or pins. The shearable members 330 may be fabricated from the same composite material as the non-metallic sealing system 200 , or the shearable members may be of a different kind of composite material or metal. The cone 320 , 325 has an undercut 322 machined in an inner surface thereof so that the cone 320 , 325 can be disposed about the first section 242 of the support ring 240 , 245 , and butt against the shoulder 246 of the support ring 240 , 245 .
[0042] As stated above, the cones 320 , 325 comprise a tapered first end which rests underneath the tapered inner surface of the slips 310 , 315 . The slips 310 , 315 travel about the tapered first end of the cones 320 , 325 , thereby expanding radially outward from the mandrel 301 to engage the inner surface of the surrounding tubular.
[0043] A setting ring 340 is disposed about the mandrel 301 adjacent a first end of the slip 310 . The setting ring 340 is an annular member having a first end that is a substantially flat surface. The first end serves as a shoulder which abuts a setting tool described below.
[0044] A support ring 350 is disposed about the mandrel 301 adjacent a first end of the setting ring 340 . A plurality of pins 345 secure the support ring 350 to the mandrel 301 . The support ring 350 is an annular member and has a smaller outer diameter than the setting ring 340 . The smaller outer diameter allows the support ring 350 to fit within the inner diameter of a setting tool so the setting tool can be mounted against the first end of the setting ring 340 .
[0045] The frac-plug 300 may be installed in a wellbore with some non-rigid system, such as electric wireline or coiled tubing. A setting tool, such as a Baker E-4 Wireline Setting Assembly commercially available from Baker Hughes, Inc., for example, connects to an upper portion of the mandrel 301 . Specifically, an outer movable portion of the setting tool is disposed about the outer diameter of the support ring 350 , abutting the first end of the setting ring 340 . An inner portion of the setting tool is fastened about the outer diameter of the support ring 350 . The setting tool and frac-plug 300 are then run into the well casing to the desired depth where the frac-plug 300 is to be installed.
[0046] To set or activate the frac-plug 300 , the mandrel 301 is held by the wireline, through the inner portion of the setting tool, as an axial force is applied through the outer movable portion of the setting tool to the setting ring 340 . The axial forces cause the outer portions of the frac-plug 300 to move axially relative to the mandrel 301 . FIGS. 6 and 6A show a section view of a frac-plug having a non-metallic sealing system of the present invention in a set position within a wellbore.
[0047] Referring to both FIGS. 6 and 6A , the force asserted against the setting ring 340 transmits force to the slips 310 , 315 and cones 320 , 325 . The slips 310 , 315 move up and across the tapered surface of the cones 320 , 325 and contact an inner surface of a surrounding tubular 700 . The axial and radial forces applied to slips 310 , 315 causes the recessed grooves to fracture into equal segments, permitting the serrations or teeth of the slips 310 , 315 to firmly engage the inner surface of the surrounding tubular.
[0048] Axial movement of the cones 320 , 325 transfers force to the support rings 240 , 245 . As explained above, the opposing forces cause the support rings 240 , 245 to move across the tapered first section of the expansion rings 230 , 235 . As the support rings 240 , 245 move axially, the first section of the support rings 240 , 245 expands radially from the mandrel 250 while the wedges 248 hinge radially toward the surrounding tubular. At a pre-determined force, the wedges 248 break away or separate from the first section 242 of the support rings 240 , 245 . The wedges 248 then extend radially outward to engage the surrounding tubular 700 . The compressive force causes the expansion rings 230 , 235 to flow and expand as they are forced across the tapered section of the cones 220 , 225 . As the expansion rings 230 , 235 flow and expand, the rings 230 , 235 fill the gaps or voids between the wedges 248 of the support rings 240 , 245 , as shown in FIG. 7 . FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view along lines B-B of FIG. 6 .
[0049] Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 6A , the growth of the expansion rings 230 , 235 applies a collapse load through the cones 220 , 225 on the mandrel 301 , which helps prevent slippage of the element system 200 once activated. The cones 220 , 225 then transfer the axial force to the sealing member 210 which is compressed and expanded radially to seal an annulus formed between the mandrel 301 and an inner diameter of the surrounding tubular 700 .
[0050] In addition to frac-plugs as described above, the non-metallic element system 200 described herein may also be used in conjunction with any other downhole tool used for sealing an annulus within a wellbore, such as bridge plugs or packers, for example. Moreover, while foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
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A non-metallic element system is provided as part of a downhole tool that can effectively seal or pack-off an annulus under elevated temperatures. The element system can also resist high differential pressures without sacrificing performance or suffering mechanical degradation, and is considerably faster to drill-up than a conventional element system. In one aspect, the composite material comprises an epoxy blend reinforced with glass fibers stacked layer upon layer at about 30 to about 70 degrees. In another aspect, a mandrel is formed of a non-metallic polymeric composite material. A downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, frac-plug, or packer, is also provided. The tool comprises a support ring having one or more wedges, an expansion ring, and a sealing member positioned with the expansion ring.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/251,928, filed on Dec. 7, 2000.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for increasing the power produced by a gas turbine or combustion turbine for driving a mechanical device or for power generation. More particularly, it provides a more efficient refrigeration method and apparatus for cooling turbine inlet air to enhance its power output and overall combustion efficiency.
2. Background of the Invention
As used herein, the terms turbine, gas turbine and combustion turbine may be used interchangeably in reference to the same or similar process or system. Gas turbines are widely used in all phases of industrial applications. They are utilized as a source of shaft power to drive compressors, aircraft, and other rotating equipment. They are also coupled to electrical power generators for the generation of electricity extensively in either a simple cycle or a combined cycle power plant. Gas turbines typically consist of an intake air filtration, a compressor for compressing inlet air, a combustion chamber for mixing and igniting the compressed air with fuel to form a compressed hot gas for expansion to a turbine section to generate power. The work extracted from the high temperature gas, after partially used for air compression, will be available for output load. The exhaust gas from the turbine section, which contains a high level of heat energy, can be introduced into a waste heat recovery section, e.g. the heat recovery steam generator (HGSG) in a combined cycle power plant, or in some cases, discarded.
The performance of a combustion turbine system operated under the cycle described above is generally proportional to the mass flow rate of the inlet air to the gas turbine compressor, and is therefore largely affected by ambient air conditions. At high ambient temperatures, the available work produced from a gas turbine decreases due to a reduction in the mass flow of air through the system. And ironically, power demand often reaches the peak in most gas turbine applications during the hottest days when the operational efficiency of the turbine is at the lowest. Thus, an inlet air cooling system is commonly adopted to reduce the intake air temperature for minimizing the impact on turbine output, and to augment power output even during hot days when it can be installed cost effectively.
Various methods and apparatus for cooling gas-turbine inlet air are available in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,990 to Zachary, et al. discloses an apparatus for achieving power augmentation in a gas turbine through a wet compression where water is sprayed to the inlet air to induce “latent heat inter-cooling.” Further, a liquid coolant fuel, as exemplified by the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,298, is introduced at the inlet of the air compressor, which vaporizes and cools the air to enhance power output of a gas turbine. Others utilize either a direct or an indirect evaporative cooler where the heat of hot air is transferred into the circulating water, leading to partial vaporization of water. However, the temperature reduction achieved with an evaporative cooler is limited to the daily fluctuating wet bulb temperatures in the areas. An evaporative cooling apparatus may not be applicable for warm and humid areas. Moreover, it often requires a high level of maintenance and relies on the quality and availability of a water source.
It is also readily common to introduce an external refrigeration system to chill the inlet air temperature far below that achievable by an evaporative cooler. This approach permits the turbine to operate at a fairly constant and optimal output regardless of the ambient air conditions. Although chilling the air to near 32° F. is possible, a minimum temperature considered suitable for inlet air chilling in a gas turbine application is usually set above 42° F. This prevents moisture contained in the inlet air from freezing and depositing on the inlet guide vanes or compressor blades as the static air temperature decreases further while it accelerates into the compression chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,951 discloses the use of liquefied natural gas as a refrigerant to improve the capacity and efficiency of a combined cycle power plant. Liquid nitrogen, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,207, was also proposed to gain additional power from a gas turbine generator. However, the availability of this type of cold refrigerant is extremely limited. In most areas where a cold refrigerant is not readily available, a refrigeration system is proposed.
In all refrigeration systems, the refrigeration process depends on the absorption of heat at a low temperature which is achieved by the expansion and evaporation of a liquid refrigerant. Refrigeration systems are distinguished by how the refrigerant vapor is liquefied to repeat the cycle. There are two major types of refrigeration systems in commercial practice today, namely absorption refrigeration and mechanical refrigeration. In a typical absorption refrigeration system, a refrigerant vapor from the evaporator is dissolved in a liquid absorbent to form what is commonly referred to as a “solution pair” in an absorber. The solution pair is transferred to a desorber, or regenerator, where heat energy is applied to desorb the refrigerant in the form of a vapor, which is fed to a condenser. The two most commonly used absorption refrigeration systems are ammonia water and aqueous lithium bromide units. U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,738 improves combined-cycle power plant efficiency by operating an ammonia refrigeration cycle driven by the waste heat from the gas turbine to lower the inlet air temperature. Although absorption refrigeration systems are known and utilized commercially, continuous efforts have been devoted to improving their performance. A multiple effect generator is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,228; 4,742,693, and 4,441,3332 to improve the efficiency of an absorption refrigeration circuit. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,283,918 and 4,413,479 introduce a third fluid, which is at least partially immiscible to allow separation of refrigerant at absorption temperature, in the absorption refrigeration cycle. Other improvements include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,055,964 and 5,816,070. These systems are driven by heat energy and are relatively inefficient and inflexible unless reliable waste heat or inexpensive fuels are readily available.
In a mechanical refrigeration system, the refrigerant vapor is mechanically compressed to a high pressure and is then cooled to total condensation. This type of system has prevailed in industrial installations as a result of the improvement in efficiency. Depending upon temperature requirements, availability, and economics, various pure component refrigerants are commercially available, including light hydrocarbons, ammonia, water, and newly discovered chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFC's). For instance, an inlet air chilling apparatus using water vapor compression is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,148 to achieve power augmentation of a gas turbine. For the modest cooling goal of inlet air chilling, the CFC refrigerants may be most appealing. However, their usage has become increasingly restricted due to environmental regulations. Conventional mechanical refrigeration using a single component refrigerant capable of achieving much colder refrigeration tends to be less efficient. Besides, the need of additional power to drive the compressor reduces the advantages of inlet air chilling.
An enhanced refrigeration system has also been attempted by combining both mechanical refrigeration and absorption refrigeration. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,572 discloses a combined refrigeration method and apparatus for an improved efficiency, wherein mechanical refrigeration is alternately connected in series with an aqueous lithium bromide refrigeration. A combustion-powered compound refrigeration system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,839 to reduce the energy consumption of a refrigeration system wherein the hot exhaust gas from a combustion engine, used to power the refrigerant compressor, is utilized to drive an ammonia absorption unit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,344 to Lutz, et al., incorporated herein by reference, introduces a pair of refrigerants which form a substantially immiscible fluid having a total pressure substantially greater than the vapor pressure of either individual refrigerant in the evaporative chiller. This process leads to a higher suction pressure and lower compression horsepower for a mechanical refrigeration system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,070 to Mechler teaches the use of vapor recompression absorption to increase the efficiency of an absorption process.
Still others, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,353,597; 5,537,813; and 6,119,445, propose to increase inlet air density by a combination of inlet air compression and cooling.
As can be seen from the foregoing description, prior art has long sought methods for improving operational capacity and efficiency of a gas turbine, particularly in hot weather conditions. While inlet air chilling appears to offer the most advantages, there continues to be a need for improved methods and apparatus to lower costs and energy consumption associated with the provision of such a system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a more efficient and economical refrigeration system to augment the power output of a gas turbine. A significant reduction in the power required to drive the refrigerant compressor can be achieved by the addition of an absorptive refrigerant to the evaporative chiller, wherein a substantial increase in pressure results from the combined refrigerant. The absorptive refrigerant vapor from the chiller is subsequently separated from the mechanical refrigerant in an absorber by adding a liquid absorbent, which absorbs the absorptive refrigerant over the mechanical refrigerant.
It is another object of the present invention to reduce the usage of the combustion fuel by utilizing the hot exhaust gas from the gas turbine for the generation of the absorptive refrigerant. Consequently, the emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from the integrated inlet air chilling system can be reduced.
In carrying out these and other objects of the invention, there is provided, in the broadest sense, an inlet air chiller using a combined refrigerant to increase inlet air density for optimizing the performance of a combustion turbine system. The hybrid refrigeration system is based on a combination of mechanical refrigeration supplemented by an absorption refrigeration cycle to reduce the compression requirements over a conventional refrigeration system using a single component refrigerant. At least two refrigerants, a mechanical refrigerant and an absorptive refrigerant, are utilized in the evaporative chiller wherein the combined refrigerant exhibits the characteristic of a much higher total pressure than the vapor pressure of each individual refrigerant at the refrigeration temperature regardless of their miscibility. Preferably, the system includes two substantially immiscible refrigerants which coexist where the total system pressure, in most cases, is approximately equivalent to the sum of the vapor pressures of each refrigerant. This can be exemplified below by a binary propane-ammonia system where experimental vapor pressures representative of such systems were published in The Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data , by Noda et al., entitled “Isothermal Vapor-Liquid and Liquid-Liquid Equilibria for the Propane-Ammonia and Propylene-Ammonia Systems.”
Vapor Pressure b , psia
Temperature, ° F.
Pressure a , psia
Propane
Ammonia
32.0
129.4
68.6
62.4
68.0
238.3
121.3
124.3
a Liquid-liquid equipibrium at given temperatures
b Vapor pressure of pure component at given temperatures
As shown, the vapor pressure of the two co-existing liquid phases (ammonia and propane) is 129.4 psia at 32° F., which is almost double the vapor pressure of each individual pure refrigerant, namely 68.6 psia for propane and 62.4 psia for ammonia. The compression power needed for the refrigerant compressor is greatly reduced due to a higher suction pressure of the resultant refrigerant vapor from the chiller.
In the present invention, the resultant combined refrigerant from the evaporator is preferably preheated to a temperature well above water freezing temperature and then directly fed to an absorber wherein the absorptive refrigerant is separated from the mechanical refrigerant by the addition of a liquid absorbent. The mechanical refrigerant vapor, essentially not soluble in the liquid absorbent, from the absorber is compressed and subsequently condensed. The absorptive refrigerant is heat regenerated from a solution pair in the desorber. By removing one of the refrigerants as in the present invention prior to mechanical compression, the mass flow into the refrigerant compressor, and thereby power requirements, are further reduced. It should be noted that, in some cases, the vaporized combined refrigerant could be compressed to a higher pressure prior to its introduction into the absorber.
The economic advantages of the present invention are further enhanced by thermally linking the heat required to generate the absorptive refrigerant from the solution pair with the hot exhaust heat available from the gas turbine or the refrigerant compressor driver, if available. This is of significant importance when the cost of combustion fuel is expensive and/or the reduction in greenhouse gases emissions is desired.
The operational efficiency can be further improved in another embodiment of the present invention by applying an economizer to the mechanical refrigerant after the expansion of the mechanical refrigerant. The economizer, operated at an intermediate pressure, permits a portion of the flashed refrigerant vapor to be collected and fed to the refrigerant compressor, thus reducing the flow to the chiller and absorber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The application and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional inlet air chilling process where only mechanical refrigeration is used;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an inlet air chilling process incorporating the improvements of the present invention for augmenting the power produced from a gas turbine;
FIG. 3 is an alternative arrangement of an inlet air chilling system incorporating the improvements of the present invention, wherein an economizer for the mechanical refrigerant is introduced.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method of enhancing the operational capacity and efficiency of a gas turbine system by the application of a combined refrigerant comprising at least two refrigerants wherein the combined refrigerant exhibits a total pressure substantially higher than the vapor pressure of each respective refrigerant inside an evaporative chiller. For purposes of comparison only, an exemplary conventional process will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and compared with the inventive process. The methods of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, and 3 .
Referring to FIG. 1, inlet air stream 100 having a mass flow rate of approximately 995 lb/sec and 60% relative humidity is introduced into an air chiller 19 at an ambient temperature of about 90° F. and a pressure close to 14.7 psia. The inlet air stream 100 enters the air chiller 19 , which utilizes a coolant 40 , e.g. a chilled ethylene glycol-water solution, to significantly cool the inlet air stream 100 to a temperature of about 50° F. Cooled air 102 is then introduced into an air compressor 104 which compresses the cooled air 102 before it is supplied to a combustor 106 . Fuel is added to the compressed air and ignited in combustor 106 to form a compressed hot gas for expansion in a turbine 108 to generate power for driving device 110 . Gas exhausted from turbine 108 may be directed to waste heat recovery unit 112 before being sent to the atmosphere through vent 103 . The air. compressor 104 , combustor 106 and turbine 108 form a conventional gas turbine 120 .
Warm coolant 42 from air chiller 19 enters an evaporative chiller 8 where a conventional single refrigerant stream 18 , such as propane in this example, is supplied to the evaporative chiller 8 at approximately 35° F. to cool the warm coolant 42 . The cooled coolant 40 returns to air chiller 19 for use in cooling the inlet air stream 100 . A vapor refrigerant stream 2 from evaporative chiller 8 is directed to a separator 13 to ensure removal of any entrained liquid 105 . After the entrained liquid 105 has been separated from the vapor refrigerant stream 2 , a refined vapor refrigerant stream 9 enters a suction port of a refrigerant compressor 39 . Compressed vapor refrigerant stream 15 is cooled and condensed at approximately 110° F. and 215 psia through a condenser 38 to form a liquid refrigerant stream 16 . An accumulator 37 is applied to the liquid refrigerant stream 16 to provide the necessary surge. The liquid refrigerant stream 17 is expanded through expansion valve 36 to reform refrigerant stream 18 , which completes the cycle and is repeated.
The methods of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, where the same reference numerals are used from FIG. 1 to describe similar streams and equipment. Various values of temperature and pressure are recited in association with the specific example of mixed propane and ammonia refrigeration as described below. These values are merely illustrative, and depend on the desired refrigeration temperature and the combined refrigerant selected.
Referring now to FIG. 2, inlet air stream 100 is cooled to about 50° F. in air chiller 19 as described in reference to FIG. 1 . The warm coolant 42 from air chiller 19 enters evaporative chiller 8 where a combined refrigerant stream 1 , instead of a conventional single refrigerant stream 18 as described in FIG. 1, is supplied to the evaporative chiller 8 at approximately 35° F. to cool the warm coolant 42 . The process of cooling the warm coolant 42 , which returns to air chiller 19 as cooled coolant 40 , causes substantial vaporization of the combined refrigerant stream 1 . As described above, the combined refrigerant stream 1 comprises at least two refrigerants having a total pressure substantially greater than the vapor pressure of each respective refrigerant under the conditions described in reference to the evaporative chiller 8 , in FIG. 1, regardless of miscibility. In FIG. 2, the combined refrigerant stream 1 is preferably a combination of a first refrigerant comprising 50 mol % propane (mechanical refrigerant) and a second refrigerant comprising 50 mol % ammonia (absorptive refrigerant) which is supplied to the evaporative chiller 8 at about 134 psia and 35° F.
It should be noted that, depending on the design details of air chiller 19 and the selection of combined refrigerant stream 1 , the use of a coolant 40 for transferring refrigeration available from the combined refrigerant stream 1 to the inlet air stream 100 may not be required. Thus, the air chiller 19 and evaporative chiller 8 may be utilized as a single component eliminating the need for a coolant 40 .
A substantially vaporized refrigerant stream 2 a , substantially comprising the first refrigerant and second refrigerant, exits from evaporative chiller 8 which is supplied to a pre-heater 20 where it is heated to well above 32° F. prior to entering the bottom of an absorber 28 . Within absorber 28 , the second refrigerant is separated from the first refrigerant by absorption in a cool liquid absorbent 4 which is supplied through the top of absorber 28 . To improve the absorption efficiency, an inter-cooler 3 could be included to effectively remove the heat generated by the absorption taking place in absorber 28 . The cool liquid absorbent 4 should be selected so that it substantially absorbs the second refrigerant instead of the first refrigerant. For instance, water is a preferred liquid absorbent because of the excellent solubility of the second refrigerant ammonia in water as compared to extremely low solubility of the first refrigerant propane in water.
The refined (non-absorbed) vapor refrigerant stream 9 , substantially comprising the first refrigerant, is removed from the absorber 28 at approximately 124 psia and 119° F. Refined vapor refrigerant stream 9 is then compressed to approximately 228 psia by refrigerant compressor 39 . The resulting compressed refrigerant vapor stream 15 is then condensed at about 110° F. in condenser 38 to form the liquid refrigerant stream 16 , substantially comprising the first refrigerant. Depending upon the power requirement and availability of the fuel source, the driver for the refrigerant compressor 39 can be an electrical motor, a gas engine, a steam turbine, or a gas turbine. Accumulator 37 , which is equipped with a water boot 101 for the removal of any water, is applied to the liquid refrigerant stream 16 to provide the necessary surge. A water stream 27 is withdrawn from accumulator 37 and is introduced into the absorber 28 through an expansion valve 26 .
A first liquid stream (solution pair) 10 , substantially comprising the liquid absorbent 4 and second refrigerant, is drained from the absorber 26 to solution pump 24 . Solution pump 24 feeds the first liquid stream 10 to a heat exchanger 6 where it is heat exchanged with a hot liquid absorbent 12 to form a heated solution 11 , essentially comprising the first liquid stream 10 at a higher temperature. The heated solution 11 enters a regenerator 30 where a second liquid stream 14 , substantially comprising the second refrigerant, is desorbed from the heated solution 11 by an external heat source through a reboiler 7 . The liquid absorbent 12 , which preferably contains less than 2 mol % of the second refrigerant, is then drained from the regenerator 30 and reintroduced into heat exchanger 6 ,where it is cooled through the exchange of heat with the first liquid stream 10 as thus described. Thus, once the liquid absorbent 12 is cooled through the heat exchanger 6 , it enters absorbent cooler 23 where it is further cooled to form liquid absorbent 5 . Liquid absorbent 5 is then expanded through an expansion valve 34 where it is introduced into the absorber 28 as liquid absorbent 4 . The regenerator 30 is typically equipped with an overhead condenser and reflux systems, which are not shown. The heat source to the reboiler 7 can be carried by a heating medium 25 through the waste heat recovery unit 112 from the gas turbine 120 . Alternatively, the waste heat recovery unit 112 may effectively replace the reboiler 7 as a means of supplying heat to the regenerator, thereby eliminating the need for heating medium 25 . Recoverable waste heat is adequate for the heat requirements in most applications, as in this example. There are no additional needs for combustion fuel for the regeneration process. This hybrid refrigeration cycle further reduces the overall requirements of combustion fuel, thereby improving the operational efficiency.
The second liquid stream 14 and liquid refrigerant stream 17 substantially comprise the second refrigerant and first refrigerant, respectively. Each is expanded through respective expansion valves 33 and 36 , and are finally combined to reform the combined refrigerant stream 1 , thus completing the cycle which is repeated.
For a conventional gas turbine, an increase of approximately 1% in power output can be achieved for every 2.7° F. reduction in inlet air temperature. In this example, the 40° F. reduction in air temperature would result in an approximately 14.8% enhancement in the output of the turbine. More specifically, a power output of approximately 171,000 HP would be available with inlet air chilled to 50° F., which is compared to 146,500 HP without the inlet air chilling.
The required duty for inlet air chilling in such a system is approximately 75 MMbtu/hr. The process performances for providing such duty from the above-mentioned embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are listed and compared in Table 1 below. As shown, it requires a total compression horsepower of about 2,285 BHP when the combined refrigerant 1 of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2 is used. This is compared to a total compression horsepower of 8,230 BHP when conventional propane refrigeration demonstrated in FIG. 1 is used. A significant reduction of over 70% in compression horsepower is achieved by the present invention.
TABLE 1
Performance of Conventional and Inventive Processes
Description
Conventional - FIG. 1
Inventive - FIG. 2
Evaporative Chiller
Temperature, ° F.
35
35
Refrigerant Flow, Lbmol/hr
15,334
14,203
Refrigeration Duty,
74.8
74.8
MMBtu/hr
Refrigerant Compressor 39
Suction flow, Lbmol/hr
15,334
7,223
Suction Pressure, psia
69
124
Compression horsepower,
8,230
2,285
BHP
Liquid Absorbent Flow,
—
775
Gal/min
The operational efficiency of the present invention can be further improved by use of an economizer for the mechanical (first) refrigerant as described in reference to FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 represents a schematic embodiment illustrating such an improvement. The system illustrated in FIG. 3 is essentially identical to that described in reference to FIG. 2 and operates in a similar manner, except for the differences detailed below. The same reference numerals have been used to represent the same system components in each figure.
With reference to FIG. 3, the liquid refrigerant stream 17 , substantially comprising the first refrigerant, is expanded through expansion valve 36 and transferred to an economizer 41 which is operated at an intermediate pressure. A flashed vapor 42 , generated as a result of pressure reduction through expansion valve 36 , exits through the top of economizer 41 . Flashed vapor 42 is then mixed with vapor refrigerant stream 9 prior to entering the suction port of refrigerant compressor 39 . Alternatively, flashed vapor 42 can be supplied to the inter-stage of compressor 39 as shown by 42 a when its pressure is considerably higher than that of vapor refrigerant stream 9 . After being drained from the bottom of economizer 41 , liquid refrigerant stream 51 , substantially comprising the first (mechanical) refrigerant, is expanded through an expansion valve 50 and is combined with the expanded liquid stream 14 to form combined refrigerant stream 1 as described above in reference to FIG. 2 .
The use of economizer 41 reduces the flashed vapor 42 flowing through the evaporative chiller 8 and subsequent components prior to entering the compressor 39 . Consequently, the size and cost of the equipment can be reduced. In addition, a slight improvement in compression horsepower can be realized in some cases.
Depending upon the relative humidity of ambient air, a significant amount of refrigeration may be used for condensing excess moisture. The cool water condensate can be collected in air chiller 19 and used as water markup or liquid absorbent to further improve the overall efficiency.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, and has been demonstrated as effective in providing structures and processes for enhancing operational efficiency of a combustion turbine. However, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. For example, there may be other ways of configuring and/or operating the inventive integration differently or in association with other combined refrigerants from those explicitly described herein which nevertheless fall within the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiments described and illustrated but covers all modifications, which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.
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A method and apparatus for enhancing the power output and operational efficiency of a combustion turbine system using a combined refrigerant substantially comprising a first refrigerant and a second refrigerant, whereby the combined refrigerant exhibits a total pressure substantially greater than each respective first and second refrigerant at a temperature inside an evaporative chiller. In a preferred embodiment, the combined refrigerant cools turbine inlet air through the exchange of heat from the inlet air, in an air chiller, with a coolant which is cooled by the combined refrigerant in the evaporative chiller. The combined refrigerant, after it is used to cool the coolant in the evaporative chiller, is separated through the use of a liquid absorbent which absorbs the second refrigerant to form a solution pair. The non-absorbed first refrigerant is compressed, condensed and then recirculated to eventually join the second refrigerant which is desorbed from the solution pair in a regenerator. The economic advantage of the present invention is enhanced by thermally linking the heat required to regenerate the second absorptive refrigerant from the solution pair with the hot exhaust of heat available from the gas turbine.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring and securing accessible danger areas at power driven textile machines, particularly bale openers for textile fiber bales emloying movable fiber removal members.
In order to prevent accidents at power driven textile machines, particularly those incorporating movable elements, a known measure involves the provision of a main power switch. Actuation of the main power switch by a person immediately interrupts the power supply to the drive of the machine, i.e. the drive for the machine is cut off. However, since the main power switch is disposed on the movable element itself, the danger of accidents during manipulations at the machine is not completely eliminated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to interrupt a machine movement which is endangering an individual even without contact by a person.
The above and other objects are achieved, according to the invention, by a system for monitoring and securing a zone associated with a power driven textile machine, said machine including a part which moves when the machine is in operation in a manner to endanger an individual present in the zone, which system includes radiation emitting means for producing a beam of directed radiation and for directing such beam along a path coincident with at least one boundary of the zone, radiation responsive means positioned in the path of the radiation beam for producing an output indication when it is not receiving the directed radiation, and control means connected to the radiation responsive means for halting movement of the part in response to appearance of the output indication.
With such a monitoring and safety arrangement, no physical contact with the moving element of the machine is necessary to switch off the machine, or the moving part, since the drive therefor is already switched off if a person comes too close to the machine or the part. Advisably, photoelectric barriers are used for this purpose. However, other, preferably highly directional, radiation emitters and receivers can also be employed, e.g. lasers, infrared light, ultrasound or the like.
Preferably, when the moving element, such as a removal member in the case of a bale opener, is in the operating position, the associated danger zone is secured by a safety device, e.g. a photoelectric barrier, and whenever the moving element turns into another operating position, a signal generator switches from one safety device, e.g. for one danger zone, to another safety device, e.g. for a different danger zone.
In this way it is possible to automatically secure the danger areas of the machine which may change in the course of the working process, so that only the area which currently presents a danger is being monitored while the remaining area remains freely accessible. While work proceeds in the danger area, new fiber bales can be set up in the remaining area.
Advisably the switching occurs after a complete rotation of the removal member of a bale opener through about 180°. The safety device and with it the drive are switched on only if the removal member is in the precise operating position. In this way it is assured that removal of fiber from fiber bales occurs in a straight line. If the working member has reached its operating position, a switch must be actuated which emits a signal for both the safety device and for the drive.
Preferably the signal generator for the safety device is a push button which is actuated by the removal member. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the holding device for the removal member has a horizontal opening, when seen in the operating direction, i.e. a passage for the beams of the photoelectric barrier or the like. In this way, one photoelectric barrier, i.e. the photoelectric barrier associated with the removal member when it is in the operating position, is used simultaneously for two different safety devices. This arrangement is of advantage if very large danger zones are to be secured for which the beam power of a single photoelectric barrier is not sufficient.
Embodiments of the invention have the form of an apparatus for monitoring and securing accessible danger areas around power driven textile machines, particularly bale openers for textile machines having movable removal members, and includes a transmitter and a receiver between which a beam passes, an interruption of the beam path between the transmitter and the receiver actuating a signal which is used to directly interrupt the dangerous movement of the power driven operating means, and the holding device for the removal member is provided with a horizontal opening, when seen in the operating direction, for the passage of the beam.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial plan view of an embodiment of apparatus according to the invention with two photoelectric barriers each in a first position.
FIG. 2 is a partly schematic, partly pictorial view of a switching device with push buttons usable in the apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of an apparatus employing three photoelectric barriers in a second position.
FIG. 4 is a simplified pictorial elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram for an embodiment of a signal processing circuit for a safety system according to the invention.
FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram of a specific form of construction of the circuit of FIG. 5.
FIGS. 7, 7a, 8 and 9 are circuit diagrams of suitable embodiments of components of the circuit of FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a bale opener presenting two danger zones I and II which are secure by means of two photoelectric barriers each composed of a light beam emitter 10 or 20, deflecting mirrors 11, 12 and 13 or 21, 22 and 23, and a light receiver, e.g. a photoelectric sensor, 14 or 24.
To secure danger zone I, emitter 10 sends a light beam which is deflected in successsion by mirrors 11, 12 and 13 to the receiver 14. The beam path of the photoelectric barrier 10 to 14 in this way forms a rectangular perimeter which completely encloses, within danger zone I, a row of fiber bales 1 and a movable removal member 2 as well as part of the movable support device 3 carrying member 2. The beam path from transmitter 10 to receiver 14 is shown by arrows. The removal member 2 and the holding device 3 are mounted to move along rails 4 in the direction shown by a double arrow associated with device 2.
On the other side of the holding device 3, the second photoelectric barrier 20 to 24 is provided for enclosing the danger zone II, this barrier including the transmitter 20, the deflecting mirrors 21, 22, and 23 and the receiver 24. While the photoelectric barrier 10 to 14 for the danger zone I is in operation, the photoelectric barrier 20 to 24 for danger zone II is deactivated.
If the light beam of the actuated barrier is interrupted, all movement of the removal member 2 and of the holding device 3 is braked and stopped. The holding member 3 can be rotated about a vertical axis through an angle of 180°, as indicated by the circular double arrow, so that the removal member 2 is placed above the row of fiber bales 1a in danger zone II.
The protective system according to the invention, as depicted in FIG. 1, may be provided with a barrier actuating system such as that shown in FIG. 2 where the holding device 3 is provided with two lateral projections 31 and 32 each of which can close a respective push button switch 5 or 6 when rotated into either one of two angular positions spaced 180° apart. The push button switches 5 and 6 are part of a circuit which includes the transmitters 10 and 20 and a voltage source 7. By closing one push button switch 5 or 6, the respective associated transmitter 10 or 20 is put into operation. In this way switching is effected from photoelectric barrier 10-14 for danger zone I to photoelectric barrier 20-24 for danger zone II, and vice versa.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which each photoelectric barrier 10-14 and 20-24 forms three sides of a rectangle with the remaining side being located in the area of the holding device 3. In this area a third photoelectric barrier including a transmitter 40 and receiver 41 is arranged to extend in the direction of travel of the holding device 3. This photoelectric barrier 40, 41 is always actuated, i.e. also while switching between photoelectric barriers 10-14 and 20-24 is taking place. The transmitter 40 sends a beam through a horizontal passage 33 disposed in the middle of the lower region of the holding device 3 when seen in the operating direction, parallel to tracks 4, as shown in FIG. 4.
In the signal processing circuit of FIG. 5, the signal generator 50, which may be push button switch 5, emits a signal when the machine 2, 3 is positioned to operate in danger zone I while the signal generator 51, which may similarly be push button switch 6, emits a signal when the machine 2, 3 is positioned to operate in danger zone II. The signal from either generator is received in a photoelectric barrier monitor control 52 which is associated with the corresponding photoelectric barriers 10-14, 20-24, and 40, 41 of the safety system. A reset device 54 is also associated with the control for resetting the system after it has been actuated.
The photoelectric barrier 40, 41 is always in operation. If neither of the two signal generators 50, 51 is emitting radiation, the machine 2, 3 cannot be switched on, or is switched off. In this way, the correct operating positions of the removal members 2 and of the holding device 3 are monitored simultaneously.
The specific circuit of FIG. 6 performs the further function of permitting testing of the safety system. In the circuit of FIG. 6 the barrier control monitor 52 includes a selector circuit 53 to which the signal generators 50 and 51 are connected to provide a signal identifying the present operating position of machine 2, 3, and particularly of device 3. Selector circuit 53 is electrically connected to three monitoring devices 57, 58 and 59, each associated with a respective one of the barriers 10-14, 20-24 and 40, 41, as well as to a safety switch 55 and a testing device 56.
Safety switch 55 is connected in the power supply circuit of a motor 34 which is the drive motor for holding device 3. Testing device 56 is actuatable by a reset device 54 which may be a switch which must be unlocked by a special key before it can be operated.
In the operation of the circuit of FIG. 6, movement of device 3 into one of its operating positions actuates one of the signal generators 50 or 51 to produce a signal which causes the selector circuit 53 to in turn actuate a selected one of light barriers 10-14 and 20-24 and barrier 40-41. Selector circuit 53 can do this, for example, by activating all three transmitters 10, 20 and 40 via testing device 56 and by activating the monitoring devices 57 or 58 and 59 associated with the selected barriers. Switch 55 can be connected to initially be closed upon actuation of a signal generator and subsequently opened upon production of an output signal by any monitoring device when that device is activated and the light beam transmission path between its associated transmitter and receiver has been interrupted.
At the start of operation, the selected barriers can be checked by operating reset device 54 to cause testing device 56 to initiate a simulated malfunction, as by interrupting the supply of operating power to all transmitters. If the result is positive, power is again supplied to the transmitters and reset device 54 is switched to a normal operating position. Preferably, the circuit components are interconnected so that switch 55 does not close until device 54 has been switched to this normal operating position.
If during operation of the machine, a light beam is interrupted, all movement of the operating member 2 and of the holding device 3 is stopped, and restarting is possible only by operating the reset device 54. The reset device 54 is advisably so located that the operator must first step entirely away from the danger zone I or II, respectively, of the machine 2, 3 before the machine can be switched on again, i.e. the operator must check out the danger zone I or II. The spatial arrangement is advisably such that the reset device is at the end of the machine opposite the operator's penal. The entire control system is preferably constructed using relays in such a manner that if there is a drop in voltage or a defect, the machine 2, 3 is always switched off.
One suitable embodiment of elements 54, 55 and 56 of the circuit of FIG. 6 is shown in FIGS. 7, 7a, 8 and 9. FIG. 7 illustrates the circuitry of a portion of testing device 56, together with reset device 54, which has the form of a simple pushbutton switch that is normally open. FIG. 7a shows a second portion of testing device 56, this being the portion connected to control the actuation of a respective light beam transmitter, for example transmitter 10. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of safety switch 55 connected to control the supply of operating power to motor 34. Finally, FIG. 9 shows one of the monitoring devices, specifically monitoring device 57 connected to monitor the output signal from receiver 14. Not shown are the connections from selector circuit 53, which additionally control the light barrier selection and enablement of safety switch 55 in response to actuation of a respective one of the generators 50 and 51.
FIGS. 7 and 9 illustrate relay coils E, F, G and I, and their associated contacts, all of which bear the same reference character and are shown in their normal position, that is the position when their associated relay coil is deenergized. The terminals of the circuit portion shown in FIG. 7a are connected in circuit with an associated light beam transmitter, for example transmitter 10,and actuate the associated transmitter when a short circuit appears across those terminals. Similarly, the terminals of the circuit shown in FIG. 8 are connected in series with motor 34 so that the motor will be supplied with operating power only when a short circuit appears across those terminals. Finally, the terminals of the circuit of FIG. 9 are connected across the output of an associated light beam receiver 14 so that a voltage appears across those terminals when a light beam is impinging on the associated receiver.
At the start of operation, reset switch 54 is closed, and held in the closed position, so that an energizing voltage is applied via normally closed contacts F 4 and G 4 across relay coils E and I. This closes relay contacts I 1 , E 2 , I 4 and E 4 , and opens contacts I 5 and E 5 . As a result, a current path for maintaining relay coils E and I energized is established, light beam transmitter 10 is turned on and the output of receiver 14 is connected across relay coils F and G, thereby energizing the latter if receiver 14 is receiving a light beam.
Energization of relay coils F and G opens contact F 4 and G 4 , while closing contacts F 1 and G 1 to provide a second connection path to relay coils F and G, closing contacts F 2 and G 2 to provide a second current path for maintaining transmitter 10 energized, and closing contact F 5 and G 5 . Since coils E and I are still energized, contacts E 5 and I 5 remain open, so that no power can yet be supplied to motor 34. In this operating state, light barrier 10-14 can be broken for testing purposes. This will cause relay coils F and G to be deenergized, and this can be observed in any suitable manner. When the light barrier is restored, relay coils F and G will be reenergized, via contact I 1 , and all of the F and G contacts will therefore again be returned to their positions associated with energization of their respective relay coils.
After testing has been completed, reset button 54 is opened, whereupon relay coils E and I are deenergized while coils F and G remain energized to maintain transmitter 10 and the monitoring device associated with receiver 14 active and to supply operating power to motor 34. If, during subsequent operation of the system, the light beam to receiver 14 should be blocked, i.e. the light barrier should be broken, relay coils F and G will be deenergized, as a result of which transmitter 10 will be deactivated and motor 34 will be halted.
It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
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A system for monitoring and securing a zone associated with a power driven textile machine, which machine includes a part which moves when the machine is in operation in a manner to endanger an individual present in the zone, which system includes a radiation emitting device for producing a beam of directed radiation and for directing such beam along a path coincident with at least one boundary of the zone, a radiation responsive device positioned in the path of the radiation beam for producing an output indication when it is not receiving the directed radiation and a control unit connected to the radiation responsive device for halting movement of the part in response to appearance of the output indication.
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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/534,830, filed on May 13, 2005, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,717, which is a 371 of PCT/AU03/01506 filed Nov. 17, 2003, which is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/302,274, filed on Nov. 23, 2002, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,509, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal ink jet printhead, to a printer system incorporating such a printhead, and to a method of ejecting a liquid drop (such as an ink drop) using such a printhead.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The present invention involves the ejection of ink drops by way of forming gas or vapor bubbles in a bubble forming liquid. This principle is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 (Stemme).
There are various known types of thermal ink jet (bubblejet) printhead devices. Two typical devices of this type, one made by Hewlett Packard and the other by Canon, have ink ejection nozzles and chambers for storing ink adjacent the nozzles. Each chamber is covered by a so-called nozzle plate, which is a separately fabricated item and which is mechanically secured to the walls of the chamber. In certain prior art devices, the top plate is made of Kapton™ which is a Dupont trade name for a polyimide film, which has been laser-drilled to form the nozzles. These devices also include heater elements in thermal contact with ink that is disposed adjacent the nozzles, for heating the ink thereby forming gas bubbles in the ink. The gas bubbles generate pressures in the ink causing ink drops to be ejected through the nozzles.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful alternative to the known printheads, printer systems, or methods of ejecting drops of ink and other related liquids, which have advantages as described herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an ink jet printhead comprising:
a plurality of nozzles; and at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
each heater element is in the form of a suspended beam, arranged for being suspended over at least a portion of a bubble forming liquid so as to be in thermal contact therewith, and each heater element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein, thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that heater element.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a printer system incorporating a printhead, the printhead comprising:
a plurality of nozzles; and at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, wherein
each heater element is in the form of a suspended beam, arranged for being suspended over at least a portion of a bubble forming liquid so as to be in thermal contact therewith, and each heater element is configured to heat at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein, thereby to cause the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that heater element.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of ejecting a drop of an ejectable liquid from a printhead, the printhead comprising a plurality of nozzles and at least one respective heater element corresponding to each nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the printhead wherein each heater element is in the form of a suspended beam; disposing a bubble forming liquid such that the heater elements are positioned above, and in thermal contact with, at least a portion of the bubble forming liquid; heating at least one heater element corresponding to a said nozzle so as to heat at least some of said portion of the bubble forming liquid which is in thermal contact with the at least one heated heater element to a temperature above the boiling point of the bubble forming liquid; generating a gas bubble in the bubble forming liquid by said step of heating; and causing the drop of ejectable liquid to be ejected through the nozzle corresponding to the at least one heated heater element by said step of generating a gas bubble.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the ejection of a drop of the ejectable liquid as described herein, is caused by the generation of a vapor bubble in a bubble forming liquid, which, in embodiments, is the same body of liquid as the ejectable liquid. The generated bubble causes an increase in pressure in ejectable liquid, which forces the drop through the relevant nozzle. The bubble is generated by Joule heating of a heater element which is in thermal contact with the ink. The electrical pulse applied to the heater is of brief duration, typically less than 2 microseconds. Due to stored heat in the liquid, the bubble expands for a few microseconds after the heater pulse is turned off. As the vapor cools, it recondenses, resulting in bubble collapse. The bubble collapses to a point determined by the dynamic interplay of inertia and surface tension of the ink. In this specification, such a point is referred to as the “point of collapse” of the bubble.
The printhead according to the invention comprises a plurality of nozzles, as well as a chamber and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each portion of the printhead pertaining to a single nozzle, its chamber and its one or more elements, is referred to herein as a “unit cell”.
In this specification, where reference is made to parts being in thermal contact with each other, this means that they are positioned relative to each other such that, when one of the parts is heated, it is capable of heating the other part, even though the parts, themselves, might not be in physical contact with each other.
Also, the term “ink” is used to signify any ejectable liquid, and is not limited to conventional inks containing colored dyes. Examples of non-colored inks include fixatives, infra-red absorber inks, functionalized chemicals, adhesives, biological fluids, water and other solvents, and so on. The ink or ejectable liquid also need not necessarily be a strictly a liquid, and may contain a suspension of solid particles or be solid at room temperature and liquid at the ejection temperature.
In this specification, the term “periodic element” refers to an element of a type reflected in the periodic table of elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying representations. The drawings are described as follows.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view through an ink chamber of a unit cell of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention, at a particular stage of operation.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view through the ink chamber FIG. 1 , at another stage of operation.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view through the ink chamber FIG. 1 , at yet another stage of operation.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view through the ink chamber FIG. 1 , at yet a further stage of operation.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through a unit cell of a printhead in accordance with the an embodiment of the invention showing the collapse of a vapor bubble.
FIGS. 6 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 28 and 30 are schematic perspective views ( FIG. 30 being partly cut away) of a unit cell of a printhead in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, at various successive stages in the production process of the printhead.
FIGS. 7 , 9 , 12 , 15 , 17 , 20 , 22 , 25 , 27 , 29 and 31 are each schematic plan views of a mask suitable for use in performing the production stage for the printhead, as represented in the respective immediately preceding figures.
FIG. 32 is a further schematic perspective view of the unit cell of FIG. 30 shown with the nozzle plate omitted.
FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective view, partly cut away, of a unit cell of a printhead according to the invention having another particular embodiment of heater element.
FIG. 34 is a schematic plan view of a mask suitable for use in performing the production stage for the printhead of FIG. 33 for forming the heater element thereof.
FIG. 35 is a schematic perspective view, partly cut away, of a unit cell of a printhead according to the invention having a further particular embodiment of heater element.
FIG. 36 is a schematic plan view of a mask suitable for use in performing the production stage for the printhead of FIG. 35 for forming the heater element thereof.
FIG. 37 is a further schematic perspective view of the unit cell of FIG. 35 shown with the nozzle plate omitted.
FIG. 38 is a schematic perspective view, partly cut away, of a unit cell of a printhead according to the invention having a further particular embodiment of heater element.
FIG. 39 is a schematic plan view of a mask suitable for use in performing the production stage for the printhead of FIG. 38 for forming the heater element thereof.
FIG. 40 is a further schematic perspective view of the unit cell of FIG. 38 shown with the nozzle plate omitted.
FIG. 41 is a schematic section through a nozzle chamber of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention showing a suspended beam heater element immersed in a bubble forming liquid.
FIG. 42 is schematic section through a nozzle chamber of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention showing a suspended beam heater element suspended at the top of a body of a bubble forming liquid.
FIG. 43 is a diagrammatic plan view of a unit cell of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention showing a nozzle.
FIG. 44 is a diagrammatic plan view of a plurality of unit cells of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention showing a plurality of nozzles.
FIG. 45 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber not in accordance with the invention showing a heater element embedded in a substrate.
FIG. 46 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing a heater element in the form of a suspended beam.
FIG. 47 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber of a prior art printhead showing a heater element embedded in a substrate.
FIG. 48 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing a heater element defining a gap between parts of the element.
FIG. 49 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber not in accordance with the invention, showing a thick nozzle plate.
FIG. 50 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing a thin nozzle plate.
FIG. 51 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing two heater elements.
FIG. 52 is a diagrammatic section through a nozzle chamber of a prior art printhead showing two heater elements.
FIG. 53 is a diagrammatic section through a pair of adjacent unit cells of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention, showing two different nozzles after drops having different volumes have been ejected therethrough.
FIGS. 54 and 55 are diagrammatic sections through a heater element of a prior art printhead.
FIG. 56 is a diagrammatic section through a conformally coated heater element according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 57 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a heater element, connected to electrodes, of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 58 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a printhead module of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 59 is a schematic perspective view the printhead module of FIG. 58 shown unexploded.
FIG. 60 is a schematic side view, shown partly in section, of the printhead module of FIG. 58 .
FIG. 61 is a schematic plan view of the printhead module of FIG. 58 .
FIG. 62 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 63 is a schematic further perspective view of the printhead of FIG. 62 shown unexploded.
FIG. 64 is a schematic front view of the printhead of FIG. 62 .
FIG. 65 is a schematic rear view of the printhead of FIG. 62 .
FIG. 66 is a schematic bottom view of the printhead of FIG. 62 .
FIG. 67 is a schematic plan view of the printhead of FIG. 62 .
FIG. 68 is a schematic perspective view of the printhead as shown in FIG. 62 , but shown unexploded.
FIG. 69 is a schematic longitudinal section through the printhead of FIG. 62 .
FIG. 70 is a block diagram of a printer system according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the description than follows, corresponding reference numerals, or corresponding prefixes of reference numerals (i.e. the parts of the reference numerals appearing before a point mark) which are used in different figures relate to corresponding parts. Where there are corresponding prefixes and differing suffixes to the reference numerals, these indicate different specific embodiments of corresponding parts.
Overview of the Invention and General Discussion of Operation
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 , the unit cell 1 of a printhead according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a nozzle plate 2 with nozzles 3 therein, the nozzles having nozzle rims 4 , and apertures 5 extending through the nozzle plate. The nozzle plate 2 is plasma etched from a silicon nitride structure which is deposited, by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD), over a sacrificial material which is subsequently etched.
The printhead also includes, with respect to each nozzle 3 , side walls 6 on which the nozzle plate is supported, a chamber 7 defined by the walls and the nozzle plate 2 , a multi-layer substrate 8 and an inlet passage 9 extending through the multi-layer substrate to the far side (not shown) of the substrate. A looped, elongate heater element 10 is suspended within the chamber 7 , so that the element is in the form of a suspended beam. The printhead as shown is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure, which is formed by a lithographic process which is described in more detail below.
When the printhead is in use, ink 11 from a reservoir (not shown) enters the chamber 7 via the inlet passage 9 , so that the chamber fills to the level as shown in FIG. 1 . Thereafter, the heater element 10 is heated for somewhat less than 1 micro second, so that the heating is in the form of a thermal pulse. It will be appreciated that the heater element 10 is in thermal contact with the ink 11 in the chamber 7 so that when the element is heated, this causes the generation of vapor bubbles 12 in the ink. Accordingly, the ink 11 constitutes a bubble forming liquid. FIG. 1 shows the formation of a bubble 12 approximately 1 microsecond after generation of the thermal pulse, that is, when the bubble has just nucleated on the heater elements 10 . It will be appreciated that, as the heat is applied in the form of a pulse, all the energy necessary to generate the bubble 12 is to be supplied within that short time.
Turning briefly to FIG. 34 , there is shown a mask 13 for forming a heater 14 of the printhead (which heater includes the element 10 referred to above), during a lithographic process, as described in more detail below. As the mask 13 is used to form the heater 14 , the shape of various of its parts correspond to the shape of the element 10 . The mask 13 therefore provides a useful reference by which to identify various parts of the heater 14 . The heater 14 has electrodes 15 corresponding to the parts designated 15 . 34 of the mask 13 and a heater element 10 corresponding to the parts designated 10 . 34 of the mask. In operation, voltage is applied across the electrodes 15 to cause current to flow through the element 10 . The electrodes 15 are much thicker than the element 10 so that most of the electrical resistance is provided by the element. Thus, nearly all of the power consumed in operating the heater 14 is dissipated via the element 10 , in creating the thermal pulse referred to above.
When the element 10 is heated as described above, the bubble 12 forms along the length of the element, this bubble appearing, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , as four bubble portions, one for each of the element portions shown in cross section.
The bubble 12 , once generated, causes an increase in pressure within the chamber 7 , which in turn causes the ejection of a drop 16 of the ink 11 through the nozzle 3 . The rim 4 assists in directing the drop 16 as it is ejected, so as to minimize the chance of a drop misdirection.
The reason that there is only one nozzle 3 and chamber 7 per inlet passage 9 is so that the pressure wave generated within the chamber, on heating of the element 10 and forming of a bubble 12 , does not effect adjacent chambers and their corresponding nozzles.
The advantages of the heater element 10 being suspended rather than being embedded in any solid material, is discussed below.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show the unit cell 1 at two successive later stages of operation of the printhead. It can be seen that the bubble 12 generates further, and hence grows, with the resultant advancement of ink 11 through the nozzle 3 . The shape of the bubble 12 as it grows, as shown in FIG. 3 , is determined by a combination of the inertial dynamics and the surface tension of the ink 11 . The surface tension tends to minimize the surface area of the bubble 12 so that, by the time a certain amount of liquid has evaporated, the bubble is essentially disk-shaped.
The increase in pressure within the chamber 7 not only pushes ink 11 out through the nozzle 3 , but also pushes some ink back through the inlet passage 9 . However, the inlet passage 9 is approximately 200 to 300 microns in length, and is only approximately 16 microns in diameter. Hence there is a substantial viscous drag. As a result, the predominant effect of the pressure rise in the chamber 7 is to force ink out through the nozzle 3 as an ejected drop 16 , rather than back through the inlet passage 9 .
Turning now to FIG. 4 , the printhead is shown at a still further successive stage of operation, in which the ink drop 16 that is being ejected is shown during its “necking phase” before the drop breaks off. At this stage, the bubble 12 has already reached its maximum size and has then begun to collapse towards the point of collapse 17 , as reflected in more detail in FIG. 5 .
The collapsing of the bubble 12 towards the point of collapse 17 causes some ink 11 to be drawn from within the nozzle 3 (from the sides 18 of the drop), and some to be drawn from the inlet passage 9 , towards the point of collapse. Most of the ink 11 drawn in this manner is drawn from the nozzle 3 , forming an annular neck 19 at the base of the drop 16 prior to its breaking off.
The drop 16 requires a certain amount of momentum to overcome surface tension forces, in order to break off. As ink 11 is drawn from the nozzle 3 by the collapse of the bubble 12 , the diameter of the neck 19 reduces thereby reducing the amount of total surface tension holding the drop, so that the momentum of the drop as it is ejected out of the nozzle is sufficient to allow the drop to break off.
When the drop 16 breaks off, cavitation forces are caused as reflected by the arrows 20 , as the bubble 12 collapses to the point of collapse 17 . It will be noted that there are no solid surfaces in the vicinity of the point of collapse 17 on which the cavitation can have an effect.
Manufacturing Process
Relevant parts of the manufacturing process of a printhead according to embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 29 .
Referring to FIG. 6 , there is shown a cross-section through a silicon substrate portion 21 , being a portion of a Memjet printhead, at an intermediate stage in the production process thereof. This figure relates to that portion of the printhead corresponding to a unit cell 1 . The description of the manufacturing process that follows will be in relation to a unit cell 1 , although it will be appreciated that the process will be applied to a multitude of adjacent unit cells of which the whole printhead is composed.
FIG. 6 represents the next successive step, during the manufacturing process, after the completion of a standard CMOS fabrication process, including the fabrication of CMOS drive transistors (not shown) in the region 22 in the substrate portion 21 , and the completion of standard CMOS interconnect layers 23 and passivation layer 24 . Wiring indicated by the dashed lines 25 electrically interconnects the transistors and other drive circuitry (also not shown) and the heater element corresponding to the nozzle.
Guard rings 26 are formed in the metallization of the interconnect layers 23 to prevent ink 11 from diffusing from the region, designated 27 , where the nozzle of the unit cell 1 will be formed, through the substrate portion 21 to the region containing the wiring 25 , and corroding the CMOS circuitry disposed in the region designated 22 .
The first stage after the completion of the CMOS fabrication process consists of etching a portion of the passivation layer 24 to form the passivation recesses 29 .
FIG. 8 shows the stage of production after the etching of the interconnect layers 23 , to form an opening 30 . The opening 30 is to constitute the ink inlet passage to the chamber that will be formed later in the process.
FIG. 10 shows the stage of production after the etching of a hole 31 in the substrate portion 21 at a position where the nozzle 3 is to be formed. Later in the production process, a further hole (indicated by the dashed line 32 ) will be etched from the other side (not shown) of the substrate portion 21 to join up with the hole 31 , to complete the inlet passage to the chamber. Thus, the hole 32 will not have to be etched all the way from the other side of the substrate portion 21 to the level of the interconnect layers 23 .
If, instead, the hole 32 were to be etched all the way to the interconnect layers 23 , then to avoid the hole 32 being etched so as to destroy the transistors in the region 22 , the hole 32 would have to be etched a greater distance away from that region so as to leave a suitable margin (indicated by the arrow 34 ) for etching inaccuracies. But the etching of the hole 31 from the top of the substrate portion 21 , and the resultant shortened depth of the hole 32 , means that a lesser margin 34 need be left, and that a substantially higher packing density of nozzles can thus be achieved.
FIG. 11 shows the stage of production after a four micron thick layer 35 of a sacrificial resist has been deposited on the layer 24 . This layer 35 fills the hole 31 and now forms part of the structure of the printhead. The resist layer 35 is then exposed with certain patterns (as represented by the mask shown in FIG. 12 ) to form recesses 36 and a slot 37 . This provides for the formation of contacts for the electrodes 15 of the heater element to be formed later in the production process. The slot 37 will provide, later in the process, for the formation of the nozzle walls 6 , that will define part of the chamber 7 .
FIG. 13 shows the stage of production after the deposition, on the layer 35 , of a 0.25 micron thick layer 38 of heater material, which, in the present embodiment, is of titanium nitride.
FIG. 14 shows the stage of production after patterning and etching of the heater layer 38 to form the heater 14 , including the heater element 10 and electrodes 15 .
FIG. 16 shows the stage of production after another sacrificial resist layer 39 , about 1 micron thick, has been added.
FIG. 18 shows the stage of production after a second layer 40 of heater material has been deposited. In a preferred embodiment, this layer 40 , like the first heater layer 38 , is of 0.25 micron thick titanium nitride.
FIG. 19 then shows this second layer 40 of heater material after it has been etched to form the pattern as shown, indicated by reference numeral 41 . In this illustration, this patterned layer does not include a heater layer element 10 , and in this sense has no heater functionality. However, this layer of heater material does assist in reducing the resistance of the electrodes 15 of the heater 14 so that, in operation, less energy is consumed by the electrodes which allows greater energy consumption by, and therefore greater effectiveness of, the heater elements 10 . In the dual heater embodiment illustrated in FIG. 38 , the corresponding layer 40 does contain a heater 14 .
FIG. 21 shows the stage of production after a third layer 42 , of sacrificial resist, has been deposited. As the uppermost level of this layer will constitute the inner surface of the nozzle plate 2 to be formed later, and hence the inner extent of the nozzle aperture 5 , the height of this layer 42 must be sufficient to allow for the formation of a bubble 12 in the region designated 43 during operation of the printhead.
FIG. 23 shows the stage of production after the roof layer 44 has been deposited, that is, the layer which will constitute the nozzle plate 2 . Instead of being formed from 100 micron thick polyimide film, the nozzle plate 2 is formed of silicon nitride, just 2 microns thick.
FIG. 24 shows the stage of production after the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of silicon nitride forming the layer 44 , has been partly etched at the position designated 45 , so as to form the outside part of the nozzle rim 4 , this outside part being designated 4 . 1
FIG. 26 shows the stage of production after the CVD of silicon nitride has been etched all the way through at 46 , to complete the formation of the nozzle rim 4 and to form the nozzle aperture 5 , and after the CVD silicon nitride has been removed at the position designated 47 where it is not required.
FIG. 28 shows the stage of production after a protective layer 48 of resist has been applied. After this stage, the substrate portion 21 is then ground from its other side (not shown) to reduce the substrate portion from its nominal thickness of about 800 microns to about 200 microns, and then, as foreshadowed above, to etch the hole 32 . The hole 32 is etched to a depth such that it meets the hole 31 .
Then, the sacrificial resist of each of the resist layers 35 , 39 , 42 and 48 , is removed using oxygen plasma, to form the structure shown in FIG. 30 , with walls 6 and nozzle plate 2 which together define the chamber 7 (part of the walls and nozzle plate being shown cut-away). It will be noted that this also serves to remove the resist filling the hole 31 so that this hole, together with the hole 32 (not shown in FIG. 30 ), define a passage extending from the lower side of the substrate portion 21 to the nozzle 3 , this passage serving as the ink inlet passage, generally designated 9 , to the chamber 7 .
While the above production process is used to produce the embodiment of the printhead shown in FIG. 30 , further printhead embodiments, having different heater structures, are shown in FIG. 33 , FIGS. 35 and 37 , and FIGS. 38 and 40 .
Control of Ink Drop Ejection
Referring once again to FIG. 30 , the unit cell 1 shown, as mentioned above, is shown with part of the walls 6 and nozzle plate 2 cut-away, which reveals the interior of the chamber 7 . The heater 14 is not shown cut away, so that both halves of the heater element 10 can be seen.
In operation, ink 11 passes through the ink inlet passage 9 (see FIG. 28 ) to fill the chamber 7 . Then a voltage is applied across the electrodes 15 to establish a flow of electric current through the heater element 10 . This heats the element 10 , as described above in relation to FIG. 1 , to form a vapor bubble in the ink within the chamber 7 .
The various possible structures for the heater 14 , some of which are shown in FIGS. 33 , 35 and 37 , and 38 , can result in there being many variations in the ratio of length to width of the heater elements 10 . Such variations (even though the surface area of the elements 10 may be the same) may have significant effects on the electrical resistance of the elements, and therefore on the balance between the voltage and current to achieve a certain power of the element.
Modern drive electronic components tend to require lower drive voltages than earlier versions, with lower resistances of drive transistors in their “on” state. Thus, in such drive transistors, for a given transistor area, there is a tendency to higher current capability and lower voltage tolerance in each process generation.
FIG. 36 , referred to above, shows the shape, in plan view, of a mask for forming the heater structure of the embodiment of the printhead shown in FIG. 35 . Accordingly, as FIG. 36 represents the shape of the heater element 10 of that embodiment, it is now referred to in discussing that heater element. During operation, current flows vertically into the electrodes 15 (represented by the parts designated 15 . 36 ), so that the current flow area of the electrodes is relatively large, which, in turn, results in there being a low electrical resistance. By contrast, the element 10 , represented in FIG. 36 by the part designated 10 . 36 , is long and thin, with the width of the element in this embodiment being 1 micron and the thickness being 0.25 microns.
It will be noted that the heater 14 shown in FIG. 33 has a significantly smaller element 10 than the element 10 shown in FIG. 35 , and has just a single loop 36 . Accordingly, the element 10 of FIG. 33 will have a much lower electrical resistance, and will permit a higher current flow, than the element 10 of FIG. 35 . It therefore requires a lower drive voltage to deliver a given energy to the heater 14 in a given time.
In FIG. 38 , on the other hand, the embodiment shown includes a heater 14 having two heater elements 10 . 1 and 10 . 2 corresponding to the same unit cell 1 . One of these elements 10 . 2 is twice the width as the other element 10 . 1 , with a correspondingly larger surface area. The various paths of the lower element 10 . 2 are 2 microns in width, while those of the upper element 10 . 1 are 1 micron in width. Thus the energy applied to ink in the chamber 7 by the lower element 10 . 2 is twice that applied by the upper element 10 . 1 at a given drive voltage and pulse duration. This permits a regulating of the size of vapor bubbles and hence of the size of ink drop ejected due to the bubbles.
Assuming that the energy applied to the ink by the upper element 10 . 1 is X, it will be appreciated that the energy applied by the lower element 10 . 2 is about 2X, and the energy applied by the two elements together is about 3X. Of course, the energy applied when neither element is operational, is zero. Thus, in effect, two bits of information can be printed with the one nozzle 3 .
As the above factors of energy output may not be achieved exactly in practice, some “fine tuning” of the exact sizing of the elements 10 . 1 and 10 . 2 , or of the drive voltages that are applied to them, may be required.
It will also be noted that the upper element 10 . 1 is rotated through 180° about a vertical axis relative to the lower element 10 . 2 . This is so that their electrodes 15 are not coincident, allowing independent connection to separate drive circuits.
Features and Advantages of Particular Embodiments
Discussed below, under appropriate headings, are certain specific features of embodiments of the invention, and the advantages of these features. The features are to be considered in relation to all of the drawings pertaining to the present invention unless the context specifically excludes certain drawings, and relates to those drawings specifically referred to.
Suspended Beam Heater
With reference to FIG. 1 , and as mentioned above, the heater element 10 is in the form of a suspended beam, and this is suspended over at least a portion (designated 11 . 1 ) of the ink 11 (bubble forming liquid). The element 10 is configured in this way rather than forming part of, or being embedded in, a substrate as is the case in existing printhead systems made by various manufacturers such as Hewlett Packard, Canon and Lexmark. This constitutes a significant difference between embodiments of the present invention and the prior ink jet technologies.
The main advantage of this feature is that a higher efficiency can be achieved by avoiding the unnecessary heating of the solid material that surrounds the heater elements 10 (for example the solid material forming the chamber walls 6 , and surrounding the inlet passage 9 ) which takes place in the prior art devices. The heating of such solid material does not contribute to the formation of vapor bubbles 12 , so that the heating of such material involves the wastage of energy. The only energy which contributes in any significant sense to the generation of the bubbles 12 is that which is applied directly into the liquid which is to be heated, which liquid is typically the ink 11 .
In one preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , the heater element 10 is suspended within the ink 11 (bubble forming liquid), so that this liquid surrounds the element. This is further illustrated in FIG. 41 . In another possible embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 42 , the heater element 10 beam is suspended at the surface of the ink (bubble forming liquid) 11 , so that this liquid is only below the element rather than surrounding it, and there is air on the upper side of the element. The embodiment described in relation to FIG. 41 is preferred as the bubble 12 will form all around the element 10 unlike in the embodiment described in relation to FIG. 42 where the bubble will only form below the element. Thus the embodiment of FIG. 41 is likely to provide a more efficient operation.
As can be seen in, for example, with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31 , the heater element 10 beam is supported only on one side and is free at its opposite side, so that it constitutes a cantilever.
Efficiency of the Printhead
The feature presently under consideration is that the heater element 10 is configured such that an energy of less than 500 nanojoules (nJ) is required to be applied to the element to heat it sufficiently to form a bubble 12 in the ink 11 , so as to eject a drop 16 of ink through a nozzle 3 . In one preferred embodiment, the required energy is less that 300 nJ, while in a further embodiment, the energy is less than 120 nJ.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that prior art devices generally require over 5 microjoules to heat the element sufficiently to generate a vapor bubble 12 to eject an ink drop 16 . Thus, the energy requirements of the present invention are an order of magnitude lower than that of known thermal ink jet systems. This lower energy consumption allows lower operating costs, smaller power supplies, and so on, but also dramatically simplifies printhead cooling, allows higher densities of nozzles 3 , and permits printing at higher resolutions.
These advantages of the present invention are especially significant in embodiments where the individual ejected ink drops 16 , themselves, constitute the major cooling mechanism of the printhead, as described further below.
Self-Cooling of the Printhead
This feature of the invention provides that the energy applied to a heater element 10 to form a vapor bubble 12 so as to eject a drop 16 of ink 11 is removed from the printhead by a combination of the heat removed by the ejected drop itself, and the ink that is taken into the printhead from the ink reservoir (not shown). The result of this is that the net “movement” of heat will be outwards from the printhead, to provide for automatic cooling. Under these circumstances, the printhead does not require any other cooling systems.
As the ink drop 16 ejected and the amount of ink 11 drawn into the printhead to replace the ejected drop are constituted by the same type of liquid, and will essentially be of the same mass, it is convenient to express the net movement of energy as, on the one hand, the energy added by the heating of the element 10 , and on the other hand, the net removal of heat energy that results from ejecting the ink drop 16 and the intake of the replacement quantity of ink 11 . Assuming that the replacement quantity of ink 11 is at ambient temperature, the change in energy due to net movement of the ejected and replacement quantities of ink can conveniently be expressed as the heat that would be required to raise the temperature of the ejected drop 16 , if it were at ambient temperature, to the actual temperature of the drop as it is ejected.
It will be appreciated that a determination of whether the above criteria are met depends on what constitutes the ambient temperature. In the present case, the temperature that is taken to be the ambient temperature is the temperature at which ink 11 enters the printhead from the ink storage reservoir (not shown) which is connected, in fluid flow communication, to the inlet passages 9 of the printhead. Typically the ambient temperature will be the room ambient temperature, which is usually roughly 20 degrees C. (Celsius).
However, the ambient temperature may be less, if for example, the room temperature is lower, or if the ink 11 entering the printhead is refrigerated.
In one preferred embodiment, the printhead is designed to achieve complete self-cooling (i.e. where the outgoing heat energy due to the net effect of the ejected and replacement quantities of ink 11 is equal to the heat energy added by the heater element 10 ).
By way of example, assuming that the ink 11 is the bubble forming liquid and is water based, thus having a boiling point of approximately 100 degrees C., and if the ambient temperature is 40 degrees C., then there is a maximum of 60 degrees C. from the ambient temperature to the ink boiling temperature and that is the maximum temperature rise that the printhead could undergo.
It is desirable to avoid having ink temperatures within the printhead (other than at time of ink drop 16 ejection) which are very close to the boiling point of the ink 11 . If the ink 11 were at such a temperature, then temperature variations between parts of the printhead could result in some regions being above boiling point, with the unintended, and therefore undesirable, formation of vapor bubbles 12 . Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention is configured such that complete self-cooling, as described above, can be achieved when the maximum temperature of the ink 11 (bubble forming liquid) in a particular nozzle chamber 7 is 10 degrees C. below its boiling point when the heating element 10 is not active.
The main advantage of the feature presently under discussion, and its various embodiments, is that it allows for a high nozzle density and for a high speed of printhead operation without requiring elaborate cooling methods for preventing undesired boiling in nozzles 3 adjacent to nozzles from which ink drops 16 are being ejected. This can allow as much as a hundred-fold increase in nozzle packing density than would be the case if such a feature, and the temperature criteria mentioned, were not present.
A Real Density of Nozzles
This feature of the invention relates to the density, by area, of the nozzles 3 on the printhead. With reference to FIG. 1 , the nozzle plate 2 has an upper surface 50 , and the present aspect of the invention relates to the packing density of nozzles 3 on that surface. More specifically, the areal density of the nozzles 3 on that surface 50 is over 10,000 nozzles per square cm of surface area.
In one preferred embodiment, the areal density exceeds 20,000 nozzles 3 per square cm of surface 50 area, while in another preferred embodiment, the areal density exceeds 40,000 nozzles 3 per square cm. In a preferred embodiment, the areal density is 48 828 nozzles 3 per square cm.
When referring to the areal density, each nozzle 3 is taken to include the drive-circuitry corresponding to the nozzle, which consists, typically, of a drive transistor, a shift register, an enable gate and clock regeneration circuitry (this circuitry not being specifically identified).
With reference to FIG. 43 in which a single unit cell 1 is shown, the dimensions of the unit cell are shown as being 32 microns in width by 64 microns in length. The nozzle 3 of the next successive row of nozzles (not shown) immediately juxtaposes this nozzle, so that, as a result of the dimension of the outer periphery of the printhead chip, there are 48,828 nozzles 3 per square cm. This is about 85 times the nozzle areal density of a typical thermal ink jet printhead, and roughly 400 times the nozzle areal density of a piezoelectric printhead.
The main advantage of a high areal density is low manufacturing cost, as the devices are batch fabricated on silicon wafers of a particular size.
The more nozzles 3 that can be accommodated in a square cm of substrate, the more nozzles can be fabricated in a single batch, which typically consists of one wafer. The cost of manufacturing a CMOS plus MEMS wafer of the type used in the printhead of the present invention is, to a some extent, independent of the nature of patterns that are formed on it. Therefore if the patterns are relatively small, a relatively large number of nozzles 3 can be included. This allows more nozzles 3 and more printheads to be manufactured for the same cost than in a cases where the nozzles had a lower areal density. The cost is directly proportional to the area taken by the nozzles 3 .
Bubble Formation on Opposite Sides of Heater Element
According to the present feature, the heater 14 is configured so that when a bubble 12 forms in the ink 11 (bubble forming liquid), it forms on both sides of the heater element 10 . Preferably, it forms so as to surround the heater element 10 where the element is in the form of a suspended beam.
The formation of a bubble 12 on both sides of the heater element 10 as opposed to on one side only, can be understood with reference to FIGS. 45 and 46 . In the first of these figures, the heater element 10 is adapted for the bubble 12 to be formed only on one side as, while in the second of these figures, the element is adapted for the bubble 12 to be formed on both sides, as shown.
In a configuration such as that of FIG. 45 , the reason that the bubble 12 forms on only one side of the heater element 10 is because the element is embedded in a substrate 51 , so that the bubble cannot be formed on the particular side corresponding to the substrate. By contrast, the bubble 12 can form on both sides in the configuration of FIG. 46 as the heater element 10 here is suspended.
Of course where the heater element 10 is in the form of a suspended beam as described above in relation to FIG. 1 , the bubble 12 is allowed to form so as to surround the suspended beam element.
The advantage of the bubble 12 forming on both sides is the higher efficiency that is achievable. This is due to a reduction in heat that is wasted in heating solid materials in the vicinity of the heater element 10 , which do not contribute to formation of a bubble 12 . This is illustrated in FIG. 45 , where the arrows 52 indicate the movements of heat into the solid substrate 51 . The amount of heat lost to the substrate 51 depends on the thermal conductivity of the solid materials of the substrate relative to that of the ink 11 , which may be water based. As the thermal conductivity of water is relatively low, more than half of the heat can be expected to be absorbed by the substrate 51 rather than by the ink 11 .
Prevention of Cavitation
As described above, after a bubble 12 has been formed in a printhead according to an embodiment of the present invention, the bubble collapses towards a point of collapse 17 . According to the feature presently being addressed, the heater elements 10 are configured to form the bubbles 12 so that the points of collapse 17 towards which the bubbles collapse, are at positions spaced from the heater elements. Preferably, the printhead is configured so that there is no solid material at such points of collapse 17 . In this way cavitation, being a major problem in prior art thermal ink jet devices, is largely eliminated.
Referring to FIG. 48 , in a preferred embodiment, the heater elements 10 are configured to have parts 53 which define gaps (represented by the arrow 54 ), and to form the bubbles 12 so that the points of collapse 17 to which the bubbles collapse are located at such gaps. The advantage of this feature is that it substantially avoids cavitation damage to the heater elements 10 and other solid material.
In a standard prior art system as shown schematically in FIG. 47 , the heater element 10 is embedded in a substrate 55 , with an insulating layer 56 over the element, and a protective layer 57 over the insulating layer. When a bubble 12 is formed by the element 10 , it is formed on top of the element. When the bubble 12 collapses, as shown by the arrows 58 , all of the energy of the bubble collapse is focussed onto a very small point of collapse 17 . If the protective layer 57 were absent, then the mechanical forces due to the cavitation that would result from the focussing of this energy to the point of collapse 17 , could chip away or erode the heater element 10 . However, this is prevented by the protective layer 57 .
Typically, such a protective layer 57 is of tantalum, which oxidizes to form a very hard layer of tantalum pentoxide (Ta 2 O 5 ). Although no known materials can fully resist the effects of cavitation, if the tantalum pentoxide should be chipped away due to the cavitation, then oxidation will again occur at the underlying tantalum metal, so as to effectively repair the tantalum pentoxide layer.
Although the tantalum pentoxide functions relatively well in this regard in known thermal ink jet systems, it has certain disadvantages. One significant disadvantage is that, in effect, virtually the whole protective layer 57 (having a thickness indicated by the reference numeral 59 ) must be heated in order to transfer the required energy into the ink 11 , to heat it so as to form a bubble 12 . This layer 57 has a high thermal mass due to the very high atomic weight of the tantalum, and this reduces the efficiency of the heat transfer. Not only does this increase the amount of heat which is required at the level designated 59 to raise the temperature at the level designated 60 sufficiently to heat the ink 11 , but it also results in a substantial thermal loss to take place in the directions indicated by the arrows 61 . These disadvantage would not be present if the heater element 10 was merely supported on a surface and was not covered by the protective layer 57 .
According to the feature presently under discussion, the need for a protective layer 57 , as described above, is avoided by generating the bubble 12 so that it collapses, as illustrated in FIG. 48 , towards a point of collapse 17 at which there is no solid material, and more particularly where there is the gap 54 between parts 53 of the heater element 10 . As there is merely the ink 11 itself in this location (prior to bubble generation), there is no material that can be eroded here by the effects of cavitation. The temperature at the point of collapse 17 may reach many thousands of degrees C., as is demonstrated by the phenomenon of sonoluminesence. This will break down the ink components at that point. However, the volume of extreme temperature at the point of collapse 17 is so small that the destruction of ink components in this volume is not significant.
The generation of the bubble 12 so that it collapses towards a point of collapse 17 where there is no solid material can be achieved using heater elements 10 corresponding to that represented by the part 10 . 34 of the mask shown in FIG. 34 . The element represented is symmetrical, and has a hole represented by the reference numeral 63 at its center. When the element is heated, the bubble forms around the element (as indicated by the dashed line 64 ) and then grows so that, instead of being of annular (doughnut) shape as illustrated by the dashed lines 64 and 65 ) it spans the element including the hole 63 , the hole then being filled with the vapor that forms the bubble. The bubble 12 is thus substantially disc-shaped. When it collapses, the collapse is directed so as to minimize the surface tension surrounding the bubble 12 . This involves the bubble shape moving towards a spherical shape as far as is permitted by the dynamics that are involved. This, in turn, results in the point of collapse being in the region of the hole 63 at the center of the heater element 10 , where there is no solid material.
The heater element 10 represented by the part 10 . 31 of the mask shown in FIG. 31 is configured to achieve a similar result, with the bubble generating as indicated by the dashed line 66 , and the point of collapse to which the bubble collapses being in the hole 67 at the center of the element.
The heater element 10 represented as the part 10 . 36 of the mask shown in FIG. 36 is also configured to achieve a similar result. Where the element 10 . 36 is dimensioned such that the hole 68 is small, manufacturing inaccuracies of the heater element may affect the extent to which a bubble can be formed such that its point of collapse is in the region defined by the hole. For example, the hole may be as little as a few microns across. Where high levels of accuracy in the element 10 . 36 cannot be achieved, this may result in bubbles represented as 12 . 36 that are somewhat lopsided, so that they cannot be directed towards a point of collapse within such a small region. In such a case, with regard to the heater element represented in FIG. 36 , the central loop 49 of the element can simply be omitted, thereby increasing the size of the region in which the point of collapse of the bubble is to fall.
Chemical Vapor Deposited Nozzle Plate, and Thin Nozzle Plates
The nozzle aperture 5 of each unit cell 1 extends through the nozzle plate 2 , the nozzle plate thus constituting a structure which is formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In various preferred embodiments, the CVD is of silicon nitride, silicon dioxide or oxi-nitride.
The advantage of the nozzle plate 2 being formed by CVD is that it is formed in place without the requirement for assembling the nozzle plate to other components such as the walls 6 of the unit cell 1 . This is an important advantage because the assembly of the nozzle plate 2 that would otherwise be required can be difficult to effect and can involve potentially complex issues. Such issues include the potential mismatch of thermal expansion between the nozzle plate 2 and the parts to which it would be assembled, the difficulty of successfully keeping components aligned to each other, keeping them planar, and so on, during the curing process of the adhesive which bonds the nozzle plate 2 to the other parts.
The issue of thermal expansion is a significant factor in the prior art, which limits the size of ink jets that can be manufactured. This is because the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between, for example, a nickel nozzle plate and a substrate to which the nozzle plate is connected, where this substrate is of silicon, is quite substantial. Consequently, over as small a distance as that occupied by, say, 1000 nozzles, the relative thermal expansion that occurs between the respective parts, in being heated from the ambient temperature to the curing temperature required for bonding the parts together, can cause a dimension mismatch of significantly greater than a whole nozzle length. This would be significantly detrimental for such devices.
Another problem addressed by the features of the invention presently under discussion, at least in embodiments thereof, is that, in prior art devices, nozzle plates that need to be assembled are generally laminated onto the remainder of the printhead under conditions of relatively high stress. This can result in breakages or undesirable deformations of the devices. The depositing of the nozzle plate 2 by CVD in embodiments of the present invention avoids this.
A further advantage of the present features of the invention, at least in embodiments thereof, is their compatibility with existing semiconductor manufacturing processes. Depositing a nozzle plate 2 by CVD allows the nozzle plate to be included in the printhead at the scale of normal silicon wafer production, using processes normally used for semi-conductor manufacture.
Existing thermal ink jet or bubble jet systems experience pressure transients, during the bubble generation phase, of up to 100 atmospheres. If the nozzle plates 2 in such devices were applied by CVD, then to withstand such pressure transients, a substantial thickness of CVD nozzle plate would be required. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, such thicknesses of deposited nozzle plates would give rise certain problems as discussed below.
For example, the thickness of nitride sufficient to withstand a 100 atmosphere pressure in the nozzle chamber 7 may be, say, 10 microns. With reference to FIG. 49 , which shows a unit cell 1 that is not in accordance with the present invention, and which has such a thick nozzle plate 2 , it will be appreciated that such a thickness can result in problems relating to drop ejection. In this case, due to the thickness of nozzle plate 2 , the fluidic drag exerted by the nozzle 3 as the ink 11 is ejected therethrough results in significant losses in the efficiency of the device.
Another problem that would exist in the case of such a thick nozzle plate 2 , relates to the actual etching process. This is assuming that the nozzle 3 is etched, as shown, perpendicular to the wafer 8 of the substrate portion, for example using a standard plasma etching. This would typically require more than 10 microns of resist 69 to be applied. To expose that thickness of resist 69 , the required level of resolution becomes difficult to achieve, as the focal depth of the stepper that is used to expose the resist is relatively small. Although it would be possible to expose this relevant depth of resist 69 using x-rays, this would be a relatively costly process.
A further problem that would exist with such a thick nozzle plate 2 in a case where a 10 micron thick layer of nitride were CVD deposited on a silicon substrate wafer, is that, because of the difference in thermal expansion between the CVD layer and the substrate, as well as the inherent stress of within thick deposited layer, the wafer could be caused to bow to such a degree that further steps in the lithographic process would become impractical. Thus, a layer for the nozzle plate 2 as thick as 10 microns (unlike in the present invention), while possible, is disadvantageous.
With reference to FIG. 50 , in a Memjet thermal ink ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the CVD nitride nozzle plate layer 2 is only 2 microns thick. Therefore the fluidic drag through the nozzle 3 is not particularly significant and is therefore not a major cause of loss.
Furthermore, the etch time, and the resist thickness required to etch nozzles 3 in such a nozzle plate 2 , and the stress on the substrate wafer 8 , will not be excessive.
The relatively thin nozzle plate 2 in this invention is enabled as the pressure generated in the chamber 7 is only approximately 1 atmosphere and not 100 atmospheres as in prior art devices, as mentioned above.
There are many factors which contribute to the significant reduction in pressure transient required to eject drops 16 in this system. These include:
1. small size of chamber 7 ;
2. accurate fabrication of nozzle 3 and chamber 7 ;
3. stability of drop ejection at low drop velocities;
4. very low fluidic and thermal crosstalk between nozzles 3 ;
5. optimum nozzle size to bubble area;
6. low fluidic drag through thin (2 micron) nozzle 3 ;
7. low pressure loss due to ink ejection through the inlet 9 ;
8. self-cooling operation.
As mentioned above in relation the process described in terms of FIGS. 6 to 31 , the etching of the 2-micron thick nozzle plate layer 2 involves two relevant stages. One such stage involves the etching of the region designated 45 in FIGS. 24 and 50 , to form a recess outside of what will become the nozzle rim 4 . The other such stage involves a further etch, in the region designated 46 in FIGS. 26 and 50 , which actually forms the nozzle aperture 5 and finishes the rim 4 .
Nozzle Plate Thicknesses
As addressed above in relation to the formation of the nozzle plate 2 by CVD, and with the advantages described in that regard, the nozzle plates in the present invention are thinner than in the prior art. More particularly, the nozzle plates 2 are less than 10 microns thick. In one preferred embodiment, the nozzle plate 2 of each unit cell 1 is less than 5 microns thick, while in another preferred embodiment, it is less than 2.5 microns thick. Indeed, a preferred thickness for the nozzle plate 2 is 2 microns thick.
Heater Elements Formed in Different Layers
According to the present feature, there are a plurality of heater elements 10 disposed within the chamber 7 of each unit cell 1 . The elements 10 , which are formed by the lithographic process as described above in relation to FIG. 6 to 31 , are formed in respective layers.
In preferred embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 38 , 40 and 51 , the heater elements 10 . 1 and 10 . 2 in the chamber 7 , are of different sizes relative to each other.
Also as will be appreciated with reference to the above description of the lithographic process, each heater element 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 is formed by at least one step of that process, the lithographic steps relating to each one of the elements 10 . 1 being distinct from those relating to the other element 10 . 2 .
The elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 are preferably sized relative to each other, as reflected schematically in the diagram of FIG. 51 , such that they can achieve binary weighted ink drop volumes, that is, so that they can cause ink drops 16 having different, binary weighted volumes to be ejected through the nozzle 3 of the particular unit cell 1 . The achievement of the binary weighting of the volumes of the ink drops 16 is determined by the relative sizes of the elements 10 . 1 and 10 . 2 . In FIG. 51 , the area of the bottom heater element 10 . 2 in contact with the ink 11 is twice that of top heater element 10 . 1 .
One known prior art device, patented by Canon, and illustrated schematically in FIG. 52 , also has two heater elements 10 . 1 and 10 . 2 for each nozzle, and these are also sized on a binary basis (i.e. to produce drops 16 with binary weighted volumes). These elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 are formed in a single layer, adjacent to each other in the nozzle chamber 7 . It will be appreciated that the bubble 12 . 1 formed by the small element 10 . 1 , only, is relatively small, while that 12 . 2 formed by the large element 10 . 2 , only, is relatively large. The bubble generated by the combined effects of the two elements, when they are actuated simultaneously, is designated 12 . 3 . Three differently sized ink drops 16 will be caused to be ejected by the three respective bubbles 12 . 1 , 12 . 2 and 12 . 3 .
It will be appreciated that the size of the elements 10 . 1 and 10 . 2 themselves are not required to be binary weighted to cause the ejection of drops 16 having different sizes or the ejection of useful combinations of drops. Indeed, the binary weighting may well not be represented precisely by the area of the elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 themselves. In sizing the elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 to achieve binary weighted drop volumes, the fluidic characteristics surrounding the generation of bubbles 12 , the drop dynamics characteristics, the quantity of liquid that is drawing back into the chamber 7 from the nozzle 3 once a drop 16 has broken off, and so forth, must be considered. Accordingly, the actual ratio of the surface areas of the elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 , or the performance of the two heaters, needs to be adjusted in practice to achieve the desired binary weighted drop volumes.
Where the size of the heater elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 is fixed and where the ratio of their surface areas is therefore fixed, the relative sizes of ejected drops 16 may be adjusted by adjusting the supply voltages to the two elements. This can also be achieved by adjusting the duration of the operation pulses of the elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 —i.e. their pulse widths. However, the pulse widths cannot exceed a certain amount of time, because once a bubble 12 has nucleated on the surface of an element 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 , then any duration of pulse width after that time will be of little or no effect.
On the other hand, the low thermal mass of the heater elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 allows them to be heated to reach, very quickly, the temperature at which bubbles 12 are formed and at which drops 16 are ejected. While the maximum effective pulse width is limited, by the onset of bubble nucleation, typically to around 0.5 microseconds, the minimum pulse width is limited only by the available current drive and the current density that can be tolerated by the heater elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 .
As shown in FIG. 51 , the two heaters elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 are connected to two respective drive circuits 70 . Although these circuits 70 may be identical to each other, a further adjustment can be effected by way of these circuits, for example by sizing the drive transistor (not shown) connected to the lower element 10 . 2 , which is the high current element, larger than that connected to the upper element 10 . 1 . If, for example, the relative currents provided to the respective elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 are in the ratio 2:1, the drive transistor of the circuit 70 connected to the lower element 10 . 2 would typically be twice the width of the drive transistor (also no shown) of the circuit 70 connected to the other element 10 . 1 .
In the prior art described in relation to FIG. 52 , the heater elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 , which are in the same layer, are produced simultaneously in the same step of the lithographic manufacturing process. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 51 , the two heaters elements 10 . 1 , 10 . 2 , as mentioned above, are formed one after the other. Indeed, as described in the process illustrated with reference to FIGS. 6 to 31 , the material to form the element 10 . 2 is deposited and is then etched in the lithographic process, whereafter a sacrificial layer 39 is deposited on top of that element, and then the material for the other element 10 . 1 is deposited so that the sacrificial layer is between the two heater element layers. The layer of the second element 10 . 1 is etched by a second lithographic step, and the sacrificial layer 39 is removed.
Referring once again to the different sizes of the heater elements 10 . 1 and 10 . 2 , as mentioned above, this has the advantage that it enables the elements to be sized so as to achieve multiple, binary weighted drop volumes from one nozzle 3 .
It will be appreciated that, where multiple drop volumes can be achieved, and especially if they are binary weighted, then photographic quality can be obtained while using fewer printed dots, and at a lower print resolution.
Furthermore, under the same circumstances, higher speed printing can be achieved. That is, instead of just ejecting one drop 14 and then waiting for the nozzle 3 to refill, the equivalent of one, two, or three drops might be ejected. Assuming that the available refill speed of the nozzle 3 is not a limiting factor, ink ejection, and hence printing, up to three times faster, may be achieved. In practice, however, the nozzle refill time will typically be a limiting factor. In this case, the nozzle 3 will take slightly longer to refill when a triple volume of drop 16 (relative to the minimum size drop) has been ejected than when only a minimum volume drop has been ejected. However, in practice it will not take as much as three times as long to refill. This is due to the inertial dynamics and the surface tension of the ink 11 .
Referring to FIG. 53 , there is shown, schematically, a pair of adjacent unit cells 1 . 1 and 1 . 2 , the cell on the left 1 . 1 representing the nozzle 3 after a larger volume of drop 16 has been ejected, and that on the right 1 . 2 , after a drop of smaller volume has been ejected. In the case of the larger drop 16 , the curvature of the air bubble 71 that has formed inside the partially emptied nozzle 3 . 1 is larger than in the case of air bubble 72 that has formed after the smaller volume drop has been ejected from the nozzle 3 . 2 of the other unit cell 1 . 2 .
The higher curvature of the air bubble 71 in the unit cell 1 . 1 results in a greater surface tension force which tends to draw the ink 11 , from the refill passage 9 towards the nozzle 3 and into the chamber 7 . 1 , as indicated by the arrow 73 . This gives rise to a shorter refilling time. As the chamber 7 . 1 refills, it reaches a stage, designated 74 , where the condition is similar to that in the adjacent unit cell 1 . 2 . In this condition, the chamber 7 . 1 of the unit cell 1 . 1 is partially refilled and the surface tension force has therefore reduced. This results in the refill speed slowing down even though, at this stage, when this condition is reached in that unit cell 1 . 1 , a flow of liquid into the chamber 7 . 1 , with its associated momentum, has been established. The overall effect of this is that, although it takes longer to completely fill the chamber 7 . 1 and nozzle 3 . 1 from a time when the air bubble 71 is present than from when the condition 74 is present, even if the volume to be refilled is three times larger, it does not take as much as three times longer to refill the chamber 7 . 1 and nozzle 3 . 1 .
Heater Elements Formed from Materials Constituted by Elements with Low Atomic-Numbers
This feature involves the heater elements 10 being formed of solid material, at least 90% of which, by weight, is constituted by one or more periodic elements having an atomic number below 50. In a preferred embodiment the atomic weight is below 30, while in another embodiment the atomic weight is below 23.
The advantage of a low atomic number is that the atoms of that material have a lower mass, and therefore less energy is required to raise the temperature of the heater elements 10 . This is because, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the temperature of an article is essentially related to the state of movement of the nuclei of the atoms. Accordingly, it will require more energy to raise the temperature, and thereby induce such a nucleus movement, in a material with atoms having heavier nuclei that in a material having atoms with lighter nuclei.
Materials currently used for the heater elements of thermal ink jet systems include tantalum aluminum alloy (for example used by Hewlett Packard), and hafnium boride (for example used by Canon). Tantalum and hafnium have atomic numbers 73 and 72, respectively, while the material used in the Memj et heater elements 10 of the present invention is titanium nitride. Titanium has an atomic number of 22 and nitrogen has an atomic number of 7, these materials therefore being significantly lighter than those of the relevant prior art device materials.
Boron and aluminum, which form part of hafnium boride and tantalum aluminum, respectively, like nitrogen, are relatively light materials. However, the density of tantalum nitride is 16.3 g/cm 3 , while that of titanium nitride (which includes titanium in place of tantalum) is 5.22 g/cm 3 . Thus, because tantalum nitride has a density of approximately three times that of the titanium nitride, titanium nitride will require approximately three time less energy to heat than tantalum nitride. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the difference in energy in a material at two different temperatures is represented by the following equation:
E=ΔT×C p ×V OL ×ρ,
where ΔT represents the temperature difference, C p is the specific heat capacity, V OL is the volume, and ρ is the density of the material. Although the density is not determined only by the atomic numbers as it is also a function of the lattice constants, the density is strongly influenced by the atomic numbers of the materials involved, and hence is a key aspect of the feature under discussion.
Low Heater Mass
This feature involves the heater elements 10 being configured such that the mass of solid material of each heater element that is heated above the boiling point of the bubble forming liquid (i.e. the ink 11 in this embodiment) to heat the ink so as to generate bubbles 12 therein to cause an ink drop 16 to be ejected, is less than 10 nanograms.
In one preferred embodiment, the mass is less that 2 nanograms, in another embodiment the mass is less than 500 picograms, and in yet another embodiment the mass is less than 250 picograms.
The above feature constitutes a significant advantage over prior art inkjet systems, as it results in an increased efficiency as a result of the reduction in energy lost in heating the solid materials of the heater elements 10 . This feature is enabled due to the use of heater element materials having low densities, due to the relatively small size of the elements 10 , and due to the heater elements being in the form of suspended beams which are not embedded in other materials, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 34 shows the shape, in plan view, of a mask for forming the heater structure of the embodiment of the printhead shown in FIG. 33 . Accordingly, as FIG. 34 represents the shape of the heater element 10 of that embodiment, it is now referred to in discussing that heater element. The heater element as represented by reference numeral 10 . 34 in FIG. 34 has just a single loop 49 which is 2 microns wide and 0.25 microns thick. It has a 6 micron outer radius and a 4 micron inner radius. The total heater mass is 82 picograms. The corresponding element 10 . 2 similarly represented by reference numeral 10 . 39 in FIG. 39 has a mass of 229.6 picograms and that 10 represented by reference numeral 10 . 36 in FIG. 36 has a mass of 225.5 picograms.
When the elements 10 , 102 represented in FIGS. 34 , 39 and 36 , for example, are used in practice, the total mass of material of each such element which is in thermal contact with the ink 11 (being the bubble forming liquid in this embodiment) that is raised to a temperature above that of the boiling point of the ink, will be slightly higher than these masses as the elements will be coated with an electrically insulating, chemically inert, thermally conductive material. This coating increases, to some extent, the total mass of material raised to the higher temperature.
Conformally Coated Heater Element
This feature involves each element 10 being covered by a conformal protective coating, this coating having been applied to all sides of the element simultaneously so that the coating is seamless. The coating 10 , preferably, is electrically non-conductive, is chemically inert and has a high thermal conductivity. In one preferred embodiment, the coating is of aluminum nitride, in another embodiment it is of diamond-like carbon (DLC), and in yet another embodiment it is of boron nitride.
Referring to FIGS. 54 and 55 , there are shown schematic representations of a prior art heater element 10 that is not conformally coated as discussed above, but which has been deposited on a substrate 78 and which, in the typical manner, has then been conformally coated on one side with a CVD material, designated 76 . In contrast, the coating referred to above in the present instance, as reflected schematically in FIG. 56 , this coating being designated 77 , involves conformally coating the element on all sides simultaneously. However, this conformal coating 77 on all sides can only be achieved if the element 10 , when being so coated, is a structure isolated from other structures—i.e. in the form of a suspended beam, so that there is access to all of the sides of the element.
It is to be understood that when reference is made to conformally coating the element 10 on all sides, this excludes the ends of the element (suspended beam) which are joined to the electrodes 15 as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 57 . In other words, what is meant by conformally coating the element 10 on all sides is, essentially, that the element is fully surrounded by the conformal coating along the length of the element.
The primary advantage of conformally coating the heater element 10 may be understood with reference, once again, to FIGS. 54 and 55 . As can be seen, when the conformal coating 76 is applied, the substrate 78 on which the heater element 10 was deposited (i.e. formed) effectively constitutes the coating for the element on the side opposite the conformally applied coating. The depositing of the conformal coating 76 on the heater element 10 which is, in turn, supported on the substrate 78 , results in a seam 79 being formed. This seam 79 may constitute a weak point, where oxides and other undesirable products might form, or where delamination may occur. Indeed, in the case of the heater element 10 of FIGS. 54 and 55 , where etching is conducted to separate the heater element and its coating 76 from the substrate 78 below, so as to render the element in the form of a suspended beam, ingress of liquid or hydroxyl ions may result, even though such materials could not penetrate the actual material of the coating 76 , or of the substrate 78 .
The materials mentioned above (i.e. aluminum nitride or diamond-like carbon (DLC)) are suitable for use in the conformal coating 77 of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 56 due to their desirably high thermal conductivities, their high level of chemical inertness, and the fact that they are electrically non-conductive. Another suitable material, for these purposes, is boron nitride, also referred to above. Although the choice of material used for the coating 77 is important in relation to achieving the desired performance characteristics, materials other than those mentioned, where they have suitable characteristics, may be used instead.
Example Printer in which the Printhead is Used
The components described above form part of a printhead assembly which, in turn, is used in a printer system. The printhead assembly, itself, includes a number of printhead modules 80 . These aspects are described below.
Referring briefly to FIG. 44 , the array of nozzles 3 shown is disposed on the printhead chip (not shown), with drive transistors, drive shift registers, and so on (not shown), included on the same chip, which reduces the number of connections required on the chip.
With reference to FIGS. 58 and 59 , there is shown, in an exploded view and a non-exploded view, respectively, a printhead module assembly 80 which includes a MEMS printhead chip assembly 81 (also referred to below as a chip). On a typical chip assembly 81 such as that shown, there are 7680 nozzles, which are spaced so as to be capable of printing with a resolution of 1600 dots per inch. The chip 81 is also configured to eject 6 different colors or types of ink 11 .
A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) 82 is electrically connected to the chip 81 , for supplying both power and data to the chip. The chip 81 is bonded onto a stainless-steel upper layer sheet 83 , so as to overlie an array of holes 84 etched in this sheet. The chip 81 itself is a multi-layer stack of silicon which has ink channels (not shown) in the bottom layer of silicon 85 , these channels being aligned with the holes 84 .
The chip 81 is approximately 1 mm in width and 21 mm in length. This length is determined by the width of the field of the stepper that is used to fabricate the chip 81 . The sheet 83 has channels 86 (only some of which are shown as hidden detail) which are etched on the underside of the sheet as shown in FIG. 58 . The channels 86 extend as shown so that their ends align with holes 87 in a mid-layer 88 . Different ones of the channels 86 align with different ones of the holes 87 . The holes 87 , in turn, align with channels 89 in a lower layer 90 . Each channel 89 carries a different respective color of ink, except for the last channel, designated 91 . This last channel 91 is an air channel and is aligned with further holes 92 in the mid-layer 88 , which in turn are aligned with further holes 93 in the upper layer sheet 83 . These holes 93 are aligned with the inner parts 94 of slots 95 in a top channel layer 96 , so that these inner parts are aligned with, and therefore in fluid-flow communication with, the air channel 91 , as indicated by the dashed line 97 .
The lower layer 90 has holes 98 opening into the channels 89 and channel 91 . Compressed filtered air from an air source (not shown) enters the channel 91 through the relevant hole 98 , and then passes through the holes 92 and 93 and slots 95 , in the mid layer 88 , the sheet 83 and the top channel layer 96 , respectively, and is then blown into the side 99 of the chip assembly 81 , from where it is forced out, at 100 , through a nozzle guard 101 which covers the nozzles, to keep the nozzles clear of paper dust. Differently colored inks 11 (not shown) pass through the holes 98 of the lower layer 90 , into the channels 89 , and then through respective holes 87 , then along respective channels 86 in the underside of the upper layer sheet 83 , through respective holes 84 of that sheet, and then through the slots 95 , to the chip 81 . It will be noted that there are just seven of the holes 98 in the lower layer 90 (one for each color of ink and one for the compressed air) via which the ink and air is passed to the chip 81 , the ink being directed to the 7680 nozzles on the chip.
FIG. 60 , in which a side view of the printhead module assembly 80 of FIGS. 58 and 59 is schematically shown, is now referred to. The center layer 102 of the chip assembly is the layer where the 7680 nozzles and their associated drive circuitry is disposed. The top layer of the chip assembly, which constitutes the nozzle guard 101 , enables the filtered compressed air to be directed so as to keep the nozzle guard holes 104 (which are represented schematically by dashed lines) clear of paper dust.
The lower layer 105 is of silicon and has ink channels etched in it. These ink channels are aligned with the holes 84 in the stainless steel upper layer sheet 83 . The sheet 83 receives ink and compressed air from the lower layer 90 as described above, and then directs the ink and air to the chip 81 . The need to funnel the ink and air from where it is received by the lower layer 90 , via the mid-layer 88 and upper layer 83 to the chip assembly 81 , is because it would otherwise be impractical to align the large number (7680) of very small nozzles 3 with the larger, less accurate holes 98 in the lower layer 90 .
The flex PCB 82 is connected to the shift registers and other circuitry (not shown) located on the layer 102 of chip assembly 81 . The chip assembly 81 is bonded by wires 106 onto the PCB flex and these wires are then encapsulated in an epoxy 107 . To effect this encapsulating, a dam 108 is provided. This allows the epoxy 107 to be applied to fill the space between the dam 108 and the chip assembly 81 so that the wires 106 are embedded in the epoxy. Once the epoxy 107 has hardened, it protects the wire bonding structure from contamination by paper and dust, and from mechanical contact.
Referring to FIG. 62 , there is shown schematically, in an exploded view, a printhead assembly 19 , which includes, among other components, printhead module assemblies 80 as described above. The printhead assembly 19 is configured for a page-width printer, suitable for A4 or US letter type paper.
The printhead assembly 19 includes eleven of the printhead modules assemblies 80 , which are glued onto a substrate channel 110 in the form of a bent metal plate. A series of groups of seven holes each, designated by the reference numerals 111 , are provided to supply the 6 different colors of ink and the compressed air to the chip assemblies 81 . An extruded flexible ink hose 112 is glued into place in the channel 110 . It will be noted that the hose 112 includes holes 113 therein. These holes 113 are not present when the hose 112 is first connected to the channel 110 , but are formed thereafter by way of melting, by forcing a hot wire structure (not shown) through the holes 111 , which holes then serve as guides to fix the positions at which the holes 113 are melted. The holes 113 , when the printhead assembly 19 is assembled, are in fluid-flow communication, via holes 114 (which make up the groups 111 in the channel 110 ), with the holes 98 in the lower layer 90 of each printhead module assembly 80 .
The hose 112 defines parallel channels 115 which extend the length of the hose. At one end 116 , the hose 112 is connected to ink containers (not shown), and at the opposite end 117 , there is provided a channel extrusion cap 118 , which serves to plug, and thereby close, that end of the hose.
A metal top support plate 119 supports and locates the channel 110 and hose 112 , and serves as a back plate for these. The channel 110 and hose 112 , in turn, exert pressure onto an assembly 120 which includes flex printed circuits. The plate 119 has tabs 121 which extend through notches 122 in the downwardly extending wall 123 of the channel 110 , to locate the channel and plate with respect to each other.
An extrusion 124 is provided to locate copper bus bars 125 . Although the energy required to operate a printhead according to the present invention is an order of magnitude lower than that of known thermal ink jet printers, there are a total of about 88,000 nozzles 3 in the printhead array, and this is approximately 160 times the number of nozzles that are typically found in typical printheads. As the nozzles 3 in the present invention may be operational (i.e. may fire) on a continuous basis during operation, the total power consumption will be an order of magnitude higher than that in such known printheads, and the current requirements will, accordingly, be high, even though the power consumption per nozzle will be an order of magnitude lower than that in the known printheads. The busbars 125 are suitable for providing for such power requirements, and have power leads 126 soldered to them.
Compressible conductive strips 127 are provided to abut with contacts 128 on the upperside, as shown, of the lower parts of the flex PCBs 82 of the printhead module assemblies 80 . The PCBs 82 extend from the chip assemblies 81 , around the channel 110 , the support plate 119 , the extrusion 124 and busbars 126 , to a position below the strips 127 so that the contacts 128 are positioned below, and in contact with, the strips 127 .
Each PCB 82 is double-sided and plated-through. Data connections 129 (indicated schematically by dashed lines), which are located on the outer surface of the PCB 82 abut with contact spots 130 (only some of which are shown schematically) on a flex PCB 131 which, in turn, includes a data bus and edge connectors 132 which are formed as part of the flex itself. Data is fed to the PCBs 131 via the edge connectors 132 .
A metal plate 133 is provided so that it, together with the channel 110 , can keep all of the components of the printhead assembly 19 together. In this regard, the channel 110 includes twist tabs 134 which extend through slots 135 in the plate 133 when the assembly 19 is put together, and are then twisted through approximately 45 degrees to prevent them from being withdrawn through the slots.
By way of summary, with reference to FIG. 68 , the printhead assembly 19 is shown in an assembled state. Ink and compressed air are supplied via the hose 112 at 136 , power is supplied via the leads 126 , and data is provided to the printhead chip assemblies 81 via the edge connectors 132 . The printhead chip assemblies 81 are located on the eleven printhead module assemblies 80 , which include the PCBs 82 .
Mounting holes 137 are provided for mounting the printhead assembly 19 in place in a printer (not shown). The effective length of the printhead assembly 19 , represented by the distance 138 , is just over the width of an A4 page (that is, about 8.5 inches).
Referring to FIG. 69 , there is shown, schematically, a cross-section through the assembled printhead 19 . From this, the position of a silicon stack forming a chip assembly 81 can clearly be seen, as can a longitudinal section through the ink and air supply hose 112 . Also clear to see is the abutment of the compressible strip 127 which makes contact above with the busbars 125 , and below with the lower part of a flex PCB 82 extending from a the chip assembly 81 . The twist tabs 134 which extend through the slots 135 in the metal plate 133 can also be seen, including their twisted configuration, represented by the dashed line 139 .
Printer System
Referring to FIG. 70 , there is shown a block diagram illustrating a printhead system 140 according to an embodiment of the invention.
Shown in the block diagram is the printhead (represented by the arrow) 141 , a power supply 142 to the printhead, an ink supply 143 , and print data 144 which is fed to the printhead as it ejects ink, at 145 , onto print media in the form, for example, of paper 146 .
Media transport rollers 147 are provided to transport the paper 146 past the printhead 141 . A media pick up mechanism 148 is configured to withdraw a sheet of paper 146 from a media tray 149 .
The power supply 142 is for providing DC voltage which is a standard type of supply in printer devices.
The ink supply 143 is from ink cartridges (not shown) and, typically various types of information will be provided, at 150 , about the ink supply, such as the amount of ink remaining. This information is provided via a system controller 151 which is connected to a user interface 152 . The interface 152 typically consists of a number of buttons (not shown), such as a “print” button, “page advance” button, an so on. The system controller 151 also controls a motor 153 that is provided for driving the media pick up mechanism 148 and a motor 154 for driving the media transport rollers 147 .
It is necessary for the system controller 151 to identify when a sheet of paper 146 is moving past the printhead 141 , so that printing can be effected at the correct time. This time can be related to a specific time that has elapsed after the media pick up mechanism 148 has picked up the sheet of paper 146 . Preferably, however, a paper sensor (not shown) is provided, which is connected to the system controller 151 so that when the sheet of paper 146 reaches a certain position relative to the printhead 141 , the system controller can effect printing. Printing is effected by triggering a print data formatter 155 which provides the print data 144 to the printhead 141 . It will therefore be appreciated that the system controller 151 must also interact with the print data formatter 155 .
The print data 144 emanates from an external computer (not shown) connected at 156 , and may be transmitted via any of a number of different connection means, such as a USB connection, an ETHERNET connection, a IEEE1394 connection otherwise known as firewire, or a parallel connection. A data communications module 157 provides this data to the print data formatter 155 and provides control information to the system controller 151 .
Although the invention is described above with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, although the above embodiments refer to the heater elements being electrically actuated, non-electrically actuated elements may also be used in embodiments, where appropriate.
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The present invention relates to a printhead for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a chassis assembly defining a plurality of spaced apart first groups of apertures and a channel. An ink distribution unit defines a plurality of ink distribution passages and a plurality of spaced apart second groups of apertures. The apertures of each second group are in fluid communication with respective ink distribution passages. The ink distribution unit is received in the channel so that the first and second groups coincide. A plurality of printhead modules is serially engaged along the chassis assembly and in fluid communication with respective first groups. The printhead modules are configured to eject ink provided from the ink distribution passages via the first and second groups.
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CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of prior application Ser. No. 10/708,288, filed Feb. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. x,xxx,xxx, issued xx/xx/2005.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of reticules, and more particularly relates to a reticule for a telescopic sight system while being useful in both rapid target acquisition in close quarters combat and precise distance shooting situations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Reticules are well known in the prior art. They are used in any situation where aiming any type of device is necessary, ranging from medical devices to weapons. Reticule types range from the traditional “crosshairs” to dots, circles, other geometric shapes, and moveable cross lines or any combination of the above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,512 (2004) to Sammut; U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,537 (2003) to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,595 (2002) to Sammut; U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,158 (2002) to Smith, III; U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,921 (2000) to Lawrence, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,357 (1990) to Barnes, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,221 (1986) to Thomas; U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,719 (1981) to Murdoch; U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,587 (1976) to Rubbert; U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,822 (1974) to Spence; U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,450 (1968) to Herter, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,420,273 (1944) to West; U.S. Pat. No. 1,190,121 (1916) to Critchett; U.S. Pat. No. 1,088,137 (1914) to Fidjeland; U.S. Pat. No. 912,050 (1909) to Wanee; and U.S. Pat. No. 189,721 (1877) to Freund are all illustrative of the prior art.
[0005] While the aforementioned inventions accomplish their individual objectives, they do not describe a reticule that is useful for both rapid close range target acquisition and precision shooting at a distance. In this respect, the reticule according to the present invention departs substantially from the usual designs in the prior art. In doing so, this invention provides a simple reticule using an aiming point strategy in its design and functionality. The reticule according to the present invention also incorporates a plurality of aiming points represented as dots of different scales to facilitate use at various ranges, from 10 to 600 yards or beyond. Prior reticules attempt to compensate for drop of a bullet over distance by increasing the distance between provided reticule guidelines. The reticule according to the present invention does not attempt to do so. In the present invention, a set of smaller scale dots provides a reference point for a shooter to use after practicing with a particular weapon over time, thereby avoiding problems of translating the results of “average” weapons to a particular weapon. Simultaneously, the reticule according to the present invention covers less of a target area, decreasing uncertainty and having a corresponding increase in hit potential.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of reticule, this invention provides an improved reticule with varying scales for use in multiple range environments. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new and improved reticule that will allow a user to improve accuracy and time at a distance without being a hindrance at close range.
[0007] To accomplish this goal and still maintain a utility derived from simplicity, the reticule according to the present invention comprises a main aiming ring with a series of aiming dots extending from the ring in what would be considered the cardinal directions. The aiming ring is utilized for speed and accuracy in close targeting scenarios, providing a broad, easily identifiable aiming point. The “southern” portion of the targeting ring is empty, allowing for a series of aiming dots to extend from the center of the ring to the bottom of the reticule. As the southern dots extend from the ring, they gradually are reduced in size and are spaced at a lesser distance apart. Thin reference rings are positioned towards the bottom of the reticule for range estimation. The reticule may be made of a luminous material, or may be electronically or chemically induced to glow for night and low light use.
[0008] The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.
[0009] Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
[0010] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0011] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the reticule according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the reticule.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a further alternate embodiment of the reticule.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the reticule is herein described. Referring specifically to FIG. 1 , reticule 100 is has a central aiming ring 110 , a plurality of varying sized ranging rings 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 , and four sets of dots in linear patterns defining four cardinal directions, 130 N, 130 S, 130 E, 130 W. Throughout this application and in the claims, the term “dot” is used to define an indicator of the location of generic aiming points on the reticule. The term “dot” may be used of indicators of any shape, such as triangles, crosshairs, ovals and rectangles, and need not necessarily be circles. Aiming ring 110 is not a complete ring, as it is open towards the southern direction. Dot set 130 S initiates in the center of the reticule with central aiming point 135 and is comprised of dots of three different sizes and two different spacing intervals, as shall be described later in this specification. Labeled quick count lines 132 , 134 , 136 may be provided at any interval, though the shown preferred embodiment is an interval of 5. Ranging ring 120 is labeled “3” on the reticule. Alternate reticule embodiment 101 , shown in FIG. 2 also comprises a highlighting ring 115 , bordering aiming ring 110 and also open in the southern direction.
[0016] The utility of the reticule 100 is found in the set spacing and sizes of the individual components relative to each other. The reticule uses the same basic perspective principles used in other ranging reticules, that is that objects appear smaller the further they are away from a viewer. Aiming ring 110 has a thickness of 4 Minutes Of Angle (“MOA”). 1 MOA is roughly equivalent to 1 inch at 100 yards. Its diameter is 18 MOA, leaving a 10 MOA window interior. When highlighting ring 115 is used, it has a thickness of 1 MOA and is 1 MOA distant from the outer boarder of aiming ring 110 , for a total diameter of 22 MOA. Each of the dots in directional sets 130 N, 130 E, and 130 W are 0.75 MOA, and the central aiming point 135 is 1 MOA. The next highest dots in set 130 S are 0.75 MOA. Each of these dots has an interval spacing of 3.5 MOA. Staring with the dot labeled “5” in the southern set 130 S, the remaining dots are 0.5 MOA and have an interval spacing of 2 MOA. Ranging rings 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 have diameters of 3.33 MOA, 2.5 MOA, 2 MOA, and 1.67 MOA respectively. To maintain proper perspective of relative sizes of the reticule components with potential targets, the reticule should be positioned either on or next to the objective lens of any telescopic sighting devices, thereby magnifying the reticule in the same power as the target and maintaining proportion.
[0017] In use, the reticule according to the present invention provides a rapidly identified aiming point in close quarters combat situations, as the reticule provides an easily identified center target with aiming ring 110 . This is especially true if the sighting device is set at zero magnification, thus diminishing all other reticule components from view. The reticule also provides ranging capability for more accurate distance shooting. Aiming ring 110 and ranging rings 120 , 122 , 124 , and 126 are set to measure the equivalent of 10-inch targets at 100, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards distance. Central aiming point 135 is the center of aiming ring 110 and therefore defines the diameter of a 5 MOA circle with any single point within the inner rim of the aiming ring 110 . This corresponds to a 10-inch target at 200 yards. While the four ranging rings are provided in the preferred embodiment, more or fewer rings may be employed in the practice of this invention. Likewise, different shapes may also be used, though in all embodiments the shapes should be mere outlines, allowing a user to see past the shape.
[0018] For distance shooting, it is important to consider the drop of a bullet over distance. The amount of drop will be determined by a number of factors, including barrel length, rifling, bullet weight, charge of ammunition, etc. Together, these factors are called a “package” and are usually uniform over time for a user's weapon. The scope can be zeroed so that the central aiming point 135 represents where a bullet will hit at 200 yards. Once this is set, a user merely practices with his or her particular weapon package to determine at which dot in the southern set 130 S a bullet will hit at specified yardage. Since the lower portion of southern set 130 S is used in distance shooting, the dots are smaller and the distance between them is smaller, so that less of a target is covered by a dot at greater distance from the shooter. With less of a target covered, there is greater accuracy in the shooting due to less uncertainty as to the actual spot where the bullet will hit. In the present embodiment, a 0.5 MOA dot will cover only 3 inches of a target at 600 yards. The distance between the dots in the lower range is 2 MOA, corresponding to 12 inches at 600 yards. The central aiming dot 135 would cover 6 inches at 600 yards, presenting double the uncertainty and a corresponding drop in accuracy.
[0019] Through practice, a user may note where a bullet will hit on the reticule at a determined distance. Afterwards, when a user picks a target of a known size, comparisons are made with ranging rings 120 , 122 , 124 , and 126 , as well as with the interior of aiming ring 110 , to determine distance. When aiming at the target, the user merely picks the appropriate aiming point from the dots in set 130 S and fires, hitting the target. The preferred embodiment attaches no external significance to the aiming points represented by the dots, unlike various other prior art reticules which attempt to compensate for the amount of drop a bullet will have over distance. The importance of the smaller dots and smaller distance between them is for better accuracy with a particular weapon. Remaining dot sets 130 N, 130 E, 130 W are ideally set to a uniform standard, for instance the standard military dot ranging system, and are useful as guides for windage and canting calculations and for ranging in horizontal and vertical planes.
[0020] In low light situations, the reticule may be illuminated through conventional means, or means to be discovered. Ideally, ranging rings 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 , dots sets 130 N, 130 S, 130 E, 130 W, and aiming ring 110 would have illumination capability. Highlighting ring 115 is used in those situations where illumination of the central aiming ring 110 is difficult or impossible.
[0021] In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 3 , the aiming ring 310 is composed of a plurality of transparent cells 305 , allowing a user to see through a portion of the aiming ring 310 . Lines 303 , which are of uniform thickness as the lines used to demarcate other portions of the reticle 301 , divide the ring 310 into the cells 305 . Cells 305 may be of any shape, though regular polygons, such as the diamond pattern shown in FIG. 3 , circles and ovals are preferred. Ideally, lines 303 should be thinner than cells 305 , allowing a user to see “through” over ½ of the area covered by the aiming ring 310 . This construction of the aiming ring 310 allows a user to look through the aiming ring 310 while still having the capacity to use it. It is also easier to illuminate aiming ring 310 when using the depicted or similar cell constructions, as uniform lines are easier to illuminate using current technology. Dots 307 , 335 and rings 320 , 322 , 324 , and 326 may also be turned into cells with an interior cross-hatching or other construction without hindering the practice of this invention. Likewise, dots 307 and 335 and rings 320 , 322 , 324 , 326 , may be of any shape, and may actually mimic the construction of cells 305 .
[0022] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made, such as altering the shape of the dots or the cells, and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.
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The present invention is a reticule featuring both rapid close-quarters target acquisition and precise distance shooting functionality. The reticule features a broad central aiming ring and four sets of aiming point-indicating dots. The lowest set comprises dots of differing dimensions and distances apart. Ranging rings are also provided. An alternate embodiment also comprises a highlighting ring around the aiming ring. The reticule can be illuminated through known or future discovered means for low-light or night shooting. A further alternate embodiment features an aiming ring constructed of a plurality of transparent cells, thereby allowing a user to see through the aiming ring and allow a less busy reticule with easier illumination capability.
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This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/685,609 to David E. Bachschmid and Robert C. Smallwood filed on Jul. 24, 1996, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a light switch having an audio recording feature. More particularly, the present invention relates to a single unit cover plate for a light switch which can replay one or more audio samples when the light switch is turned on or off. The device may have recording capability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various devices exist which play an audio recording upon performance of a certain action. For example, it has become common for automobiles to play a recording when the lights are left on after the key has been removed, or when a door is ajar after the key is inserted; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,947,812; 4,222,028; 4,346,364; 4,383,241; and 4,839,749.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,120 and 4,100,581 disclose devices which attach to a door and which play a tape upon movement of the door. U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,060 is similar, but further activates an automatic telephone answering machine to playback a prerecorded message upon operation of a doorbell.
None of these devices, however, permit the user to record a message which plays back upon activation or deactivation so a light swatch. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a device.
Another object is to provide a device which can record multiple messages or audio samples, and play them back in serial fashion.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can record multiple messages or audio samples, and play them back in random order.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a switch plate for a light switch which supports components to permit replay of audio samples after the light switch is turned on or off. The cover plate being retrofittable to an existing light switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the present invention in which a switch plate cover for a light switch is provided and contains an audio assembly which will play a message through a speaker when the light switch is turned either on or off. There can be different messages for the on or off positions, or several messages in serial fashion. The messages can be prerecorded using the speaker as a microphone and controlled by a separate switch in the assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other attributes of the present invention will be described with respect to the following drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the second embodiment of FIG. 3 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the light switch cover plate device 10 has the dimensions of a standard light switch cover plate. The device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is for a single light switch. Other configurations for multiple switches can be provider. The light switch 100 to which the cover plate device 10 is attached can control a light socket or light fixture in a manner similar to standard light switches.
The light switch cover plate device 10 has a speaker 20 through which the messages or audio samples are played. A lever switch 30 is provided adjacent to the light switch 100 . The light switch 100 extends through a hole 32 in slide 34 . The slide 34 moves up and down with the switch 100 , activating the lever switch 30 . A second switch 40 is provided to initiate recording of a message or audio portion or sample.
In operation a user presses switch 40 to record an audio sample. He or she than speaks into the speaker 20 , which acts as the microphone to receive the audio sample. A separate microphone 45 may be provided. When the light switch 100 is thrown to activate or deactivate the light, the slide 34 moves the lever switch 30 and the prerecorded audio sample will be played through the speaker 20 .
The device 10 may be used to record multiple messages, which will then be played back in serial fashion. The messages may be reminders, motivation messages, or musical pieces. In addition the device 10 can be a message such as “Mommy loves you.” and be replayed when a child turns out the light to go to bed. Such a recording can reassure a child when one or both parents are away or have not come home before the child's bedtime.
The device 10 contains a PC board 50 to which the lever switch 30 is connected. The PC board 50 has a digital memory chip 60 which contains the audio samples in digital form. The PC board 50 is powered by four AAA batteries 70 . The microphone 45 and speaker 20 are also connected to the PC board 50 .
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a second embodiment is illustrated in which the audio samples are prerecorded in the digital memory chip, and the microphone 45 and switch 40 are eliminated.
Having described the preferred embodiment of the light switch with audio recording and playback feature in accordance with the present invention, it is believed that the modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art n view of the foregoing description, such as playing back multiple messages in random order, or providing a separate microphone from the speaker. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications, and charges are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
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A light switch cover plate having mechanism for recording and playing back an audio sample through a speaker when the light switch is turned either on or off. Several messages can be recorded and they can be played back serially or randomly.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/286,207, filed Nov. 2, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,422, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to staplers and, more specifically, to user selectable shaped staples and a stapler for dispensing said user selectable staples. The stapler has a replaceable guide housing assembly designed for the particular user selectable staple having components including a punch, die and guide conforming substantially to the shape of the head of the staple for driving the user selectable staple into a designated material, such as sheets of paper, selected for said fastening method.
The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portions with the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar head portion and wherein the head portion is of a style depicting a form such as a trademark, company logo, a letter or symbol of any kind.
In addition the present invention provides for an additional element in the form of a kit whereby users having the stapler of the present invention can purchase a kit comprised of a different staple design of any color or shape having a plurality of said staples along with the mating punch head, top guide and bottom guide for that particular design of staple. The kits would be available through retail outlets such as K-Mart, Apple, Stop & Shop, Macy's, King Kullen, etc. The kits can also be custom made for companies for any logos that they have.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are other stapler devices designed for specialized staples. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,554,686 issued to Muth on Sep. 22, 1925.
Another patent was issued to Havener on Aug. 25, 1931 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,820,224. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 2,473,253 was issued to Place on Jun. 14, 1949 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 8, 1980 to Sato as U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,474.
Another patent was issued to Yanagida on May 13, 1980 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,481. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,608 was issued to Mitsuhashi on Nov. 7, 1989.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,554,686
Inventor: John Muth
Issued: Sep. 22, 1925
In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of means for engaging a leg of the foremost staple on said strip and holding said staple against turning during the severing operation, said machine having means for positively moving said engaging and holding means into and out of a position so to engage said leg.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,820,224
Inventor: Arthur R. Havener
Issued: Aug. 25, 1931
Disclosed is a holder and carrier for a riveting machine having, in combination, a slide, a pair of oppositely disposed spring arms fast to said slide and spaced apart, and a pair of oppositely disposed plates fast to the lower ends of said arms, the under faces of said plates being provided with grooves, which form a guideway adapted to receive and hold a flat piece of material.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,473,253
Inventor: Desmond R. LaPlace
Issued: Jun. 14, 1949
The invention is an apparatus of the class described comprising a magazine for holding flat staples in face-to-face relation, the staples having a head portion and two leg portions, means for moving staples horizontally one at a time from the magazine, and means for deflecting the legs of the staple vertically by swinging them about an axis that traverses the head, and means for confining the head in a horizontal position during such operation of moving the staples and bending the legs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,474
Inventor: Hisao Sato
Issued: Jan. 8, 1980
A stapler including a staple magazine loaded with conventional staples and a tag magazine detachably connected to the bottom of the staple magazine and loaded with a stick of tags which are detachably connected to each other in a predetermined overlapping relationship in series. When a lever is depressed, a staple driver drives the foremost staple of the staple stick in the staple magazine into the foremost one of the stick of tags in the tag magazine, detaching it from the stick, and further into one or more works so as to attach the tag to the work or works. In addition, various tags adapted for use with the stapler are disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,481
Inventor: Jun Yanagida
Issued: May 13, 1980
A stapling machine adapted for use with a special configuration of a wire staple comprising a base plate having a wire staple receiving mold or recess in one end portion thereof and upright flanged portions at both sides on the opposite ends thereof; a wire staple holding frame in a cylindrical configuration having a cross-sectional shape conforming to the shape of an ornamental wire staple having a broadened center beam section which is wider than the staple points or legs at both sides thereof, and a leaf spring connected at one end thereof with the wire staple holding frame, and the other end being partially bent in a U-shape to provide a repulsive force and partially formed into a hook-shape; a pressure applying member including at one end portion thereof a wire staple extruding member formed in a fork-shape to freely slide into and out of grooves formed in said wire staple holding frame and a pair of upright flanged portions at both sides of the other end thereof forming a bearing for a shaft so as to be pivotally connected with the upright flanged portions provided on the base plate; and a magnet to attract and hold in position the wire staple placed in the staple wire holding frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,608
Inventor: Yoshio Mitsuhashi
Issued: Nov. 7, 1989
A stapler for use with sheet metal staples each having an ornament joined to a bridge interconnecting a pair of parallel legs. The staples are bonded together to form a staple bar, with the ornaments placed in overlapping relation to one another so that the bridges of the joined staples form an obtuse angle with each pair of staple legs. The stapler has an elongate staple magazine which is shaped to accommodate the ornamented staple bar and which is pivoted at its rear end on a base so that the front end of the staple magazine is movable into and out of engagement with an anvil or matrix on the base. Pivotally coupled to both the base and the staple magazine, a handle has an ejector for driving the successive ornamented staples out of the front end of the staple magazine against the anvil on the base.
While these fastening 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.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is a stapler for dispensing user selectable staples. The stapler has a replaceable guide housing assembly designed for a particular user selectable staple having components conforming to the shape of the head of the staple for driving the user selectable staple into a designated material, such as sheets of paper, selected for said fastening method. The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portions with the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar head portion.
The replaceable guide housing assembly is comprised of a housing having a retaining fastener whereby said replaceable guide housing assembly can be releasably attached to the stapler housing. The replaceable guide housing assembly has a vertical throughbore and a longitudinal throughbore. The longitudinal throughbore provides means for delivery of the user selectable staples to the vertical throughbore from a stapler housing magazine. The vertical throughbore has a guide fixedly positioned therein by means of a fastener and receives the next user selectable staple for application from said longitudinal throughbore having a plurality of said user selectable staples positioned within a magazine having a tensioning member. Each of said staples is attached to the next by means well known within the art forming a row of user selectable staples that can be inserted into the stapler magazine.
Positioned above the guide resident user selectable staple is a die fixedly positioned within said vertical throughbore by means of a fastener. The die also has a throughbore conforming to the shape of the head of the user selectable staple and has a punch traveling therein conforming in shape to the die throughbore and head of the user selectable staple shape.
The punch is connected to a pressure applying handle by means of a punch rod extending through a plate having a tensioning member positioned between said plate and the drive handle for keeping the drive handle and punch head in the retracted position. The drive handle performs the function of driving the punch through the die engaging the user selectable staple head driving said stapler through the guide with the staple legs engaging and passing through the material to be fastened until said staple legs engage the staple legs diverter causing the legs to close under the staple head binding the fastened material therebetween.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide novel means for selectively binding sheets of material using a decorative means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means having a predetermined shaped image that may further employ color, print, photoprint, graphic image, engraving or drawing thereupon.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means with a binding means.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means with a first binding element.
A further object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means with a top surface forming said first binding means whereupon said color, print, photoprint, graphic image, engraving or drawing is displayed thereon.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means having a top surface with lancing means for penetrating a material selected for application of said novel means.
A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means having a top surface with a second binding means incorporating said lancing means.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means having a first binding element with a second binding element.
Another object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means with said second binding elements that lance the bound material.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide said second binding element with a lancing means.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means having a top surface having second binding elements positioned on each end.
A further object of the present invention to provide said decorative means having a top surface with opposing legs positioned on the distal ends.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide said opposing legs extending substantially perpendicular to said top surface.
A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide said opposing perpendicular-like legs having distal ends terminating in prongs.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide said decorative means having a top surface with said opposing legs forming said second binding means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide said opposing legs terminating in prongs performing said lancing means.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a diverting means for said second binding element having lancing means.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a driving means for said decorative means.
A further object of the present invention is to incorporate said decorative means into a user selectable shaped staple.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for using said decorative means of said novel means whereby after selecting the material or materials for application of said novel means said driving means engages said decorative means having a first binding means and a second binding means with a lancing means wherein said lancing means lances the material before engaging said diverting means which diverts the second binding means coparallel with said first binding means thereby clamping the material between said first and second binding means.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the use of said decorative means.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stapler having a removable guide housing.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stapler having a user selectable staple and a removable guide housing for driving said staple into a material selected for fastening.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a guide housing having a first throughbore providing means for delivering a plurality of staples to the drive mechanism and a second throughbore providing means for housing the drive mechanism.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a guide housing having a bottom guide for receiving staples prior to application with said bottom guide having a throughbore conforming in shape to the stapler head.
A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a bottom guide removably fastened to the guide housing by means of a fastener.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bottom guide housing fixedly positioned with the second or vertical throughbore forming an element of the guide housing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a top guide removably fastened to the guide housing by means of a fastener.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a top guide fixedly positioned within the second/vertical throughbore forming another element of the guide housing.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a top guide having a throughbore conforming substantially to the shape of the staple head.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a punch head positioned within the second/vertical throughbore forming another element of the guide housing.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a punch head having a shape conforming to the shape of the stapler head.
A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a punch head that travels through the top guide when pressure is applied to the operative handle.
A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a punch head that engages the staple head and causes said staple to travel through the bottom guide engaging the material to be stapled, passing through said material before having the staple legs deformed into a closed position by the stapler leg diverter element.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a punch head operatively connected to the pressure applying handle by means of a punch rod.
Another object of the present invention is to provide means for returning the pressure applying handle and attached punch head to the retracted position after a force has been applied thereto.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means for purchasing additional user selectable staples of varying designs.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable stapler kit having a user selectable staple, punch head, top guide and bottom guide that can be purchased separately.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a custom stapling system comprising a unique stapler, interchangeable staple kit, and user selectable decorative staples for personal or industry use, available in any color, metal shape, logo or graphic image.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a stapler for dispensing user selectable staples. The stapler has a replaceable guide housing assembly designed for a particular user selectable staple having components conforming to the shape of the head of the staple for driving the user selectable staple into a designated material, such as sheets of paper, selected for said fastening method. The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portions with the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar head portion and wherein the head portion is of a style depicting a form such as a trademark, company logo, a letter or symbol of any kind.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS
10 stapling apparatus
12 stapler housing
14 stapler housing pivot point
15 stapler housing fastener aperture
16 staple magazine
18 stapler housing base
20 stapler housing diverter
21 material
22 user selectable staple
22 A user selectable shaped staple
22 B user selectable shaped staple
22 C user selectable shaped staple
22 D user selectable shaped staple
22 E user selectable shaped staple having indicia
24 user selectable staple top surface
26 user selectable staple image
28 user selectable staple legs
30 user selectable staple lancing element
32 user selectable staple prongs
34 guide housing assembly
35 guide housing
36 stapler guide housing retaining fastener
37 guide housing fastener throughbore
38 guide housing guide fastener
40 guide housing die fastener
42 guide housing vertical throughbore
44 guide housing longitudinal throughbore
46 guide housing drive threaded bore
48 guide housing guide
48 A guide housing shaped guide
48 B guide housing shaped guide
48 C guide housing shaped guide
50 guide housing guide throughbore
52 guide housing guide interior wall
54 guide housing guide exterior wall
56 guide housing die
56 A guide housing shaped die
56 B guide housing shaped die
56 C guide housing shaped die
58 guide housing die throughbore
60 guide housing die interior wall
62 guide housing die exterior wall
64 guide housing punch
64 A guide housing selectable shaped punch
64 B guide housing selectable shaped punch
64 C guide housing selectable shaped punch
66 guide housing punch exterior surface
68 guide housing punch rod
70 guide housing punch rod fastener
72 guide housing punch rod drive fastener
74 guide housing drive plate fastener
76 guide housing drive plate
78 guide housing drive return spring
80 guide housing drive handle
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the selectable shaped staple.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments; practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.
Referring to FIG. 1 , shown is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The apparatus 10 is comprised of a housing 12 having a base 18 and pivot point 14 wherein the staples contained in magazine 16 are moved by a tensioning member into the guide housing assembly 34 fastened to housing 12 by stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36 . Pressure placed upon handle 80 causes the housing to pivot upon pivot point 14 driving user selectable staple 22 through the material being bound 21 until the user selectable staple 22 encounters the staple housing diverter 20 thereby binding the selected material 21 .
The stapling apparatus 10 has a guide housing 34 that includes guide rod 68 , punch 64 , die 56 , and guide 48 . With the exception of the guide rod 68 , each of the aforementioned has a shape that is designed to accommodate the user selectable staple 22 .
For illustrative purposes three different staples 22 are shown with their accompanying components that are uniquely designed to accommodate the user selectable staple 22 . The user selectable staple 22 A has a guide 48 A for receiving the next available staple from magazine 16 . Positioned above guide 48 A is die 56 A having a throughbore 58 conforming to the user selectable shaped staple 22 A. Positioned within throughbore 58 is guide housing selectable shaped punch 64 A having a punch exterior surface 66 that conforms and substantially engages die interior wall 60 . Once pressure is applied to guide rod 68 punch 64 A advances along throughbore 58 of die 56 A engaging top surface 24 of staple 22 A causing the staple to pass into a throughbore in guide 48 A and into the material 21 to be bound.
The user selectable staple 22 B has a guide 48 B for receiving the next available staple from magazine 16 . Positioned above guide 48 B is die 56 B having a throughbore 58 conforming to the user selectable shaped staple 22 B. Positioned within throughbore 58 is guide housing selectable shaped punch 64 B having a punch exterior surface 66 that conforms and substantially engages die interior wall 60 . Once pressure is applied to guide rod 68 punch 64 B advances along throughbore 58 of die 56 B engaging top surface 24 of staple 22 B causing the staple to pass into the guide throughbore 50 and into the material 21 to be bound whereupon staple legs 28 having lancing element 30 including prong 32 pierces material 21 until engaging the stapler diverter element 20 whereupon material 21 is clamped between top surface 24 of user selectable staple 22 B and staple legs 28 of user selectable staple 22 B.
Also shown is user selectable staple 22 C having a guide 48 C for receiving the next available stapler from magazine 16 . Positioned above guide 48 C is die 56 C having a throughbore 58 conforming to the top surface 24 of user selectable shaped staple 22 C and having positioned therein selectable shaped punch 64 C having a punch exterior surface 66 that conforms and substantially engages die interior wall 60 of die 56 C. Once pressure is applied to guide rod 68 punch 64 C advances along throughbore 58 of die 56 C engaging top surface 24 of staple 22 C causing the staple to pass into the guide throughbore whereupon with continued pressure staple 22 C will pierce one or more sheets of material 21 causing said material 21 to be clamped between top surface 24 of staple 22 C and legs 28 of staple 22 C.
Referring to FIG. 2 , shown is a block diagram of the guide housing assembly 34 having a user selectable staple 22 therein. The guide housing assembly 34 has a handle 80 for applying pressure to the assembly to drive the user selectable staple 22 having a lancing element into the material to be bound. The handle 80 is connected to the punch 64 by means of punch rod 68 . The punch 64 has a predetermined shape conforming to the top surface of the selectable shaped staple 22 . Each punch 64 has a mating die 56 having a throughbore 58 and walls 60 which substantially conform and engage wall 66 of punch 64 . Positioned below die 56 is guide 48 that is used to receive the next available staple 22 from the stapler magazine. Once pressure is applied to handle 80 punch 64 passes through die 56 and engages the top surface of staple 22 positioned within guide 48 . Continued pressure causes punch 64 to move staple 22 through guide 48 until the staple legs engage the stapler diverter member which channels the legs under the staple top surface binding the material therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 3 , shown is a perspective view of the present invention. The stapling apparatus 10 is comprised of a housing 12 having a base 18 and pivot point 14 and a staple magazine 16 for delivering a stick of user selectable shaped staples to the guide housing assembly. The guide housing assembly 34 is releasably fastened to the stapler housing 12 by means of fastener 36 whereby guide housing assembly 34 can be selectively removed for attachment of an alternate guide housing assembly providing means for using an alternate user selectable shaped staple 22 .
In addition to replacing guide housing assembly 34 by removal of the stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36 , specific components within the guide housing assembly 34 manufactured having a specific shape conforming to the top surface of the user selectable shaped staple 22 can be replaced by alternate components specifically manufactured for an alternate user selectable shaped staple 22 .
Referring to FIG. 4 , shown is an exploded view of the present invention for a user selectable shaped staple. The stapling apparatus 10 is comprised of a housing 12 having a base 18 and pivot point 14 having a stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36 for releasably fastening guide housing assembly 34 to said stapler housing. The guide housing 34 includes handle 80 , guide housing drive return spring 78 , plate 76 , guide rod 68 , punch 64 , die 56 , guide 48 and guide housing 35 . Punch 64 , die 56 , and guide 48 are manufactured with a specific shape for use with a specific user selectable shaped staple.
The user selectable staple 22 B has a guide 48 B for receiving the next available staple from the staple magazine. Positioned above guide 48 B is die 56 B having a throughbore 58 conforming to the user selectable shaped staple 22 B. Positioned within throughbore 58 is guide housing selectable shaped punch 64 B having a punch exterior surface 66 that conforms and substantially engages die interior wall 60 . Once pressure is applied to guide rod 68 punch 64 B advances along throughbore 58 of die 56 B engaging top surface 24 of staple 22 B causing the staple to pass into the guide throughbore 50 and into the material selected for stapling. Staple legs 28 having lancing element 30 including prong 32 pierces the selected material until engaging the stapler diverter element 20 whereupon the selected material is clamped between top surface 24 of user selectable staple 22 B and staple legs 28 of user selectable staple 22 B.
As previously stated, in addition to replacing guide housing assembly 34 by removal of the stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36 from stapler housing fastener aperture 15 and guide housing fastener throughbore 37 , the specific components guide housing punch 64 , guide housing die 56 and guide housing guide 48 within the guide housing assembly 34 can be replaced with alternate components manufactured for an alternate user selectable shaped staple 22 .
This provides a method whereby the guide housing punch 64 , guide housing die 56 , and guide housing guide 48 can be sold as a kit which may include the alternate user selectable shaped staple designed for said components.
Referring to FIG. 5 , shown is a perspective view of the present invention. The stapling apparatus 10 has a housing 12 with staple magazine 16 contained therein having a tensioning member for moving user selectable shaped staple 22 b into guide housing assembly 34 fastened to housing 12 by stapler guide housing retaining fastener 36 .
Referring to FIG. 6 , shown is a partial sectional view of the present invention. The stapling apparatus 10 has a housing 12 with staple magazine 16 for moving user selectable shaped staple 22 into guide housing guide 48 . The guide housing 34 is comprised of handle 80 and plate 76 with guide housing drive return spring 78 positioned therebetween. Guide rod 68 connects handle 80 to punch 64 that travels in the throughbore of die 56 engaging user selectable staple 22 positioned within guide 48 .
Referring to FIG. 7 , shown is a partial sectional view of the present invention having pressure applied to handle 80 cause the punch 64 to engage user selectable shaped staple 22 moving said staple into the throughbore 50 of guide housing guide 48 .
Referring to FIG. 8 , shown is a partial sectional view of the present invention. The stapling apparatus 10 has a housing 12 with staple magazine 16 for moving user selectable shaped staple 22 into guide housing guide 48 . The guide housing 34 is comprised of handle 80 and plate 76 with guide housing drive return spring 78 positioned therebetween. Guide rod 68 connects handle 80 to punch 64 that travels in the throughbore of die 56 engaging user selectable staple 22 positioned within guide 48 to travel into throughbore 50 of guide 48 before lancing the material to be stapled whereupon staple legs 28 are channeled by stapler housing diverter 20 causing the material to be clamped between top surface 24 and staple legs 28 of user selectable shaped staple 22 .
Referring to FIG. 9 , shown is the user selectable shaped stapler of the present invention 22 shown illustrated in alternate embodiments 22 B, 22 D and 22 E. Each has a top surface 24 and stapler image 26 , with user selectable shaped staple 22 E having indicia thereon. User selectable shaped staple 22 has a pair of legs 28 positioned at each end of top surface 24 and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The legs 28 having lancing elements 30 terminating in prongs 32 for piercing a predetermined material selected for stapling using the user selectable shaped staple 22 .
Referring to FIG. 9 , shown is the user selectable shaped stapler of the present invention 22 shown illustrated in alternate embodiments 22 B, 22 D and 22 E. Each has a top surface 24 and stapler image 26 . With user selectable shaped staple 22 E having indicia thereon. User selectable shaped staple 22 has a pair of legs 28 positioned at each distal end of top surface 24 and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The legs 28 having lancing elements 30 terminating in prongs 32 for piercing a predetermined material selected for stapling using the user selectable shaped staple 22 .
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The invention discloses a method for securing items together with a user selectable shaped staples and a stapler for dispensing said the user selectable staples. The stapler has a replaceable guide housing assembly designed for the particular user selectable staple having components including a punch, die and guide conforming substantially to the shape of the head of the staple for driving the user selectable staple into a designated material, such as sheets of paper, selected for said the fastening method. The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portions with the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar head portion and wherein the head portion is of a style depicting a form such as a trademark, company logo, a letter or symbol of any kind.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to image data encoding and decoding systems, and is particularly concerned with image data encoding and decoding devices and processes employing fast, efficient arithmetic coding techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
The advent of digital imaging technology has both literally and figuratively propelled video, multimedia and interactive into the forefront of consumer products. It has empowered the masses with the advanced image processing, rendering, and reproduction capabilities heretofore reserved to commercial studios and publishing concerns. This primarily stems from the ease in which data representing the image may be manipulated. Analog to digital conversion has also become somewhat routine, as more and more powerful processors find their way into consumer products.
However, digitized image transfer and storage limitations still remain significant roadblocks to even more widespread acceptance and use, even in the age of gigabyte hard drives, 32 bit bus architectures and the Internet. Simply put, fully-expanded or native digital image data is too large to work with, even for relatively small images or coarse graphics to be a practical storage format. For example, an uncompressed, letter-sized image at 600 dpi resolution and 16 bit color would require several tens of megabytes of bit-mapped storage space and take several minutes to download using a standard ISDN binary connection.
So, in terms of memory capacity and data transfer speed, it is not practical to process native image data. Accordingly, the electronics industry has turned to digital compression as the preferred way to reduce the size of image data, and ultimately increase throughput and storage space. Various data compression techniques have been developed and used for real applications.
Recently, new techniques of data compression called arithmetic encoding and decoding have been attracting attention. The general concept of the arithmetic encoding is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication SHO 62-185413, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication SHO 63-74324, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication SHO 63-76525. As described therein, arithmetic encoding generally involves dividing a line segment contained within the line segment spanning from 0.0 to 1.0 into two unequal subsegments according to the generating probability for the present symbol to encode and maps a series of symbols to line subsegments thus obtained for that series of symbols. This process is repeated recursively. The coordinate of the point contained in the final line segment is expressed in binary representation, which differentiates the point from the points of other line segments, and then the coordinate in binary representation is output as the coded data. The ordinary encoding scheme which assigns a special code for a particular series of symbols is referred to as block encoding, while arithmetic encoding is referred to as nonblock encoding.
The arithmetic encoding technique compresses image data efficiently and the compressed data is easily decoded. Therefore, this technique is considered to be more efficient for applications such as the transmission of image data through a transmission line and the storage of image data in various types of memory devices.
Prior art FIG. 30A shows a conventional, general arithmetic encoder system for image data, and FIG. 30B shows an example of an arithmetic decoder system.
The arithmetic encoder system shown in FIG. 30A comprises an input interface 10, an arithmetic encoder 12, and an output interface 14. Responding to the request from arithmetic encoder 12, input interface 10 fetches image data from a memory or transfer mechanism 16 and outputs it in an appropriate manner to the arithmetic encoder 12. A semiconductor memory as well as both magnetic and optical memory devices are common storage examples which could be used as the memory mechanism 16 in this case. Analog/digital telephone lines, local and wide-area computer networks, or radio frequency links could serve as example transfer mechanisms.
Arithmetic encoder 12 compresses image data streams 100 provided through input interface 10 and outputs the compressed coded data stream 200 through output interface 14 to a memory or transfer means 18. Thus, image data 100 is efficiently compressed, and the compressed data is either written to memory 18 or is transferred to the image data decoder system shown in FIG. 3
The arithmetic conventional decoder system shown in FIG. 30B comprises an input interface 20, an arithmetic decoder 22, and an output interface 24. Arithmetic decoder 22 decodes incoming coded data following the exactly reversed procedures of those for arithmetic encoder 12.
Responding to the request from arithmetic decoder 22, input interface 20 fetches coded data 200 from a memory or transfer device 18. Arithmetic decoder 22 decodes coded data 200, provided in sequence, into image data 100 and outputs image data stream 100, through output interface 24, to another memory or transfer mechanism 26.
Thus, for example, a high quality image data transmitter/receiver system may be constructed by using the arithmetic encoder system shown in FIG. 30A for encoding image data 100 to coded data 200 and transmitting it through memory or transfer mechanism 18 and by using the companion arithmetic decoder system shown in FIG. 30B for receiving the coded data and decoding it back to image data 100. This system may be applied to many devices such as digital or HD-TV, digital telephony products and facsimile machines
The coded data created from image data 100 with the arithmetic encoder system shown in FIG. 30A can be stored on an IC card or chip, which is used in many different fields. For example, if a motor vehicle navigation system is equipped with the arithmetic decoder system shown in FIG. 30B, one can use the map data which is compressed with the arithmetic encoder system shown in FIG. 30A and is stored in a memory 18 such as IC cards. Since map data contains a large amount of image data, the arithmetic encoder system is particularly suited to compress the map data and write the coded data to an IC card, which has a limited memory capacity.
The system shown in FIG. 30A can compress not only still images but also moving images. Therefore, it can compress a commercial moving image lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes and store the compressed image on an IC chip. The image display device equipped with the system shown in FIG. 30B can replay the commercial image on a display. In promoting a new product, for example, the IC chip that stores the commercial image of the new product can be installed in the display device simply by replacing the old IC chip.
These prior art systems, however, do not allow for the fast arithmetic encoding of image data. Only a limited amount of data can be transmitted with a transfer mechanism and only a limited amount of coded data can be decoded with the system shown in FIG. 30B at a given moment. Therefore, the image displayed on a display device is usually too small for practical application in many situations. Further, when displaying a moving image, a time lapse is required and unnatural, jerky motions result.
More specifically, prior art arithmetic encoder 12 and arithmetic decoder 22 operate at a fixed one bit per clock cycle. Further, every cycle of both encoding and decoding has internal feedback, inhibiting conventional pipelining and multiplexing techniques. Therefore, the only way to conventionally increase the encoding and decoding rates was to increase the driving clock frequencies for arithmetic encoder 12 and arithmetic decoder 22. Such higher clock frequencies demand more expensive and difficult to manufacture semiconductor designs, and ultimately are limited by the capabilities of the semiconductor processes for forming the circuit elements of those devices.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to increase performance in image data encoder/decoder systems without having to increase clock speeds of the constituent elements.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a relatively high-performance image data encoder/data system using low-cost, simple circuit elements yet capable of carrying out advanced arithmetic compression techniques.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to exploit synchronous pipelining techniques for data encoding or decoding operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve these and related objects, the present invention employs data division techniques to break down the image data in a manner that permits arithmetic encoding to proceed in parallel. More particularly, received, native format image data is distributed into a plurality of individual streams according to a predetermined set of distribution rules. These individual streams are then encoded in parallel by the encoder of the present invention to achieve desired compression results.
For example, when the image data has 16 colors, each pixel datum is represented by four bits. In this case, the image data can be divided into four bit planes. The image data stream of each of the four bit planes can be encoded by means of the arithmetic encoder. Accordingly, four image data streams are created corresponding to the four image planes. Further, the image data can be divided spatially into multiple areas. For example, the image data can be divided into top, middle, and bottom parts, each of which may then be encoded in parallel.
To achieve parallel encoding, the presently preferred embodiments may include a plurality of dedicated arithmetic encoders, each corresponding to a potential image data stream. Each dedicated arithmetic encoder encodes one of the distributed native image data streams and outputs the results in synchronization with one another either simultaneously or staggered in a predetermined delay. Since each image data stream produced by data distribution is encoded by the corresponding dedicated arithmetic encoder, each need only treat only a single image data stream during a given cycle. This affords a simple encoding circuit within each dedicated encoder. More importantly, the multiple dedicated arithmetic encoder architecture permits pipelining of encoding functions, thereby improving overall throughput and efficiency of large-scale image data compression tasks.
Also, the preferred embodiments of the present invention may include data integration for combining the individual encoded data streams into a single integrated coded or packed data stream in accordance with one or more prescribed combination rules. Combining the individual streams in this manner allows for efficient data transfer and storage than continuing to treat them individually. For example, even if the individual divided image data streams, prior to encodation, may contain the same amounts of data, the coded data streams associated therewith may not, as is the case with most variable width compression techniques. This creates the problems in allocating memory and orchestrating data transfer tasks of the individual coded data streams. However, combining the individual coded data streams into a single integrated coded data stream, allows for efficient memory allocation (since only one area need be reserved). Also, an integrated stream inherently presents the data in proper order for data transfer operations.
In addition, since the preferred embodiments may combine the coded data streams into a single, integrated, coded data stream in accordance with prescribed rules, redividing of the integrated coded data stream sent to the image data decoder system into a plurality of coded data streams is performed quite easily, as will be discussed hereinbelow.
Data integration, according to the preferred embodiments, may be implemented using a plurality of buffers for sequentially storing the individual coded data streams that are produced by the arithmetic encoder. These buffers can also handle carry signal transfers as appropriate. A buffer controller can be utilized for commanding each of these buffers to send out the coded data according to the predetermined order, especially when the possibility of the carry transfer is small. Finally, the buffer controller directs a code combining circuit for combining the individual coded data streams as buffered into a single integrated coded data stream sequenced according to the predetermined order.
Carry transfer is an important issue since, if a carry transfer takes place during the integration of the individual coded data streams, it affects the coded data already integrated. Hence, the buffer controller means determines the possibility of carry transfer based on the data stored in each of the buffer means. It controls each buffer means to output the coded data according to the predetermined order when it determines that the possibility of carry transfer is low, and the single integrated coded data stream is formed from the coded data streams without the influence of the carry transfer.
Further, preferably, these data integration buffers may include a first-in-first-out ("FIFO") buffer memory for storing in sequence the coded data that is produced by the arithmetic encoder, a first-in-first-out code length memory for storing the code lengths in sequence every time the coded data is input to the FIFO buffer memory and a carry transfer processor for performing carry transfer for the coded data stored in said buffer memory every time the arithmetic encoder sends out the carry signal of the coded data. The carry transfer processor performs the carry transfer for the coded data stored in the buffer memory every time the arithmetic encoder sends out the carry signal of the coded data. Thus, the data integration buffer receives the coded data, performs the carry transfer, and stores the code length of the coded data. Also, the buffer controller regulates the buffer memory's sending out in sequence the coded data stored therein having the code length indicated by the code length memory. Therefore, the FIFO buffer memory outputs in sequence the coded data of each pixel datum of the image the arithmetic encoder encodes, which permits easy combination of the individual coded data streams within the code combining circuit.
Furthermore, the preferred arithmetic encoding technique involves, for each time a complete pixel datum is presented within an individual image data stream is provided in sequence, dividing a predetermined encoding line to create a new encoding line, following prescribed rules, using the symbol generating probability of the pixel data, maps the data stream to the coordinate C of the point included in said new encoding line, and sending out the coordinate as the coded data. This technique proves useful in achieving tight compression results. To achieve this, each dedicated arithmetic encoder preferably includes: 1)a context generator for creating the reference pixel data for the present pixel data contained in the individual image data stream the arithmetic encoder is assigned to process and for generating a context signal CX in response thereto; 2) an index generator for producing the optimum transition destination index STi as a function of both the context signal CX and another transition destination index STO provided thereto; 3) a probability estimator for outputting the table data corresponding to the generated optimum transition destination index STi, the table data being stored therein and including, for each table index ST, the symbol generating probability for at least one of the major and minor symbols, the transition destination index NLPS when a minor symbol is generated, and the transition destination index NMPS when a major symbol is generated; 4) an area register for storing the length data A of the new encoding line created for each incoming input pixel data; 5) a code register for storing the coordinate of the point included in the new encoding line created for each incoming input pixel data, the coordinate being referred to as the position coordinate data C; and 6) a processor to handle various associated encoding tasks preferably on a per pixel datum basis.
More specifically, as each pixel datum forming the image data stream is sent to the arithmetic encoder means of the presently preferred embodiments, it is initially received by the context generator and encoder processor. The context generator generates the reference pixel data for the present pixel datum from portions of the image data stream already received and relays it to the index generator formatted as the context signal CX.
In turn, the preferred index generator relays to the probability estimator the optimum transition destination index STi as a function of the incoming context signal CX and the transition destination index ST0 provided by the encoder processor. The index generator obtains the optimum transition destination index STi from the two-dimensional information of the context CX and the transition destination index ST0. The optimum transition destination index STi may be computed every time the context CX and the transition destination index ST0 are received or a table for the index STi may have been prepared in advance for the matrix of CX and ST0.
The preferred probability estimator stores the table data, including the symbol generating probability and the transition destination indices NLPS and NMPS, for each table index ST. It outputs to the processing means the corresponding table data every time the optimum transition destination index STi is received.
Moreover, every time a pixel datum is provided, the preferred encoder processor computes a new encoding line, based on the length data A and the position data C of the encoding line stored in the area and code registers and the table data provided by the probability estimator means, and then obtains the length data A and the position data C for the new encoding line. It replaces the contents of the area and code registers with the new data A and C. The encoder processor next determines whether the incoming pixel data is a major symbol or a minor symbol. It then sends NMPS to the index generator when it determines the pixel data is a major symbol, or NLPS when it determines the pixel data is a minor symbol, as the next transition destination index ST0 in the predetermined timing.
Finally, the preferred encoder processor performs normalization operations when the length data A of the encoding line becomes less than the predetermined standard value. It does so by preferably shifting the bits of the data stored in the area and code registers to the encoding line so that the length data A becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined standard value, and outputs the overflowing data from the code register as the coded data together with the code length data.
In particular, according to the preferred embodiment, the symbol generating probability, which is one of the table data values of the probability estimator means, is not set at a fixed value for each table index but is set at a value variable according to the status of the index. For example, the symbol generating probability can be arranged for each index so that the position data (coded data) of the code register means quickly converges to a stationary value. That is, the variation of the symbol generating probability may be set as a large value in the beginning of the encoding, but as a small value when the position data starts to approach a stationary value. Together with the encoder structure discussed above, this feature gives rise to tight and efficient image data compression.
In another aspect of the present invention, the preferred embodiments may also include arithmetic decoding which can process, in parallel, the plural coded data streams produced by the arithmetic encoder to provide respective decoded imaged data streams, and a data integrator means for combining said decoded image data streams to form the original image data. Preferably, the coded image data produced by the arithmetic encoder means is decoded back to the original image data with the arithmetic decoder means using the exactly reversed procedures of the arithmetic encoder. That is, the image data decoder system of the preferred embodiment processes, in parallel, each coded data stream produced by the image data encoder system using an arithmetic decoder and outputs the results as the decoded image data streams. It then combines the individual decoded image data streams to form the original image data using a data integrator.
In this decoding method, multiple coded data streams are decoded in parallel into decoded image data streams which, then, are combined together to form a single original image data. Thus, the image data decoder system of the present invention can decode a large amount of coded image data in a short time.
To complement encoded data integration tasks described hereinabove, the preferred arithmetic decoder may include data division which divides the integrated coded data stream created by the image data encoder into a plurality of coded data streams in accordance with prescribed rules similar to that used for encoding integration. When the image data encoder system forms a single integrated coded data stream, it must be redivided into the same multiple coded data streams as there were before the integration.
Furthermore, the preferred arithmetic decoder can, upon decoding each coded data, generate the code length needed for decoding the next coded data, and pass this back to data division processing. In turn, the data division component uses this code length to correctly fetch the next series of code area from the integrated code data stream.
Note here that the image data decoder and encoder systems of this invention preferably operate in the exactly reversed processes in decoding and encoding the image data, respectively. This means that the work load for encoding the image data should be the same as that for decoding the coded version of the same data. Every time the arithmetic decoder means performs the decoding process on each coded datum, the code length of the coded data to be decoded next is automatically determined. Thus, according to the present invention, the integrated coded data can be divided into a plurality of coded data streams using the code length information provided by the preferred arithmetic decoder. Special data needed for dividing the integrated coded data stream does not have to be included within the coded data stream, as the decoder operates on the inherent structure of the code. This improves the efficiency of data compression and greatly simplifies both the image data decoder and encoder systems' structure.
Like data integration discussed in relation to the encoder system of the preferred embodiments, data division is preferably carried out in the decoder through use of FIFO buffers which temporarily store the integrated coded data stream information commanded by a buffer controller, which, responding to the arithmetic decoder that generates the code length of the coded data to be decoded next, reads the coded data having that code length from the buffers and sends the coded data to said arithmetic decoder. This data division architecture permits high speed search and retrieval of code data having the code length specified by the arithmetic decoder from the integrated coded data stream stored in the buffer means. It further permits parallel operation by several dedicated arithmetic decoders when decoding speed is at a premium.
To this end, the image data decoder system according to the disclosed embodiments can preferably include several dedicated arithmetic decoders, each corresponding to one of the coded data streams generated prior to data integration by the encoder system. As with the preferred parallel arithmetic encoder architecture, each dedicated arithmetic decoder decodes its assigned coded data stream and generates corresponding decoded, uncompressed image data in synchronization with the other dedicated decoders either concurrently or at a staggered stages or delays. This also enables pipelining the parallel decode stages to increase overall throughput, and reduces the complexity of each decode circuit.
Further, according to the presently preferred embodiments, the arithmetic decoder reiteratively divides the predetermined decoding line into major and minor areas according to the symbol generating probability for the pixel data, outputs as the decoded pixel data the symbol associated with the divided area to which the input coded data belongs, and defines that divided area as the new decoding line. This organization allows the compressed coded data stream to be decoded efficiently by using a predetermined decoding line which corresponds to the above-described encoding line as well as reversing the procedures of the image data encoding according to these embodiments.
Accordingly, the structure of each preferred dedicated arithmetic decoder includes: 1) a context generator for creating the reference pixel data for the coded data to be decoded next with reference to the decoded image data stream produced in the past and for outputting the reference pixel data as the context signal CX; 2) an index generator for producing the optimum transition destination index STi as a function of said context signal CX and the transition destination index STo; 3) a probability estimator for outputting the table data corresponding to the optimum transition destination index STi, the table data being stored therein and including, for each table index ST, the symbol generating probability for at least one of the major and minor symbols, the transition destination index NLPS when a minor symbol is generated, and the transition destination index NMPS when a major symbol is generated; 4) an area register for storing the length data A of the every newly created decoding line; 5) a code register for storing the input coded data C; and 6) a supervisory decode processor.
The preferred context generator component of each decoder creates the context signal CX for the pixel to be decoded next with reference to the decoded image data stream produced in the past and sends it to the index generator.
The preferred index generator produces the optimum transition destination index STi as a function of the input context signal CX and the transition destination index ST0 provided by the processing means and outputs it to the probability estimator.
The probability estimator of the preferred dedicated arithmetic decoder reads the table data of the probability estimation table corresponding to the input optimum transition destination index STi and sends it to the decode processor. The probability estimation table includes, for each table index ST, the symbol generating probability for at least one of the major and minor symbols, the transition destination index NLPS when a minor symbol is generated, and the transition destination index NMPS when a major symbol is generated.
The predetermined decoding line is arranged in advance by the presently preferred decode processor. The decode processor defines the decoding line using the data stored in the area register. It divides the decoding line according to the input coded data and the symbol generating probability for that pixel data included in the table data of said probability estimator, computes the new decoding line, and replaces the data stored in said area register with the new length data A. Further, it outputs the symbol used for dividing said decoding line as the decoded pixel data and sends to said index generating means either input transition destination index NLPS or NMPS as the next transition destination index ST0 depending on whether said decoded pixel data is a major symbol or a minor symbol.
Further, as in the case of the encode processor discussed above, the preferred decode processor performs normalization operation when the length data A of the decoding line becomes less than the predetermined standard value, by shifting the bits of the data stored in the area and code registers so that the length data A becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined standard value. It receives the coded data having the same code length as that of the coded data overflowing from the code register and transfers it to the code register.
Thus, in addition to improved encoding or compression capabilities, the present invention allows for efficient decoding or decompressing of arithmetically encoded image data. In particular, the present invention demonstrates the accurate, efficient decoding operation on the image data efficiently compressed by the image data encoder system because the symbol generating probability, one of the table data of the probability estimation table, is set to vary with the table index.
Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, wherein like reference symbols refer to like parts: FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating the first preferable embodiment of the image data arithmetic encoder system according to the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a companion block diagram illustrating the first preferable embodiment of the image data arithmetic decoder system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the operation of the image data arithmetic encoder system of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 3 shows the data distributor according to embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 4 shows an example of the data processing performed with the image data arithmetic encoder system of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 5 is a more detailed block diagram of a dedicated arithmetic encoder according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the arithmetic encoder according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 7 shows the Markov model used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIGS. 8A-B diagrammatically illustrates the theory of operation for both encoder and decoder systems according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 9 is a more detailed block diagram of the arithmetic decoder according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation of the arithmetic decoder according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIGS. 11A-11G are timing diagrams of the input/output signals for the arithmetic encoder and the arithmetic decoder according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIGS. 12A-12B show an operational sequence operations of the individual arithmetic decoders according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIGS. 13A-13B show an alternative operational sequence of the individual arithmetic encoders and the arithmetic decoders according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a pipelined arithmetic encoder according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 15 is a sequence chart explaining the operation of the arithmetic pipelined encoder shown in FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a pipelined arithmetic decoder according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B;
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating the second preferable embodiment of the image data arithmetic encoder system according to the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating the second preferable embodiment of the image data arithmetic decoder system according to the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a more detailed block diagram of the code integrator according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 20 is a more detailed block diagram of the code buffer used for the code integrator according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the operation of the code integrator according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 22 graphically describes an example of the operation of the code integrator according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 23 is a more detailed block diagram of the coded data distributor used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the operation of the coded data distributor according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 25 shows the operation of the coded data distributor according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a code integrator used for the arithmetic encoder capable of pipelined operation according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a coded data distributor used for the arithmetic decoder capable of pipelined operation according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 28 illustrates a sample implementation of the presently preferred embodiments;
FIG. 29 shows a typical system in which the present invention may be applied; and
FIGS. 30A-B respectively illustrate a prior art image data encoder and decoder systems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
The components that have the same functions as those in the prior art are denoted with the same numerals, and their descriptions will not be given.
First Preferred Embodiment
FIG. 1A shows a first preferred embodiment of an arithmetic encoder system 2 according to the present invention. FIG. 1B illustrates a first preferred embodiment of an image data arithmetic decoder system 4 associated with system 2.
General Description of Image Data Arithmetic Encoding System 2
As shown in FIG. 1A, image data arithmetic encoder system 2 of this embodiment comprises an input interface 10; a data distributor 30; a plurality of arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4; a plurality of output interfaces 14-1, 14-2, 14-3, and 14-4; a plurality of memory means 18-1, 18-2, 18-3, and 18-4; and a synchronizing controller 32.
Input interface 10 receives image data 100 from a memory 16 responding to the request of each arithmetic encoder 10-1, . . . , 10-4 and relays it to data distributor 30 as a data stream. Alternatively, though not shown in the figure, the input interface 10 could receive image data directly from a digitizer, uploaded from a remote site, through a network, or similar transfer system which affords digital data communications therewith.
The data for each pixel of image data 100 in the present embodiment does not directly represent a density of the pixel but must be converted to the density with reference to the color palette table which is output to a display device as multicolor data as is well-known in the art.
FIG. 2 shows an example of native or uncompressed image data 100, which is formatted with four bits per pixel to display 16 colors. Image data 100 is sent to data distributor 30 by four bits through input interface 10. If image data 100 is sent by four bit planes, input interface 10 may buffer the data, convert it to four bit serial data, and then send it to data distributor 30.
Data distributor 30 functions as data division means for dividing input image data 100 into a plurality of individual data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4 to output them to arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4, respectively.
FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed structure of data distributor 30. Pixel data 100 is input to computer distributor 30 as four-bit serial data. Distributor 30 preferably divides the serial data into four planes of one bit each and outputs them to arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4. As shown in FIG. 3, therefore, arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 receive, respectively, image data streams 110-1, 110-2, 110-4, each of which forms a plane of image data 100.
Arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 are controlled by a synchronizing controller 32 to perform parallel operations dictated by predetermined timing parameters. They encode individual image data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4 sent to them, and output individual encoded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4, which, in turn, are respectively provided to memories 18-1, 18-2, . . . , 18-4, in sequence, through output interfaces 14-1, 14-2, . . . , 14-4 and are stored therein.
Thus, memories 18-1, 18-2, . . . , 18-4 store encoded data stream 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4, respectively, that were created by encoding image data 100 shown in FIG. 3. Although in this embodiment, 4 memories are shown, the actual number of memories is not determinative to practicing the invention as long as there is sufficient storage space provided to retain (at least temporarily) individual encoded data streams 200-1, . . . , 200-4.
Arithmetic encoder system 2 of the present embodiment divides image data 100 into four bit planes which are encoded in parallel by arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4. Thus, this scheme increases the speed of encoding by a factor of four over the conventional methods encoding the same type of image data.
General Description of Image Data Arithmetic Decoder System 4
FIG. 1B shows an arithmetic decoder system 4 of the present embodiment, having four arithmetic decoders corresponding to the four encoders of arithmetic encoder system 2.
Arithmetic Decoder System 4 comprises four memory means 18-1, 18-2, . . . , 18-4 (not shown); input interfaces 20-1, 20-2, . . . , 20-4; and arithmetic decoders 22-1, 222, . . . , 22-4.
Memory means 18-1, 18-2, . . . , 18-4 mentioned hereinabove contains encoded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 produced by the arithmetic encoder system 2 shown in FIG. 1A.
Input interfaces 20-1, 20-2, . . . , 20-4, respectively, read encoded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 from memory means 18-1, 18-2, . . . , 18-4 in response to commands issued by arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 and relays the received information to them. Synchronizing controller 32 controls arithmetic encoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 so that they perform a parallel operation in the correct timing.
Arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 decode, respectively, incoming encoded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 following the exactly reversed procedures of those for corresponding arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 and output to data multiplexer 34 resultant image data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4, each of which forming a bit plane of the image.
Data multiplexer 34 functions as data combiner. The data flow is opposite to that of data distributor 30 in FIG. 4. The data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4 are combined into one image data stream 100 and sent out to a memory or transfer means 26 through an output interface 24.
When decoding is performed not by pixel, but by bit plane, output interface 24 may be configured to buffer and rearrange the data. In this way the original four-bit image data 100 having 16 colors shown in FIG. 2, is restored and is input to a memory or transfer means 26. Therefore, if a video RAM is used for memory 26, the video RAM stores image data 100 accurately restored for display.
Since image data arithmetic decoder system 4 of the present embodiment decodes four encoded data streams in parallel, it can generate image data four times as fast as the conventional system compared to conventional decoders operating on the same type of image data.
In the present embodiment both arithmetic encoder system 2 and arithmetic decoder system 4 are assumed to perform parallel operations in four paths. The number of paths in an actual system, however, can be preferably any number between 2 and 32 inclusive, preferably between 2 and 8 inclusive depending upon operation speed and hardware balance. In theory, the actual number of paths could be 2 n wherein n is an integer ≧0. However, it is Applicant's view that extending the paths beyond 32 adds little in terms of speed improvement while greatly complicating the encoder and decoder systems.
A particularly preferable system is a special combination of systems 2 and 4 in the present embodiment wherein arithmetic decoder system 4 includes a plurality of matched semiconductor memories functioning as memories 18-1, . . . , 18-4.
In the present embodiment the image data was divided into a plurality of image data streams in pixel unit. The present invention, of course, is not so limited, and conveniently allows the data to be divided in other ways. An example is shown in FIG. 4, where the image data 100 forming one image frame is divided into a plurality of real image data 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4 organized as frame bands.
Arithmetic Encoder and Arithmetic Decoder
Arithmetic encoder 10 and arithmetic decoder 22, used in systems 2 and 4, respectively, will be described in more detail hereinbelow.
Since a general technique of arithmetic encoding is given in Binary Image Data Encoding Standard JBIG (International Standard ISO/IEC 11544), pages 26-44 and 44-50, only a brief description of the technique is given here.
Arithmetic Encoder
FIG. 5 is an example of arithmetic encoder 10 used in system 2 of the first preferred embodiment.
Each arithmetic encoder 10-x comprises a delay unit 40, a status register 42, a probability estimator 44, a processor 46, an area register 48, and a code register 50.
Area register 48 and code register 50 are configured as conventional registers for storing binary data.
FIG. 8A illustrates the general algorithm for the encoding process used in the preferred embodiments. First, as shown at column(a) in 8A, one defines an initial encoding line A that spans from 0 to 1.0. The length A of the encoding line is stored in area register 48 as a real number; the position data of a point on the encoding line, the position data C of the minimal point of the encoding line in this case, is stored in code register 50 as a binary coded data C. Therefore, the length data A and position data C, stored in registers 48 and 50, respectively, define the encoding line shown in (a) of FIG. 8A.
Processor 46 obtains the generating probabilities for the symbols 0 and 1 as described below, depending on the minor symbol generating probability LSZ provided by probability estimator 44, and then divides the encoding line A into the areas A 0 and A 1 that correspond to the symbols 0 and 1, respectively. Assume that a pixel data or "Pix" of a symbol 0 is input and the symbol 0 is encoded. Then, the area A 0 of the divided encoding line will be a new encoding line as shown in column (b) of FIG. 8A. The length A' of the new encoding line and the position data C of the minimal point replace the old values in registers 48 and 50, respectively.
When the next pixel data Pix is input, processor 46 divides the encoding line into the areas A 1 and A 1 ', depending on the symbol generating probability LSZ provided by probability estimator 44. This situation is also shown in column (b) of FIG. 8A.
Assume that the input pixel data Pix is a symbol 0. Then, the area A 0 ' associated with the symbol 0 will be a new encoding line as shown in column (c) of FIG. 8A. The length A" of the new encoding line and the position data C are written in registers 48 and 50, respectively, to replace the old values.
Next, if a pixel data Pix of a symbol 1 is input, the area A 1 " associated with the symbol 1 will become a new encoding line as shown in column (d) in FIG. 8A. The length A'" of the new encoding line and the position data C of the minimal point are written to register 48 and 50, respectively. This progresses until the stream is completely encoded.
Thus, the position data C input in code register 50 becomes the encoded data value representing the input symbols 0, 0, and 1.
Each process shortens the length of the encoding line and hence decoding many symbols decreases the length of the encoding line considerably. The high precision of multiple digits, therefore, is required to express the encoded data. Since the computer has a limited precision in computation, one can truncate the high-order digits unnecessary for subsequent calculation and exclude them from future calculations in order to improve their precision. In taking the above into consideration, the encoding processes of the present embodiment need include only bit shift, addition, and subtraction capabilities.
More specifically, when the length A of the encoding line stored in area register 48 becomes less than the predetermined standard value (0.5 in the present embodiment), processor 46 detects this situation and performs the normalization operation by which processor 46 shifts the bits of the data stored in registers 48 and 50 so that the length A becomes greater than the predetermined standard value (0.5 in the present embodiment). The data of the high-order bits that overflow from code register 50 and the number of those bits are output as the coded data and code length data, respectively. This scheme allows registers 48 and 50 to encode efficiently a series of input symbols using simple operations even if registers 48 and 50 have registers with a limited number of digits.
If registers 48 and 50 are 16 bit registers, the initial value of the encoding line A (as shown in column (a) of FIG. 8A) to be set in area register 48 is 10000h in the hexadecimal notation. The data stored in register 48 and 50 is expressed in the hexadecimal notation ("h" means the hexadecimal notation). The bit shift takes place when the value of register 48 becomes less than 8000h which is less than half of the initial value.
An important point of the encoding processes is how to determine the symbol generating probability LSZ. If the minor symbol generating probability which is low is LSZ, the major symbol generating probability which is high will be (A-LSZ). Various methods have used different values for the aforementioned generating probabilities. The present embodiment uses the generating probabilities as set out in the probability estimation Table 1 hereinbelow. This probability estimation table is arranged with the index ST, which ranges from 0 to 112. For each index ST, the table shows the table data, including a minor symbol generating probability LSZ, a transition destination index NLPS when a minor symbol is generated, a transition destination index NMPS when a major symbol is generated and a bit shift has taken place, and SWITCH that indicates the exchange of the pixel values that represent minor and major symbols.
Selection of the generating probability LSZ in the probability estimation table (Table 1) is determined by the index ST that has the initial value of 0. Renewal of the index ST takes place either (1) when a minor symbol is generated or (2) when a bit shift occurs after successive generations of major symbols. The renewed index ST is either NLPS for case (1) or NMPS for case (2). For example, if the present ST is 10, that is, the minor symbol generating probability is 000Dh and if a minor symbol is generated, ST is updated to 35 (NLPS) for the next data, and the minor symbol generating probability will be 002Ch. Further, if the ST is 10 and the bit shift takes place after successive generations of major symbols because the value of encoding line A becomes less than 8000h (less than 1/2 of the initial value), ST is renewed to 11 (NMPS), and the minor symbol generating probability will be 0006h.
The probability estimation table shown in Table 1 is constructed so that, when the initial state undergoes successive changes, the generating probability for a minor symbol varies rapidly in order to follow a local change of the image data.
Further, when the image data Pix to be encoded makes a transition from an area including more 0s than 1s to an area including more is than 0s, the pixel values, meaning minor and major symbols, must be exchanged. Table 1 is constructed so that, when a minor symbol is generated for ST having a SWITCH of 1, the pixel values, meaning major and minor symbols, are exchanged. In this case processor 46 produces data MPSO indicating a major symbol.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operations of the arithmetic encoder in FIG. 5. First, arithmetic encoder 10 initializes the data of delay unit 40, status register 42, area register 48, and code register 50 at Step S10. The initial values for registers 48 and 50 are the length A of the encoding line of FIG. 8A and the position data C=0 of its lowest position, respectively.
When an image data stream is provided, one-bit data Pix for each pixel is introduced to both delay unit 40 and processor 46.
Delay unit 40 functions as context generating means and includes a line buffer to store image data for one or more scan lines. Delay unit 40 stores input image data by scan line. When the data Pix of a pixel X is input as shown in FIG. 7, the delay unit creates the well-known Markov model with the neighbor pixels a, b, . . . , f as reference pixels and outputs to status register 42 the data of the reference pixels defined with the Markov model as a context CX=a, b, . . . , f. The context CX will be a pointer of status register 42. These steps are performed in step S12. Control thereafter passes to step S14.
At step S14, Status register 42 receives the transition destination index ST0 and the major symbol NMPS0 from processor 46 in a Step S28 to be described below. Status register 42 stores the predetermined two-dimensional table data of the optimal transition destination index data STi for given two-dimensional input information CX and ST0. The obtained optimal transition destination index STi is sent out to probability estimator 44. Control thereafter passes to step S16, in which status register 42 outputs also to processor 46 the minor symbol data MPSi that indicates which digit 0 or 1 of the input data Pix represents the minor symbol.
Control thereafter passes to step S18. At this step, probability estimator 44 stores the probability estimation table entry shown in Table 1 below. It outputs to processor 46 the table data for the index ST according to the optimal transition destination index STi provided by status register 42. That is, it outputs to processor 46 a minor symbol generating probability LSZ; NLPS and NMPS, transition destination indices when the major and minor symbols respectively are generated; and SWITCH.
Every time a pixel data PIX is input, processor 46 reads the data A and C from area register 48 and code register 50 to define the new encoding line shown in FIG. 8A, and step S20 of FIG. 6. Then, it divides the encoding line into the respective generating areas A0 and A1 for the symbols 0 and 1 according to the symbol generating probability LSZ provided by probability estimator 44 (steps S22).
In steps S24-S26, the processor then determines whether the input pixel data PIX is either symbol 0 or 1, defines the divided area corresponding to the determined symbol to be a new encoding line, and updates the length data A and the position data C in registers 48 and 50, respectively. More specifically, when the pixel data is 0, the divided area A 0 associated with the symbol 0 is defined as a new encoding line; when the pixel data is 1, the divided area A 1 associated with the symbol 1 is defined as a new encoding line; then, the length data A' and the position data C of the new encoding line are stored in registers 48 and 50.
Also, at step S26, the Processor 46 of the present embodiment decides whether the length data A of the divided area stored in area register 48 is greater or less than the standard value 0.5. If it decides that the length data A is greater than the standard value 0.5, it outputs only the code length data that indicates that the number of bits of the code length data is zero. If the length data A is less than the standard value 0.5, it performs the normalization process by shifting the bits of the data stored in area register 48 and code register 50 in order to make the length data A greater than the standard value 0.5. The bits overflowing from code register 50 in the normalization process are output as the encoded data. The code length data representing the number of the output bits is output at the same time.
Thus, processor 46 outputs signals, including the code and code length data, every time a pixel data Pix is received. Further, if necessary, processor 46 outputs a carry signal that indicates carry for the encoded data.
Control thereafter passes to step S28. At step S28, processor 46 determines whether an input pixel data Pix is a major or minor symbol. If the input is a minor symbol, it outputs the table data NLPS for a transition destination index ST0 to status register 46; if the input is a major symbol, however, it outputs the table data NMPS for a transition destination index ST0. After determining whether the major symbol corresponding to the context CX is 0 or 1 based on input MPSi and SWITCH data, Processor 46 outputs the data for MPS0 to status register 42.
Thereafter, arithmetic encoder 10 of the present embodiment repeats the aforementioned series of processes (Step S12-Step S28) for all of the pixel data Pix (symbol), forming an image data stream, and ends the encoding process when all the data is processed (Step S30 determination is YES).
FIGS. 11A-D shows a timing diagram for the data produced from arithmetic encoder 10 of the present embodiment. The process cycle S in the figure denotes one of the series of the processes D, S, P, and Q shown in FIG. 6 which arithmetic encoder 10 executes. Arithmetic encoder 10 outputs an enable signal EN that effectively enables the outputs from processor 46 for a predetermined short period while the process Q is carried out and, during that period, sends out Code as the coded data, its code length data, and carry data if necessary. That is, while the enable signal EN is active, it outputs a series of signals (Code, code length, and carry) provided by processor 46 as the valid data. Therefore, when the normalization process is not performed for the length data A in area register 48, a carry signal is not output from register 50 and hence the code length data for 0 bit is sent out to indicate that there is no Code output. When the normalization process is performed, however, arithmetic encoder 10 outputs the Code data overflowing from code register 50 as the encoded data together with the code length data indicating its bit length.
Table 2A below describes an example of encoding input data by means of arithmetic encoder 10 of the present embodiment. Assume that a series of symbols "001111" is input to arithmetic encoder 10 as an image data stream. For the encoding of subtraction type, if the generating probability for the minor symbol is set close to 0.5, the generating probabilities allocated to the major symbol and the minor symbol may be reversed (the generating probability of the major symbol < the generating probability of the minor symbol). A QM coder adopted in JBIG (Joint Bilevel Image Group), when the generating probabilities are reversed, performs encoding by exchanging the interpretations for the major and minor symbols to prevent degradation of the encoding efficiency. This is called the major symbol/minor symbol conditional exchange (hereinafter referred to as the conditional exchange).
The initial values for the minor and major symbols are set at 1 (black) and 0 (white), respectively as shown in the first row in Table 2A. When encoding of the first major symbol is completed, the generating probabilities for the major and minor symbols are reversed (SWITCH=1). Therefore, the second symbol is encoded after the conditional exchange, indicated as rows 2 and 3, is carried out. Because of the conditional exchange, encoding of the major symbol 0 is equivalent with that of the minor symbol on the encoding line of the arithmetic encoding described in row 3. Therefore, the value for the major symbol is added to the value of register 50. This means that there has been a change in the encoding line to be used in the next and subsequent encoding steps. After encoding the second symbol, the value A is less than 8000h and the bit shift takes place, as indicated in row 4 of Table 2A. The bit shift is carried out for both A and C. The data overflowing from the term C is output as the encoded data.
When a bit shift occurs, ST changes and the minor symbol generating probability changes also. In this example, the ST was 0 and the minor symbol generating probability was 5A1Dh before the change, but after the change, due to the bit shift of the major symbol, the ST and the minor symbol generating probability change to 1 and 2586h, respectively.
The next symbol to encode is the major symbol 1, as shown in row 5 of Table 2A. In encoding the major symbol, the major symbol generating probability is added to the value C. Encoding this makes the value A less than 8000h and induces a bit shift again. This time, since two bit shifts are required to make the value A larger than 8000h, each term also undergoes two bit shifts. Since the bit shifts occur because of the major symbol with the conditional exchange, the ST is updated to 14 and the value for the minor symbol becomes 5A7Fh, as indicated in row 6.
Next, the minor symbol is encoded again with the conditional exchange, occurring as shown in rows 6 and 7 of Table 2A. The encoding makes the value A less than 8000h and hence induces bit shifts in row 8. Now, since SWITCH is 1 for ST=14 and the bit shifts occurred on encoding the minor symbol, the symbols for the minor and major symbols are reversed so that 0 corresponds to the minor symbol and 1, the major symbol.
The two 1s, now the major symbols, that follow are encoded and the whole encoding process ends. The encoded data obtained from the series of the symbols 001111 is the sum of Q and C, which is 1001001100100101000000.
Arithmetic Decoder
FIG. 9 shows an example of arithmetic decoder 22--used for arithmetic decoder system 4. The components, equivalent to those used for the arithmetic encoder in FIG. 5, are given the same numerals and their descriptions need not be provided.
Arithmetic decoder 22-x of the present embodiment comprises delay unit 40, status register 42, probability estimator 44, processor 52, area register 48, and code register.
When a coded data stream 200 is input, processor 52 decodes the coded data stream to output pixel data Pix using the algorithm that is the exact reverse of that used for arithmetic encoder 10 shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 8B shows a general algorithm for the decoding process. First, one defines an initial decoding line A that runs from 0 to 1.0. The length A of the decoding line is stored in area register 48 as a real number. In the decoding process the position data of the minimal point of the decoding line is always defined as 0. Therefore, the length data A stored in register 48 defines the decoding lines as shown in cols. (a), (b) or (c), or (d) of FIG. 8B.
When coded data to be decoded is received, the data is latched at code register 50. Then a series of decoding processes, based on the values of the latched data to be decoded, start.
First, processor 46 obtains the generating probabilities A 0 and A 1 for the symbols 0 and 1, respectively, according to the generating probability LSZ for the minor symbol provided by probability estimator 44 as described below and divides the decoding line. It then determines in which divided area, A 0 or A 1 , the coded data C falls. Consider the decoding line shown in column (a) of FIG. 8B as an example. If the data C is determined to fall in the Ao area, a symbol 0 is output as the decoded pixel data Pix. The portion A 0 of the decoding line (a) will be the new decoding line and register 48 is updated with the length A' of this line.
Next, the decoding line A' shown in column (b) of FIG. 8B is divided into two areas A 0 ' and A 1 ' depending upon the generating probabilities of the symbols 0 and 1. The processor decides in which area the coded data C falls and outputs a decoded pixel data Pix depending on the result of the decision. The next decoding line is defined in the same way. If the coded data C falls in the A 0 ' area in the decoding line, as shown in column (b) of FIG. 8B, a symbol 0 is output for the decoded pixel data Pix. The divided area A 0 ' becomes the next decoding line A" as shown in column (c) of FIG. 8B.
Similarly, the processor determines in which divided area A 0 " or A 1 " the next encoded data C falls. This time, suppose that the data C falls in the area A 1 ". Then, a symbol 1 is output as the decoded pixel data Pix and the next decoding line is defined as shown in column (d) of FIG. 8B. The value C of the encoded data in code register 50 is updated with (C-A 0 ") to reflect the shift of the decoding line.
Thus, the coded data input to code register 50 through processor 52 is decoded and output as the pixel data 0, 0, 1, . . .
However, this technique of decoding of the stored coded data requires code register 50 to have the same number of registers as the coded data bits, which is not practical. To solve this problem the same method as is used for arithmetic encoder 12 is adopted. That is, the decoding is performed by code register 50 accepting only the necessary digits of the coded data and removing the unnecessary digits for the calculation. This method allows the decoding to be performed by a computer with limited accuracy. In taking the above into consideration, the decoding process of the present embodiment includes only bit shift, addition, and subtraction operations.
More specifically, when the length A of the decoding line stored in register 48 becomes less than the predetermined standard value (0.5 in the present embodiment), processor 46 detects this situation and performs the normalization operation by which processor 46 shifts the bits of the data stored in registers 48 and 50 so that the length A becomes greater than the predetermined standard value (0.5 in the present embodiment). The number of the bits that overflow from code register 50 is called the code length. The decoder is constructed so that code register 50 reads the next coded data by the same code length. For example, assume that register 50 comprises a 16 bit register and that three high-order digit bits overflow due to the normalization process. Then, there is a vacancy of three low-order digit bits. The code register reads the following three bits of the coded data and stores them at the bottom of the register. This scheme allows register 50 to decode efficiently a data stream using simple operations even if the register has a smaller number of digits than the data stream.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart depicting the operations of arithmetic decoder 22.
Control begins at step S40, in which arithmetic decoder 22 starts the operation initializing delay unit 40, status register 42, area register 48, and code register 50. Typically, delay unit 40 is initialized with 0 although there are many different ways to initialize it. Area register 48 is initialized with 10000h, which specifies the length A of the decoding line shown in column (a) of FIG. 8B.
Thereafter, control passes to step S42. At this step, when coded data 200 of the predetermined code length is input to processor 52, the data is transferred to code register 50 in sequence.
Then, at step S44, delay unit 40 determines the context CX for the next pixel to be decoded, according to the decoded pixel data stream produced by processor 52, and outputs it to status register 42.
Next, at steps S46 and S48, status register 42 computes the optimal transition destination index STi based on the context CX as well as the data ST0 and MPS0 provided by processor 52 and outputs the STi to probability estimator 44. Status register 42 also outputs MPSi to processor 52. Control thereafter passes to step S50.
At step S50, the probability estimator 44 finds the table data of Table 1, corresponding to the input optimal transition destination index STi, and sends out the table data to processor 52.
Next, at step S52, processor 52 reads the data from registers 48 and 50. Using the length data A read from area register 48, the processor defines the decoding line in column (a) of FIG. 8B. Defining the decoding line is different from defining the encoding line as described above in that the position of the minimal point for the decoding line is always set at 0. This means that every decoding line always has the position data of its minimal point at 0. Therefore, defining the decoding line does not require the data of code register 50.
Then, in steps S54 and S56 in sequence, the defined decoding line is divided into the generating areas A 0 and A 1 associated with the symbols 0 and 1, respectively, using the symbol generating probability LSZ obtained from probability estimator 44. Next, the processor determines in which divided area, A 0 or A 1 , the coded data C from code register 50 falls. If it belongs to A 0 , a symbol 0 is output from processor 50 as decoded pixel data; if it belongs to A 1 , a symbol 1 is output.
Control then passes to step S58. At this step, the processor defines the divided area to which the coded data C belongs as the next decoding line and updates area register 48 with the length data and, if necessary, code register 50 also. For example, suppose the present decoding line is the decoding line shown in column (b) of FIG. 8B. If the coded data C of code register 50 falls in the divided area A 0 , the length data of the divided area A 0 is considered to be the length of the next decoding line A 1 and is stored in area register 48. In this case there is no update on code register 50. The decoding line for the next decoding cycle is shown in column (c) of FIG. 8B. If the coded data C of code register 50 falls in the divided area A 1 in the next decoding cycle, processor 52 stores the length data of the A 1 in area register 48 as the length data of the next decoding line A" and replaces the coded data C of code register 50 with the value of (C-A 0 '). Thus, the same process is repeated in order to obtain the next decoding line.
Then, in step S60, depending on whether or not the coded data falls in A 0 or A 1 in Steps S54 and S56, that is, whether it falls in the major or minor symbol area, processor 52 sends out either NLPS or NMPS as the transition destination index ST0 to status register 46.
Arithmetic decoder 12 of the present embodiment performs the normalization operation, as arithmetic encoder 10 does, based on the length data A of area register 48 in carrying out Step 58. In the normalization operation, when the length data A of area register 48 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined standard value (less than one half of the initial value), the decoder shifts the bits of the data of registers 48 and 50 so that the data are equal to or greater than the standard value (0.5). After the normalization, a request signal Req for requesting the next coded data is sent to input interface 20 and outputs the data indicating the code length. When the normalization is not carried out, a request signal is sent out according to the predetermined timing together with the code length data indicating 0 bit. After finishing Step 60, arithmetic encoder 22 of the present embodiment determines whether the normalization operation has been carried out in Step 58 or not (Step 62). If the normalization has not been carried out, the operation goes back to Step 44 and repeats the processes of Step 44 through Step 62 until the normalization takes place.
If it is determined that the normalization has taken place in Step 62, the operation goes to Step 64 and then back to Step 42 to read coded data having the code length provided in Step 58 and writes them in order on the low-order digits of code register 50. For example, assume that the data a, b, c, and d are stored in code register 50 and assume also that the data a and b overflow to be output and that the data e and f are read. Then, the data d and e are read on the lowest digits with the data d read first. As a result the register stores the data, c, d, e, and f in that order.
A series of steps from Step S44 to Step S62 are repeated based on the stored coded data until the next normalization takes place and then a decoded pixel data is output. Then, control passes back to Step S42 for the next set of code data and the processor reiterates. When there are no more symbols to decode (Step 64), the operation ends.
FIGS. 11E-G illustrates a timing diagram for the data input to and data output from processor 52 of the present embodiment. When the request signal and the code length data are output on step S58 of the process Q' shown in FIG. 10, the coded data having the required code length is input on Step S42 of the next cycle. The code length of 0 indicates that coded data is not read in that cycle.
Thus, processor 52 reads the coded data in sequence and decodes them into pixel data in order.
Table 2B below shows an example of the decoding operation performed by arithmetic decoder 22 of the present embodiment. In this example it decodes the coded data of 1001001100100101000000 which was obtained from the example shown in Table 2A. The initial register setting for decoding is almost the same as that for encoding except for the register for the value C, which reads the coded data from the start and is 9325h in this case, indicated on row 1 of the table. The decoder determines whether the value C of register 50 is greater or lesser than the major symbol (A-LSZ). In this example, since the value C is less than the major symbol, the decoder outputs a major symbol 0 for decoded data and stores the value of the major symbol in register 48 for the value A, indicated in row 2. In decoding the next symbol it performs the major symbol/minor symbol conditional exchange and then compares the result with the value C of register 50. Because the value C of register 50 is greater, it outputs a minor symbol for decoded data (a symbol 0, actually a major symbol because the conditional exchange has occurred.) and stores the value of the minor symbol in register 48, as shown in row 3 of Table 2B. The value of the major symbol is subtracted from the value C of register 50. Then, the value A of register 48 becomes less than 8000h, and bit shifts take place for every term. Since the ST is also updated with the bit shifts, the value for the minor symbol becomes 2586h, as shown in row 4 of the table.
In this situation, the value C of register 50 is greater than the value of the major symbol and hence the next decoded symbol is a minor symbol 1. The value A of register 48 becomes the value of a minor symbol. The value C of register 50 is subtracted by the value of the major symbol (5). Now, since the value A of register 48 is less than 8000h, bit shifts take place again. At the same time ST is changed to 14, as depicted in row 6 of Table 2B.
In the next decoding, since the value C of register 50 becomes less than the major symbol value after performing the conditional exchange, a major symbol is output for the decoded data (a symbol 1, actually a minor symbol because the conditional exchange has occurred) and stores the value of the minor symbol in register 48. Then the bit shifts take place. Now, since the value of SWITCH is 1 for ST=14 and since the minor symbol has been output for the decoded signal, the values of the major and minor symbols are exchanged and the operation proceeds to the next decoding.
After producing two more major symbols 1 for the decoded data, the decoder completes decoding of all the coded data and ends the decoding operation.
Thus, the present embodiment performs data compression and decoding using arithmetic encoder 10 shown in FIG. 5 and arithmetic decoder 22 shown in FIG. 9 by means of their respectively reversed algorithms for encoding pixel data and for decoding coded data.
The Second Embodiment
In the first preferable embodiment described above, arithmetic encoder system 2 creates four coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, 200-3, and 200-4, which are stored in memories 18-1, 18-2, 18-3, and 18-4, respectively; arithmetic decoder system 4 receives the coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, 200-3, and 200-4 from memory means 18-1, 18-2, 18-3, and 18-4, respectively, to decode them. This scheme is appropriate to such systems as 2 or 4, which have a plurality of segmentable memories. It is not appropriate, however, either in the case where coded data must be efficiently stored in a single memory means or in the case where coded data is transmitted through a transmission line. In the present preferred embodiment, the coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4, created with arithmetic encoder 2, are combined into an integrated coded data stream and are then either stored in a memory means or transferred through a transfer medium. Arithmetic decoder system 4 decomposes the integrated coded data stream into multiple coded data streams which are decoded in parallel to obtain pixel data. This second preferable embodiment is described in detail below.
The components equivalent to those used for the first embodiment are given the same numerals and their descriptions are not further provided.
FIG. 17 shows arithmetic encoder system 2 of the present embodiment. The distinguishing point with arithmetic encoder system 2 of the present embodiment is that coded data streams of 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 created with arithmetic encoder 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4, respectively, are combined into an integrated coded data stream 210 in accordance with a set of procedures with a code integrator 36 functioning as a data combiner; and the integrated coded data stream is output to a memory or transfer means 18 through output interface 14. FIG. 18 shows an arithmetic decoder system 4 configured to operate with the arithmetic encoder system shown in FIG. 17.
In decoder system 4 of the present embodiment, coded data distributor 38, functioning as a data distributing means, decomposes an integrated coded data stream 210 provided by a memory or transfer device through input interface 10 into multiple coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 in accordance with a set of procedures; and it sends out the multiple coded data streams to corresponding arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4.
In the case where integrated coded data stream 210 is stored in memory 18, arithmetic encoder system 2 and arithmetic decoder system 4 configured in this way facilitate the address allocation for the memory means and enable the data storage to be efficient. For the case where integrated coded data stream 210 is transferred through a transfer means 18, the data transfer becomes easy because the data is serialized.
Another characteristic of the present system is that integrated coded data stream 210, created from coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 at code integrator 36 of arithmetic encoder system 2 in accordance with a set of procedures, need not include the special data that might be required for the decomposition process in decoding. The integrated coded data stream is decomposed into individual coded data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4 at coded data distributor 38 of arithmetic decoder system 4 simply by using the reverse procedures. This prevents a reduction in data compression efficiency because the special data for decomposing need not to be introduced to integrated coded data stream 210.
Arithmetic decoder system 4, shown in FIG. 18, is configured so that it operates completely in reverse for arithmetic encoder system 2 shown in FIG. 17. Coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 are combined into integrated coded data stream 210 under the predetermined rules, which is then stored at memory 18. When integrated coded data stream 210, stored in memory 18, is introduced to coded data distributor 38 of arithmetic decoder system 4 through input interface 10, the decoder system simply distributes the coded data of the requested code lengths responding to the request signals Req from individual arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4. Thus, the decoder system decomposes integrated coded data stream 210 and outputs multiple coded data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4 to individual arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4, respectively. Since the special data for the decomposing process is not needed in integrated coded data stream 210, the data compression efficiency is not reduced.
The operation of the present embodiment is described in greater detail hereinbelow.
Code Integrator 36
Arithmetic encoder 10 and arithmetic decoder 22 used in systems 2 and 4 of the present embodiment have the same general structures as shown in FIG. 5 and 9, respectively.
Coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4, produced by respective arithmetic encoder 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 of arithmetic encoder system 2, have indefinite data lengths. Almost any data compression technique, including arithmetic encoding, makes the data length indefinite.
Therefore, when combining multiple coded data streams having indefinite data lengths 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 that have been encoded with arithmetic encoder 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4, respectively, by means of code integrator 36 to a single integrated coded data stream, certain rules must be applied to this combining process. Otherwise, upon decoding the coded data it would be impossible to separate them properly.
Coded data is produced in every process cycle shown in FIG. 6 (Step S12--S30) from arithmetic encoder 10-1, 10-2, . . . , or 10-4. In the present embodiment, combining of the coded data having indefinite data length into a single bit stream is performed in the fixed order (for example, in the order of 10-1, 10-2, . . . , and 10-4).
However, such a simple process as the combination of the coded data has the problem of carry transfer.
That is, there is a carry transfer problem for arithmetic encoder 10. When a carry signal is output from arithmetic encoder 10 as a result of calculation and if there are "1"s consecutively in the coded data stream that has already been output, the carry transfer occurs, and the coded data stream that has already been output must be modified. Therefore, simple combination of data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 cannot properly treat the carry transfer.
System 2 of the present embodiment includes a code integrator 36 having a structure shown in FIG. 19. Code integrator 36 comprises a plurality of code buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 which are provided to receive data from individual arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4, respectively; a buffer controller 60; and Selector 64.
Arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 output to code buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4, respectively, the signals including coded data stream 200, carry signal 202, code length data 204, and the enable signal shown in the timing diagrams of FIG. 11A.
Each of code buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 stores each of respective coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 sent from respective arithmetic encoder 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4, while the enable signal EN is active, treating the carry transfer based on carry signals 202-1, 202-2, . . . , 202-4. In other words, code buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 temporarily store incoming coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4, respectively, and perform the carry transfer on stored coded data stream 200 when it receives active carry signal 202 from corresponding arithmetic encoder 10.
Buffer controller 60 determines whether or not there is a possibility for the carry transfer within code buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 based on the data stored in each buffer. If it finds only a small possibility for the carry transfer in each buffer, it causes the stored coded data to be output to selector 64 according to the prescribed rules from buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 in that order.
Selector 64 combines the incoming coded data serially into a single integrated coded data stream 210 and then sends it out.
FIG. 20 shows a configuration of code buffer 62.
Code buffer 62 of the present embodiment comprises a flow controller 70, an input controller 72, an output controller 74, a code length table 76, a code buffer memory 78, and a carry processor 79.
Code buffer 62 receives an enable signal EN, coded data stream 200, carry signal 202, and code length data 204 from the respective arithmetic encoder 10 in the timing shown in FIG. 11A.
Code buffer memory 78 and code length memory 76 are formed basically as FIFO (First In First Out) type memories. Coded data 200 provided every process cycle from arithmetic encoder 10 is written to code buffer memory 78 and, at the same time, code length data 204 is written to code length table 76.
When active carry signal 202 is sent from arithmetic encoder 10, carry processor 79 performs the carry transfer, wherein carry processor 79 reverses a predetermined number of bits of the code buffer memory 78. Code buffer memory 78 must have a large enough number of bits to cover the carry transfer. The needed number of bits depends upon the images to process. In the present embodiment 200 bits are provided, although an arbitrary number between 100 and 1000 bits will suffice for most applications.
Flow controller 70 controls the amount of coded data to be written in code buffer memory 78. More specifically, by means of input controller 72 and output controller 74, it maintains the amount of data in code buffer memory 78 at approximately 200 bits.
FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the operation of code integrator 36 as shown in FIG. 19, while FIG. 22 demonstrates its operation of data combination.
Turning to FIG. 21, first, in steps S70 and S72, the initialization is performed to set m=0 and n=0. The "m" variable indicates the current buffer and the "n" variable indicates current encoded bit. Code buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 read coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4, respectively, in that order, and selector 64 creates an integrated coded data stream 210 through execution of looped Steps S76-S80 and S72-S84. These operations are performed repeatedly.
For example, the code length x for the coded data is read from code length table 76 of code buffer 62. Assuming the code length X to be read now is X=1, one bit of the coded data a0 is read from code buffer memory 78-1 (steps S76, S78, and S80).
M is set at 1 in step S82 and the data reading for code buffer 62-2 starts (steps S84, S72, and S74). Since the code length X to be read from code length table 76-2 is X=1, one bit of the coded data bO is read from code buffer memory 78-2 (steps S76, S78, and S80).
Next, the m is set at 2 in step S82 and the data reading for code buffer 62-3 starts (steps S84, S72, and S74). Since the code length X to be read this time is X=3, three bits of the coded data c0, c1, and c2 are read from code buffer memory 78-3.
Next, reading of the coded data for code buffer 62-4 starts. Since the code length X to be read is X=0, there is no coded data read from code buffer memory 78-4.
Thus, one example process cycle of data reading is completed. Therefore, in this particular process cycle of data reading code buffer 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 read the data a0, b0, c0, c1, and c2 in this order, which are sent out from selector 64 as an integrated coded data stream 210. When one process cycle of data reading is completed, buffer controller 60 starts the next process cycle to read the coded data from each code buffer following the same procedures and forms an integrated coded data stream 210.
Code length table 76 and code buffer memory 78 are formed as FIFO type memories. Therefore, once data is read out from them, the next data is shifted to their right edges as shown in FIG. 22.
The flow chart shown in FIG. 21 illustrates the operations to be performed sequentially. The actual hardware, however, is configured to allow for parallel operations. More specifically, X bits of the coded data for the code length X are output in parallel, resulting in a faster operation.
Coded Data Distributor 38
Coded Data Distributor 38 of arithmetic encoder system 4 shown in FIG. 18 is described below.
As mentioned above, typical coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 have indefinite lengths. Coded data distributor 38 of the present embodiment is configured to distribute integrated coded data stream 210 according to the symmetrical or exactly reversed algorithm of that used for code integrator 36 to combine the data.
FIG. 23 illustrates the configuration of coded data distributor 38 of the present embodiment. Coded data distributor 38 comprises a coded data buffer 80 and a buffer controller 82. Coded data buffer 80 is formed to temporarily store integrated coded data 210 sent from input interface 10. Coded data buffer 80 is provided to improve the operation speed by allowing the distributor to have the capability of responding to momentary requests from four arithmetic encoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 for a large amount of coded data. Thus, coded data buffer 80 is not a critical component. It, however, reduces the wait time of each arithmetic encoder 22 and improves processing speed and throughput when the bus width from input interface 10 is not large enough.
Since arithmetic encoder system 2 shown in FIG. 17 produces encoded data by individual arithmetic encoder 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 and combines them into an integrated coded data stream, arithmetic decoder system 4 shown in FIG. 18 is formed so that the decoding operation is also performed by individual decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 in that order.
In step S58 of the process cycle shown in FIG. 10, arithmetic encoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 output to buffer controller 82 code length data 212 needed for the decoding process of the next cycle together with the request signal Req in the timing shown in FIG. 11 (B).
Responding to the request signals Req from individual arithmetic encoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4, buffer controller 82 chops integrated coded data 210, starting from the top of the data stream which is temporarily stored in coded buffer 80, into a series of small coded data having the code lengths 212-1, 212-2, . . . , 212-4 specified by the encoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4, respectively and then distributes them to arithmetic encoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4. Repeating this distribution operation at every processing cycle, buffer controller 82 can divide integrated coded data stream 210 into a plurality of coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4.
After sending out coded data at every processing cycle from buffer 80 to individual arithmetic decoder 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4, buffer controller 82 demands input interface 10 to feed buffer 80 with data of the same length as that of the data sent out. This allows for integrated coded data 210 with the fixed number of bits to remain in buffer 80, which increases the data processing speed as mentioned above.
Thus, not only does arithmetic encoder 10 of system 2 in FIG. 17 encode and arithmetic decoder 22 of system 4 in FIG. 18 decode the symbols of the same data stream, but also encoder 10 sends out and decoder 22 receives the coded data of the same bit length. This characteristic allows integrated coded data stream 210 to be automatically reconfigured to a plurality of coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 by following the reversed procedure of the encoding process. Therefore, arithmetic decoder system 4 does not require a special configuration for data separation and hence can have a simple structure.
FIG. 24 shows a flow chart of coded data distributor 38 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 25 shows an example of its operation.
First, coded data distributor 38 starts its operation setting both n and m at 0, n=0 and m=0 (steps S90 and S92).
Responding to the request signals from arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 in that order, coded data distributor 38 separates coded data having the requested code lengths from the top of integrated data stream 200 and distributes them to the corresponding arithmetic decoders (steps S94-S106). Repeating this cycle of operations divides integrated coded data 210 into original coded data streams 2001, 200-2, . . . , 200-4.
In taking the first process cycle of FIG. 25, individual decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 receive one bit, one bit, three bits, and zero bits of coded data, respectively. Each decoder writes received coded data in code register 50 starting at the lowest order digit and performs a series of decoding processes shown in FIG. 10. Arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-3, and 22-4 carry out the normalization processes of 2 bits, 1 bit, and 1 bit, respectively, while arithmetic decoders 22-2 does not.
Therefore, the code length data 212 provided together with the request signal Req from arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 is 2 bits, 0 bit, 1 bit, and 1 bit, respectively.
Thus, in the second process cycle, from integrated coded data stream 210, arithmetic decoder 22-1 receives the 2-bit data of a1 and a2; arithmetic decoder 22-3, the 1-bit data of c3; and arithmetic decoder 22-4, the 1-bit data of d0. Since individual arithmetic decoder 22 performs the decoding operation following the reversed procedures of arithmetic encoder 10, the amount of the encoding operation by the arithmetic encoder to produce coded data is the same as that of the decoding operation for that coded data by the arithmetic decoder. As a result, the code length of the coded data arithmetic decoder 22 requests for the next operation equals the code length of the coded data the arithmetic encoder outputs next. Thus, as shown in FIG. 25, the distribution operation of coded data distributor 38 has the exactly reversed procedures of the encoding operation of code integrator 36 shown in FIG. 22. Thus, comparing FIG. 22 with FIG. 25, one can see that the present embodiment decomposes integrated coded data stream 210 into original coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4.
Parallel Operations of Arithmetic Encoder and Decoder
The parallel operations of arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 in FIGS. 1A or FIG. 17 and arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 in FIGS. 1B or FIG. 18 are described below.
FIG. 12A shows a timing chart for the parallel operations of arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 of system 2.
A series of processes shown in FIG. 6 are divided into four groups, processes D, S, P, and Q. This series of processes can be divided in several different ways, and the divisions other than that given here can also be used.
In the parallel operations shown in FIG. 12A, all arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 are controlled by a synchronizing controller 32 to carry out the processes D, S, P, and Q in that order and with the same phase.
An advantage of this method is that the parallel operations of arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 can be implemented with a simple control scheme, although there is the possibility of a wait for output if a large number of codes are generated in the process Q.
Next, the parallel operations of arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 shown in FIG. 12B are described below.
A series of processes shown in FIG. 10 are divided into four groups, processes D', S', P', and Q'. This series of processes can be divided in several different ways, and the divisions rather than that given here can also be used. However, the division of this series of decoding processes should be consistent with the division of encoding processes as shown in FIG. 6.
All arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 are controlled by a synchronizing controller 32 to carry out the processes D', S', P', and Q' in that order with the same phase as shown in FIG. 12B.
Again, an advantage of this method arises from the fact that the parallel operations of arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 can be implemented with a simple control scheme, although there is a possibility of a wait for input if a large number of codes are requested in the process Q'.
FIGS. 13 A-B show other examples of the parallel operations of arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 and arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13A, one of arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 performs a process, D, S, P, or Q and the following encoder performs the preceding process. This synchronizing control method allows for encoding without a wait, even if a large number of codes are generated in the process Q.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 16 B, one of arithmetic decoders 22-1, 22-2, . . . , 22-4 performs a process, D', S', P', or Q', and the following decoder performs the preceding process. This synchronizing control method allows for decoding without a wait, even if a large number of codes are requested in the process Q'.
In the aforementioned embodiments, arithmetic encoder system 2, for example, comprises four arithmetic encoders 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-4 to process image data streams 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4 in parallel. The present invention is not limited to that special configuration. For example, the system may have a single arithmetic encoder 10 which processes image data streams 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and 110-4 in parallel using the pipeline process as shown in FIG. 14.
Arithmetic encoder 10 of this embodiment is different from the one shown in FIG. 5 only in that it has four delay units 40-1, 40-2, . . . , 40-4; four status registers 42-1, 42-2, . . . , 42-4; a selector 43 for selecting outputs from status registers 42; four area registers 48-1, 48-2, . . . , 48-4; four code registers 50-1, 50-2, . . . , 50-4; and a selector 54 for controlling data input and output to and from registers 48 and 50. It has a single probability estimator 44 and a single processor 46 as for other hardware resources.
Selector 43 switches status registers 42-1, 42-2, . . . , and 42-4 from one to another; and selector 54 switches area registers 48-1, 48-2, . . . , and 48-4 and code registers 50-1, 50-2, . . . , and 50-4 to perform the pipeline operations as shown in FIG. 18.
FIG. 15 shows an example of the pipeline operations of arithmetic encoder 10 in FIG. 14.
Arithmetic encoder 10 of the present embodiment is configured to perform the pipeline operation for the four image data streams provided to delay units 40-1, 40-2, . . . , 40-4. During the first machine cycle S0 data stream 110-1 is sent to delay unit 40-1 (Process D).
During the next machine cycle S1, the table value of status register 42-1 is referred to for the context CX value produced by delay unit 40-1 (Process S). At the same time data stream 110-2 is sent to delay unit 40-2 (Process D).
In the next machine cycle S2, the output from status register 42-1 is sent to probability estimator 44 through selector 43 and the table therein is referred to (process P). At the same time the table of status register 42-2 is referred to for the context value produced by delay unit 40-2 and delay unit 40-3 receives data stream 110-3 (Process D).
During the next machine cycle S3, processor 46 performs the arithmetic operation and outputs coded data. Registers 48-1, 50-1, and status register 42-1 are updated with the next values (Process Q). At the same time the table of probability estimator 44 is referred to for the output of status register 42-2 (Process P). Further, the table of status register 42-3 is referred to for the context CX produced by delay unit 40-3 (Process S). Finally, data stream 110-4 is read by delay unit 40-4 (Process D). By repeating the above processes, image data streams 100-1, 100-2, . . . , 100-4 are processed in the pipeline in sequence.
Thus, the present embodiment allows a single arithmetic encoder to process four image data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4 in parallel using the pipeline.
FIG. 16 illustrates arithmetic decoder 22, which performs the parallel operation using the same type of pipeline as does arithmetic encoder 10 shown in FIG. 14.
Arithmetic decoder 22 comprises four delay units 40-1, 40-2, . . . , 40-4; four status registers 42-1, 42-2, . . . , 42-4; four area registers 48-1, 48-2, . . . , 48-4; and four code registers 50-1, 50-2, . . . , 50-4. It selectively inputs and outputs data by means of selectors 43 and 54. All other hardware resources are single units, including probability estimator 44 and processor 52.
FIG. 14 also demonstrates an example of the pipeline operation of arithmetic decoder 22. Arithmetic decoder 22 of the present embodiments may process incoming coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 using the pipeline.
That is, in the first machine cycle S0, image data stream 100-1, already decoded, is read to delay unit 40-1 (Process D'). In the initial stage a predetermined value (typically zero as in the case of the encoder) is written.
In the next machine cycle S1, the table of status register 42-1 is referred to for the context CX value produced by delay unit 40-1 (Process S'). At the same time decoded data stream 110-2 is sent to delay unit 40-2 (Process D').
In the next machine cycle S2, the table of probability estimator 44 is referred to for the output from status register 42-1 (Process P'). At the same time the table of status register 42-2 is referred to for the context value CX produced by delay unit 40-2 (Process S') and delay unit 40-3 receives data stream 100-3 (Process D').
In the machine cycle S3, processor 52 performs the arithmetic operation on coded data stream 200-1 and outputs decoded image data stream 100-1. Registers 48-1, 50-1, and status register 42-1 are updated with the next values (Process Q'). At the same time the table of probability estimator 44 is referred to for the output of status register 42-2 (Process P'). Further, the table of status register 42-3 is referred to for the context CX produced by delay unit 40-3 (Process S'). Finally, decoded image data stream 100-4 is read by delay unit 40-4 (Process D').
By repeating the above processes coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 are decoded in the pipeline in sequence to produce image data streams 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-4. Thus, a single arithmetic decoder can decode four coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 in parallel using the pipeline.
FIGS. 26 and 27 demonstrate other embodiments of code integrator 36 used in system 2 in FIG. 17 and coded data distributor 38 of system 4 in FIG. 18, respectively. Code integrator 36 and coded data distributor 38 of this embodiment are used together with the arithmetic encoder of system 2 in FIG. 14 and the arithmetic decoder of system 4 in FIG. 16.
Code integrator 36, shown in FIG. 26, distributes coded data streams 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-4 produced by arithmetic encoder 10 in cycle and in this order, as well as their associated data, to corresponding code buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 under the control of buffer input selector 60-1. It outputs the data stored in buffers 62-1, 62-2, . . . , 62-4 to selector 64 in the prescribed order and under the control of buffer output selector 60-2, in the same way as the embodiment shown in FIG. 19 does. Then, the output data streams are combined therein to form integrated coded data stream 210.
Coded data distributor 38, shown in FIG. 27, receives code length data 212-1, 212-2, . . . , 212-4 as well as the request signals Req produced in cycle by arithmetic decoder 22 shown in FIG. 16. It divides integrated coded data stream 210 according to the code length data and outputs them to arithmetic decoder 22 in sequence to be decoded.
Therefore, code integrator 36, shown in FIG. 26, and coded data distributor 38, shown in FIG. 27, using an arithmetic encoder or an arithmetic decoder that operates with the pipeline, allow the system to create an integrated coded data stream or to divide it into coded data streams.
The aforementioned embodiments for image data arithmetic encoder system 2 comprise data distributor 30. The present invention, however, does not require data distributor 30 if memory means or transfer means 16 provides image data divided in a plurality of image data streams.
Applications of Encoder and Decoder Systems
FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate examples of the systems to which the present invention can be applied.
The system shown in FIG. 29 includes a vending machine with a liquid crystal display 90 on its front panel to display product commercials in animation. The circuit of the system includes memory means 18 such as a ROM that stores coded data encoded by the image arithmetic encoder system 2 of the present invention. The coded data stored in ROM 18 is played back by image play back circuit 92, which includes the arithmetic decoder system of the present invention and is displayed on display 90.
Thus, the highly compressed image data stored in ROM 18 is displayed on display 90. The important issue for this type of product is the decoding speed for coded data. One can construct arithmetic encoder system 2 shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 17 in software form using a computer, compress a large quantity of image data to a high density given a long enough time, and then write the data in ROM 18. The ROM's storing of the same data can be reproduced in large quantity and can be installed in vending machines located in various places. Arithmetic decoder system 4 shown in FIG. 1B or FIG. 18, configured in image play back circuit 92, for example, may be constructed in hardware form so that it can decode the highly compressed coded data at a high speed and display it on display 90. Accordingly, the animation can be displayed without any time lapse, and the motion becomes very smooth. Further, an image of good quality can be displayed on display 90 larger than before.
For different products, in this system, different ROM's 18 are installed in the display modules. Therefore, this system can easily adapt to various vending machines dispensing new and different products.
A system shown in FIG. 29 compresses the image data shot by a TV camera 94 by means of arithmetic encoder system 2 of the present invention and transfers the coded data through a transmission line. The transmitted image data is expanded by arithmetic decoder system 4, included in the image integration circuit, and is displayed on display 96.
The present invention results in faster encoding and decoding than conventional methods. Therefore, the present invention is suitable for real time image data transfer.
As the amount of data to be processed increases, the number of parallel processes of arithmetic encoder 10 of systems 2 and 4 may be increased. Thus, the present invention has many applications.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with several specific embodiments, it is evident to those skilled in the art that many further alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent in light of the foregoing description. Thus, the invention described herein is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, applications and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
TABLE 1______________________________________ST LSZ NLPS NMPS SWITCH______________________________________0 0X5A1D 1 1 11 0X2586 14 2 02 0X1114 16 3 03 0X080B 18 4 04 0X03D8 20 5 05 0X01DA 23 6 06 0X00E5 25 7 07 0X006F 28 8 08 0X0036 30 9 09 0X001A 33 10 010 0X000D 35 11 011 0X0006 9 12 012 0X0003 10 13 013 0X0001 12 13 014 0X5A7F 15 15 115 0X3F25 36 16 016 0X2EF2 38 17 017 0X207C 39 18 018 0X17B9 40 19 019 0X1182 42 20 020 0X0CEF 43 21 021 0X09A1 45 22 022 0X072F 46 23 023 0X055C 48 24 024 0X0406 49 25 025 0X03003 51 26 026 0X0240 52 27 027 0X01B1 54 28 028 0X0144 56 29 029 0X00F5 57 30 030 0X00B7 59 31 031 0X008A 60 32 032 0X0068 62 33 0033 0X004E 63 34 034 0X003B 32 35 035 0X002C 33 9 036 0X5AE1 37 37 137 0X484C 64 38 038 0X3A0D 65 39 039 0X2EF1 67 40 040 0X261F 68 41 041 0X1F33 69 42 042 0X19A8 70 43 043 0X1518 72 44 044 0X1177 73 45 045 0X0E74 74 46 046 0X0BFB 75 47 047 0X09F8 77 48 048 0X0861 78 49 049 0X0706 79 50 050 0X05CD 48 51 051 0X04DE 50 52 052 0X040F 50 53 053 0X0363 51 54 054 0X02D4 52 55 055 0X025C 53 56 056 0X01F8 54 57 057 0X01A4 55 58 058 0X0160 56 59 059 0X0125 57 60 060 0X00F6 58 61 061 0X00CB 59 62 062 0X00AB 61 63 063 0X008F 61 32 064 0X5B12 65 65 165 0X4D04 80 66 066 0X412C 81 67 067 0X37D8 82 68 068 0X2FE8 83 69 069 0X293C 84 70 070 0X2379 86 71 071 0X1EDF 87 72 072 0X1AA9 87 73 073 0X174E 72 74 074 0X1424 72 75 075 0X119C 74 76 076 0X0F6B 74 77 077 0X0D51 75 78 078 0X0BB6 77 79 079 0X0A40 77 48 080 0X5832 80 81 181 0X4D1C 88 82 082 0X438E 89 83 083 0X3BDD 90 84 084 0X34EE 91 85 085 0X2EAE 92 86 086 0X299A 93 87 087 0X2516 86 71 088 0X5570 88 89 189 0X4CA9 95 90 090 0X44D9 96 91 091 0X8E22 97 92 092 0X3824 99 93 093 0X32B4 99 94 094 0X2E17 93 86 095 0X56A8 95 96 196 0X4F46 101 97 097 0X47E5 102 98 098 0X41CF 103 99 099 0X3C3D 104 100 0100 0X375E 99 93 0101 0X5231 105 102 0102 0X4C0F 106 103 0103 0X4639 107 104 0104 0X415E 103 99 0105 0X5627 105 106 1106 0X50E7 108 107 0107 0X4B85 109 103 0108 0X5597 110 109 0109 0X504F 111 107 0110 0X5A10 110 111 1111 0X5522 112 109 0112 0X59EB 112 111 1______________________________________
TABLE 2A__________________________________________________________________________ Minor Symbol Major Symbol Encoding Line Generation Generation Q (Binary Input Data A Probability Probability Minor Symbol Notation) Crow ST Pix (Register 48) LSZ (A-LSZ) LPS Code Output (Register 50)__________________________________________________________________________1 0 10000h 5A1Dh A5E3h 1 0000h2 0 0 0A5E3h 5A1Dh 4BCBh 1 0000h3 0 0 05A1Dh 5 5 1 4BCBh4 1 1 bit shift 0B43Ah 2586h 8EB4h 1 9796h5 1 1 02586h 5 5 1 1 264Ah6 14 2 bit shift 09618h 5A7Fh 3B99h 1 100 9928h7 14 1 03B99h 5 5 1 100 9928h8 15 2 bit shift 0EE64h 3F25h AF3Fh 0 10010 64A0h9 15 1 0AF3Fh 3F25h 701Ah 0 10010 64A0h10 15 1 0701Ah 5 5 0 10010 64A0h11 16 1 bit shift 0E034h 2CFCh B342h 0 100100 C940h__________________________________________________________________________ Original Data 001111 Coded Data 100100 1100100101000000
TABLE 2B__________________________________________________________________________ Minor Symbol Major Symbol Encoding Line Generation Generation A Probability Probability Minor Symbol C(after) Output Datarow ST Data (Register 48) LSZ (A-LSZ) LPS (Register 50) Pix__________________________________________________________________________1 0 10000h 5A1Dh A5E3h 1 9325h 52 0 0A5E3h 5A1Dh 4BCBh 1 9325h 03 0 05A1Dh 5 5 1 475Ah 04 1 1 bit shift 0B43Ah 2586h 8EB4h 1 8EB4h 55 1 02586h 5 5 1 0000h 16 14 2 bit shift 09618h 5A7Fh 3B99h 1 0000h 57 14 03B99h 5 5 1 0000h 18 15 2 bit shift 0EE64h 3F25h AF3Fh 0 0000h 59 15 0AF3Fh 3F25h 701Ah 0 0000h 110 15 0701Ah 5 5 0 0000h 111 16 1 bit shift 0E034h 2CFCh B342h 0 0000h 5__________________________________________________________________________ Coded Data 1001001100100101000000 Decoded Data 001111
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An image data encoder and decoder system which divides native or uncompressed image data into a plurality of streams for subsequent arithmetic encoding and decoding operations. Once each stream has been encoded, it may be relayed in its present format to a corresponding decoder unit or combined with other encoded streams to produce a composite encoded stream representing a compressed version of the original image data suitable for external transfer or storage. When stored in composite form, the decoder may include a distributing preprocessor that breaks it back down into its constituent encoded streams to facilitate parallel decoding. After decoding operations have produced plural decoded image streams, a final stage reintegrates them back to the original image data. The matched parallel encoder and decoder architectures permit pipelined processing of image data without necessarily increasing overall processing speeds.
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This is a division of application Ser. No. 127,844, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,006, filed Dec. 2, 1987, which is a division of Ser. No. 839,307, filed Mar. 13, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,595.
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to an improvement in a multistep stereospecific process for producing azetidinones which are useful as intermediates for preparing penems and carbapenems. More particularly, this invention relates to an improvement in the stereospecific multistep process in which L-threonine is converted to an epoxyamide containing a specific nitrogen protecting group, lower alkoxyphenylmethyl, preferably ethoxyphenylmethyl, cyclizing to form an azetidinone, then readily removing the protecting group under mild acidic conditions.
In the multistep processes heretofore utilized L-threonine is converted to (2S, 3R)-2-bromo-3-hydroxybutyric acid as disclosed for example in Yanagisawa, et al., Tetrahedron Letters 24 No. 10, 1037 (1984) or Izumiya, Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 26, 53 (1953). The (2S, 3R)-2-bromo-3-hydroxybutyric acid is converted to an epoxyamide. The epoxyamide is converted, by ring closure to an azetidinone in which the nitrogen is protected by a para-methoxyphenyl or a 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl group. The former N-protecting group can be removed by the method disclosed in Kronenthal et al., J. Org. Chem., 47, 2765 (1982), i.e. by use of ceric ammonium nitrate. Another means of removing that N-protecting group is by ozonolysis in ethyl acetate. The 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl group can be removed by use of potassium persulfate-dipotassium hydrogen phosphate in acetonitrile-water as disclosed by Huffman et al. J.A.C.S. 99, 2352 (1977). These prior art deprotection processes are difficult and expensive to conduct. There is thus a need for a nitrogen protecting group which is readily removable under relatively mild conditions producing high yields.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an improved process step in a multistep process for producing azetidinone intermediates for penems and carbapenems. More particularly, this invention provides the steps of producing azetidinones represented by the formula ##STR2## wherein R' is independently hydrogen, one, two, or three of halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, preferably hydrogen, from L-(-)-threonine in a multistep process utilizing as an N-protecting group lower alkoxyphenylmethyl, aromatic oxyphenylmethyl or alkenyloxyphenylmethyl, preferably ethoxyphenylmethyl.
There are two routes to produce the compound of formula I. The first, most preferred route, designated Reaction Scheme A comprises the steps
(a) reacting L-(-)-threonine with sodium bromide and sodium nitrite to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR3##
(b) reacting the compound produced in Step (a) with acetylchloride followed by reaction with oxalyl chloride to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR4##
(c) reacting the compound produced in Step (b) with a compound represented by the formula ##STR5## wherein R is --Si(CH 3 ) 3 or --Si(CH 3 ) 2 t--C 4 H 9 and R' is as defined for compound I, followed by reaction with anhydrous alcohol, e.g. methanol, phenol, allylalcohol or ethanol, preferably ethanol, to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR6## wherein R is hydrogen, --Si(CH 3 ) 3 or --Si(CH 3 ) 2 --t--C 4 H 9 , R' is as defined for compound I and R'' is methyl, ethyl, allyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl wherein the substituents are R', preferably ethyl
(d) reacting the compound produced in Step (c) where R is --Si(CH 3 ) 3 with anhydrous potassium carbonate to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR7## wherein R is hydrogen, or --Si(CH 3 ) 3 , R' is as defined for compound I and R"' is as defined for compound B
(e) reacting the compound produced in step (d) with pyridinium chlorochromate and anhydrous sodium acetate to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR8## wherein R' and R"" are as hereinabove defined
(f) cyclizing the compound produced in step (e) by reacting with lithium hexamethyldisilazide to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR9## wherein R' and R" are as hereinabove defined
(g) deprotecting the nitrogen of the compound produced in step (f) by reacting with a dilute inorganic acid to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR10## wherein R' is as defined herein above
A second route designated Reaction Scheme B comprises the steps of
(a) reacting a compound represented by the formula ##STR11## with a compound represented by the formula ##STR12## and an anhydrous alcohol, e.g. methanol, ethanol, allyl alcohol or phenol, preferably ethanol, to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR13## wherein R' and R"are as defined hereinabove
(b) reacting the compound produced in step (a) with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR14## wherein R' and R" are as hereinabove defined
(c) reacting the compound produced in step (b) with pyridinium-chlorochromate to produce a compound represented by the formula ##STR15## wherein R' and R" are as hereinabove defined
The compound produced in step (c) is converted to a compound of formula I as in steps (f) and (g) of Reaction Scheme A.
As used herein "lower alkyl" alone or in groups containing a lower alkyl moiety e.g. "lower alkoxy" means straight or branched chain alkyl groups having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, neopentyl, dimethyl butyl and the like. Preferred is ethyl.
"Lower alkenyl" means straight or branched chain alkenyl groups having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, e.g. allyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl and the like, preferred is allyl.
"Inert organic solvent" means an organic solvent which is non-reactive under the reaction conditions, e.g. tetrahydrofuran (THF), methylene chloride, lower alkanols, preferably methanol or ethanol, and the like.
"Halogen" means chlorine or bromine, preferably chlorine.
"Readily removable nitrogen protecting group" as used herein means a nitrogen protecting group which is removed from the azetidinone nitrogen under mild acidic conditions which do not affect other parts of the azetidinone molecule and do not cause any stereoisomeric changes. The readily removable nitrogen protecting groups contemplated by this invention are lower alkoxy phenyl methyl groups, preferably ethoxy phenyl methyl.
"Dilute inorganic acid" means, about 0.5 to 2.0 molar hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or nitric acid, preferably one molar.
"Aromatic"[means phenyl or benzyl, either substituted or unsubstituted wherein the substituents are R'
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The process of this invention provides novel intermediates containing specific readily removable nitrogen protecting groups as depicted in the following structural formulas. ##STR16## wherein R is --Si(CH 3 ) 3 or --Si(CH 3 ) 2 t--C 4 H 9 , R' is as defined for compound I and R" is as defined thereinabove for compound B ##STR17## wherein R"' is hydrogen, --Si(CH 3 ) 3 or --Si(CH 3 ) 2 t--C 4 H 9 , R' and R'' are as defined hereinabove. ##STR18## wherein R'and R" are as hereinabove defined, a preferred compound is wherein R' is hydrogen and R" is ethyl and ##STR19## wherein R' and R" are as hereinabove defined. A preferred compound is wherein R' is hydrogen and R" is ethyl.
The above novel intermediates are useful for producing an azetidinone represented by the formula ##STR20## wherein R' is as defined hereinabove. A preferred compound is wherein R' is hydrogen. The azetidinones of formula I are intermediates for producing penems and carbapenems, and are prepared by two different Reaction Schemes. In one Reaction Scheme, designated Scheme A, wherein the preferred compounds are used for illustration, L-threonine is converted to an epoxyamide which is converted to an azetidinone, then deprotected at the nitrogen, as follows: ##STR21##
In Step (a) of Reaction Scheme A (Step Aa) L-(-)-threonine is converted to (2S, 3R) 2-bromo-3-hydroxybutyric acid by reaction with an alkali metal bromide, e.g., potassium or sodium bromide and an alkali metal nitrite, e.g., potassium or sodium nitrite, in acidic aqueous medium, preferably sulfuric acid at about 5° to 10° C. until the reaction is complete, i.e., about 30 minutes.
In Step Ab (2S,3R)-2-bromo-3-acetoxy-butyryl chloride is prepared by the reaction of (2S,3R)-2-bromo-3-hydroxy-butyric acid with acetyl chloride, then the reaction mixture is reacted with oxalyl chloride or thioyl chloride in an inert solvent, e.g. toluene, at cold temperatures, e.g. about 0° to 10° C., under an inert atmosphere, e.g., nitrogen.
In Step Ac (2S,3R)-2-bromo-3-acetoxy-butyryl chloride is reacted with 1-phenyl-1-trimethylsiloxy-ethyl-2-benzaldimine in an inert solvent, e.g. dichloromethane, at cold temperatures, e.g. about 0° to 10° C. Then an anhydrous alcohol, e.g. ethanol, methanol, substituted or unsubstituted phenol or allyl alcohol, is added, followed by an organic base, e.g., pyridine or triethylamine, to neutralize the hydrogen chloride generated and the reaction is continued at room temperature, e.g. about 25° C. The resulting product when ethanol is used, (2S,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-phenyl-2-trimethyl silyloxy ethyl)-2-bromo-3 acetoxybutyramide is recovered.
In Step Ad the product of Step Ac is reacted with anhydrous potassium carbonate at room temperature to produce N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-ethyl) glycidamide.
In Step Ae the hydroxy group is oxidized to a ketone group by reacting the compound produced in Step Ad with a mixture of pyridinium chlorochromate and anhydrous sodium acetate. The reaction is conducted at room temperature until completed in about 1.5 hours as evidenced by thin layer chromatography (TLC).
In Step Af the compound produced in Step Ae is cyclized to the azetidinone, i.e. (3S,4S)-1-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-3-(1R-hydroxyethy)-4-benzoyl azetidin-2-one, by reaction with a strong base, preferably lithium hexamethyldisilazide in an inert organic solvent, e.g. hexanes, at about 8°-12° C. until complete in about 1.5 hours as evidenced by TLC.
In Step Ag (3S,4S)-3-(1R-hydroxyethyl)-4-benzoyl-2-azetidinone is prepared from the compound of Step Af by removing the nitrogen protecting group with dilute sulfuric acid in an inert organic solvent, e.g. THF, at room temperature for about 24 hours. The reaction mixture is neutralized with sodium bicarbonate and the product recovered in high yield based on the compound produced in Step Af.
The 1-phenyl-1-trimethylsiloxy-2-benzaldimine intermediate utilized in Step Ac is prepared by reacting the appropriately substituted 2-amino-1-phenylethanol, with bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide at room temperature for about 3 hours in an inert organic solvent, e.g. dichloromethane. The product thus obtained, the appropriately substituted 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-trimethylsiloxyethane, is reacted with the appropriately substituted benzaldehyde for a short time, e.g. about 2 minutes, then an inert organic solvent, e.g. benzene, is added and water, which is liberated in the reaction, is removed with anhydrous magnesium sulfate.
In the following Reaction Scheme B, a compound of formula I is prepared by reacting an analog of compound 4, i.e. wherein the trimethylsilyl group is replaced by a t-butyl dimethylsilyl group, with an oxirane butyryI chloride to produce the compound analogous to compound 6 of Reaction Scheme A, i.e. wherein the hydrogen is replaced by a t-butyl dimethyl silyl group. Subsequent deprotection of the hydroxy group to obtain compound 6 and following the remaining steps of Reaction Scheme A results in Compound I, as follows, using the preferred compounds for illustrative purposes: ##STR22##
In Step a of Reaction Scheme B, i.e. Step Ba, 2-amino-1-phenylethanol [prepared by the method of Dornow, Ber. 88, 1267 (1955)] is reacted in an inert organic solvent, e.g. dichloromethane, with tertiary butyl dimethylsilyl chloride followed by tetramethyl guanidine at room temperature for about 15 minutes. The reaction is quenched with water to yield 2-phenyl-2-tert butyl-dimethylsiloxy-1-ethylamine.
In Step Bb, the product of Step Ba is reacted with benzaldehyde. Following addition of an inert organic solvent, e.g. benzene, the water liberated in the reaction is taken up with magnesium sulfate to yield 1-phenyl-1-tertiary butyl-dimethylsiloxy 2-benzaldimine.
In Step Bc, (2R, 3R)-2,3-oxirane butyryl chloride is reacted with the product of Step Bb at about 0°-10° C. in an inert organic solvent, e.g. dichloromethane. After about 30 minutes, an organic base, e.g. triethylamine or pyridine is added. An anhydrous alcohol, e.g. methanol, ethanol, phenol or allyl alcohol, preferably ethanol, is added to form the appropriate ether substituent on the phenylmethy group. When the preferred ethanol is used, the product, (2R,3R)-N-ethoxyphenyl-methyl-N-phenyl-tert butyl dimethylsiloxy-b-methylglycidamide, is made and recovered in high yields.
In Step Bd, the compound produced in Step Bc is deprotected at the hydroxy group by reacting the compound with tetra n-butylammonium fluoride in an inert organic solvent, e.g. THF, at room temperature until the reaction is complete in about 12 hours as evidenced by TLC.
In Step Be the compound produced in Step Bd is oxidized to the ketone by reaction with pyridinium chlorochromate and sodium acetate in an inert organic solvent, e.g. dichloromethane, for about 1 to 2 hours at room temperature.
The compound from Step Be is converted to compound I in the same manner as in Steps Af and Ag.
The intermediate reactant (2R,3R)-2,3 oxirane butyrylchloride is prepared by reaction of (2S,3R)-2-bromo-3-hydroxybutyric acid and potassium hydroxide in absolute ethanol, followed by thionyl chloride in THF.
The following Examples illustrate the invention:
EXAMPLE 1
(2S,3R)-2-bromo-3-acetoxy-butyryl chloride
Acetyl chloride (6.82 g, 86.88 mmole) was added dropwise to (2S, 3R)-2-bromo-3-hydroxybutyric acid (neat) with stirring. The reaction mixture was cooled in a bath at 5° C. as exotherm began. After completion of addition, the cooling bath was removed. After 45 minutes the mixture was heated at 45°-50° C. for 1.5 hours. Heating was discontinued and 10 mL toluene was added. The mixture was cooled in an ice bath and oxalyl chloride (11.4 80 g, 90.44 mmole) was added dropwise. After completion of addition, the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature then heated at reflux for 30 minutes. Toluene and excess of reagents were removed by fractional distillation. The residue was subjected to bulb-to-bulb distillation at 80°-90° C. under high vacuum (1 mm/Hg) to yield the title compound.
l H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl 3 ) w 1.44 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 4.67 (d, J=6.0 Hz,1H), 5.41 (m, 1H); 1R (neat) 1810, 1790, 1740 cm -1 .
EXAMPLE 2
(2R,3R)-N-(Ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-2,3-oxiranebutyramide
(a) 2-phenyl-2-trimethylsiloxyethylamine
To a solution of 2-amino-1-phenylethanol (5.104 g, 37.21 mmole) in 25 mL dichloromethane was added bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (6.122 g, 31.10 mmole). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The mixture was diluted with dichloromethane (150 mL) and washed with water (2×100 mL). The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The 2-phenyl-2-trimethylsiloxyethylamine thus obtained was directly used for the next step.
(b) 1-phenyl-1-trimethylsiloxy-2-benzaldimine
The crude product from step (a) herein was mixed with benzaldehyde (4.452 g, 42.00 mmole). The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 minutes and benzene (50 mL) was added. The water liberated was removed by addition of anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The mixture was filtered, and the residue was washed with benzene (2×10 mL). The solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The product, 1-phenyl-1-trimethylsiloxy-2-benzaldimine, was subjected to high vacuum for 2 hours and used immediately for the next step.
(c) (2S,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-trimethylsiloxy-2-phenylethyl)-2-bromo-2-trimethylsiloxy-2-phenylethyl)-2-bromo-3-acetoxybutyramide
To a stirred solution of the compound produced in step (b) herein in 24 mL dichloromethane, kept cooled in an ice bath, was added a solution of the compound produced in Example 1 (9.037 g, 37.14 mmole) in 25 mL dichloromethane. After completion of addition, cooling was discontinued. The reaction mixture was stirred for 25 minutes and triethylamine (5.420 g, 53.56 mmole) was added, followed after 2 minutes by anhydrous ethanol (6.920 g, 150.20 mmole). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours. To this was added dichloromethane (25 mL) and water (50 mL). Layers were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with
dichloromethane (3×30 mL). Combined organic phases were washed with water (150 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound. In this step, if methanol, allyl alcohol or a phenol is used in place of ethanol, then the corresponding etherified phenylmethyl substituent is formed. Then following the remaining steps of this Example 2 yields the correspondingly substituted compound as the final product.
(d) (2R,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-phenylethane-2-ol)-2,3-oxirane butyramide
To a solution of 8.900 g (16.18 mmole) of the above crude product in 55 mL methanol was added anhydrous potassium carbonate (2.23 g, 16.13 mmole). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The suspensions were filtered and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and washed with water (100 mL). The aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane (75 mL). Combined organic phases were washed with water (100 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the crude title compound.
(e) (2R,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)2,3-oxirane butyramide
To a solution of the compound produced in step (d) herein in dichloromethane (25 mL) was added a powdered mixture of pyridiniumchlorochromate (13.790 g, 63.97 mmole) and anhydrous sodium acetate (3.080 g, 37.55 mmole). The suspension was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hr. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane (50 mL), filtered, and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo. The residue was subjected to chromatography on silica gel eluting with 35% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give the title compound.
1 H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 1.13-1.59 (m, 6H), 3.20-5.00 (m, 6H), 6.57 (s, 0.2H), 6.65 (s, 0.2H), 7.02 (s, 0.3H), 7.06 (s, 0.3H), 7.20-7.95 (m, 10H); 1R (neat) 1700, 1665 cm -1 ; MS (CI, m/e) 352, 308, 224, 146, 134.
EXAMPLE 3
(3S,4S)-1-(Ethoxyphenylmethyl)-3-[1R-hydroxyethyl]-4-benzoyl-2-azetidinone).
To a solution of the compound produced in Example 2 (1.250 c, 3.54 mmole) in 10 mL dry benzene, cooled in a bath at 8° C., was added a solution of lithium hexamethyldisilazide in hexanes (5.3 mL, 5.3 mmole). The reaction mixture was stirred at 8°-12° C. for 1.5 hr. and 8 mL of 20% aqueous solution citric acid was added, followed by 20 mL ethyl acetate. Layers were separated and the organic phase washed with ethyl acetate (15 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was subjected to chromatography on silica gel using 30% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give the title compound.
1 H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 1.18-1.38 (m, 6H), 3.32 (dd, J=6.0 Hz, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 3.6-4.04 (m, 2H), 4.30-4.42 (m, 1H), 5.25 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 6.07 (s, 1H), 7.04-7.80 (m, 10H); lR (neat) 3400-3600 (broad), 1760, 1750, 1690 cm -1 ; MS (FAB, m/e) 352, 308, 290, 264, 224, 203, 159, 135.
EXAMPLE 4
(3S,4S)-3-(1R-Hydroxyethyl)-4-benzoyl-2-azetidinone
To a solution of the compound produced in Example 3 (890 mg. 2.52 mmole) in 2 mL tetrahydrofuran was added 1 mL of 1N H 2 SO 4 . The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. To this was added 10 mL dichloromethane and 10 mL water. Solid sodium bicarbonate was added until the aqueous phase was neutral. Layers were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL). Combined organic phases were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was subjected to chromatography over silica gel using 60% ethyl acetate in hexanes to Yield the title compound which was crystallized from dichloromethane-ether (mp, 131°-132° C.) in a 74% yield based on the starting material.
1 H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 1.38 (d, J=6.3 Hz, 3H), 2.15 (br S, 1H), 3.25 (m, 1H), 4.38 (m, 1H), 5.10 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 6.39 (br. s, H), 7.46-7.70 (m, 3H), 8.16 (m, 2H); 1R (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 3400-3450 (broad), 3550-3650 (broad), 1775, 1695 cm -1 , MS (FAB m/e) 220, 185, 160, 159, 135, 120, 105.
EXAMPLE 5
1-phenyl-1-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-2-benzaldimine
(a) To a solution of 1-phenyl-2-aminoethanol (5.323 g, 38.80 mmole) in 50 mL dichloromethane was added tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (7.030 g, 46.63 mmole) followed, after 15 minutes by tetramethylguanidine (2.430 g, 21.09 mmole). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes and quenched by addition of water (40 mL). Layers were separated. The aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane (40 mL). Combined organic phases were washed with brine (2×50 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give crude 2-phenyl-2-tert-butyl dimethylsiloxy-1-ethylamine.
(b) 600 g (23.64 mmole) of the compound produced in part (a) herein was mixed with benzaldehyde (2.593 g, 24.46 mmole). After stirring at room temperature for 2 minutes, benzene (50 mL) was added to the reaction mixture. The water liberated was removed by adding magnesium sulfate. The suspension was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. Trace amounts of solvent left were removed under high vacuum. The product, 1-phenyl-1-tert butyldimethylsiloxy-2-benzaldimine, thus obtained was used immediately for the next step.
EXAMPLE 6
(2R,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-oxo-phenylethyl)2,3-oxirane butyramide
To a solution of the compound produced in Example 5 in 15 mL dichloromethane, cooled in a bath at 5° C., was added slowly, (2R,3R)-2,3-oxirane butyryl chloride. Cooling was discontinued after addition and the reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. To this was added triethylamine (2.529 g, 250 mmole) followed, after 2 minutes, by anhydrous ethanol (5.885 g, 128 mmole). After stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes, the reaction mixture was diluted with 50 mL dichloromethane and washed, successively, with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (50 mL), water (50 mL), and brine (50 mL). The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give crude (2R,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-t-butyl dimethyl siloxy-2-phenyl-ethyl) 2,3-oxirane butyramide.
(b) 4.80 g the compound produced in step (a) was dissolved in 12 mL THF and 10 mL of a solution of tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (1M) in THF was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. This was diluted with ethyl acetate (60 mL) and washed with aqueous ammonium chloride (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue, (2R,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-phenylethanol)-2,3-oxiranebutyramide was dissolved in 15 mL dichloromethane and a powdered mixture of pyridiniumchlorochromate (8.620 g, 40.0 mmole) and sodium acetate (2.480 g, 30.24 mmole) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours then diluted with dichloromethane and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue subjected to chromatography on silica gel using 35% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give (2R,3R)-N-(ethoxyphenylmethyl)-N-(2-oxophenylethyl)2,3-oxirane butyramide.
EXAMPLE 7
(2R,3R)-2,3-oxirane butyryl chloride
To a solution of (2S,3R)-2-bromo-3-hydroxybutyric acid (4.341 g, 23.72 mmole) in 30 mL absolute ethanol, cooled in an ice bath, was added a solution of potassium hydroxide (2.688 g, 49.0 mmole) in 30 mL absolute ethanol. The cooling bath was removed and the suspension was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs. Solvent was removed in vacuo. To the residue was added THF (50 mL) which was rotary evaporated. This process was repeated twice. The white powder so obtained was dried under high vacuum.
The above material was suspended in 50 mL THF and cooled in a bath at -20° C. To this was added pyridine (1.896 g, 23.97 mmole) followed by thionyl chloride (2.855 g, 24.0 mmole). Cooling was discontinued and the reaction mixture containing the title compound was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs prior to use.
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A multistep process is disclosed for preparing azetidinone intermediates used in the making penems and carbapenems wherein intermediates containing ##STR1## R' is independently hydrogen or 1, 2 or 3 of lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, preferably hydrogen, wherein R" is methyl, ethyl, a phenyl or alkyl, preferably ethyl, as a readily removable nitrogen protecting group are made.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to emission control systems for vehicles, and deals more particularly with a method of detecting evaporative fuel emissions for a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Evaporative emission control systems are well known in internal combustion engine powered motor vehicles to prevent evaporative fuel, i.e., fuel vapor, from being emitted from the fuel tank into the atmosphere. These control systems typically include several primary components that control evaporative emission operations: vapor control valves, vapor management valves and a carbon canister for absorbing the vapors.
[0003] From time to time, fuel vapors may be vented improperly, resulting in reduced engine performance and the possibility of vapor emissions into the atmosphere. A variety of on-board diagnostic systems have been devised for detecting such emissions in the evaporative emission control system so that appropriate corrective measures may be taken.
[0004] Conventional emissions control may include: (1) an intake manifold of an engine connecting to a vapor control system in order to draw a vacuum on the control system, (2) sealing the vapor control system and/or, (3) bleeding-off and monitoring the resulting vacuum in the control system. With vehicles powered only by an internal combustion engine, these steps can only be performed while the engine is running. Coordinating the requirements of the engine control system and the evaporative emission control system test procedure places constraints on both systems. These problems are exacerbated in hybrid powered vehicles using both an internal combustion engine and an electric drive motor. Hybrid powered vehicles, when operating in an internal combustion (IC) mode, tend to run at relatively wide-open throttle for substantial periods in order to maximize operating efficiency. At open or near wide-open throttle, however, intake manifold pressure is lower, limiting the engine's ability to draw a vacuum in the evaporative emission control system to facilitate emissions detection.
[0005] Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a method of emissions detection that can be performed effectively while the engine is not running. The present invention is intended to satisfy that need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A method is provided for detecting fuel vapor emissions from an internal combustion engine driven vehicle while the engine is not running. A detection test can be performed while the vehicle is not operating, or while the vehicle is powered by an alternative drive source such as an electric motor in combination with a battery fuel cell or other electric power source. In accordance with one embodiment of the present method, the method advantageously uses an onboard electric machine operated in a motor mode, to spin the non-running IC engine in order to draw a vacuum on the vapor emission control system, which is then monitored to diagnose proper operation of the vehicle emissions control system.
[0007] In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a method is provided of detecting a fuel vapor emissions of an internal combustion, while the engine is not running. The method includes closing a first valve used for controlling the escape of fuel vapor emissions from the system, closing a throttle to prevent air from entering the engine through the throttle, opening a fuel vapor management valve to connect the engine with the control system, rotating the engine to reduce the fuel vapor pressure in the control system, then closing the vapor management valve and measuring the vapor pressure in the control system, a change in the system pressure indicating a possible unacceptable condition in the control system. The throttle is closed by moving a throttle plate to a closed position blocking airflow into the intake manifold of the engine. Rotation of the engine is performed using either an electric drive motor or an onboard generator operated as a drive motor. The detection method may be used in hybrid powered vehicles in which the electric drive motor or generator is employed as the power source to spin the IC engine during the evaporative fuel emissions test.
[0008] In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for detecting a evaporative fuel emissions in a fuel vapor emission control system of a hybrid powered vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric drive motor. The method comprises the steps of determining if the IC engine is running, closing the emission control system when the IC engine is determined not to be running, opening a fuel vapor management valve connecting the engine with the emission control system, rotating the engine to reduce the fuel vapor pressure within the emission control system, closing the fuel vapor management valve and then measuring the vapor pressure in the control system to determine whether a evaporative fuel emissions may be present.
[0009] These non-limiting features, as well as other advantages of the present invention may be better understood by considering the following details of a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the course of this description, reference will frequently be made to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a combined block and schematic diagram of a hybrid powered vehicle provided with a fuel vapor emission control system; and,
[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the steps of the method forming the preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Referring first to FIG. 1 , a vehicle is equipped with an evaporative, fuel vapor emission control system, generally indicated by the numeral 10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle is of the hybrid powered type, driven by an internal combustion engine 38 and an electric motor 50 which drive one or more traction wheels 44 through a set of gears 42 . The electric motor 50 is powered by energy stored in a battery 46 whose DC output is converted to AC by an inverter 48 . The electric motor 50 may be operated in a regenerative mode to generate electrical power used for recharging battery 46 . Additionally, an electrical generator 40 also produces electrical energy and is driven either directly by the engine 38 or through gear-set 42 . Generator 40 may also be operated as an electric motor capable of spinning (cranking) the IC engine 38 through either a direct drive connection or via the gear-set 42 . The above mentioned drive components are controlled by an electronic engine control (EEC) 34 , which also controls the operation of the emission control system 10 .
[0013] The emission control system 10 includes a fuel tank 12 having its upper internal volume in communication with one or more evaporative canisters 16 and the intake manifold 14 of engine 38 . The fuel tank 12 provides fuel to the engine 38 and typically includes a vapor vent valve 18 as well as a rollover valve 20 . The fuel tank 12 may also include a vacuum relief valve 22 , integral with the fuel tank cap, for preventing excessive vacuum or pressure from being applied to the fuel tank 12 . The fuel tank 12 further includes a pressure transducer 24 for monitoring fuel tank pressure or vacuum and for providing a corresponding input signal to the EEC 34 . The pressure transducer 24 may be installed directly into the fuel tank 12 or remotely mounted and connected by a line to the fuel tank 12 .
[0014] Evaporation canister 16 is provided for trapping and subsequently using fuel vapor dispelled from the fuel tank 12 . The evaporation canister 16 is connected to the atmosphere through a canister vent valve (CVV) 26 . A filter 28 may be provided between the CVV 26 and the atmosphere for filtering the air pulled into the evaporation canister 16 . The CVV 26 may comprise a normally open solenoid controlled by the EEC 34 via an electrical connection to the CVV 26 .
[0015] A vapor management valve (VMV) 30 is coupled between the intake manifold 14 and a fuel tank 12 and the evaporation canister 16 . The VMV 30 may comprise a normally closed vacuum operated solenoid which is also energized by the EEC 34 . When the VMV 30 opens, the vacuum of the intake manifold 14 draws fuel vapor from the evaporation canister 16 for combustion in the cylinders of the engine 38 . When the EEC 34 de-energizes the VMV 30 , fuel vapors are stored in the evaporation canister 16 .
[0016] The system 10 may further include a service port 32 coupled between the VMV 30 and the fuel tank 12 and the evaporation canister 16 . The service port 32 aids an operator in performing diagnostics on the emission control system 10 to identify malfunctions.
[0017] In addition to controlling the CVV 26 and VMV 30 , the EEC 34 also controls a throttle plate 36 forming part of a throttle body (not shown) which in turn controls the flow of air into the intake manifold 14 .
[0018] The EEC 34 may perform a series of routine diagnostic tests to determine whether the emission control system 10 is operating properly, at any of various times when the vehicle is running. These diagnostic tests may include gross evaporative fuel emissions detection and small evaporative fuel emissions detection. In accordance with the method of the present invention, however, a diagnostic test to determine the possibility of a evaporative fuel emissions in the control system 10 may be carried out while the engine 38 is not running, as would be the case when the vehicle was either being driven under the power of the electric motor 50 or when the vehicle is stationary and the IC engine 38 is turned off.
[0019] The method of the present invention may be better understood by referring now also to FIG. 2 , which shows the flow chart of the steps comprising the present method. The evaporative fuel emissions detection method is started at 52 and responds to an initiating signal produced by the EEC 34 or other on-board controller which initiates periodic diagnostic tests. A determination is initially made at 54 as to whether a evaporative fuel emissions test needs to be performed based upon current vehicle operating conditions or historical data. For example, pre-programmed instructions may dictate that a evaporative fuel emissions test be performed within ten minutes following turning on of the vehicle's ignition. If it is confirmed that a evaporative fuel emissions test is to be initiated, then the existence of a series of operating conditions are confirmed at step 56 . For example, before proceeding with the evaporative fuel emissions test, it must be confirmed that the pressure within the fuel tank 12 is within a prescribed range, that there have been no sensor or actuator failures, that the tank 12 has not been recently refueled, that the engine controls are in a closed loop mode and the vehicle is at idle conditions. Further it is confirmed that the ambient air pressure is sufficiently high, that ambient temperature is within a prescribed range, that the cumulative engine run-time is low enough and that the level of the fuel within tank 12 is within a certain range.
[0020] Once the conditions in step 56 have been confirmed, a determination is made at step 58 of whether the IC engine 38 is running. If the engine 38 is running, then the EEC 34 initiates a conventional evaporative fuel emissions test of the control system 10 . However, if the engine is determined not to be running at step 58 , then the following steps of the method of the present invention are carried out to perform evaporative fuel emissions testing.
[0021] First, at step 62 a determination is made as to whether the battery 46 has a state of charge (SOC) within a prescribed range. If the battery SOC is not within a prescribed range, the process returns to step 54 . However, if the battery SOC is within the prescribed range, then the process proceeds to step 64 in which both the CVV 26 and the throttle plate 36 are moved to their closed positions. With both the CVV 26 and throttle plate 36 closed, the emission control system 10 is effectively closed from the atmosphere, since atmospheric air may not pass into the system through the CVV 26 and fresh air may not pass into the intake manifold 14 .
[0022] Next, at step 66 , the VMV 30 is opened, placing the engine 38 in fluid communication within the control system 10 . Then, at step 68 , the generator 40 is operated as a motor to spin or “crank” the engine 38 , causing the engine's pistons to reciprocate which in turn forces air out of the piston cylinders into an exhaust manifold (not shown). Spinning of the engine 38 therefore reduces the vapor pressure within intake manifold 14 , and thus within the lines and components comprising the emission control system 10 . The EEC 34 monitors the vapor pressure within the control system 10 and when this pressure drops to a pre-selected level representing the necessary vacuum required to perform the evaporative fuel emissions detection, the EEC 34 commands the generator 40 to stop spinning the engine 38 . If, however, the requisite vacuum level is not created within a pre-selected time period shown in step 72 , the evaporative fuel emissions detection method is terminated, and a different protocol is followed, such as the performance of a conventional, gross evaporative fuel emissions detection at step 74 .
[0023] Assuming however that spinning of the engine 38 reduces the vapor pressure in the control system 10 to the pre-selected level within the prescribed time period, then the VMV 30 is closed at 76 and spinning of the engine 38 is terminated at step 78 . At this point, with the intake manifold 14 isolated from the remainder of the control system, the EEC 34 monitors the rate of vacuum bleed-off within the control system 10 . The rate of vacuum bleed-off, i.e. pressure drop in the control system is indicative of a possible evaporative fuel emissions in the system. If the pressure drop exceeds a pre-selected rate then a flag is issued within the EEC 34 which records the possibility of a vapor evaporative fuel emissions requiring corrective action.
[0024] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the method of the present invention provides a very simple evaporative fuel emissions detection method which uses the IC engine 38 to produce a vacuum within the emission control system 10 , then seals the control system and subsequently monitors the ability of the system to maintain this vacuum. When used in a hybrid vehicle, advantage can be taken of the electric drive motor or generator to spin the IC engine 38 to produce the vacuum while the engine is not running. Although a generator 40 has been disclosed as being the motive means for spinning the IC engine 38 , the spinning could also be produced by power from the electric motor 20 which is transmitted as a torque through the gear-set 42 to the crankshaft of the IC engine 38 .
[0025] It is to be understood that the specific methods and techniques which have been described are merely illustrative of one application of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made to the method and system as described without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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An electric motor or generator is used to spin the vehicle's internal combustion engine while the engine is not running, in order to draw a vacuum within the vapor control system. Vacuum bleed off is then monitored to determine if an unacceptable condition in the control system may exist. The evaporative fuel emissions test may be conducted either while the vehicle is at rest or while under way in an electric drive mode of operation.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a knitting method and a knit fabric for linking a rope- or tape-shaped knit fabric in the collar of a sweater, neck rope portion of a tanktop, lower end portion of baseball stockings, a neck rope portion of an apron or the like.
For example, when forming a tape-shaped knit part in the collar portion of a sweater, in the first place, a knit fabric in a length corresponding to the peripheral edge of the collar is formed in a desired width and this tape- or rope-shaped knit fabric is sewn to the collar of the sweater by linking or other sewing means, and then the end portion of the tape- or rope-shaped knit fabric is joined by linking or other sewing means.
In the case of forming the tape-shaped rope part in the collar of the sweater as set forth above, the end portions of the rope are overlaid and joined and the thickness is increased in that portion, which is unfavorable not only for appearance but also for comfort of wearing.
Besides, sewing means such as linking is performed in a separate process from a knitting process, the productivity is impaired due to the extra sewing process, and the manufacturing cost is increased.
Furthermore, since sewing means, such as linking, is done manually, it tends to be irregular and the value of the product is lowered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is devised in the light of the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a connective knitting method of two tape-shaped knit pieces which is employed in a knitting procedure of a tape-shaped knit piece and a tape-shaped knit fabric knitted thereby. The method comprises steps of: knitting two tape-shaped knit pieces by a flat knitting machine possessing at least a pair of front and rear needle beds, either or both of which are composed movably in a longitudinal direction, the two tape-shaped knit pieces being positioned with a boundary between them in a longitudinal direction on either of the front and the rear needle beds; overlaying symmetrical loops of the final course of both the knit pieces across the boundary and binding off the overlaid symmetrical loops gradually; thus repeating the latter step by a proper number of times depending on the width of two tape-shaped knit pieces until the two pieces are connected by the knitting machine.
First of all, by means of a flat knitting machine possessing needle beds disposed at least in a pair of front and rear sides, with one or both thereof being composed to be movable in the lateral direction, two pieces of tape-shaped knit fabric are knitted in a specified length by arbitrary needles in different ranges across the boundary in the longitudinal direction of one of the needle beds.
In consequence, when two pieces of tape-shaped knit fabric knitted across the boundary reach a specified length, the loop portion of the final course of one of the knit fabrics is transferred to the needles of the other needle bed, which is the moving side knit fabric, the needle bed is moved so that the loop portion of the end part of the moving side knit fabric is overlaid on the loop of the end part of the part adjoining other fixed side knit fabric, and the loop of the moving side knit fabric of the overlaying part is transferred and overlaid on the loop of the fixed side knit fabric and a new loop is formed on this overlaid part.
Thus, a part of the loop of the moving side knit fabric and a part of the loop of the fixed side knit fabric are overlaid and a new loop is formed in that portion, so that one loop is decreased in the moving side knit fabric.
Next, this new loop, a part of the loop of the adjoining moving side knit fabric, and a part of the loop of the fixed side knit fabric are overlaid, and another loop of the fixed side knit fabric are overlaid, and another loop is formed on the overlaid portion, and thereby one more loop is decreased in the moving side fabric, and in addition to the decrease of one loop in the fixed side loop, two loops (three loops when starting bonding) are decreased in total.
By repeating this sequence of forming a new loop on an overlaid loop by a proper number of times depending on the width of the knit fabric, the end parts of both knit fabrics are joined and the final end portion of the junction is prevented from loosening the stitch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings illustrate an embodiment of a connective knitting method of tape-shaped knit fabric and a connective knitting method having the end portions linked in a knitted state according to the invention, in which:
FIGS. 1A-1D are knitting diagrams in the principal courses until joining the end parts of the tape-shaped knit fabric disposed, for example, in the collar part of a sweater;
FIGS. 1E AND 1F illustrate knitting diagram in the courses for arranging the joined ends;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the end-to-end joined state of moving side knit fabric (a) and fixed side knit fabric (b);
FIG. 3 is a developed diagram showing the end-to-end joined state of moving side knit fabric (a) and fixed side moving fabric (b);
FIG. 4 is a magnified view of part V in FIG. 2., and
FIG. 5 is a magnified view of part V in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, one of the embodiments of the invention is described in detail below.
The knitting machine used in this embodiment is a flat knitting machine, having multiple knitting needles disposed on needle beds laid out in a V-form in a side view in a manner free to move and slide back and forth, with the rear one of the needle beds formed movably in the lateral direction.
FIGS. 1A-1D are knitting diagrams in the principal courses until joining the end portions of the tape-shaped knit fabric disposed, for example, in the collar part of the sweater, in which the Roman numeral I denotes the forward fixed needle bed, and II is the rear movable needle bed, and the capital letters A, B, C, D, E, . . . represent the needles of the both needle beds I, II.
In the diagrams, blocks 1 and 3 are knitting courses of the tape-shaped knit pieces, one of which being a moving side knit piece (a) knitted by a knitting yarn (1) supplied from a carrier, which is out of the area of the drawing, into the knitting needles A to N among the knitting needles A, B, C, D, E, . . . , Y, Z, a, b of the fixed side knit piece (b) knitted by a knitting yarn (2) supplied from another carrier, which is out of the area of the drawing, into the knitting needles O to b. As the courses of the blocks 1 to 3 are repeated, two pieces of tape-shaped knit pieces are knitted with a boundary between the needle N and knitting needle O.
When both the moving side knit fabric (a) and fixed side knit fabric (b) are knitted to a specific length, in block 4, the rear moving needle bed II is moved (by racking) one pitch to the left in the drawing from the reference position of blocks 1 to 3, and the loop of the moving side knit fabric (a) knitted by knitting yarn (1) with knitting needles A to N is transferred to the knitting needles B to O of the moving needle bed II.
Afterwards, when the moving needle bed II is returned to the reference position, the loop stopped on the knitting needle O is confronted with the loop of the knitting needle O of the adjoining fixed needle bed I.
In block 5, the loop on the knitting needle O of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the loop of the knitting needle O of the fixed needle bed I and overlaid, and in block 6, the knitting yarn (I) is supplied to the two overlapped loops on the knitting needle O of the fixed needle bed I and a new loop is formed thereby knitting a bind-off.
At this time, the carrier for feeding the knitting yarn (I) which has moved to the right of the knitting needle O of the fixed needle bed I in block 3 moves to the left of the knitting needle O in block 4 and further, it moves to the right of the knitting needle O in block 5. Further, the carrier is returned to the left of the knitting needle O of the fixed needle bed I after block 5 before block 6, that is, what is called, "kick-back" is performed.
In block 7, the new loop formed on the knitting needle O of the fixed needle bed I in block 6 is transferred to the knitting needle O of the moving needle bed II.
In block 8, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch to the right from the reference position, the loop of the knitting needle O of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle P of the fixed needle bed I.
In block 9, racking the moving needle bed II further to the right by one pitch (two pitches from the reference position), the loops of the knitting needle B to N of the moving needle bed II are transferred to the knitting needles D to P of the fixed needle bed I. As a result, three loops are stopped on the knitting needle N of the fixed needle bed I.
In block 10, the knitting yard (1) is supplied from the carrier to the three loops stopped on the knitting needle P of the fixed needle bed I, and a new loop is further formed. The carrier supplying the knit yarn 2 is out of the area of the drawing when it does not operate.
In block 11, after racking the moving needle bed II two pieces to the left of the reference position, the loops stopped on the knitting needles D to P of the fixed needle bed I in block 10 are transferred to the knitting needles F to R of the moving needle bed II.
In block 12, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch to the right from the state of block 11 (the position one pitch left of the reference position), the loop of the knitting needle R of the moving needle bed II and the loop of the knitting needle Q of the fixed needle bed I are overlaid, and the loop of the knitting needle R of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle Q of the moving bed II.
In block 13, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch to the right from the state of block 12 (reference position), the loop of the knitting needle Q of the moving needle bed II and the loop of the knitting needle Q of the fixed needle bed I are overlaid, and the loop of the knitting needle Q of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle Q of the fixed needle bed I, so that three loops are stopped on the knitting needle Q of the fixed needle bed I.
In block 14, the knitting yarn (1) is supplied from the carrier to the three loops stopped on the knitting needle Q of the fixed needle bed I, and a new loop is further formed.
In block 15, the new loop formed on the knitting needle Q of the fixed needle bed I in block 14 is transferred to the knitting needle Q of the moving needle bed II.
In block 16, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch to the right of the reference position of block 15, the loop of the knitting needle O of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle R of the fixed needle bed I.
In block 17, racking the moving needle bed II further one pitch to the right of the position in block 16 (two pitched right of the reference position), the loop of the knitting needle P of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle R of the fixed needle bed I, and thus three loops are stopped on the knitting needle R.
In block 18, the knitting yarn (1) is supplied from the carrier to the three loops stopped on the knitting needle R of the fixed needle bed I, and a new loop is further formed.
In block 19, racking moving needle bed II two pitches to the left of the reference position, the loops stopped on the knitting needles H to R of the fixed needle bed I in block 18 are transferred to the knitting needles J to T of the moving needle bed II.
In block 20, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch to the right of the state in block 19 (one pitch left of the reference position), the loop of the knitting needle T of the moving needle bed II and the loop of the knitting needle S of the fixed needle bed I are overlaid, and the loop of the knitting needle T of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle S of the moving needle bed II.
In block 21, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch to the right of the state in block 20 (corresponding to the reference position), the loop of the knitting needle S of the moving needle bed II and the loop of the knitting needle S of the fixed needle bed I are overlaid, and the loop of the knitting needle S of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle S of the fixed needle bed I, so that three loops are stopped on the knitting needle S of the fixed needle bed I. The knitting yarn (1) is supplied from the carrier to the three loops on the knitting needle S of the fixed needle bed I, and a new loop is further formed.
When the courses from block 14 to 21 are repeated in this way, the loops of the moving side fabric (a) and fixed side fabric (b) having been knitted in blocks 1 to 3 are gradually knitted in, to be bound off and dislocated from the knitting needles, and in block 22 the loops are gradually decreased until they are stopped only on the knitting needles a, b of the fixing needle bed I and knitting needle Z of the moving, needle bed II.
FIGS. 1E and 1F show the courses of terminating the joint ends, and in block 23 the loop of the knitting needle a of the fixed needle bed I is transferred to the knitting needle a of the moving needle bed II.
In block 24, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch to the right of the reference position in block 23, the loop of the knitting needle a of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle b of the fixed needle bed I.
In block 25, racking the moving needle bed II one pitch further to the right of the state in block 24 (two pitches to the right of the reference position), and loop of the knitting needle Z of the moving needle bed II is transferred to the knitting needle b of the fixed needle bed I. As a result, three loops are stopped on the knitting needle b of the fixed needle bed I.
In block 26 the knitting yarn (1) is supplied from the carrier to the three loops stopped on the knitting needle b of the fixed needle bed I, and a new loop is formed.
The loop formed on the knitting needle b of the fixed needle bed I is locked so as not to unravel by repeating blocks 27 and 28 by a specified number of times, and is dislocated from the knitting needle b.
Specifically according to the method of this invention the end extension portion of the left front body panel is knitted by the knitting needles A to N of the front needle bed and the end extension for the right front body panel is knitted by the knitting needles O to b of the front needle bed. The end portions of the moving side knit fabric (a) and fixed side knit fabric (b) formed through these courses is joined by stitching one-by-one as if each loop were knitted in spontaneously as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.
In the foregoing embodiment, the flat knitting machine is composed of multiple knitting needles disposed on a pair of needle beds confronting each other back and forth, but the invention may be also realized if two pairs or more of needle beds are provided.
In the illustrated example, the rear needle bed is movable, but, needless to say, the invention may be realized if the front needle bed only is movable or both needle beds are movable.
Furthermore, the matrix texture of the belt-shaped knit fabric may be plain knitting, rib knitting, tubular knitting or any other.
In addition, the invention may be realized in the neck rope part of a tanktop, a lower end portion of baseball stockings, a neck rope part of an apron, and other parts linking the tape- or rope-shaped portions.
The two pieces of knit fabric are knitted together and the transfers are carried out by a controlled computer following a designed knitting pattern.
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The present invention presents a connective knitting method of tape-shaped knit ends capable of joining the end portions nearly simultaneously when knitting a tape or rope and a tape-shaped knit fabric having the end portions linked in a knit state, which comprises two pieces of tape-shaped knit fabric knitted by an arbitrary number of needles in different ranges across the boundary in the longitudinal direction of the needle beds disposed at least in a pair of front and rear sides, wherein symmetrical loops of the final course of both knit fabrics across the boundary are overlaid and knitted by binding off.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0001] (Not applicable)
REFERENCE TO SEQUENTIAL LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC
[0002] (Not applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1) Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates to rakes for gathering leaves or other debris. Also, this invention is directed to implements for cleaning floors, such as push brooms, for cleaning dirt and other debris from floors.
[0005] 2) Description of the Related Art
[0006] Raking leaves is often arduous and time-consuming labor. Heretofore, devices have been developed for reducing the laborious task of hand raking by providing wheeled raking devices.
[0007] Power raking machines which utilize a gas or electric motor to drive a reciprocating rake head are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,777,460 and 3,417,554. These machines are often used for general lawn conditioning purposes such as removing thatch or dead grass from lawns. They require access to an external electrical hookup as well as extended lengths of electrical extension cord. The resulting machines are rather heavy and inconvenient to use for raking loose lawn cover such as leaves. Power machines do not appear to be practical for such purposes.
[0008] Manual raking devices have been developed, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,329,708 and 1,020,228, wherein raking tines are supported by wheels. The devices may be rolled along the ground with the raking tines gathering leaves and the like in the path of the device. Such devices do not require an auxiliary power source. However, the raking tines are only moved over the ground and are not provided with a simulated raking action. Leaves can soon accumulate beneath the raking tines resulting in a dragging raking action which will not rake cleanly.
[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,773, a wheeled power raking device is disclosed having a plurality of individual hand rakes operated by a crankshaft. The crankshaft is powered by an electric motor to move the individual rakes through a raking motion over the ground. Again, the attendant inconveniences and dangers of having an auxiliary power source are necessary and appear to outweigh the practical advantages of such a device, except possibly for commercial application.
[0010] The process of using rakes which do not have the above labor-saving additions varies depending on the type of landscape to be cleared. In the raking process in open areas, the user stands upright, lifts the rake, extends it forward and places it on the ground having debris. The user then retracts the rake, pulling back the debris. This sequence is repeated until the ground has been cleared of debris.
[0011] In the raking process under low-imbed trees and shrubs, the user bends over and grips the rake so that the rake may be extended off the ground in a low trajectory. The rake is then extended under the limbs before placing it on the ground having debris. The rake is then retracted, pulling the debris with it.
[0012] As can readily be appreciated, in spite of the improvements which have been made, raking is still an arduous process. The wheeled rakes are heavy and are not easily turned. The conventional rakes require lifting each time the rake is moved.
[0013] Implements for cleaning floors are well known. Such implements are brooms, mops, and squeegees. Common push brooms contain bristles of horsehair, fiberglass, or plastic. These bristles are fastened into generally rectangular bases made of wood or plastic. The bases have two attachment holes for the handles. These holes are placed at complementary angles to allow for even wear of the bristles. Commonly, the holes and the handles are threaded for easy attachment and disengagement. Some type of stabilizing reinforcement mechanism is common in push brooms. A typical prior art push broom is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,383, granted to Bryant May 24, 1983.
[0014] The prior art push brooms may be used with a pushing motion to push dirt and other debris away from the user or may be operated with a pulling motion to bring dirt and other debris toward the user. Either mode of use requires the broom to be lifted at the end of one cleaning movement and placed in a new desired position for the next cleaning movement.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention addresses the problems outlined above and seeks to eliminate them while still maintaining a rake which will clear debris or an implement for cleaning floors. The present invention is directed to a new rake or implement for cleaning floors which allows the user to remain upright under all conditions and which eliminates the step of lifting the rake or implement for cleaning floors each time it is used. The rake or implement for cleaning floors of this invention has a unique handle which allows the user to remain erect while raking or cleaning floors. The handle also allows for easy storage and has a unique handgrip which allows for easy transportL
[0016] The rake of one embodiment of the present invention has a bulb-shaped front end joining sloping shoulders for penetration into hard-to-reach areas. This shape increases the debris-contaiunment width and overall containment area. The rake of a second embodiment contains a rake head featuring a single smooth arc. The rake head of a third embodiment features a rake head having a straight frame. The rake head has sidepieces which glide along the ground. The sidepieces may have bottoms which are so shaped to glide along the ground or which fit into skis or spoons which glide along the ground to enable the user to avoid lifting the rake each time the rake is used. The rake of the invention may also have an adjustable handle.
[0017] The floor cleaning implement of this invention contains a handle similar to that used with the rake. The preferred embodiment of such an implement is a push broom. The broom base contains conventional bristles, a connection for the handle, and connections for the wheel mechanism. The wheel mechanism may be mounted on either side of the broom base so as to permit even wear of the bristles. The wheel mechanism supports either fixed or swivel wheels so as to allow the broom to be moved to a desired new position without lifting the broom.
[0018] As can be readily seen from the above, this invention allows for the accomplishment of the laborious tasks of raking and cleaning floors without the usual steps of lifting and carrying the rake or implement for cleaning floors and setting the rake or implement for cleaning floors in a new position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the rake of this invention in the lowered, or operating, position.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the rake of this invention in the raised, or moving, position
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side elevational perspective view of the rake head of one embodiment of this invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a side elevational perspective view of the rake head of a second, and preferred, embodiment of this invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a front elevational perspective view of the rake head of FIG. 4 .
[0024] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the rake head of FIG. 4 .
[0025] FIG. 7 is a rear sectional view of the rake head of this invention at the point where the handle attaches to the crossbar.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the rake head according to a third embodiment of this invention
[0027] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the rake head of the third embodiment of third invention.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the rake head of the third embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of the crossbar showing attachment of the handle to the crossbar.
[0030] FIG. 12 shows one alternative of transporting the rake of this invention.
[0031] FIG. 13 shows a second alternative of transporting the rake of this invention.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a front elevational perspective view showing the mechanism which allows for lengthening and shortening of the handle.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the rake head and a portion of the handle showing a handgrip on the distal end of the handle.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a front view of the handgrip located at the proximal end of the handle.
[0035] FIG. 17 is a side view of the handgrip of FIG. 16 .
[0036] FIG. 18 is an elevational side view of several alternatives for designs of the side-piece and glide of the rake of this invention.
[0037] FIG. 19 is a side elevational view showing the rake hung on a wall using a conventional implement hanger.
[0038] FIG. 20 is a side elevational view showing the rake hung on a wall using a nail.
[0039] FIG. 21 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a type of implement hanger which may be used to hang the rake or broom of this invention.
[0040] FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the broom of this invention.
[0041] FIG. 23 is a plan view of the broom head.
[0042] FIG. 24 is an exploded elevational perspective view showing the handle holder, adapter, and the distal portion of the handle.
[0043] FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the broom head showing the wheel plate holder and the handle adapter.
[0044] FIG. 26 is an elevational perspective view of the wheel plate holder.
[0045] FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of the pin assembly for the wheel plate holder.
[0046] FIG. 28 is a front elevational view of the pin assembly for the wheel plate holder.
[0047] FIG. 29 is a plan view of the front portion of a wheel plate inserted in a wheel plate holder.
[0048] FIG. 30 is a plan view of the front portion of a wheel plate.
[0049] FIG. 31 is a side elevational view of a wheel attached to a wheel plate.
[0050] FIG. 32 is a side elevational view, partly in cut-away, of a swivel wheel attached to a wheel plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0051] The rake 2 of the present invention presents several improvements not known to the prior art, each improvement designed to make the task of raking easier to the user. The rake 2 , broadly, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The rake 2 has a proximal handgrip 4 at the proximal end 6 which is attached to, and almost completely covers, the first, upwardly slanted, section 8 of the handle 10 . The first section 8 of the handle 10 is bent to form a second, horizontal, section 12 . The second section 12 is bent to become a steep downwardly slanted third section 14 . The third section 14 is bent upward to form a fourth, straight, gradually downwardly slanted, section 16 of the handle 10 . The fourth section 16 attaches at its distal end 18 to the rake head 20 .
[0052] With reference to FIGS. 3-7 and 18 , the rake head 20 will be described. A rear crossbar 22 having two ends 24 is attached at each end 24 to a sidepiece 26 of the rake head 20 . The sidepiece 26 may be no more than a frame but preferably it is substantially solid, as see FIG. 18 . The sidepiece 26 may be rounded on the bottom 28 and cause the rake 2 to glide when it is pulled along the ground or, preferably, it fits into a glide ski 30 or a glide spoon 32 with the same effect. Reference is made once more to FIG. 18 for the various alternatives. When a glide ski 30 or glide spoon 32 is used, the glide ski 30 or glide spoon 32 is preferably welded to the sidepiece 26 although other forms of attachment, such as bolting, are acceptable.
[0053] In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 3 , the frame 34 extends from the forward end 36 of each sidepiece 26 in a single arc meeting at the center 38 which is the forward extension of the frame 34 . Extending downwardly from the frame 34 are the tines 40 . The tines 40 may be the same as or similar to tines of conventional rakes. They are spaced apart the same distance as in conventional rakes. However, since the angle at which the tines 40 contact the debris is different from the angle in a conventional rake, the apparent spacing between the tines 40 is decreased and there is greater contact of the tines 40 with the debris as compared to conventional rakes. It is intended that the present rake 2 be substantially wider than rakes of the prior art. This greater width, coupled with the presence of the side pieces 26 , allows the rake 2 of the present invention to transfer a substantially greater amount of debris.
[0054] In a second, and preferred, embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4-7 , the frame 34 extends from the forward end 36 of each sidepiece 26 in a gradual arc 42 . About halfway to the center 38 , the slope of the arc 42 becomes steeper 44 and changes again to become more gradual 46 near the center 38 so that the frame 34 reaches its greatest protrusion at the center 38 of the frame 34 . Using this configuration, the rake 2 is able to contact the ground farther under shrubbery than can conventional rakes. As with the first embodiment, the tines 40 extend downwardly from the frame 34 and may be the same as or similar to tines 40 of conventional rakes. They are spaced apart the same distance as in conventional rakes. However, since the angle at which the tines 40 contact the debris is different from the angle in a conventional rake, the apparent spacing between the tines 40 is decreased and there is greater contact of the tines 40 with the debris as compared to conventional rakes.
[0055] The crossbar 22 contains a central notch 48 which holds the handle 10 . The distal end 18 of the handle 10 attaches to the center 38 of the frame 34 . This notch 48 helps to stabilize the handle 10 .
[0056] A third embodiment is disclosed in FIGS. 8-11 . The rake head 20 is made up of a straight frame 34 which extends from one side to the other as in conventional rakes. On each side, a sidepiece 26 extends rearwardly from the frame 34 . A crossbar 22 extends from one sidepiece 26 to the other behind the frame 34 . The crossbar 22 contains a notch 48 in the center for supporting the distal end 18 of the handle 10 prior to its attachment to the frame 34 . The bottom 28 of the sidepiece 26 may be rounded or a glide ski or glide spoon 32 may attached to the bottom 28 of the sidepieces 26 . As in the above embodiments, a downward pressure on the handle 10 tilts the rake head 20 upwardly allowing the rake 2 to be repositioned without lifting.
[0057] As can be readily appreciated, in use the head 20 of the rake 2 is placed on the ground in the desired position, retracted toward the user, slid forward and to the side to another desired position, and retracted again. This operation does not involve lifting the rake head 20 off of the ground to change its position.
[0058] The handle 10 may be lengthened or shortened by using a connecting sleeve 50 as shown in FIG. 14 . The connecting sleeve 50 is a clamp which fits around the proximal 52 and distal 54 sections of two adjacent sections of the handle 10 . It may be fixedly attached to either section and moveably attached to the other section. For purposes of illustration, when the connecting sleeve 50 is fixedly attached to the proximal section 52 , the distal section 54 may be moved proximally or distally and when the distal section 54 is in the desired position, the connecting sleeve 50 may be tightened. The connecting sleeve 50 contains two bolts 62 and two nuts for use in the wing portions 64 of the connecting sleeve 50 or two bolts 62 and threaded wing portions 64 .
[0059] The center of gravity of the rake 2 of the present invention is immediately proximal to the rear of the head 20 . Thus it may be easily carried as shown in FIG. 12 by holding it at that place or it may be easily dragged along the ground as shown in FIG. 13 . For holding the rake 2 , a distal handgrip 66 as shown in FIG. 15 is provided.
[0060] The rake 2 of the present invention may be easily stored by virtue of a proximal handgrip 4 . As seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 , the handle 10 contains a hole 68 in the proximal handgrip 4 so that the hole 68 may be placed over a nail driven into the wall. When this is done the rake 2 fits close to the wall and the tines 40 are pointed toward the wall as shown in FIG. 20 .
[0061] Alternatively, a common implement holder 70 , such as a Crawford broom clip, as shown in FIG. 21 may be mounted on a wall and the rake 2 may be fitted into it at the bend between the third 14 and fourth 16 sections of the handle 10 as shown in FIG. 19 .
[0062] The implement for cleaning floors will now be discussed with reference to a push broom 72 . The broom 72 of the present invention is viewed in FIG. 22 . The broom handle 74 has a handgrip 4 at the proximal end 6 which is attached to, and almost completely covers, the first, upwardly slanted, section 8 of the handle 74 . The first section 8 of the handle 74 is bent to form a second, horizontal, section 12 . The second section 12 is bent to become a steep downwardly slanted third section 14 . The third section 14 is bent upwardly to form a fourth, straight, gradually downwardly slanted, section 16 of the handle 74 . The fourth section 16 attaches at its distal end 76 to an adapter 78 which is connected to the rectangular base 80 of the broom 72 .
[0063] With reference to FIG. 23 , it is seen that two wheel plate holders 82 are mounted on the top surface 84 of the broom base 80 . The two wheel plate holders 82 are equidistant from the side ends 86 of the broom base 80 . The handle holder 88 (not shown in FIG. 23 ) is located at the center of the top surface 84 of the broom base 80 .
[0064] With reference to FIGS. 26-29 , the wheel plate holder 82 is made up of a bottom piece 90 , two side pieces 92 and a top piece 94 . The bottom piece 90 has a plurality of connector holes 96 at each end 98 thereof for connecting to the top surface 84 of the base 80 with screws or bolts. The bottom piece 90 also contains a plurality of locking holes 100 located along the center line of the bottom piece 90 for holding the locking pins 102 . The side pieces 92 extend upwardly from the bottom piece 90 medially from the connector holes 96 . The side pieces 92 are of such a height as to allow easy, but snug, entrance of the wheel plate 104 . The top piece 94 bridges the two side pieces 92 and contains a plurality of holes 106 equidistant from the side pieces. Thus, in use, the wheel plate holder 82 is an open slot firmly affixed to the top surface 84 of the broom base 80 and is of such size as to allow the snug fit of the wheel plate 104 .
[0065] A pin holder 108 fits on the top piece 94 of the wheel plate holder 82 and holds a plurality, preferably two, locking pins 102 . The locking pins 102 pass through the top piece 94 of the wheel plate holder 82 and the wheel plate 104 and into the bottom piece 90 of the wheel plate holder 82 . As an option, the locking pins 102 may pass through the bottom piece 90 and into the broom base 80 . As another, but less desired, alternative, the locking pins 102 may be presented without the pin holder 108 . This alternative is just as effective, but allows for the loss of loose pins 102 .
[0066] The wheel plate 104 , as seen in FIGS. 30-32 , has a free front end 110 and a free rear end 112 . The free front end 110 contains holes 114 which are complimentary to the holes 100 , 106 in the top 94 and bottom piece 90 of the wheel plate holder 82 . Thus the wheel plate 104 may be firmly held in place by the locking pins 102 . The wheel plate 104 may be used on either side of the broom base 80 , thus permitting even wear of the bristles 116 .
[0067] The free rear 112 end of the wheel plate 104 may be a swivel wheel shown in FIG. 32 which comprises ball bearings 118 , a wheel holder 120 , an axle 122 , and a wheel 124 . the ball bearings 118 allow free movement between the wheel plate 104 and the wheel holder 120 . The broom 72 preferably features fixed wheel holders 120 shown in FIG. 31 . By use of the wheel plate holder 82 , the wheel plate 104 , and the wheel 124 , the operator may apply downward pressure on the broom handle 74 and the broom base 80 is lifted free from the surface being cleaned. This allows the rolling of the broom 72 to a new position for a new cleaning operation and avoids the lifting step common to prior art brooms.
[0068] With reference to FIG. 24 , the connection of the broom handle 74 to the broom base 80 will be described. The broom handle holder 88 is situated at the center of the top surface 84 of the broom base 80 . The broom handle holder 88 is made up of a bottom piece 126 , two side pieces 128 and a top piece 130 . The bottom piece 126 has at least one connector hole (not shown) at each end thereof for connecting to the top surface 84 of the broom base 80 with screws or bolts. The bottom piece 126 also contains at least one locking hole 132 located along the center line of the bottom piece 126 for holding the locking pin(s) 134 . The side pieces 128 extend upwardly from the bottom piece 126 medially from the connector holes. The side pieces 128 are of such a height as to allow easy, but snug, entrance of the handle connector plate 136 . The top piece 130 bridges the two side pieces 128 and contains at least one hole 138 equidistant from the side pieces 128 . Thus, in use, the handle holder 88 is an open slot firmly affixed to the top surface 84 of the broom base 80 and is of such size as to allow the snug fit of the handle connector plate 136 .
[0069] A locking pin 134 fits on top of the handle holder 88 and passes through the top piece 130 of the handle holder 88 and the handle connector plate 136 and into the bottom piece 126 of the broom handle holder 88 . As an option, the locking pin 134 may pass through the bottom piece 126 and into the broom base 80 .
[0070] The handle connector plate 136 , like the wheel plate 104 , fits into either side of the broom base 80 , allowing for even wear of the bristles 116 . The proximal end of the handle connector plate 136 contains an upward angle and is attached to an adapter 78 . The adapter 78 is preferably solid, but may be hollow. The adapter 78 contains a screw hole 140 in its upper surface 142 . The hollow handle 74 fits over the top of the adapter 78 and fastens thereto with a screw passing through the screw hole 144 on the handle 74 and the screw hole 140 in the adapter 78 . The features of the preferred broom handle 74 are like those described for the preferred handle 10 of the above-described rake 2 .
[0071] Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
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A rake having a curved handle and a rake head which is made up of a frame having a crossbar connecting the sides of the frame and connecting to the handle. The rake head contains sidepieces which are so shaped as to enable the rake head to glide across the ground. The sidepieces may fit into ski glides or spoon glides to provide this property. The frame is straight or is arced so as to provide a large area of containment. The invention also presents a broom or squeegee having the same handle as the rake. The handle is connected to an adapter, which fits into either side of a handle connector. The broom or squeegee is also connected to wheels so that it may be moved without being lifted from the surface to be cleaned or dried.
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RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation in part and claims full benefit of priority of US provisional application number 60/858,948, filed on Nov. 15, 2006 by Patrick Gillevet for Multitag Sequencing and Ecogenomics Analysis, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
[0002] Work described herein was done partly with Government support under Grant No. 1R43DK074275-01A2 awarded by the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the US Government therefore may have certain rights in the invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to the determination of polynucleotide sequences. It also relates to determining sequences in multiple samples, in some particulars in multiple environmental samples and in multiple clinical samples.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Sequence determination technologies for proteins, RNAs and DNAs, have been pivotal in the development of modern molecular biology. During the past fifteen years, DNA sequencing in particular has been the core technology in an on-going revolution in the scope and the depth of understanding of genomic organization and function. The on-going development of sequencing technology is, perhaps, best symbolized by the determination of the complete sequence of a human genome.
[0005] The human genome sequencing project served a number of purposes. It served as a platform for programmatic development of improved sequencing technologies and of genome sequencing efforts. It also served to provide a framework for the production and distribution of sequencing information from increasingly large scale sequencing projects. These projects provided complete genome sequences for a succession of model organisms of increasingly large genetic complements. These accomplishments, culminating in the completion of a human genome sequence, highlight the very considerable power and throughput of contemporary sequencing technology.
[0006] At the same time, however, they highlight the limitations of current technology and the need for considerable improvements in speed, accuracy, and cost before sequencing can be fully exploited in research and medicine. Among the areas that can be seen most readily to require advances in sequencing technology are clinical sequencing applications that require whole genome information, environmental applications involving multiple organisms in mixtures, and applications that require processing of many samples. These are, of course, just a few among a great many areas that either require or will benefit greatly from more capable and less expensive sequencing methods.
[0007] To date, virtually all sequencing has been done by Sanger chain elongation methods. All Sanger methods require separating the elongation products with single base resolution. Currently, while PAGE still is used for this purpose in some commercial sequencers, capillary electrophoresis is the method of choice for high throughput DNA sequencers. Both gel-based and capillary-based separation methods are time consuming, costly, and limit throughput. Chip based methods, such as Affymetrix GeneChips and HySeq's sequencing by hybridization methods, require chips that can be produced only by capital intensive and complex manufacturing processes. These limitations pose obstacles to the utilization of sequencing for many purposes, such as those described above. Partly to overcome the limitations imposed by the necessity for powerful separation techniques in chain termination sequencing methods and the manufacturing requirements of chip-based methods, a number of technologies are currently being developed that do not require the separation of elongation products with integer resolution and do not require chips.
[0008] A lead technology of this type is a bead, emulsion amplification, and pyrosequencing-based method developed by 454 Life Sciences. (See Marguilles, et al. (2005) Nature 437:376, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly as to the aforementioned methods. The method utilizes a series of steps to deposit single, amplified DNA molecules in individual wells of a plate containing several million picoliter wells. The steps ensure that each well of the plate either contains no DNA or the amplified DNA from a single original molecule. Pyrosequencing is carried out in the wells by elongation of a primer template in much the same way as Sanger sequencing. Pyrosequencing does not involve chain termination and does not require separation of elongation products. Instead sequencing proceeds stepwise by single base addition cycles. In each cycle one of the four bases—A, T, G, or C—is included in the elongation reaction. The other three bases are omitted. A base is added to the growing chain if it is complementary to the next position on the template. Light is produced whenever a base is incorporated into the growing complimentary sequence. By interrogating with each of A, C, G, or T in succession, the identity of the base at each position can be determined. Sequencing reactions are carried out in many wells simultaneously. Signals are collected from all the wells at once using an imaging detector. Thus, a multitude of sequences can be determined at the same time
[0009] In principle, each well containing a DNA will emit a signal for only one of the four bases for each position. In practice, runs of the same base at two or more positions in succession lead to the emission of proportionally stronger signals for the first position in the run. Consequently, reading out the sequence from a given well is a bit more complicated then simply noting, for each position, which of the four bases is added. Nevertheless, because signals are proportional to the number of incorporations, sequences can be accurately reconstructed from the signal strength for most runs.
[0010] The technology has been shown to read accurately an average of about 250 or so bases per well with acceptable accuracy. A device offered by 454 Life Sciences currently uses a 6.4 cm 2 picoliter well “plate” containing 1,600,000 picoliter sized wells for sequencing about 400,000 different templates. The throughput for a single run using this plate currently is about 100 million bases in four hours. Even though this is a first generation device, its throughput is nearly 100 times better than standard Sanger sequencing devices.
[0011] Numerous other methods are being developed for ultra high throughput sequencing by other institutions and companies. Sequencing by synthesis methods that rely on target amplification are being developed and/or commercialized by George Church at Harvard University, by Solexa, and by others. Ligation sequencing methods have been developed and/or are being commercialized by Applied Biosystems and Solexa, among others. Array and hybridization sequencing methods are commercially available and/or are being developed by Affymetrix, Hyseq, Biotrove, Nimblegen, Illumina, and others. Methods of sequencing single molecules are being pursued by Helicos based on sequencing by synthesis and U.S. Genomics (among others) based on poration.
[0012] These methods represent a considerable improvement in throughput over past methods, in some regards. And they promise considerable improvement in economy as well. However, currently they are expensive to implement and use, they are limited to relatively short reads and, although massively parallel, they have limitations that must be overcome to realize their full potential.
[0013] One particular disadvantage of these methods, for example, is that samples must be processed serially, reducing throughput and increasing cost. This is a particularly great disadvantage when large numbers of samples are being processed, such as may be the case in clinical studies and environmental sampling, to name just two applications. The incorporation of indexing sequences by ligation to random shotgun libraries has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 7,264,929, 7,244,559, and 7,211,390, but the direct ligation methods therein disclosed distort the distribution of the components within the samples (as illustrated in FIG. 4 herein) and therefore are inappropriate for enumerating components within each sample.
[0014] Accordingly, there is a need to improve sample throughput, to lower the costs of sequencing polynucleotides from many samples at a time, and to accurately enumerate the components of samples analyzed by high throughput, parallelized and multiplex techniques.
SUMMARY
[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide sequencing methods with improved sample throughput. The following paragraphs describe a few illustrative embodiments of the invention that exemplify some of its aspects and features. They are not exhaustive in illustrating its many aspects and embodiments, and thus are not in any way limitative of the invention. Many other aspects, features, and embodiments of the invention are described herein. Many other aspects and embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the application and giving it due consideration in the full light of the prior art and knowledge in the field.
[0016] Embodiments provide multiplex methods for the quantitative determination of polynucleotides in two or more samples, comprising:
[0017] hybridizing a first primer to polynucleotides in a first sample, said first primer comprising a first tag sequence and a first probe sequence specific for a first target sequence, wherein said first target sequence is 3′ to a variable genetic region;
[0018] elongating primer templates formed thereby to form a first population of tagged polynucleotides comprising: said first primer including said first tag sequence; and sequences of said variable genetic region;
[0019] hybridizing a second primer to polynucleotides in a second sample, said second primer comprising a second tag sequence and a second probe sequence specific for a second target sequence, wherein said second target sequence is 3′ to the same variable genetic region as said first target sequence, wherein further said second probe sequence may be the same as or different from said first probe sequence;
[0020] elongating primer templates formed thereby to form a second population of tagged polynucleotides comprising: said second primer including said second tag sequence; and sequences of said variable genetic region;
[0021] mixing said first and second populations together;
[0022] determining sequences of polynucleotides comprising tag sequences and the sequences of the variable genetic element in said mixture;
[0023] from the tag sequences comprised in the polynucleotide sequences thus determined identifying the sample in which polynucleotide sequences occurred;
[0024] from the sequences of the variable genetic region comprised in the polynucleotide sequences thus determined identifying particular variants of said variable genetic element;
[0025] from this information determining the number of time one or more given variants occur in each sample, and
[0026] from the number for each variant in the polynucleotides thus determined, quantifying said polynucleotides in said samples;
[0027] wherein said sequences are determined without Southern blot transfer and/or without size-separating primer extension products and/or without electrophoresis.
[0028] Embodiments provide multiplex methods for the quantitative determination of polynucleotides in two or more samples, comprising:
[0029] hybridizing a first primer pair to polynucleotides in a first sample, the first primer of said first primer pair comprising a first tag sequence and a first probe sequences specific for a first target sequence and the second primer of said first primer pair comprising a second tag sequence and a second probe sequence specific for a second target sequence, wherein the first and the second probe sequences flank and hybridize to opposite strands of a variable genetic region;
[0030] elongating primer templates formed thereby to from a first population of tagged polynucleotides, each of said polynucleotides comprising: (a) the sequence of said first primer of said first primer pair, a sequence of said variable genetic region, and a sequence complementary to the sequence of said second primer of said first primer pair or (b) a sequence complementary to the sequence of said first primer of said first primer pair, a sequence of said variable genetic region and the sequence of said second primer of said first primer pair;
[0031] hybridizing a second primer pair to polynucleotides in a second sample, the first primer of said second primer pair comprising a third tag sequence and said first probe sequences specific for said first target sequence and the second primer of said second primer pair comprising a fourth tag sequence and said second probe sequence specific for said second target sequence;
[0032] elongating primer templates formed thereby to from a second population of tagged polynucleotides, each of said polynucleotides comprising: (a) the sequence of said first primer of said second primer pair, a sequence of said variable genetic region, and a sequence complementary to the sequence of said second primer of said second primer pair or (b) a sequence complementary to the sequence of said first primer of said second primer pair, a sequence of said variable genetic region and the sequence of said second primer of said second primer pair;
[0033] mixing said first and second populations together;
[0034] determining sequences of polynucleotides in said mixture, comprising the tag sequences and the variable genetic element;
[0035] from the tag sequences comprised in the polynucleotide sequences thus determined identifying the sample in which polynucleotide sequences occurred;
[0036] from the sequences of the variable genetic region comprised in the polynucleotide sequences thus determined identifying particular variants of said variable genetic element;
[0037] from this information determining the number of times given variants occur in each sample, and
[0038] from the number for each variant in the polynucleotides thus determined, quantifying said polynucleotides in said samples.
[0039] wherein said sequences are determined without Southern blot transfer and/or without size-separating primer extension products and/or without electrophoresis.
[0040] Embodiments provide methods in accordance with any of the foregoing or the following wherein given polynucleotide sequences in a sample is quantified by a method comprising normalizing the number occurrences determined for the given sequence. In embodiments the number of occurrences is normalized by dividing the number of occurrences determined for the given polynucleotide sequence by the total number of occurrences of polynucleotide sequences in the sample. In embodiments the given polynucleotide sequences is that of a given variant of a variable genetic region and, in embodiments, the quantity of the given variant in the sample is normalized by dividing the number of occurrences of that variant by the total number of occurrences of all variants of the variable genetic region in the sample.
[0041] Embodiments provide a multiplex method for determining polynucleotide sequences in two or more samples, comprising: attaching a first tag sequence to one or more polynucleotides of a first sample; attaching a second tag sequence different from said first tag sequence to one or more polynucleotides of a second sample; mixing the tagged polynucleotides of said first and second samples together; determining sequences of said polynucleotides comprising said first and said second tags; and identifying said first and second tags in said sequences; thereby identifying sequences of said polynucleotides of said first sample and second samples, wherein said sequences are determined without Southern blot transfer and/or without size-separating primer extension products and/or without electrophoresis.
[0042] Embodiments provide a multiplex method for determining polynucleotide sequences in two or more samples comprising: attaching a first tag sequence, t 1 , to P 1−1 through P 1−n1 polynucleotides in a first sample, thereby to provide a first plurality of polynucleotides tagged with said first tag, t 1 P 1−1 through t 1 P 1−n1 ;
[0043] attaching a second tag sequence, t 2 , to P 2−1 through P 2−n2 polynucleotides in a second sample, thereby to provide a second plurality of polynucleotides tagged with said second tag, t 2 P 2−1 through t 2 P 2−n2 ;
[0044] mixing together said polynucleotides tagged with said first and said second tags;
[0045] determining sequences of polynucleotides comprising said tags in said mixture;
[0046] identifying said first and second tags in said sequences and;
[0047] by said first tag identifying polynucleotide sequences of said first sample and by said second tag identifying polynucleotide sequences of said second sample;
[0048] wherein said sequences are determined without Southern blot transfer and/or without size-separating primer extension products and/or without electrophoresis.
[0049] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the number of said polynucleotides in said first sample, n 1 , is any of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 12,500, 15,000, 17,500, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, 40,000, 50,000, 75,000, 100,000, 150,000, 200,000, 250,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 or more, and the number of said polynucleotides in said second sample, n 2 , is any of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 12,500, 15,000, 17,500, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, 40,000, 50,000, 75,000, 100,000, 150,000, 200,000, 250,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 or more.
[0050] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the number of said samples and of said different tags therefor is 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000 or more.
[0051] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the tags are nucleotide sequences that are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 nucleotides long or any combination thereof.
[0052] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the tags are incorporated into said polynucleotides by a step of ligation, provided that the step of ligation does not result in biasing.
[0053] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the tags are incorporated into said polynucleotides by a step of ligation and/or by a step of amplification.
[0054] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein said tags are comprised in primers for amplification and are incorporated into said polynucleotides by amplification using said primers.
[0055] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein said tags are incorporated into said polynucleotides by a process comprising a step of cloning into a vector.
[0056] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the tags are comprised in adapters for amplification and said adapters are ligated to polynucleotides in said samples. Embodiments provide a method in this regard, wherein further, said polynucleotides ligated thereby to said tags are amplified via said adapters.
[0057] Embodiments provide a method in this regard, wherein further, said adapters comprise a moiety for immobilization. In embodiments said moiety is a ligand; in embodiments it is biotin. Embodiments provide a method in this regard, wherein further, said tags are comprised on adapters for bead emulsion amplification. In embodiments the adapters are suitable for use in a sequencing system of 454 Life Sciences or other sequencing system in which bead emulsion amplification is carried out.
[0058] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the primer for amplification comprises a sequence for PCR amplification, linear amplification, transcriptional amplification, rolling circle replication, or QB replication.
[0059] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the primer for amplification comprises a sequence for PCR amplification.
[0060] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein each of said polynucleotides is disposed individually on a bead isolated from other polynucleotides.
[0061] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein each of said polynucleotides is disposed individually on a bead isolated from other said polynucleotides, is amplified while disposed therein, and the amplification products thereof also are disposed on said bead.
[0062] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein each of said polynucleotides is disposed individually on a bead isolated from other said polynucleotides, is amplified while disposed therein, the amplification products thereof also are disposed on said bead, and each said bead is disposed individually in a well isolated from other said beads.
[0063] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the sequences are determined by pyrosequencing.
[0064] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein said samples are biological samples, each comprising one or more species.
[0065] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein at least one sequence of said polynucleotides is specific to a particular organism.
[0066] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein said sequences comprise a variable 16S rRNA sequence.
[0067] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein said sequences comprise a variable 18S rRNA sequence, a variable rRNA ITS sequence, a mitochondrial sequence, a microsatellite sequence, a metabolic enzyme sequence, and/or a genetic disease sequence.
[0068] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the samples are microbial community samples.
[0069] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the samples are microbial community samples for clinical analysis of a patient.
[0070] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the samples are microbial community environmental samples.
[0071] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the samples are microbial community soil samples. Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the samples are microbial community water samples.
[0072] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the samples are samples for SNP analysis.
[0073] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein the samples are samples for genotyping.
[0074] Embodiments provide a multiplex method according to any of the foregoing or the following for determining polynucleotide sequences of two or more samples, comprising,
[0075] amplifying polynucleotides of a first sample to produce first amplified polynucleotides comprising a first tag sequence;
[0076] separately amplifying polynucleotides of a second sample to produce second amplified polynucleotides comprising a second tag sequence different from said first tag sequence;
[0077] wherein the amplification products arising from different individual polynucleotides are spatially separated from one another;
[0078] mixing together amplicons of said first and second samples;
[0079] distributing the amplicons in the mixture into spatially distinct locations; sequencing the amplicons thus distributed using one or more primers that hybridize 5′ to said tag sequences;
[0080] identifying said tag sequences in the sequences of polynucleotides thus determined; and
[0081] identifying by said tags polynucleotides of said first sample and polynucleotides of said second sample.
[0082] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, comprising,
[0083] (a) for each sample separately: isolating polynucleotides to be sequenced, ligating said polynucleotides to a common adaptor comprising a tag sequence, and capturing individual ligated polynucleotides onto individual beads under conditions that provide predominately for the immobilization of 0 or 1 molecule per bead;
[0084] (b) thereafter mixing together said beads comprising said polynucleotides.
[0085] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, further comprising, amplifying bead-immobilized polynucleotides in droplets of an emulsion thereby to clonally amplify said individual polynucleotides on said beads, wherein amplification comprises amplification of said tag sequence.
[0086] Embodiments provide a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, further comprising, distributing individual droplets containing said amplified polynucleotides into wells under conditions that provide predominantly for 0 or 1 droplet per well, determining in individual wells the sequences of polynucleotides comprising said tag sequences, and by said tag sequences identifying polynucleotides of said first and said second samples.
[0087] In embodiments the invention provides methods in accordance with any of the foregoing or the following, for any one or more of detecting, monitoring, profiling, prognosticating, and/or diagnosing a disorder, disease, or the like.
[0088] In embodiments the invention provides methods in accordance with any of the foregoing or the following, for analyzing the composition, diversity, stability, dynamics, and/or changes in agricultural, food, biosecurity, veterinary, clinical, ecological, zoological, oceanological, and/or any other sample comprising one or more polynucleotides.
[0089] Embodiments provide kits comprising a plurality of two or more primers, each primer in said plurality comprising a tag sequence and a probe sequence specific to a target sequence, wherein:
[0090] (A) in each of said primers the probe sequence is 3′ to the tag sequence, but not necessarily adjacent thereto;
[0091] (B) in each of said primers: the tag sequence is different from the tag sequence of the other in the plurality; the tag sequence is not the complementary sequence to any other tag sequence in the plurality; the tag sequence does not contain any homodinucleotide sequences; the junction sequences between the tag sequence and the adjacent parts of the primer, if any, is not a homodinucleotide sequence;
[0092] (C) in each of said primers the probe sequence is complementary to the target sequence and the target sequence is located 3′ to a variable genetic region, and
[0093] (D) each of said primers is disposed separately from the others in containers in said kit.
[0094] Embodiments provide kits in accordance with any of the foregoing or the following, wherein each of said primers further comprises a priming sequence 5′ to the tag sequence but not necessarily adjacent thereto, and the priming sequence is the same in all of said primers, said kit further comprising a primer complimentary to and effective for polymerization from said priming sequence.
[0095] Embodiments provides kits comprising a plurality of two or more primers pairs, each primer in said plurality comprising a tag sequence and a probe sequence specific to a target sequence, wherein:
[0096] (A) in each of said primer the probe sequence is 3′ to the tag sequence, but not necessarily adjacent thereto;
[0097] (B) in each of said primers: the tag sequence is different from the tag sequence of the other in the plurality; the tag sequence is not the complementary sequence to any other tag sequence in the plurality; the tag sequence does not contain any homodinucleotide sequences; the junction sequences between the tag sequence and the adjacent parts of the primer, if any, is not a homodinucleotide sequence;
[0098] (C) in each of said primers the probe sequence is complementary to the target sequence,
[0099] (D) in each primer pair the probe sequences are specific to target sequences that flank a variable genetic region;
[0100] (E) each of said primers is disposed separately from the others in said kit.
[0101] Embodiments provides kits in accordance with any of the foregoing or the following, wherein, the primers further comprise a priming sequence 5′ to the tag sequence but not necessarily adjacent thereto, the priming sequence either is the same in all the primers, or one member of each pair has the same first priming sequence and the second member of each pair has the same second priming sequence, said kit further comprising disposed separately from one another in one or more containers one or more primers complementary to and effective for elongation from said priming
[0102] Embodiments provide a kit useful in methods according to any of the foregoing or the following, comprising a set of primers and/or adapters, wherein each primer and/or adapter in said set comprises a tag sequence and a primer sequence. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters further comprise a moiety for immobilization. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters comprise biotin. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters in the set comprise all tag sequences defined by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 base polynucleotide sequences, wherein each of said primers and/or adapters are disposed in containers separate from one another. In embodiments there are 1-5, 3-10, 5-15, 10-25, 20-50, 25-75, 50-100, 50-150, 100-200, 150-500, 250-750, 100-1000, or more different tag sequences disposed separately from one another, so as to be useful for uniquely tagging said number of different samples. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters are suitable for use as 454 Life Sciences amplification adapters and/or primers. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters further comprise any one or more of a primer sequence for any one or more of a 16S rRNA sequence, an 18S rRNA sequence, an ITS sequence, a mitochondrial sequence, a microsatellite sequence, a metabolic enzyme sequence, a genetic disease sequence, and/or any other sequence for amplification or analysis.
[0103] In embodiments the invention provides a kit, in accordance with any of the foregoing or the following, comprising a set of primers and/or adapters for use in a method according to any of the foregoing or the following, wherein each primer and/or adapter in said set comprises a tag sequence, the tag sequence of each of said primers and/or adapters is different from that of the other primers and/or adapters in said set, the primers and/or adapters further comprise a priming sequence that is the same in all of the primers and/or adapters in said set, the tag sequences are located 5′ to the priming sequence and the different primers and/or adapters comprising each different tag sequence are disposed separately from one another. In embodiments the tags are any number of bases long. In embodiments the tags are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 bases long. In embodiments the tags are 4 bases long. In embodiments the priming sequence is specific to any target polynucleotide of interest. In embodiments the priming sequence is specific to a sequence in 16S rRNA. In embodiments the tags differ from each other by at least 2 bases. In embodiments the tags do not contain polynucleotide tracts within the tag. In embodiments the tags do not contain homo-polynucleotide tracts within or at the junction of the tag and PCR primer. In embodiments the tags do not contain polynucleotide tracts within or at the junction of the tag and emulsion PCR adapter. In embodiments, the tags are not reverse compliments of each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0104] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general embodiment of the invention. A plurality of samples (S 1 , S 2 , through S j ) is shown topmost in the Figure. Each sample is comprised of a plurality of polynucleotides (P 1−1 to P 1−n1 in S 1 ; P 2−1 to P 2−n2 in S2; through P j−1 to P j−nj ). The polynucleotides in each sample are labeled separately with a tag polynucleotide sequence, all the polynucleotides in a given sample being tagged (in this illustration) with a single tag sequence, designated in the figure as T 1 for S 1 , T 2 for S 2 , through T j for S j . The individual tagged polynucleotides are denoted accordingly. The tagged polynucleotides in each sample are designated collectively, for each sample, T 1 S 1 , T 2 S 2 , through T j S j . The tagged polynucleotides from the samples are mixed together to form a mixture, designated M i . The mixture is sequenced, typically by a massively parallel sequencing method. The tag sequences are identified in the data thus obtained. The sequences are grouped by tag. The sequences from the individual samples are thereby identified.
[0105] FIG. 2A is a diagram depicting step I in the multitag sequencing of microbial community samples using a tagged 16S forward and reverse primer-linker pairs for PCR amplification. (a) represents the Forward 16S rRNA primer with Tag I and Emulsion PCR Linker, (b) represents the 16S rRNA sequence, (c) represents the Reverse 16S rRNA primer with Tag j and Emulsion PCR Linker, (d) represents the Amplified 16S rRNA sequence with Forward and Reverse Tags ij, (e) represents the Emulsion PCR Bead, (f) represents the pyrosequencing read, (g) represents the well in picoliter plate, (h) represents a Unique tag, (i) represents Amplified Community 1, (j) represents Amplified Community 2, and (k) represents Amplified Community n. Step 1 involves the amplification of the microbial community from each sample using uniquely tagged universal primers-linkers. In step 1, different samples are amplified separately, using 16S rRNA specific adapter-tag-primers with a different tag for each sample.
[0106] FIG. 2B is a diagram depicting the Emulsion PCR reaction beads randomly arrayed into picoliter plate. In step 2 in the process, the PCR products from all the samples are mixed, immobilized on beads, distributed into wells of the picoliter plate, and emulsion PCR amplified.
[0107] FIG. 2C is a diagram depicting the pyrosequencing process from each outside adapter in each well of the picoliter plate. Each reaction reads sequence from the adapter, through the unique tags and the associated sequence of the tagged sample
[0108] FIG. 2D is a diagram depicting the algorithmic sorting of the Pyrosequencing reads using the individual tag sequence and a portion of the primer sequence. (1) represents the sequence reads from sample 1, (m) represents the sequence reads from sample 2, and (n) represents the sequence reads from sample n.
[0109] FIG. 2E is a diagram depicting the identification of microbial taxa by comparing the sequence reads for each sample against the 16S rRNA sequence database and then normalize abundance in each taxa with respect to the total reads in that particular sample. (o) represents the normalized species histogram derived the pyrosequencing reads obtained from sample 1, (p) represents the normalized species histogram derived the pyrosequencing reads obtained from sample 2, (q) represents the normalized species histogram derived the pyrosequencing reads obtained from sample n,
[0110] FIG. 3 is the species distribution in (A) Controls, (B) Crohns, and (C) Ulcerative colitis samples determined by the 454 Life Science pyrosequencing process. Each bar in the histogram is the average normalized abundance of that taxa in each disease state. Each sample was run in a separate well on the picoliter plate using the 454 16 well mask.
[0111] FIG. 4 is an example of the distortion of the components of a complex mixture caused by ligating the Emulsion PCR adapters onto PCR amplicons. FIG. 4A shows the size distribution of PCR amplicons in sample 309 before ligation and FIG. 4B shows the size distribution of sample 309 after ligation.
[0112] FIG. 5 is an example of the normalized taxa abundances in duplicate samples determined by Multitag pyrosequencing after direct ligation of the emulsion PCR adapters.
[0113] FIG. 6 shows all possible hexameric polynucleotide tags within which there are no dinucleotide repeats and no tag is the reverse complement of any other tag.
[0114] FIG. 7 shows 96 tagged adaptor primers in which there are no dinucleotide repeats in the tags, no dinucleotide repeats at the junction of the tags and the tags are not reverse complements of one another. In each case 5 bases of the primer also can be used to identify samples. 7 A and 7 B show the forward primers (SEQ ID NOS 1-96, respectively in order of appearance). 7 C and 7 D show the reverse primers (SEQ ID NOS 97-192, respectively in order of appearance).
GLOSSARY
[0115] The meanings ascribed to various terms and phrases as used herein are illustratively explained below.
[0116] “A” or “an” means one or more; at least one.
[0117] “About” as used herein means roughly, approximately. Should a precise numerical definition be required, “about” means +/− 25%.
[0118] “Adapter” means a polynucleotide sequence used to either attach single polynucleotide fragments to beads and/or to prime the emulsion PCR reaction and/or as a template to prime pyrosequencing reactions.
[0119] “ALH” is used herein to mean amplicon length heterogeneity.
[0120] “Amplicon” is used herein to refer to the products of an amplification reaction.
[0121] “Clonally amplified” is used herein generally to mean amplification of a single starting molecule. Typically it also refers to the clustering together of the amplification products, isolated from other amplification templates or products.
[0122] “dsDNA” means double stranded DNA.
[0123] Dysbiosis means a shift in a the species and abundance of species in a microbial community.
[0124] “Flanking” generally is used to mean on each side, such as on the 5′ and the 3′ side of a region of a polynucleotide—with reference to the 5′ and the 3′ ends of one or the other stand of a double stranded polynucleotide. Forward and reverse primers for amplifying a region of a polynucleotide by PCR, for instance, flank the region to be amplified.
[0125] “Microbial community sample” is used herein to refer to a sample, generally of a biological nature, containing two or more different microbes. Microbial community samples include, for instance, environmental samples, as well as biological samples, such as samples for clinical analysis. The term applies as well to preparations, such as DNA preparations, derived from such samples.
[0126] “Multiplex sequencing” herein refers to sequencing two or more types or samples of polynucleotides in a single reaction or in a single reaction vessel.
[0127] “PCO” means principal coordinates analysis.
[0128] “PCA” means principal component analysis.
[0129] “Picotiter plate” means a plate having a large number of wells that hold a relatively small volume, typically more wells than a 96-well microtiter plate, and smaller volumes than those of a typical 96-well microtiter plate well.
[0130] “Primer” means a polynucleotide sequence that is used to amplify PCR products and/or to prime sequencing reactions.
[0131] “ssDNA” means single stranded DNA.
[0132] “Tag,” “Tag sequence,” etc. means typically a heterologous sequence, such as a polynucleotide sequence that identifies another sequence with which it is associated as being of a given type or belonging to a given group.
[0133] “Variable genetic region” as used herein means a genetic region that varies, such as between individuals of a species and between species. The phrase does not denote a specific length, but, rather is used to denote a region comprising a variation the exact length of which may vary and may differ in different contexts. As to a double stranded polynucleotide. the term includes one or the other and both stands of the region, and may be used to refer to one, the other, or to both strands, and it will generally be clear from the context which is meant. A specific example of a genetic region that varies between individuals, provided for illustration only, is a genetic region that contains an SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) site. By variable genetic region in this regard is meant a region containing the SNP site. Different sequences of the SNP in this regard constitute the variants of the variable genetic region. A specific example of a variable genetic region that differs between species is the genes for 16S RNA which vary characteristically between microbes and can be used to identify microbes in mixed community samples as described in greater detail in some of the examples herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0134] In certain aspects and embodiments the invention relates to multiplex sequencing analysis using tags. In various aspects and embodiments of the invention in this regard the invention provides methods for sequencing two or more samples simultaneously in a mixture with one another, wherein each sample is first linked to a sample-specific sequence tag, the tagged samples are mixed and sequenced, and the sequences from each sample then are identified by their respective sample-specific sequence tags.
[0135] FIG. 1 provides a general depiction of various aspects and embodiments of the invention in this regard, and the figure is discussed by way of illustration below with reference to sequencing DNA from different samples. A plurality of samples (S 1 , S 2 , through S j ) is shown topmost in the Figure. Each sample is comprised of a plurality of polynucleotides (P 1−1 to P 1−n1 in S 1 ; P 2−1 to P 2−n2 in S2; through P j−1 to P j−nj ). The polynucleotides in each sample are labeled separately with a tag polynucleotide sequence, all the polynucleotides in a given sample being tagged (in this illustration) with a single tag sequence, designated in the figure as T 1 for S 1 , T 2 for S 2 , through T j for S j . The individual tagged polynucleotides are denoted accordingly. The tagged polynucleotides in each sample are designated collectively, for each sample, T 1 S 1 , T 2 S 2 through T j S j . The tagged polynucleotides from the samples are mixed together to form a mixture, designated M i . The mixture is sequenced typically by a parallel sequencing method. The tag sequences are identified in the data thus obtained. The sequences are grouped by tag. The sequences from the individual samples are thereby identified.
[0136] In embodiments tags are 3 to 30, 4 to 25, 4 to 20 base long sequences. In embodiments the tags are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 nucleotides long or any combination thereof.
[0137] In embodiments there are 1-6, 6-12, 10-15, 10-20, 15-25, 20-40, 25-50, 25-75, 50-100, 50-150, 100-200, 100-250, 50-250, 100-500, 500-1,000, 100-1,000, 500-5,000, 100-10,000, 1,000-25,000, 500-50,000, 100-100,000, 1-1,000,000 or more samples, tagged, respectively, with 1-6, 6-12, 10-15, 10-20, 15-25, 20-40, 25-50, 25-75, 50-100, 50-150, 100-200, 100-250, 50-250, 100-500, 500-1,000, 100-1,000, 500-5,000, 100-10,000, 1,000-25,000, 500-50,000, 100-100,000, 1-1,000,000 or more different tags.
[0138] In embodiments the sequences are determined without the use of gel electrophoresis.
[0139] In embodiments the sequences are determined without the use of transfer of sequences from a gel onto a membrane or a filter for hybridization. In embodiments, sequences are determined by a parallel sequencing method. In embodiments the sequences are determined by pyrosequencing, sequencing by synthesis, hybridization sequencing, subtractive sequencing, pore sequencing or direct read sequencing.
[0140] In embodiments the tags are incorporated into polynucleotides in samples for sequencing by a step of ligation and/or by a step of amplification.
[0141] In embodiments the tags are comprised in primers for amplification.
[0142] In embodiments the tags are comprised in primers for PCR amplification, transcription amplification, rolling circle amplification, or amplification by Qβ replicase.
[0143] In embodiments the tags are comprised in emulsion PCR adapters and primers for amplification.
[0144] In embodiments the tags are incorporated by a step of cloning into a vector.
[0145] In embodiments the samples are microbial community samples. In embodiments the samples are clinical samples. In embodiments the samples are environmental samples. In embodiments the samples are samples for SNP analysis. In embodiments the samples are samples for genotyping. In embodiments the sequences are determined in one or more picotiter plates.
[0146] In embodiments the samples are fragmented genomic DNAs. In embodiments the samples are fragmented Bacterial genomic DNA, Archae genomic DNA, Fungal genomic
[0147] DNA, Eukaryotic genomic DNA, chloroplast DNA, and/or mitochondrial DNA. In embodiments the samples are cDNAs. In embodiments the samples are Eukaryotic cDNA,
[0148] Bacterial cDNA, Archae cDNA, and/or Fungal cDNA. In embodiments the tags are incorporated by a step of ligation and/or by a step of amplification.
[0149] In embodiments the samples are for any one or more of detecting, monitoring, profiling, prognosticating, and/or diagnosing a disorder, disease, or the like. In embodiments the samples are for analyzing the composition, diversity, stability, dynamics, and/or changes in agricultural, food, biosecurity, veterinary, clinical, ecological, zoological, oceanological, and/or any other sample comprising one or more polynucleotides.
[0150] In embodiments the sequences are determined in wells of a titer plate. In embodiments the sequences are determined in one or more picotiter plates having a mask. In embodiments the sequences are determined in one more picotiter plates having a mask, wherein the mask defines 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 or more compartments.
[0151] By way of illustration to a 454 picotiter plate, in embodiments there are about 120,000 templates/plate and the read length averages about 250 bases per template. In embodiments relating thereto there are 10 tags of 4 bases per 1/16 plate, 160 tags total, an average of about 750 templates per tag (and per sample), and about 187,500 bases sequenced per tag (and per sample).
[0152] In embodiments there are about 260,000 templates/plate and the read length averages about 250 bases per template. In embodiments relating thereto, there are 12 tags of 4 bases per ⅛ plate, 96 samples total, an average of about 2,708 templates per tag (and per sample) and about 677,083 bases of sequence per tag (and per sample).
[0153] In embodiments there are about 400,000 templates/plate and the read length averages about 250 bases per template. In embodiments relating thereto, there are 96 tags of 6 bases for 96 samples per plate, about 4,166 templates per tag (and per sample) and about 1,041,666 bases of sequence per tag (and per sample).
[0154] In embodiments the tags are 10 base long sequences, there are 192 different tags, and the samples are analyzed in microtiter plate format.
[0155] In embodiments the invention provides algorithms for deconvolving, from a mixture of sequences from two or more samples, the sequences of the samples in the mixture by identifying sample-specific tags in the sequences, grouping the sequences by the tags thus identified, thereby grouping together the sequence from each of said samples, apart from one another.
[0156] In embodiments the invention provides algorithms for deconvolving, from a mixture of sequences from two or more samples, the sequences of the samples in the mixture by identifying sample-specific tags in sequences, as follows:
[0157] 1. Read all sequence reads into an array;
[0158] 2. Search the beginning of each sequence read and identify the tag;
[0159] 3. Build an associative array linking tag with sequence read;
[0160] 4. Sort the keys for the associate array;
[0161] 5. Associate each key with the corresponding sample;
[0162] 6. Pool all sequence reads for each sample;
[0163] 7. Analyze each sample separately.
[0164] 8. Normalize the abundance of each component within each samples with respect to the total reads within that sample.
[0165] In embodiments the algorithm can be implemented in any programming language. In embodiments the algorithm is implemented in C, C++, JAVA, Fortran, or Basic. In embodiments the algorithm is implemented as a PERL script.
[0166] In embodiments the invention provides kits for multiplex sequencing as described herein, comprising a set of primers and/or adapters, wherein each primer and/or adapter in said set comprises a tag sequence, a primer sequence and/or an emulsion PCR adapter. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters further comprise a moiety for immobilization. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters comprise biotin. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters in the set comprise all tag sequences defined by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 base polynucleotide sequences, wherein said primers and/or adapters comprising different tag sequences are disposed in containers separate from one another. In embodiments there are 1-5, 3-10, 5-15, 10-25, 20-50, 25-75, 50-100, 50-150, 100-200, 150-500, 250-750, 100-1000, or more different tag sequences disposed separately from one another, so as to be useful for uniquely tagging said number of different samples. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters are suitable for use as 454 Life Sciences amplification adapters and/or primers. In embodiments the primers and/or adapters further comprise any one or more of a primer sequence for any one or more of a 16S rRNA sequence, an 18S rRNA sequence, an ITS sequence, a mitochondrial sequence, a microsatellite sequence, a metabolic enzyme sequence, a genetic disease sequence, and/or any other sequence for amplification or analysis.
EXAMPLES
[0167] The present invention is additionally described by way of the following illustrative, non-limiting examples.
Example 1
Sequencing Using the 454 Pyrosequencing System
[0168] 454 Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Roche Diagnostics, provides a device for pyrosequencing approximately 100,000,000 bases of about 400,000 different templates in a single run on a single picotiter plate. The company also provides masks that allows for the processing 2, 4, 8, or 16 different samples on one plate. At maximum capacity using the masked plate, the system provides about 1 million bases of sequence data on about 4,000 templates for each of 16 samples.
[0169] The general process of sequencing using the 454 system is generally as follows: isolate DNA; optionally fragment the DNA; optionally render the DNA double stranded; ligate the DNA to adaptors; separate the strands of the dsDNA, bind the ssDNA to beads under conditions that result in a preponderance of beads that have either no DNA molecule bound to them or a single molecule of DNA bound to them; capture the beads in individual droplets of an emulsion of a PCR reaction mix in oil; carry out a PCR reaction on the emulsion-encapsulated bead-DNAs (whereby amplification products are captured on the beads); distribute the amplification products into picoliter wells so that there is either no bead in a well or one bead; and carry out pyrosequencing on all the beads in all the wells in parallel.
Example 2
Multiplex Pyrosequencing Using 96 Tagged Adapter-PCR Primers
[0170] 454 Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Roche Diagnostics, provides a device for pyrosequencing approximately 100,000,000 bases of sequence for about 400,000 different templates in a single run on a single picotiter plate. At maximum capacity using the plate, the system provides about 10 million bases of sequence data for each of about 4,000 templates for each of 96 multitagged samples. In this example the 96 tags are 6 bases in length and are used along with 6 bases of the forward or reverse primer to identify the reads that belong with each of the 96 individual samples (see FIG. 2 ).
Example 3
Multtag Pyrosequence Analysis of Microbial Community Samples
[0171] Various aspects and embodiments of the invention herein described are illustrated by way of the following general example relating to “ecogenomic” analysis of microbial diversity in biological samples.
[0172] The ability to quantify the number and kinds of microorganisms within a community is fundamental to the understanding of the structure and function of an ecosystem, as discussed in, for instance, Pace 1997 and Theron and Cloete 2000. Traditionally, the analysis of microbial communities has been conducted using microbiological techniques, but these techniques are limited. For instance they are not useful for the many organisms that cannot be cultivated (Ritchie, Schutter et al. 2000; Spring, Schulze et al. 2000). Even for those organisms that can be cultured, these techniques provide little information with which to identify individual microbes or characterize their physiological traits. (Morris, Bardin et al. 2002).
[0173] Recent advances in molecular techniques have overcome some of these disadvantages, and have enabled the identification of many more taxa in microbial communities than traditional microbial techniques. These advances have provided considerable insight into the expression of key functions in species in microbial communities. (Pace 1997; Suzuki 1998; Amann 2000; Frischer, Danforth et al. 2000; Ritchie, Schutter et al. 2000; Spring, Schulze et al. 2000). Among these molecular techniques are Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TGGE), Temporal Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TTGE), Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP), Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP), and Length Heterogeneity PCR (LH-PCR) (Frischer, Danforth et al. 2000; Theron and Cloete 2000; Mills, Fitzgerald et al. 2003; Seviour, Mino et al. 2003; Klaper and Thomas 2004).
[0174] Among these, LH-PCR is probably the best technique for fingerprinting. It is inexpensive, fast, and can be used routinely to screen several hundred samples a day. It is useful as a routine survey tool that can be used to monitor the dynamics of natural soil microbial communities, and to quickly identify samples of interest by PCO analysis. LH-PCR has been used to extensively assess natural variation in bacterial communities by profiling the amplified variable regions of 16S rRNA genes in mixed microbial population samples, using PAGE. (See Mills 2000; Litchfield and Gillevet 2002; Lydell, Dowell et al. 2004). The LH-PCR products of the individual species in the population give rise to distinct bands in the gels. The “peak area” of each band is proportional to the abundance of the species in the community. LH-PCR of 16S rRNA variable regions has been used quite successfully to estimate species diversity in bacterioplankton communities, in particular. (See Suzuki, Rappe et al. 1998; Ritchie, Schutter et al. 2000).
[0175] Community functionality cannot be determined directly from 16S rRNA clone data, however, it must be inferred from the data by phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, LH-PCR and other fingerprinting technologies, while powerful tools for monitoring population dynamics, cannot identify individual species in a community. For this, fingerprinting investigations must be followed up by library construction, cloning, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. (Fitzgerald 1999; McCraig 1999; Spring, Schulze et al. 2000; Theron and Cloete 2000; Litchfield and Gillevet 2002; Bowman and McCuaig 2003; Kang and Mills 2004; Eckburg, Bik et al. 2005). Identifying species of a fingerprinting study, thus, is a considerable undertaking that is inconvenient, time-consuming, expensive and subject to technical limitations.
[0176] Grouping samples can, to some extent, reduce the cost, time, and expense of such analyses. For instance, PCO analysis of LH-PCR data can be used to group samples with similar profiles for batch cloning and sequencing. Combining the samples this way reduces the time, expense, and work involved in analyzing the samples. Sequencing of at least 300 random clones is required to identify the bacterial components of the pooled sample down to 1% of the total bacterial populations in typical samples. This level of resolution is similar to that of ALH fingerprinting. Originally a novel approach, pooling similar samples prior to cloning and sequencing has proven to be robust and effective.
[0177] In classic community studies in the literature (Eckburg, Bik et al. 2005), environmental samples are assayed independently. Then the clone sequence data from specific classes/groups are statistically analyzed usually using some sort of averaging metric. Analyses of this type can be extremely costly, especially if the clone libraries are exhaustively analyzed, something that typically involves sequencing thousands of clones. Moreover, for the “averaging” process to be valid, as required for comparing the mixed populations, the samples must be pooled in equal proportions. While simple in principle, in reality, it is difficult to accomplish and, even if accomplished, impossible to verify. A new technique, based on pyrosequencing, offers advantages that overcome a variety of these drawbacks of the fingerprinting technologies mentioned above. The method is implemented on an instrument sold by 454 Life Sciences, Inc., a subsidiary of Curagen Sciences, Inc., using reagents provided by the same company. In addition, 454 Life Sciences provides a custom service for pyrosequencing.
[0178] In this technology, individual DNA molecules are amplified on beads by PCR in individual droplets in an oil-in-water emulsion. Beads then are deposited individually in wells of a picotiter plate. The sequences of all the DNAs in the wells are determined in parallel by pyrosequencing. (See Venter, Levy et al. 2003; Margulies, Egholm et al. 2005; Poinar, Schwarz et al. 2006). In a typical run, there are about 200,000 templates per plate, an average read length of about 100 bases from each template, and a single-plate run generates about 20 million bases of sequence in a single four hour run.
[0179] Although the technology greatly increases throughput over previous methods, it is expensive. In particular, the cost per plate is too high for it to be economically practical to carry out many analyses. To decrease cost, masks can be used that divide a plate into 16 independent sample zones, so that one plate can be used to process 16 different samples, either at the same time or independently. Each 1/16 zone provides about 1,000,000 bases of sequence data from about 10,000 different templates. While this reduces the cost per sample, the expenses associated with using this technology remain undesirably high.
[0180] Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention can be used to further reduce the cost per sample of this technology (as well as other techniques, as described elsewhere herein). The use of multitagging techniques (referred to as, among other things, “Multitag Process”) to the genomic analysis of bacterial populations in according with certain aspects and embodiments of the invention, notably high coverage sequencing of bacterial communities, is referred to herein as “Multitag Ecogenomics” and also as “Multitag Ecogenomic Analysis.”
[0181] (Several publications use the term “Multiplex Pyrosequencing” (Pourmand, Elahi et al. 2002) to refer to generating a composite signal from multiple targets that is read as a signature for a specific sample. The term is not used to refer to tag-based multiplexing in which sequences from different samples in a mixture are determined and then deconvolved from the mixed sequencing data using sample-specific tags incorporated during amplification reactions.)
[0182] As described below the Multitag Process in a relatively simple series of steps accomplishes everything that otherwise would require not only community fingerprinting analysis, but also all of the cloning and sequencing processes previously required for high coverage Ecogenomic Analysis using conventional techniques.
[0183] By way of illustration, the following example describes the use of Multitag Ecogenomic Analysis of variable regions of common genes using tagged universal primers for high coverage analysis of several microbial community samples all at the same time. The analysis is carried out much as described in general above, and further elaborated on in detail below.
[0184] Briefly, short tags are added to the 5′ ends of the forward and reverse PCR primers normally used for community analysis. These tags can be placed between the Emulsion PCR adapters and the PCT primers (see FIG. 2 ). A different tag is attached to the primers for each of the samples to be combined. For instance primers that span a variable region of 16S rRNA genes may be used for analysis of bacterial and archael communities. 16S rRNA-specific primers with 4 base tags are set out in the Table 1 below. Likewise primers that span a variable region of an ITS gene may be used for analysis of fungal communities. It will be appreciated that the choice of these specific primers is not exclusive, and that a wide variety of other primers suitable to other target regions for amplification may be employed in much the same manner as descried herein for the 16S and ITS genes. Thus, any gene of interest can be used that provides conserved primer sites across a community, and sufficient variation in the region between the primers for the desired resolution of individual species. Thus, for example, genes specific to functional pathways such as anaerobic methane oxidation, or sulphur reduction can serve as targets for the amplification reaction, as well as 16S rRNA sequences.
[0000]
TABLE 1
Forward Shared Sequence
(SEQ ID NOS 193-203,
respectively in
Name
Tag
order of appearance)
AGCTAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FA
AGCT
AGCTAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FB
AGTC
AGTCAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FC
GATC
GATCAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FD
GACT
GACTAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FE
CTGC
CTGCAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FF
CTAG
CTAGAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FG
ATGC
ATGCAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FH
ATAG
ATAGAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27FM
ATCT
ATCTAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
L27F0
ATAT
ATATAGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG
Reverse Shared Sequence
(SEQ ID NOS 204-214,
respectively in
Name
Tag
order of appearance)
AGCTGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RA
AGCT
AGCTGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RB
AGTC
AGTCGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RC
GATC
GATCGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RD
GACT
GACTGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RE
CTGC
CTGCGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RF
CTAT
CTATGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RG
ATGC
ATGCGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RH
ATAT
ATATGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355RM
ATCT
ATCTGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
355R0
ATAC
ATACGCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT
[0185] Table 1 shows a 16S rRNA-specific primer with a variety of 4 base tag sequences attached. As described herein such primers are useful for amplifying 16S rRNAs in several samples that can then be sequenced together. The 16S rRNA in each sample is amplified using a different tag, but the same 16S primer sequence. The amplified rRNA sequences from the samples are combined and sequenced together. The rRNA sequences from the different samples then are identified and sorted out by their 4 base tag sequence plus the first 4 bases of each primer. It is to be appreciated that the sequences downstream of the shared 16S primer sequence will differ among the samples, as well as the tag sequence.
[0186] In each case, the samples are individually amplified. The resulting amplicons comprise the primer sequences including the tags. Since unique tags are used for each sample, the tags in the amplicons from each sample will be different. The amplified DNAs are then pooled and sequenced by pyrosequencing as described above. The sequence data from a run is analyzed, in part, by grouping together all the sequences having the same tag. In this way, the sequences from each sample are demultiplexed from the sequencing data obtained from the mixture.
[0187] The working of the invention in this regard is illustrated by the following simulation, carried out using conventionally obtained population data from cold seep samples. The algorithm for sequence analysis uses a PERL script to extract the first 100 bases of sequence. It then analyzes all the 100 bases sequences using a custom RDP PERL script. The script works as follows:
1. Read all sequence reads into an associate array (Hash 1); 2. Extract 100 base subsequences from the beginning of each sequence read; 3. Create an associate array (Hash 2) of the sequences; 4. Perform a Blast search of the RDP database with Hash 1; 5. Perform a Blast search of the RDP database with Hash 2; 6. Compare the identifications for the original sequence (Hash 1) and the subsequence (Hash 2); 7. Compile a list of similar identifications for Hash 1 and Hash 2; 8. Compile a list of different identifications for Hash 1 and Hash 2; 9. Calculate the percentage of similar identifications.
[0197] As shown below, there is virtually no difference at the class level in the microbial diversity generated by the sequencing simulation and that derived directly from the 16S rRNA sequences in the data base.
[0000]
TABLE 2
First
16S
RDP Class
100mer
rRNA
ALPHA_SUBDIVISION
3.6%
3.6%
ANAEROBIC_HALOPHILES
3.6%
3.6%
BACILLUS-LACTOBACILLUS-
3.6%
3.6%
STREPTOCOCCUS_SUBDIVISION
BACTEROIDES_AND_CYTOPHAGA
7.1%
7.1%
CHLOROFLEXUS_SUBDIVISION
3.6%
3.6%
CY. AURANTIACA_GROUP
7.1%
7.1%
CYANOBACTERIA
7.1%
7.1%
DELTA_SUBDIVISION
14.3%
14.3%
ENVIRONMENTAL_CLONE_WCHB1-
7.1%
7.1%
41_SUBGROUP
FLX. LITORALIS_GROUP
3.6%
3.6%
GAMMA_SUBDIVISION
10.7%
10.7%
HIGH_G + C_BACTERIA
7.1%
7.1%
LEPTOSPIRILLUM_GROUP
3.6%
3.6%
MYCOPLASMA_AND_RELATIVES
3.6%
3.6%
PIRELLULA_GROUP
3.6%
3.6%
SPHINGOBACTERIUM_GROUP
3.6%
3.6%
SPIROCHAETA-TREPONEMA-
3.6%
3.6%
BORRELIA_SUBDIVISION
THERMOANAEROBACTER_AND_RELATIVES
3.6%
3.6%
Example 3
Multitag Pyrosequence Analysis of Dysbiosis in IBD
[0198] Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD or IBDs), namely ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are chronic, lifelong, relapsing illnesses, affecting close to 1 million Americans and costing approximately $2 billion per year to the US healthcare system. IBDs are of unknown cause, have no cure, and are increasing in incidence. The natural course of these diseases is characterized by periods of quiescence (inactive disease) interspersed with flare-ups (active disease). It is now widely accepted that flare-ups of IBD are due to a dysregulated inflammatory reaction to abnormal intestinal microflora dysbiosis), however. Specific changes in the microflora of IBD patients that might cause these diseases remain unknown. Narrow searches for a single pathogen that causes IBD have been unsuccessful. (See Guarner and Malagelada 2003). Studies of small bacterial groups have yielded ambiguous results. (See Schultz and Sartor 2000). Only recently have studies of large sets of bacterial flora been attempted. (See Eckburg, Bik, et al. 2005),. Improving our knowledge about GI tract microflora has the potential to revolutionize IBD treatment.
[0199] Development of real-time methods to study microfloral changes may lead to diagnostic tools to predict flare-ups, and to targeted, safe treatments for IBD.
[0200] The key requirement to understanding dysbiosis in polymicrobial diseases is for a method to interrogate widely the microflora in numerous control and disease samples to identify dynamic trends in species composition associated with health and disease progression.
[0201] In classic community studies (Eckburg, Bik, et al. 2005) environmental samples are assayed independently and then the clone sequence data from specific classes/groups are statistically analyzed usually using some sort of averaging metric. This can be extremely costly, especially if the clone libraries are exhaustively analyzed (i.e., 10,000 clones per sample). To improve throughput and reduce cost, Amplicon Length Heterogeneity PCR (ALH-PCR) has been used to study the gut microflora. It offers a rapid way of screening complex microbial communities, allowing for easy fingerprinting of microfloral changes. The LH-PCR fingerprinting is inexpensive and fast, with the ability to screen several hundred samples a day. It can be used as a routine survey tool to monitor the dynamics of natural soil microbial communities or to quickly identify samples of interest using PCO analysis. PCO analysis has been used to group samples with similar profiles, allowing them to be pooled for cloning and sequencing. This greatly reduces the cost of analyzing multiple samples, particularly when the analysis requires sequencing at least 300 random clones to identify bacterial components of the sample down to 1% representation in the total population (which is the resolution limit for ALH fingerprinting). Pooling similar samples before cloning and sequencing has proved to be quite robust. However, equal amounts of the PCR product from each sample must be pooled or the results will be skewed.
[0202] Multitag Pyrosequencing is a novel pyrosequencing technology that allows many community samples to be sequenced together at high coverage without the necessity for fingerprinting, cloning, or the purification and separation techniques required by conventional methods for analyzing microbial communities, as described herein above. Multitag sequencing is more efficient, faster, and less costly than other methods.
[0203] By way of illustration, Multitag Pyrosequencing can be carried out using a set of specific tags on the end of standard universal small ribosomal sub-unit (“SSU”) rRNA primers (See Table 1). A different set of the tagged primers is used to amplify the SSU rRNA in each different environmental sample (FIG. 2 —Step 1). The PCR amplicons from all the samples are pooled. Emulsion PCR is performed and the amplicons arising from each molecule are captured on their respective beads. Following amplification, the beads are distributed into the wells of a picoliter plate (FIG. 2 —Step 2). The sequences, including the tagged sequences, of the amplicons on each bead are determined by pyrosequencing (FIG. 2 —Step 3). A PERL script or other suitable program is used to sort the sequence information using the tags and primer sequence as a key. Sequences with the same tags are identified thereby with their respective sample. The bacteria species in each sample then are identified by matching the SSU rRNA sequences to entries in the database of the Ribosomal Database Project (either RDP 8.1 or RDP 9.0). The normalized frequency with which a bacteria is thus identified in a given sample is indicative of its relative representation in the microbial community. Histograms based on these frequency determinations can be used for the non-parametric analysis of dysbiotic shifts involved in disease states.
[0204] For example, FIG. 3 depicts the results of such an experiment in which six Control, ten Crohns, and eight Ulcerative colitis mucosal samples were analyzed by Multitag Pyrosequencing. E ach of the segments in the stacked histogram bars represents the normalized abundance of that specific taxa in a specific sample. In this experiment, identification of the taxa was performed using BLAST analysis of the RDP 8.1 database. It can be seen that some taxa (i.e. Bacillus fragilis subgroup and Rumanococcus gnavus subgroup) are present in the same abundance in both control and disease states. Other taxa, such as Clostridium leptum are more dominant in Ulcerative colitis, while others (i.e. the Gloeothece gloeocapsa subgroup) are indicators of dysbiosis in the disease state.
[0205] However, the standard 454 Life Science process using a ligation step to link the emulsion PCR adapters to the PCR amplicons and produces numerous artifacts in the quantitation of the abundances of each taxa in the samples. In the results displayed in FIG. 3 , we algorithmically removed chimeras, reverse reads and truncated products and filtered the data to remove all taxa that were represented by less than 5% abundance. Only then were we able to see a correlation with disease state and specific microbial taxa.
Example 4
[0206] Distortion of the Distribution of Components of a Microbial Community by Directly Ligating Emulsion PCR Adapters onto PCR Amplicons.
[0207] In one experiment we used tagged PCR primers to amplify the components in duplicate microbial community samples, ligated the Emulsion PCR adapters to these samples, and then subjected these samples to separate pyrosequencing runs. The amplicons are routinely run on an Agilent Bioanalyzer system before and after ligation to quantitate the mixture before emulsion PCR. FIG. 4 depicts a sample run on the Bioanalyzer before and after direct ligation and clearly shows that the ligation step has drastically altered the distribution of the amplicons.
[0208] Additionally, we compared the normalized abundances of the component taxa identified by the multitag process after direct ligation of the Emulsion PCR adapters. In this experiment, identification of the taxa was performed using a Bayesian analysis of the RDP 9.0 database. We can se in FIG. 5 that abundances of the forward and reverse primers for various taxa are different within a sample and between duplicate samples. In several cases, we are missing entire families in the comparison between duplicates. Table 3 summarizes the differences between the forward primers and the reverse primers of the duplicate samples and it is clearly stochastic with no predictable pattern. We hypothesize that this differential ligation efficiency could be due to a number of factors such as internal structure in the amplicons or biases in the terminal nucleotide of either the adapter or amplicon.
[0000]
TABLE 3
Duplicate Sample Analysis
FORWARD
REVERSE
RDP 9.0 FAMILY
PRIMERS RATIOS
PRIMER RATIOS
Acidaminococcaceae
544.6%
195.0%
Actinomycetales
144.0%
116.5%
Bacteroidaceae
119.9%
124.5%
Clostridiaceae
97.5%
99.4%
Comamonadaceae
198.0%
Coriobacteriales
181.5%
141.5%
Enterobacteriaceae
4.2%
Eubacteriaceae
88.0%
87.5%
Flavobacteriaceae
34.9%
Incertae sedis 9
106.4%
143.0%
Lachnospiraceae
176.8%
113.1%
Peptococcaceae
91.0%
Peptostreptococcaceae
94.7%
115.4%
Porphyromonadaceae
99.0%
97.3%
Prevotellaceae
264.0%
88.1%
Rikenellaceae
212.2%
106.1%
Streptococcaceae
74.3%
60.7%
LITERATURE CITED
[0209] Each of the following publications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly as to the above-referenced subject matter, especially relating to methods that can be employed in carrying out multitag sequencing and/or relating to uses thereof.
Amann, R. (2000). “Who is out there? Microbial Aspects of Biodiversity.” System. Appl. Microbiol. 23: 1-8. Bowman, J. P. and R. D. McCuaig (2003). “Biodiversity, Community Structural Shifts, and Biogeography of Prokaryotes within Antarctic Continental Shelf Sediment.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69(5): 2463-2483. Eckburg, P. B., E. M. Bik, et al. (2005). “Diversity of the human intestinal microbial flora.” Science 308: 1635-1638. Fitzgerald, K. M. (1999). Microbial Community Dynamics During the Bench-Scale Bioremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil. Department of Biology. Fairfax, Va., George Mason University: 73. Frischer, A. E., J. M. Danforth, et al. (2000). “Whole-cell versus total RNA extraction for analysis of microbial community structure with 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes in salt marsh sediments.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66(7): 3037-3043. Guarner, F., and J. R. Malagelada. (2003). “Gut flora in health and disease.” Lancet 361: 512-9. Kang, S. and A. L. Mills (2004). “Soil Bacterial Community Changes Following Disturbance of the Overlying Plant Community.” Soil Science 169: 55-65. Klaper, R. and M. Thomas (2004). “At the crossroads of genomics and ecology: the promise of a canary on a chip.” BioScience 54: 403-412. Litchfield, C. D. and P. M. Gillevet (2002). “Microbial diversity and complexity in hypersaline environments: A preliminary assessment.” Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology 28(1): 48-55. Lydell, C., L. Dowell, et al. (2004). “A population survey of members of the phylum Bacteroidetes isolated from salt marsh sediments along the east coast of the United States.” Microbial ecology 48(2): 263-73. Margulies, M., M. Egholm, et al. (2005). “Genome sequencing in microfabricated high-density picolitre reactors.” Nature, 2005 Sep 15, 437(7057):376-80. Epub: 2005 Jul 31. McCraig, A. E., L. Glover, J. I. Prosser (1999). “Molecular analysis of bacterial community structure and diversity in unimproved and improved upland grass pastures.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 1721-1730. Mills, D. (2000). Molecular Monitoring of Microbial Populations during Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils. Environmental Sciences and Public Policy/Biology. Fairfax, Va., George Mason University: 217. Mills, D. K., K. Fitzgerald, et al. (2003). “A Comparison of DNA Profiling Techniques for Monitoring Nutrient Impact on Microbial Community Composition during Bioremediation of Petroleum Contaminated Soils.” J. Microbiol. Method 54: 57-74. Morris, C. E., M. Bardin, et al. (2002). “Microbial biodiversity: approaches to experimental design and hypothesis testing in primary scientific literature from 1975 to 1999.” Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 66: 592-616. Pace, N. R. (1997). “A Molecular View of Microbial Diversity and the Biosphere.” Science 276: 734-739. Poinar, H. N., C. Schwarz, et al. (2006). “Metagenomics to paleogenomics: large-scale sequencing of mammoth DNA.” Science, 2006 Jan 20, 311(5759):392-4. Epub: 2005 Dec 20. Pourmand, N., E. Elahi, et al. (2002). “Multiplex Pyrosequencing.” Nucleic acids research 30(7): 31. Ritchie, N. J., M. E. Schutter, et al. (2000). “Use of Length Heterogeneity PCR and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Profiles to Characterize Microbial Communities in Soil.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology 66(4): 1668-1675. Schultz, M., and R. B. Sator. (2000). “Probiotics and inflammatory bowel disease.” Am. J. of Gastroenterology 2000 Jan. 95 (1 Suppl): S19-21. Seviour, R. J., T. Mino, et al. (2003). “The microbiology of biological phosphorus removal in activated sludge systems.” FEMS Microbiology Reviews 27: 99-127. Spring, S., R. Schulze, et al. (2000). “Identification and characterization of ecologically significant prokaryotes in the sediment of freshwater lakes: molecular and cultivation studies.” FEMS Microbiology Reviews 24: 573-590. Suzuki, M., M. S. Rappe, et al. (1998). “Kinetic bias in estimates of coastal picoplankton community structure obtained by measurements of small-subunit rRNA gene PCR amplicon length heterogeneity.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology [Appl. Environ. Microbiol.]. 64(11): 4522-4529. Suzuki, M. T. (1998). The Effect of Protistan Bacterivory on Bacterioplankton Community Structure: Dissertation Abstracts International Part B Science and Engineering [Diss. Abst. Int. Pt. B-Sci. & Eng.]. Vol. 59, no. 2, [np]. Aug 1998. Theron, J. and T. E. Cloete (2000). “Molecular techniques for determining microbial diversity and community structure in natural environment.” Critical Reviews in Microbiology 26: 37-57. Venter, J. C., S. Levy, et al. (2003). “Massive parallelism, randomness and genomic advances.” Nature genetics, 2003 Mar, 33 Suppl: 219-27.
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Embodiments of the invention herein described relate to multiplex polynucleotide sequence analysis without the use of size separation methods or blotting. In certain particulars the invention relates to multiplex sequencing using massively parallel sequencing methods, such as pyrosequencing methods and sequencing by synthesis. The invention provides increased throughput, increased accuracy of enumerating sample components, and the ability to analyze greater numbers of samples simultaneously or serially on presently available systems, as well as others yet to be developed. In certain of its embodiments the invention relates to the analysis of complex microbial communities, particularly to in-depth analysis thereof in large numbers of samples.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an anti-chatter circuit used to clean up the input produced by a mechanical contact closing switch and more particularly, to an anti-chatter circuit which discriminates between true switch inputs and inputs of electrical noise. Many circuits have been devised to provide clear square wave pulse inputs to a circuit upon the making of a connection between electrical contacts. The irregular waveform actually produced when the mechanical contacts come together is "smoothed over" in the anti-chatter circuit and a uniform output pulse is produced every time the contacts are brought together for an electrical connection. However, there is a possibility of erroneous circuit operation when electrical noises other than the switch input are introduced at the input terminal of the circuit. In a small sized portable apparatus such as an electronic watch, there has not been a problem because the conventional electronic watch includes no internal source of electrical noises. Further, the metal case of the watch shields the circuit input from the intrusion of externally generated electrical noises. However, electronic watches are becoming more and more versatile and complex and include such objects as loudspeakers and other electromechanical converters. Thus, there is a source for generating electrical noises within the casing. Also, in some watches the case is made of a plastic or other insulating material which permits electromagnetic waves to pass through. This increases the possibility of introducing noises, that is, erroneous signals into the input of the switch circuit.
What is needed is an anti-chatter circuit which discriminates between true switch closings and undesired electrical noise signals which can actuate the circuitry associated with the switch .
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with this invention, an anti-chatter circuit especially suitable for small portable apparatuses is provided. A signal produced by connecting the electrical contacts of a mechanical switch is read into a circuit without chatter only when the switch is closed longer than a selected time period. A first memory stores and outputs a switch actuation signal on the occurrence of a read signal, and erases the stored signal when the switch actuation signal is removed. A second memory outputs a square wave pulse on the coincidence of a later read signal and the first memory output. Electrical noise lasting less than the selected time period does not produce an output. The selected time period can be varied by using independent, phase-shifted read signals for each memory.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved anti-chatter circuit for small portable apparatus which prevents chattering in switch inputs and eliminates erroneous operation due to noises such as electrostatic noises, existing in the switching inputs.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved anti-chatter circuit for small portable apparatus which causes a low current drain on the power supply when the switch is actuated.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved anti-chatter circuit for a small portable apparatus which discriminates between noise signals and true switch signals by the duration of said signals.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an anti-chatter circuit for a switch input;
FIG. 2 is another anti-chatter circuit for a switch input;
FIG. 3 is waveforms associated with the circuit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is waveforms associated with the circuit of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an anti-chatter circuit in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 6 is waveforms associated with the anti-chatter circuit of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an alternative anti-chatter circuit in accordance with this invention; and
FIG. 8 is waveforms associated with the anti-chatter circuit of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2 shown anti-chatter circuits which have been previously developed. A mechanical switch 1 applies a high (+) signal to the W input terminal of a flip-flop 2 when the switch is closed. Otherwise the input terminal W of the flip-flop 2 is at a low potential (-) through a resistance 14. The Q output of the flip-flop 2 is inputted to the W terminal of a latch 3 and to an inverted input of an AND gate 4. The flip-flop 2 and latch 3 are clocked by a common signal provided on the line 5, said signal 5 being a periodic square wave.
In FIG. 1, the logic levels 0 and 1, that is, low and high, - and +, obtained by the opening and closing of the switch 1 are read into the flip-flop 2 at the moment the read signal 5 goes low. The output of the flip-flop 12 is differentiated by the latch 3 and the gate 4 having two inverted inputs, so as to obtain an output signal 6. The timed relationship of the signals is shown in the waveforms of FIG. 3.
In the anti-chatter circuit of FIG. 1, because the switch input is read at the time that the read signal 5 goes low, as described above, there is no possibility of erroneous readings insofar as no chatter occurs at the same timing. Even when chatter occurs at that timing, if the duration period of the chatter is shorter than one period of the read signal cycle 5, the number of switch inputs read into the flip-flop 2 never exceeds the actual number of the switching operations. Although the circuit of FIG. 1 has the advantageous feature described above, there is a possibility of erroneous operation when noises other than those from the switch input are introduced into the input terminal at the time when the signal 5 reads into the flip-flop.
Another anti-chatter circuit, shown in FIG. 2 is also used for the same purposes. In this circuit, the input condition of a switch 1 is read into a R-S type flip-flop 7 when a read signal 10 is at the high logic level. The output of the flip-flop 7 is differentiated by another flip-flop 8 and a NAND gate 9. FIG. 4 shows the timing of signals in the circuit of FIG. 2. This circuit also has the same problems as are associated with the circuit of FIG. 1. In particular, when noises are introduced while the read signal 10 is at a high level, erroneous results are likely to be produced.
As previously stated, in the situation where the small portable apparatus is an electronic watch, there is no problem because a conventional electronic watch includes no internal source of electrical noises. Also, the metal case of the watch shields the electronic circuits from the intrusion of external electrical noises. However, electronic watches are becoming more and more complex and versatile. A wristwatch may now include a loudspeaker or other electromechanical converter which can constitute a source of electrical noises within the casing. Frequently, the casing of the watch is made of plastic or other insulating materials which does not produce a shielding effect. These features increase the possibility and danger of introducing stray electrical noises into the switch circuit.
A reduction in the size of the resistor 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be considered as a means for eliminating these noises as erroneous circuit triggers. However, reduction in resistance tends to increase the electric current at the time when the switch 1 is closed and thereby to shorten the operational life of the power source cell, usually a miniature battery. Further, an extreme reduction in the resistance of the resistor 14 gives rise to a problem in relation to the contact resistance of the switch 1. Such difficulties which can exist in an electronic watch also exist in portable electronic calculators.
The anti-chatter circuit in accordance with this invention provides a circuit for a small portable apparatus wherein all of the above described disadvantages are substantially eliminated. The anti-chatter circuit in accordance with this invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings. With reference to FIG. 5, a memory circuit 15 is comprised of an OR-NAND gate combination. The NAND gate receives a high input when the switch 1 is closed and the OR gate receives a read signal 20 through an inverter 23. The output from the NAND gate passes through inverters 24,25 and is inputted into the W terminal of a D-type flip-flop 16. The output of the D-type flip-flop 16 is differentiated by a latch 17 in combination with a NAND gate 18 to produce an output signal 19. The read signal 20 is also inputted to the clock terminals of the flip-flop 16 and latch 17.
When the switch 1 is closed, the switch input (+) is read into the memory circuit 15 composed of the OR-NAND gates only when the read signal 20 is at the low level. A high signal 21 is then read into the second memory 16 through the inverter 25, when the read signal 20 again goes low. The output of the second memory circuit is differentiated by the latch 17 and gate 18 to produce an output pulse signal 19. More specifically, the first memory circuit 15 reads the switch input initially only when the switch input is high and concurrently the read signal 20 is low. The output of the inverter 24 is fed back to the OR gate such that the output 21 remains high until the switch 1 is opened even though the read signal 20 has gone high. The content, that is, the output of the memory circuit 15 is immediately brought to the low or 0 state by the pull-down resistor 14 when the switch 1 is opened. Thus, the output of the first memory circuit 15 is not read into the second memory circuit 16 if the time duration of the switch input 1 is less than a predetermined value, which is the period of the read signal 20.
It should also be apparent that approximately two periods of the read signal 20 may be required in some instances to produce the desired pulse 19 depending upon the time relationship between the switch closing and the signal 20. For the sake of an example, one cycle period of the read signal 20 is 31.25 milliseconds and the time within that period where the read signal is at the low state is 1.95 milliseconds. Unless the time duration of the switch input is high for more than 29.3 milliseconds, the anti-chatter circuit in accordance with this invention does not deliver a differentiated signal 19 of the switch input.
In case of chattering caused by the switch operation, the duration of the chattering never exceeds 29.3 milliseconds, and furthermore, no electrical noise can create an input high having such a long duration. For this reason, the anti-chatter circuit in accordance with this invention accepts a switch input only when the input is obtained by an actual switching operation of the switch 1.
FIG. 7 is a circuit of an alternative embodiment of an anti-chatter circuit in accordance with this invention. In this embodiment which is substantially similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5, independent read signals 20,22 are used for the first memory circuit 15 and the second memory circuit 16, respectively. In particular, the memory circuit 15 operates on the read signal 20, whereas the D-type flip-flop 16 and the latch 17 operate on the clock signal 22. Operation of the circuit of FIG. 7, as demonstrated by the timing waveforms of FIG. 8, is substantially similar to the operation of the circuit of FIG. 5. The read signals 20,22 are identical but shifted in phase one from the other. Accordingly, the amount of phase shift between the signals, with read signal 20 leading the read signal 22, determines the minimum time of closure of switch 1 which is required to produce the output pulse signal 19.
In summary, in accordance with this present invention, erroneous operation of a small sized portable apparatus caused by switch chattering or electrical noises can be substantially eliminated. The size of the input resistor 14 against extraneous noises need not be considered. Thus, the pull-down resistor 14 can be of large size. As a result, current requirements are substantially reduced and the size of the power source cell can be substantially reduced as well. When a power source cell of the same size is used, operational life of the cell is substantially increased. Furthermore, since there is no need for considering erroneous operation of the switch due to electrical noises, the casing of the small portable apparatus may be made of any suitable material such as a plastic. Manufacturing costs of the apparatus can thereby be reduced substantially.
As described above, the anti-chatter circuit in accordance with the present invention is very advantageous for small portable apparatus and more particularly, for an electronic watch and a portable calculator, where further reductions in size and thickness are urgently needed.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceeding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, may be said to fall therebetween.
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A signal produced by connecting the electrical contacts of a mechanical switch is read into a circuit without chatter only when the switch is closed longer than a selected time period. A first memory stores and outputs a switch actuation signal on the occurrence of a read signal, and erases the stored signal when the switch actuation signal is removed. A second memory outputs a square wave pulse on the coincidence of a later read signal and the first memory output. Electrical noise lasting less than the selected time period does not produce an output. The selected time period can be varied by using independent, phase-shifted read signals for each memory.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Industrial Application
The present invention relates to galactosamine substitutes of poly-ω-substituted-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) which are useful as high molecular materials for medical use, especially as missile drug carriers.
2. Prior Art
In glycoprotein in serum, a sugar structure called sialic acid-galactose-N-acetylglucosamine is omnipresent at the termini thereof. In the late 1960's, G. Ashwell and A. Morell clarified that this triose structure was required for serum protein to be stably present in blood. When sialic acid which is present at the termini is eliminated, galactose becomes a new sugar end. Glycoprotein from which the sialic acid has been removed so that galactose has been exposed is called asialo glycoprotein. Asialo glycoprotein cannot be stably present in blood flow and rapidly disappears from blood. It is revealed that more than about 80% of the asialo glycoprotein is taken up into liver.
Specific sugar recognition receptors are present on the surface of the membrane in hepatocytes. Asialo glycoprotein is taken up into cells via this asialo glycoprotein receptor. The present inventors have made investigations, paying attention to this asialo glycoprotein receptor on the hepatocytes membrane, directed towards developing high molecular materials for drug carriers used in missile drugs, etc. As a result, it has been found that polyamino acids in which galactosamine has been introduced as a sugar residue have excellent properties. The present invention has thus been accomplished.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to galactosamine substitutes of poly-ω-alkyl (or benzyl)-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) comprising, a polypeptide represented by general formula: ##STR3## (wherein X has a value of 60 to 250; n is 1 or 2; and R represents a lower alkyl group or benzyl group), in which a part or all of the constituent peptide in the polypeptide is substituted with an ω-galactosamyl-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) residue represented by general formula: ##STR4## (wherein n has the same significance as described above) and, optionally with an L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) residue represented by formula: ##STR5## (wherein n has the same significance as described above).
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The polypeptide of the present invention is further defined as follows.
Structural units
an ω-alkyl (or benzyl)-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) residue: ##STR6## (wherein n and R have the same significances as described above); an L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) residue: ##STR7## (wherein n has the same significance as described above); and, an ω-galactosamyl-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) residue: ##STR8## (wherein n has the same significance as described above). State of configuration: linear
Molecular weight: 8,000 to 71,000
Polymerization degree: 60 to 250
Ratio of the constituent units:
______________________________________an ω-alkyl (or benzyl)-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic 0-97%acid) residuean L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) residue 0-87%an ω-galactosamyl-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) 3-100%residue______________________________________
The compounds of the present invention can be synthesized by, for example, the process shown by the following equation: ##STR9## (wherein n and R have the same significances as described above; Y and Z represent a number greater than 1 and satisfy Y≧Z)
The process can be carried out by hydrolyzing the alkyl ester at the side chain of poly-ω-substituted-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) (II) to obtain polymer (III) with free side chain carboxyl group (first step), and then introducing galactosamine into the side chain carboxyl group of this polymer (III) to obtain the desired compound (I) of the present invention (second step).
Hydrolysis at the first step can be readily carried out by treating poly-γ-alkyl (or benzyl)-L-glutamic acid or poly-β-alkyl (or benzyl)-L-aspartic acid with a base in an appropriate organic solvent. As the organic solvent, halogenated hydrocarbon (helix solvent) such as chloroform, dichloromethane, etc. are preferred but random coil solvents such as dichloroacetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, etc. may also be used.
As the base, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc. are appropriate. These bases are added to the reaction solution generally as an aqueous solution of alcohol such as methanol, isopropyl alcohol, etc.
The reaction is carried out at about room temperature for 10 to 200 minutes.
By appropriately choosing these reaction conditions, especially reaction time, a rate of the hydrolysis may be optionally regulated.
As the poly-ω-substituted-L-glutamic acids (or aspartic acids) (II) which are used as the starting compounds at this step, compounds having a polymerization degree of about 60 to 250 are used but the starting compounds are not limited thereto. In the examples later described, for example, poly-γ-methyl-L-glutamate (simply referred to as PMLG) having a polymerization degree of approximately 100 to 200 (molecular weight of about 14,000-29,000) was used.
The second step is peptidation between the side chain carboxyl group of polyglutamic acid (or polyaspartic acid) (III) and the primary amino group of galactosamine. For this peptidation, the method for activating a carboxyl group or an amino group and the method in the presence of a condensing agent may be adopted.
Among them, for the peptidation of activating a carboxyl group, the carboxyl group of the hydrolysate (III) obtained at the first step is activated in the form of, e.g., p-nitrophenyl ester. After the activated compound is isolated, galactosamine is reacted with the compound. The reaction is carried out in a solvent such as dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), etc., at room temperature or with cooling. The reaction period of time is several hours to several days. A rate at which peptidation proceeds may be determined by quantitative assay of isolated p-nitrophenol associated with the reaction.
Turning next to the process using a condensing agent, the process comprises coupling the partial hydrolysate (III) with galactosamine in the presence of, e.g., N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), etc. The reaction conditions are identical with those of the aforesaid peptidation by activation of a carboxyl group. The formed desired product (I) can be purified by dialysis using, e.g., cellulose dialysis membrane.
It is expected that the desired compound of the present invention would have an action of recognizing target vital cells as described above. Therefore, the desired compound can be utilized in the medical field as a high molecular compound for recognizing vital cells. Furthermore, the desired compound of the present invention is degradative and water-soluble since the desired compound is a polyamino acid derivative which is a high molecular material similar to natural high molecular materials. Accordingly, the compound is preferred as a high molecular material for drug carriers used as missile drugs, etc.
Next, the affinity of the compound according to the present invention to hepatocytes is shown by animal test using rats.
Experiment
Using SD strain female rats (age of 4 to 5 weeks), rat hepatocytes were isolated by modification of so-called Seglen's perfusion method for digesting intercellular adhesive protein with enzyme. The prepared hepatocytes were suspended in ice-cold WE medium in 400,000 cells/ml. Then, 1.5 ml of the hepatocyte suspension was inoculated on each polymer-coated Petri dish (Note 1) using a disposal pipette followed by culturing at 37° C. in a carbon dioxide gas concentration of 5% for a definite period of time in a carbon dioxide gas culture device. After that, nonadhesive cells were counted to determine the rate of adhesion.
The polymers used in this experiment are the compounds of the present application, poly-γ-methyl-L-glutamate (abbreviated as PGA) and polyvinyl type polymer (polyvinylbenzyllactonamide, abbreviated as PVLA) for comparison which is conventionally known to have affinity to hepatocytes.
The state of adhesion to hepatocytes at the initial phase in each Petri dish is shown in FIG. 1. Viewing the graphs, hepatocytes have little adhesion to the main chain polymer and there is no physiological activity on the main chain itself. To the contrary, the polymer of the present invention having galactosamine on the side chain thereof shows a high rate of adhesion as in PVLA.
(Note 1) Preparation of polymer-coated Petri dish
Each sample was dissolved in milli Q water in a concentration of 0.05% (W/V). In a Petri dish 2 ml of the polymer solution was injected followed by freeze drying. Subsequently by rinsing with milli Q water 3 times and drying naturally, the polymer-coated Petri dish was prepared.
Next, with respect to the compounds of the present invention having different substitution rates of galactosamine, the rate of adhesion to each of the polymer-coated Petri dishes is shown in FIG. 2. Viewing the graphs, hepatocytes have little adhesion to the main chain polymer and to the polymer having a sugar content of 25%. It is thus considered that there would be no influence of the sugar side chain with the content of about 25%. As to the polymers having increased contents of 40%, 60%, 70% and 85%, an increased rate of adhesion to hepatic cells was noted. With respect to samples having a sugar residue of 60% or more, almost the same adhesion behavior was noted.
There are various pharmaceutical administration forms for the compounds of the present invention. For the administration of the compounds of the present invention, there are various pharmacetical forms such as nanosphere preparation, etc. Below is shown one example for preparing a nanosphere preparation.
Lipiodol, iso-butyl cyanoacrylate and a medicinal compound (a medicament) were dissolved in ethanol. On the other hand, non-ionic surfactant and a compound of the present invention were dissolved in water, and to the resultant aqueous solution was added the above ethanol solution under vigorous stirring. After lyophilization, a nanosphere preparation containing the compound of the present invention and the medicament was obtained. (cf. Ref. Int. J. Pharm. 86, 125-132 (1986)).
EXAMPLES
Next, the desired compounds of the present invention and the method for preparation are further explained with reference to the examples.
EXAMPLE 1
(1) Hydrolysis of side chain methyl ester of PMLG
In 100 ml of chloroform was dissolved 11.57 g of PMLG to prepare an 8% solution. While stirring, a mixture of 35.8 ml of 2N-sodium hydroxide, 71.5 ml of methanol and 71.5 ml of isopropyl alcohol (volume ratio, 1:2:2) was added dropwise to the solution over 15 minutes. Stirring was then continued at room temperature, whereby hydrolysis of the side chain methyl ester was carried out. In this case, the reaction was carried out by varying the stirring time. Then, the reaction mixture was neutralized with glacial acetic acid to terminate the reaction. While stirring, the reaction solution was added to 500 ml of diethyl ether to precipitate the product. The precipitates were then filtered. After washing with diethyl ether several times, a small amount of distilled water was added to the precipitates and the resulting gel was packed in a dialysis tube. Dialysis was performed at room temperature for 2 days. By subsequent freeze drying, the side chain-hydrolyzed polymer was prepared. The dialysate was appropriately exchanged.
1 H-NMR spectrum of the resulting side chain-hydrolyzed polymer is shown in FIG. 3. In the figure, spectra of (a), (b) and (c) were obtained by varying the reaction time with increasing time from top to bottom and the spectrum (c) shown at bottom was obtained with the reaction at room temperature for 3 days. The results reveal that the peak of the side chain methyl ester decreases in order from the top, indicating that the reaction of the side chain hydrolysis proceeds in response to the reaction time.
(2) Activation of the side chain carboxyl group
After 0.8 g (5.9×10 -3 mol, value calculated from apparent molecular weight per 1 monomer unit) of the side chain partially hydrolyzed polymer and 0.55 g (4.0×10 -3 mol) of p-nitrophenol were added to 20 ml of DMF, 0.82 g (4.0×10 -3 mol) of DCC was added to the solution. The reaction was carried out by stirring at 0° C. for 30 minutes and then at room temperature for 2 days. Thereafter, the mixture was allowed to stand for 2 hours in a refrigerator. After thoroughly washing with DMF, water and hot ethanol in this order, the precipitates were dried in vacuum to prepare a sample. (This method is for modification of polymer having a hydrolysis rate at the side chain ester of 28.6%. In other reactions, amounts of p-nitrophenol and DCC were made 1.5 to 2 times the mol number of the carboxyl group in the polymer side chain.)
UV spectrum of the obtained compound is shown in FIG. 4. In the figure, the peak of p-nitrophenol is observed at 310 nm, confirming that p-nitrophenol was introduced into the polymer side chain.
A rate of side chain activation in this reaction (rate of introducing p-nitrophenol) was identified by measurement of UV spectrum. As a technique, there was used a method which comprises dissolving the reaction product in methanol in a concentration of 0.2 g/l, adding 0.1N potassium hydroxide to the solution, vigorously stirring the mixture for 10 minutes and measuring the absorption of p-nitrophenol in the solution appearing at 390 nm.
(3) Coupling with galactosamine (activated ester method)
In 10 ml of DMF was dissolved 0.22 g of galactosamine hydrochloride (1.04×10 -3 mol). After 0.15 ml (1.04×10 -3 mol) of triethylamine was added to the solution, 0.30 g (1.84×10 -3 mol, value calculated from apparent molecular weight per 1 unit) was added to the mixture. The reaction was carried out at room temperature for 2 days. Then the solution containing the precipitates was dialyzed (2 days) and then freeze dried to prepare a sample (charged amounts given herein are for the sample obtained by activation of the side chain using the polymer having a side chain hydrolysis rate of 28.6% described above. For other samples, about two-fold amounts of sugar and triethylamine were used in response to the rate of activation of the side chain).
(Method using condensing agent)
After 0.45 g of PGA was dissolved in an aqueous solution, galactosamine (Gal-NH 2 ) was then dissolved in 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5 and 0.25-fold mols of the side chain carboxyl group. A pH of the solution was adjusted to 4.7 with 0.1N hydrochloric acid. An aqueous solution having pH of 4.7 in which EDC was dissolved in 1.5-fold mol of the galactosamine used in the solution was dropwise added to the solution at 0° C. over 8 hours. Subsequently, the reaction was carried out at room temperature for 24 hours and then dialyzed for 2 days. By freeze drying, samples were prepared.
The measurement results of 1 H-NMR spectrum of the resulting compound (PGA-Gal) obtained in these reactions are shown in FIG. 5. As is clear from the figure, the peak of the sugar was observed at about 4 ppm in each sample, confirming that the sugar was introduced into the polymer side chain.
The measurement results of 1 H-NMR spectrum of each of the resulting galactosamine substitute compound (PGA-Gal) obtained in the above condensing reaction in the case of the galactosamine being used in 1.5, 1, 0.75 and 0.5 mols of the side chain carboxyl group for coupling are shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, respectively. As is clear from the figure, the PGA-Gal compound-85 (galactosamine substitution rate of 85), the PGA-Gal compound-70 (galactosamine substitution rate of 70), the PGA-Gal compound-60 (galactosamine substitution rate of 60) and the PGA-Gal compound-40 (galactosamine substitution rate of 40) were obtained according to the used amount of galactosamine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows affinity of the compound of the present invention (PGA-Gal: substitution rate of 75), starting compound (PGA) and control (PVLA) to rat hepatocytes.
FIG. 2 shows a difference in adhesion rate of the compounds of the present invention having different sugar contents to hepatic cells in terms of each culturing time.
FIG. 3 is 1 H-NMR spectrum indicating the progress of hydrolysis of PMLG at the side chain methyl ester. In the figure, (c) is obtained by measurement of the product after reacting at room temperature for 3 days.
FIG. 4 shows UV spectrum of the compound obtained in Example 1 (2).
FIG. 5 shows 1 H-NMR spectrum of the compound obtained in Example 1 (3).
FIG. 6 shows 1 H-NMR spectrum of the PGA-Gal compound-85.
FIG. 7 shows 1 H-NMR spectrum of the PGA-Gal compound-70.
FIG. 8 shows 1 H-NMR spectrum of the PGA-Gal compound 60.
FIG. 9 shows 1 H-NMR spectrum of the PGA-Gal cojmpound 40.
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A galactosamine substituted poly-ω-alkyl (or benzyl)-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) is provided and comprises a polypeptide having the recurring unit represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein X has a value of 60 to 250; n is 1 or 2; and R represents a lower alkyl group or benzyl group, in which a part or all of the peptide in said polypeptide is substituted by an ω-galactosamyl-L-glutamic acid (or aspartic acid) residue represented by the general formula: ##STR2## wherein n is as indicated.
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BACKGROUND
[0001] In the hydrocarbon recovery arts, seals are endlessly used to effect working conditions supportive of desired production fluid recovery. In recent years engineering and development dollars have been spent attempting to improve both pressure holding capacity and longevity. One type of seal receiving significant interest is a metal-to-metal seal due to the fact that of many types metal seals exhibit high temperature tolerance, high-pressure capability, robust chemical resistance, and high durability.
[0002] Although there are many types of seals that utilize metal as a ceiling structure, those receiving the most attention contemporaneously with the filing of this document are heavier wall metal seals that are deformed in order to bring them into contact with another structure in a manner where seal is created against that other structure. While such seals do indeed provide all of the above noted benefits with respect to metal-to-metal seals, recovery sometimes can be difficult. Such seals experience a high degree work hardening when they are set and because of this work hardening experience loss of resilience. This is of course an issue with respect to stretching a seal out to retrieve it from the wellbore.
SUMMARY
[0003] A seal includes a seal body having a bridge; a leg extending from the bridge; and a gauge ring in operable communication with the leg, the gauge ring including a support surface for the leg, the gauge ring interacting with the seal body to cause axial compression thereof, thereby forming a teardrop configuration of the bridge.
[0004] A seal includes a seal body configured to form a teardrop shaped seal member upon axial compression of the seal body; a gauge ring in operable communication with the seal body and capable of applying an axial load on the seal body.
[0005] A downhole sealed system, includes at least one tubular member of the tubular system disposed in one of radially inwardly of or radially outwardly of another component of the system; and a seal disposed annularly at the tubular member, the seal having a teardrop shaped cross section.
[0006] A method for setting a seal in a target tubular includes axially compressing a seal; bending the bridge into a teardrop shape in sealing contact with the tubular; and substantially preventing introduction of bending stress into the leg.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a seal disclosed herein in a run in condition;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrated in a set position; and
[0010] FIGS. 3A-3F represent sequential views of the seal of FIG. 1 withdrawing from the set position during retrieval.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Initially it is to be understood that the seal created as disclosed herein performs better in one respect due to its teardrop cross sectional shape. The shape itself helps to absorb backlash in the setting force and therefore renders the seal more reliable. This is described in more detail in connection with one embodiment of a seal that forms the stated shape. It is also to be understood that although the drawings hereof illustrate a seal that bows radially outwardly, the components can easily be reversed such that the seal will bow radially inwardly such that the seal will be formed against a tubular radially inwardly disposed of the seal device rather than radially outwardly of the seal device as specifically illustrated.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a seal 10 in accordance with this disclosure is illustrated. The seal 10 comprises a seal body 12 having a first end ring 14 and a second end ring 16 . Seal body 12 comprises a seal bridge 18 and first and second seal legs 20 and 22 . The legs terminate at roots 36 and 38 . Seal 10 further includes configurations capable of causing the seal body to collapse axially into a set position such as, for example, two gauge rings 24 and 26 , each disposed in operable communication with one end of the seal body 12 . While gauge rings are specifically disclosed, the terms as used herein are intended to convey any configuration capable of loading the seal body 12 to set the seal 10 and to be instrumental in retrieving the seal 10 . This “operable communication” as noted is, in one embodiment, a fixed connection to each end ring 14 and 16 , respectively, while in other embodiments it can float. The fixed connection as illustrated is adjacent roots 36 and 38 . The gauge rings 24 and 26 are also in supportive communication with the legs 20 and 22 , respectively. As can be readily seen in FIG. 1 , each gauge ring includes an angled surface identified by the numerals 28 and 30 , respectively. The surfaces 28 and 30 are roughly parallel to the legs 20 and 22 although not in contact therewith prior to the setting sequence for the seal 10 . These surfaces 28 and 30 come in contact with the legs 20 and 22 during the setting sequence to support the same as will be better appreciated after exposure to the operation section of this document.
[0013] Also visible in FIG. 1 are two radiuses 32 and 34 provided one on each of gauge rings 24 and 26 , respectively. The radiuses, in one embodiment, are in a range of about 0.13 to about 0.16 inch. While a wider range is also operable, it has been found that the range of about 0.13 to about 0.16 is effective in minimizing stress in the seal body 12 during setting. This is also the purpose for which the angled surfaces 28 and 30 are provided. The angle of the surfaces 28 and 30 is selected to coincide with the angle of legs 20 and 22 as noted above in order to support these structures thereby preventing significant bending thereof during setting of the seal 10 . Angles for surfaces 28 and 30 range in particular embodiments from about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees. As illustrated, the angles are both about 60 degrees. The range indicated has been found to work well though it is to be appreciated that angles outside the exemplary range are also contemplated but may not reduce stress in legs 20 and 22 to the extent of the reduction found in the identified range.
[0014] The prevention of bending reduces work hardening effects that would otherwise be experienced in these locations. Such reduction in work hardening effectively equates to more residual elasticity in the material of the seal in locations of the seal (legs and roots) that will be subject to bending stresses upon retrieval of the seal. During setting of the seal the bending stress is localized in the bridge 18 and in retrieval, bending stress is localized in the legs and roots. Generally, materials that are somewhat ductile can be bent at least once without breaking, work hardening, of course, building within the material during this and any subsequent bending stress. Since in the disclosed seal, the configuration ensures that bending is experienced substantially only once in each localized area of the seal 12 , the likelihood of each localized area enduring sufficient stress to rupture is dramatically reduced. The protective action of the surfaces 28 and 30 extends to both the legs 20 and 22 and leg roots 36 and 38 , respectively. By avoiding stress in these structures during setting of the seal 10 , the ability to retrieve the seal 10 , without suffering a rupture of the seal, is facilitated. It is further noted that in the seal 10 , nowhere is there a sharp bend of the material of the seal body 12 . Rather, all bends are gradual thereby spreading the stress over a broader area of the seal material. This avoids point stresses that generally create weaknesses in the seal both while being initially deformed and certainly while being retrieved. As such, embodiments of the invention alleviate the problem found in the prior art as noted above.
[0015] One last point that should be made prior to a discussion of actuation of an exemplary seal 10 is that seal body 12 is a machined part in one embodiment such that there are no, or extremely little, residual stresses in the body 12 in the position shown in FIG. 1 . Little residual stress in the seal body 12 prior to deformation in use is a benefit as this helps to minimize the magnitude of stresses experienced by the body 12 during setting. As the purpose of this configuration is the reduction in initial stress of the body 12 , it is noted that an alternate arrangement is that body 12 could be a preformed and stress relieved component for some applications or even a molded component for some applications. Again, the important thing is that the position illustrated at the roots 36 and 38 is a position of the seal body 12 that should exist prior to setting of the seal, with very little residual stress. Further, stress is not introduced into roots 36 and 38 during the setting of the seal 10 due to the configuration of the gauge rings thereby retaining elasticity of the material of the body 12 in the legs and the roots. This is to the operator's advantage during retrieval of the seal 10 , as noted above.
[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 simultaneously, setting of seal 10 is illustrated. Seal 10 is set through the application of an axial load resulting in the space between the gauge rings diminishing. This can be effected in a number of ways including: 1) by causing at least one of the gauge rings to move toward the other of the gauge rings while the “other” gauge ring is stationary; 2) to cause one ring to move toward the “other” ring while the other ring moves away from the one ring more slowly than the one ring is moving toward the other ring; or 3) to cause one ring to move toward the other ring while the other ring is moving towards the one ring. For illustrative purposes, the drawings and description herein are directed to an embodiment where gauge ring 24 is moved while gauge ring 26 remains stationary through, for example, operable contact with an anchoring mechanism (not shown).
[0017] Due to the shape of body 12 , one will appreciate that axial shortening thereof will necessarily cause the body 12 to bulge outwardly. What may not be immediately appreciated from the drawings, however, is the action of gauge rings 24 and 26 on the process. As gauge rings 24 and 26 are moved so that they are closer to one another, surfaces 28 and 30 come into contact with legs 20 and 22 , respectively. As contact is made in this location, the legs 20 and 22 are substantially supported such that they and the roots 36 and 38 from which the legs extend experience very little bending stress while the seal 10 is being set. Since the distance between gauge rings 24 and 26 is still being reduced, however, the seal body 12 must necessarily still react. Due to the supported condition of legs 20 and 22 , a great majority of the bending stress in the body 12 is concentrated in the bridge 18 . The stress in bridge 18 causes it to bow outwardly until it makes contact with an inside surface 40 of a tubular in which the seal 10 is being set. Once contact is made at surface 40 , a load useful for creating the desired seal begins to build. As gauge rings 24 and 26 continue to be urged into closer proximity with one another it will become apparent that radiuses 32 and 34 are also important to reducing stress in the seal body 12 . In the position of FIG. 2 , it will be easily appreciated that were the radiuses to be significantly sharper, much higher stress would be experienced by the seal body 12 at the contact point with such radiuses. It has been determined by the inventors hereof that a radius range of from about 0.13 inches to about 0.16 inches produces a desirably low stress in the seal body 12 .
[0018] It is to be appreciated from FIG. 2 that the bridge 18 is deformed such that over an axial length thereof, more than 180 degrees of repositionment is represented. In other words, the bridge 18 is deformed from relatively flat to beyond U-shaped. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 , it will be appreciated that the bridge is nearly a closed teardrop shape 44 . In the condition illustrated in FIG. 2 substantial sealing force is applied to surface 40 such the pressure may be held in either direction relative to seal 10 . Important to notice as well is that because of the teardrop shape of bridge 18 , backlash in the setting system is better absorbed than in prior art sealing systems. This is because with a reduction in the sealing force at gauge rings 24 and 26 move slightly away from each other. When this occurs elastic resilience in the bridge 18 will tend to straighten the two sides 46 and 48 of the teardrop shape 44 . This will tend to increase loading at interface 50 with surface 40 rather than to reduce loading at interface 50 which would have been common in the prior art.
[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 3 a through 3 f retrieval of seal 10 is illustrated in sequence. It is important to note in this sequence of drawings the relative positions of the legs 20 and 22 versus the teardrop shape 44 as they are illustrated in FIGS. 3 b and 3 c . Upon review of these figures it will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the teardrop shape 44 is maintained substantially intact while the legs 20 and 22 and the roots 36 and 38 are subjected to tensile bending stress and experienced a greater degree of movement. This is beneficial since as noted above the legs and roots are protected from bending stress during initial setting of this seal. Therefore they have significantly greater elasticity than the bridge 18 , which has been work hardened, at this stage in use of the seal 10 . With reference to FIG. 3 d , it can be ascertained that the bridge 18 has begun to reopen but it is also important to note that the interface 50 has come out of contact with surface 40 by a significant margin at this point in the retrieval process. While more bending stress is being added to bridge 18 at this point in the process a rupture is less likely to create a problem. Moving on to FIGS. 3 e and 3 f the seal has already been substantially withdrawn and again rupture at this point is less damaging. It will also be appreciated by the reader at legs 20 and 22 and roots 36 and 38 are now significantly deformed but because this deformation is the first bending stress experienced by those components, they are highly likely to survive that stress.
[0020] The foregoing description might be reasonably understood to relate to only a symmetrically positioned seal. It is to be appreciated however that depending upon the type of movement utilized during the setting process it is sometimes advantageous to prepare the seal 10 as a non-symmetrical device. More specifically, and utilizing one-gauge-ring movement as an example, if gauge ring 24 is moved toward gauge ring 26 while gauge ring 26 is held in a stationary position it is reasonably likely that the teardrop shape 44 will contact the inside surface 40 (at interface 50 ) before the seal 10 is fully set. While it is subtle in the drawings utilized to exemplify the invention, careful consideration of the illustrated position of interface 50 relative to a centerline of the seal 10 will show that it is offset in the direction of gauge ring 24 . This is because of the contact with surface 40 prior to fully setting of the seal 10 . Once contact is made at interface 50 , the positioning of side 48 is relatively fixed and the positioning of side 46 will continue to change. Side 46 will deflect under the impetus of gauge ring 24 to have a greater curvature than that of side 48 . Because it is desirable to promote symmetry as much as practicable in teardrop 44 it may be desirable in certain applications to vary a thickness of the seal body 12 over its length. More specifically is possible to utilize thickness of seal body 12 to encourage early deformation in some portions of the seal body 12 and delayed deformation in other portions of the seal body 12 . Generally speaking in order to enhance symmetry in the teardrop 44 a lesser thickness at the more relatively fixed end of seal body 12 will allow side 48 to more readily deform into a desirable position. Likewise, while the angles of the angled surfaces 28 and 30 and the radiuses 32 and 34 need not be symmetrical and in some applications may be better operable by being disparate. It is further to be understood that although the disclosure hereinabove describes an embodiment where each component is mirrored on both axial ends of the seal 10 , albeit not necessarily with the identical dimensions or shapes, the teardrop shape can still be created with asset of the identified components on but one axial side of the seal 10 with the other side being simply attached to a carrier component.
[0021] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.
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A seal includes a seal body configured to form a teardrop shaped seal member upon axial compression of the seal body; a gauge ring in operable communication with the seal body and capable of applying an axial load on the seal body and method
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
[0001] The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus for heating an image on recording medium, and the method for manufacturing such an image heating apparatus.
[0002] There is disclosed a fixing apparatus employing one of the heating methods based on electromagnetic induction in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 10-74009. A typical fixing apparatus of this type comprises a fixation roller and a coil. The fixation roller is heated by the eddy current which is induced in the wall of the fixation roller as the fixation roller is subjected to the magnetic flux generated by the coil. Thus, a fixing apparatus of this type is considered to be advantageous in terms of energy efficiency.
[0003] A typical fixing apparatus employing a heating method based on electromagnetic induction (which hereinafter may be referred to simply as inductive fixing apparatus) comprises a fixation roller and a coil, which are physically independent from each other.
[0004] The smaller the gap (clearance) between the fixation roller and coil, the higher the energy efficiency. Thus, the positional relationship between the fixation roller and coil is one of the essential factors which affect the energy efficiency of a fixing apparatus.
[0005] According to the prior art, however, the position of the fixation roller is set independently from that of the coil, which has been problematic from the perspective of the level of accuracy at which the fixation roller and coil are positioned relative to each other.
[0006] With the fixation roller and coil not correctly positioned relative to each other, there is the possibility that if the coil and/or fixation roller deforms due to its own weight and/or the heat of the fixation roller, the coil and fixation will come into contact with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to provide an image heating apparatus superior to an image heating apparatus in accordance with any of the prior arts, in terms of the level of accuracy at which the heat roller and coil are positioned relative to each other.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an image heating apparatus superior to an image heating apparatus in accordance with any of the prior arts, in terms of the accuracy of the distance between the heat roller and coil.
[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image heating apparatus comprising a heating roller for heating an image on a recording material; a coil unit disposed in said heating roller and including a coil for induction heat generation in said heating roller; a supporting member for rotatably supporting said heating roller, wherein said supporting member including a holding portion for substantially non-rotatably holding said coil unit.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method for an image heating apparatus including a heating roller for heating an image on a recording material, and a coil unit including a coil for induction heat generation in said heating roller, said manufacturing method comprising a step of preparing a first supporting member for rotatably supporting the heating roller; a step of preparing a second supporting member for substantially non-rotatably supporting said coil unit; a step of connecting said first supporting member and said second supporting member with each other while said first supporting member and said second supporting member are positioned relative to each other; a step of supporting said heating roller on said first supporting member; and a step of inserting said coil unit from one longitudinal end of said heating roller and supporting said coil unit on said second supporting member.
[0011] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a typical image forming apparatus.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the essential portions of the fixing apparatus.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the essential portions of the fixing apparatus.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the fixation roller assembly of the fixing apparatus.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the essential portions of the fixing apparatus in the condition in which the magnetic flux adjusting member is being rotated into the second position.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the primary area across which a magnetic flux is generated, and the heat distribution of the fixation roller, corresponding to the primary area, in terms of the direction parallel to the circumferential direction of the fixation roller.
[0018] FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the fixation roller to which the thermally insulating bushings and fixation roller gear have been attached.
[0019] FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the excitation coil assembly and the means for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member.
[0020] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the holder and magnetic flux adjusting member.
[0021] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the holder and the components therein.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a drawing for describing the front supporting member for supporting fixation roller and holder, by their front end portions.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a drawing for describing the rear supporting member for supporting the fixation roller and holder, by their rear end portions.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a drawing for describing the positioning means for precisely positioning the two portions of front supporting member relative to each other, and the positioning means for precisely positioning the two portion of the rear supporting member relative to each other.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the magnetic flux adjusting member given such a shape that enables it to accommodate three kinds of recording mediums different in width (large, medium, and small sizes).
[0026] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a magnetic flux adjusting member for a fixing apparatus (image forming apparatus) in which a recording medium is conveyed while one of its lateral edges is kept aligned with the positional reference with which the apparatus is provided.
[0027] FIG. 16 is another example of a magnetic flux adjusting member for a fixing apparatus (image forcing apparatus) in which a recording medium is conveyed while one of its lateral edges is kept aligned with the positional reference with which the apparatus is provided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0000] (1) Example of Image Forming Apparatus
[0028] Hereinafter, the image heating apparatus, as a fixing apparatus, in accordance with the present invention will be described. First, referring to FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus in which this fixing apparatus is disposed will be described before the fixing apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus in this embodiment is a laser beam printer, which uses one of the electrophotographic processes.
[0029] Designated by referential symbols 101 is an electrophotographic photosensitive member (which hereinafter will be referred to simply as photosensitive drum), which is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction indicated by an arrow mark, at a preset peripheral velocity.
[0030] Designated by a referential symbol 102 is a charge roller, as a charging means, of the contact type, which uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 to preset polarity and potential level as the photosensitive drum 101 is rotated.
[0031] Designated by a referential symbol 103 is a laser scanner as an exposing means, which scans the uniformly charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 by emitting a beam of laser light L while modulating it with sequential digital electrical signals which reflect the image formation data, as the photosensitive drum 101 is rotationally driven. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 , in the pattern in which the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 is scanned by the beam of laser light L.
[0032] Designated by a referential symbol 104 is a developing apparatus, which normally or reversely develops the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 , into an image formed of toner (which hereinafter will be referred to simply as toner image).
[0033] Designated by a referential symbol 105 is a transfer roller as a transferring means, which is kept pressed upon the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 with the application of a preset amount of pressures forming a transfer nip T, to which a recording medium P as an object to be heated is conveyed from an unshown recording medium feeding/conveying mechanism with a preset control timing, and then, is conveyed through the transfer nip T while remaining pinched by the photosensitive drum 101 and transfer roller 105 . As the recording medium P is conveyed through the transfer nip T, a preset transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 105 with a preset control timing. As a result, the toner image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 is electrostatically and gradually transferred onto the surface of the recording medium P.
[0034] After being conveyed out of the transfer nip T, the recording medium P is separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 , and introduced into the fixing apparatus 100 , which fixes the unfixed toner image on the recording medium P by applying heat and pressure to the introduced recording medium and the unfixed toner image thereon; it turns the unfixed image into a permanent image. After the fixation, the recording medium P is conveyed out of the fixing apparatus.
[0035] Designated by a referential symbol 106 is a device for cleaning the photosensitive drum 101 , which removes the transfer residual toner, that is, the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 after the separation of the recording medium P from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 . After the cleaning of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 , that is, the removal of the transfer residual toner, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 is used for the following image formation cycle; the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 101 is repeatedly used for image formation.
[0036] The direction indicated by a referential symbol a is the direction in which the recording medium P is conveyed. As for the positioning of the recording medium P relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the recording medium, conveyance direction a, the recording medium P is conveyed through the main assembly so that the centerline of the recording medium P is kept aligned with the center of the fixing apparatus (fixation roller).
[0000] (2) Fixing Apparatus 100
[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the essential portions of the fixing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the essential portions of the fixing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the fixation roller assembly portion of the fixing apparatus.
[0038] For the degree of accuracy at which the fixation roller, as a member in which heat can be generated by electromagnetic induction, is positioned relative to an excitation coil assembly as a magnetic flux generating means (heating means), the fixing apparatus in this embodiment is structured so that the fixation roller and excitation coil assembly are coaxially supported by the positioning members, inclusive of the means for accurately positioning the supporting member for rotatably supporting the fixation roller and the means for accurately positioning the excitation coil assembly.
[0039] Designated by a referential symbol 1 is the fixation roller as a member in which heat can be generated by electromagnetic induction. The fixation roller 1 is formed of such a substance as iron, nickel, and SUS 430 (electrically conductive magnetic substance), in which heat can be generated by electromagnetic induction. It is a cylindrical, and the thickness of its wall is in the range of 0.1 mm-1.5 mm. Generally, it comprises a toner releasing layer as the surface layer, or the combination of a toner releasing layer, an elastic layer, etc. Using one of the ferromagnetic metals (metallic substances with high level of permeability), as the material for the fixation roller, makes it possible to confine a larger portion of the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generating means, in the wall of the fixation roller 1 . In other words, it makes it possible to increase the fixation roller in magnetic flux density, making it thereby possible to more efficiently induce eddy current in the surface portion of the metallic fixation roller.
[0040] This fixing apparatus 100 is provided with a front plate 21 , a rear plate 22 , a fixation roller supporting front member 28 (fixation roller positioning plate), a fixation roller supporting rear member 27 (fixation roller positioning plate). To the outward surfaces of the fixation roller supporting members 26 and 27 , first supporting portions 26 a and 27 a are attached, respectively. The fixation roller 1 is provided with a pair of heat insulating bushings 23 a and 23 b , which are fitted around the lengthwise front and rear end portions of the fixation roller 1 , respectively. It is rotatably supported at the front and rear lengthwise end portions by the portions 26 a and 27 a of the front and rear supporting members 26 and 27 , with the interposition of bearings 24 a and 24 b disposed between the bushing 23 a and the portion 26 a of the front supporting member 26 , and between the bushing 23 b and portion 27 a of the rear supporting member 27 , respectively.
[0041] The heat insulating bushings 23 a and 23 b are employed to minimize the heat transmission from the fixation roller 1 to the bearings 24 a and 24 b. Designated by a referential symbol G 1 is a fixation roller driving gear fitted fast around the front end portion of the fixation roller 1 . As the rotational force from a first motor M 1 is transmitted to this gear G 1 through a driving force transmission system (unshown), the fixation roller 1 is rotationally driven at a preset peripheral velocity in the clockwise direction indicated by an arrow mark in FIG. 3 . FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the fixation roller 1 fitted with the pair of heat insulating bushings 23 a and 23 b and tie fixation roller gear G 1 .
[0042] Designated by a referential symbol 2 is a pressure roller as a pressure applying member, which is an elastic roller made up of a metallic core 2 a, a cylindrical elastic layer 2 b fitted integrally and concentrically around the metallic core 2 a , etc. The elastic layer 2 b is a layer formed of a rubbery substance, for example, silicone rubber, which displays the releasing property and is heat resistant. This elastic roller 2 is disposed under the fixation roller, in parallel to the fixation roller, being rotatably supported by the front and rear end portions of the metallic core 2 a , with a pair of bearings 25 a and 25 b attached to the front and rear plates 21 and 22 , respectively, in such a manner that they can be slid toward the fixation roller 1 . Further, the bearings 25 a and 25 b are kept pressured upward toward the fixation roller 1 by a pair of pressure applying means (unshown). With the provision of the above described structural arrangement, the pressure roller 2 is pressed against the downwardly facing portion of the peripheral surface of the fixation roller 1 , so that a preset amount of contact pressure is maintained between the fixation roller 1 and pressure roller 2 against the elasticity of the elastic layer 2 b . As a result, a fixation nip N, as a heating nip, with a preset width is formed between the fixation roller 1 and pressure roller 2 . As the fixation roller 1 is rotationally driven, the pressure roller 2 is rotated by the friction which occurs between the fixation roller 1 and pressure roller 2 in the fixation nip N.
[0043] Designated by a referential symbol 3 is an excitation coil assembly as a magnetic flux generating means. This excitation coil assembly 3 is disposed in the hollow of the abovementioned cylindrical fixation roller 1 . The excitation coil assembly 3 is made up of an excitation coil 4 (which hereinafter will be referred to simply as coil), magnetic cores 5 a and 5 b (which hereinafter will be referred to simply as cores), and a holder 6 . The magnetic cores 5 a and 5 b are integrally attached to each other, yielding a component with a T-shaped cross section, and are disposed in the hollow of the holder 6 . The excitation coil assembly 3 is also provided with a magnetic flux adjusting member 7 (magnetic flux blocking member (magnetic flux reducing member): shutter), which is rotatably disposed on the outward side of the holder 6 , coaxially with the holder 6 . FIG. 8 is an external view of this excitation coil assembly 3 and means M 2 , 28 , G 4 , and G 5 for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 . FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the holder 6 and magnetic flux adjusting member 7 FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the holder 6 , and the components therein.
[0044] Hereinafter, the lengthwise direction of the structural components or the portions thereof of the fixing apparatus means the direction perpendicular (intersectional) to the recording medium conveyance direction a.
[0045] The holder 6 is roughly cylindrical in cross section, from one lengthwise and to the other. As the material therefor, a mixture of PPS resin, which is heat resistant and has mechanical strength, and glass fiber, is used. As for the substances, other than the PPS resin, suitable as the material for the holder 6 , PEEK resin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin, polyamide-imide resin, ceramic, liquid polymer, fluorinated resin, and the like are available.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 10 , the holder 6 is made up of two (first and second) roughly semicylindrical portions 6 a and 6 b , which are attached to each other with adhesive, or are interlocked to each other by providing the two portions 6 a and 6 b with such a shape that makes it possible to interlock the two portions 6 a and 6 b with each other, to form the holder 6 , which is roughly cylindrical, from one lengthwise end to the other. The coil 4 and cores 5 a and 5 b are disposed in the first semicylindrical portion 6 a , and then, the second semicylindrical portion 6 b is bonded to the first semicylindrical portion 6 a in a manner of encasing the coil 4 and core 5 a and 5 b , completing the holder 6 which internally holds the coil 4 and core 5 a and 5 b. Designated by referential symbols 4 a and 4 b are lead wires, which are extended outward from the holder 6 through a hole 6 c of the front end wall of the holder 6 .
[0047] Also referring to FIG. 10 , the coil 4 has a roughly elliptical shape (shape of long and narrow boat), the major axis of which is parallel to the lengthwise direction of the fixation roller 1 . It is disposed in the hollow of the first semicylindrical portion 6 a of the holder 6 so that its external contour follows the internal surface of the fixation roller 1 . The coil 4 must be capable of generating an alternating magnetic flux strong enough to generate a sufficient amount of heat for fixation. Therefore, the coil 4 must be small in electrical resistance, and high in inductance. As the wire for the coil 4 , Litz wire is used, which is made by bundling roughly 80-160 strands of fine wires, the diameter or which is in the range of 0.1-0.3 mm. The Litz wire is wound 6-12 times around the first core 5 a.
[0048] The core 5 a constitutes a first core (equivalent to vertical portion of letter T) around which the Litz wire is wound. The core 5 b constitutes a second core (equivalent to horizontal portion of letter T). The two cores 5 a and 5 b are attached to each other so that the resultant component will be T-shaped in cross section. As the material for the cores 5 a and 5 b , such a substance as ferrite that is high in permeability, and yet, is low in residual magnetic flux density, is preferable. However, the only requirement for the material for the cores 5 a and 5 b is that the material is capable of generating magnetic flux. In other words, what as required of the material for the cores 5 a and 5 b is not particularly restrictive. Further, the cores 5 a and 5 b are not required to be in a specific forms or be made of a specific material. Moreover, the first and second core 5 a and 5 b may be formed as parts of a single piece magnetic core, which is T-shaped in cross section.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 9 , the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is shaped 30 that its cross section is arcuate, from one lengthwise end to the other. It has a pair of shutter portions 7 a and 7 a having the arcuate cross section, and a connective portion 7 b having also the arcuate cross section and being narrower than the shutter portions 7 a in terms of the circumferential direction of the fixation roller (holder). In terms of the lengthwise direction of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , the shutter portions 7 a and 7 a are the portions adjacent to the lengthwise ends of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , and the connective portion 7 b is the center portion of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , which connects the shutter portions 7 a and 7 a . As for the material for the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , such a nonferrous metallic substance as aluminum, copper, or the like is used as the material for the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , and among nonferrous metallic substances, those which are lower in electrical resistance are preferable. The magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is also provided with a pair of protrusions 7 c and 7 c , which protrude from the outward edges of the shutter portions 7 a and 7 a , one for one, in the lengthwise direction of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 . These protrusions 7 c and 7 c are engaged with the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 c rotatably fitted around the front and rear end portions of the holder 6 . With the provision of the above described structural arrangement, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is held at both of its lengthwise ends by the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 , between the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 .
[0050] The fixing apparatus 100 is structured so that the holder 6 of the excitation coil assembly 3 is supported as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 . That is, one of the lengthwise end portions of the cylindrical holder 6 is extended outward beyond the front end of the fixation roller 1 , through the front opening of the fixation roller 1 , and is fitted in the hole 26 c of the second portion 26 b of the front supporting member 26 attached to the outboard side of the front plate 21 of the fixing apparatus 100 , being thereby supported by the front plate 21 . The other lengthwise end portion of the holder 6 is extended outward beyond the rear end of the fixation roller 1 , through the rear opening the fixation roller 1 , and is fitted in the hole 27 c of the second portion 27 b of the rear supporting member 27 attached to the outward side of the rear plate 22 of the fixing apparatus 100 , being thereby supported by the rear plate 22 . More specifically, the rear end portion of the holder 6 is provided with a D-cut portion 6 d , and the hole 27 c of the rear supporting member 27 is D-shaped in cross section. Therefore, the holder 6 is nonrotationally supported by the front and rear plates 26 and 27 or the fixing apparatus 100 . Also with the provision of the above described structural arrangement, the holder 6 is disposed in the hollow of the fixation roller 1 so that the two are roughly coaxially disposed while providing a preset amount of gap between the peripheral surface of the holder 6 and internal surface of the fixation roller 1 , and also, so that the holder 6 is nonrotationally held in a preset attitude, that is, at a preset angle in terms of its circumferential direction. The aforementioned lead wires 4 a and 4 b extending outward from the holder 6 through the hole 6 c , with which the front end wall of the holder 6 is provided, are connected to an excitation circuit 51 .
[0051] Incidentally, regarding the means for nonrotationally holding the holder 6 at the aforementioned angle (position) in terms of its circumferential direction, in this embodiment, the D-cut end portion 6 d of the holder 6 is fitted in the hole 27 c of the portion 27 b of the second supporting member 27 , which is D-shaped in cross section. However, the means for nonrotationally holding the holder 6 at the preset angle (position) does not need to be limited to the above described one. That is, any means will suffice as long as the holder 6 can be nonrotationally held at the preset angle (position) in terms of its circumferential direction.
[0052] As described above, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is supported between the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 , by being supported at both of its lengthwise ends by the gears G 2 and G 3 . That is, the protrusions 7 c and 7 c ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ), which are the actual lengthwise end portions of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , are supported by the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 by being engaged with the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 , respectively, which are rotatably fitted around the front and rear end portions of the holder 6 . Thus, as the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 are rotated by the means M 2 , 28 , G 4 , and 5 for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is roughly coaxially rotated about the axial line of the holder 6 , through the cylindrical gap between the peripheral surface of the holder 6 and the internal surface of the fixation roller 1 .
[0053] Referring to FIG. 8 which depicts the means M 2 , 28 , G 4 , and G 5 for moving the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , a referential symbol M 2 stands for a second motor; 28 : a shaft; G 4 : first output gear; and a referential symbol G 5 stands for a second output gear The shaft 28 , which is located outside the fixation roller 1 , is rotatably supported in parallel to the fixation roller 1 , by the front and rear plates 21 and 22 of the fixing apparatus 100 , with a pair of bearings (unshown) placed between the shaft 28 and the plates 21 and 22 . The second motor M 2 is a driving force source for rotating the shaft 28 , and is a stepping motor. The first and second output gears G 4 and G 5 are rigidly and coaxially attached to the shaft 28 . The first and second output gears G 4 and G 5 are meshed with the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 of the excitation coil assembly 3 , respectively Thus, as the second motor M 2 is rotationally driven, the rotational force is transmitted to the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 , causing thereby the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 to rotate roughly about the axial line of the holder 6 in a manner to follow the peripheral surface of the holder 6 . As for the material for the gears, one of the various resinous substances may be selected according to the ambient temperature, and the amount of torque to which they are subjected.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 2 , designated by a referential symbol 50 is a control circuit portion (CPU), which activates the first motor M 1 with a preset control timing, through a driver 52 , according to an image formation sequence. As the first motor M 1 is activated, the rotational force is given to the driving gear G 1 of the fixation roller 1 , rotationally driving the fixation roller 1 in the clockwise direction indicated by an arrow mark in FIG. 3 . The pressure roller 2 is rotated by the rotation of the fixation roller 1 .
[0055] The control circuit portion 50 also activates the exciting circuit 51 with a preset timing, supplying thereby the coil 4 with alternating electric current. As a result, an alternating magnetic flux (alternating magnetic field) is generated, and therefore, heat is generated in the wall of the fixation roller 1 by electromagnetic induction, causing the fixation roller 1 to increase in temperature.
[0056] FIG. 6 is the combination of a schematic cross-sectional view of the fixation roller 1 in the system such as the above described one, and a graph showing the heat distribution of the fixation roller 1 in the heated condition. It shows the areas to which the major portion of the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flus generating means concentrates, and the corresponding heat distribution of the fixation roller 1 , in terms of the circumferential direction of the fixation roller 1 . As alternating electric current is flowed through the coil 4 , the coil 4 generates an alternating magnetic flux. The fixation roller 1 is formed of a magnetic metal or nonmetallic magnetic substance. Within the wall of the fixation roller 1 , eddy current is induced in a manner to neutralize the magnetic field. This eddy current generates neat (Joule heat) in the wall of the fixation roller 1 , increasing thereby the fixation roller 1 in temperature.
[0057] In the case of the structure of the fixing apparatus in this embodiment, the area in which the major portion of the magnetic flux is generated is on the outward side of the first semicylindrical portion 6 a of the holder 6 , in which the coil 4 and cores 5 a and 5 b are disposed. Thus, the portion of the fixation roller 1 , which is in this area, is where heat is generated by the magnetic flux. The heat distribution of the fixation roller if in terms of the circumferential direction of the fixation roller 1 , across the portion in the abovementioned magnetic flux generation area, has two areas H and H, in which most of the heat is generated, as shown in FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the holder 6 is nonrotationally held (positioned) at such an angle in terms of the circumferential direction of the holder 5 that the portion of the coil 4 , which corresponds to one of the two areas H and H, faces the fixation nip N, and the portion of the coil 4 , which corresponds to the other of the two areas H and H, faces the immediate adjacencies of the fixation nip N on the upstream side in terms of the rotational direction of the fixation roller 1 .
[0058] When the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , which is in the cylindrical gap between the peripheral surface of the holder 6 and the internal surface of the fixation roller 1 , is not required to adjust the magnetic flux, it is moved into, and kept in, the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , which is on the opposite side of the fixing apparatus from the aforementioned areas in which the major portion of the magnetic flux is generated. This area of the gap in which the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is kept when the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is not required to adjust the magnetic flux is where the magnetic flux from the magnetic flux generating means is virtually nonexistent, or extremely low in density. This position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , in which the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is kept when the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is not required to adjust the magnetic flux, will be referred to as first position.
[0059] The temperature of the fixation roller 1 is detected by a central thermistor TH 1 as a temperature detecting means, disposed at the roughly mid point of the fixation roller 1 in terms of the lengthwise direction thereof, in contact, or with no contact, with the fixation roller 1 , and the detected temperature is inputted into the control circuit 50 , which controls the temperature of the fixation roller 1 by controlling the electric power supplied from the exciting circuit 51 to the coil 4 , so that the fixation roller temperature detected by the central thermistor TH 1 and inputted into the control circuit 50 remains at a preset target temperature (fixation temperature). While the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is kept in the first position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , the fixation roller 1 is controlled in temperature so that the temperature of the fixation roller 1 is kept at the target level across the entirety of its effective range (heatable range) in terms of its lengthwise direction.
[0060] While the fixation roller temperature is kept at the preset fixation level after being raised thereto, a recording medium P bearing an unfixed toner image t is introduced into the fixation nip N, and is conveyed through the fixation nip N while being kept pinched by the fixation roller 1 and pressure roller 2 As the recording medium P is conveyed through the fixation nip N, the unfixed toner image t on the recording medium P is fixed to the surface of the recording medium 2 by the heat from the fixation roller 1 and the pressure in the fixation nip N.
[0061] Hereinafter, the term, recording medium width, means the dimension of a recording medium, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction a, when the recording medium P is completely flat. As described above, in this embodiment, the recording medium P is conveyed through the fixing apparatus (image forming apparatus) so that the center of the recording medium P in terms of its width direction coincides with the center of the fixing apparatus (fixation roller 1 ) in terms of the width direction of the recording medium P. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 , designated by a referential symbol O is the centerline (hypothetical line), as the referential line, of the fixation roller 1 (recording medium) in terms of its lengthwise direction, and designated by a referential symbol A is the width of the path of the largest recording medium, in terms of width, usable with the image forming apparatus. Designated by a referential symbol B is the width of the path of a recording medium which is one size smaller than the largest recording medium. Hereinafter, a recording medium smaller in width than the largest recording medium will be referred to simply as a recording medium of the small size. Designated by a referential symbol C are the areas between the edges of a recording medium of the large size and the edge of a recording medium of the small size. In other words, each of the areas C is the portion of the recording medium passage, which does not come into contact with a recording medium of the small size when the recording medium of the small size is conveyed through the fixing apparatus. Since a recording medium is conveyed through the fixing apparatus so that the center of the recording medium in terms of its width direction coincides with the center of the fixation roller 1 in terms of its lengthwise direction, there will be two areas C, one on the left side of the path B of a recording medium of the small size, and the other on the right side of the path B of a recording medium of the small size. The width of the areas C is changed by the width of the recording medium being conveyed through the fixing apparatus (image forming apparatus).
[0062] The abovementioned central thermistor TH 1 used for controlling the temperature of the fixation roller 1 is disposed within the path B of a recording medium of the small size so that it will be within the path of a recording medium regardless of recording medium width.
[0063] Designated by a referential symbol TH 2 is a peripheral thermistor as a temperature detecting means disposed within one of the area C, that is, the areas out-of-path of a recording medium, in terms of the lengthwise direction of the fixation roller 1 , in contact, or with no contact, with the fixation roller 1 , in order to detect the increase in the temperature of the fixation roller 1 , across the portions corresponding to the out-of-path areas C. The temperature data obtained by this peripheral thermistor TH 2 are also inputted into the control circuit portion 50 .
[0064] As multiple recording medium of the small sizes are consecutively conveyed through the fixing apparatus 100 , the portions of the fixation roller 1 corresponding in position to the out-of-path areas C increases in temperature, and this increase in temperature is detected by the peripheral thermistor TH 2 , and the detected increase in temperature is inputted from the thermistor TH 2 to the control circuit portion 50 . As the temperature level of the out-of-path area C inputted into the control circuit portion 50 by the peripheral thermistor TH 2 exceeds the preset permissible range, the control circuit portion 50 rotates the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 from the first position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 into the second position shorn in FIG. 5 by activating the second motor M 2 through the driver 53 .
[0065] The second position for the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is such a position that when the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is in this position, the arcuate shutter portions 7 a and 7 a , that is, the virtual end portions of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 in its lengthwise direction, which are wider, in terms of the circumferential direction of the fixation roller 1 , than the connective portion 7 b, that is, the center portion of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , are in the following positions. That is, the arcuate shutter portions 7 a and 7 a of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 which is in the cylindrical gap between the peripheral surface of the holder 6 and the internal surface of the fixation roller 1 , are placed in the portions of the above described gap, one for one, which correspond in position to the out-of-path areas C in terms of the lengthwise direction of the fixation roller 1 , and also, to the area in which the major portion of the magnetic flux is generated, in terms of the circumferential direction of the fixation roller 1 .
[0066] With the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 placed in the second position, the magnetic flux from the magnetic flux generating means is reduced in the amount by which it acts on the portion of the fixation roller 1 which corresponds in position to the out-of-path areas C and C. Therefore, the portions of the fixation roller 1 corresponding to the out-of-path areas C are minimized in the amount by which heat is generated therein. Therefore, the problem that the portions of the fixation roller 1 corresponding to the out-of-path areas C increase in temperature is prevented.
[0067] It is possible to structure the fixing apparatus 100 so that as the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , which is in the gap between the peripheral surface of the holder 6 and the internal surface or the fixation roller 1 , is moved into the aforementioned second position, the shutter portions 7 a and 7 a , which correspond in position to the out-of-path areas C and C, extend from one end of the magnetic flux generation area, in terms of the circumferential direction of the fixation roller 1 (holder 6 ), to the other, or a part of the way to the other. FIG. 5 shows the structural arrangement in which the shutter portions 7 a and 7 a extend from one end of the magnetic flux generation area roughly halfway to the other.
[0068] As the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is rotationally moved into the second position, the portions of the fixation roller 1 corresponding to the out-of-path areas C gradually reduce in temperature As the temperature level of these portions inputted into the control circuit portion 50 by the peripheral thermistor TH 2 falls below the preset permissible level, that is, as it is detected that the portions of the fixation roller 1 corresponding to the out-of-path areas C have become too low in temperature, the control circuit portion 50 rotationally moves the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 into the first position to prevent these portions of the fixation roller 1 from becoming too low in temperature.
[0069] Further, if an image forming operation which uses recording mediums of a small size is switched to an image forming operation which uses recording mediums of a large size after the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is moved into the second position during the image forming operation using the recording mediums of the small size, the control circuit portion 50 rotates the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 back into the first position.
[0070] As one of the methods for securing a proper amount of gap between the fixation roller 12 as an inductively heatable member and magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , there is the method which widens the distance (gap) between the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 and fixation roller 1 . However, this method suffers from the following problem. That is, as the distance between the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 and fixation roller 1 is increased, the distance between the core 5 and fixation roller 1 increases, and if the distance between the core 5 and fixation roller 1 is increased beyond a certain value, heat exchange efficiency drastically drops. Therefore, currently, this method is seldom used. The holder 6 is extended, in terms of the circumferential direction of the fixation roller 1 , to the opposite side of the fixation roller 1 from where the coil 4 is disposed, making the holder 6 roughly circular in cross section, from one lengthwise end to the other. Shaping the holder 6 as described above makes it possible to make the rotational axes of the holder 6 , fixation roller 1 , and magnetic flux adjusting member 7 coincide, making it therefore possible to improve the fixing apparatus 100 in terms of the accuracy with which these components are positioned relative to each other.
[0071] As for the means for transmitting the force for driving the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , the front and rear lengthwise end portions of the holder 6 are fitted with the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 , which are rotatable around the holder 6 , as described above. Further, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is provided with the aforementioned protrusions 7 c , which protrude outward from the outward edges of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 . These protrusions 7 c are engaged with the first and second shutter gears G 2 and G 3 so that the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is supported at both of its lengthwise ends, between the gears G 2 and G 3 , by the gears G 2 and G 3 . The shutter gears G and G 3 are engaged with (fitted around) the holder 6 by the portions which are not engaged with the protrusions 7 c and 7 c of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 . Therefore, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 can be rotated by the gears G 2 and G 3 , following the peripheral surface of the holder 6 while being supported by the entirety of the peripheral surface of the holder 6 , and the internal surface of each of the gears G 2 and G 3 . The portion of the holder 6 , around which the gear G 2 is fitted, and the portion of the holder 6 , around which the gear G 3 is fitted, are rendered uniform in external diameter across the portions largest in external diameter. Here, the expression that the portions of the holder 6 , around which the gears G 2 and G 3 are fitted, one for one, are the largest in external diameter, means that as long as these portions remain largest in external diameter, these portions may be reduced in thickness, evenly or with preset intervals in terms of the circumferential direction thereof, in order to reduce the holder in weight. With the employment of this structural arrangement, as the holder 6 and magnetic flux adjusting member 7 are engaged with the gears G 2 and G 3 , they are coaxially disposed, making it possible to improve the image heating apparatus in terms of the level of accuracy at which these components are positioned relative to each other.
[0072] Basically, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is arcuate in cross section from one lengthwise end to the other in terms of the lengthwise direction of the fixation roller 1 . The lengthwise end portions of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 are different in, dimension (in terms of circumferential direction of fixation roller 1 : arc length in cross-sectional view) from the center portion of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 . When a recording medium of a small size is conveyed through the fixing apparatus, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is rotated so that the shutter portions 7 a and 7 a , that is, the lengthwise end portions, of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 are moved into the areas where the magnetic flux is generated, in order to prevent the fixation roller 1 from increasing in temperature across the lengthwise end portions. Instead, the following method is possible. That is, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is shaped so that the center portion of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 constitutes the magnetic flux blocking portion (shutter portion) which corresponds in position to the recording medium passage in terms of the lengthwise direction of the fixing apparatus and this shutter portion is moved into the magnetic flux generation area to change the magnetic flux in the distribution across the area which corresponds to the recording medium passage. In other words, the fixation roller 1 may be prevented from increasing in temperature across the lengthwise end portions, by changing the area corresponding to the recording medium path, and the areas corresponding to the areas outside the recording medium path, in the distribution of the amount by which heat is generated, in terms of the lengthwise direction of the fixation roller 1 (reverse shutter).
[0073] Next, referring to FIGS. 11-13 , the front and rear supporting members 26 and 27 for supporting the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 by their front and rear end portions, respectively, will be described in somewhat more detail.
[0074] The front and rear supporting members 26 and 27 are attached to the front and rear plates 21 and 22 of the fixing apparatus 100 , with the use of small screws which are put through the roughly round hole 26 d and elongated hole 26 e of the front supporting member 26 , and the corresponding holes of the front plate 21 of the fixation apparatus, and through the roughly round hole 27 d and elongated hole 27 e of the rear supporting member 27 , and the corresponding holes of the rear plate 22 of the fixing apparatus. Therefore, the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 can be easily replaced by removing the small screws.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 11 , the front supporting member 26 is made up of two portions: first and second portions 26 a and 26 b . The first portion 26 a is provided with a round hole for supporting the bearing 24 a by the front supporting member 26 ; the front end portion of the fixation roller 1 is fitted in this hole, with the heat insulating bushing 23 a placed between the fixation roller 1 and the bearing 24 a. The second portion 26 b of the front supporting member 26 is provided with a round hole 26 c for supporting the cylindrical front end portion of the holder 6 .
[0076] Further, the first and second portions 26 a and 26 b of the front supporting member 26 are spot welded to each other at points 26 f. As for the method for welding the two portions 26 a and 26 b to each other, the portions 26 a and 26 b are kept accurately positioned relative to each other with the use of a jig 61 as a means for facilitating the positioning of the portions 26 a and 25 b relative to each other, as shown in FIG. 13 ( a ), and then, the two portions 26 a and 26 b are spot welded to each other. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the front supporting member 26 capable of coaxially holding the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 at a high level of accuracy.
[0077] Next, referring to FIG. 12 , the rear supporting member 27 is also made up of two portions: first and second portions 27 a and 27 b . The first portion 27 a is provided with a round hole for supporting the bearing 24 b by the rear supporting member 27 ; the rear end portion of the fixation roller 1 is fitted in this hole, with the heat insulating bushing 23 b placed between the fixation roller 1 and the bearing 24 b . The second portion 27 b of the rear supporting member 27 is provided with a D-shaped hole 27 c , in which the rear end portion 6 d of the holder 6 , which is D-shaped in cross section, is fitted to prevent the holder 6 from rotating.
[0078] Further, the first and second portions 27 a and 27 b of the rear supporting member 27 are spot welded to each other at points 27 f. As for the method for welding the two portions 27 a and 27 b to each other, the portions 27 a and 27 b are kept accurately positioned relative to each other with the use of a jig 62 as a means for facilitating the positioning of the portions 27 a and 27 b relative to each other, as shown in FIG. 13 ( b ), and then, the two portions 27 a and 27 b are spot welded to each other. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the rear supporting member 27 capable of coaxially holding the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 at a high level of accuracy, and also, holding the holder 6 at a preset angle, in terms of its circumferential direction, also at a high level of accuracy.
[0079] After each of the two pairs of supporting member portions are welded to each other, first, the fixation roller is rotatably supported by the supporting members. Then, the holder 6 , which is internally holding the coil, is inserted into the hollow of the fixation roller from one of the lengthwise ends, and is rigidly attached to the supporting members. As for the attachment of the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is rigidly attached to the shutter gears accurately positioned relative to the supporting members. It is through the above described process that the holder which is internally holding the coil, add the fixation roller, are positioned relative to each other. In other words, the holder and fixation roller are attached to the same pair of supporting members. Therefore, they are more accurately positioned relative to each other, in particular, in terms of the distance between them, than they would be if they are attached in accordance with the prior art. Therefore, the fixation roller remains more stable in the amount of the magnetic flux to which it is subjected as it is rotated, being therefore higher in the level of efficiency at which heat is generated in the wall thereof.
[0080] The rear supporting member 27 is attached to the rear plate 22 of the fixing apparatus with the use of small screws put through the roughly round hole and elongated hole located at positions 27 d and 27 e , respectively, and the corresponding holes of the rear plate 22 , making it thereby possible to prevent the holder 6 from rotating relative to the rear plate 22 of the fixing apparatus.
[0081] As described above, the fixation roller 1 as a member in which heat is generated, and the holder 6 for supporting the excitation coil assembly 3 as a magnetic flux generating means, are supported by the front and rear supporting members 26 and 27 , respectively. The fixation roller 1 is rotatably supported, whereas the holder 6 is nonrotationally supported. Since the fixing apparatus is structured so that the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 are coaxially supported, the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 are improved in the level of accuracy at which they are positioned relative to each other. Therefore, the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 can be more closely positioned relative to each other than it was possible in the past, a proving therefore the efficiency with which the fixation roller 1 is heated by electromagnetic induction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the fixing apparatus 100 in the length of time necessary for starting it up to as preset temperature level, substantially reducing thereby the fixing apparatus in energy consumption efficiency.
[0082] Further, the supporting member 26 for supporting the holder 6 (which is for holding the fixation roller 1 as a member in which heat is generated, and excitation coil assembly 3 as a magnetic flux generating member) at one of the lengthwise ends of the holder 6 is rendered independent from the supporting member 27 for supporting the holder 6 at the other lengthwise end. Therefore, not only is it possible to maintain the positional relationship between the fixation roller 1 and holder 6 at a higher level of accuracy, but also, to improve the fixing apparatus in terms of the level of ease at which the fixation roller 1 , and excitation coil assembly 3 as a magnetic flux generating means 3 , can be replaced.
[0083] Further, the supporting member 26 is made up of two portions: first portion 26 a provided with a portion for supporting the fixation roller 1 , and second portion 26 b separate from the first portion 26 a and provided with a portion for supporting the holder 6 for supporting the excitation coil assembly 3 . The supporting portion 27 is also made up of two portions: first portion 27 a provided with a portion for supporting the fixation roller 1 , and second portion 27 b separate from the first portion 27 a and provided with a portion for supporting the holder 6 for supporting the excitation coil assembly 3 . Moreover, the first and second portions 26 a and 26 b of the first supporting members 26 are spot welded to each other while being kept precisely positioned relative to each other with the use of the jig 61 for precisely positioning the two portions 26 a and 26 b, and the portions 27 a and 27 b of the second supporting member 27 are spot welded to each other, with the use of the jig 62 for precisely positioning the two portions 27 a and 27 b. Therefore, not only can the fixation roller 1 be more precisely positioned relative to the holder 6 , but also, the supporting members 26 and 27 are easier to manufacture.
[0084] Because of these effects of this embodiment described above, it is possible to position the fixation roller 1 substantially closer to the holder 6 for holding the excitation coil assembly 3 as a magnetic flux generating means than in the past, making it possible to improve the fixing apparatus in terms of the level of efficiency at which heat is generated in the fixation roller 1 by electromagnetic induction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the length of time (startup time) necessary to increase the temperature of the fixation roller 1 to a preset level suitable for image fixation, drastically improving the fixing apparatus in terms of energy consumption efficiency.
[0085] Further, the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 of a heating apparatus (fixing apparatus) can be precisely rotated into one of the preset magnetic flux adjusting positions according to recording medium size, with no chance of malfunctioning. Moreover, this embodiment was effective to improve a fixing apparatus in the length of service life, in addition to the above described improvements related to performance. Thus, this embodiment made it possible to eliminate the problem that the magnetic flux adjusting member 7 sometimes fails to be properly rotated into one of the preset positions. Therefore, it has become possible to prevent the temperature of the fixation roller 1 from unwantedly increasing across the portions corresponding to the areas outside the path of the recording medium being conveyed through the fixing apparatus.
[0086] Next, the manufacturing sequences and procedures, which are to be followed when attaching the the lengthwise end portions of the fixation roller 1 , heat insulating bushings 23 a and 23 b , bearings 24 a and 24 b , fixation roller driving gear G 1 , holder 6 , magnetic flux adjusting member 7 (shutter), shutter gears G 2 and G 3 , front supporting member 26 , rear supporting member 27 , of the fixing apparatus 100 to the front and rear plates 21 and 22 of the fixing apparatus 100 , will be described.
[0087] Objective: to replace the fixation roller 1 , which is a component to be replaced with preset intervals, and the holder 6 , bearings 24 a and 24 b , heat insulating bushings 23 a and 23 b , magnetic flux adjusting member 7 , gears G 2 and G 3 , etc., which are to be replaced as they break down.
[0088] Procedure 1: remove the top unit of the fixing apparatus remove the bottom unit inclusive of the pressure roller, and the fixation roller driving unit.
[0089] Procedure 2: remove the front and rear supporting members 26 and 27 —remove the fixation roller 1 (inclusive of gears G 1 , heat insulating bushings 23 a and 23 b , and bearings 24 a and 24 b ), holder 6 , shutter 7 , and shutter gears G 2 and G 3 .
[0090] Procedure 3: remove unshown gasp ring (thrust damper), and remove the gear G 1 , heat insulating bushings 23 a and 23 b , and bearings 24 a and 24 b , from the fixation roller 1 , and replace them with new ones.
[0000] (3) Miscellanies
[0091] 1) The fixing apparatus in this embodiment is structured to accommodate two kinds of recording mediums different in size: recording medium of a large size and recording medium of a small size. Thus, its magnetic flux adjusting member 7 is moved into the first position or second position according to the two recording medium sizes. Obviously, a fixing apparatus may be structured so that its magnetic flux adjusting member is moved to one of three or more positions according to three or more recording medium sizes (widths). FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of a magnetic flux adjusting member 7 structured to accommodate three kinds of recording mediums different in width (large, medium, and small).
[0092] 2) The fixing apparatus (image forming apparatus) in this embodiment is structured to convey a recording medium in such a manner that the centerline of the recording medium, in terms of the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction, coincides with the lengthwise center of the fixation roller. However the present invention is effectively applicable also to a fixing apparatus (image forming apparatus) structured to convey a recording medium in such a manner that one of the lateral edges of a recording medium is kept aligned with a referential line (member) with which the apparatus is provided. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the examples of the shape of the magnetic flux adjusting member for such an apparatus, that is, an apparatus in which the position of a recording medium relative to the apparatus, in terms of its width direction, is controlled with reference to only one of its lateral edges. The lines, in the two drawings, designated by a referential symbol O′ are the referential lines for positioning a recording medium.
[0093] 3) An image heating apparatus, to which the present invention is applicable, is not limited to the above described image heating apparatus in this embodiment. That is, the present invention is also effectively applicable to an image heating apparatus such as an image heating apparatus for temporarily fixing an unfixed image to a recording medium, and an image heating apparatus for reheating a recording medium bearing a fixed image to change the fixed image in surface properties such as glossiness. Moreover, the present invention is effectively applicable to a beating apparatus for heating an object in the form a sheet, for example, a thermal pressing apparatus for removing wrinkles from am object in the form of a sheet, a thermal laminating apparatus, a thermal drying apparatus for evaporating water content from such an object as a sheet of paper, etc., which is obvious.
[0094] According to the structural arrangements in the above described embodiment, it is possible to improve, that is, stabilize, the positional relationship between the heat roller and coil, in terms of the distance between the two, making it therefore possible to reduce the distance between the heat roller and coil to improve the fixing apparatus in the level of efficiency at which heat is generated in the heat roller. Therefore it is possible to reduce the fixing apparatus in the warmup time.
[0095] While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.
[0096] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 308505/2004 filed Oct. 22, 2004 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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An image heating apparatus includes a heating roller for heating an image on a recording material; a coil unit disposed in said heating roller and including a coil for induction heat generation in said heating roller; a supporting member for rotatably supporting said heating roller, wherein said supporting member including a holding portion for substantially non-rotatably holding said coil unit.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a mold assembly device and more particularly to a mold assembly device for use in sand casting of engine cylinder blocks, the device including a magnet for securing a cast-in-place cylinder bore liner during assembly of a mold package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a sand casting process for an aluminum internal combustion engine block, an expendable mold package is assembled from a plurality of resin-bonded sand cores that define the internal and external surfaces of the engine block. Typically, each of the sand cores is formed by blowing resin-coated foundry sand into a core box and curing it therein. Cast-in-place bore liners are often used in such castings.
[0003] Typically, in the manufacture of an aluminum engine block with cast-in-place bore liners, the mold assembly method involves positioning a base core on a suitable surface and building up or stacking separate mold elements to shape such casting features as the sides, ends, water jacket, cam openings, and crankcase. The bore liners are positioned on barrel core features such that the liners become embedded in the casting after the metal is poured into the mold. Additional cores may be present as well depending on the engine design. Various designs for the barrel cores are used in the industry. These include individual barrel cores, “V” pairs of barrel cores, barrel-slab cores, and integral barrel crankcase cores. The barrel-slab and integral barrel crankcase designs are often preferred because they provide more accurate positioning of the liners within the mold assembly.
[0004] The engine block casting must be machined in a manner to ensure, among other things, that the cylinder bores (formed from the bore liners positioned on the barrel features of the barrel cores) have uniform bore liner wall thickness, and that other critical block features are accurately machined. This requires the liners to be accurately positioned relative to one another within the casting. The ease and consistency with which the bore liners are brought into the desired final position during the mold assembly process is an important consideration.
[0005] In barrel slab cores, the bore liners are positioned on the barrel core features by slidingly placing the bore liners on the barrel core features. Alternatively, the liners may be placed into the core tooling and the core sand blown into the liners to form the barrel core feature. Prior to casting, the barrel-slab cores are inverted for assembly into the mold package. Undesirable movement of the bore liners relative to the slab core may occur while the assembly is inverted.
[0006] One attempt to resolve the issues described above is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,997. In the '997 patent, an internal diameter chamfer is incorporated into the cylinder bore liner design to militate against undesirable displacement of the cylinder bore liner. Another attempt to resolve the issues described above is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,200. In the '200 patent, an expanding mandrel is used inside of a hollow barrel core to secure the cylinder bore liner to the barrel core during assembly of the mold package.
[0007] It would be desirable to produce a mold assembly device which secures a cast-in-place cylinder bore liner for use in sand casting of engine cylinder blocks during assembly of a mold package, wherein the mold assembly device militates against undesirable movement of the bore liner during assembly of the mold package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Consistent and consonant with the present invention, a mold assembly device which secures a cast-in-place cylinder bore liner for use in sand casting of engine cylinder blocks during assembly of a mold package, wherein the mold assembly device militates against undesirable movement of the bore liner during assembly of the mold package, has surprisingly been discovered.
[0009] In one embodiment, the mold assembly device comprises a handling fixture adapted to be releasably connected to a barrel slab core; and means for producing a magnetic field to attract a cylinder bore liner disposed on a barrel core feature of the barrel slab core toward an inner surface of the barrel slab core.
[0010] In another embodiment, the mold assembly device comprises a handling, fixture releasably connected to a barrel slab core, the barrel slab core having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of barrel core features extending outwardly from the inner surface, each of the barrel core features having a cylinder bore liner disposed thereon; and at least one magnet disposed between the handling fixture and the barrel slab core, the at least one magnet attracting the cylinder bore liner of each barrel core feature toward the inner surface of the barrel slab core.
[0011] The invention also provides methods of assembling a mold package.
[0012] In one embodiment, the method of assembling a mold package comprises the steps of providing a barrel slab core having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of barrel core features extending outwardly from the inner surface; positioning a cylinder bore liner on each of the barrel core features of the barrel slab core; providing a handling fixture adapted to be releasably connected to the barrel slab core; providing at least one magnet; and positioning the at least one magnet between the barrel slab core and the handling fixture, wherein a magnetic field produced by the magnet attracts the cylinder bore liner of each barrel core feature toward the inner surface of the barrel slab core to militate against movement of the cylinder bore liner during assembly of the barrel slab core in a mold package.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barrel slab core including three barrel core features;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the barrel slab core of FIG. 1 including a cylinder bore liner disposed on each of the barrel core features;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a single barrel core feature and a bore liner during installation of the barrel slab core in an engine block mold package according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a cylinder block mold package for forming an engine block casting after installation of the barrel slab core; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the cylinder bore liner and the barrel core feature of the cylinder block mold package illustrated in FIG. 4 .
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. For purposes of illustration, and not limitation, a mold package for a six-cylinder V-type engine is shown. It is understood that the invention can be used with mold packages for engines having more or fewer cylinders and different cylinder configurations if desired.
[0020] FIG. 1 depicts a barrel slab core 10 adapted to be assembled with additional mold cores such as a base core and a crankcase core, for example, to form a cylinder block mold package 12 as shown in FIG. 4 . A typical cylinder block mold package is shown and described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,901 B2, hereby incorporated herein by reference. It should be noted that the mold package shown and described in the '901 patent includes an integral barrel crankcase core (IBCC), whereas the embodiment of the invention shown and described herein includes a barrel slab core having barrel core features disposed thereon.
[0021] In the embodiment shown, the barrel slab core 10 is produced from resin bonded sand. The resin bonded sand cores can be made using conventional core-making processes such as a phenolic urethane cold box or Furan hot box where a mixture of foundry sand and resin binder is blown into a core box and the binder cured with either a catalyst gas or heat, respectively. The foundry sand can comprise silica, zircon, fused silica, and others. An inner surface 14 of the barrel slab core 10 defines a portion of an outer surface of an engine block (not shown) after casting.
[0022] Barrel core features 16 having an outer surface 18 extend outwardly from the inner surface 14 of the barrel slab core 10 and terminate at a free end. The barrel core features 16 are slightly tapered cylinders. The barrel core features 16 are disposed in a row with a common plane passing through a longitudinal axis L of each of the barrel cores 16 to form a linear array of barrel core features 16 . A core print 20 is formed in the free end of each of the barrel core features 16 . In the embodiment shown, the core prints 20 have a substantially circular cross section. However, it is understood that other cross sectional shapes could be used. The core prints 20 are adapted to mate with corresponding core prints 21 , illustrated in FIG. 4 , formed upon a crankcase core 40 to promote proper assembly of the cylinder block mold package 12 . Other shapes and configurations of core prints can be used as desired. Additionally, although female core prints are shown, it is understood that male core prints can be used.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows the barrel slab core 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 including a metal cylinder bore liner 22 disposed on each of the barrel core features 16 . The cylinder bore liners 22 have a hollow interior with a substantially uniform diameter adapted to receive the barrel core features 16 therein. The bore liners 22 form a cylinder wall for each cylinder of the cast engine block. The cylinder bore liners 22 can be produced by machining or casting a ferrous material. Typically, the cylinder bore liners 22 are used in an aluminum engine block and the cylinder bore liners 22 are formed of cast iron. However, it is understood that other magnetic materials can be used for the bore liners 22 and other materials can be used for the engine block as desired.
[0024] In FIG. 3 , a single barrel core feature 16 and a cylinder bore liner 22 of the barrel slab core 10 are shown inverted from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , and prior to assembly in the cylinder block mold package 12 . Note that it is not necessary to fully invert the barrel slab core 10 for assembly into the cylinder block mold package 12 . Apertures 24 are formed in the barrel slab core 10 on an outer surface 26 thereof adjacent an end of the cylinder bore liner 22 . A first end 28 of a unshaped magnet 30 is disposed in the apertures 24 . Any conventional magnet can be used such as a rare earth permanent magnet or an electromagnet, for example. Additionally, although a single magnet 30 is shown, it is understood that a plurality of magnets can be used if desired. It is further understood that an intermediate article of suitable construction, shape, and material may be imposed between the magnet 30 and the barrel slab core 10 , extending into the apertures 24 , for the purpose of conducting the magnetic field. Any conventional magnet shape can be used.
[0025] A second end 32 of the magnet 30 is joined with a handling fixture 34 . As used herein, the handling fixture 34 means an assembly device, a robotic end-effector, and the like, which can be manual or automatic. The handling fixture 34 is used in the art to assist in assembly and positioning of the barrel slab core 10 in the cylinder block mold package 12 . The handling fixture 34 is releasably connected to the barrel slab core 10 . Any conventional means of releasable connection such as opposed articulating grip pads or expanding mandrels inserted into female features of the barrel slab core 10 , for example, can be used as desired.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of the cylinder block mold package 12 . The cylinder block mold package 12 includes a crankcase core 40 having a side core 44 disposed adjacent thereto. A water jacket core 46 is disposed adjacent and between the barrel core features 16 of the barrel slab core 10 . A valley core 48 is disposed between corresponding barrel slab cores 10 . Additional cores may be included as desired such as a base core (not shown). FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the cylinder bore liner 22 and the barrel core feature 16 of the cylinder block mold package 12 in FIG. 4 . Note that the cylinder bore liner 22 is seated against the crankcase core 40 . It is also understood that the present invention can be used in configurations where the cylinder bore liner 22 is not seated against the crankcase core 40 .
[0027] Assembly of the barrel slab core 10 including the cylinder bore liners 22 with the cylinder block mold package 12 will now be described. The steps of the process are intended to be exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical. The barrel slab core 10 is formed according to methods well known in the art. Once formed, the barrel slab core 10 is placed in the position shown in FIG. 1 . One of the cylinder bore liners 22 is placed on each of the barrel core features 16 of the barrel slab core 10 . The barrel slab core 10 is then ready for assembly with the cylinder block mold package 12 .
[0028] In order to assemble the barrel slab core 10 in the cylinder block mold package 12 , the barrel slab core 10 must be inverted from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, the cylinder bore liners 22 are susceptible to shifting or sliding off of the barrel core features 16 in the inverted position. In order to counteract this tendency, the magnet 30 is inserted into the apertures 24 formed in the barrel slab core 10 . This places the magnet 30 sufficiently close to the cylinder bore liner 22 for the cylinder bore liner 22 to be affected by the magnetic field produced by the magnet 30 . The magnetic field attracts the cylinder bore liner 22 toward the inner surface 14 of the barrel slab core 10 . This militates against movement of the cylinder bore liner 22 such as shifting or sliding off of the barrel core feature 16 . Additionally, the cylinder bore liner 22 is brought into contact with the inner surface 14 of the barrel slab core 10 resulting in the cylinder bore liner 22 being squared against the inner surface 14 . This encourages proper concentric positioning of the cylinder bore liner 22 for assembly into the cylinder block mold package 12 .
[0029] It is understood that the apertures 24 could be omitted if the magnetic field produced by the magnet 30 is sufficiently strong to affect the cylinder bore liner 22 while positioned adjacent the outer surface 26 of the barrel slab core 10 . Conversely, the apertures 24 may penetrate the entire thickness of barrel slab core 10 if desired. In the embodiment shown, the magnet 30 is held by the handling fixture 34 . When the handling fixture 34 is connected to the barrel slab core 10 , the magnet 30 is positioned adjacent the cylinder bore liner 22 . It is understood that the magnet 30 can be brought into position using other means without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0030] The joined barrel slab core 10 , magnet 30 , and handling fixture 34 are then inverted for assembly with the cylinder block mold package 12 . The barrel slab core 10 is then assembled with the cylinder block mold package 12 . Once the barrel slab core 10 is positioned as desired in the cylinder block mold package 12 , the handling fixture 34 is released from the barrel slab core 10 and initially withdrawn from the barrel slab core 10 in a direction parallel to the centerline of the cylinder bore liner 22 . Movement of the magnet 30 away from the cylinder bore liner 22 with the handling fixture 34 releases the cylinder bore liner 22 from the magnetic field produced by the magnet 30 . Further assembly of the cylinder block mold package 12 and casting of the engine block can now be accomplished. Alternatively, the magnet 30 can be withdrawn from the apertures 24 before the release of the handling fixture 34 from the barrel slab core 10 .
[0031] From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
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A mold assembly device for use in sand casting of engine cylinder blocks is disclosed, the mold assembly device includes a magnet for securing a cast-in-place cylinder bore liner during assembly of a mold package, wherein the magnet militates against undesirable movement of the bore liner during assembly of the mold package.
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The invention relates to a stripline microwave module.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stripline mode electromagnetic wave propagation makes use of a set of components performing special functions. These components are then used in the form of assemblies to achieve the design mission:
distributing power to feed radiating elements;
circuitry that takes part in the power stages of a transponder (a generalized coupler matrix for example).
The elementary functions that are implemented most commonly relate to:
power division: defined levels are to be addressed from one arm of a line to various different sub-lines; this may be achieved by means of:
a (compensated or non-compensated) T, which may include more than three branches, and which may be balanced or unbalanced;
by means of ladder circuits having 2, 3, or 4 branches. Here again the design of the component depends on the required intrinsic objectives (division dynamic range, matching, bandwidth); numerous nomagraphs exist in the literature on dimensioning this type of component;
ring circuits, here again a large amount of literature exists (hybrid ring or "rat race" circuit) such that the dimensioning of this type of component is thoroughly mastered or;
changing plane: stripline propagation is established in a plane manner between two parallel ground planes. It is then necessary for reasons of compactness or for interfacing to be able to access the circuit by means of a waveguide or a coaxial mode transition or to be able to cause the energy distributed by the circuit to be radiated by means of a radiating element. Here again a radiating element may be excited by means of a coaxial probe and requires a stripline to coaxial transition.
In a work entitled "Stripline circuit design" by Harlan Howe, Jr. (Microwave Associates, Burlington, Mass. pages 44-49) which deals with interconnections between stripline circuits, one such link is described which may be implemented by means of coaxial connectors lying on the axis of the stripline circuit (FIGS. 2-14) or perpendicular thereto (FIGS. 2-15).
Both of these types of connection suffer from the major drawback of making use of welds that reduce contact reliability.
An object of the present invention is to provide a module making it possible in a single unit and without any mechanical link to perform all or some of the preceding functions:
changing plane;
distributing energy over a determined number of channels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, the present invention provides at least one first line situated in a first plane;
at least one second line;
at least one coupling opening situated in a second plane so as to enable transmission to take place between said two lines; the various lines being DC isolated from one another, wherein the module includes a set of cavities made in two conductive blocks disposed on each other and separated from each other by means of a conducting part whose circumference co-operates with the two rims of the two cavities to define the coupling opening.
Advantageously, each line is positioned in one or other of the cavities by means of spacer devices, with each line penetrating into a cavity through a window.
Advantageously, at least one second line is disposed in a third plane such that the coupling opening is situated between the first plane and said third plane.
Such a module makes it possible to avoid any contact when changing propagation mode, e.g. during a stripline-coaxial-stripline transition as required for interconnecting different transmission planes.
Such a module may be used for providing division, phase shifting, or energy distribution functions in stripline mode. It thus makes it possible to build up generalized couplers by using elementary modules that are all identical.
Advantageously, such a module may be used at the outlet from a slot antenna fed directly in stripline mode.
The advantage of such a solution lies in its great simplicity (no adjustments), in the flexibility of its design and of its topology (inputs/outputs), and in its general compactness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a microwave module of the invention respectively as an exploded view, as a perspective view, and as a section view on line III--III of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4 to 6 are exploded views of various different variants of the microwave module;
FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a component of a module of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a graph showing various operating curves of a module of the invention; and
FIG. 9 is a section through a variant embodiment of a microwave module of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a microwave module of the invention for changing plane between two striplines 10 and 11 together with an optional change in direction between the striplines 10 and 11, as shown in the figures.
The core of this module is a set of two cavities 12 and 13 which are made in two respective conductive blocks, e.g. metal blocks 14 and 15. The cavities 12 and 13 are placed on each other and they are separated from each other by means of a plane conductive part 16, e.g. a metal disk, having a circumference, which, when associated with the set of rims belonging to the cavities 12 and 13 constitutes a coupling slot 17 for conveying electromagnetic energy from one cavity to the other. Energy transfer thus depends on the geometrical shapes of the cavities 12 and 13 and of the coupling slot 17 (see FIG. 3).
Access to one of the cavities 12 (or 13) is obtained by means of a stripline 10 (or 11). The positioning of this stripline (10 or 11) inside the corresponding cavity is achieved in conventional manner halfway between the ground planes by means of spacer devices 18 and 19 (or 20 and 21) made of dielectric material (see FIGS. 1, 3). Each stripline (10 or 11) penetrates into the corresponding cavity (12 or 13) through a window (22 or 23) whose geometry is dimensioned in conventional manner for the person skilled in the art to ensure electrical continuity and impedance continuity.
As shown in the section of FIG. 3, the module of the invention includes two levels of stripline circuit. Each stripline circuit is constituted by two ground planes disposed on opposite sides of a conductor line (10, 11) for transferring energy. The central ground plane constituted by the part 16 is common to both levels. The coupling slot 17 thus serves to achieve contactless transmission between the two lines 10 and 11 which are isolated from each other with respect to DC.
It should be observed that the module of the invention can achieve its objects without there being any restrictive conditions:
line impedances and shapes may be arbitrary;
access locations need not necessarily satisfy the known geometrical conditions required by other types of device (ladder coupler or ring coupler); and
the cavities 12 and 13 are not necessarily restricted to being circular cylinders and they could well be polyhedral in shape (cubes, rectangular parallelepipeds, pentagonal or hexagonal cylinders, . . . ) which may, for example, simplify the maching of the access windows 22 or 23 to the cavities 12 or 13. Use may be made of discontinuities or of assymetries for special applications (notches, teeth, chamfering, etc., . . . ).
For the plane-changing function in stripline propagation, the cavities 12 and 13 are configured as shown in FIG. 2 and the module of the invention serves to cause electromagnetic energy conveyed by the line 10 in a first plane and in a first direction to pass to the second line 11 which is situated in another plane, with the second line pointing in another direction which makes an angle φ with the first direction when projected onto the first plane.
By way of example only, one such module may be implemented by using the following dimensions:
diameter of the cavities 12 and 13≈80 mm;
depth of the cavities 12 and 13≈4.3 mm;
width and height of the windows 22 and 23≈20 mm and 6.3 mm;
width of the conductor lines 10 and 11≈9 mm;
thickness of the conductor lines 10 and 11≈0.3 mm:
approximate diameter of the disk 16≈45 mm;
thickness of the disk 16≈0.3 mm.
The function of changing propagation direction in a single plane may be obtained by configuring the cavities 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. In this case, the upper cavity 13 is entirely closed and is filled with a spacer dielectric disk 24, e.g. having a thickness of about 6 mm.
The lower cavity 12 is then provided with two access windows 22 and 23 for passing the two conductor lines 10 and 11.
Here again, by controlling the shape of the part 16 it is possible using the module whose geometry is specified above to provide a component for causing electromagnetic energy conveyed by the line 10 to pass to the line 11 situated in the same plane, with the line 11 being at an arbitrary angle φ relative to the line 10 where φ lies in the range 30° to 150°. These limit angles are determined by the shapes of the conductors 10 and 11 and also by the volumes required by the access windows 22 and 23. Here again, losses are negligible and for this type of transition they have been measured as being ≦0.05 dB.
In the configurations shown in FIG. 5, as for the preceding function, the upper cavity 13 is completely closed whereas the lower cavity is provided with four access windows 22, 23, 26, and 27. In such an embodiment, electromagnetic energy conveyed by the line 10 is distributed over the lines 28 and 29, while the line 11 is completely isolated.
As emphasized above, the geometry of the part 16 associated with the shape of the cavity 12 is of major importance. One such architecture makes it possible to achieve arbitrary power distribution:
______________________________________ Power division α on channel 29 such that α.sup.2 + β.sup.2 = 1Power division β on channel 28______________________________________
Typically it is possible to achieve a dynamic range of 10 dB to 15 dB on α or β, making a module of the invention suitable for use as a directional coupler, with division by two merely constituting a special case.
Special optimizations may also be applied on the output phases. In practice, by appropriately redefining the shapes of the cavities and of the conductors it is possible to achieve the following differences between the paths 28 and 29:
90°: the module behaves like a hybrid junction;
0°: the module behaves like a magic T; or
0°, the module distributes the requested power with integrated phase adjustment.
Flexibility in implementation thus appears to be complete, which shows how significant the possibilities offered by the invention are.
A 3 dB hybrid configuration has been achieved in a concrete example using the following geometrical characteristics:
diameter of the cavities 12 and 13≈80 mm;
depth of the cavities 12 and 13≈6.3 mm;
width and height of the slots 22, 23, 26, and 27≈20 mm and 6.3 mm;
width of the lines 10, 11, 28, and 29≈9 mm;
distances between the ends of the lines 10, 11, 28, and 29 from the center of the circular cavity 12≈10 mm;
thickness of the lines 10, 11, 28, and 29≈0.3 mm;
thickness of the dielectric spacers 18 and 19≈3 mm;
thickness of the dielectric 24≈6 mm;
diameter of the part 16≈45 mm;
thickness of the part 16≈0.3 mm.
With this basic geometry and optimizing the part 16, the following electrical performed were obtained:
matching on any one of the accesses 10, 11, 28, or 29: SWR≦1.20;
operating bandwidth: 8% 2850/3120 MHz;
power division (28 or 29): -3 dB+0.5 dB
phase shift between the lines 28 and 29: 90°±0.50°;
isolation of the line 11: 20 dB
In a variant of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is combined with the embodiment of FIG. 5. The structural elements common to both FIGS. 5 and 6 have the same reference numerals and the same functions. The upper cavity 13 in FIG. 6 has two diametrically opposed access windows 23 and 27, whereas the lower cavity 12 has two diametrically opposed access windows 22 and 26 which are circumferentially offset by 90° from respective windows 23, 27. The lines 10,28 are colinear and penetrate into the device via the lower access windows 22 and 26, respectively, while the lines 11 and 29 are colinear and penetrate into the device via the upper access windows 23 and 27, respectively. The upper lines 11, 29 are oriented perpendicular to the lower lines 10, 28 as in the case of FIG. 5. The cavities 12 and 13 and the part 16 have geometry similar to that described for FIG. 5. The dielectric parts 18, 19, 20, 21 are similar to those appearing in FIGS. 1 and 5. Starting from FIG. 5, the excitation line 10 and coupled line 28 are situated in the lower plane. The second couple line 29 and the isolated line 11 are situated in the upper plane, thereby making it possible to devise circuit topologies that were unimaginable before, and which can be summarized by:
a high level of function integration; and
large capacity.
It is observed that the various lines can be disposed equally well at the lower level or at the higher level and that this can be done without changing the radio frequency (RF). Any configuration thus becomes possible: the line 10 may be at the higher level or at the lower level; the line 11 may be at the higher level or at the lower level; the line 28 may be at the higher level or at the lower level; the line 29 may be at the higher level or at the lower level.
The device shown in FIG. 5 has also been made using eight windows as a variant (not shown) of FIG. 5 an upper window and a lower window for each access regardless of the configuration of the portions. The resulting performance was entirely similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 5, thus underlining the high degree of versatility of this concept.
The geometry of the part 16 is a key feature since it determines the shape of the slot 17. It has thus been optimized carefully.
The following electrical performance has been obtained for one of the above-described modules:
frequency band: 2630 MHz-2970 MHz (12% centered on 2800 MHz);
SWR on the parts 10 and 11≦1.20 over the band;
intrinsic losses of the transition ≦0.05 dB; and
arbitrary angle φ in the range 0 to 2π, with the angle φ being selected by appropriately dimensioning the shape of the part 16.
FIG. 7 shows another possible shape for the part 16, in this case it is cruciform, in association, for example, with a first line 10 at the lower level and with the other three lines 11, 28, and 29 at the higher level. However, the same operation can be obtained with any combination of levels. Thus in the module of the invention the desired operation is obtained by acting on the shape of the part 16 (disks, cross, notched disk, etc.).
By using the variants of the module of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 it is possible to achieve a hybrid function. The curves shown in FIG. 8 are then obtained which show the following as a function of frequency f: curve 30 is the phase difference between two accesses, e.g. the lines 28 and 29; while curves 31 and 32 show the power levels S at said accesses, e.g. relative to the line 10.
It can thus be seen that the same operation can be obtained as is obtained using coplanar hybrid circuit while changing plane and without making contact.
It is thus possible to use a module of the invention to the maximum of its possibilities in a first plane (e.g. power division, hybrid junction, etc.) before making any use of its possibilities relating to such a transition between two planes.
Such a module may be applied to a single block made of composite technology by a baking procedure.
The part 16 may be made, for example, by machining, by etching, by metal deposition, etc.
As shown in FIG. 9, it is also possible to consider one (or more) parts 33 analogous to the part 16, thereby making it possible to define one (or more) coupling slots 34 by stacking the parts in a plurality of planes. This makes it possible to obtain a higher number of accesses (in this case additional lines 35 and 36 situated between two spacers 37 and 38), thereby increasing the number of access planes, increasing implantation density, and possibly also increasing the width of the passband.
Naturally the present invention has been described and shown merely by way of preferred example, and its components can be replaced by equivalent parts without thereby going beyond the scope of the invention.
It will thus be possible to use suspended stripline circuits, for example, with the circuits being suspended by rivets and using air as the dielectric.
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The present invention relates to a stripline microwave module comprising: at least one first line situated in a first plane; at least one second line; and at least one coupling opening situated in a second plane so as to enable transmission to take place between the two lines. The invention is particularly suitable for space applications.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a piston particularly utilized in an internal combustion engine and more particularly to an improved alloy for such pistons and method for manufacturing them.
As is well known, the piston for an internal combustion engine has a number of rigid and yet diverse requirements. That is, the piston should be light in weight and yet also high in strength. The sliding surfaces of the piston should provide low friction and be able to withstand high compressive forces. Furthermore, different areas of the piston have quite different conditions which they must withstand. For example, the head of the piston must be capable of withstanding high temperatures as occur during combustion and also the coefficient of thermal expansion should be controlled so as to minimize the differences in dimensional clearances between the piston and the cylinder bore during temperature changes as occur in engine operation.
Conventionally, aluminum has been utilized as the basic material for pistons in engines. In order to improve the characteristics of the piston, frequently silicon (Si) is employed as an alloying element. By adding silicon, the ability to cast the piston can be improved since the melting point is lowered and the flow of molten material is facilitated. Also, the silicon resists deformation at high temperatures by lowering the coefficient of thermal expansion. In addition, resistance against wear and fatigue under high speed sliding action is improved.
Certain of these characteristics such as the lowering of the thermal expansion and the improved resistance against wear are somewhat proportional to the amount of silicon used in the alloy. Thus, the output of the engine and thermal load on the piston the greater amount of silicon is added.
However, silicon has a considerably lower thermal conductivity than aluminum. Thus, aluminum alloys having large amounts of silicon have low thermal conductivity. Therefore, heat dissipation is deteriorated and thus, overheating particularly in the head area results. In fact, the degree of overheating may be such that actual melting of the piston head may occur.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an aluminum alloy for use in forming pistons that will provide improved strength and heat dissipation performance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an aluminum alloy for use in forming pistons that will increase thermal conductivity without increasing the coefficient of thermal expansion and to improve resistance against wear and fatigue strength, particularly under conditions of high temperature and high speed.
In conjunction with the formation of the piston from the material, it is also important to ensure that the properties of the material and way in which the piston is formed is such that cracks cannot develop during the formation process. The use of silicon and silicon and certain other alloying materials can give rise to problems in connection with forming the piston which can result in defects being created in the actual forming process.
It is, therefore, a still further object of this invention to provide an improved method for forming a piston.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is adapted to embodied in an aluminum alloy that is utilized for forming pistons. The aluminum alloy includes silicon and a silicon carbide combined in a proportion that lies within the range of 8-20% by weight and which contains at least 2% of silicon carbide by weight.
In a method for forming pistons using an aluminum alloy as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the piston is forged from a powder that is formed by melting an ingot containing the aluminum alloy, atomizing the melted ingot and rapidly cooling it to produce a solidified powder. The powder is heated into and solidified into a blank which is then forged into the final shape for the piston.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a piston constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the piston.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the piston taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a graphical view showing the hardness relative to the total percent by weight of silicon and silicon carbide for prior art type piston materials and those embodying the invention.
FIG. 5 is a graphical view showing the thermal conductivity in relation to the percent by weight of silicon carbide for the materials shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a graphical view showing the steps in forming both the material from which the piston is formed and the final piston.
FIG. 7 is a partially schematic cross-sectional view showing the initial detail of the forging step as illustrated in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, in part similar to FIG. 7 and shows the completion of the forging step.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, a piston that is constructed from a material that embodies a feature of the invention and which is formed by a process embodying the invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The piston 11 is comprised of a head portion 12 from which a skirt portion 13 depends. The head portion 12 is formed at its upper end with piston ring grooves 14.
Bridging the head portion 12 and the skirt portion 13, are piston pin bosses 15 in which piston pin receiving openings 16 are formed for receiving a piston pin that couples the piston 11 to an associated connecting rod for utilization in any form of internal combustion engine in a manner known in the art.
The invention deals primarily with the material from which the piston is formed and the manner in which the piston 11 is formed. This will now be described, first by listing specific examples of aluminum alloys that achieve the desired results and which embody the invention.
FIRST EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5-25% of Si
1-3% of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of SiC
The average grain diameter of SiC is about 1-20 μm.
SECOND EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5-25% of Si
1-3% of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of SiC (and BN or AlN or Al 2 O 3 )
In this example if any of the last listed ingredients other than SiC, or BN, i.e. AlN and Al 2 O 3 , are additionally employed the total weight component of all of those ingredients may be within the range of 1-10% in total. However some SiC is essential.
THIRD EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5% or less of Si
5% or more of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of SiC
In this example the average grain diameter of SiC is 1-20 μm.
FOURTH EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5% or less of Si
5% or more of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of SiC (and BN or AlN or Al 2 O 3 )
In this example if any of the last listed ingredients other than SiC, or BN, i.e. AlN and Al 2 O 3 , are additionally employed the total weight component of all of those ingredients may be within the range of 1-10% in total. However some SiC is essential.
FIFTH EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5% or less of Si
5% or more of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr 2% or less of Mo
1-10% of C or MoS 2
1-10% of SiC (Al 2 O 3 may be added within a range of 1-10% in total. However some SiC is essential.
In this example, only one of C and MoS 2 or both may be used within a range of 1-10% in total.
SIXTH EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5-25% of Si
1-10% of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of SiC
In this example, the average grain diameter of SiC is 1-20 μm.
SEVENTH EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5-25% of Si
1-10% of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of SiC (and BN or AlN or A 2 O 3 )
In this example if any of the last listed ingredients other than SiC, or BN, i.e. AlN and Al 2 O 3 , are additionally employed the total weight component of all of those ingredients may be within the range of 1-10% in total. However some SiC is essential.
EIGHTH EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5-25% of Si
1-10% of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of C or MoS 2
1-10% of SiC (Al 2 O 3 may be added within a range of 1-10% in total. However, some SiC is essential.)
In this example, only one of C and MoS 2 or both may be used within a range of 1-10% in total.
NINTH EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight
5-25% of Si
1% or less of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
5% or less of SiC (and BN or AlN or Al 2 O 3 )
In this example if any of the last listed ingredients other than SiC, or BN, i.e. AlN and Al 2 O 3 , are additionally employed the total weight component of all of those ingredients may be within the range of 1-10% in total. However some SiC is essential.
TENTH EXAMPLE
An aluminum alloy consisting of the following alloying components in the noted percentages by weight:
5-25% of Si
1% or less of Fe
0.5-5% of Cu
0.5-5% of Mg
2% or less of Mn
2% or less of Ni
2% or less of Cr
2% or less of Zr
2% or less of Mo
1-10% of C or MoS 2
5% or less of SiC (Al 2 O 3 may be added within a range of 1-10% in total. However, SiC is essential.)
In this example, only one of C and MoS 2 or both may be used within a range of 1-10% in total.
In each of the above described embodiments, the alloying elements C and/or MoS 2 are for improving the sliding friction properties. The ingredient Si is added to improve wear resistance and heat resistance by producing hard crystal silicon grains of initial or eutectic crystals in the metallic composition. The alloying element Fe (iron) is added to produce a dispersed metallic composition so as to provide a high strength at temperatures over 200° C. The ingredients Cu (copper) and Mg (magnesium) are added to increase strength at temperatures under 200 C. The intended resistance against wear and seizure and the necessary strength at high temperatures can not be attained outside the ranges of the above-described embodiments.
Table 1 shows the ingredients of conventional aluminum alloys AC8A and AC9B specified in Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and which are conventionally used for pistons. Alloy 1 and Alloy 2 are aluminum alloy examples of the present invention and taken from the above listed examples.
TABLE 1______________________________________(in % by weight)Si Cu Mg Ni Fe SiC Si + SiC______________________________________JIS AC8A 12 1 1 1 -- -- 12JIS AC9B 19 1 1 1 -- -- 19Alloy 1 10 1 0.5 -- 5 2 12Alloy 2 17 1 0.5 -- 5 2 19______________________________________
FIG. 4 shows comparison of hardness property data between the conventional aluminum alloys AC8A, AC9B, and the alloys 1, 2 of the invention. As seen from the figure, the hardness properties of the alloys 1 and 2 of the invention are superior to those of the alloys AC8A and AC9B.
FIG. 5 shows the comparison of thermal conductivity (in watt per meter per Kelvin) between the aluminum alloys of the invention respectively containing 8% and 20% of Si+SiC by weight, and the above-mentioned conventional alloys AC8A and AC9B. As seen from this figure, the alloys of the invention are higher in thermal conductivity than the alloys AC8A and AC9B which do not contain SiC. Therefore, the alloys of the invention, when used for pistons, improve heat dissipation property, and enable the use under conditions of high output at high temperatures.
Now the method of manufacturing the piston using the aluminum alloys of the invention will be described by reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows an example of the method of manufacturing a piston 11 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
First in the process step (1), an aluminum alloy ingot is prepared from aluminum (Al) containing alloying materials including silicon (Si), iron (Fe), and other ingredients as in any of the previously enumerated examples. Next in the process step (2), one or several kinds of ingots are melted at a temperature of 700° C. or higher then atomized in a sprayed mist state, and rapidly cooled at a rate of 100° C. per second to solidify into rapidly cooled powdered metal of aluminum alloy.
Then in the process step (3), the rapidly cooled powdered metal of aluminum alloy is heated up to 400-500° C., and extruded to solidify into a round aluminum alloy bar. Then in the process step (4), the round aluminum alloy bar is cut into thick disk-shaped forging blanks, each having an appropriate size corresponding to the piston made by forging according to the present embodiment.
Here, in addition to the above-described method of forming the forging blanks for the forged pistons by cutting the extruded round aluminum alloy bar into pieces of intended shape and size, it is also possible to form the forging blanks of intended shape and size more directly for example by packing a mold with the aluminum alloy powder, and heating up to 400-500° C. under pressure.
Also it is possible to form the forging blanks of the thick disk shape for forging the pistons by heating aluminum alloy powder up to 400-500° C. under pressure, by introduction to and subsequently rolling between a pair of pressing rolls. Alternately they may be formed in a punch press. It is also possible to cut the rolled material into rectangular forging blanks of a desired size for the forged process and the rectangular forging blanks may be preliminarily forged into thick disk-shaped forging blanks before the forging process.
Regardless of how the blank is pressure formed, at the processes step (5) a parting agent is applied to the outside surface of the blank. Then it is heated at the step (6) to improve the ease of forming. The forging is then done at the step (7) by squeezing the blank with paired upper and lower forging dies.
The piston like blank formed by forging as described above is then subjected to the process step (8) of heat treatment for increasing strength and the final process step (9) of machining to form the piston ring grooves 14 and the piston pin bore 16. Any necessary final trimming and or/machining may then be performed to provide the final shape of the piston.
Furthermore, if required, the piston finished as described above is processed by surface treatment such as plating on the skirt portion 13 for improving the sliding property and wear resistance.
The actual forging of the blank into the piston in the processes (6) and (7) is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 7 a blank 21 of a thick disk shape is positioned in the recessed portion of a lower mold 22 that is preheated up to a controlled temperature between 200 and 500° C. Then as shown in FIG. 8, the blank 21 is pressed into the shape of the piston with the upper mold (punch) 23 pre-heated up to a controlled temperature between 200 and 500° C. In this way, the primary formed blank of the piston piece may be formed by hot forging using the upper and lower molds 23 and 22 preheated to the controlled temperature with good dimensional accuracy while making good use of the ductility of the aluminum alloy.
Also, the forging blank 21 may be heated up to a temperature between 200 and 500° C. before being placed in the forging dies 22 and 23, then placed in the recess of the lower die 22, and immediately forged with the upper die 23. In that case too, the forging is carried out while controlling the temperature of the upper and lower dies 22 and 23 between 200 and 500° C. In this way, the forging time may be shortened with the separate, parallel processes of forging and forging blank heating.
As described above, the forging blank for the forged piston of the aluminum alloy is made by melting and spraying the aluminum alloy, solidifying by rapid cooling to produce solidified powder, and then forming and solidifying the powder. As a result, the average grain diameter of the aluminum alloy power is about 100 μm.
The average grain diameter of the ingredients Si and SiC contained in the aluminum alloy is as small as 20 μm or less and distributed to each grain of the aluminum alloy, while the initial crystal silicon grains used in forming the base ingot are much larger.
As a result, the forged piston for internal combustion engines of the present embodiment primarily forged using the forging blank of the present embodiments containing the ingredients of Si and SiC in dispersed fine grains is free from cracks which would otherwise result from fracture of grains of initial crystal silicon in the skirt portion 13. This is true even if the skirt portion 13 in particular is made to be thin-walled. Therefore the resulting piston 11 has a high fatigue strength particularly in the skirt portion 13.
The dispersion of the Si and SiC in fine grains in the aluminum alloy, may also be done after the aluminum alloy is rapidly cooled and solidified to produce an aluminum alloy powder. Then Si and SiC having average grain diameter of 1-20 μm is mixed by an amount that produces the mixture ratios of the aluminum alloy examples given above. The blanks 21 are formed directly to the required size by pressing and heating at a temperature below 700° C. This results in Si and SiC of average grain diameter smaller than 20 μm dispersed in the boundary area of the aluminum alloy powder composition.
If the primary forming of the piston is made by a normal casting process using an aluminum alloy as a forging blank containing a large amount of iron as an additive, coarse grains of iron compound are produced as the material is cooled after casting, resulting in lowering in strength. However, in the present embodiment, since the aluminum alloy is made into powder by rapid cooling and made into the forging blank for the forged piston by heating under pressure, coarse grains of iron compound are prevented from being produced. Therefore, a uniform metallic composition is provided free from coarse iron compound grains which may cause stress concentration. As a result, iron may be added in a large amount to provide an alloy having a high fatigue strength.
The forging blank for the forged piston and the forged piston itself for internal combustion engines of the present embodiment according to the invention containing SiC as described above contains a specified amount of SiC which is harder than Si so as to increase the wear resistance.
Another embodiment of the forging blank for the forged piston and the forged piston itself for internal combustion engines of the present invention containing SiC as described above may be effected as follows: For example in the process (2) shown in FIG. 6, an aluminum alloy ingot not containing SiC is melted and sprayed in the state of mist, rapidly cooled and solidified into powder (powdered metal). A specified amount of SiC having an average grain diameter of 1-20 μm is mixed into the powdered metal so that the forging blank for the piston made with the rapidly cooled, solidified powder contains SiC and that SiC and Si having an average grain diameter of 20 μm or less are distributed in the boundary area of the aluminum alloy powder composition having average grain diameter of about 100 μm.
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An aluminum alloy for pistons and a method of manufacturing pistons making use of said alloy, enabling casting without sacrificing the ease of casting, and restricting deformation and melting at high temperatures, and fatigue and wear caused by high speed sliding movement. The aluminum alloy contains Si+SiC in an amount in the range of 8% to 20% by weight, and SiC in an amount of 2% or more by weight. An ingot containing the aluminum alloy is melted, sprayed in the state of mist, rapidly cooled and solidified into rapidly cooled powder. The rapidly cooled powder is heated and solidified into a blank from which the piston is forged, heat-treated, and machined.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to offshore oil and gas drilling, completion, and maintenance operations. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for minimizing the effects of vessel heave during stabbing and landing operations.
In the drilling, completion, and maintenance of many offshore oil and gas wells, it is necessary to stab tubing strings into boreholes and land large equipment packages onto the seabed from a floating vessel These operations often require precise placement of the equipment. Wind, wave, and current induced forces cause relative motion between the floating vessel and the seabed. This relative motion in the vertical direction is termed "heave." Control over movement of the package is needed to minimize the risk of misplacement or damage to the equipment due to heave.
Critical operations such as, for example, landing a Christmas tree, replacing an equipment skid or manifold, or reentering a borehole with a drill bit and drill string require a great deal of precision and control and, therefore, a minimum of relative motion, or heave, between the equipment package and the seabed. Operations may be delayed until the weather and seas are calm. However, a more practical solution is to use heave compensation to avoid loss of rig time.
Heave compensators, also called drill string compensators, are currently utilized in drilling operations to maintain a relatively constant weight on the drill bit and drill string by compensating for the relative vertical movement of a floating drilling vessel with respect to the earth due to heave. Most heave compensators are either integral with the crown block or attached to the traveling block. They bias the drill string with respect to the heaving vessel in order to keep a relatively constant weight on the bit, and thereby maintain the drill string reasonably stationary with respect to the earth. Examples of heave compensation apparatus are disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,163,005, 3,804,183, 3,834,672, RE 29,564, and RE 29,565.
Heave compensators generally comprise hydraulic and pneumatic systems which adjust the relative elevation of the tubing string with respect to the floating vessel based on the tension in the tubing string. As the weight applied to the tubing string varies due to vertical movement of the floating vessel, the heave compensator reacts to either raise or lower the tubing string in the direction opposite the movement of the vessel. This tends to maintain the desired tension in the tubing string and the relative position of the tubing string with respect to the earth even though the vessel is heaving.
While the heave compensators described above are generally capable of sufficiently compensating for the effects of heave on a drill string in most operations, they still allow some degree of uncompensated relative movement between the drill and the earth. These apparatus are not entirely effective in stabbing and landing operations. Such operations would benefit from a near elimination of the effects of vessel heave on the tubing string and great precision and control over movement of the tubing string in general In addition, the heave compensation apparatus described above are also not entirely effective in operations in which the weight of the drill string is minimal.
Another approach to heave compensation has been used in offshore wireline well logging. There, a tensioned line connected to the marine riser runs over a sheave connected to the vessel's heave compensator and connects to a fixed point in the vessel. This makes the lower end of the heave compensator a relatively vertically stationary point with respect to the marine riser, because relative motion between the vessel and the lower end of the heave compensator is accommodated by the heave compensator. Logging operations are conducted using a sheave connected to the lower end of the heave compensator. This approach still permits some relative movement between the vessel and the earth.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art by providing an apparatus and system which allow the stabbing and landing of equipment packages onto the seabed while nullifying the effects of the vertical motion of the floating vessel due to heave on the tubing string.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a heave compensated stabbing and landing tool and method for use on a floating platform. The invention comprises an apparatus and method for substantially eliminating relative motion between an item on the end of a tubing string and the seabed. The apparatus comprises a tool attached to a heave compensator on the floating platform and to a taut line anchored to the seabed. The tool alternately grips the tubing string, and lowers or pulls it down in a controlled manner to stab or land the item at the seabed.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood by those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a floating offshore drilling vessel showing a heave compensated stabbing and landing tool in accordance with the present invention in place mounted on a drill string.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the heave compensated stabbing and landing tool of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the upper spider assembly of the heave compensated stabbing and landing tool taken along line 1--1 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a piston assembly of the heave compensated stabbing and landing tool of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a schematic of a hydraulic control system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an offshore vessel 10, such as a drilling vessel or a barge, anchored and floating in a body of water 12 and on which is arranged conventional equipment including a derrick 14, a live line 16, a dead line 18, a block assembly including a crown block 20 and a traveling block 22, elevators 24, a swivel 26, and a draw works 28. Other equipment is also included on drilling vessel 10 depending upon the desired operations. For example, in a drilling operation a rotary table (not shown) may be mounted with drilling vessel 10, and a kelly and drilling fluid conduit (not shown) may be connected to swivel 26.
The block assembly also includes a drill string compensator, or heave compensator, 30. The drill string compensator 30 is a motion compensation system which compensates for the relative vertical motion effects a drill string due to the movement of floating vessel 10 from heave. The drill string compensator 30 may be integral with the crown block 20 or may be attached to the traveling block 22, and may comprise any one of a number of known compensators such as, for example, those disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,163,005, 3,804,183, 3,834,672, RE 29,564, and RE 29,565.
As depicted in FIG. 1, the drill string compensator 30 is attached to the traveling block 22 and comprises dual hydraulic or pneumatic vertical piston assemblies 32. The piston cylinders 34 of the piston assemblies 32 are mounted onto a main frame 36 attached to the traveling block 22. The main frame 36, therefore, will be stationary with respect to the traveling block 22. The piston rods 38 of the piston assemblies 32 are attached to chain sheaves 42. Chains 40 run over chain sheaves 42 and are connected at one end to the main frame 36 and at the other end to the hook frame 44. The hook frame 44, therefore, will move vertically upward in response to upward motion of piston rods 38 and vertically downward in response to downward motion of the piston rods 38. A hook 46, elevators 24, swivel 26, and tubing string 48 are attached to the base of hook frame 44. Other details of drill string compensator 30 necessary to an understanding of the present invention can be had by referring to the above patents.
The tubing string 48 is suspended from the base of the drill string compensator 30 by the hook 46, elevators 24, and swivel 26. The tubing string 48 extends from the drill string compensator 30, through an opening 50 in the floor of drilling vessel 10 and into the body of water 12. Attached to the base of the tubing string 48 is an equipment package 52, such as the drill bit shown, which may comprise any of a variety of equipment for landing on the seabed 54 or stabbing into a template 55 over the borehole at the seabed 54. For example, the equipment package 52 may be a Christmas tree or a blowout preventer to be landed on the template at seabed 54, or a drill bit to be stabbed into the borehole to resume drilling operations. Stabbing or landing the package 52 requires great control and precision over its movements and, therefore, a minimum of uncompensated motion resulting from heaving of the vessel 10, to minimize the chances of damaging the equipment package and other equipment on the vessel 10 or the seabed.
To provide such precision and control, a heave compensated stabbing and landing tool 56 (hereinafter referred to as the landing tool 56) is attached to tubing string 48. As shown in FIG. 1, the landing tool 56 is anchored to the seabed 54 through anchors 58 set in the seabed 54. The anchors may be piles or any other type of anchoring device. A line 60 is attached to the anchors 58 and is connected to a first pulley and load cell assembly 62. A guideline 64 connects the first pulley and load cell assembly to a second pulley and load cell assembly 66 and a line 68 attached to the base of the landing tool 56.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated in greater detail the landing tool 56 of FIG. 1. The tool in its simplest form comprises upper and lower tubing grips connected by cylinder and piston assemblies for selectively varying the distance between the tubing grips. In the preferred embodiment, the landing tool 56 comprises an upper spider assembly 70 connected to a lower spider assembly 72 by piston assemblies 74. The spider assemblies include slips that may be selectively engaged or disengaged to grip or release the tubing string. Spider assembly, as used herein, is intended to include other tubing gripping devices, as applicable. Upper and lower spider assemblies 70 and 72 are identical in construction and generally comprise spiders 76 and 78, respectively, mounted on frames 80 and 82, respectively. Also mounted on frames 80 and 82 are upper bearing pads 84 and 86, respectively, and lower bearing pads 88 and 90, respectively. Upper bearing pads 86 connect the lower spider assembly 72 to the cylinders 92 of piston assemblies 74, lower bearing pads 88 connect the upper spider assembly 70 to the rods 94 of piston assemblies 74, and lower bearing pads 90 are connected to line 68 of the anchoring arrangement as described above.
Spiders 76 and 78 may comprise any one of a number of hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and/or electromechanical spiders or pipe slips utilized in oilfield operations and familiar to those skilled in the art such as, for example, those disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,365,726 and 3,846,877. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, spiders 76 and 78 comprise grips 96 and 98 mounted to housings 100 and 102, respectively. Grip 96 is shown in the closed position clamping onto drill pipe 48, and grip 98 is shown in the open position released from drill pipe 48. Housings 100 and 102 are provided with gates 104 which open and allow drill pipe 48 to be inserted and removed from the spiders 76 and 78. When closed, the spiders will hold the drill pipe 48 within the housings 100 and 102 for the landing or stabbing operations. Lines 106 and 108 are connected to grips 96 and 98, respectively, to transmit the required hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, or electromechanical energy to open and close the grips 96 and 98. Other details of the spiders 76 and 78 are shown in the patents mentioned above.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, a preferred construction for the piston assemblies 74 and a schematic of a control system are shown. In the preferred embodiment, dual piston assemblies 74 are used. However, the number of piston assemblies may be fewer or greater if desired. Preferably, the piston assemblies 74 and the control system are hydraulically operated. The piston assemblies 74 and the control system therefore may comprise any one of a number of well known hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and/or electromechanical arrangements familiar to those skilled in the art such as those disclosed in the heave compensation apparatus patents mentioned above.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the piston assemblies 74 are identical. Each comprises a cylinder 92 attached to the upper bearing pad 86 of lower spider assembly 72. The cylinder 92 has a port 110 at its upper end and a port 112 at its lower end, connected to conduits 114 and 116, respectively. A piston 118, divides the interior of the cylinder 92 into an upper chamber 120 and a lower chamber 122. The piston rod 94, which is attached to lower bearing pad 88 of upper spider assembly 70, extends into the upper end of piston cylinder 92 and is attached to piston 118. A seal 124 in the upper end of piston cylinder 92 seals the piston rod 94 to prevent leakage of fluid from piston chamber 92. The interior of the cylinder 92 also includes upper and lower shoulders 126 and 128 to limit the movement of the piston 118 in the cylinder 92 and prevent the piston 118 from covering openings 110 and 112. The exterior of the cylinder 92 preferably includes a stabilizing ring 130 with stabilizer bars 132 mounted thereto and to frame 82.
Conduits 114 and 116 are inlets and outlets for hydraulic fluid from the upper and lower chambers 120 and 122 of piston chamber 92. As fluid enters the upper chamber 120 through the conduit 114, the piston 118 and piston rod 94 are forced downward through fluid chamber 92 and fluid is displaced from lower chamber 122 through conduit 116. Conversely, as fluid enters the lower chamber 122 through conduit 116, the piston 118 and piston rod 94 are forced upward through the cylinder 92 and fluid is displaced from the upper chamber 120 through conduit 114. The movement of the piston 118 and piston rod 94 is thus controlled by fluid flow into and out of the chambers 120 and 122.
Referring to FIG. 5, the hydraulic fluid control circuit for piston assemblies 74 is shown schematically and comprises inlet valves 134 and 136 connected to conduits 114 and 116, respectively; outlet valves 138 and 140 also connected to conduits 114 and 116, respectively; inlet fluid pump 142 connected to valve 134; inlet fluid pump 144 connected to valve 136; a fluid reservoir 146; and a control switch 148. Control switch 148 opens and closes valves 134, 136, 138, and 140, and operates fluid pumps 142 and 144, as detailed below.
To move the piston 118 and retract the piston rod 94 into the piston chamber 92, valves 134 and 140 are opened, valves 136 and 138 are closed, and pump 142 is actuated by the control switch 148. Hydraulic fluid is pumped from the reservoir 146, through pump 142, valve 134 and conduit 114 into the upper chamber 120. As the piston 118 and piston rod 94 move downwardly through cylinder 92, the fluid in lower chamber 122 is displaced through conduit 116 and valve 140 back into the reservoir 146. Once the piston 118 and piston rod 94 are at the desired position, valves 134 and 140 are closed and pump 142 is deactivated through switch 148, thereby preventing fluid flow through piston cylinder 92 and movement of the piston 118 and piston rod 94.
To extend the piston rod 94 from the piston cylinder 92, valves 136 and 138 are opened and pump 144 is actuated by control switch 148. Fluid is pumped from the reservoir 146 through pump 144, valve 136 and, conduit 116 into the lower chamber 122 forcing the piston 118 and piston rod 94 to move upwardly. As the piston 118 and piston rod 94 move through piston cylinder 92, the fluid in upper chamber 120 is displaced through conduit 114 and valve 138 back into the fluid reservoir 146. Again, movement of piston 118 and piston rod 94 is halted by deactivating pump 144 and closing valves 136 and 138 with switch 148.
In a stabbing and/or landing operation, the equipment package 52 is attached to the base of the tubing string 48 and lowered through the opening 50 in the vessel 10 into the body of water 12. A line 68 is attached to the lower bearing pads 90 of the landing tool 56 to anchor the landing tool 56 to the seabed 54. The landing tool 56 is connected to the tubing string 48 by opening the gates 104 of the landing tool 56, and extending the piston rods 94 fully from the cylinders 92. The tubing string 48 is inserted into the housings 100 and 102 of the spiders 76 and 78, the gates 104 are replaced, and the grips 96 and 98 are closed to firmly hold tubing string 48.
Once the landing tool 56 is securely attached to the tubing string 48 and thus to the hook frame 44 of the heave compensator 30, the traveling block 22 is raised to tighten lines 60, 64, and 68. As the traveling block 22 is raised, the tension on the tubing string and on the anchors 58 increases. Preferably, the tension is increased until the drill string compensator is pulling up with a force that exceeds the weight of the tubing string, landing tool and equipment package by about 10,000 pounds. The drill string compensator 30 reacts by retracting piston rods 38 into piston cylinders 34. The traveling block 22 should be raised until the desired retraction of the piston rods 38 has occurred, preferably this is about one-fourth of the full piston stroke.
At this point, the landing tool 56 in cooperation with the anchor lines and the drill string compensator 30 fully compensates the tubing string 48 for any motion from heaving of the vessel 10. When heave causes the vessel 10 to move vertically with respect to the seabed 54, the drill string compensator 30 continuously adjusts for the motion of the vessel, thereby maintaining the tubing string 48 and the equipment package 52 at a constant height above the seabed 54. For example, if the vessel 10 moves toward the seabed, the drill string compensator 30 will react by extending piston rods 38 from piston cylinders 34 to take up any slack in lines 60, 64, and 68, and maintain the tension within tubing string 48. If the vessel 10 rises with respect to the seabed, lines 60, 64, and 68 tighten and the drill string compensator 30 will simultaneously react to retract piston rods 38 into piston cylinders 34.
Once the landing tool 56 and the drill string compensator 30 are set as desired, the landing operation commences by opening the grips 98 to release the tubing string 48 from the lower spider assembly 72. Grips 96, however, remain firmly closed around drill pipe 48. Pistons 118 and piston rods 94 are then retracted into piston cylinders 92 by operating the control switch 148 and the tubing string 48 and the equipment package 52 are lowered towards seabed 54. During the lowering of the tubing string 48 and equipment package, the landing tool 56 in cooperation with drill string compensator 30 continuously compensates for heaving of the vessel.
When the pistons 118 and piston rods 94 of the landing tool 56 are fully withdrawn into the cylinders 92, the lower grips 98 are closed around the tubing string 48 and the upper grips 96 opened. The tubing string 48 and equipment package 52 are held in place while the piston rods 94 are extended from the cylinders 92. The drill string compensator will accommodate the upward extension of the piston rods. Once the rods are fully extended, the upper grips 96 are closed around the tubing string 48, the lower grips 98 are released, and the retraction of the piston rods 84 into the cylinders 92 may be repeated as desired to lower the tubing string 48 further.
Initially as the tubing string 48 and equipment package 52 are lowered, the traveling block 22 is held stationary. The lowering of the tubing string 48 and equipment package causes the drill string compensator 30 to retract piston rods 38 into piston cylinders 34 to maintain the constant tension in the tubing string 48. As the tubing string 48 continues to move downward toward the seabed, the piston rods 38 of the drill string compensator 30 may become fully retracted into the piston cylinders 32 so that the ability of drill string compensator 30 to adjust may be affected. Prior to this point, the traveling block 22 is gradually lowered, which causes piston rods 38 to extend from piston cylinders 32 and offset the retraction caused by the lowering of tubing string 48. During lowering of the traveling block 22, the landing tool 56 in cooperation with the drill string compensator 30 will continue to compensate for heaving of the vessel 10 as well as compensating for the lowering of traveling block 22 and the lowering tubing string 48 by tool 56.
Once the landing and stabbing operation is complete, the landing tool 56 is detached from the tubing string 48 by lowering the traveling block 22 to release the tension in lines 60, 64, and 68 and drill string compensator 30, opening grips 96 and 98 as to release the tubing string 48, opening the gates of the upper and lower spider assemblies 70 and 72 and removing the landing tool 56.
Modifications and variations of the embodiment described above may be made without departing from the concept of the present invention. Accordingly, the form of the invention described and shown herein is exemplary only, and is not intended as a limitation on the scope thereof.
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A heave compensated stabbing and landing tool and method for use on a floating platform comprises a tool attached to a heave compensator on the floating platform. The tool, attached at one end to a taut line anchored to the seabed, includes means for gripping, raising and lowering a tubing string. The tool is attached to the heave compensator, which is raised to tighten the anchor line and substantially eliminate relative motion between the end of the tubing string and the seabed. The tool grips the tubing string and lowers it to the seabed in a controlled manner.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to differential capstan cable drive mechanisms and more particularly to self-tensioning differential capstan cable drive mechanisms.
Differential capstan cable drive mechanisms provide motion and relatively large mechanical advantage for reciprocating linear movement or oscillation of a member about a pivot point. Some differential capstan cable drive systems comprise a cable having an end fixed to the small drum of a differential capstan, a first portion passing between the small drum and a pulley, a second portion passing through the groove of the pulley, a third portion passing between the pulley and the large drum of the capstan, and a second end fixed to the large drum of the capstan. Other differential capstan cable drive mechanisms involve the use of an endless cable that is looped around the small drum of a differential capstan, passed through the groove of a pulley and passed back to loop around the large drum of the differential capstan before passing through the groove of a second pulley, opposite the first, and returning to form the loop around the small drum of the differential capstan. Both of these approaches are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,859,629.
In both of the above-described approaches uniform tension is maintained on the cable by passing the cable through the groove of an additional resiliently mounted pulley. This resiliently mounted pulley takes up slack resulting from oscillation of the member in response to rotation of the differential capstan in opposite directions and in this way limits backlash. In addition, because a pulley is a wheel having a groove around its circumference for narrowly limiting cable travel, where a fixed pulley is used the position of the portion of a cable at the point in the groove of a pulley farthest from the differential capstan is fixed. Therefore, the distance between this farthest point and the point on the capstan at which the cable is winding or unwinding changes as the hypotenuse of a triangle the remaining sides of which are formed by a line to the point in the capstan directly opposite the farthest point on the pulley and by a line from the opposite point of the point of winding or unwinding. This represents a geometrical source of slack which can be compensated for by the use of a resiliently mounted pulley as shown in the above-cited patent.
However, in operations such as a servo loop for obtaining precisely reproducible displacement of an oscillating member upon application of known amounts of torque to the capstan in either direction, the use of a resiliently mounted member imposes a factor proportional to the spring rate of the resilient material times the displacement upon the return of the capstan leading to variable torque. Nevertheless, in order to precisely control the position of the oscillating member, it is essential to control backlash to avoid over correction by the servo loop and the resulting undesirable jittering motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved differential capstan cable drive mechanism.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved differential capstan cable drive mechanism capable of self-tensioning without the introduction of resiliently mounted tensioning devices.
Among the advantages of the present invention is the ability to be used in space-limited applications.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims and drawings.
In order to attain the above mentioned and other objects and advantages, the present invention comprises a differential capstan having a relatively large drum and a relatively small drum, a first roller and a second roller positioned adjacent opposite sides of said differential capstan, a first cable passing from the small drum around the first roller and back to the large drum, and a second cable passing from the small drum around a second roller and back to the large drum. The portions of the first cable passing to and from the differential capstan define a plane as do the portions of the second cable passing to and from the differential capstan and the axis of rotation of the first roller is approximately normal to the plane defined by the first cable portions, the rotational axis of the second roller is normal to the plan defined by the portions of the second cable, and the rotational axes of both rollers are canted with respect to the rotational axis of the differential capstan.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The FIGURE is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In a preferred embodiment of the differential capstan cable drive mechanism of the present invention as shown in the figure, a differential capstan 60 comprises a cylindrical drum 61 having a relatively smaller diameter coaxially connected to cylindrical drum 62 having a relatively larger diameter. The cylindrical surfaces of drum 61 and 62 are furrowed by helical grooves 66 and 67 respectively. Differential capstan 60 is connected to the drive shaft of motor 93 which is in turn connected to an oscillating member 90. Oscillating member 90 is rotatably connected to a structure 100 by a pivot 91. Two cylindrical rollers 10 and 20 are disposed on opposite sides of differential capstan 60 and both are connected to structure 100.
A first cable 13 is connected to drum 61 at the end of the cylindrical surface of drum 61 closest to drum 62. From that point, cable 13 is wound upward through groove 66 before passing away from differential capstan 60 and around roller 10. Cable 13 then passes to drum 62 where it winds upward through groove 67 to a terminus 19 on the edge of the cylindrical surface of drum 62 closest to drum 61 where it is attached by means well known to one skilled in the art. A cable 23, attached at a terminus 28 on the upper most edge of the cylindrical surface of drum 61, is wound downward through groove 66 before passing around roller 20 and back to drum 62. Cable 23 is wound through groove 67 downward until it reaches a point on the edge of the cylindrical surface of drum 62 farthest from drum 61 where it is attached by means well known to one skilled in the art.
Cable 13 can be considered to comprise a first relatively straight portion 80 and second relatively straight portion 81 which, if considered as approximations of straight lines, geometrically define a plane 12 in which both straight portions lie. Likewise, cable 23 can be considered to comprise relatively straight portions 82 and 83 which also approximate straight lines which can be geometrically considered to define a plane 22.
Roller 10 is rotatably connected to surface 100. Roller 20 is rotatably connected to an arm 40 which is in turn releasably fastened by a bolt 94 to surface 100. By loosening fastening 94 on arm 40, roller 20 is moveable toward or away from differential capstan 60 for establishment or adjustment of the initial tension on cables 13 and 23.
Roller 10 has an axis of rotation 11, roller 20 has an axis of rotation 21, and differential capstan 60 has an axis of rotation 63. Axes 11 and 21 are canted with respect to axis 63 by angles θ 1 and θ 2 , respectively as shown in the figure wherein lines L 1 and L 2 are parallel to axis 63 in a plane P. Angles θ 1 and θ 2 are chosen so that throughout most of the operating range of the differential capstan cable drive mechanism axis 11 is approximately normal to plane 12 and axis 21 is approximately normal to plane 22. Canting rollers 10 and 20 in this way prevents the backlash and binding that would otherwise occur if axes 11 and 21 were parallel to axis 63.
In the operation of the present invention as shown in the figure, rotation of differential capstan 60 about axis 63 in a direction 92 results in relatively less cable being unwound in direction 54 from drum 61 then is wound in direction 51 on to drum 62 due to the difference in diameter of the two drums. Likewise, during the same rotation, more cable is unwound in direction 52 from drum 62 then is wound on drum 61 in direction 53 due to the difference in diameter of the two drums. Therefore, the net effect of the rotation of differential capstan 60 in direction 92 is to decrease the distance between capstan 60 and roller 10 and to increase the distance between capstan 60 and roller 20. Because oscillating member 90 is connected to capstan 60 through motor 93, it is rotated about pivot point 91 toward roller 10 by the same rotation. It is clear that any rotation in the opposite direction would cause capstan 60 to move toward roller 20 so that member 90 would pivot toward roller 20. It is obvious to one skilled in the art that the rotation of capstan 60 can be controlled by a connecting motor 93 in a servo loop with a mechanism for sensing the position of member 90 so that member 90 can be returned to a desired position relative to rollers 10 and 20 after displacement by an external force by rotation of capstan 60 in the appropriate direction.
The present invention has several advantages over prior art systems. In the preferred embodiment as shown in the figure the force applied to oscillating member 90 is the same for either direction of rotation of capstan 60, as opposed to prior art systems having a spring return, so that oscillation of member 90 can be more precise as controlled using the present invention. In prior art systems having dual fixed pulleys, the position of the cables on the sides of the pulleys farthest from the capstan is fixed while the position of the portions of the cables closest to the capstan rises and falls as the capstan turns in either direction so that slack is created in the cables which must be corrected by spring tensioning to avoid backlash. In the present invention spring tensioning is not needed because the portions of the cables farthest from the capstan are free to move vertically on rollers 10 and 20 to follow the portions of the cables winding on and unwinding from the capstan so that slack is not created.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention as depicted in the figure the portions of cable 23 which are wrapped around drums 61 and 62 are positioned distally, that is toward respective ends of the differential capstan, with respect to the portions of cable 13 which are wrapped around drums 61 and 62 by allowing one cable to be wound within one turn of a groove while the other cable is wound in the next turn. This configuration minimizes the height of the differential capstan as is desirable in applications in which space saving is an important feature. However, a staggered configuration is also possible wherein, for example, the portion of cable 13 which is wrapped around drum 61 is located distally with respect to the portion of cable 23 which is wrapped around drum 61, while the portion of cable 23 which is wrapped around drum 62 is located distally with respect to the portion of cable 13 which is wrapped around drum 62. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular form shown and I intend in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations which come within the scope of the invention as described.
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A self-tensioning differential capstan cable drive mechanism having canted rollers on either side of the differential capstan around each of which rollers is looped a cable passing from the larger to the smaller drum of the differential capstan.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to performing floating point arithmetic operations in programmable integrated circuit devices such as programmable logic devices (PLDs). More particularly, this invention relates to circuitry for performing floating point addition and subtraction using approximately the same resources as required for either operation separately.
Certain mathematical operations may require both the sum and difference of two floating point numbers. For example, one technique for computing Fast Fourier Transforms uses a radix-2 butterfly that requires simultaneous addition and subtraction of two numbers. In fixed logic devices, where it is known that such operations will be performed, appropriate circuitry may be provided to efficiently carry out those addition and subtraction operations. However, in programmable devices, where only some particular user logic designs may need to perform such operations, it may be inefficient to provide all of the resources to separately perform such operations. Even in fixed logic, it may be desirable to reduce the required resources for such operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to circuitry for performing floating point addition and subtraction using approximately the same resources as required for either operation separately. The circuitry can be provided in a fixed logic device, or can be configured into a programmable integrated circuit device such as a programmable logic device (PLD).
The present invention is based on a recognition that when adding or subtracting two numbers, the two resulting mantissa values will be two out of three possibilities, and will involve either a one-bit shifting operation, or a shifting operation involving a large number of bits.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided combined floating-point addition and subtraction circuitry for both adding and subtracting a first signed floating-point input number and a second signed floating-point input number, where each of the first and second signed floating-point input numbers has a respective sign, a respective mantissa and a respective exponent, to provide a sum and a difference of said first and second signed floating-point numbers. The combined floating-point addition and subtraction circuitry includes a first mantissa computation path including a first adder for adding the mantissas of the first and second signed floating-point numbers, a one-bit right-shifting circuit for controllably shifting output of the first adder to normalize the output of the first adder, and rounding circuitry for (a) providing a first candidate mantissa and (b) providing a first exponent-adjustment bit. The combined circuitry also includes a second mantissa computation path including a first subtractor for subtracting the mantissa of the second signed floating-point number from the mantissa of the first signed floating-point number to provide a first mantissa difference, a second subtractor for subtracting the mantissa of the first signed floating-point number from the mantissa of the second signed floating-point number to provide a second mantissa difference, a selector for selecting as a mantissa difference output one of those first and second mantissa differences that is positive, and a normalize-and-round circuit for (a) providing a second candidate mantissa and (b) providing a second exponent-adjustment bit. The combined circuitry also includes a first exponent computation path for combining the input stage output exponent and the first exponent adjustment bit to provide a first candidate exponent. The combined circuitry also includes a second exponent computation path for combining the input stage output exponent and the second exponent adjustment bit to provide a second candidate exponent. Finally, the combined circuitry also includes a selection stage for selecting, based on the respective signs, one of the first and second candidate mantissas and one of the first and second candidate exponents for the sum of said first and second signed floating point numbers, and another of the first and second candidate mantissas and another of the first and second candidate exponents for the difference of the first and second signed floating point numbers.
A method of configuring such circuitry on a programmable device, a programmable device so configured, and a machine-readable data storage medium encoded with software for performing the method, are also provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
FIG. 1 shows a known arrangement for reducing the resources needed to compute both the sum and the difference of the same two numbers;
FIG. 2 shows one potential embodiment of an add/normalize/round path in the arrangement of FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 3 shows an arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention for computing the sum and difference of two inputs;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic data storage medium encoded with a set of machine-executable instructions for performing the method according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an optically readable data storage medium encoded with a set of machine executable instructions for performing the method according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative system employing a programmable logic device incorporating the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Floating point numbers are commonplace for representing real numbers in scientific notation in computing systems. Examples of real numbers in scientific notation are:
3.14159265 10 ×10 0 (π) 2.718281828 10 ×10 0 (e) 0.000000001 10 or 1.0 10 ×10 −9 (seconds in a nanosecond) 3155760000 10 or 3.15576 10 ×10 9 (seconds in a century)
The first two examples are real numbers in the range of the lower integers, the third example represents a very small fraction, and the fourth example represents a very large integer. Floating point numbers in computing systems are designed to cover the large numeric range and diverse precision requirements shown in these examples. Fixed point number systems have a very limited window of representation which prevents them from representing very large or very small numbers simultaneously. The position of the notional binary-point in fixed point numbers addresses this numeric range problem to a certain extent but does so at the expense of precision. With a floating point number the window of representation can move, which allows the appropriate amount of precision for the scale of the number.
Floating point representation is generally preferred over fixed point representation in computing systems because it permits an ideal balance of numeric range and precision. However, floating point representation requires more complex implementation compared to fixed point representation.
The IEEE754-1985 standard is commonly used for floating point numbers. A floating point number includes three different parts: the sign of the number, its mantissa and its exponent. Each of these parts may be represented by a binary number and, in the IEEE754-1985 format, have the following bit sizes:
Sign
Exponent
Bias
Mantissa
Single
1 bit
8 bits
−127
23 bits
Precision
[31]
[30. . .23]
[22. . .00]
32-Bit
Double
1 bit
11 bits
−1023
52 bits
Precision
[63]
[62. . .52]
[51. . .0]
64-Bit
The exponent preferably is an unsigned binary number which, for the single precision format, ranges from 0 to 255. In order to represent a very small number, it is necessary to use negative exponents. To achieve this the exponent preferably has a negative bias associated with it. For single-precision numbers, the bias preferably is −127. For example a value of 140 for the exponent actually represents (140−127)=13, and a value of 100 represents (100−127)=−27. For double precision numbers, the exponent bias preferably is −1023.
As discussed above, according to the standard, the mantissa is a normalized number—i.e., it has no leading zeroes and represents the precision component of a floating point number. Because the mantissa is stored in binary format, the leading bit can either be a 0 or a 1, but for a normalized number it will always be a 1. Therefore, in a system where numbers are always normalized, the leading bit need not be stored and can be implied, effectively giving the mantissa one extra bit of precision. Therefore, in single precision format, the mantissa typically includes 24 bits of precision.
In order to add two floating point numbers having different exponents, one of the numbers has to be denormalized so that the exponents are the same. This may be achieved by left-shifting the larger number by the difference in exponents, or by right-shifting the smaller number by that difference. After the numbers have been “aligned” by denormalization, they may added or subtracted (where subtraction may be addition with one negated input), then (re)normalized. As a further step, the normalized result may be rounded, and compliance with the IEEE754-1985 standard typically includes rounding.
The most straightforward technique to compute both the sum and the difference of the same two numbers is to use two complete separate circuit paths, where one path performs denormalization, addition, (re)normalization and rounding, while the other path performs denormalization, subtraction, (re)normalization and rounding. This technique consumes the maximum possible resources for computing the sum and difference of the same two numbers, namely about twice the resources needed for computing either alone.
A first, known, arrangement 100 for reducing the resources needed to compute both the sum and the difference of the same two numbers is shown in FIG. 1 . Arrangement 100 uses a shared input path 101 for denormalization, followed by two separate, independent add(subtract)/(re)normalize/round paths 102 , 103 .
Shared input path 101 is able to determine which of the two input numbers is larger and to denormalize the smaller number by right-shifting it, and also to select the exponent of the larger number as the resultant exponent. As can be seen, shared input path 101 includes respective register 104 , 105 for the respective sign bit of each of the two input numbers, respective register 106 , 107 for the respective mantissa of each of the two input numbers, and respective register 108 , 109 for the respective exponent of each of the two input numbers.
The sign bits are passed straight through to add(subtract)/(re)normalize/round paths 102 , 103 . Depending on the particular application, optional pipeline registers 114 , 115 , 124 , 125 may be used for this purpose.
The mantissas and exponents are handled as follows:
Subtractor 110 subtracts the exponent in register 109 from the exponent in register 108 , while subtractor 111 subtracts the exponent in register 108 from the exponent in register 109 . The two differences are input to multiplexer 112 , while the two exponents themselves are input to multiplexer 113 . The most significant bit (MSB) of difference 110 is used as the control bit for multiplexers 112 , 113 . Because difference 110 is a signed number, its MSB will be 0 for a positive difference (exponent 108 greater than exponent 109 ), thereby selecting difference 110 as the difference 118 and exponent 108 as the resultant exponent 119 , or 1 for a negative difference (exponent 109 greater than exponent 108 ), thereby selecting difference 111 as the difference 118 and exponent 109 as the resultant exponent 119 . Exponent 119 is propagated to the final stages, optionally through one or more pipeline registers 129 .
Mantissas 106 , 107 are similarly input, in respective opposite order, to respective multiplexers 116 , 117 , which also are controlled by the MSB of difference 110 to select mantissa 106 as part of the larger operand and mantissa 107 as part of the smaller operand when exponent 108 is larger, or mantissa 107 as part of the larger operand and mantissa 106 as part of the smaller operand when exponent 109 is larger. Larger mantissa 120 is input (after pipelining through registers 121 , 122 if necessary) to add(subtract)/(re)normalize/round paths 102 , 103 . Smaller mantissa 123 may be right-shifted at 126 by exponent difference 110 / 111 so that it may be added (after pipelining through registers 127 , 128 , if necessary) to, or, after negation at 136 , subtracted from, larger mantissa 120 in add(subtract)/(re)normalize/round paths 102 , 103 to compute the sum and difference. Add/(re)normalize/round path 103 and inverter 129 may be considered as, and may be replaced by, an integrated subtract/(re)normalize/round path 146 .
Each add(subtract)/(re)normalize/round path 102 , 103 outputs a sum or difference mantissa 132 , 133 , as well as an exponent adjustment value 130 , 131 which is subtracted at 134 , 135 from resultant exponent 119 to yield the final candidate exponents 139 , 140 . Exponent adjustment values 130 , 131 are determined during (re)normalization in paths 102 , 103 , and their magnitudes depend on the relative magnitudes of the mantissas 120 , 123 and whether they are being added or subtracted.
By sharing input stage 101 , arrangement 100 is about 50% larger than a single add or subtract path as compared to providing two completely separate add and subtract paths, which would be 100% larger than a single path. Conversely, arrangement 100 may be viewed as being about 30% smaller than two completely separate add and subtract paths.
FIG. 2 shows one potential embodiment 200 of the add/(re)normalize/round path 102 , 103 of FIG. 1 . If the operands are in signed-number format, in which the sign of the number is indicated by one of the bits of the number itself, then the operands are input at 201 , 202 to adder/subtractor 203 . If the operands are in signed-magnitude format, in which the magnitude is always positive and the sign is indicated by a separate bit (or bits), then the operands are input at 211 , 212 to respective signed-magnitude-to-signed-number converters 221 , 222 for conversion to signed numbers which are then input at 201 , 202 . The conversion from signed-magnitude format to signed-number format is well known. Either way, the exponent is input at 204 , with optional pipelining registers 214 , 224 . Exclusive-OR gate 205 and adder 206 compute absolute value 213 of the sum or difference 203 . The resultant mantissa 213 is normalized by counting leading 0's at 207 (if signed numbers are used, leading 1's may be counted as well), and using the leading 0 count 217 to left-shift mantissa 213 at 227 , and to adjust exponent 204 at subtractor 234 . Normalized mantissa 223 is then rounded, in a manner which may be well-known, by examining one or more rounding bits (e.g., a “round” bit, a “guard” bit, and a “sticky” bit) at 208 , to provide rounded, final mantissa 233 . The amount of rounding may require one further adjustment of normalized exponent 244 at 254 to provide final exponent 264 .
In accordance with the invention, the resources needed for a simultaneous addition and subtraction of two numbers can be reduced further over the known embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 .
It may be observed that if two numbers are close in magnitude to each other, then if they are added, their combined magnitude will almost double (a one-bit shift in a binary system), while if they are subtracted the result will be a very small number (a large bit shift from either number). Similarly, if two numbers are far apart in magnitude, then the magnitude of either their sum or their difference will be close to the magnitude of the larger number. Therefore, for addition, there is either no shift or a one-bit shift, while for subtraction, there could be a one-bit shift (if the minuend is negative and similar in magnitude to the subtrahend), or a very large shift (if the result is a very small number).
It also may be observed that if the two inputs have magnitudes A and B, then for computing the magnitude, the two operations will involve two out of the three possibilities A+B (for addition, or for subtraction if B is negative), A−B (for subtraction where B is smaller, or for addition where B is negative, and B−A (for subtraction where A is smaller, or for addition where A is negative).
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, arrangement 300 of FIG. 3 may be provided to compute the sum and difference of two inputs 301 , 302 . Adder 303 may provide the sum of inputs 301 and 302 , subtractor 304 may provide the difference between input 301 and input 302 , and subtractor 305 may provide the difference between input 302 and input 301 . However if one or both of inputs 301 , 302 is the mantissa of a negative number, adder 303 may compute a difference, while one of subtractors 304 , 305 may compute a sum. For example, the magnitude of input 301 may denoted A and the magnitude of input 302 may be denoted B, with both A and B being positive values. If both input 301 and input 302 are mantissas of positive numbers, adder 303 and subtractors 304 , 305 will compute A+B, A−B and B−A, respectively. If both input 301 and input 302 are mantissas of negative numbers, adder 303 and subtractors 304 , 305 will compute A+B, B−A and A−B, respectively. If one of inputs 301 , 302 is the mantissa of a positive number and the other of inputs 301 , 302 is the mantissa of a negative number, then adder 303 will compute one of the differences, one of subtractors 304 , 305 will compute the other difference, and the other of subtractors 304 , 305 will compute the sum.
Although inputs A and B are always positive values, the outputs of adder 303 and subtractors 304 , 305 are signed numbers. Which of these various sums and differences will be considered the mantissa of the final sum and which be considered the mantissa of the final difference will be determined by the signs of the input numbers as discussed below.
As stated above, the output path of adder 303 will require at most a one-bit right-shift 313 to provide normalized sum 323 , which is then rounded at 333 . The normalization and rounding may provide bits 306 , equalling 0, +1 or +2, by which input exponent 307 is adjusted at 317 to yield adjusted exponent 327 . Rounded sum 343 is provided as an input to each of multiplexers 308 , 309 which select the correct mantissa results as discussed below. Similarly, adjusted exponent 327 is provided as an input to each of multiplexers 318 , 319 which selects the correct exponent results as discussed below.
In the subtraction path, multiplexer 310 selects whichever difference 304 or 305 is positive. In a signed-number system where positive numbers begin with 0 and negative numbers begin with 1, the selection can be made by using the most-significant bit of difference 304 as the control bit for multiplexer 310 (assuming difference 304 is on the “0” input). The output of multiplexer 310 may be processed by a substantially standard (re)normalize/round path 311 (addition/subtraction having already occurred). As stated above, in the subtraction path, the degree of bit-shifting may be large or small depending on relative magnitudes.
(Re)normalize/round path 311 may output a mantissa value 321 which may be provided to multiplexers 308 , 309 which select the correct mantissa results as discussed below. (Re)normalize/round path 311 also may output an adjustment value 331 for input exponent 307 to yield adjusted exponent 327 , which is provided as an input to each of multiplexers 318 , 319 which selects the correct exponent results as discussed below.
After the two paths have been calculated, they have to be assigned to the correct outputs at multiplexers 308 , 309 . The magnitudes or mantissas can be decoded from the input signs, as shown in the following table, in which input 301 is denoted as “X” and has magnitude or mantissa “A” and input 302 is denoted as “Y” and has magnitude or mantissa “B.” The signs of the results are assigned in sign assignment stage 320 , also as shown in the table. The correct exponents at multiplexers 318 , 319 follow the magnitudes at multiplexers 308 , 309 .
Sign X
Sign Y
|X + Y|
Sign (X + Y)
|X − Y|
Sign (X − Y)
+
+
A + B
+
A − B
Sign (A − B)
+
−
A − B
Sign (A − B)
A + B
+
−
+
A − B
Sign (B − A)
A + B
−
−
−
A + B
−
A − B
Sign (B − A)
Thus it is seen that only one standard add(subtract)/(re)normalize/round path is required to perform two simultaneous floating point additions and subtractions on the same inputs. The second path can be replaced by a simple one-bit shift and rounding function, as shown. The logic resources need to simultaneously calculate the addition and subtraction of two floating point numbers therefore are barely more—i.e., about 10% more—than the logic resources needed for one addition or subtraction.
One potential use for the present invention may be in programmable integrated circuit devices such as programmable logic devices, where programming software can be provided to allow users to configure a programmable device to perform simultaneous floating point addition and subtraction. The result would be that fewer logic resources of the programmable device would be consumed. And where the programmable device is provided with a certain number of dedicated blocks for arithmetic functions (to spare the user from having to configure arithmetic functions from general-purpose logic), the number of dedicated blocks needed to be provided (which may be provided at the expense of additional general-purpose logic) can be reduced (or sufficient dedicated blocks for more operations, without further reducing the amount of general-purpose logic, can be provided).
Instructions for carrying out a method according to this invention for programming a programmable device to perform simultaneous floating point addition and subtraction may be encoded on a machine-readable medium, to be executed by a suitable computer or similar device to implement the method of the invention for programming or configuring PLDs or other programmable devices to perform addition and subtraction operations as described above. For example, a personal computer may be equipped with an interface to which a PLD can be connected, and the personal computer can be used by a user to program the PLD using a suitable software tool, such as the QUARTUS® II software available from Altera Corporation, of San Jose, Calif.
FIG. 4 presents a cross section of a magnetic data storage medium 800 which can be encoded with a machine executable program that can be carried out by systems such as the aforementioned personal computer, or other computer or similar device. Medium 800 can be a floppy diskette or hard disk, or magnetic tape, having a suitable substrate 801 , which may be conventional, and a suitable coating 802 , which may be conventional, on one or both sides, containing magnetic domains (not visible) whose polarity or orientation can be altered magnetically. Except in the case where it is magnetic tape, medium 800 may also have an opening (not shown) for receiving the spindle of a disk drive or other data storage device.
The magnetic domains of coating 802 of medium 800 are polarized or oriented so as to encode, in manner which may be conventional, a machine-executable program, for execution by a programming system such as a personal computer or other computer or similar system, having a socket or peripheral attachment into which the PLD to be programmed may be inserted, to configure appropriate portions of the PLD, including its specialized processing blocks, if any, in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 5 shows a cross section of an optically-readable data storage medium 810 which also can be encoded with such a machine-executable program, which can be carried out by systems such as the aforementioned personal computer, or other computer or similar device. Medium 810 can be a conventional compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or digital video disk read-only memory (DVD-ROM) or a rewriteable medium such as a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, or DVD-RAM or a magneto-optical disk which is optically readable and magneto-optically rewriteable. Medium 810 preferably has a suitable substrate 811 , which may be conventional, and a suitable coating 812 , which may be conventional, usually on one or both sides of substrate 811 .
In the case of a CD-based or DVD-based medium, as is well known, coating 812 is reflective and is impressed with a plurality of pits 813 , arranged on one or more layers, to encode the machine-executable program. The arrangement of pits is read by reflecting laser light off the surface of coating 812 . A protective coating 814 , which preferably is substantially transparent, is provided on top of coating 812 .
In the case of magneto-optical disk, as is well known, coating 812 has no pits 813 , but has a plurality of magnetic domains whose polarity or orientation can be changed magnetically when heated above a certain temperature, as by a laser (not shown). The orientation of the domains can be read by measuring the polarization of laser light reflected from coating 812 . The arrangement of the domains encodes the program as described above.
A PLD 90 programmed according to the present invention may be used in many kinds of electronic devices. One possible use is in a data processing system 900 shown in FIG. 6 . Data processing system 900 may include one or more of the following components: a processor 901 ; memory 902 ; I/O circuitry 903 ; and peripheral devices 904 . These components are coupled together by a system bus 905 and are populated on a circuit board 906 which is contained in an end-user system 907 .
System 900 can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as computer networking, data networking, instrumentation, video processing, digital signal processing, or any other application where the advantage of using programmable or reprogrammable logic is desirable. PLD 90 can be used to perform a variety of different logic functions. For example, PLD 90 can be configured as a processor or controller that works in cooperation with processor 901 . PLD 90 may also be used as an arbiter for arbitrating access to a shared resources in system 900 . In yet another example, PLD 90 can be configured as an interface between processor 901 and one of the other components in system 900 . It should be noted that system 900 is only exemplary, and that the true scope and spirit of the invention should be indicated by the following claims.
Various technologies can be used to implement PLDs 90 as described above and incorporating this invention.
It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the various elements of this invention can be provided on a PLD in any desired number and/or arrangement. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.
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Circuitry (fixed or configured in a programmable device) for performing floating point addition and subtraction uses approximately the same resources as required for either operation separately. The circuitry is based on a recognition that when adding or subtracting two numbers, the two resulting mantissa values will be two out of three possibilities, and will involve either a one-bit shifting operation, or a shifting operation involving a large number of bits. Therefore, one mantissa path—a subtraction path—can be provided with full add/normalize/round circuitry, while a second mantissa path—an addition path—can be provided with a simple one-bit shifter and simplified rounding circuitry. Because the input numbers are signed, the “addition path,” which only adds the mantissas, may provide the mantissa for the subtraction result, depending on the signs of the input numbers. Similarly, the “subtraction path” may provide the mantissa for the addition result.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/764,302, filed Feb. 11, 2013, which claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/649,816, filed May 21, 2012 and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/726,446, filed Dec. 24, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/488,684, filed Jun. 5, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,568,257, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/199,901, filed Sep. 13, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,512, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/928,772, filed Dec. 16, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,439,777. Each patent application identified above is incorporated here by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
FIELD OF INVENTION
This disclosure relates to hunting equipment, and more particularly to an arrowhead capable of delivering firearm munitions stealthily and accurately to a target.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the sport of game hunting, the element of surprise is a valuable asset in the hunter's arsenal. If an intended game target is unaware that a hunter is near, the hunter's chances of landing the game are increased. Several methods of hiding a hunter are typically employed such as camouflage attire, hidden game blinds, and scent dispersing apparatus to not only hide the scent of the hunter, but to attract the game. Additionally, hunters may choose to use bow and arrows or crossbows as their weapon of choice to avoid the loud, animal deterring sound of gunfire. The drawback of using a bow and arrow though is that the hunter typically needs to be closer to the intended target and the power that an arrow delivers to a target tends to be less than a typical firearm. A clean, accurate, and powerful strike to the intended game target resulting in quick drop and expiration is most desirable.
The novel device and method discussed herein allows for the use of a bow and arrow or crossbow and delivers more power, energy, and accuracy to the archery industry than typical arrowheads. The device provides increased firepower, safety, accurate flight, clean deployment from the bow or crossbow, stealthy flight, and deeper penetration than standard arrowheads resulting in on the spot game expiration. Specifically, the device incorporates a standard bullet casing housed in a containment unit and paired with a firing pin that discharges the bullet only upon contact with the intended target. The device is especially designed to insure a consistent ignition upon contact by transferring a larger proportion of momentum and energy of impact to the ignition process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,623 to Zaruba discloses an arrowhead having a powder-charged projectile activated after a delayed interval. The device includes a bullet-shaped arrowhead housing, with or without a protective tip, having a cartridge contained in a cavity within. A plunger extending from the housing has a protrusion for contact with the cartridge upon impact with a target. The plunger is threaded onto an arrow shaft. In use, the arrow shaft collides with the target. The momentum of the arrow causes the protrusion of the plunger to contact the cartridge which ignites a primer to fire the projectile.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,172 to Hendricks discloses an underwater projectile for firing a cartridge upon impact with a target. The projectile includes a tubular body having an open fore end portion defining a gun bore and an intermediate portion defining a chamber for receiving a cartridge. A firing pin is slidably disposed within the intermediate portion of the tubular body and engages the primer of the cartridge to detonate the cartridge and the slug.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,780,860 to Arpin discloses a power spear. The device comprises a barrel which is threaded onto a shaft. The barrel includes a cartridge chamber which has a shoulder for seating a rearward facing cartridge blank. The barrel further includes an open end which houses a projectile or spearhead. The projectile has a pointed striking head on one end and a projection extending from a flat end opposite the pointed head. In use, the device contacts a target which drives the projectile rearward. The projection strikes the primer of the cartridge as to detonate it. The cartridge case itself acts directly against the flat end of the projectile and expels the projectile from the barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,620,190 to Bean discloses a cap for darts and arrows. The cap is frictionally engaged with the arrowhead and shaft of an arrow. The cap is tubular in shape and conceals the leading edge of a cartridge to prevent accidental discharge. Upon impact, the momentum of the arrow detonates the cartridge.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to combine the power of firearm munitions with the stealthy delivery of an arrow which provides increased firepower, safety, accurate flight, clean deployment from the bow or crossbow, stealthy flight, and deeper penetration than standard arrowheads resulting in an increased chance of on the spot game expiration.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The device disclosed combines advantages of conventional firearms ammunition with those of archery and bow hunting. The device delivers more power, energy, and accuracy to the archery industry than typical arrowheads. The device provides increased firepower, safety, accurate flight, clean deployment from the bow or crossbow, stealthy flight, and deeper penetration than standard arrowheads.
Accordingly, the device is comprised of a generally hollow cylindrical containment housing in which a single standard firearm round is seated. A firing pin is secured to one end of the containment housing. The round or cartridge is comprised of a brass casing and slug as is common in the art. The generally cylindrical firing pin is threaded on both a narrow end for engagement with an arrow shaft and a wider end for engagement with the containment housing. The firing pin comprises an axially aligned protrusion for use with centerfire cartridges or offset protrusions for use with rimfire cartridges. In an alternate embodiment, the firing pin can be spring loaded.
The containment housing is generally a tapered, hollow cylinder typically bored to accommodate .38 caliber, .357 caliber, or .22 caliber bullets. Other calibers can be accommodated. The containment housing is threaded internally on an end for attachment to the firing pin and further includes an interior shoulder separating two cavities. A cartridge is loaded into the containment housing until the flange on the casing abuts the shoulder. In an alternate embodiment, the interior of the containment housing further includes an annular retainer tab integrally formed in the interior of the housing containment. The retainer tab separates the cartridge from the firing pin to prevent inadvertent discharge. In an alternate embodiment, the exterior of the containment housing comprises a set of vanes.
In an alternate embodiment, the containment housing is threaded externally on an end opposite the firing pin for attachment of a safety cap. The safety cap is generally cylindrical in shape, includes an aerodynamically shaped nose, and further includes internal threads for attachment with the external threads of the containment housing. The safety cap protects the cartridge from accidental discharge and is typically not removed until the time of deployment of the weapon. An alternate embodiment includes a “ratcheting” feature that prevents the safety cap from removal after installation. An additional alternate embodiment discloses a safety cap frictionally engaged with the containment housing intended to remain engaged with the housing during use.
In use, a cartridge is loaded in the containment housing. In some embodiments the cap is attached to the tapered end of the containment housing. The firing pin is attached to the containment housing. The device is threaded onto an arrow shaft or bolt. The device, attached to an arrow shaft or bolt, is deployed at a target. Upon impact, the cartridge is driven back into the firing pin. The firing pin contacts the primer of the cartridge causing discharge. The slug is propelled into the target.
In some cases, the arrow shaft shatters which prevents sufficient energy transfer to the firing pin. In a preferred embodiment, a retaining ring is provided which transfers energy from the shattered shaft to the firing pin thereby discharging the cartridge.
The result of use of the device is generally deeper penetration and quiet use of ammunition. A less powerful and lighter bow may be used in conjunction with the device and still achieve a more powerful strike than a standard arrowhead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead and arrow of this disclosure.
FIG. 2A is an exploded, partial cut-away view of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 2B is an assembled, partial cut-away view of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 3A is an exploded, partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 3B is an assembled, partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 4A is an exploded, partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 4B is an assembled partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 5A is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 5B is an exploded, partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 5C is an assembled partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 6A is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 6B is an exploded, partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 6C is an assembled partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 7A is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of a firing pin of the ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 7B is an end view of an alternate embodiment of a firing pin of the ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 8A is an assembled side view of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure, prior to launch and during flight.
FIG. 8B is an end view of a housing of the ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 9A is an exploded, partial cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 9B is an end view of a head of a firing pin of the ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 10A is an assembled cut-away view of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure.
FIG. 10B is an assembled cut-away view of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead.
FIG. 10C is an assembled cut-away view of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead.
FIG. 11 is an assembled cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead.
FIG. 12 is a test comparison of the penetration depths of a preferred embodiment of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of this disclosure versus an arrow having a standard arrowhead.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
Referring to FIG. 1 , arrow 100 is comprised of shaft 104 attached to arrowhead 101 . Shaft 104 has an open forward end 110 that includes internal threads 112 . Nock 106 is formed in distant end 114 to accommodate a bow string. Forward end 110 of shaft 104 is open and arrowhead 101 is positioned therein. Fletchings 108 surround the circumference of shaft 104 equidistantly at distant end 114 adjacent nock 106 . As is common in the art, two, three, or four fletchings may be incorporated.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show ammunition delivery system arrowhead 101 . Arrowhead 101 is comprised of firing pin 120 threadably engaged with containment housing 124 . Containment housing 124 is generally cylindrical and encases cartridge 122 .
Firing pin 120 is comprised of threaded section 130 , middle section 132 , and head section 134 . Threaded section 130 includes threads 146 sized to engage threads 112 of shaft 104 . Threaded section 130 is integrally formed with middle section 132 . Middle section 132 is cylindrically shaped and typically has a diameter generally equal to the diameter of shaft 104 . Head section 134 is integrally formed with middle section 132 and further includes threads 136 . Protrusion 138 extends from head section 134 . Protrusion 138 is generally concentrically aligned with the longitudinal axis of firing pin 120 to operate with a centerfire cartridge but could also be offset in order to operate with a rimfire cartridge. Firing pin 120 is preferably manufactured of aluminum, steel, or rigid molded plastic.
Cartridge 122 is of design and composition common in the art. Cartridge 122 is comprised of casing 142 having base 140 . Slug 144 is housed in and extends from casing 144 . Cartridge 122 is preferably sized as .38 caliber, .357 caliber, or .22 caliber. However, containment housing 124 can be sized to accommodate any commercially available cartridge caliber as larger and smaller munitions are envisioned by this disclosure. Cartridge 122 may be a centerfire cartridge or a rimfire cartridge. Rimfire cartridges are typically limited to low pressure calibers because they require a thin casing so that a firing pin can crush the base and ignite the primer. Rimfire cartridges are relatively light and inexpensive as compared to centerfire cartridges.
Containment housing 124 is generally a hollow cylinder having rearward opening 152 and forward opening 150 . The exterior of containment housing 124 has a leading end separated from a trailing end by collar ring 128 . The diameter of the leading end is generally less than the diameter of the trailing end thus collar ring 128 provides aerodynamic advantages to help stabilize the arrowhead during use. The interior of containment housing 124 includes a cylindrically shaped cavity 158 adjacent a second concentrically aligned and cylindrically shaped cavity 148 . Shoulder 156 separates cavity 148 from cavity 158 . Rearward opening 152 is sized to accommodate head section 134 of firing pin 120 . Rearward opening 152 leads to cavity 148 . Cavity 148 includes threads 154 which engage threads 136 . Forward opening 150 leads to cavity 158 . Cavity 158 and forward opening 150 have a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of casing 142 which allows cartridge 122 to be press fit inside containment housing 124 and frictionally held in place. In an alternate embodiment, an adhesive or induction welding may be employed to further secure cartridge 122 inside containment housing 124 .
Containment housing 124 is preferably manufactured of molded plastic. In one embodiment, the plastic is an acrylic resin which is transparent to allow the cartridge to be seen through the housing in order to determine if the weapon is loaded. In another embodiment, the plastic is a low cost variety of polypropylene.
FIG. 2B shows arrowhead 101 as assembled. Cartridge 122 rests in cavity 158 and base 140 abuts shoulder 156 . Slug 144 extends through forward opening 150 . Head section 134 of firing pin 120 is threadably engaged with containment housing 124 . Threads 154 and threads 136 prevent firing pin 120 from advancing too far into cavity 148 . As a result, gap 162 exists between protrusion 138 and base 140 . Threads 146 of threaded section 130 engage internal threads 112 to securely attach the arrowhead to shaft 104 .
In use, cartridge 122 is loaded, slug 144 first, into containment housing 124 through rearward opening 152 . Cartridge 122 is advanced through cavity 148 and through cavity 158 until base 140 abuts shoulder 156 . Firing pin 120 is attached to containment housing 124 such that threads 136 engage threads 154 . Firing pin 120 is tightened to containment housing 124 such that gap 162 exists between protrusion 138 and cartridge 122 to complete assembly of the ammunition delivery system arrowhead. Arrowhead 101 is attached to shaft 104 such that threads 146 engage internal threads 112 to complete assembly of arrow 100 .
Arrow 100 is typically delivered to an intended target through the use of a bow or cross bow. When arrowhead 101 strikes the intended target, cartridge 122 slides backwards through containment housing 124 and is forced into protrusion 138 thereby impacting the primer, discharging the cartridge, and expelling slug 144 from casing 142 . Slug 144 is propelled into the intended target. As shaft 104 and firing pin 120 are rarely damaged in use, both shaft 104 and firing pin 120 may be reused with a new cartridge and containment housing repeatedly after recovery.
FIG. 3A shows an alternate embodiment of arrowhead 102 . Containment housing 124 further includes retaining tab 160 . Retaining tab 160 is an annular wedge shaped projection extending from the interior surface of containment housing 124 into cavity 148 . The size of retaining tab 160 is relative to the caliber of cartridge being employed. A larger caliber results in the need for a larger retaining tab. In a preferred embodiment, retaining tab 160 may also be a single projection or a collection of projections spaced in the same plane around the interior circumference. Formed between retaining tab 160 and shoulder 156 is slot 166 . Slot 166 is sized to fit base 140 of cartridge 122 .
FIG. 3B shows arrowhead 102 as assembled. Cartridge 122 is housed in cavity 158 . Base 140 rests in slot 166 adjacent retaining tab 160 and shoulder 156 . Slug 144 extends through forward opening 150 . Firing pin 120 is threadably engaged with containment housing 124 . Threads 154 and threads 136 prevent over insertion of firing pin 120 into cavity 148 resulting in gap 162 between protrusion 138 and base 140 . Retaining tab 160 prevents cartridge 122 from sliding backwards and contacting firing pin 120 during flight and to reduce the possibility of accidental discharge should the arrowhead be dropped or knocked against a hard surface. Threads 146 of threaded section 130 engage internal threads 112 to securely attach the arrowhead to shaft 104 .
In use, cartridge 122 is loaded into containment housing 124 through rearward opening 152 . Cartridge 122 is advanced through cavity 148 and cavity 158 until base 140 passes over retaining tab 160 and abuts shoulder 156 . The wedge shape and relative size of retaining tab 160 allows base 140 to pass over retaining tab 160 until base 140 abuts shoulder 156 and rests in slot 166 . Firing pin 120 is attached to containment housing 124 such that threads 136 engage threads 154 . Firing pin 120 is tightened to containment housing 124 . Retaining tab 160 and gap 162 separate protrusion 138 from cartridge 122 . Arrowhead 102 is attached to shaft 104 such that threads 146 engage internal threads 112 to complete assembly of arrow 100 . Arrow 100 is delivered to an intended target. When arrowhead 102 strikes the intended target, cartridge 122 slides backward through containment housing 124 breaking retaining tab 160 . Cartridge 122 contacts protrusion 138 discharging cartridge 122 . Slug 144 is propelled from casing 142 and containment housing 124 into the intended target. Shaft 104 may be reused with a freshly assembled ammunition delivery system arrowhead once the used arrowhead is removed.
FIG. 4A shows an alternate embodiment, arrowhead 103 . Spring 194 is positioned between firing pin 120 and cartridge 122 . Spring 194 may be attached to firing pin 120 . In the preferred embodiment, spring 194 is formed from steel and has a spring constant in the range of 20 to 100 N/m, other spring constants will suffice. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the spring takes the form of a frustoconical helical spring. In this embodiment, the spring, when compressed, is thin enough to allow contact of the primer with the protrusion. In general, protrusion 138 is capable of extending through the length of a fully compressed spring 194 . In an alternate embodiment, spring 194 is comprised of synthetic foam.
Containment housing 124 further includes threads 164 and window 126 . Housing 124 is engaged with cap 170 . Threads 164 surround the exterior of containment housing 124 adjacent to forward opening 150 . Cap 170 is generally cylindrical and includes an open end, a closed end, and cavity 188 . Cap 170 may also include vent 190 . Vent 190 is a hole or plurality of radial holes which pass through cap 170 and in to cavity 188 . Adjacent the open end are threads 168 . Threads 168 are on the interior of cap 170 and are sized to engage threads 164 . Cap 170 protects cartridge 122 from accidental discharge should an assembled arrowhead be dropped or knocked against a hard surface. Window 126 is a hole passing through the exterior of containment housing 124 and opening into cavity 158 . Window 126 allows a user to visually identify if a cartridge has been loaded in containment housing 124 without removing cap 170 . In an alternate embodiment, cap 170 is made of a flexible material such as neoprene and does not include internal threads. In a preferred embodiment, cap 170 is press fit into place over forward opening 150 .
FIG. 4B shows arrowhead 103 assembled. Cartridge 122 rests in cavity 158 and base 140 abuts shoulder 156 . Slug 144 extends through forward opening 150 . Head section 134 of firing pin 120 is threadably engaged with containment housing 124 . Threads 154 and threads 136 prevent firing pin 120 from over insertion into cavity 148 . As a result, gap 162 exists between protrusion 138 and base 140 . Spring 194 biases cartridge 122 away from firing pin 120 to safeguard cartridge 122 from accidently contacting protrusion 138 and discharging the cartridge. Threads 168 of cap 170 engage threads 164 to securely attach cap 170 to containment housing 124 . Gap 192 separates cartridge 122 from the interior surface of cap 170 . Threads 146 of threaded section 130 engage internal threads 112 to securely attach the arrowhead to shaft 104 . In an alternate embodiment, retaining tab 160 may be used in conjunction with a containment housing incorporating cap 170 .
In use, cartridge 122 is loaded into containment housing 124 through rearward opening 152 . Cartridge 122 is advanced through cavity 148 and through cavity 158 until base 140 abuts shoulder 156 . Firing pin 120 is attached to containment housing 124 such that threads 136 engage threads 154 and spring 194 abuts base 140 . Firing pin 120 is tightened to containment housing 124 against the bias of spring 194 until protrusion 138 is separated from cartridge 122 by gap 162 . Cap 170 is attached to containment housing 124 such that threads 168 engage threads 164 . Arrowhead 103 is attached to shaft 104 such that threads 146 engage internal threads 112 to complete assembly of arrow 100 . If needed, a user may observe a cartridge through window 126 without removing the cap. In preparation for deployment, cap 170 is removed from containment housing 124 . Arrow 100 is deployed. When arrowhead 103 strikes the intended target, cartridge 122 slides backward through containment housing 124 against the bias of spring 194 into protrusion 138 thereby discharging cartridge 122 . Slug 144 is propelled into the intended target. Shaft 104 may be reused with another ammunition delivery system arrowhead once the used arrowhead is removed.
In an alternate embodiment, cap 170 is not removed and thus remains engaged with housing 124 during use. Vent 190 allows the escape of ignition gases after the discharging of cartridge 122 .
FIGS. 5A and 5B show an alternate embodiment, arrowhead 105 . Arrowhead 105 is comprised of firing pin 520 threadably engaged with housing 524 . Cone 526 is pressfit in to housing 524 . Cartridge 122 is seated within housing 524 .
Firing pin 520 is generally cylindrically shaped and comprised of threaded section 530 , middle section 532 , and head section 534 . All three sections of firing pin 520 are integrally formed and axially aligned. Threaded section 530 includes threads sized to engage threads 112 of shaft 104 . Head section 534 includes threads 536 . Head section further includes collar 537 . Collar 537 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the remainder of head section 534 . Protrusion 538 extends from head section 534 and is generally concentrically aligned with the longitudinal axis of firing pin 520 . Firing pin 520 is preferably manufactured of aluminum, steel, or rigid molded plastic.
Housing 524 is generally a hollow cylinder having rearward opening 552 at end 553 and forward opening 550 at end 551 . End 553 has a slightly larger diameter than end end 551 thus the exterior of containment housing 524 tapers through its length from end 553 to end 551 . The interior of housing 524 includes a cylindrically shaped cavity 558 adjacent a second concentrically aligned and cylindrically shaped cavity 548 . Shoulder 556 separates cavity 548 from cavity 558 . Rearward opening 552 is sized to accommodate head section 534 of firing pin 520 . Rearward opening 552 opens to cavity 548 . Cavity 548 includes threads 554 which engage threads 536 . Forward opening 550 opens to cavity 558 . Housing 524 is preferably manufactured of molded plastic, transparent acrylic resin, or polypropylene. Cone 526 is made of lubricated nylon material and includes a pointed nose 570 and a generally dome shaped cavity 588 .
As shown in FIG. 5C , as assembled, cartridge 122 rests in cavity 558 and base 140 abuts shoulder 556 . Head section of firing pin 520 is threadably engaged with housing 524 . Firing pin 520 is advanced into cavity 548 until collar 537 abuts end 553 . As a result, gap 562 exists between protrusion 538 and base 140 of cartridge 122 . Cone 526 is frictionally engaged with housing 524 in forward opening 550 but adhesive may also be used. Cavity 588 surrounds slug 144 . Threaded section 530 engages threads 112 to attach arrowhead 105 to shaft 104 . In an alternate embodiment, spring 194 may be positioned between firing pin 520 and cartridge 122 . Spring 194 may be attached to firing pin 520 .
In use, cartridge 122 is inserted into housing 524 through rearward opening 552 . Cartridge 122 is advanced through cavity 548 and through cavity 558 until base 140 abuts shoulder 556 . Firing pin 520 is threadably attached to housing 524 . Firing pin 520 is tightened to housing 524 until collar 537 abuts end 553 . Gap 162 is formed between protrusion 138 and cartridge 122 . Cone 526 is press fit in to forward opening 550 . Arrowhead 105 is threadably attached to shaft 104 .
Cone 526 is preferably left in place during use. Pointed nose 570 provides aerodynamic advantages and imparts deeper penetration into an intended target over blunt shaped cartridges. As arrowhead 105 strikes the intended target, cone 526 shatters and cartridge 122 slides backward through housing 524 into protrusion 538 . Cartridge 122 is discharged and slug 144 is propelled into the intended target. Shaft 104 and firing pin 520 may be reused with a new housing, cartridge, and nose.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show an alternate embodiment, arrowhead 107 . Arrowhead 107 is comprised of firing pin 520 threadably engaged with housing 624 . Cap 626 is pressfit onto housing 624 . Cartridge 122 is seated within housing 624 .
Housing 624 is generally a hollow cylinder having rearward opening 652 at end 653 and forward opening 650 on the opposite end. Housing 624 includes a cylindrically shaped cavity 658 adjacent a second concentrically aligned and cylindrically shaped cavity 648 . Shoulder 656 is adjacent both and separates cavity 648 from cavity 658 . Rearward opening 652 opens to cavity 648 . Cavity 648 includes threads 654 which engage threads 536 . Forward opening 650 opens to cavity 658 . The exterior of housing 624 includes shoulder 668 . Housing 624 includes vanes 664 . Vanes 664 are generally triangular shaped and are integrally formed with housing 624 . As shown, vanes 664 comprise four equidistantly spaced groups of three longitudinally aligned vanes extending from housing 624 at end 653 . It is envisioned that more or fewer vanes in a group and more or fewer groupings of vanes is possible. The total number of vanes and the configuration of the vanes around housing 624 can be adjusted according to intended use or cartridge size. Vanes 664 provide aerodynamic advantages which help stabilize the arrowhead during use. Cap 626 is generally a hollow cylinder and includes a forward end 670 and an open end 672 . Forward end 670 includes hole 671 . Cap 626 includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced slits 674 .
As shown in FIG. 6C , when assembled, cartridge 122 rests in cavity 658 and base 140 abuts shoulder 656 . Head section of firing pin 520 is threadably engaged with housing 624 . Firing pin 520 is advanced into cavity 648 until collar 537 abuts end 653 . As a result, gap 662 exists between protrusion 538 and base 140 . Cap 626 is frictionally engaged with housing 624 and advanced over forward opening 650 until cap 626 abuts shoulder 668 . Threaded section 530 engages threads 112 to attach arrowhead 107 to shaft 104 . In an alternate embodiment, spring 194 may be positioned between firing pin 520 and cartridge 122 and spring 194 may be attached to firing pin 520 with adhesive or other common in the art methods.
In use, cartridge 122 is inserted into housing 624 through rearward opening 652 . Cartridge 122 is advanced through cavity 648 and through cavity 658 until base 140 abuts shoulder 656 . Firing pin 520 is threadably attached to housing 624 at end 653 . Firing pin 520 is tightened to housing 624 until collar 537 abuts end 553 and thus gap 662 is maintained between protrusion 138 and cartridge 122 . Cap 626 is press fit over forward opening 550 . Arrowhead 105 is threadably attached to shaft 104 .
Cap 626 remains engaged with housing 624 during use. As arrowhead 107 strikes the intended target, cap 626 shatters and cartridge 122 slides backward through housing 624 into protrusion 538 . Cartridge 122 is discharged and slug 144 is propelled into the intended target. Slits 674 and hole 671 allow the escape of ignition gases after the discharging of cartridge 122 . Slits 674 also function as a flash suppressor diverting the discharge flare to radial angles away from the axis of travel. Shaft 104 and firing pin 520 may be reused with a new housing, cartridge, and nose.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show an alternate embodiment of a firing pin. Firing pin 720 is comprised of threaded section 730 , middle section 732 , and head section 734 . Threaded section 730 includes threads 746 sized to engage threads 112 of shaft 104 . Threaded section 730 is integrally formed with middle section 732 . Middle section 732 is cylindrically shaped and typically has a diameter generally equal to the diameter of shaft 104 . Head section 734 is integrally formed with middle section 732 and further includes threads 736 . Protrusions 738 and 739 extend from head section 734 . Protrusions 738 and 739 are generally located near the perimeter of head section 734 . Protrusions 738 and 739 are offset from the longitudinal central axis of firing pin 720 in order to operate with a rimfire cartridge. The offset protrusions are not limited to two. Firing pin 720 is preferably manufactured of aluminum, steel, or rigid molded plastic. Firing pin 720 can be used with any of the previously described arrowhead configurations.
FIGS. 8A and 8B show an alternate embodiment of an arrowhead 109 .
Referring to FIG. 8A , arrowhead 109 comprises housing 824 and cap 826 . Firing pin 820 is slideably positioned within the housing. Firing pin 820 is also threadably secured to shaft 104 . Shaft impact ring 830 is slideably positioned on the firing pin. Further, the firing pin is secured in the housing by retaining collar 837 .
Referring to FIG. 8B , in the preferred embodiment, housing 824 includes vanes 864 . Vanes 864 are generally triangular shaped and are integrally formed with housing 824 . As shown, vanes 864 comprise four equidistantly spaced groups of three longitudinally aligned vanes extending from housing 824 . In alternate embodiments, different numbers and positions of vanes are possible. Vanes 864 provide aerodynamic stabilization to the arrowhead during flight.
Referring to FIG. 9A , firing pin 820 is slideably engaged with housing 824 . Firing pin 820 is centered on longitudinal axis 810 . Firing pin 820 includes cylindrical shaft 844 attached to head 840 having a shoulder 842 and a protrusion 841 . Firing pin 820 further comprises cylindrical shaft 832 adjacent cylindrical shaft 844 . Shoulder 833 separates cylindrical shaft 832 from cylindrical shaft 844 where cylindrical shaft 832 has a smaller diameter than cylindrical shaft 844 . Firing pin further comprises threaded shaft 834 adjacent cylindrical shaft 832 . Threaded shaft 834 is attached to shaft 104 . Retaining collar 837 includes hole 839 , rear shoulder 838 , front shoulder 831 and shoulder 835 . Firing pin 820 is inserted through hole 839 of the retaining collar. Shaft impact ring 830 is slideably positioned on cylindrical shaft 832 between shoulder 833 and threaded shaft 834 .
FIG. 9B shows protrusion 841 is positioned off center of the longitudinal axis and near the perimeter of head 840 .
Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B , cap 826 fits onto housing 824 and is held in place by friction. Cap 826 is generally a hollow cylinder and includes a forward end 870 and an open end 872 . Forward end 870 includes hole 871 . Cap 926 includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced slits 874 which expand to hold the cap in place. When in place, the cap abuts shoulder 868 .
Housing 824 is generally a hollow cylinder, centered on longitudinal axis 810 , having rearward opening 852 and forward opening 850 . Housing 824 includes chamber 858 and chamber 848 . Cartridge 122 is seated within housing 824 . Chamber 858 is adjacent to and aligned with chamber 848 . Both chambers are generally cylindrical. Shoulder 856 separates chamber 848 from chamber 858 . Chamber 848 includes a rearward opening 852 and a forward opening 850 . Chamber 848 also includes threads 854 which engage threads 836 .
Cartridge 122 is positioned in chamber 858 where base 140 abuts shoulder 856 . The cartridge remains frictionally fixed in place. Cap 826 is fixed to forward opening 850 . Retaining collar 837 is threaded into housing 824 at rearward opening 852 .
Shaft impact ring 830 is slideably attached to filing pin 820 . Gap 860 exists between head 840 and cartridge 122 . Gap 862 exists between shaft impact ring 830 and shoulder 833 . Firing pin 820 is movable within retaining collar 837 between a first position where shoulder 842 abuts shoulder 835 and a second position where protrusion 841 impacts cartridge 122 .
Referring to FIG. 10B , on impact with a target, arrow shaft 104 and firing pin 820 slide forward to an impact position where gap 860 is closed. The abrupt forward motion of firing pin 820 causes gap 861 to open and protrusion 838 to be driven into contact with base 140 . The primer of bullet 122 is ignited.
Referring to FIG. 10C , in some cases, arrow shaft 104 fractures on impact as shown. When this occurs, the shaft splinters and fails to deliver sufficient force to the firing pin to discharge the cartridge. However, the fractured arrow shaft does impact shaft impact ring 830 . When it does so, shaft impact ring 830 is driven forward to shoulder 833 whereupon it stops and imparts additional energy to the firing pin sufficient to discharge the cartridge.
Cap 826 may be engaged with housing 924 during use or may be removed before use. If left in place, upon discharge of the cartridge, slits 874 and hole 871 allow the escape of ignition gases and function as a muzzle flash suppressor.
Referring to FIG. 11 , in an alternate embodiment of arrowhead 109 , a spring 845 may be positioned in chamber 848 between head 840 of firing pin 820 and base 140 of cartridge 122 . Spring 845 maintains gap 860 prior to impact. Upon impact, the spring collapses and allows the firing pin to contact and discharge the cartridge. Spring 845 may be attached to firing pin 820 with adhesive or other common means known in the art.
In the preferred embodiment, spring 845 is formed from steel and has a spring constant in the range of 20 to 100 N/m and takes the form of a frustoconical helical spring. Other spring constants and forms will suffice. The spring, when compressed, is thin enough to allow contact of the protrusion with the base.
FIG. 12 shows the test results of an ammunition delivery system arrowhead of the present disclosure discharged into ballistics test medium 172 . Ballistics test medium 172 is a twenty inch block of PERMA-GEL™ synthetic “soft tissue” medium. PERMA-GEL™ is used for the testing and comparison of different types of projectiles and loads and can be found at www.perma-gel.com. The bow used in the test was a 62 pound pressure bow at a distance of twenty yards. A conventional arrowhead, fired from the same bow, entered ballistics test medium 172 at point 174 and stopped at point 178 . The conventional arrowhead traveled approximately 8.3 inches through ballistics test medium 172 . An ammunition delivery system arrowhead as disclosed herein entered ballistics test medium at point 180 . At point 182 , approximately 4.2 inches into ballistics test medium 172 , the cartridge housed in the ammunition delivery system arrowhead was discharged. The discharged slug continued to point 186 penetrating an additional approximate twelve inches for a total penetration of approximately 16.3 inches.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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A device and method introduces the use of conventional ammunitions to the archery/bow hunting industry. The device achieves stealthy delivery of firearm munitions and increases the firepower of standard arrows resulting in deeper penetration into a target. The device consists generally of a cylindrical housing threaded internally on one end for attachment to a firing pin assembly. A firing pin is slideably attached to the firing pin assembly. A cartridge is loaded into the housing until the flange on the cartridge casing abuts an interior shoulder. In an alternate embodiment, the interior of the housing further includes an annular retaining tab. The retaining tab separates the cartridge from the firing pin to prevent inadvertent discharge. A cap or nosepiece may be included to further protect the device from accidental discharge of the cartridge and to provide aerodynamic advantages. The housing further includes a set of stabilizing vanes.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the invention
[0002] This invention relates to a method for producing materials, including films and nonwovens, having z-direction folds or ridges on at least one surface of the material. This invention further relates to a lofty, nonwoven material produced from continuous fibers in which the lofty character of the nonwoven material is the result of the fibers comprising the web having a z-direction orientation, whereby a plurality of ridges or folds are formed on at least one surface of the nonwoven web. These materials may be particularly suitable for use in a broad range of applications including fluid management (surge), air and liquid filtration, acoustic and thermal insulation, packing material, absorbents, and cleaning materials. More particularly, these materials may be suitable for use as surge, spacer layers, filtration materials and absorbent layers in personal care absorbent products including disposable diapers, incontinence garments, and feminine care products such as sanitary pads and napkins, and in face masks, surgical gowns, sterile wraps and surgical drapes.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0004] Absorbent personal care articles such as sanitary pads and napkins, disposable diapers, incontinent-care pads and the like are widely used, and much effort has been made to improve their effectiveness and functionality. These articles generally include a liquid absorbent material backed by a liquid-impervious barrier sheet. To enhance the sense of comfort, the absorbent material has a facing of a material which masks at least the body-facing surface of the product. The purpose of this cover material is to help structurally contain the absorbent material and to protect the wearer from continuous direct contact with moisture from previously wetted absorbent material. The cover material is typically of relatively low basis weight nonwoven fabric. Improved product performance has been obtained in these products through the incorporation of a surge management material disposed between the cover material and the absorbent material. The surge management material is made from a relatively high basis weight, low density, that is, thick, nonwoven web material.
[0005] In nonwoven webs, the fibers comprising the web are generally oriented in the x-y plane of the web and the resulting nonwoven web material is relatively thin, that is lacking in loft or significant thickness. Loft or thickness in a nonwoven web suitable for use in personal care absorbent articles promotes comfort (softness) to the user, surge management and fluid distribution to adjacent layers.
[0006] In order to impart loft or thickness to a nonwoven web, it is generally desirable that at least a portion of the fibers comprising the web be oriented in the z-direction. Conventionally, such lofty nonwoven webs are produced using staple fibers. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,067 which teaches a nonwoven thermal insulating batt comprising structural staple fibers and bonding staple fibers which are entangled and substantially parallel to the faces of the batt at the face portions and substantially perpendicular to the faces of the batt, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,114 which teaches a batt including a major percent of thermo-mechanical wood pulp fibers stabilized by the inclusion of a minor percent of thermoplastic fibers including staple length thermoplastic fibers. Alternatively, conventional high loft forming processes rely on pre-forming processes such as fiber crimp formed on a flat wire or drum, and post-forming processes such as creping or pleating of the formed web.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In contradistinction to the known art, the present invention does not first form a web of material and pleat it. Rather, fibers are looped on themselves without being first being formed into a material web. These fiber level loops, running from a first major surface of the web to a second major surface, are aggregated in the cross machine direction to form ridged structures herein sometimes called “waves” or “folds” to distinguish them from “pleats” which refer to structures in preformed web or mesh material that has been folded on itself. A “wavelength” may generally be considered the transit of a loop between its successive trough points on one major surface of the web.
[0008] Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a lofty nonwoven web material comprising substantially continuous fibers as opposed to staple fibers traditionally used in the manufacture of such nonwoven materials.
[0009] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method for producing nonwoven materials having z-direction orientation portions.
[0010] These and other objects of this invention are addressed by a method for producing a material having z-direction folds comprising conveying a substantially unformed and flat base material of substantially continuous fibers, and added materials if desired, on a first moving surface into a nip formed by the first moving surface and a second moving surface, the second moving surface traveling at a slower speed than the first moving surface, resulting in formation of a plurality of z-direction folds on at least one surface of the material. The method of this invention conveys a material by means of a moving surface into a confined space (the nip) and removes it from the confined space by means of a second moving surface, whereby the rate of removal of the material from the confined space is slower than the rate of material input to the confined surface, resulting in formation of a nonwoven material having z-direction components. The z-direction components produce ridges or ripples on both the major, or x-y surfaces of the material. According to this method the extent of the ridges, and thus the character of the resulting material formed, may be easily affected by a number of operating parameters including, but not limited to, the type of material being processed, geometry of the confined space, the means for transferring the material in the confined space from the first moving surface to the second moving surface, presence or lack of a binding agent such as an adhesive, and the relative speeds of the first and second moving surfaces.
[0011] Typically, the size of the confined space (nip) and the relative speeds of the moving surfaces are related with respect to the formation of a web having a desired density of folds. For example, for very low differential speeds between the two moving surfaces, the size of the nip will be very small. As the differential speeds increase, the size of the nip will also increase.
[0012] According to the embodiments herein, a material of this invention, as produced with the method of this invention, comprises a nonwoven web with a plurality of substantially continuous fibers having a z-direction orientation and forming a plurality of folds or ridges on the major surfaces of the nonwoven web.
[0013] In one embodiment according to the present invention a lofty nonwoven web, made with fibers looped on themselves, is made in a first configuration. This first configuration of the lofty web is made with regularly shaped ridges extending from the plane of the web in the z-direction, and occurring with regular pattern or periodicity in the machine (x-axis) or cross machine (y-axis) directions with the ridges lightly fixed in the first configuration. The first configuration of the ridges is broken and reset to a second predetermined configuration such as by controlled stretching. The ridges are then fixed in the second configuration, resulting in a new shape and periodicity of the ridges. The second configuration thus has no adhered leading or trailing edges of the ridge waveform. The second configuration is generally one which is unattainable through the process used to make the first configuration. The material is particularly useful for filtration media or other fabric structures where a known ridge shape and periodicity is desired. This embodiment may also be utilized for control of the periodicity and pleat shape of a previously pleated web.
[0014] In yet another embodiment, the present invention seeks to create, and utilize the advantages of, a lofty nonwoven web of continuous fibers having z-direction fibers but without discernable ridge structure which would lead to fluid channelization and other inherent characteristics of the ridge structure which may be undesirable for certain applications. Accordingly, among the objects of this embodiment is to provide a lofty nonwoven web material comprising substantially continuous fibers as opposed to staple fibers traditionally used in the manufacture of such nonwoven materials and to provide for producing nonwoven materials having z-direction portions with an undifferentiated mass of loops or pleats to create a web of material with no discernable ridge structure and no defined fluid channels.
[0015] In still another embodiment of the present invention, a precursor material having differential basis weight is formed using a three dimensional forming surface, which may be a wire or a formed membrane. Bands of higher and lower basis weight are thus formed, preferably running in the cross direction and alternating in the machine direction for the precursor web. The precursor material is then pleated, or folded, with the folds generally occurring along the borders between the higher and lower basis weight bands. The resultant lofty web material may then have major surfaces in x-y planes of a first basis weight material and interstitial material between the major surfaces in the z-direction composed of a second and different basis weight material. Alternatively, only one major surface may be higher basis weight material or, pleats of alternating high basis weight and low basis weight pleats may be produced in a single sheet. The material is particularly useful for fabric structures where a known ridge shape and periodicity is desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
[0017] [0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the method of this invention for producing materials having z-direction components;
[0018] [0018]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a side view of a nonwoven web having z-direction components in the form of ridges or ripples formed in accordance with the method of this invention;
[0019] [0019]FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrammatic representations of a conventional nonwoven web and a high loft nonwoven web in accordance with this invention, respectively;
[0020] [0020]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the method of this invention for producing materials having z-direction components for the second, or final, lofty web configuration; and
[0021] [0021]FIG. 5 is a photograph of a side view of a second nonwoven web according to the present invention having z-direction components without regular or discernable ridges as formed from side by side polymer, crimped fiber, base material;
[0022] [0022]FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams of a three dimensional forming surface for producing precursor materials having differential basis weight distributed in bands in the cross direction;
[0023] [0023]FIG. 8 is a diagram of a side view of one embodiment of the resultant lofty nonwoven web having z-direction components;
[0024] [0024]FIG. 9 is a diagram of a side view of a second embodiment of the resultant lofty nonwoven web having z-direction components;
[0025] [0025]FIG. 10 is a diagram of a side view of a third embodiment of the resultant lofty nonwoven web having z-direction components composed of intermixed higher and lower basis weight materials; and
[0026] [0026]FIG. 11 is a diagram of a side view of a third embodiment of the resultant lofty nonwoven web having z-direction components composed of alternating areas of higher and lower basis weight materials.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] As used herein, the term “nonwoven web” or “nonwoven material” means a web having a structure of individual fibers, filaments or threads which are interlaid, but not in a regular or identifiable manner such as those in a knitted fabric or films that have been fibrillated. Nonwoven webs or materials have been formed from many processes such as, for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, and bonded carded web processes. The basis weight of nonwoven webs or materials is usually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm), and the fiber diameters usable are usually expressed in microns. (Note that to convert from osy to gsm, multiply osy by 33.91.).
[0028] As used herein, the term “z-direction” refers to fibers disposed outside of the plane of orientation of a web. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a nonwoven web without z-direction fibers. That is, all of the fibers are generally oriented in the direction indicated by arrow 27 . By comparison, FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a nonwoven web having z-direction fibers in accordance with this invention. That is, in addition to fibers oriented in the direction of arrow 28 , fibers are also oriented in the direction of arrows 29 and 30 . The term “as formed z-direction fibers” as used herein refers to fibers that become oriented in the z-direction during forming of the nonwoven web as distinguished from fibers having a z-direction component resulting from post-forming processing of the nonwoven web, such as in the case of mechanically crimped or creped nonwoven webs.
[0029] As used herein, the term “spunbond fibers” refers to small diameter fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine, usually circular capillaries of a spinneret as taught, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al.
[0030] As used herein, the term “meltblown fibers” refers to fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity gas streams (for example, airstreams) which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be to microfiber diameter. Such a process is disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin.
[0031] As used herein, the term “microfibers” refers to small diameter fibers having an average diameter not greater than about 75 microns, for example, having an average diameter of from about 0.5 microns to about 50 microns, or more particularly, having an average diameter of from about 2 microns to about 40 microns.
[0032] As used herein, the term “polymer” generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as, for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc., and blends and modifications thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term “polymer” also includes all possible geometric configurations of the material. These configurations include, but are not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic, atactic and random symmetries.
[0033] As used herein, the term “personal care absorbent article” means disposable diapers, training pants, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products and the like.
[0034] As used herein, the term “homofilament” refers to a fiber formed from only one polymer. This is not meant to exclude fibers formed from one polymer to which small amounts of additives have been added for coloration, anti-static properties, lubrication, hydrophilicity, etc.
[0035] As used herein, the term “bicomponent fibers” refers to fibers which have been formed from at least two polymers extruded from separate extruders but spun together to form one fiber. Bicomponent fibers are also sometimes referred to as conjugate fibers or multicomponent fibers. Bicomponent fibers are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,400 to Pike et al.
[0036] As used herein, the term “biconstituent fibers” refers to fibers which have been formed from at least two polymers extruded from the same extruder as a blend. The term “blend” is defined below. Biconstituent fibers are sometimes also referred to as multiconstituent fibers. Fibers of this general type are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,827 to Gessner. As used herein, the term “blend” means a mixture of two or more polymers.
[0037] As used herein, the term “substantially continuous fibers” refers to fibers, including without limitation, spunbond and meltblown fibers, which are not cut from their original length prior to being formed into a nonwoven web or fabric. Substantially continuous fibers may have average lengths ranging from greater than about 15 centimeters to more than one meter, and up to the length of the web or fabric being formed. The definition of “substantially continuous fibers” includes fibers which are not cut prior to being formed into a nonwoven web or fabric, but which are later cut when the nonwoven web or fabric is cut, and fibers which are substantially linear or crimped.
[0038] The term “staple fibers” means fibers which are natural or cut from a manufactured filament prior to forming into a web, and which have an average length ranging from about 0.1-15 centimeters, more commonly about 0.2-7 centimeters.
[0039] As used herein, the term “through-air bonding” or “TAB” means the process of bonding a nonwoven, for example, a bicomponent fiber web in which air which is sufficiently hot to melt one of the polymers of which the fibers of the web are made is forced through the web.
[0040] As used herein, the term “coform” means a process in which at least one meltblown diehead is arranged near a chute through which other materials are added to the base material or the web while it is forming. Such other materials may be pulp, superabsorbent particles, cellulose or staple fibers, for example. Coform processes are shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,464 to Lau.
[0041] [0041]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the method of this invention for producing materials including, but not limited to, films, nonwoven materials and woven materials having z-direction components in the form of ridges or peaks on at least one face. The ridges or peaks formed in accordance with the method of this invention may be regularly spaced or irregular in spacing and shape.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, a base material 21 of lightly, or nonfunctionally, bonded fibers is transported or conveyed on a first moving surface 11 into the confined space defined by nip 13 formed by first moving surface 11 and second moving surface 12 . “Nonfunctionally bonded” is a bonding sufficient only to hold the fibers in place for processing according to the method herein but so light as to not hold the fibers together were there to be manipulated manually. Such bonding may be incidental or eliminated altogether if desirable. A coform unit 44 for adding additional materials to the y base material is attached near the outlet of the fiber distribution unit 16 . First moving surface 11 is moving in the direction of arrow 18 at a given speed. Base material 21 is held down on first moving surface 11 by a hold down vacuum 14 . In nip 13 , base material is transferred to second moving surface 12 moving in the direction indicated by arrow 19 via positive air pressure from a blow up box 15 a underneath first moving surface 11 and a transfer vacuum 20 beneath the second moving surface. The transfer of the material in nip 13 from first moving surface 11 to second moving surface 12 is accomplished by the application of a transfer vacuum beneath second moving surface 12 generated by high vacuum slot 15 b and a transfer vacuum represented by reference numeral 20 . It will be appreciated that the present invention may work without a true nip, that is, the first and second surfaces may be serially offset to such a degree that there is no true overlap in their opposite facing surfaces. Second moving surface is moving at a speed slower than the speed of first moving surface 11 . First and second moving surfaces are normally foraminous or perforate, wire mesh belts, known in the art as “wires”. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention, the speed of first moving surface 11 is in the range of about 1.25 to about 7 times faster than the speed of second moving surface 12 .
[0043] The confining nature of nip 13 is such that, as the base material 21 of fibers enters nip 13 and is taken away at a slower speed by second moving surface 12 , base material 21 accumulates in nip 13 causing the fibers to bunch up and translate into a z-direction displacement until the volume of nip 13 is filled. More specifically, base material 21 moving in the direction indicated by arrow 18 encounters a slowdown in nip 13 as a result of which the base material 21 moves in the z-direction until it hits the surface of second moving surface 12 and is removed thereby. As a result, the material exiting from nip 13 comprises at least one surface, and normally both surfaces, having ridges or peaks as indicated by reference numeral 22 .
[0044] Although suitable for producing ridged films and pleated wovens, the method of this invention is particularly suitable for producing preponderantly open, or low density, nonwoven webs of continuous fibers having z-direction components. Specifically, the material produced in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention is a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of substantially continuous fibers having a z-direction orientation and forming the ridges or peaks 22 .
[0045] The substantially continuous fibers are preferably selected from the group consisting of homofilament fibers, bicomponent fibers, biconstituent fibers and combinations thereof. The substantially continuous fibers are preferably formed with polymers selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polystyrenes, thermoplastic elastomers, fluoropolymers, vinyl polymers, and blends and copolymers thereof.
[0046] Suitable polyolefins include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, and the like; suitable polyamides include, but are not limited to, nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 10, nylon 12 and the like; and suitable polyesters include, but are not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and the like. Particularly suitable polymers for use in the present invention are polyolefins including polyethylene, for example, linear low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene and blends thereof; polypropylene; polybutylene and copolymers as well as blends thereof. Additionally, the suitable fiber forming polymers may have thermoplastic elastomers blended therein. In addition, staple fibers may be employed in the nonwoven web as a binder.
[0047] In order to provide stability to the product material, the nonwoven web is bonded, either by application of an adhesive from adhesive system 25 or by thermal bonding such as by through-air bonding, a calender, or the like, or by means of a hot air knife (HAK) 24 . A hot air knife is used to bond the individual polymer fibers together at various locations so that the web has increased strength and structural integrity for subsequent treatments such as passage through a through-air bonding (TAB) unit. A conventional hot air knife includes a mandrel with a slot that blows a jet of hot air onto the nonwoven web surface. Such hot air knives are taught, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,468 to Arnold et al.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, a base material 21 of substantially continuous fibers is fed onto first moving surface 11 from a Fiber Distribution Unit 16 as at reference numeral 16 . However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain base material 21 fibers may be formed directly on first moving surface 11 or unwound from prewound spools or the like.
[0049] Base materials suitable for use in the material and method of this invention are preferably selected from the group consisting of spunbond, meltblown, spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminates, coform, spunbond-film-spunbond laminates, bicomponent spunbond, bicomponent meltblown, biconstituent spunbond, biconstituent meltblown, pulp, superabsorbent, and combinations thereof.
[0050] The characteristics of the material produced in accordance with the method of this invention may be varied by varying such method elements as nip geometry, including the vertical distance between first moving surface 11 and second moving surface 12 as well as the extent of overlap between first moving surface 11 and second moving surface 12 , vacuum strength and location, bonding mechanism, and speeds of the material entering and leaving nip 13 . The type of fiber will also have an affect on the morphology of the web made. In addition, although the present invention generally produces a self-supporting lofty web, the end product may include a support structure or a second material 23 , as shown being introduced into nip 13 from the unwind designated by reference numeral 17 .
[0051] [0051]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a side view of a z-direction component nonwoven web 40 produced in accordance with the method of this invention comprising folds 41 formed by substantially continuous fibers.
[0052] In accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention, the substantially continuous fibers are bicomponent fibers. Particularly suitable polymers for forming the structural component of suitable bicomponent fibers include polypropylene and copolymers of polypropylene and ethylene, and particularly suitable polymers for the adhesive component of the bicomponent fibers includes polyethylene, more particularly linear low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene. In addition, the adhesive component may contain additives for enhancing the crimpability and/or lowering the bonding temperature of the fibers, and enhancing the abrasion resistance, strength and softness of the resulting webs.
[0053] The nonwoven web of the material of this invention has a basis weight in the range of about 0.25 osy to about 50 osy. To enhance the absorption characteristics of the nonwoven material, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the nonwoven web comprises an absorbent, for example, superabsorbent particles. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a support structure is attached to at least one face of the nonwoven web so as to provide strength thereto. The resulting laminate structure provides support for the high loft structure, strength for winding, converting, etc., and a boundary layer to either enhance or retard fluid flow into the lofty absorbent structure. The support structure may include spunbond webs of various types including liners, perforated, micro-fiber, creped, etc., spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS), meltblown, and/or films.
[0054] Potential applications for the nonwoven web of this invention include personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, feminine care products including sanitary pads and napkins, all surge materials, loop for hook and loop, air filtration, liquid filtration, body scrub pads, oil sorb, industrial and baby wipes, insulation material, packaging material, and translucent or shading material for lamp shades or the like. In the case of filtration materials, the method of this invention greatly increases the surface area available for filtration. In addition, the method of this invention may be suitable for pleating fabrics. And, for rolls of diapers, a composite material could be produced by ridging or ruffling a high loft surge/pulp/superabsorbent material laminate and placing it in between an outer cover and a liner, which would produce a laminate with all of the components of a diaper in a single step, which could be wound up and cut and placed later on converting machines.
[0055] [0055]FIG. 4 illustrates the method of the present invention in process, whereby a nonwoven web made according to the present invention in a first configuration, illustrated on the left hand side of the figure at reference number 59 , is subjected to a controlled force F in the direction of the arrow 61 thereby breaking any inter-ridge 50 or intra-ridge 43 bonding of the first configuration as indicated by the “x” marks, e.g. 63 on the right hand side of the figure. During or after the time the web is placed in the second configuration, i.e., wherein the ridges are non-adhered to either themselves or one another, as illustrated on the right hand side of the figure at reference number 65 , an adhesive may be applied by an adhesive system 67 to set the web in the second configuration. The adhesive may be in the form of liquid or additional fibers or the like and may be supplemented with the application of heat, for example by a hot air knife 69 . Alternatively, the web may be set in its second configuration through the use of heat alone by a hot air knife 69 , through-air bonding, or the like.
[0056] As prviously mentioned, the characteristics of the material produced in accordance with the method of this invention may be varied by varying such method elements as nip geometry, including the vertical distance between first moving surface 11 and second moving surface 12 as well as the extent of overlap between first moving surface 11 and second moving surface 12 , vacuum strength and location, bonding mechanism, and speeds of the material entering and leaving nip 13 . The type of fiber will also have an affect on the morphology of the web made. In addition, although the present invention generally produces a self-supporting lofty web, the end product may include a support structure or a second material 23 , as shown being introduced into nip 13 from the unwind designated by reference numeral 17 .
[0057] [0057]FIG. 5 is a photograph of a side view of a nonwoven web produced in accordance with the method of the present invention, starting with a base material of substantially continuous individual fibers of the bicomponent side-by-side crimped type showing random intermingling of the fibers to the point of losing any regular shape and periodicity to the ridge structure of the web. No channels are evident within the web structure which would allow the easy passage of fluids in any direction through the web. A bonded carded web precursor material has also be found to work well for this embodiment of the invention.
[0058] [0058]FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams showing the method of this invention for producing precursor materials having differential basis weight and differential surface topography. A three dimensional forming surface 71 has thin raised lines 73 in the cross machine direction (y axis). The surface 71 may be a foraminous wire with raised wires in the cross direction interconnected with as few linking points 75 in the machine direction (x axis) as possible for stability of the forming surface. Alternatively, the surface 71 may be a formed membrane without cross links between the cross direction lines. The membrane is laminated or sewed to the circulating belts of forming machines in place of the more typical wire. The desired fiber type, whether substantially continuous or staple, is then deposited on the forming surface and fixed as by heat or adhesive, or both, to lock in the formed structure into the precursor material. The precursor material produced is in essence a negative of the forming surface 12 and exhibits areas of higher basis weight and bulk and areas of lower basis weight and bulk. Thus the precursor material is denominated as differential basis weight material. While differential basis weight material has been made in the past it is not believed that the small scale of basis weight differential and surface topography of the present teaching have been utilized.
[0059] Referencing FIG. 8, after being processed according to the present invention the resultant lofty nonwoven web 77 shows the differential basis weight precursor material changing directions within a fold 79 at the junction 81 of the higher basis weight 83 and lower basis weight 85 material to impart the z-direction orientation to the resultant web 77 . In this instance, both first and second major surfaces 87 and 89 , respectively, of the x-y plane are composed of the higher basis weight material 83 with an interstitial material of lower basis weight material 85 lying in the z-direction.
[0060] [0060]FIG. 9 is a diagram of a side view of an alternative embodiment of the resultant lofty nonwoven web wherein the precursor and processing variables as discussed above have been adjusted to provide that only the first major surface 87 is composed of the higher basis weight material 83 , with the interstitial material and second major surface 89 being composed of lower basis weight material 85 . The resultant web has definite channels, collectively 91 , extending in the cross machine direction.
[0061] [0061]FIG. 10 is a diagram of a side view of an alternative embodiment of the resultant lofty nonwoven web wherein the precursor and processing variables have been adjusted to provide that the z-direction components are composed of both higher basis weight 83 and lower basis weight 85 material.
[0062] [0062]FIG. 11 is a diagram of a side view of an alternative embodiment of the resultant lofty nonwoven web wherein the precursor and processing variables have been adjusted to provide that the z-direction components are composed of alternating folds of higher basis weight 83 and lower basis weight 85 material.
[0063] Potential applications for the nonwoven web of this embodiment include personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, feminine care products including sanitary pads and napkins, all surge materials, loop for hook and loop, air filtration, liquid filtration, body scrub pads, oil sorb, industrial and baby wipes, insulation material, packaging material, and translucent or shading material for lamp shades or the like. In the case of filtration materials, the method of this invention greatly increases the surface area available for filtration.
[0064] While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.
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A method for producing a material having z-direction ridges or folds in which a layer of continuous fibers is conveyed on a first moving surface into a nip formed by the first moving surface and a second moving surface which is traveling at a slower speed than the first moving surface, resulting in formation of a plurality of z-direction loops in the fibers giving loft to the material and a wave pattern producing ridges on both major surfaces of the resultant nonwoven web. The method permits easy real time adjustment of manufacturing parameters to produce a variety of materials. The method further produces lofty nonwovens at a commercially viable rate.
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RELATED APPLICATION
This is related to application Ser. No. 07/656,219 filed concurrently herewith.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to drilling systems for mineral exploration sampling; and more particularly to mobile drilling systems for exploration sampling,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Exploration drilling of suspected and known mineral deposits is commonly performed in the process of locating and evaluating mineral deposits. In the course of an exploration of a given geography, it is not uncommon to lay out an extensive grid pattern of drill sites, drill hundreds to thousand of mineral-sampling holes as dictated by the grid pattern, and assay the multitude of samples obtained by the sample drilling. Then, based on the assays, overlay another grid pattern and conduct a more extensive drilling of sampling holes. Of course, a likely candidate location must be first identified, often by random, sample drilling, often called "Wildcat drilling." Then the evaluation of the candidate location begins with sample drilling of a wide grid pattern to identify possible minable reserves. The, if further exploration is warranted, sample drilling on a finer grid pattern of the proven minable reserves is conducted for mine planning.
In order to perform this extensive sample drilling, access roads and drilling sites must be located and established. The cutting of access roads and surface drill sites has a very significant impact on the ecology of the surrounding geography. Site and road preparation is costly; and, where required, returning the terrain to its original condition is also costly. This is a major undertaking. Each surface drill site, for example, must have sufficient room for the drill and drill pipe, water pumps, drill rods, drilling mud, storage containers of various types, turn around for the drill rig and other vehicles. Efforts are made, therefore, to provide mobile sample drilling systems in as compact a configuration as possible, while still being capable of meeting the sample drilling requirements.
This can pose problems in that various geological structures may require that different drilling techniques be employed; and a particular drilling rig is not necessarily capable or employing the drilling technique required at a particular site. Oftentimes, a particular exploration project will require the use of more than one drilling technique over the course of the project. Consequently, a driller must have several types of drilling rigs available in order to qualify for the drilling jobs that will become available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The system of the present provides a mobile drilling rig that may be mounted on a track undercarriage, a rubber tired undercarriage or on a skid undercarriage. The drilling rig of this invention is not only mobile, it is adjustable for drilling sample holes at various positions around the undercarriage and at various angles with respect to the plane of the undercarriage. The drilling rig of this invention is capable of employing a variety of drilling techniques, such as rotary drilling, percussion drilling, and reverse-circulation drilling. It can recover samples from such diverse structures as rock formations requiring coring and from sands. This drilling rig is therefore capable of drilling in any kind of terrain and through any kind of geological formations that might be encountered in a mineral exploration project.
The drilling system of this invention provides a drill mast mounted on a turntable. The turntable may be mounted on any type of undercarriage or carrier. The drill mast can be positioned around the perimeter of the turntable, it can be positioned near to, or away from, the turntable. The drill mast is carried on a trunnion mounting and can be oriented along Y and Z axis' with respect to the turntable X axis for drilling angle holes. A three-way adjustable control console is provided for operator comfort, regardless of the drilling mast position. Consequently, this drilling system can operate without provision of a drill pad at the drill site. This versatility can result in less extensive, and less expensive, site preparation.
The drilling system provides a drill head with gear reduction that can be set up with two to eight high performance hydraulic motors for varied application and a variable speed rotation. The maximum rotational torque can be varied in increments, as a result, from about 9,000 ft. lbs. to 18,000 ft. lbs., 27,000 ft. lbs. to 36,000 ft. lbs. The drill mast mounts the drill head for a draw works lift force of up to about 88,000 lbs.
The drill mast mounting to the turntable enables the drill mast to be transported laying down over the turn table. The system need not be dismantled for transport from project site to project site. The overall height of the drilling system in its transport mode is low enough for transport on public roadways.
In a preferred embodiment of the drilling system of this invention, a pipe joint breaker assembly is provided adjacent the lower end of the drilling mast. This assembly can accommodate different size pipe diameters.
The drilling systems of this invention is specially adapted to reverse-circulation sample drilling employing a down-the-hole hammer drill. The drilling head configuration provides for simultaneous feeding into a multi-walled drill string of drilling mud, compressed air into the drill string to operate the hammer drill and to feed the hammer drill bit head, and withdrawing of sample-containing return air. The system includes a triple-walled, reverse-circulation drill rod especially adapted for down-the-hole hammer drilling that eliminates the need for a separate drive casing string.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drilling system of this invention, mounted on a truck undercarriage, with the drill mast tilted and angled;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the drill mast mounted to its turntable and positioned vertically;
FIG. 3 is another side elevation view of the drill mast mounted to its turntable and tilted with respect to the plane of the turntable;
FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the drill mast;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the FIG. 4 view illustrating the stabilizer mounting for the drill head positioning cylinder rod;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of another portion of the FIG. 4 view illustrating the pipe joint breaker assembly;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view further illustrating the workings of the structure shown in the FIG. 6 detail view;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drill mast pivot cylinder mounting;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the drill mast slide assembly;
FIG. 10 is an end view of the FIG. 9 assembly;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of the male trunnion that underlies the FIG. 9 assembly;
FIG. 12 is an end view of the FIG. 11 trunnion;
FIG. 13 is a side view of the FIG. 11 trunnion;
FIG. 14 is a plan view of the mast turntable slide assembly;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the drill head assembly;
FIG. 16 is a view of an unasssembled triple-walled drill bit section;
FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the FIG. 16 drill bit section;
FIG. 18 is a cross-section view of the drill bit section coupling to the next-adjacent drill string stem section;
FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary drill bit head of FIG. 16;
FIG. 20 is a side perspective view of the FIG. 19 drill bit;
FIG. 21 is a cross section an exemplary outer spacing for use with the FIG. 16 drill bit section; and
FIG. 22 is an exploded view of the FIG. 18 coupling.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The drilling system of this invention is designed to drill out mineral samples of the kind required in exploration mineral sampling drilling. In this drilling, holes in the range of 4 in. to 7 in. are commonly drilled to depths up to a few thousand feet. Various types of drilling techniques are required, such as rotary drilling, percussive drilling, hammer drilling, and core drilling, depending on the geology of the structure from which the sampling is done. Drill strings composed of drill bit and drill stem sections coupled together, connected to a drill head assembly on the drill mast, are provided in sectional lengths of six to twelve feet. As the drilling operation is conducted, lengths of drill pipe are coupled, during drilling, and uncoupled, during drill string retraction. Consequently, the drilling system of this invention provides a drilling machine configured to accommodate the various drilling techniques. The drilling system of this invention provides a drill head assembly configured to accommodate drill strings required by the various drilling techniques. The drilling system also provides a pipe joint breaker assembly configured to couple and uncouple drill string pipe sections for the various types of drill strings required for these various drilling techniques. A preferred drilling system also incorporates a triple-walled, reverse-circulation, down-the-hole hammer drill string and provides the necessary infeed and outfeed for lubricating mud, pressurized operating air, and sample-carrying return air flows.
The drilling system of this invention comprises a mobile drilling machine 10 (sometimes also called a "drill rig") comprising a drill mast assembly 12 mounted to a turntable 14 carried by an undercarriage 16. The undercarriage 16 may be any suitable carrier such as a wheeled vehicle, a track vehicle, or a sled vehicle. The drill mast assembly 12 comprises a drill head frame subassembly 18 and a mast support frame subassembly 20 that mounts frame subassembly 18. A mast trunnion and slide frame 22 assembly slideably carries drill mast 12 and mounts drill mast 12 to the turntable 14.
In point of reference, in the following description, "upper", refers to elevated aspects of the drill mast when the mast is upright, "bottom" refers to the opposite of upper, "outer" refers to outward away from the turntable, and "inner" refers to inward facing toward the turntable.
Drill mast frame subassembly 14 comprises a pair of side beams 30, 32 connected across the top an upper cross beam 34 and connected across the bottom by a bottom cross beam 36. Outer and inner gusset plates 38 connect the upper ends of beams 30, 32 to the upper cross beam and stabilize the top of the drill mast frame subassembly 18. The bottom cross beam 36 is configured, viewed at right angels to the plane in which side beams 34 lay, as a wide angle "V" with the bottom apex of the "V" being provided with a rectangular passage in line with the mid-line drill string axis of the system. This bottom cross beam rectangular passage is provided by an enlarged rectangular box 40, open and the top and bottom and having a width greater that the width of the side beams 30, 32 and the bottom cross beam 35. Side beams 30, 32 are fabricated as steel box beams of generally square cross-section. Upper cross beam 34 is fabricated with welded steel side and top plates welded to the top portion of the side beams 30, 32; the ends of cross beam 34 being extended laterally outward beyond the side beams 30, 32. The bottom cross beam 36 is fabricated with welded steel side, top and bottom plate extended from the side beams to the box 40; and the box 40 is fabricated with welded steel plate side walls. The bottom cross beam plates are welded to the bottom portions of the side beams 30, 21 and to the box 40.
The side beams 30, 32 slideably mount a drill head assembly 50, the outer and inner faces of the side beams being provided with bearing surfaces on which the drill head assembly 50 bears when it travels up and down the drill mast assembly 12. The drill head assembly includes side bearing channels 52, 54 that have inner and outer bearing faces that engage the outer and inner faces of the side beams 30, 32 and ride thereon. Side bearing channels 52, 54 also have base faces, located at their base between their inner and outer faces, that slideably engage the opposed side faces of side beams 30, 32 to locate and stabilize the drill head assembly 50 between the two side beams.
The drill mast subassembly 18 also comprises a drill head positioning subassembly. The drill head assembly 50 tracks along the side beams 30, 32 and is moved therealong by means of left and right side cable and hydraulic cylinder positioners. The left side cable and cylinder positioner comprises: (a) a left hand hydraulic cylinder 56 mounted to and suspended from the left extension of the upper cross beam 34 at its cylinder end along the left side of the side beam 30; (b) a cable sheave subassembly 60 mounted at the end of the cylinder rod associated with cylinder 56 and carrying a pair of freely rotatable cable sheaves; (c) an upper cable sheave 64 freely rotatably mounted in the left extension of the upper cross beam 34; (d) a bottom cable sheave 68 free rotatably mounted at the bottom of side beam 30; (e) a cable tensioner drum 72 mounted on the left side at the bottom of side beam 30; (f) a left side upper cable dead end tensioner and shock adjuster 76; (e) a left side drill head assembly bottom positioning cable 80 that extends upward from the tensioner drum 72 and reeves around the lower sheave of the subassembly 60, extends downward and reeves around sheave 68, and extends upward to a point of connection 86 with the drill head assembly 50; and (g) a left side drill head assembly upper positioning cable 88 that extends from the cable shock adjuster 76 downward and reeves around the upper sheave of the subassembly 60, extends upward and reeves around upper sheave 64, and extends downward to a point of connection 92 with the drill head assembly 50. The right side cable and cylinder positioner comprises: (a) a right hand hydraulic cylinder 58 mounted to and suspended from the right extension of the upper cross beam 34 at its cylinder end along the right side of the side beam 32; (b) a cable sheave subassembly 62 mounted at the end of the cylinder rod associated with cylinder 58 and carrying a pair of freely rotatable cable sheaves; (c) an upper cable sheave 66 freely rotatably mounted in the right extension of the upper cross beam 34; (d) a bottom cable sheave 70 freely rotatably mounted at the bottom of side beam 32; (e) a cable tensioner drum 74 mounted on the right side at the bottom of side beam 32; (f) a right side upper cable dead end tensioner and shock adjuster 78; (e) a right side drill head assembly bottom positioning cable 82 that extends upward from the tensioner drum 74 and reeves around the lower sheave of the subassembly 62, extends downward and reeves around sheave 70, and extends upward to a point of connection 88 with the drill head assembly 50; and (g) a right side drill head assembly upper positioning cable 90 that extends from the cable shock adjuster 78 downward and reeves around the upper sheave of the subassembly 62, extends upward and reeves around upper sheave 66, and extends downward to a point of connection 94 with the drill head assembly 50. The left side cylinder 56 is stabilized by cylinder mounting bracket 96 extending from side beams 30. The right side cylinder 58 is stabilized by cylinder mounting bracket 98 extending from side beam 32. Over the length of extension of the rods of cylinders 56 and 58, outer and inner, left and right rod aligning tracks 100, 102 and 104, 106, respectively, are provided on the outer and inner faces of the side beams 30, 32 to carry and stabilize the end of these cylinder rods. The support and stabilization is provided by the respective left and right cable sheave subassemblies 60, 62 which journal mount outer and inner guide wheels 108,110 (left side) and 112, 114 (right side) which track on the side beam aligning tracks. In the operation of the drill head positioning subassembly, extension of the rods of cylinders 56, 58 will cause the drill head assembly 50 to move up the drill mast side beams 30, 32, and retraction of the cylinder rods will cause the drill head assembly 50 to move down the drill mast side beams 30, 32.
The drill mast frame subassembly 18 is carried and reinforced by the mast support frame subassembly 20. Mast support frame subassembly 20 comprises a pair of side beams 120, 122, each of which being parallel and underlying one of the drill mast frame subassembly side beams 30, 32. Left and right side beams 120, 122 are shorter than their corresponding drill mast frame side beams 30 or 32, and are connected thereto by upwardly-angled left and right upper end beams 124, 126 and downwardly-angled left and right lower end beams 128, 130. The upper and lower end beams, 124, 126 and 128, 130, are long enough to space the side beams 120, 122 inward from the drill mast frame side beams 30, 32 a sufficient distance to provide adequate clearance therebetween for travel of drill head assembly 50 and the related apparatus, piping and hosing. Left and right brace beams 132, 134 extend between the mast frame and support frame side beams near the top of the drill mast assembly 12 to form a triangular reinforcing brace with the upper end beams 124, 126. The beams that make up the mast support frame subassembly 20 are steel box beams welded to one another and to the corresponding outer drill head frame side beams.
The mast trunnion and slide assembly 22 comprises a mast slide subassembly 140 to which the drill mast assembly 12 is slideably mounted, and turntable slide subassembly 142 to which the mast slide assembly is pivotally mounted. The turntable slide subassembly 142 is carried by the turntable 14. The mast slide subassembly 140 operates left and right pairs of upper and lower steel bearing sleeves 144, 146 and 148, 150 that slideably enclose and ride on the mast support frame side beams 120, 122. Upper and lower steel cross beams 152, 154 are welded to the opposed faces of the upper and lower bearing sleeve pairs 144, 146 and 148, 150. A steel trunnion-mounting framework 156 is mounted to the cross beams 152, 154 for a steel mast pivot pin 158. Pivot pin 158 is positioned in the trunnion-mounting framework 156 from the inward side and is confined therein by an appropriate bearing collar 160 mounted to the outer end of pivot pin 158. The inward end of the pivot pin 158 is rotatably mounted in a male trunnion framework 162 so that framework 162 is located adjacent to and inward of the trunnion-mounting framework 156. Male trunnion framework 162 pivots about pivot pin 158 in a plane parallel to whatever position the drill mast assembly 12 assumes. Male trunnion framework 162 is provided with left and right mast pivoting cylinder rod mounting lugs 164, 166. A steel mast pivoting cylinder bracket 168 is welded to the inward side of the lower bearing sleeves 148, 150 and pivotally mounts a pivot cylinder 170. The end of the rod associated with cylinder 170 is attached to one or the other of the rod mounting lugs 164, 166. When cylinder 170 is actuated, the drill mast assembly 12 will pivot about the axis of pivot pin 158. The upper and lower cross beams 152, 154 mount left and right mast extension cylinders 172, 174. The ends of the rods associated with cylinders 172, 174 are connected to the upper end of the drill mast frame subassembly 18 by left and right steel mounting arms 176, 178 which are welded to the cross beam 34. When the cylinders 172, 174 are actuated, the drill mast assembly 12 will slide up or down, through the bearing sleeves 144, 146 and 148, 150.
The turntable slide subassembly 142 comprises a pair of telescoping mast extender tubes 190, 192 mounted on the deck 194 of the turntable 14, and a pair of tilting cylinders 196, 198 mounted to a slide mounting 200. The outer ends of the telescoping mast extender tubes 190, 192 are connected to left and right mounting lugs 202, 204 provided on the male trunnion framework 162. The ends of the rods associated with the tilting cylinders 196, 198 are connected to left and right mounting lugs 206, 208. When the mast extender tubes 190, 192 are actuated, the drill mast assembly 12 will be shifted inward or outward with respect to the turntable. When the tilting cylinders 196, 198 are actuated, the drill mast assembly 12 will be tilted relative to the axis of the turntable 14. If the turntable axis is considered to be the X axis of the system, tilting cylinders 196, 198 will tilt the drill mast assembly 12 about the Y axis of the system and pivot cylinder 170 will pivot the drill mast assembly 12 about the Z axis of the system. The Y axis of the system is defined by the axis point 210 through the left and right mounting lugs 202, 204. The so-called "Z axis" of the system, defined by the axis of the pivot pin 158, does not remain perpendicular to the turntable axis, although it does remain perpendicular to the Y axis of the system.
A pipe joint breaker assembly 220 is associated with the drill mast assembly 12. Assembly 220 is supported from a steel support platform 222 welded to the outer face of the drill mast frame bottom cross beam 34 just above box 40. Assembly 220 is centered over the passage 41 through box 40 and mounted on the frame 222. Assembly 220 comprises a steel cylinder 224 positioned in axial alignment with the passage through box 40 and having an inner diameter at least as large as the width of passage 41. A series of steel angle brackets 226 are welded to the periphery of cylinder 224 at their apexes so that a series of steel hydraulic cylinder-holding cups 228 may be mounted between the bracket legs as shown in FIG. 5. Each cylinder-holding cup 228 is aligned at an acute angle of about 10 degrees outward from the axis of cylinder 224 (which is coincident with the drill string axis of the system) and welded to the adjacent legs of the angle brackets 226. There are at least three cups 228 located around the periphery of cylinder 224. At least three hydraulic cylinders 230 are mounted in three of the cups 228 with their cylinder rods extending upward and outward at the acute angle of the cups 228. Each cylinder rod 232 has an arm in the form of a steel bar 234 extended at right angle to the cylinder axis. A removable gripper shoe 236 is carried by each bar 234. Each gripper shoe 236 has a curved gripper face 238 aligned parallel to the drill sting axis. With at least three such gripper shoes installed about the periphery of cylinder 224, when the gripping cylinder rods 232 are retracted, the shoe gripper faces 238 will be translated downward and inward toward the drill string axis. Any drill string section, such as a coupling or bit, can be grasped by the gripper shoe faces and secured relative to the cylinder 224. By so doing, and then rotating the drill string in opposite hand to the threads of the drill string section connections, the drill string above the gripper shoes 236 can be unthreaded from the drill string section confined by the gripper shoes. Each gripper shoe 236 is provided with an outward-opening slot 240 designed to fit over the end of the adjacent gripper cylinder rod arm 234. When a gripper cylinder rod 232 is extended, bringing the associated gripper shoe out of contact with the drill string, the shoe may be pivoted away from the drill string and removed from the cylinder rod arm. Thus, the shoe is interchangeable with shoes having different gripping faces 238 or with shoes having a different width to accommodate drill string sections of various diameters.
The drill head assembly 50 comprises a drive subassembly 250, a rotary air interchange and discharge subassembly 252, and a rotary lubricating mud interchange subassembly 254. The drive subassembly 250 comprises a drive gear box 255 to which the side bearing channels 52, 54 are mounted, an axial bull gear 256 and four peripheral drive pinion gears 258 meshed with the bull gear. The pinion gears are selectively driven by individual hydraulic motors 259 mounted atop the drive gear box 255. The rotary air interchange and discharge subassembly 252 comprises a concentric configuration of air inlet and discharge swivels that enable sample-containing return air to be withdrawn axially from the drill string and pressurized operating air to be directed into an annular passage in the drill string. The subassembly 252 is mounted axially atop the drive gear box 255 and is connected to appropriate supply and return air conduits. The lubricating mud interchange subassembly 254 comprises a concentric configuration of a mud inlet swivel enabling the introduction of lubricating mud to an annular passage in the drill string while enabling supply and return air to travel therethrough. The subassembly 254 is mounted axially underneath the drive gear box 255.
A drill head adapter 260 is bolted to the underside of the lubricating mud interchange subassembly 254 and constitute the first section of the drill string assembly 262. A preferred reverse-circulation drill string assembly is shown comprising a plurality of sections that are threaded to one another commencing with the drill head adapter 260, a plurality of intermediate pipe sections 264, and concluding with a drill bit section 266. The intermediate pipe sections 264 each comprise three concentric steel pipes joined together within an steel upper coupling sleeve 268 by a spider coupler 270. The upper coupling sleeve 268 has a configuration similar to a conventional box coupling of a box and pin threaded coupling employed in conventional drill string couplings in that the upper end of the coupling sleeve 268 has a tapered inwardly-threaded box end designed to have an correspondingly-tapered male thread pin end of an adjacent drill string section threaded therein. The upper end of the outermost pipe 272 (the section casing) is welded to the end of the coupling sleeve 268 opposite the threaded box end. The lower end of the casing pipe 272 is welded to a steel lower coupling sleeve 274. The lower coupling sleeve 274 has a configuration similar to a conventional pin coupling of a box and pin threaded coupling in that its lower end, opposite to the weldment to the casing 272, has an externally-threaded pin end.
The spider coupler 270 is located below the box end of the upper coupling sleeve 268 and comprises concentric inner and outer cylindrical elements 271 and 273. Coupling sleeve 268 has an inner conical surface 276 that makes a transition from the box end to a thicker main portion 278. It is within this main portion 278 that spider coupler 279 is positioned. If the outer element 273 of spider coupler 279 is provided with an externally-threaded portion, the main sleeve portion 278 can be internally-threaded as shown to receive and locate the spider coupler. The spider coupler must be positively positioned within sleeve 268 and, to that end, the outer element 273 may be provided with an outer conical surface 280 designed to seat against the upper coupling sleeve conical surface 276. The inner element 271 of the spider coupler 270 must be positively positioned within the outer element 273 and, to that end, the inner element may be provided with an outer conical surface 282 designed to seat against an inner conical surface 284 provided in the outer element 273. The outer element 273 is counterbored to receive the upper end of an intermediate pipe 286, pipe 286 being welded to the lower end of the outer element. The inner element 271 is counterbored to receive the upper end of an inner pipe 288, pipe 288 being welded to the lower end of the inner element. The interiors of the inner and outer elements are provided with O-ring seal sets 290, 292. The seal set 290 in the outer element 273 is located above the position of the inner element 271. The seal set 292 in the inner element 271 is located above the position of the upper end of the inner pipe 288, being separated therefrom by an inner rim 294.
The pin ends of the concentric intermediate and inner pipes 286, 288 extend beyond the pipe section lower coupling sleeve 274. The intermediate pipe 286 must extend beyond the lower coupling far enough to be insertable into the adjacent outer spider element 273 into engagement with the O-ring seal set 290. The inner pipe 288 must extend beyond far enough beyond the lower coupling to be insertable into the adjacent inner spider element 271 into engagement with the O-ring seal set 292. When adjacent pin and box ends are threaded together, the bottom of the upper intermediate pipe 286 will extend into the box end coupling below and seat on the upper rim 296 of outer element 273, and the bottom of the upper inner pipe 288 will extend further into the box end coupling below and seat on the inner rim 294 of inner element 271. The tolerances between the intermediate and inner pipe ends and the pipe-receiving portions 298, 300 of the adjacent spider inner and outer elements are small enough to insure that the O-ring seal sets will make pressure-tight seals.
The lower ends of the intermediate and inner pipes in a pipe section are supported within the lower coupling sleeve by means of spacers. These spacers 306, 308 are welded to the outer periphery of the inner and intermediate pipes, respectively, and located within the confines of the lower coupling sleeve 274. The spacers contact the opposing surface across the annular space to maintain the concentric relationship of the three pipes. Consequently, the inner and intermediate pipe lower ends project unencumbered beyond the lower coupling sleeve but are fixed concentrically by the spacers. Because the spacers are attached to one surface within the annulus, the inner and intermediate pipes may contact and expand relative to the outer casing without damaging any of the interconnections between the pipes that make up a pipe section of the drill string.
The threaded peripheral surfaces of the inner and outer spider elements 271, 273 are provided with a series of longitudinal grooves 302, 304 radially spaced around the exterior of the inner and outer elements. These grooves are similar in appearance to spline grooves and provide for fluid communication longitudinally through the pipe section couplings: that is, through the annular passage between the outer casing and the intermediate pipes and through the annular passage between the intermediate pipes and the inner pipes through the pipe couplings.
If one of the inner or intermediate or outermost pipes is damaged or worn out, the spider may be disassembled and a replacement made. Consequently, a pipe section may be repaired rather than completely replaced. Oftentimes, it will be an outermost pipe, or casing, that will become damaged or worn out and require replacement. It that event, the spider may be removed from the upper coupling sleeve, with the intermediate and inner pipes attached, and simply reinserted as a complete unit into a replacement upper coupling and casing.
In a typical use of this triple-walled drill string, pressurized air would be delivered downward through annulus between the longitudinally-assembled inner and intermediate pipes, return air carrying drilled particle samples would be delivered upward through the longitudinally-assembled inner pipes, and lubricating mud would be delivered downward through the annulus between the longitudinally-assembled outer casings. The outer casing of each pipe section is provided with outlet passages 310 from the annular passage between the outer casing and the intermediate pipe. These outlet passages enable lubricating mud to vent to the outer periphery of the drill string along the pipe sections during a drilling operation. These outlet passages are preferably provided at several locations radially around the casing and may be provided in the upper coupling sleeve at the box end of each pipe section.
In the preferred embodiment of the triple-walled drill string, the bottom section, comprising the drill bit section 266, comprises an outer casing section 320, an interchanger subassembly 322, a down-the-hole hammer drive subassembly 324, and a bit subassembly 326. The bottom casing section 320 comprises a threaded box coupling as previously described at its upper end and a casing pipe welded to the box coupling and extending down into contact with the drive subassembly 326. The interchanger subassembly 322 comprises a double-walled cross-over upper section adapted to be connected to and supported by the bottom casing box coupling. The cross-over section is ported to receive pressurized air from above and transfer it into the down-the-hole hammer subassembly 324 for operating the hammer subassembly and for supplying scavenging air to the bit head. The upper portion of the interchanger subassembly 322, contained within the bottom casing box, is provided with an external peripheral O-ring seal which bears against the inner periphery of the coupling as a mud seal. The bottom box coupling is provided with lubricating mud passages, as described above, located above the O-ring seal and, consequently, lubricating mud flow will be blocked by the O-ring seal and forced to pass out through the adjacent lubricating mud passages. The bottom casing pipe section is provided with external, longitudinal grooves 328 extending from the upper lubricating mud passages to a region adjacent the drive subassembly 326. At least two such grooves, 180 degrees apart, are preferably provided. These grooves 328 are in fluid communication with the upper lubricating mud passages and with lower lubricating mud passages 330 so that lubricating mud can be channeled to the bottom of the drill string for lubricating the outer casing at points adjacent the drive subassembly 326. This feature of the invention eliminates the need for providing for lubricating mud passage through the interchanger subassembly 322.
A preferred bit subassembly 326 for placer drilling comprises a scavenging air inlet 332, hammer piston striking face 333, bit shank 334, centering spider 335, and the head 336. The head 336 contains a pre-load surface 337 against which the bottom end of bottom casing pipe 320 abuts. Centering spider 335 contacts the inner wall of drive hammer subassembly casing 325 and insures that head 336 is axially centered at the end of the drill string. The pre-load surface 337 makes the transition between the bore-contacting periphery 338 of the bit head and a collar 339. The bit is mounted within the bottom end of the drive hammer casing 325 so that the end of casing 325 abuts the top of the collar 339. A portion of collar 339 remains within the casing pipe 320 at all time during a drilling operation by the working area limits on the bit shank so that the upper parts of the bit subassembly are isolated from the bore hole. Consequently, no lubricating mud or other contaminants can gain access to the inner portions of the bit subassembly from the periphery of the bit. Therefore, the entrained sample cuttings will provide a true sample of the geological structure through which the bore hole was made.
A preferred bit head 336 is provided with internal scavenging air passages 340 leading from the interior part of the bit subassembly, that is in air communication with the drive hammer subassembly, to the bottom cutting face 341 of the bit head for flushing the face of the bit head and entrained sample cuttings from the bottom of the bore hole. The bit head 336 is also provided with internal return air passages 342 leading from the cutting face 342 through the bit head 336 to open into the annulus between the hammer subassembly casing 325 drill string bottom casing pipe 320 for transfer of the entrained sample cuttings away from the drill bit head. These entrained cuttings travel upward along the exterior of the hammer subassembly casing 325, and inside of the drill string bottom section casing 320, and pass into the cross-over of the interchanger subassembly 322. From within the cross-over, the entrained sample cuttings travel axially upward through the inner pipes 288 of the drill string sections and finally through the drill head assembly 50 and out into a collecting tank where the entraining air and the sample cuttings are separated. The bit head 336 is designed so that sample cuttings must pass upward through the bit head into the annulus between the bottom section casing 320 and the exterior of the drive hammer subassembly casing 325. The sliding fit between the upper part of the collar 339 ensures that no contaminating material from the bore hole can gain access to the entraining air stream as it carries sample cuttings upward for collection.
The preferred embodiment of this system is capable of drilling to 3000 feet, has a drill head torque of 20,000 ft-lbs. and a draw works lifting power of 88,000 lbs. The drill mast turntable can be mounted on truck (FIG. 1), track frame (FIG. 2) or other types of carriers. The mast will turn 90 degrees-to-carrier on both sides and, with the mast trunnion and slide assembly, will allow positioning to all positions at side or rear of carrier. The drill mast transports laying down over the turn table. With the hydraulic mast extension and the telescoping extension on the turn table, any angle hole can be drilled without a drill pad. No drill pad is needed with this system. A three-way operator's control console may be mounted to the mast if desired. The drill head with gear reduction can be set up with two to eight high performance hydraulic motors for varied applications and with a variable speed rotation control located on the operator's console. For example, up to four additional motors could be mounted to the underside of the drill head gear box 255 to drive the pinion gears to provide added torque up to 35,000-40,000 ft-lbs. In addition, a speed increaser gear box could also be mounted to the underside of the gear box 255, there being sufficient power to drive the drill string through the speed increaser. Thus, with the present system, a drilling setup requiring only 30 rpm drilling speed could be easily converted to a setup requiring a 600 rpm drilling speed.
In the course of operation, the drilling rig of this invention would be transported to a drilling site and roughly positioned at the desired point of drilling. Through appropriate rotation of the turntable and inner/outer positioned of the mast-turntable extension, the drilling mast can be directed to the exact location required. It may be the case that the drilling mast must be angled to become properly directed and, in such a case, the mast trunnion can rotate the mast to the desired shewed position, and the mast extension can pivot the drilling mast from the FIG. 2 position to a FIG. 3-like position so that the drilling mast can thereby be positioned in like manner to that shown in FIG. 1, to a variety of compound-angled positions however conditions require. Thus, the drilling mast can be shifted in and out, pivoted from vertical, and skewed to a compound angle, all without moving the carrier. When the mast is properly located at the point of desired drilling, the mast in then shifted down into contact with the ground for the commencement of drilling.
Depending on surface conditions, the bottom of the drilling mast may be positioned to bear against a timber or other support to stabilize its locations with respect to the drilling hole's surface entry. An inner bearing plate 37 is provided at the bottom of the drill mast frame side beams 30,32 for this purpose. This would be useful when time comes for pulling the drilling string from the bore hole.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, variations in the design may be made. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be limited by the claims appended hereto.
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The drilling system of this invention is specifically adapted to reverse-circulation sample drilling employing a downhole hammer drill. The drilling head configuration provides for simultaneous feeding into a multi-walled drill string with drilling mud, compressed air to operate the hammer drill, to feed the hammer drill head and withdrawing of the return air. The system includes a triple-walled drill rod especially adapted for downhole hammer drilling that eliminates the need for a separate drive casing string.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for feeding articles. Specifically, the invention relates to a conveyor table that dispenses an article from a stack of articles.
Numerous attempts at article feeders have been attempted. U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,330 to Weickenmeier describes an apparatus for stacking blanks. The apparatus uses a counter-register to count the number of blanks passing therethrough. After a given number of blanks, the apparatus utilizes a blank deflecting means to laterally deflect a blank. The deflected blank indicates the start of the next batch of blanks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,742 to Martelli describes a device that feeds instruction sheets into a box during the formation of the box.
U.S Pat. No. 4,727,803 to Nobuta et al. describes a lifting device positioned between to conveyor belts. The lifting device raises a portion of the article off one of the conveyor belts. Raising one end of the article allows the article to be bound.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved article handling system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved article feeding apparatus in an article handling system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a conveyor table that dispenses a single article from a stack of articles.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an article feeding apparatus that dispenses articles in metered fashion.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an article feeding apparatus that dispenses one article from a stack of articles at a precise, adjustable timed interval.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an article feeding apparatus that maintains a specified distance between each article dispensed from a stack of articles.
These and other objects are achieved in one aspect of the present invention by an apparatus for feeding articles, comprising: a surface; a plurality of conveyor belts spanning the surface; a motor driving the conveyor belts for transporting the articles along the surface; a barrier bar positioned above and across the surface for preventing further transport of a stack of articles along the surface; and an actuator means controlling the function of at least one of the conveyor belts. The actuator raises at least a portion of a conveyor belt a distance above the surface and lowers the conveyor belt back to the surface. Raising the actuator causes articles to pass the barrier bar one at a time.
These and other objects are achieved in a second aspect of the present invention by a conveyor table for transporting articles, comprising: a surface; at least one queuing conveyor belt spanning at least part of the surface; at least one feeding conveyor belt spanning at least part of the surface; a motor driving the queuing conveyor belt and the feeding conveyor belt for transporting the articles along the surface; a barrier bar positioned above the surface for preventing further transport of stacked articles along the surface by the queuing conveyor belt; a first actuator connected to the feeding conveyor belt to raise a first portion of the feeding conveyor belt a distance above said surface and to lower the feeding conveyor belt; a second actuator connected to the feeding conveyor belt at a location upstream of said first actuator, to raise a second portion of the feeding conveyor belt a distance above said surface and to lower the feeding conveyor belt. Raising the first and second actuators causes the feeding conveyor belts to propel one of the articles past the barrier bar. Lowering the first and second actuators causes the queuing conveyor belts to transport the articles along said surface only to said barrier bar.
These and other objects are achieved in a third aspect of the present invention by an article handling system, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of articles; a prefeeder for receiving the articles from said hopper and for placing the articles in an overlapping relationship; an article feeder for receiving the overlapping articles from the prefeeder and dispensing one article at a time downstream; a folder/gluer for gluing the dispensed article and for folding the dispensed article to form a carton; and a case packer for receiving the carton from said folder/gluer and for placing the carton in a package. The article feeder comprises: a surface; a plurality of conveyor belts spanning the surface; a motor driving the conveyor belts for transporting the articles along the surface (queuing conveyor belt); a barrier bar positioned above the surface for preventing further transport of stacked articles along the surface; and an actuator connected to at least one of the conveyor belts (feeding conveyor belt) to raise a first portion of the conveyor belt a distance above said surface and to lower the first portion of the conveyor belt. Raising the actuator dispenses one of the stacked articles past the barrier bar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from reading the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an article handling system, one component of which is an article feeding apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of the article feeding apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor table taken along line II--II in FIG. 2 showing the eccentric cams of the actuation mechanism in a retracted position;
FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor table similar to FIG. 3a, but showing the eccentric cams of the actuation mechanism in an extended position;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor table taken along line III--III in FIG. 2 showing the eccentric cams of the actuation mechanism in a retracted position; and
FIG. 5 is a detailed elevational view of a side of the conveyor table shown in FIG. 2 displaying one alternative embodiment of a drive mechanism for the conveyor belt actuation mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 provides a schematic of an article handling system 1. Article handling system 1 can use a variety of components. Article feeding apparatus 10 of the present invention is one component of article handling system 1. In addition to article feeding apparatus 10, article handling system 1 may include upstream components 3 and downstream components 5. The specific types of components 3, 5 used in article handling system I depend upon the nature of the task to be performed on article A.
Generally speaking, article handling system 1 can perform any series of conventional tasks to an article A being carried thereon. As an example, article handling system 1 could be a carton forming machine. Article handling system 1 would transform a blank into a carton in a series of conventional steps. Upstream components 3 would include a hopper (not shown) supplying a stack of blanks to a prefeeder (not shown) that arranges the blanks in an overlapping, or shingled, relationship. U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,239 to LaChapelle, herein incorporated by reference, demonstrates a prefeeder. Downstream components 5 may include a folder/gluer (not shown) that scores portions of the blank to create a flap, applies glue to the blank, and presses the flap against the blank. The folder/gluer performs the same tasks, either in series and/or in parallel, to other portions of the blank until a carton is formed. Downstream components 5 may also include a case packer (not shown) to place the cartons into packaging (not shown) for shipping. U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,156 to Bridges et al., herein incorporated by reference, demonstrates a case packer.
However, the present invention is not limited to the specific article handing system 1 discussed above. In fact, article feeding apparatus 10 could be used in any type of article handling system 1.
FIGS. 2-5 display one alternative embodiment of article feeding apparatus 10. A conveyor table 11 preferably has a hollow interior 21 formed by side walls 13, end walls 15, bottom surface 17 and upper surface 19.
Lip seals 35 project from the upper portion of side walls 15 and, preferably, reside along the entire length of table 11. Lip seals 35 engages a portion of article A as it travels along table 11. Lip seals 35 ensure that article A remains suitably positioned on table 11. Although table 11, in the preferred embodiment, does not use a vacuum, lip seals 35 can take advantage of a residual vacuum from a vacuum source on an upstream component 3 (if required by system 1) to retain article A against upper surface 19 of table 11. Lip seal 35 is preferably a low friction material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. A fence, not shown, may be attached to sides 13 outside of the side seals.
Table 11 accommodates endless conveyor belts 23, 25. Conveyor belts 23, 25 are preferably made from a high friction material. Preferred are laminated belts having a web reinforcement and at least the surface disposed outwardly having a coating of a high tack rubber. Commercially available industrial belts such as LINOTEX™ are suitable. Each conveyor belt 23, 25 spans upper surface 19, with the remainder of each conveyor belt 23, 25 residing within interior 21. Conveyor belts 23, 25 engage a series of rollers 27, 29, 31 on table 11. Idler rollers 27 secure to table 11 in any conventional manner and are positioned within table 11 to allow conveyor belts 23, 25 unhindered movement along upper surface 19. Each conveyor belt 23, 25 may use its own separate idler roller 27 secured to table 11, or conveyor belts 23, 25 may use common idler rollers 27 that span hollow interior 21 and secure to side walls 13.
An adjustable roller 29 provides tension to conveyor belts 23, 25. Tension roller 29 may be adjustably secured to table 11 and provide tension to conveyor belts 23, 25 in any conventional manner. For example, tension roller 29 may be spring biased against conveyor belts 23, 25. Preferably, each conveyor belt 23, 25 uses its own separate tension roller 29 secured to table 11. Separate tension rollers 29 ensure that each conveyor belt 23, 25 is properly tensioned regardless of age or degree of stretching.
A drive roller 31 of a motor 33 propels conveyor belts 23, 25. Motor 33 is preferably electric. Further, article handling system 1 could include a conventional control system (not shown) that can, for example, selectively operate motor 33 at a desired speed based upon the type of article A carried on system 1, or the capacity of system 1. Each conveyor belt 23, 25 can use a separate motor, but a motor common to all conveyor belts 23, 25 is preferred, for example, to drive all conveyors 23, 25 at the same speed.
Conveyor belts 23, 25 reside within channels 37, 39, respectively, extending along the length of upper surface 19 of table 11. As seen in FIG. 2, conveyor belts 25 are preferably centrally located on upper surface 19, flanked by conveyor belts 23. The upper surfaces of conveyor belts 23, 25 are roughly flush with the upper surfaces of lip seals 35 and the remainder of upper surface 19 of table 11. Preferably, the upper surfaces of conveyor belts 23, 25 are positioned just slighter higher than the upper surfaces of lip seals 35 and the remainder of upper surface 19 of table 11. This way, conveyor belts 23, 25 can propel, or queue, articles A along table 11 while article A also rests on lip seals 35 and upper surface 19 of table 11.
Since conveyor belts 23, 25 extend only slightly higher than lip seals 35 and the remainder of upper surface 19 of table 11, the weight (or force) normal on the belts from the stacked articles is limited. The progress of a stack of articles may be stopped by an obstruction.
System 1 uses an obstruction to movement of article A in order to sequence the supply of articles A to downstream components 5. The system uses a barrier bar 43 for this task. Barrier bar 43 conventionally secures to table 11 or a frame member (not shown) located near table 11 and is adjustably positionable at a selected distance above upper surface 19 of table 11. For example, a support frame 47 extends across table 11. Support frame 47 secures to brackets 49 on side walls 13. Support frame 47 slidably adjusts within bracket 49. A rotatable knob 51 locks support frame 47 within bracket 49 at its desired height above upper surface 19 of table 11.
In order to obstruct, but not damage, article A, barrier bar 43 is preferably positioned a distance above table 11 slightly greater than the thickness of article A but less than twice the thickness (e.g. 1.5 times the thickness). Barrier bar 43 may have a curvilinear front face 45 to retain the overlapping, or shingled, articles A supplied from upstream components 3 in a slightly staggered fashion.
The article feeding apparatus of this invention must function in a stepwise manner to cause individual articles in a stack to pass barrier bar 43. This is accomplished by providing a means to increase the friction between belts 25 and the bottom article in the stack. The means selected is one which lifts belts 25 and the stacked articles resting thereon a distance sufficient to increase the normal force on the belt until the force in the direction of travel past the barrier bar exceeds the frictional force between the bottom article and the barred articles stacked above it.
A suitable means must be reliable, easily timed, and readily adjusted for different sizes of article and different throughput rates. The preferred embodiment of this invention is described as follows:
Slightly different than channels 37, channels 39 include at least recesses 41 in the table 19. The actuation mechanism partially resides within recesses 41. As seen in FIG. 4, recesses 41 accommodate a cam 53 mounted on a shaft 55. Cam 53 preferably has a very low friction surface where it contacts conveyor belt 25.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b, cam 53 is circular and is eccentrically mounted to shaft 55. Applicant recognizes the possibility of other cam arrangements such as a "teardrop" lobe. A circular cam is preferred because its design facilitates the use of needle or roller bearings between the cam and its circumferential face to reduce friction at the point of contact with the belt.
FIG. 4 shows the preferred arrangement in which shaft 55 secures to cams 53 of each conveyor belt 25. The use of a common shaft 55 ensures the same rotational rate of cam 53 for each conveyor belt 25. Applicant recognizes, however, that each cam 53 could have its own shaft 55.
Shaft 55 extends across hollow interior 21 and secures to side walls 13. Upon rotation of shaft 55, cam 53 starts a cycle that begins with conveyor belt 25 residing in channel 35. Cam 53 raises conveyor belt 25 from channel 39 to dispense the lowermost article A from the stack. Then, as cam 53 returns conveyor belt 25 into channel 39 to complete the cycle, the next article to be dispensed is staged.
Referring to FIG. 5, a preferred method for cam actuation is described. A motor 57 rotates shaft 55 using conventional techniques. For example, motor 57 uses a belt 59 driven by a pulley 61 to transmit power to shaft 55. Shaft 55 carries a pulley 63 about which is wrapped belt 59. The relative sizes of the sheave 61 on motor 57 and sheave on shaft 55 determines the transmission ratio. Motor 57 can, for example, either secure to table 11 or to a frame (not shown) positioned near table 11. Optionally, a tension pulley may be used to compensate for wear.
Preferably, motor 57 is electric and could include a conventional control system (not shown) that can, for example, selectively manage the speed of motor 57. Controlling the speed of motor 57 directly affects the rate at which article feeding apparatus 10 dispenses articles A to downstream components 5 of system 1. Applicant recognizes that motor 57 could be directly coupled to shaft 55.
If each conveyor belt 25 uses a plurality of cams 53, 53', additional cams 53' also require motive power. The additional cams 53' could be driven by their own motor (not shown). However, FIG. 5 shows the preferred embodiment in which cams 53 and additional cams 53' all receive their motive power from motor 57.
As shown in FIG. 5, motor 57 transmits power to a common shaft, in this case camshaft 55. Conventional v-belt on sheaves may be used (61,63). A take-up pulley (not shown) may be used to adjust tension. It is critical that the phases of cams 53, 53' and any additional sets be synchronized. To this end, a chain or drive belt is used around suitable sprockets or wheels. Element 67 is illustrated as a reinforced rubber drive belt. Suitable tension adjustment may be used as required.
The operation of the above embodiment of article feeding apparatus 10 will now be described. As previously discussed, article feeding apparatus 10 is one component of article handling system 1. In a typical situation, article feeding apparatus 10 receives articles A in an overlapping, or shingled, relationship from upstream components 3.
To ensure proper operation of downstream components 5, article feeding apparatus must dispense a single article A from the stack of articles A. Furthermore, article feeding apparatus must maintain a certain distance between each article A dispensed. The distance and timing between the dispensing of articles A from article feeding apparatus 10 depends on numerous factors. For instance, the size of articles A and the speed of upstream components 3 and downstream components 5 are large factors in the timing and gap between the dispensing of articles A from article feeding apparatus 10.
Conveyor belts 23, 25 transport the stacked articles A along upper surface 19 of table 11. The presence of barrier bar 43 above table 11 prevents any forward movement of articles A. The bar 43 stops movement of articles A, while front face 45 maintains the bottom-most articles in an overlapping, or shingled, relationship.
The actuation mechanism meters the dispensing of articles A to downstream components 5. Motor 57 rotates shafts 55, 55', cycling cams 53, 53' located within recesses 41 of channel 39. Cams 53, 53' elevate a portion of conveyor belts 25 (belt 25 thereby becoming a feeder belt) from channel 39, advance the bottom article under bar 43 and staging the next article as the belts return to their starting position on the table.
The invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment. Many parameters area adjustable to optimize the application of the invention. For example, all or part of table 13 may be an air-tight plenum having a plurality of perforations on surface 19 to hold the article to the surface until mechanically lifted by cams 53. The number of belts lifted by cams may be changed (i.e. all belts may be queuing and feeder belts) and the number of rows of cams (i.e., number of cam shafts) may be altered depending upon the size, weight and flexibility of the article. It has been found that the cams must lift substantially the length of the article being fed to prevent bending or whipping of light articles and to avoid concentration of forces on small areas of the surfaces of the article being fed. The cams may operate in the same phase, different phases, and may have different lifts and durations. The size and profile of the barrier bar may be optimized to the properties of the article. The cams may be replaced by alternative lifting devices and the control thereof may be hydraulic or pneumatic instead of mechanical.
In addition, Applicants understand that many other variations are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the above specification. Such variations are within the spirit and scope of the instant invention as defined by the following appended claims.
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An apparatus for feeding articles, comprising: a surface; a plurality of conveyor belts spanning the surface; a motor driving the conveyor belts for transporting the articles along the surface; a barrier bar positioned above the surface for preventing further transport of the articles along the surface; and an actuator connected to at least one of the conveyor belts. The actuator raises at least a first portion of the conveyor belt a distance above the surface and lowers the conveyor belt back to the surface. Raising the actuator propels one of the articles past the block. The article feeding apparatus can be one component of a larger article handling system.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present patent document claims priority to earlier filed GB Patent Application No. 1203154.8, filed on Feb. 23, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for separating two or more components of a plastic material for the purposes of recycling, with particular application to purifying poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) during recycling procedures.
2. Background of the Related Art
Recycling of waste products has become increasingly common in the last couple of decades, and the recycling of plastics is one of the most important and widely carried out with many industries and households around the world actively involved.
A multitude of everyday consumer items are made from plastics, such as bottles, bags and product packaging. Drinks bottles, for example, contain a number of different polymers. Separation of a post-consumer plastic waste stream into its unique constituent polymers so they can be subsequently re-used is the most difficult and expensive step of the recycling process.
For example, one such polymer which forms part of the plastics is poly(ethylene terephthalate), also known as PET. PET is the biggest volume post consumer plastic to be recycled worldwide with many plants in Europe and the USA being involved in its recycling, and with more plants being under construction or being planned in other parts of the world.
One vital aspect of PET recycling is the removal of other polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or poly(lactic acid) (PLA), from the PET feed stream. However, a problem associated with this is the fact that the e.g. PVC degrades at PET extrusion temperatures. This results in a reduction of PET's intrinsic viscosity and causes discoloration of the PET. The removal of PVC is also difficult due to the similar densities of the two polymers.
One separation technique which has been employed uses spectroscopic sorters; however, this technology only has a limited level of accuracy in separating PET and PVC.
Another technique takes advantage of the relative properties of PVC and PET at elevated temperatures. PVC softens and becomes tacky when heated to about 200° C., whereas PET remains rigid up to about 260° C. The technique involves a stainless steel belt, onto which flakes of the plastic to be separated and purified are placed. The belt is heated up to about 200° C., and the PVC becomes tacky and sticks to the belt, separating the PVC impurity from the PET, which remains rigid.
However, this technique also has significant disadvantages. To remove the PVC from the steel belt, the belt then has to be continuously scraped or dismantled and the PVC which is stuck to the steel has to be cleaned off before the belt can be used again for a subsequent separation process. This is time consuming, costly, inefficient and inconvenient.
It would therefore be desirable to devise a process and an apparatus for the separation of constituents of a plastic material for plastic recycling which obviates the disadvantages of the existing processes detailed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new technique of the invention offers a simple, efficient and robust alternative to, and improvement over, current technology, and is capable of achieving high separation efficiency.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for the separation of two or more constituents of a plastic material, the process comprising contacting a quantity of the plastic material with one or more discrete pre-heated particles.
Typically, the process of the invention is of use as part of a process for the recycling of plastic.
According to one embodiment of the invention, one of the constituents of the plastic material is poly(ethylene terephthalate), and it is typically the PET which is to be separated from the other constituent components of the plastic material.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, one or more further constituents which may be present in the plastic material are selected from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and poly(lactic acid) (PLA).
According to a further aspect of the invention, the plastic material is typically provided in the form of a flake when it is brought into contact with the pre-heated particles, although other forms of the plastic are of course envisaged within the scope of the invention and may be used in the process.
While it will be appreciated that the principle of the present invention will be applicable to the separation of any two or more materials in a plastic material, such as polymers, which have different thermal properties, for reasons of convenience the invention will be further explained with reference to the removal of contaminant components, such as PVC, from poly(ethylene terephthalate) for its purification.
The particles may be either metallic or non-metallic in nature. Exemplary, but non-limiting, materials which may be used include steel (typically stainless steel), alumina or silica (e.g. in the form of sand). Although particles of various different shapes may be employed in the process of the invention, the particles used are typically spherical particles due to their high relative surface area and also the ease with which they can be made to move into contact with the flakes and particles. The spheres may typically be from about 1 mm to about 50 mm in diameter, more typically from about 2 mm up to about 20 mm in diameter, and still more typically between about 3 mm and about 15 mm. However, the precise sizes and materials are not as important as long as the particles have a sufficient heat storage capacity.
The number of discrete particles used is dependent upon the surface area of the particles. The larger the particles, the less of them are required. For example, for a given batch size less than 50 particles may be used when steel particles having a diameter of about 12 mm are used, while when alumina particles having a diameter of about 3 mm are used, many more are typically required, such as from about 750 up to about 1500, or up to about 3000.
Another factor to be considered is the ratio of the respective volumes of the particles and flakes of material. The higher the ratio (i.e. the closer to 1:1 the ratio is), the better the results in terms of the amount of the contaminant material which is captured.
The particles are heated to a certain predetermined temperature, above which temperature the contaminant (e.g. PVC) changes its consistency and starts to melt, becoming sticky and adhering to the particles, but the temperature is kept below the temperature at which the principal component to be extracted via the separation (e.g. PET) would similarly adhere to the particles. Of course, the precise predetermined temperature can be deduced by a person skilled in the art depending upon the relative thermal properties of the components to be separated.
By way of example, in the case of the separation of PET and PVC, the particles are heated to a temperature above about 200° C., added to a flake mixture comprising PET and PVC, and tumbled in a rotating, baffled drum. The hot particles contact the PVC in the flakes and heats it to above about 200° C., causing adhesion of the PVC thereto. The PET in the flake remains rigid and does not adhere to the added particles. Separation of the PET flake from the agglomerations of the particles and PVC can then be effected based upon the difference in density of the particles in relation to the PET flakes.
The separation may also be carried out by sieving if the particles are larger than the average flakes, or alternatively by mechanical vibration on a device called a ballistic separator, or also by using a magnet if the particles are metallic in nature.
Such tests have shown that capture efficiencies of 100.0% were achieved in multiple trials, with PET losses below 1%. The critical time was less than 1 minute. The efficiency achieved was found to be dependent upon sphere heat capacity and density, sphere-flake volume ratio and initial flake temperature. The heat capacity ratio is the most important of these factors, i.e. that there is enough heat stored in the particles to melt the PVC particles they come into contact with.
The process of the invention typically also involves heating of the plastic material comprising the e.g. PET prior to contacting it with the particles as part of the process, as well as pre-heating the particles. Tests have shown that the capture efficiency of the PVC increases substantially linearly with increasing temperature of the plastic material.
Additionally, the minimum particle temperature required for adhesion of the PVC contaminant is reduced if the plastic material flakes are also heated. This is shown in Table 1, for example:
TABLE 1
Minimum Sphere Temperature
for Adhesion (° C.)
20° C.
185° C.
Sphere Type
Flake Temperature
Flake Temperature
12 mm steel spheres
210
201
3 mm alumina spheres
239
204
Alumina has a lower thermal conductivity than steel and thus will attach more slowly at lower temperatures.
The plastic material (PET and the target contaminant PVC) is typically pre-heated to at least about 100° C., more typically at least about 130° C., still more typically at least about 160° C., and most typically at least about 180° C.
Once the particles with the agglomerated PVC have been separated from the PET flakes, these particles are transferred to a furnace which provides a temperature of about 500° C. This removes the PVC from the particles as it is decomposed at such temperatures and burned off the particles. The particles are able to withstand such temperatures without any adverse effects.
The clean particles are then cooled to below about 260° C. using ambient air and can be transferred directly into another batch of plastic material to be reused in further separation processes.
The process of the invention may be carried out either as a batch process or as a continuous process.
It is envisaged that the present invention may be used by a range of companies which are involved in the processing of plastics comprising primary components (such as PET) prior to extrusion or melting, such as recycling companies that have residual PVC (or other plastics components), and sheet extrusion companies where flake is bought to be used in the mid layer or about to be processed by an extruder for food grade approval.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the process can be run off-line, allowing for flexibility and the opportunity to check the quality of the final product, or it can be run in-line as a final quality assurance step to further purify the in-feed primary components (such as PET) prior to extrusion.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for carrying out the process as described hereinabove. The apparatus may either be a separate stand-alone device or may be part of an integral machine with a drier, typically an infrared drier.
The apparatus may typically comprise a removable component, such as a tray or the like, upon which the separation process takes place. This component is intended to be able to be easily removable from the apparatus and is not permanently affixed thereto. This allows the problems associated with existing processes to be avoided. Specifically, the apparatus will not have a continuous belt, which must either be continuously scraped or dismantled in order to remove any PVC stuck to the belt before the belt can be used again for a subsequent separation process. The removable tray enables a subsequent separation process to be carried out immediately, as one tray is simply replaced by another and the process can continue.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a use of one or more discrete pre-heated particles in the separation of two or more constituents of a plastic material for plastic recycling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the following FIGURE which is intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting upon the scope of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram illustrating the overall separation process driven by the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The PVC contaminated flake is pre-heated before being contacted with the spherical particles which have themselves been pre-heated to a suitable temperature. Under exposure to this temperature the PVC becomes sticky in texture and adheres to the particles. The PET flakes are then separated from the particles with the agglomerations of PVC thereon using the difference in their relative densities. The particles with the agglomerations of PVC are then transferred into a furnace heated to about 500° C. to remove the PVC from the particles. The clean spheres are allowed to cool under ambient air from 500° C. to below about 260° C. The heated air from the cooling process is used to pre-heat a new batch of the PVC contaminated flakes before the flakes are contacted with the cooled particles to begin the process once more.
Tests have shown that substantially linear plots can be obtained for the efficiency of the particles in capturing the contaminant (on a mass basis) against the pre-heated temperature of the flakes (at 20° C., 135° C. and 185° C.). As the pre-heated temperature of the flakes is increased, the capture efficiency also increases, both for when nineteen 12.5 mm steel sphere particles or 1500 3 mm alumina sphere particles are used in the process.
The higher the initial temperature to which the particles are pre-heated, causes a higher thermal heat capacity of the particles when they are added to the flakes, which in turn increases the capture efficiency of the particles for the contaminant up to 100% for both 12.5 mm steel sphere particles and 3 mm alumina sphere particles.
Another means of analysing the capture efficiency of the contaminant for the particles is what is termed the Heat Capacity Ratio (HCR). The HCR is calculated as follows:
HCR
=
Heat
stored
in
particle
above
contaminant
adhesion
temperature
Heat
required
to
heat
flake
mix
to
contaminant
adhesion
temperature
If the particles are not pre-heated, the HCR value is typically low (i.e. less than 2), as is the capture efficiency of the particles for the contaminant. A higher HCR value is obtained by pre-heating the particles to about 135° C., which also has the effect of increasing the capture efficiency of the particles for the contaminant. Further increasing the pre-heat temperature of the particles to about 185° C. increases the HCR value still further (to about 13-14) and also results in a still higher capture efficiency of the particles for the contaminant of near 100%. These relationships apply equally for either 12.5 mm steel sphere particles or 3 mm alumina sphere particles.
A number of results showing the capture efficiency and amount of PET lost for particles having different sizes and numbers and initial temperatures are shown in Table 2.
TABLE 2
3 rd
Final
Avg. PVC
Capture
PET
No. Attached
No. Attached
3 rd
Particle
3 rd
Mix
Mass Ratio
Flake Mass
Efficiency
Loss (%
3 rd Particles
3 rd Particles
Particle
Size
Particle
Drum
Temp
PET/PVC in
Ratio (Adhered/
(Mass
of Total
per Adhered
per Adhered
Type
(mm)
No.
Insulation
(° C.)
Flake Mix
Non Adhered)
Basis)
PET)
PVC Flake
PET Flake
AS
3
3000
Y
152
23.3
1.05
61.6%
1.2%
0.5
—
AS
3
750
Y
104
24.0
1.00
60.5%
4.6%
7.9
—
SS
12
19
Y
129
20.0
0.70
85.0%
4.3%
0.3
—
AS
3
3000
Y
141
24.0
0.84
89.2%
0.4%
10.4
1.2
AS
3
1500
Y
145
24.8
—
100.0%
0.5%
8.7
1.8
AS
3
3000
Y
166
24.0
—
100.0%
0.7%
9.5
1.0
SS
12
19
Y
148
24.0
0.90
97.0%
1.9%
0.5
—
AS
3
1500
Y
130
27.0
1.12
75.7%
0.2%
3.5
1.0
AS
3
750
Y
115
26.7
1.18
80.0%
0.1%
5.2
1.0
SS
12
38
Y
102
24.7
0.64
55.6%
0.4%
0.8
—
AS
3
3000
Y
199
24.8
1.68
93.2%
0.9%
9.3
1.2
AS
3
1500
Y
184
23.8
—
100.0%
0.7%
8.7
1.1
SS
12
38
Y
176
23.3
1.13
98.3%
6.3%
0.6
—
SS
12
38
Y
142
22.5
0.86
92.7%
0.4%
0.5
—
SS
12
38
Y
200
25.0
3.90
98.8%
5.3%
0.7
—
It can be seen that a number of the examples are able to achieve a capture efficiency of 100.0% of the PVC contaminant, while many others have capture efficiency values above 90%, while at the same time minimising the loss of PET in the process to less than 1%. Such advantageous efficiency can be achieved by using either the ½ inch steel sphere particles or the ⅛ inch alumina sphere particles.
In summary, the process of the invention provides for a rapid, selective and consistent adhesion of a contaminant, such as PVC, to the particles, and is able to achieve 100.0% contaminant removal efficiency with minimal loss of PET. The process does not require the belt removal and cleaning currently carried out in existing techniques, and the particles are easy to recycle for reuse in another separation process.
It is of course to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the foregoing examples which are described by way of example only.
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The present invention relates to a process for separating two or more components of a plastic material for the purposes of recycling, with particular application to purifying poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) during recycling procedures. The process comprises contacting a quantity of the plastic material with one or more discrete pre-heated particles.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to bolted assemblies, and more particularly, to vibration damping structures associated with the bolted assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Assemblies, wherein two or more housings are secured together by bolts and subjected through a dynamic input force, such as the vibration from an engine, require that the bolts be designed, such that the natural frequency thereof is outside the operating range of the dynamic force source.
As a general rule, the designer will provide attaching structures to the housings which will permit the use of shorter bolts to thereby increase the natural frequency of each bolt. In multiple housing assemblies, it often becomes necessary to bolt one housing to another before bolting the combined housings to a final assembly. This, of course, requires more fasteners than is otherwise necessary, and it also requires providing the space to allow the bolts to be utilized. This creates some problems when the same base housing is used in different assemblies, wherein longer bolts are required to complete the assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
When a long bolt is used to secure two or more housings together, it has been found that judicious placement of a tolerance ring on the bolt shaft will control or otherwise effect the natural frequency of the bolt. The natural frequency can be changed, such that it will be outside of the normal range of frequencies generated on the housing during operation. In applications where a diesel engine is used, it will generally be adequate to cause the natural frequency to be above 4000 Hertz. One or more tolerance rings are brazed to the bolt at appropriate distances from the head end to control the natural frequency of the bolt at a value above the operating range of the system.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved threaded fastener member for a housing assembly, wherein a tolerance ring is incorporated along the length of the fastener to increase the natural frequency of the fastener.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved housing assembly in which threaded fasteners are utilized to assembly the housings, and wherein the natural frequency of the fitted fastener is controlled by the addition of material to a shank portion of the fastener.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an assembly incorporating the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional elevational view of a multi-housing assembly utilizing the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters represent the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is seen in FIG. 1 an assembly of housings 10 and 12 which are secured together by a bolt 14. The bolt 14 has a threaded end 16 threadably secured in a threaded passage 18 formed in the housing 10, and a bolt head 20 which abuts a surface 22 on the housing 12. The bolt is effective to hold the housings 10 and 12 together. The bolt 14 has an effective length L1 which is equal to the distance from surface 22 to an interface 24 where the housings 10 and 12 are in abutment. The bolt 14 has a body portion 25 disposed in a bore 27 formed in the housing 12.
If the housing assembly 10 and 12 is subjected to a dynamic load, such as that which might attend the operation of an engine, the length L1 of the bolt 14 may cause the natural frequency of the bolt to be within the operating spectrum of the dynamic load source. As is well known, the natural frequency of a bolt is a function of the square root of Young's modulus for the material of the bolt, the moment of inertia of the bolt cross section, the density per unit length, and the fourth power of the length of the bolt. Also, an empirical value is utilized depending upon the end conditions of the bolt assembly. The inertia of the bolt is a function of the diameter D of the bolt, as shown in FIG. 2.
If the natural frequency of the bolt is within the operating frequency of the system, a tolerance ring 26 can be brazed to the outer diameter D of the bolt 14 at a location L2 from the head 20 of bolt 14 in accordance with the teaching of the present invention. The natural frequency of the bolt will be increased by the addition of the tolerance ring 26 to the body 25. If this increase is sufficient to place the natural frequency outside of the operating range, only the one tolerance ring 26 will be required. It is possible within some systems that two or more tolerance rings 26 will need to be spaced along the length L1 of the bolt 14 to establish a useful natural frequency. The natural frequency of the bolt is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the bolt length, such that if L2 is equal to one-half of L1, a natural frequency will increase by a factor of four. The tolerance rings are dimensioned diametrically to fit snugly in the bore 27.
FIG. 3 depicts a transmission assembly, wherein a transmission housing 30 has secured thereto a hydraulic retarder assembly 32 comprised of a retarder base 34 and a retarder housing 36. Also secured to the transmission housing 30 is a cooler housing 38 which is utilized to provide cooling for the hydraulic retarder 32. The cooler housing 38, retarder housing 36, retarder base 34 and transmission housing 30 are secured together by a bolt 40. The bolt 40 has an overall length of, designated 42, which is effectively the length from a face 44 of the transmission housing 30, and a mounting pad 46 in the cooler housing 38.
The hydraulic retarder 32 is operated to provide a braking or retarding function for a vehicle when downhill operation is undertaken. The retarder may be used at any time to slow the vehicle, however, it has been found most useful in downhill operation to relieve the load on the vehicle service brakes.
The assembly of the hydraulic retarder 32, cooler 38 and transmission housing 30 are, of course, subjected to dynamic loads from both the engine and from the retarder. These dynamic loads operate through a frequency range with a diesel engine of approximately zero to 3000 Hertz. In some instances, the length 42 of the bolt 40 will be of a value which will place the natural frequency of the bolt well within the operating spectrum of the system.
In one particular system, the length 42 of the bolt 40 is equal to 8.1 inches and the diameter of the bolt 40 is equal to 0.389 inches. The bolt is made of steel having a modulus of elasticity or Young's modulus of 29×10 6 and a density per unit length of 8.71>10 -5 slugs. The end conditions of the bolt, that is, one end fixed in the thread and the other end secured against a flat surface, will have a end value of 3.57 which is determined empirically from well known tests. This particular bolt would have a natural frequency of 1052 Hertz. This is well within the operating spectrum of the system.
A tolerance ring 48 is secured, preferably by a brazing operation, to a body 50 of the bolt 40 at a distance 52 from a bolt head 51. In the particular system being discussed, the distance 52 is equal to 4.15 inches. With the addition of the tolerance ring 48, which causes the bolt 40 to fit snugly within a bore 54 of the housing 36, the length of the bolt 40 is effectively divided into the length 52 and the difference between the lengths 52 and 42. The length 52 being slightly longer will determine the lower natural frequency of the system. When the bolt has an effective length of 4.15 inches, the natural frequency is determined to be 4010 Hertz. This is well outside of the operating spectrum of the system and therefore improves the overall life of the bolt during vehicle operation.
In the particular system shown in FIG. 3, there are six of the bolts 40 used to secure the cooler housing 38 and retarder 32 to the transmission housing 30. Each of these bolts would have a tolerance ring 48 positioned at approximately the distance 52 or 4.1 inches from the bolt head 51.
While the system shown includes the cooler housing 38, as well as the retarder 32, this may not always be required. In other words, in some installations, a remote cooler may be used to cool the retarder 32, such that the cooler housing 38 can be eliminated. With this assembly, a shorter bolt 40 would be utilized and a separate natural frequency would have to be determined for that particular bolt. If the natural frequency of that bolt was also within the operating spectrum of the vehicle or the engine, the bolt could be effectively shortened by utilizing a tolerance ring at a predetermined location on the shorter bolt. Thus, the system, whether it is two housings or three housings or more, can utilize a simple through bolt assembly, such that standard bolt members will be utilized during assembly of the housings. The only change would be the overall length of the bolt and precision fitting will not have to be made between the bolt and any one of the housings.
The tolerance ring is brazed, as previously mentioned, to the bolt body 50 and can be positioned anywhere along the bolt body that is determined to be effective. The outer diameter of the tolerance ring is sized to fit snugly with the housing in which the bolt will be positioned. Thus, the bolt is a standard item and the tolerance ring is a substantially standard item and therefore additional or intricate machining is not required to provide the proper fitting of the bolt within the housings in an effort to reduce the natural frequency of the system.
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An assembly of housings is secured is secured together by a plurality of bolt members. The assembly is subject to a source of vibration, such as an internal combustion engine. To ensure the natural frequency of the bolt is outside the operating range of the engine, tolerance support rings are installed to reduce the effective length of the bolts and thereby increase the natural frequency.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a lighting device, and more particularly to a solid state lighting device comprising a multiple of light sources, an envelope and a heat spreader element arranged at the envelope.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Lighting devices such as light emitting diode (LED) based light bulbs, or LED lamps, are generally known. A LED lamp concept for a high intensity, high lumen output, is typically limited by its thermal properties and available space for the driver electronics. US 2012/0139403 A1 discloses a solid state lighting device comprising LEDs optically coupled to an optical guide, which optical guide encloses an inner volume, and a thermal guide. The thermal guide is integrated within the optical guide for providing thermal conduction from the LEDs and is either co-extensively proximate to an area of the optical guide or is arranged within the inner volume of the optical guide.
[0003] The system described above is generally effective in accomplishing a thermally effective lighting device. However, there is a need for a less complex, less costly lighting device with efficient thermal properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to at least provide an improved lighting device. It would be advantageous to achieve a lighting device suitable for a retrofit LED lamp at low cost, which has a low thermal resistance, R th , on system level. It would also be desirable to enable a lighting device which has a high available volume for the driver electronics, and to provide a good optical performance with the possibility of an omni-directional light distribution. These objects are achieved by a lighting device according to the present invention as defined in the appended independent claim. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims and in the following description and drawings.
[0005] Thus, in accordance with the present inventive concept, there is provided a lighting device comprising a light source, an envelope comprising an outer surface arranged for distributing light from the multiple of light sources, and an inner surface being configured for surrounding an internal volume. The inner surface is at least partly covered by a sheet metal element, i.e. a heat spreader element arranged at the inner surface. The sheet metal element is separated a predetermined distance from said inner surface, thereby providing a clearance between the inner surface and the sheet metal element, which is advantageous for preventing optical coupling between the sheet metal element and the envelope.
[0006] This provides a low cost lighting device which utilizes the inner surface of the envelope to provide a large cooling area. The inner volume of the envelope may then be utilized for positioning of driver electronics of the lighting device. Since the light output from the lighting device is generated at the outer surface of the envelope, advantageously no shadows from the driver electronics or the heat spreader element will be present in the generated light. Sheet metals are generally cheap and flexible, and are further associated with easy shaping and forming technologies, which is advantageous.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the lighting device, a portion of the sheet metal element is arranged in direct contact with the inner surface or be thermally connected with the inner surface for instance by means of some thermal coupling agent. Further, at least a portion of the sheet metal element is separated a predetermined distance from the inner surface. Preferably, the predetermined distance is selected between 10 μm and 200 μm, and is typically selected to about 100 μm, to ensure good thermal properties of the lighting device. In an exemplifying embodiment, spacer elements are arranged between the sheet metal element and the inner surface for providing the predetermined distance.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the lighting device each of the multiple of light sources is thermally coupled to the sheet metal element to increase the heat transfer from the light sources to the sheet metal element. For LED's with a thermal pad: soldering or applying advanced glue is applicable for thermally coupling the LED's to the sheet metal element. For LED's mounted on a flexible sheet metal element (flex foil) a properly designed flex foil and an adhesive layer, e.g. a LED strip in the Equinox, is applicable for providing a good thermal coupling between the LEDs and the sheet metal element.
[0009] The outer surface of the envelope is according to an embodiment of the lighting device arranged with light extraction elements in order to enhance the light output and/or to control the intensity profile or light ray extraction from the outer surface of the envelope.
[0010] According to embodiments of the lighting device, the multiple light sources are distributed over a preselected area of the envelope, for instance at the inner surface of, or alternatively on the outer surface of, the envelope. Clusters of light sources may be arranged at selected surface areas. Thereby, the light distribution from the envelope may for instance be evenly spread all over the respective surface, i.e. the light sources are evenly distributed over the entire envelope, or the light distribution is concentrated to specific areas of the envelope. Providing clusters of LEDs (or LEDs) distributed over the surface of the envelope, and thereby the surface of the sheet metal element, is advantageous to provide an improved thermal spreading by means of the sheet metal element. As a consequence, the material of the sheet metal element can be selected to be thinner or less thermally conducting, which opens the possibility to use materials like thin steel sheets.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the lighting device, the envelope comprises a light guide which is optically coupled to the multiple of light sources for receiving and distributing light from the light sources. The light is distributed through the light guide by means of internal reflection. In this embodiment, to realize good internal reflection in the light guide, the sheet metal element is preferably separated a predetermined distance from the light guide as previously mentioned. In an embodiment of the lighting device, the light guide is provided with a light input edge at an end surface at its proximal end, and at which the multiple light sources are arranged. The light guide may be arranged as a hollow solid light guide, or be flexible. When being flexible, the light guide is preferably arranged utilizing an outer protective transparent encapsulation layer of the envelope as a support structure.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the lighting device, driver electronics of the multiple of light sources is arranged within the internal volume. Thereby, a considerably larger volume is utilized for driver electronics than in known retrofit LED lamps solution, where the driver electronics is typically arranged within the light bulb base. Also, with the arrangement of the present invention, the required volume for driver electronics is not interfering with the surface for light output coupling and light source cooling of the lighting device. When the lighting device is utilized to provide a retrofit lamp, it typically comprises a base coupled to the envelope, which may be an Edison screw base or any other applicable base.
[0013] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the appended drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 a is a schematic partly cut open cross sectional side view of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 1 b and 1 c are schematic perspective side views of heat spreaders of two embodiments of the lighting device according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 a is a schematic perspective exploded side view illustration of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 b 2 d show close up cross sectional views of a wall of envelopes of embodiments of the lighting device according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 a is a schematic perspective side view of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 b is a schematic illustration of a part of an envelope of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, same embodiment of a lighting device as partly illustrated in FIG. 3 a, and FIG. 3 c shows a schematic cross sectional view of the envelope of the lighting device of FIG. 3 a;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the thermal resistance of LED area to ambient; and
[0019] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate thermal simulations of the temperature distribution over the lighting device for embodiments of the lighting device according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The below embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0021] FIG. 1 a is a schematic partly cut open cross sectional side view of an embodiment of a lighting device 10 , here a retro fit light bulb, comprising an envelope 15 which encloses/or surrounds an internal volume 16 . The envelope 15 is engaged with a base 18 , which here is implemented with an Edison base for use with a conventional light bulb socket. The base 18 is configured to connect a power supply to driving circuitry 17 arranged to drive the light source 19 of the lighting device 10 . The envelope 15 comprises a transparent encapsulation layer 11 , e.g. from glass, and a light guide 12 , here a solid hollow cylinder shaped body with a nominally constant radius along its length. The light guide is arranged on the inner side of the transparent encapsulation layer 11 , and covers a large part it. A heat spreader, here a 200 μm thick sheet metal element 13 made of Copper is closely situated against the inner surface of the light guide 12 in order to realize a good thermal contact. A perspective view of the sheet metal element 13 is shown in FIG. 1 b. The sheet metal element 13 is substantially shaped as a cylinder which is closed on its lateral end 18 , and which is provided with a multiple of tongues 14 . This exemplifying sheet metal element is advantageous in that it provides a simple realization of a shaped body. Because of the spring function of the multiple of tongues 14 it provides a simple way to deal with dimensional tolerances etc. within the envelope, and is provides easy mounting of the sheet metal element into the envelope.
[0022] A sheet metal element 23 is in an alternative embodiment of the lighting device, and as illustrated in FIG. 1 c, substantially shaped as a cylinder which is closed on its lateral side 18 , and which is provided with a sidewall 24 without the multiple of tongues 14 , as illustrated for the sheet metal element 13 in FIG. 1 b.
[0023] Referring again to FIG. 1 a, in this embodiment the light source 19 comprises multiple light sources that are arranged at a light input edge 12 c of the light guide 12 at its proximal end. Optionally, the solid-state light sources 19 are positioned in respective openings defined in the light guide, e.g. slots arranged in the proximal end thereof. The multiple light sources 19 are preferably LEDs. The multiple of light sources are arranged such that light from the light sources 19 enters the light input edge 12 c at the proximal end of the light guide 12 and travels in the light guide by means of total internal reflection. The light sources 19 are preferably arranged in a ring, as is shown in the lighting device 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2 a, or another suitable pattern depending on the shape of the light input edge of the light guide to which the light sources are optically coupled.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the lighting device according to the present inventive concept, the outer surface of the light guide, compare surface 12 a in FIG. 1 a, is provided with light extracting elements (not shown) to enhance and control the intensity profile, i.e. the variation of intensity of the light output from the light guide. The light extracting elements are preferably arranged in defined areas of the outer surface of the light guide. The light extracting elements are configured to extract light from the light guide with a predetermined light ray angle distribution and/or intensity profile. Light ray angle distribution refers to the variation of intensity with ray angle (typically a solid angle) of light emitted from a light emitter such as the light guide. In some embodiments, the light extracting elements at a given defined area are provided by means of protrusions or indentations, or a mixture thereof, arranged on/in the outer surface.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2 a, the lighting device 20 comprises an envelope 35 enclosing an internal volume in which the driver electronics of the light sources 19 is arranged. FIG. 2 b is a close up cross sectional view showing the envelope 25 in more detail. The envelope 35 comprises a light guide 21 to which light sources 19 are optically coupled. A sheet metal element 23 is arranged at the inner side of the light guide 21 and is arranged at a predetermined distance d 24 of 100 μm with respect to the light guide 21 .
[0026] In an alternative embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 c, the envelope 35 has a similar arrangement as described with reference to FIG. 2 b. However, here light sources 19 are distributed with respect to the surface of the sheet metal element 33 /inner surface of the light guide 21 . Each light source 19 is thermally coupled to the sheet metal element 19 . In this example, the thermal coupling is provided by direct contact, or by means of a thermal coupling agent, such as thermally conductive adhesive, thermal grease, thermal contact pads, etc. applied between light sources 19 and the sheet metal element 33 . Alternatively, thermal coupling is provided by means of some heat conducting element, like a heat pipe, to convey heat produced by the solid-state light source to the sheet metal element. The light sources 19 may be inserted in cavities 25 arranged in the inner surface of the light guide 21 as illustrated in FIG. 2 c, or alternatively the light sources may be inserted in holes extending through the light guide between the major inner and outer surfaces thereof, compare for instance with the lighting device 30 in FIG. 3 where the light sources extend through an envelope comprising a plastic enclosure via a through hole and lens arrangement. In an alternative embodiment the sheet metal element is highly reflective and directly engaged with the light guide.
[0027] Reference is now made to FIG. 2 d, which is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention. In the shown embodiment, the configuration of the envelope 35 has a similar arrangement as in the embodiments described with reference to FIG. 2 b and FIG. 2 c. However, here a sheet metal element 43 with integrated spacer elements 44 is utilized. The spacer elements 44 are used to form a clearance, i.e. a predetermined distance d, or a gap, between the sheet metal element 43 and the light guide 21 . Advantageously, the clearance prevents optical coupling between the light guide 21 and the metal sheet element 43 . The integrated spacer elements 44 further provide a good thermal coupling between the sheet metal element 43 and the light guide 21 . The spacer elements 44 are here realized by small protrusions in the sheet metal element, and which are distributed over the surface thereof. In the illustrated example each protrusion is shaped having a pointed tip to provide a small contact area between the spacer element 44 and the light guide 21 which is preferred.
[0028] FIG. 3 a schematically illustrates a lighting device 30 according to the invention, where the envelope comprises a plastic enclosure 55 , having a triangular cross section in the horizontal plane, and which encloses an inner volume. At an inner side of the plastic enclosure 55 , a folded printed cardboard (PCB) is arranged. The unfolded printed PCB is illustrated in a schematic top view in FIG. 3 b. Two fold lines are indicated with dotted lines along which fold lines the PCB is folded before mounting into the plastic enclosure 55 . A sheet metal element 53 is arranged on the PCB. Further, clusters of light sources, LEDs 19 , are mounted onto the PCB. During manufacturing the LEDs 19 are mounted onto the foldable PCB (with required electrical insulation) and connected via electrical wires 54 to driver electronics which when mounted is situated in the inner space/volume which is formed as the foldable PCB is folded to a triangular shape (driver electronics is not visible in the figures). The folded PCB is then mounted into the envelope, which comprises the plastic enclosure 55 . In an alternative embodiment, the plastic enclosure 55 comprises sub portions which are assembled onto the foldable PCB. At positions of the plastic enclosure 55 which correspond to the positions of the LEDs 19 on the folded PCB, through holes and lenses 39 are arranged, such that the LEDs can extend through the through holes (not visible) in the plastic enclosure, and reach lenses 39 arranged to cover the holes on the outer surface of the plastic enclosure 55 . As is illustrated in the close up cross sectional view in FIG. 3 c, the sheet metal element 53 is arranged to directly engage with the plastic enclosure 55 , such that an envelope 56 arranged for distributing light from said multiple of light sources, e.g. LEDs in the lenses 39 is formed. The inner surface of the envelope 56 is at least partly covered by a sheet metal element 53 , as the PCB and the plastic enclosure are assembled.
[0029] According to embodiments of the lighting device, since the thermal performance of the lighting device is determined by a parameter governed by thermal conductivity times thickness, Kd, of the sheet metal, the thickness of the sheet metal element is selected with respect to the specific sheet metal material, see a graph of a simulation illustrating the thermal resistance R th from LED area (area where light sources are arranged) to ambient as a function of the value Kd of the heat spreader element, in FIG. 4 . For an A60 standardized bulb shape with the light sources (LEDs) arranged in the neck region of the bulb a value of 0.1 W/K or higher is close to a minimum thermal resistance. For a lighting device according to the present inventive concept, a value of 0.1 W/K is achievable with 250 μm copper, 500 μm aluminum or 2 mm steel.
[0030] With reference now to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , thermal simulations of an A60 standardized glass bulb with a similar basic construction as the exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept as shown in FIG. 1 a are presented. The heat spreader element 13 is an aluminum sheet metal. In the simulations, the thickness of the glass bulb, corresponding to the encapsulation layer 11 in FIG. 1 a, is 0.5 mm, the light guide 12 thickness is 2 mm, and the heat spreader element thickness is 0.2 mm. The temperature distribution of the lighting device according to two extreme situations at free burning, base up, and ambient temperature 25° C. are simulated:
[0031] in the first extreme situation, a heat load of 8 W is fully distributed over the bulb inner surface, shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, and
[0032] in the second extreme situation, a heat load of 8 W is applied at the ring area of the neck of the glass bulb, shown in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b. Here the sheet metal element KD is 0.04 W/K.
[0033] As can be seen in FIG. 5 a, which illustrates the temperature distribution of the glass bulb outer surface, for a uniform distribution of the heat load over the inner wall of the glass bulb, the glass bulb surface reaches a maximum temperature of 76° C. at a top portion thereof, and a minimum temperature of 68° C. at the glass bulb surface at the neck of the glass bulb. The temperature distribution on the inner surface of the glass bulb, i.e. at the sheet metal element, is illustrated in FIG. 5 b, and reaches a maximum temperature of 79° C. at a top portion thereof, and a minimum temperature of 71° C. at the glass bulb inner surface at the neck of the glass bulb.
[0034] To continue with reference to FIG. 6 a, which illustrates the temperature distribution of the glass bulb outer surface, for a distribution of the heat load at the neck of the glass bulb, the glass bulb surface reaches a maximum temperature of 116° C. at the glass bulb surface at the neck of the glass bulb, and a minimum temperature of 59° C. at a top portion thereof The temperature distribution on the sheet metal element surface of the glass bulb, is illustrated in FIG. 6 b, and reaches a maximum temperature of 131° C. at the glass bulb inner surface at the neck of the glass bulb, and a minimum temperature of 64° C. at a top portion thereof. In this simulation, the sheet metal is present, but the heat load is not distributed and the heat load is thus concentrated on a small ring in the neck region. This is a worst case situation, while the best case situation is the fully distributed heat load (corresponding to distributed light sources) as shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b.
[0035] Examples of solid state light sources applicable for lighting devices according to the invention include light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes, and organic LEDs (OLEDs).
[0036] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
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There is provided a lighting device ( 10 ) which is suitable for a retrofit LED lamp, and which comprises an envelope ( 15 ) surrounding an inner volume ( 16 ), of which envelope an outer surface ( 12 a ) is arranged for distributing light from a multiple of light sources ( 19 ) of the lighting device. An inner surface ( 12 b ) of the envelope is utilized for providing a low thermal resistance of the lighting device on a system level by being at least partly covered by a sheet metal element ( 13 ). Driver electronics ( 17 ) of the light sources are arranged within the inner volume.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 194,771 filed Oct. 7, 1980, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to standing poles and particularly to the repair or modification of the structural characteristics of wood and metal poles. Specifically, the present invention relates to the reinforcement of standing poles which have deteriorated or otherwise weakened or damaged portions and, as a result, are structurally unsound. The invention also relates to the modification of existing poles to give them "break-away" characteristics. Accordingly, the general objects of the present invention are to provide novel and improved methods of such character and to repaired or modified poles or other structural members resulting from the practice of said method.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
It is well-known that standing poles, constructed from either wood or metal, will deteriorate with time. This is of critical importance with respect to telephone poles, electrical distribution and transmission poles and steel towers. Wooden standing poles are particularly susceptible to damage caused by weather, insects, birds, rodents and other animals and rot. Steel and other metal poles and towers are particularly susceptible to damage caused by oxidation. Standing poles which have suffered considerable deterioration are structurally unsound and present a safety hazard.
In the past the unsound standing pole was often removed and a new pole was erected in its place. However, before the deteriorated standing pole could be removed the telephone transmission or electrical transmission hardware had to be disconnected and supported in some manner. This required a great deal of time and money in many cases.
Various methods of reinforcing deteriorated standing poles are known in the prior art. One prior repair method involves the positioning of reinforcing trusses around the base of the standing pole. The reinforcing trusses are bound together, and thus affixed to the pole, by metal bands. This method presents numerous disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is that the method does not prevent further deterioration from wood rot, insect damage, rust and the like. Another disadvantage is that a pile driver must be used to drive the trusses into the ground around the standing pole. The need to employ a pile driver prevents the use of this method to reinforce standing poles that are embedded within concrete or are in close proximity to other stationary objects. Rough and remote terrain, typical to cross-country transmission lines, also make this method difficult and expensive to employ. Finally, the resulting structure has a unsightly appearance which may be unwanted in certain residential or recreational areas. The use of trusses on poles which are within close proximity to highway right-of-ways may also result in increased damage in the case of a vehicle impact.
Another prior art pole repair/reinforcing method involves sectioning the standing pole just above the deteriorated area. The bottom portion of the standing pole is removed and replaced with a concrete structure. The top section of the standing pole is then permanently attached to the concrete lower pole structure. This method also presents numerous disadvantages such as, for example, the great difficulty and cost of suspending the top portion of the standing pole while the concrete section is put in place. Another disadvantage is that incident to the enhanced rigidity of repaired pole.
Another prior art method for repairing metal standing poles and towers involves removing the rust and then welding new metal to the structure. This method is expensive and time consuming due to the need for welding and cutting machinery. Also, this method fails to prevent further deterioration, and in some circumstances promotes it.
It is to be noted that there is a trend in highway safety engineering to require poles in proximity to the right-of-way to break-away upon automobile impact. While steel poles having break-away characteristics can be used in new installations, such poles are comparatively expensive. Further, it would be exceedingly expensive to replace existing wood poles with new metal break-away poles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above-discussed disadvantages and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a novel technique for the repair or modification of wood and metal standing poles. The invention also encompasses the resulting poles and apparatus for use in the practice of the novel technique.
A reinforcement method for wood and metal standing poles in accordance with the present invention involves forming a jacket around the deteriorated area of the standing pole and pouring an inert filler material between the jacket and pole to thereby define a reinforcement medium. The first step in constructing a reinforcement medium in accordance with the present invention comprises inspecting the standing pole to determine the extent of the deterioration. In the case of wood standing poles all wood rot and other areas of deterioration are scraped from the standing pole. If the deterioration is below ground level, a hole is dug around the base of the standing pole to fully expose the deteriorated area. After the pole has been cleaned of wood rot and like material, spacially displaced vertically oriented spacer members are attached to the pole. A jacket, spaced outwardly from the pole and in contact with the spacer members, is then formed from a flexible structural material which is inert and capable of withstanding weathering and other causes of standing pole deterioration.
After the jacket is secured in position an inert filler material is poured between the jacket and the standing pole. Preferably this is accomplished by inserting a funnel into the top of the jacket. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a novel reusable funnel is formed by wrapping a partial-annulus-shaped sheet around the pole and securing it into position. This sheet may be formed from any material capable of functioning as a funnel. After the inert filler material is poured the funnel is removed.
Deterioration of metal standing poles is primarily caused by rust. This rust must be removed prior to the construction of the reinforcement medium. After the rust has been fully removed, vertically oriented spacer members are positioned around the standing pole and the remaining steps of the method of construction are the same as with wood standing poles.
In another embodiment of the present invention, for use with wood standing poles, the pole is sectioned just above the deteriorated area. The deteriorated area is then removed and replaced with a new section comprised of wood or other material. The two sections of standing pole are then joined by constructing a reinforcement medium about the joint of the two sections.
In accordance with a further embodiment the present invention may be employed to convert existing wood poles into break-away poles. This is accomplished by sectioning the pole and employing a pair of reinforcing mediums to respectively reinforce the upper and lower pole sections. The reinforced sections are rejoined through the use of novel hardware which enables the pole to withstand normal wind and ice loads but to separate upon a horizontally directed impact of magnitude commensurate with a vehicle impact.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, the facing ends of a pair of pole sections are provided with an irregular, complementary configuration. Accordingly, when in the correct abutting position, the pole will be self-supporting and the reinforcing procedure of the present invention may be practiced without the necessity of continuing to support the upper pole section, and perhaps its load of cables and hardware, while the filler material is poured and cures.
Accordingly, the present invention has, as some of its numerous objectives, the enhancement of the strength of deteriorated standing poles, protecting standing poles from further deterioration and/or changing the structural characteristics of standing poles. The present invention accomplishes the above and other objects while providing an acceptable appearance. Also, employment of the present invention enables a pole to be repaired without the necessity of temporarily disrupting or diverting service thereby enabling a utility to continuously serve its customers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparant to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several FIGURES in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standing pole repaired in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cut-away view which depicts the installation of the reinforcement medium of FIG. 1 around a wood standing pole in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 taken along line 3--3;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the partial-annulus-shaped sheet used to form the funnel shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the funnel support brackets shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 6 is a partially cut-away view of another embodiment of the present invention which depicts two standing pole sections joined together by a reinforcement medium in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet material used to define the sleeve which forms the exterior of the reinforcement medium of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a side-elevation view of a break-away pole produced in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial side-elevation view, partially in section, of the pole of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a novel reinforcement medium in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 10. In this embodiment reinforcement medium 10 was constructed around a wood utility pole which had a deteriorated region beneath ground level. Reinforcement medium 10 imparts additional strength to the standing pole and prevents further deterioration thereby extending the life of the pole. While FIG. 1 illustrates the use of reinforcement medium 10 in conjunction with a wooden utility pole it is emphasized that the present invention may be used with any type of standing pole constructed of either wood or metal.
The method of construction of one embodiment of the present invention may be seen by reference to FIG. 2. Standing pole 12 is first examined to determine the extent of deterioration. As illustrated in FIG. 2, if the deteriorated area extends below ground level, a hole 14 is dug around the base of pole 12 to fully expose the deteriorated area. The exterior surface of pole 12 should be scraped clean of any deterioration. In wood poles this would include dirt, wood rot and the like. When working with metal standing poles this would include the scraping of rust. Furthermore, wooden standing poles may have interior damage caused by wood rot or insects. If after examination of pole 12 it is determined that interior deterioration exists, a plurality of horizontal holes 16 are drilled into the area of damage. After pole 12 has been fully cleaned and any necessary holes 16 drilled, vertical spacer rods 18 are secured to pole 12 such as, for example, by stapling. When working with wooden standing poles, rods 18 are preferably comprised of steel. When working with metal standing poles, rods 18 are preferably comprised of wood. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, rods 18 are substantially evenly spaced around pole 12. Rods 18 may have a diameter of one-quarter inch for standing poles having a diameter of thirteen inches or less and may have a greater thickness for standing poles of larger diameter. When working with wooden standing poles the preferred configuration of rod 18 is a vertical member with a plurality of short horizontally extending stubs 20 attached thereto. The attaching staples are indicated at 22. The rods 18, stubs 20 and staples 22 space a jacket 24 from the pole to create an annular void of the proper width. The stubs 20 are located behind rods 18 to space rods 18 from the pole to thereby permit the rods to be totally encapsulated in a resinous filler material whereby the hardened filler will be reinforced.
After rods 18 have been attached to pole 12, a jacket 24 is formed from a sheet of flexible structural material. As may be seen from FIG. 7, the sheet material from which jacket 24 is formed has a tongue and groove arrangement, the grooved first edge being indicated at 25. The sheet will be wrapped around the pole and spacer rods, cinched tight using any suitable technique, scribed, removed, cut to size and reinstalled with the single layer edge (the tongue) engaged in the groove 25 defined by the other, double layer edge. The sheet of FIG. 7 may thus be utilized regardless of pole diameter. After being refitted, the sheet which defines jacket 24 is typically secured to itself by means of a plurality of self tapping screws 26 which are passed through the tongue and groove portion. Jacket 24 may be comprised of fiberglass, polyvinyl chloride, epoxies, polyesters or other materials which will resist weathering and other conditions which cause deterioration of standing poles. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention jacket 24 is formed from a sheet comprised of successive layers of any epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth. Jacket 24 should at least cover spacer rods 18 and preferably will extend beyond both ends of the rods whereby exposure of the rods to the elements will be avoided.
After jacket 24 is in position an inert filler material, not shown, is poured between jacket 24 and pole 12. Before pouring the inert filler material, at least one strap 28 may be positioned around jacket 24 to provide additional support. The inert filler material will typically be comprised of an epoxy resin. It is to be understood that this inert filler material must be compatible with and give an excellent bond to the jacket and to the standing pole with which it is used. This is especially important with wooden poles which are impregnated or covered with resin, creosote, tars and other preservatives. The inert encapsulating or filler material must be able to flow and fill the spaces between rods 18.
In accordance with one embodiment, the encapsulating material is a two-component, 100% solids, i.e., no solvents, moisture insensitive epoxy system, which will not shrink, to which a quartzite agregate filler is added. The first or "A" component of the system is a formulation of bisphenol-A resin while the "B" component is a formulation of polyamine hardeners. The quartzite agregate filler is oven-dried silica having a particle shape and size compatable with the epoxy system. In a typical case the ratio of finished resin to quartzite filler is one (1) part to three (3) parts although the ratio may vary from 1:0 to 1:4.
To aid the pouring of the filler material between pole 12 and jacket 24, a funnel 30 is formed around pole 12. Funnel 30, having a shape of an inverted-frustum of a cone, is formed by wrapping sheet 32 around pole 12. Sheet 32 has a flat shape as illustrated in FIG. 4. Sheet 32 may be comprised of any flexible material such as cardboard, plastic, metal, fiberglass, or any like material. Funnel 30 has its smaller end inserted into the top of jacket 24. Sheet 32 may be formed into a funnel which will fit any size pole and typically will be comprised of a reusable material.
Funnel 30 is typically held in position by at least two brackets 34. Brackets 34 have an angularly oriented arm as illustrated in FIG. 5, and may be comprised of metal, plastic, or any material which will have the requisite structural strength. Brackets 34 have their lower end 34', inserted between pole 12 and jacket 24. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention brackets 34 are first placed in position and then sheet 32 is wrapped through the brackets such that the angularly oriented arms define the shape of funnel 30 as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. The smaller end of funnel 30 may be taped to the top end of jacket 24. The bottom end of jacket 24 is, in the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, plugged with a compressible foam strip to prevent leakage of the inert filler material.
To insure that the inert filler material completely fills the area scraped clean and holes 16, a vibrator, not shown, may be used. This vibrator is placed above funnel 30 and vibrates pole 12 during pouring of the inert filler material. While the vibrator is especially advantageous when holes 16 have been drilled through the pole, excellent results may be obtained without use of a vibrator. The resin employed as the encapsulating material in the practice of the present invention, either by its own nature and/or because of vibration, will also fill any "weather checks", i.e., vertical cracks, resulting from expansion and contraction, in the pole and thereby enchance the structural integrity of the pole.
After the inert filler material is poured, brackets 34, funnel 30 and straps 28 are removed. The outer surface of jacket 24 is then cleaned, if necessary, and any hole 14 is backfilled.
Referring now to FIG. 6, another utilization of the present invention is depicted. In FIG. 6 a wooden standing pole 36 was sectioned above a deteriorated area. The lower pole section has been removed and replaced with a new butt section 40. Old wooden pole section 38 and new pole section 40 are joined together by a reinforcement medium 10 formed in the manner described above. Repair of the pole 36 may be facilitated by forming complementary irregular surfaces, for example a step pattern, in the abutting faces of the pole sections which are to be joined. The interlocking engagement provided by the thus formed abutting faces renders the pole partially self-supporting. An adhesive may be applied to the abutting surfaces. Once the spacer members have been affixed to the pole sections, and/or the sections joined by steel strapping, the machinery which has been used to support the upper pole section and its load of cables may be removed. This frees the equipment for use on another project, i.e., the crane or other machinery does not have to remain in position until the filler has been poured and has cured.
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the present invention may be employed in the fabrication of break-away poles or in the conversion of existing wooden poles to break-away type poles. The foregoing is accomplished by forming reinforced pole sections, in the manner described above, both above and below a cut line at which the pole is severed. The jacketed upper and lower sections, particularly the cured resin encapsulating material, will reinforce the wood so that it can support break-away brackets. These brackets, of which there may be three (3) or four (4) per pole, are indicated generally at 40 in FIGS. 8 and 9. In the disclosed embodiment the brackets are generally L-shaped with a pair of side flanges. The base of each L-shaped bracket is provided with a through hole located intermediate the ends thereof and a U-shaped notch is provided at the outwardly disposed end of the base. The leg of each L-shaped bracket is provided with a pair of through-holes.
In forming a break-away pole in accordance with the present invention, the vertically oriented spacer members are first attached to the two pole sections. Next, the jackets are fitted and cut to size in the manner described above. The jackets are then reinstalled. The L-shaped brackets are then properly located, the holes through the legs marked and holes are drilled through the pole. Bolts, for example the bolts indicated at 42, are then passed through the L-shaped brackets 40 and the pole and are tightened to hold the brackets to the exterior of the jacket. If not already done, the lower end of the jacket on the lower pole section is plugged, in the manner described above, and the filler is poured into the lower jacket. When the resin has cured, a plate 44 is placed over the upper end of the lower pole section and in abutting relationship with the base portions of the brackets 40. A second plate 46, which will typically have the same shape as plate 44, is placed on plate 44. The plates 44 and 46 will provided, in their periphery, with U-shaped notches which are complementary to the notches in brackets 40. Additionally, the plates will be provided with through-holes which are in registration with the holes in the base portions of the brackets 40.
With both plates installed, the upper pole section is moved into position and the plates and brackets are bolted together by means of bolts 48. The bolts 48 are comprised of mild steel so that they may fracture in response to the application of sufficient stress. The next step in the fabrication process comprises the pouring of the resinous filler material into the jacket on the upper pole section. The break-away pole is completed by the installation of torsion bolts 50 in the U-shaped notches about the periphery of the plates and brackets using a torque wrench or similar tool.
As should now be obvious to those skilled in the art, the present invention provides a reliable and economic manner of restoring strength to a deteriorated utility pole and/or for preventing deterioration of such poles. Among the unique aspects of the present invention are the use of an outer form or jacket which may be fabricated on site and which, preferrably by virtue of a tongue and groove interlocking arrangement, may be adapted to any size pole. Restated, the jacket fabrication technique of the present invention allows the size of the void, which will be filled with a resinous material, to be kept constant regardless of the size of the pole within a given class of poles. Thus, the user may mix generally the same quantity of comparatively expensive resin each time the invention is practiced, the mixing of the resin taking into account the amount of pole rot which has been removed. Similarly, the present invention employs a pouring technique for the filler material which utilizes a reusable funnel and brackets. The funnel is preferrably fabricated from a pre-cut polyethelyene member and one size of these pre-cut members will fit all applications. The filler material, particularly the use of a resin having 100% solids, insures that there will be no voids inside the jacket and the employment of spacer members, which are attached to the pole itself and overlap portions of the pole which have not suffered deterioration, insures that the resulting pole structure will be of adequate strength.
While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it must be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
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The structural characteristics of standing poles are enhanced or preserved, or changed to provide break-away characteristics, by a technique which includes forming one or more sheets about the pole. The sheets are defined by an outer jacket, a plurality of spacer members positioned within the jacket and a solidified encapsulating material which fills the jacket.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This divisional patent application claims priority to U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/336,660 filed on Jul. 21, 2014.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to turn signals in vehicles, including but not limited to automotive vehicles.
BACKGROUND
Turn signal systems have been in vehicles for decades. Certain varieties of conventional turn signal systems and cancelling structures and methods for same are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,914,566; 5,260,685; 5,575,177; 5,773,776; 6,237,437 and 6,660,951, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Many conventional turn signal systems use cancellation pawls, which click and cause noises that some operators may find to be objectionable. For example, there may be an audible tick of a cancel pawl bypass when a steering wheel is rotated in the direction indicated by the turn signal stalk (sometimes referred to as a lever). There may be a mechanical sounding click when the turn signal AUTO CANCELs, after for example, a turn has been completed. There may also be mechanical audible feedback during a mechanical override when a driver (sometimes referred to as an operator) causes a steering wheel to turn in the direction not indicated by the turn signal stalk. It may be desirable to eliminate some or all of such audibly detectable noises in the cabin of a vehicle.
Additionally, conventional turn signal systems may not be adapted to be responsive to the environment. For example, if an object (such as a target vehicle) is in a blind spot of the vehicle, conventional turn signal systems may nevertheless permit a driver to indicate a turn in a direction that would likely cause a collision with the object. It may be desirable to implement systems where such an object would be sensed, and an electronically controlled device could be used to damp or prevent movement of a turn signal stalk. In other words, it may be desirable to provide tactile feedback to a driver attempting to turn into a hazard to provide a warning that such a turn may be ill-advised.
Features and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an flow chart of a series of exemplary methods, any one or more of which may be used in connection with turn signal systems;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary turn signal system; and
FIG. 3 is a broken away side view of an exemplary turn signal system.
FIG. 4 is a schematic of a crash avoidance system in communication with an exemplary turn signal system in a host vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the following description and drawings, exemplary approaches to the disclosed systems are detailed. Although the drawings represent some possible approaches, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated, removed, or partially sectioned to better illustrate and explain the disclosed devices. Further, the description below is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it to limit the claims to the precise forms and configurations described and/or shown in the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1 , exemplary methods are shown in combination for use in connection with a turn signal system. Initially, in box 30 , a controller is configured to monitor whether a turn signal has been actuated. One way of doing this is to use equipment such as one or more sensors to communicate to a controller whether the lever or turn signal stalk has changed position. Box 31 assumes movement has been sensed—that a driver has actuated the turn signal stalk and that a directly or indirectly resultant signal was sent to a controller to so indicate.
Many vehicles, including automotive vehicles, are equipped with various sensing systems and related controllers to determine whether a potential object is in a blind spot. Such systems are sometimes referred to as crash avoidance systems. Other terminology may be used to describe crash avoidance systems; the phrase “crash avoidance systems” is meant to be general and to encompass collision prevention systems, and other like phraseology.
Starting at decision box 32 , a controller is configured to evaluate whether a sensor, series of sensors or a crash avoidance system has detected an object such as a target vehicle in a blind spot of a host vehicle. Such blind spot data or information may be sent to the controller directly from a sensor or indirectly through the vehicle bus. If there is no object in a blind spot, the controller operates in a business-as-usual manner, generally permitting the driver or operator to move the turn signal stalk to the position desired without tactile feedback. At decision box 34 , it is determined whether the turn signal stalk or lever has reached its intended turn signal position. If it has not, the operator or driver keeps moving the lever until it arrives in position. If it has, then the flow moves to box 36 , where the controller directly or indirectly energizes a tactile feedback device such as an electromagnetic brake to hold the turn signal stalk or lever in position.
Returning to decision box 32 , if an object is in a blind spot of the host vehicle, the decision flow reaches box 33 . A controller having received data that an object is in a blind spot causes a signal to be sent, directly or indirectly, to a tactile feedback device such as an electromagnetic brake in communication with a turn signal stalk. The electromagnetic brake may provide tactile feedback according to predetermined configurations. That is, the predetermined tactile feedback may be an absolute bar to movement—a prevention of movement—of the turn signal stalk in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the predetermined tactile feedback may provide a ratcheting effect of increasing resistance to move the turn signal stalk. This tactile feedback may warn the driver, optionally along with other feedback (visual and/or auditory) from a crash avoidance system, against moving into a position where the vehicle may crash with the object that is (or was, depending upon temporal conditions) hidden in a blind spot.
At decision box 35 , it is determined whether the energized tactile feedback device or electromagnetic brake has reached the intended position. If it has, the flow moves to box 36 . The flow also moves to box 36 if there was no object detected in the blind spot, and the turn signal stalk reached its intended position.
In box 36 , a controller causes the tactile feedback device to be energized hold the lever or turn signal stalk in the intended position. Then, in box 38 , the controller causes a timer to be set. In box 40 , a controller receives input directly or indirectly from a steering angle sensor to evaluate whether the turn signal function requires cancelling through an AUTO CANCEL function.
At decision box 42 , one of the predetermined criteria that can be met to initiate cancellation is whether the timer of box 38 has reached a time out condition. Another of the predetermined criteria that can be met to determine whether cancellation can be initiated is whether the turn has been completed based upon the data received, directly or indirectly, from a steering angle sensor. In other words, it is considered whether the turning action has been completed in decision box 44 . It is contemplated that the ordering of decision box 42 and 44 may be altered, or that one decision box may be omitted from the general flow. As depicted, if neither condition is met, the flow returns to box 40 until a condition exists requiring cancellation through AUTO CANCEL.
When the answer to one or the other of decision box 42 or 44 is yes, the flow moves to box 46 . At box 46 , a controller sends, directly or indirectly, a signal to the tactile feedback device exemplified as an electromagnetic brake to reduce the forces applied by such brake and to allow the lever or turn signal stalk to return to a NEUTRAL position in a predetermined manner such as in a controlled manner or a snap-back manner if desired. Another way to arrive at box 46 is the situation where an object is detected in the blind spot in box 32 , a controller causes a brake to be energized in box 33 , but the desired brake position is not reached. Then, it is evaluated whether the lever or turn signal stalk at decision box 37 moves toward NEUTRAL position. This direction of movement may happen as a result of the driver or operator responding to the warning and releasing the turn signal lever or stalk. If the turn signal lever or stalk is moving toward a NEUTRAL position, then the flow arrives at box 46 .
Box 46 leads the flow to decision box 48 , where it is determined whether the electromagnetic brake release position has been reached. If so, the controller the electromagnetic brake is released in box 50 . The cycle may begin over upon actuation of the turn signal stalk or lever. If not, the controller continues causing a reduction of the brake force until the condition is met, and the brake is ultimately so the cycle may begin over upon actuation of the turn signal talk or lever.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , an exemplary turn signal system is shown that eliminates the need for pawls in AUTO CANCEL mode. Although an electromagnetic brake is exemplified, other electromechanical tactile feedback systems are contemplated that can be driven electronically to apply tactile force to a turn signal stalk or lever. In the depicted example, the turn signal system resides in or in affiliation with a base 15 , housing 4 and cover 1 . Such components may be plastic, metal, a combination of both, and may be combined in (integrally formed as) one part or made from connectable and separate parts.
A controller 13 may be equipped with electronics (hardware and software) to be in communication with a vehicle bus. Controller 13 may optionally include computer readable storage media for storing data representing instructions executable by a computer or microprocessor. Computer readable storage media may include one or more of random access memory as well as various non-volatile memory such as read-only memory or keep-alive memory. Computer readable storage media may communicate with a microprocessor and input/output circuitry via a standard control/address bus. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, computer readable storage media may include various types of physical devices for temporary and/or persistent storage of data. Exemplary physical devices include but are not limited to DRAM, PROMS, EPROMS, EEPROMS, and flash memory.
Controller or controllers 13 are configured to monitor the stalk or lever 9 position. In one embodiment, data pertaining to the stalk 9 position is gathered through a gear interface between rotor 3 and magnet 6 located within measurement gear 5 , which is positioned above a hall effect cell 11 . Hall effect cell 11 and controller 13 are in electrical communication with one another and may be on the same printed circuit board (PCB) 10 .
If a crash avoidance system or a external blind spot detection system or module (communicating through a vehicle bus, for example), detects an object such as a target vehicle in a blind spot, then various systems and methods may be invoked if an operator attempts to signal a turn that may cause a crash into the target vehicle. For example, controller 13 may cause a brake such as an electromagnetic brake 12 to be energized to provide tactile feedback to the operator that such turn is ill-advised. The tactile feedback may be an absolute prevention of movement, a damping of movement, or a ratcheting effect of increased resistance when an attempt to make an ill-advised turn is signaled.
In the depicted embodiment, electromagnetic brake 12 is fastened to base 15 using screws 14 . Other fastening mechanisms or adhesives may be used.
If an operator releases the stalk 9 while a blind spot warning is active, spring 8 and plunger 7 may ride along a detent profile 2 . This may move the stalk 9 toward the turn signal NEUTRAL position. Controller 13 is configured to monitor the stalk 9 position. While the stalk 9 moves toward the NEUTRAL position, controller 13 may reduce power to the electromagnetic brake 12 to permit the stalk 9 to continue moving toward the NEUTRAL position in a controlled manner. That is, once the stalk 9 and the rotor 3 reach the release electromagnetic brake position, the controller 13 may completely release the electromagnetic brake and the controller 13 returns to monitoring for turn signal actuation. Controlled gradual motion is an exemplary controlled manner, both other motions are contemplated. Variations of a snap back action into NEUTRAL can also programmed.
If no object or vehicle is detected, and an operator actuates a stalk 9 to indicate turn, controller 13 is configured to monitor the stalk 9 position. Once the stalk 9 reaches the desired position to indicate a turn, controller 13 will cause the electromagnetic brake to be energized to hold the stalk 9 , rotor 3 , measurement gear 5 and magnet 6 in the indicated turn signal position.
Controller 13 may cause a timer to be set after the above-named components are held in position. That is time may be a predetermined condition for AUTO CANCEL action. Another such predetermined condition may include steering wheel position. This may be determined by data provided through a steering angle sensor. In the depicted embodiment, if a certain predetermined amount of time has passed OR the steering wheel has moved a certain predetermined number of degrees in the indicated direction, the controller 13 may cause the electromagnetic brake to reduce the braking force, allowing spring 8 and plunger 7 to ride along the detent profile 2 to move the stalk 9 toward NEUTRAL in a controlled manner. Then, once the stalk 9 and rotor 3 reach the release electromagnetic brake position, the controller 13 causes the electromagnetic brake to be released and the controller 13 is again monitoring for operator actuation activity.
Generally, the device of FIGS. 2 and 3 is a turn signal device, comprising an electromagnetic brake in electrical communication with a controller and a turn signal stalk. The controller is configured to electronically damp stalk movement during AUTO CANCEL operations. With this electronic control, it may be possible to reduce or eliminate cancelling pawls from the mechanical turn signal devices that have sometimes been identified as causing undesirable audible effects.
Referring to FIG. 4 , a general schematic is shown where a host vehicle 100 is equipped with a turn signal system 115 and crash avoidance system 120 . Systems 115 and 120 are in communication with one another through a vehicle bus having at least one wire 118 . Both systems 115 and 120 are in electrical communication with a turn signal stalk 109 (which is technically part of system 115 ) through a vehicle bus having at least one wire 112 . One or both of systems 115 and 120 may be in communication with a steering wheel system that includes steering wheel 110 and associated steering angle sensors and related controllers. It is contemplated that controllers need not be separate physical parts. The term controller can refer to one or more physical parts, and a single controller can be affiliated with one or more systems; each system does not necessarily have to have a separate controller. This is one reason why communication between systems can be either direct or indirect.
The present disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present example are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present disclosure may be practices other than as specifically described.
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Methods and systems are provided pertaining to a turn signal. AUTO CANCEL of a turn signal may be performed electrically, eliminating cancelling pawls and undesirable noise emanating from such pawls as they click against conventional structure in predominantly mechanical turn signal systems. An electromagnetic brake may dampen or prevent turn signal stalk movement if an object is in a blind spot of a vehicle. Such brake may be released or canceled electronically and quietly.
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DESCRIPTION
[0001] The invention relates to a container bridge according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
[0002] The container bridge can be used wherever a large number of loading units have to be transshipped in a short time. The container bridge is, above all, suitable for loading and unloading of containers from ships onto stockyards or onto means of transport, by which they are transported further. DE-A-2 341 725 discloses a bridge crane, in which two trolleys arranged one above the other are capable of traveling relative to one another, the upper trolley being capable of traveling on tracks which are located below the trolley, and the lower trolley being capable of traveling on tracks which are located above the trolley. The upper trolley travels over and beyond the trolley located below it, the load to be transported traveling through the U-shaped lower trolley. So that the container of the upper trolley does not collide with the U-shaped lower trolley, there has to be a rotary mechanism on the upper trolley, so that the container can be rotated in the longitudinal direction relative to the direction of movement and travel through the lower trolley is possible. This rotational movement of each container involves a certain amount of apparatus and, above all, takes up time during the loading of the containers.
[0003] Furthermore, in this bridge crane, the tracks of the trolleys are arranged outside the length of the container to be transported. The disadvantage of this is that problems may arise during takeover/transfer in the region of the ship's bridge, when the containers are to be stacked very far toward the bridge.
[0004] DE 43 07 254 A1 discloses a transloading crane, in which three trolleys are arranged on a crane bridge, two lifting units capable of traveling in their longitudinal direction and having a lifting mechanism being arranged for the exchange of loads with a transfer unit. The transfer unit can move loads or containers on two levels, the transfer unit itself not possessing a lifting unit. It is possible, furthermore, for each traversable lifting unit having a lifting mechanism also to travel through the transfer unit. It is not possible, however, for the trolleys having a lifting unit and the containers to travel one through the other, since the arrangement of their paths and their design do not allow this. In this transloading crane, too, there is therefore no device in which a plurality of trolleys, together with their load, can operate fully independently of one another.
[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to develop a container bridge on which a plurality of trolleys can operate essentially independently of one another, at a low outlay in terms of time and material, while all the trolleys are to be provided with a lifting means.
[0006] This object is achieved by means of a container bridge corresponding to the defining part of patent claim 1. Subclaims specify advantageous designs of the invention. The container bridge according to the invention consists of a two-armed traveling support, a lifting mechanism, a traveling mechanism and of at least one gantry, the trolleys traveling in each case on their own tracks of the traveling support on the container bridge and their paths crossing one another. On the basis of two trolleys, the tracks of which cross one another, it is advantageous if said trolleys travel on their tracks on both sides.
[0007] According to the invention, the tracks of both trolleys are arranged above said trolleys. The advantage of this is that the trolleys, together with their gripping means, can transport containers independently of one another also transversely to the direction of travel.
[0008] It is expedient for the trolley which is the lower one in each case to have a U-shaped or trough-shaped design, so that this lower trolley has a cavity through which the upper trolley, together with its load, for example a container, can travel.
[0009] Each of the trolleys is equipped with all the devices which are necessary for longitudinal, lifting and gripping travel. This also includes each of the trolleys having its own driver's cab in the event of manual operation. It is advantageous if the lifting mechanism of the trolley which is the lower one in each case is divided in two and is arranged next to the longitudinal traveling mechanism. In order to divert the horizontal forces onto the side parts, guide rollers and guide rails are mounted between the trolley and the main support. This arrangement gives rise to a compact design.
[0010] The trolleys of the container bridge are equipped with signal means which prevent mutual collision while a load is being carried. This ensures that the trolley which is the upper one in each case and which has a lowered load or a lowered container does not collide with the path of the lower trolley.
[0011] The two trolleys can therefore load and unload vehicles and stockyards essentially independently of one another, each of the two trolleys being capable of traveling over and attending to the entire region of the container bridge.
[0012] It is advantageous furthermore, if at least one side of the traveling support projecting beyond the gantry is capable of being swung up. This is advantageous, above all, when container ships coming to land require this or else this region of the container bridge is not in use.
[0013] In a further design of the invention, the tracks of the trolleys run on both sides of a single support. This design is suitable particularly for cases where containers having relatively small loads are to be transported quickly.
[0014] In another design of the invention, each trolley can travel on another support in each case.
[0015] It is advantageous to arrange the tracks of the trolleys within the length of a transversely transported container. The containers can thereby be stacked very far toward the ship's bridge without problems.
[0016] The container bridge according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to ten figures and one exemplary embodiment. Of the figures:
[0017] [0017]FIG. 1 shows a view of the container bridge according to the invention during the transshipment operation, with the trolley 17 in the position of transfer on land and the trolley 18 in the operation of transshipping on a ship,
[0018] [0018]FIG. 2 shows a view of FIG. 1, with operation of the two trolleys 17 and 18 crossing one another within the gantries 9 and 10 ,
[0019] [0019]FIG. 3 shows a detail of the crossing operation from FIG. 2, with the trolley 17 traveling within the traveling support 12 and the trolley 18 traveling outside the traveling support,
[0020] [0020]FIG. 4 shows a view of FIG. 1, with the two trolleys 17 and 18 in an interchanged position,
[0021] [0021]FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal illustration of the lines of movement 37 , 38 of the trolleys 17 and 18 ,
[0022] [0022]FIG. 6 shows a cross section with the trolley 17 and the container 1 on the traveling support 12 ,
[0023] [0023]FIG. 7 shows a cross section with the trolley 18 , together with the container 1 , on the traveling support 12 ,
[0024] [0024]FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the two trolleys 17 and 18 , each with a container 1 , in the crossing region on the traveling support 12 ,
[0025] [0025]FIG. 9 shows a view of the container bridge, with the jib swung up and with the two trolleys 17 and 18 ,
[0026] [0026]FIG. 10 shows the two-armed traveling support 12 , with the trolley 17 arranged within the traveling supports, above the ship in the region of the ship's bridge 40 ,
[0027] [0027]FIG. 11 shows a view of a container bridge, in which two trolleys 17 , 18 are arranged on one traveling support 12 ,
[0028] [0028]FIGS. 12 and 13 show a view of a container bridge, in which two trolleys 17 , 18 comprising two traveling supports 12 are arranged, each trolley 17 , 18 having its own traveling support.
[0029] FIGS. 1 to 9 show the container bridge 4 according to the invention during the transshipment of a container 1 from ship 2 to land 3 . Depending on the size of the ship 2 , a plurality of container bridges 4 may be used simultaneously. On land, the containers 1 are handled further by means of transport 5 .
[0030] The container bridge 4 travels parallel to the quay edge 8 via traveling rails 6 embedded in the ground and via a traveling mechanism 7 . A two-armed traveling support 12 is fastened via connecting elements 13 to a water-side gantry 9 and a land-side gantry 10 having reinforcing struts 11 . The water-side traveling support 12 projecting beyond the gantry 9 may be swung up for the docking and undocking of the ships 2 via a joint 38 and a lifting mechanism 14 with ropes 15 and deflecting pulleys 16 .
[0031] The two trolleys 17 and 18 travel on the traveling support 12 . Each trolley is equipped with all the devices for longitudinal, lifting and gripping travel. Each trolley therefore possesses its own track 19 , 20 , a longitudinal traveling mechanism 21 , 22 , a power supply 23 , 24 , a lifting mechanism 25 , 26 with ropes 27 , 28 , a container spreader 29 , 30 and, for manual operation, in each case a driver's cab 31 , 32 .
[0032] In the case of the trolley 18 , the rope 28 is led to the spreader 30 via a lower part 33 , two side parts 34 and deflecting pulleys 35 . The actual lifting mechanism 26 is mounted, divided in two, next to the longitudinal traveling mechanism 22 . In order to divert horizontal forces onto the side parts 34 , guide rollers 36 and guide rails 37 are mounted between the trolley 18 and the traveling support 12 . This arrangement results in a compact design.
[0033] The unloading operation proceeds as follows: After the ship 2 has been berthed, the container bridge 4 is moved into position via the traveling mechanisms 7 in order to unload the containers 1 . The trolley 17 (FIG. 4) takes over a container 1 from the ship 2 by means of the spreader 27 and draws said container into the uppermost end position of the trolley 17 . The container 1 is thereby in a stable position and is prevented from oscillating.
[0034] By means of the trolley traveling mechanism 21 (FIG. 2), the trolley 17 travels in the inner region of the two-armed traveling support 12 into the space between the container bridge gantries 9 , 10 . When this position is reached, a travel-on signal is communicated to the trolley 18 which, for example, is already waiting. The two trolleys move toward one another (FIG. 8), crossing taking place. At the same time, the trolley 18 travels in the outer region of the two-armed traveling support 12 and travels with its trough-like lower part 33 and the side parts 34 around the container 1 to be transported by means of the trolley 17 .
[0035] The two trolleys 17 and 18 continue their travel independently of one another (FIG. 5), for example the trolley 17 for discharging the container 1 on land and the trolley 18 for picking up a container 1 in the ship or, in the case of simultaneous loading and unloading, for discharging a container 1 .
[0036] The line of movement of the container 1 runs essentially along an upper line 37 in the case of the trolley 17 and along a lower line 39 in the case of the trolley 18 . The lower line 39 and the entire space below this line correspond to the single-trolley container bridge used hitherto.
[0037] By means of the two-armed traveling support 12 , as illustrated in FIG. 10, and the trolley 17 running within the traveling support 12 , containers can be handled directly up to the side of obstructing edges, for example ship's bridges 40 . Here too, in the case of greater distances, the second trolley 18 may be used.
[0038] The advantage of the method is that the container remains connected to the respective spreader over the entire transport distance, even when the paths of the two trolleys cross one another. As a result of this crossing taking place within the container bridge gantries, no additional moments or loads are exerted on the crane rails.
[0039] Furthermore, it becomes clear from FIG. 10 that, since the tracks 19 , 20 of the trolleys 17 , 18 are located within the container length, stacking can be carried out particularly far up to the ship's bridge 40 . Design variants as to how the container bridge according to the invention may also be designed may be gathered from FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0040] List of Reference Symbols Used
1 Load/container 2 Ship 3 Land 4 Container bridge 5 Means of transport 6 Traveling rail 7 Traveling mechanism 8 Quay edge 9 Gantry (water-side) 10 Gantry (land-side) 11 Reinforcing struts 12 Two-armed traveling support 13 Connecting element 14 Lifting mechanism 15 Ropes 16 Deflecting pulley 17 Top trolley 18 Bottom trolley 19 Top trolley 20 Bottom trolley 21 Longitudinal traveling mechanism 22 Longitudinal traveling mechanism 23 Power supply 24 Power supply 25 Lifting mechanism 26 Lifting mechanism 27 Ropes 28 Ropes 29 Spreader 30 Spreader 31 Driver's cab 32 Driver's cab 33 Low part of trolley 18 34 Side parts of trolley 18 35 Deflecting pulley 36 Guide roller 37 Path of upper container 38 Joint 39 Path of lower container 40 Ship's bridge
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The invention relates to a transporter container-loading bridge comprising a two-armed traveling support, a lifting gear, a traveling mechanism and at least one portal, characterized in that at least two trolleys travel on individual tracks of the traveling support on the transporter container-loading bridge with their paths crossing. According to the invention, the running track of one trolley is located above and inside the track of the other trolley, wherein both trolleys travel along both sides of their running tracks. The invention provides the advantage that several trolleys can travel independently from each other without having to transfer, rotate or surrender their load.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the manufacture of integrated circuit wafers and other devices, such as disks for CDs and computer hard disk drives, methods and apparatus have been developed for effecting the manufacture of the integrated circuit wafers and other devices in ultra-clean environments as free as possible from any source of contamination that might adhere to the semiconductor wafer or other such devices. It has been found that these essentially sterile conditions can best be achieved by manufacturing these devices, including IC wafers, in “clean rooms” where semiconductor-wafers of various sizes, e.g., 4,6, 8 and 12 in. in diameter are processed, these devices and wafers having various thicknesses averaging about 0.030″ and being flat to very close tolerances. In the case of semiconductor wafers, each contains a multiplicity of independent integrated circuits or “chips” embedded therein, and the wafers are preferably handled in their wafer-form to efficiently effect the mass production and testing of the independent integrated circuits imbedded therein.
It is in this handling and manipulation of the completed wafers or other devices where the specter of contamination from an outside source frequently arises. Ideally, each wafer or other device would be moved or transferred from one location to another, during manufacture and thereafter, without having its top or bottom surfaces touched by any means, human or mechanical, this to prevent contamination of the top and bottom surfaces of the wafer. Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus or device that may be selectively attached to and detached from an integrated circuit wafer or other device without contaminating the sensitive active areas of the surfaces of the wafer or other device.
One of the conventional methods for handling integrated circuit wafers is the use of an “end-effecter” that comprises an arm attached at its proximal end to a robotic manipulation mechanism and the source of negative pressure, i.e., a vacuum source. A channel is formed in the end defector, with the proximal end of the channel communicating with the vacuum source while the distal end of the channel opens onto a top surface on or near the distal end of the arm that abuts against the bottom side of the wafer, the wafer thus being et “sucked” or drawn against the top surface of the end-effector by the negative or “vacuum” pressure imposed on the bottom surface of the wafer. Much development effort has been expended to develop various types of structures that utilize this method of attachment of a manipulation arm or “end-defector” to the underside of an integrated circuit wafer, and numerous patents have issued illustrating and describing these types of devices. A sampling of these types of patent is as follows:
4,627,151
4,720,130
4,778,332
4,923,054
5,395,198
5,556,147
However, such development efforts have not overcome the fact that the top surface of the end-effector that touches the wafer, top or bottom surface, may itself be contaminated and that such contamination may be transferred to the wafer. Another disadvantage of the vacuum clamping type of end-effecter wafer handling system is the risk of an interruption of the vacuum pumping system resulting from a power failure or a vacuum system leak that could cause disengagement of the wafer from the end-effector with consequent loss of the wafer through displacement laterally or vertically, with attendant striking of adjacent structures by the wafer, resulting in chipping or shattering of the wafer.
Much development effort has been expended to mitigate the disadvantages of end-effectors that utilize vacuum engagement end-effectors, and this development effort has generally been directed to the design of devices that operate by grasping the wafer in a manner to impose radially directed forces on the circumferential peripheral edge of the wafer, i.e., forces imposed in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the wafer. A sampling of devices utilizing this method of grasping a wafer may be found in the following United States patents:
4,410,209
4,586,743
4,715,637
4,717,190
5,133,635
5,474,641
5,810,935
5,851,041
The patents listed above have resulted from a preliminary patentability and novelty search, and it appears that all of these patents are directed to the concept of the imposition of a radially inwardly directed force on the circumferential peripheral edge of the wafer.
Accordingly, another principal object of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for gripping or grasping of an arcuate “free-zone” extending radially inwardly from a peripheral edge of a wafer by the imposition of a gripping force directed perpendicularly to the flat surface of the wafer or, stated in other words, by a gripping force imposed on an arcuate peripheral “fee-zone” surface portion of the wafer in a direction parallel to the central axis of the wafer, i.e., perpendicular to the “free-zone” surface portion of the wafer.
Another object to the present invention is the provision of an end-effector that eliminates the use of negative pressure or “vacuum” to engage itself to an integrated circuit wafer via surface contact as occurs with end-effectors that utilize the vacuum engagement principle and instead utilizes positive or negative pressure to activate a mechanism that grasps or releases the wafer in a non-active arcuate peripheral “Free-zone” or area.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of an end-defector device that utilizes fail-safe positive pressure to effect selective clamping or release of a wafer gripped by the end effecter so that the WAFER remains gripped by the end effecter even in the event of equipment failure.
Integrated circuit wafers may intentionally be manufactured with a “non-intrusion” area surrounded by a peripheral “free zone” of selected width of about 2 mm that is not occupied by it or used for the formation of integrated circuits in the wafer. It is important that this peripheral “free-zone” be as narrow as possible so as to maximize the number of integrated circuits that are formed in the “non-intrusion” area of the wafer.
Accordingly, it is yet another object of the invention to provide an end-effecter operable to selectively grip a wafer by the deployment of a gripping device on the peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer and the imposition of a sufficient gripping force applied perpendicularly to the top and bottom surfaces in the “free-zone” to prevent inadvertent release of the wafer while responding to positioning commands and which remains responsive to selectively applicable positive or negative fluid pressure to cause or cancel the positive gripping force to thus selectively grip or release the wafer.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of an end-defector device incorporating means for selectively gripping and releasing a substantial arcuate surface portion of the peripheral “free-zone” of an integrated circuit wafer on both top and bottom surfaces of the wafer surrounding the “non-intrusion” area and without intrusion into the “non-intrusion” area.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of an end-effector device for reliably gripping and effecting manipulation of an integrated circuit wafer without contact with the “non-intrusion” surface areas of the wafer, and comprising a selectively adjustable arcuate socket for receiving the arcuate “free-zone” of an integrated circuit wafer, the socket being actuable to an open condition for insertion of the wafer “free-zone” thereinto, and thereafter being actuable to resiliently grip or clamp onto the arcuate “free-zone” portion of the wafer to retain it gripped by the socket until selectively released therefrom.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of an end-effector device that is operable to selectively grip the arcuate peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer at circumferentially spaced locations thereon.
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an end-effector device controllable manually or automatically by a control system responsive to input from sensors to effect opening of the socket to receive an arcuate peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer and to effect closing adjustment or clamping of the socket on the peripheral “free-zone” when the arcuate peripheral “free-zone” is properly inserted and seated in the socket.
The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some which, with the foregoing, will become apparent from the following description and the drawings. It is to be understood however that the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated and described since it may be embodied in various forms within the scope of the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In terms of broad inclusion, the end-effector of the invention for grasping integrated circuit wafers comprises a talon-like device that effectively grips resiliently or otherwise, an arcuate peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer to enable risk-free manipulation of the wafer in whatever direction is appropriate and without effecting contact of the wafer in a manner to contaminate it. The end-effector of the invention may selectively be used in opposed pairs to grip large wafers by their diametrically opposed arcuate peripheral “free-zones” or, preferably, may be used individually to grip a single arcuate peripheral “free-zone” of a wafer. Structurally, in one aspect of the invention, the end-effector or talon-like device is formed by two confronting top and bottom plate members configured to form a “shell” within which or between which is displaceably mounted a member which, when selectively displaced in one direction by the imposition of an appropriate force, opens a normally closed gripping member for receiving the arcuate peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer and when selectively displaced in the opposite direction by the removal of the opening force tightly grips the arcuate peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer to releasably retain it attached to the end-effector, from which it may selectively be released by the imposition of force in an opening direction that opposes and overcomes the force that effects gripping of the wafer. It will of course be understood that the end-effector may be configured as a normally open device that is closed, i.e., by an appropriately directed force. Appropriate sensors, while not essential, are preferably provided to signal the proper positioning of the wafer in relation to the end-effector, and a control system may be provided responsive to the sensor signals to effect opening and closing operation of the arcuate talon-like socket or clamp.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the end-effector of the invention shown in its position of non-intrusive gripping attachment to a peripheral “free-zone” of a wafer.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the end-effector of the invention apart from a wafer and equipped with an adaptor for connection of the end-effector to a conventional robotic control system.
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the monolithic top plate of the end-effector separated from the bottom plate and other components and illustrating the detailed construction of the interior of the top plate.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the monolithic bottom plate of the end-effector separated from the top plate and other components and illustrating the detailed construction of the interior of the bottom plate.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the interior of the bottom plate of the end-effector as shown in FIG. 4 but with a selectively actuable pressure actuated displacement assembly mounted therein.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the selectively actuable pressure actuated displacement assembly shown apart from other structure.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrating wafer peripheral edge gripping means mounted on the bottom plate and including a plurality of resiliently displaceable beams or tines extending radially across the selectively actuable pressure actuated displacement assembly.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of a wafer peripheral edge gripping means shown apart from other structure.
FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 9 - 9 in FIG. 8 .
FIG. 10 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the wafer peripheral edge gripping means illustrated in FIG. 8 and shown apart from other structure.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken in then plane indicated by the line 11 - 11 in FIG. 1 illustrating a spring pressure activated normally closed fail-safe end-effector embodiment illustrating the relationship of the components when the bladder is inflated so as to open the end-effector to receive a wafer. A portion of the wafer is shown in broken lines.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken in the same plane as FIG. 11 but showing the bladder deflated to cause the spring-pressed wafer receptor jaws of the end-effector to close and resiliently grasp the “free-zone” acruate edge portion of the wafer in a fail-safe manner through the imposition of retention forces applied perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the wafer.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken in the same plane as FIG. 11 but illustrating a spring pressure activated normally open end-effector device in which the deflated but selectively inflatable bladder is positioned to effect clamping closure of the end-effector jaws upon the arcuate peripheral edge “free-zone” area of the wafer when the bladder is inflated and release therefrom when the bladder is deflated as shown.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the bladder inflated and the arcuate peripheral edge portion of the wafer surrounding the “non-intrusion” area clampingly grasped by the end-effector.
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a specially configured mounting bracket adapted to be detachably interposed between the end-effector of the invention and an associated specific conventional robotic equipment. The specially configured portion of the bracket is shown in broken lines.
FIG. 16 is an edge view of the mounting bracket viewed in the direction of the arrow 16 in FIG. 15 .
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating in general the configuration of a third embodiment wafer “free-zone” gripping and vacuum-driven fail-safe end-effector.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 17 of a fourth embodiment wafer “fee-zone” gripping and vacuum-driven “standard”, i.e., non-fail-safe end-effector.
FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic plan view of the bottom plate of the end-effector illustrated in FIG. 17, showing the relationship of a number of the individual clamps that are vacuum-driven to grip the wafer “free-zone” in a fail-safe or “standard” non-fail-safe manner.
FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19, but illustrating a lesser number of wafer-gripping clamps associated with the “free-zone” of a smaller diameter wafer.
FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 19, but illustrating a lesser number of wafer-gripping clamps associated with the “free-zone” of a still smaller wafer.
FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 19, but illustrating only three wafer-gripping clamps associated with the “free-zone” of a still smaller wafer.
FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view of the diaphragm and normally-closed wafer-gripping clamps shown apart from other structure for clarity, and showing the clamps in a normally closed fail-safe arrangement.
FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the diaphragm and a normally-closed wafer-gripping clamp mounted on the bottom plate of an end-effector shown apart from the top plate.
FIG. 25 is a plan view of one of the wafer “free-zone” gripping clamps shown apart from other structure
FIG. 26 is an edge view of the clamp of FIG. 25 taken in the direction of the arrow 26 in FIG. 25 .
FIG. 27 is a plan view of one of the mounting pistons adapted for mounting on the top surface of the diaphragm and on which the wafer-gripping clamp shown in FIGS. 25 AND 26 is adapted to be pivotally mounted.
FIG. 27 (A) is an end elevational view of the mounting piston illustrated in FIG. 27 taken in the direction of arrow 27 (A).
FIG. 28 is a plan view of a spring plate adapted to be mounted on the bottom surface of the diaphragm in conjunction with the mounting piston shown in FIG. 27 .
FIG. 28 (A) is an edge view of the spring plate illustrated in FIG. 28, taken in the direction of the arrow 28 (A).
FIG. 29 is a perspective view shown in exploded form and illustrating the positional relationships of the diaphragm, the mounting piston, the spring plate and a normally-closed or normally-open wafer-gripping clamp with a portion of the bottom plate of the fail-safe or “standard” end-effector.
FIG. 30 is a fragmentary exploded view partly in vertical cross-section illustrating the positional relationships of the components of FIG. 29 embodying a normally-closed wafer clamping arm. A portion of the flange perimeter of the diaphragm is broken away for clarity.
FIG. 31 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fail-safe end-effector assembly arranged with a spring-pressed normally-closed wafer-clamping member adapted to be opened by drawing a vacuum in the chamber below the diaphragm.
FIG. 32 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a standard normally-open end-effector assembly intended as a replacement for conventional end-effectors that vacuum-clamp a wafer, this assembly being spring-pressed into an open condition and clamped to a wafer by drawing a vacuum min the chamber below the diaphragm.
FIG. 33 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a slightly modified spring-pressed normally open end-effector adapted to be closed by drawing a vacuum in the chamber below the diaphragm.
FIG. 34 is a diagrammatic view of the three normally-open single pole switching assembly that provides positioning data to the logic circuit which in turn controls the LEDs that indicate functional conditions on the end-effector.
FIGS. 35A-35C are schematics of the end-effector control system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 14, and specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that the end-effector designated generally by the numeral 2 is associated with a circular integrated circuit wafer designated generally by the numeral 3 . The integrated circuit wafer 3 is provided with a “non-intrusion” circular area on its top surface 4 that extends radially outwardly from the center 6 of the wafer to a circular perimeter designated generally by the numeral 7 . The circular perimeter 7 defines the area on the face of the wafer on which are embedded the individual integrated circuits in the structure of the wafer. The perimeter 7 that defines the “non-intrusion” area of the wafer lies approximately 2 mm or 0.0787″ from the outer periphery 8 of the wafer. It is the primary purpose of the end-effector of this invention to grasp the wafer only in the annular area defined between the outer periphery 8 of the wafer and the outer perimeter 7 of the “non-intrusion” area of the wafer within which the integrated circuits are contained. By restricting gripping of the wafer by the end-effector 2 to an acruate portion of this annular band of approximately 2 mm, it will be seen that there is only a miniscule or no possibility that the surface of the wafer will be contaminated by the end-effector since no portion of the end-effector comes into contact with the “non-intrusion” surface area of the top and bottom of the wafer.
As stated above in the objects of the invention, the end-effector 2 is operative to selectively grip or grasp or clamp onto a finite arcuate portion of this narrow annular band with such tenacity and gripping force exerted perpendicular to the surface 4 of the wafer and parallel to the central axis of the wafer that the wafer may be transported by the end-effector at any velocity that imposes up to three times the force of gravity, or more, in any attitude in which the wafer may be moved from one position to a second position, or under appropriate robotic control, in which the wafer may be flipped from a horizontal attitude into a vertical attitude or vice versa, and similarly the wafer may be moved by robotic control in a circular path to reposition the wafer for whatever purpose is necessary during the manufacturing and testing process for the wafer.
To accomplish this end, i.e., to enable maneuverability of the end-effector to grip the wafer only in an arcuate peripheral portion of the annular “free-zone” of the wafer without encroachment into the “non-intrusion” area 4 of the wafer, the end-effector 2 is preferably mounted on a robotic mechanism for accurate placement equipp 3 d as shown in FIG. 2 with a bracket designated generally by the numeral 9 and illustrated in FIGS. 2, 15 and 16 .
In FIGS. 2, 15 and 16 , the portion of the bracket shown in broken lines provides the ability to mount the end-effector on an already existing specific robotic mechanism of limited accessability. This portion of the bracket would be omitted from all standard end-effectors adapted to be mounted on most conventional robotic mechanisms.
For a better understanding of the means by which such grasping or gripping of a wafer by an end-effector is accomplished, reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 14, where, specifically in FIG. 2, there is illustrated a top plan view of an end-effector 2 formed in an arcuate configuration to provide a circularly arcuate leading edge 13 , circularly arcuate rear edges 14 and 16 separated by a radially extending mounting extension 17 integral with the top plate 12 and which will be described in greater detail with reference to detailed illustrations of the top plate in FIG. 3 . Additionally, the circularly arcuate top plate 12 is provided with end edges 18 and 19 and it will be seen that a robotic adaptor 9 is attached to the radially extending integral portion 17 of the top plate to facilitate mounting of the end-effector on conventional existing robotic mechanisms (not shown).
Referring to FIG. 3, this view illustrates the top plate 12 flipped over or inverted so as to illustrate the construction of the plate when viewed from its underside. As there shown, the underside of the top plate 12 , which has by way of example a nominal thickness of approximately 2 mm but may be thinner or thicker as the need prescribes, is milled to provide an elongated recess 21 extending longitudinally of the radially extending mounting portion 17 of the top plate, being equidistant from opposite side edges and milled or otherwise formed into the bottom surface 22 of the top plate to provide an end wall 23 and parallel side walls 24 and 26 . As shown in FIG. 3, the side walls 24 and 26 of the recess 21 extend downwardly where they are intercepted by end edges 27 and 28 , respectively, which lie opposite end edges 29 and 31 which with the end edges 27 and 28 define laterally extending passageways between the interior of the recess 21 and the laterally and circularly extending arcuate recesses 32 and 33 which also may be milled or otherwise formed in the bottom surface of the top plate 12 .
It should be noted that within the recess 21 , there is formed a central beam designated generally by the numeral 34 and having an end edge 36 intercepted by side edges 37 and 38 that extend to adjacent an end wall 39 formed in laterally spaced pad portions 41 and 42 . It should be noted that short of the end wall 39 , the beam 34 is reduced in height to provide an abutment 43 , resulting in the beam portion 44 below the abutment 43 being of lesser height than the main portion of the beam. It should also be noted that the end edges 27 and 28 that intercept the side edges 24 and 26 , respectively, of the recess 21 , are themselves intercepted by angularly diverging edges 46 and 47 that are intercepted, respectively, by the edges 48 and 49 of passageways 51 and 52 , each of which communicate, respectively, with recesses 53 and 54 . The purpose of these recesses, and the passageways 51 and 52 , and the passageways defined between the end edges 27 / 29 and 28 / 31 will be explained hereinafter. It should be noted however at this point that the bottom surface 22 of the top plate lies in a common plane with the top surface of the beam 34 , the pads 41 and 42 , and the pads that are defined by the angularly diverging edges 46 and 47 .
It should also be noted that the bottom surface 22 of the top plate as illustrated in FIG. 3 lies in the same plane as the arcuate peripheral edge surfaces 56 and 57 which are formed between the outer peripheries 14 and 16 and the inner arcuate peripheries 58 and 59 that define the associated boundaries of the recess 32 and 33 , respectively. The opposite perimeters of the recesses 32 and 33 are defined by the arcuate edges 61 and 62 , which edges are slightly below the plane of the surfaces 22 , 56 and 57 and the surfaces of the pads 41 and 42 . From the edges 61 and 62 that define the inner peripheral edge of the recesses 32 and 33 , the top plate is chamfered in the area 63 so that a sloping surface is provided between the edges 61 / 62 and the inner peripheral edge 13 of the top plate.
At each opposite end of the top plate, adjacent the end edges 18 and 19 , it will be seen that the surface of the top plate is-milled or otherwise formed, as by die-casting or molding, to provide a peninsula designated generally by the numeral 64 associated with the end edge 18 , and a peninsula designated generally by the numeral 66 associated with the end edge 19 of the top plate. Side edges 67 and 68 of the peninsulas define the end edges, respectively, of the recesses 33 and 32 , and with substantially parallel peninsulas 69 and 71 , define passageways 72 and 73 , respectively, into recesses 74 and 76 and passageways 77 and 78 which communicate with the chamfered edge 63 as shown. The purpose of the recesses 74 and 76 and the passageways 72 and 73 thereinto, together with the purpose of the passageways 77 and 78 , will become apparent hereinafter. It is noted at this point however that the recesses 74 and 76 are connected by passageways 82 and 81 , respectively, to the exterior of the end-effector, these passageways terminating or opening onto the chamfered edge 63 in the same manner that the ends of the passageways 77 and 78 terminate in the chamfered edge 63 . In like manner, referring to the recess 44 formed in the beam 34 , it will be noted that a passageway 83 is formed in the top plate to communicate between the recess 44 and the chamfered edge 63 .
The end-effector illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes both a top plate 2 and a bottom plate designated generally by the numeral 86 . These two plates are essentially mirror images of one another, as will be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4, with only specific differences between the two plates which will be described in connection with FIG. 4 . However, completing the description of the top plate illustrated in FIG. 3, it is noted that to effect connection of the top plate 2 to the bottom plate 86 , the top plate is provided with a multiplicity of through-bores 87 formed in the extension 17 and in the peripheral edge portions 56 and 57 and in the beam 34 through which mounting screws may be inserted as will hereinafter be explained. In like manner, calling attention to the arcuate inner periphery 13 , it will be noted that spaced radially outwardly from the peripheral edge 13 in both recesses 32 and 33 there are equally spaced four cylindrical studs 88 , each of which is provided with a central through-bore communicating with the top surface of the top plate 12 and through which additional mounting screws may be inserted from the top surface so as to threadably engage complementary threaded bores formed in the bottom plate in which the mounting screws may be engaged as will hereinafter be explained.
Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen from a comparison with FIG. 3 that the bottom plate corresponds in configuration with the top plate, and that the bores 91 corresponding in position with the bores 87 in the top plate, are in axial alignment with the bores 87 when the two plates are confrontingly superposed one upon the other, with the bores 91 being threaded to receive the threaded shanks of mounting screws 92 (FIG. 1 ). In like manner, the bored studs 88 extending integrally perpendicularly from the bottom of the recesses 32 and 33 , are in axial alignment with the threaded mounting bores formed in similar studs 93 integral with a peripheral portion of the bottom plate and projecting perpendicularly therefrom.
The bottom plate 86 illustrated in FIG. 4 is also provided with an elongated recess 94 corresponding in size and position to the recess 21 in the top plate as shown in FIG. 3 . However, in the bottom plate 86 , a through-bore 96 is provided at the end of the recess adjacent the end edge 97 as shown. The purpose of this through-bore will be explained hereinafter. Additionally, while in the top plate the arcuate recesses 32 and 33 are flat in a direction transverse to the edges 58 / 59 and 61 / 62 , respectively, in the bottom plate the recesses 98 and 99 , corresponding to the recesses 32 and 33 , are provided intermediate the defining arcuate edges 101 / 102 and 103 / 104 , with integral elevated arcuate areas 106 and 107 that project a predetermined amount above the bottom surfaces of the recesses 98 and 99 . With respect to the recess 98 , the elevated area 106 is defined along one edge by a raised integral arcuate bead 108 that is parallel and spaced from the associated edge 101 of the recess 98 .
In like manner, the elevated integral arcuate area 107 is defined along one edge by a raised integral arcuate bead 109 spaced from and parallel to the inner edge 102 of the recess 99 . As with the top plate structure illustrated in FIG. 3, the bottom plate structure is provided with a radially outwardly projecting mounting extension 112 in which the recess 94 is centrally formed, together with the centrally aligned beam 113 which corresponds in position and dimensions with the beam 34 as illustrated in FIG. 3 . All other aspects of the top plate 2 and the bottom plate 86 are essentially identical.
That being the case, it will be seen that when the top plate is superposed over the bottom-plate, the recesses 21 and 94 coincide to form a generally rectangular nacelle for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained. Similarly, the arcuate recesses 32 and 98 coincide to form an arcuate chamber between the top and bottom plates, as do the recesses 33 and 99 . The peninsulas 64 and 66 formed in the top plate similarly coincide with the corresponding peninsulas 64 ′ and 66 ′ formed in the bottom plate, as do the peninsulas 69 and 71 coincide with the complementary peninsulas 69 ′ and 71 ′ formed on the bottom plate. It will thus be understood that passageways 73 and 78 complement similar coinciding passageways 73 ′ and 78 ′ formed in the bottom plate, the passageway 78 ′ communicating with the chamfer 63 ′ , while the passageways 72 ′ and 73 ′ communicate, respectively, with the recesses 74 ′ and 76 ′, which communicate respectively, with the passageways 81 ′ and 82 ′ that terminate in the chamfered area 63 ′ as shown.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen in FIG. 5 that the interior recesses or nacelles 98 and 99 of the bottom plate as illustrated in FIG. 4, are provided with the assembly designated generally by the numeral 116 and shown in FIG. 6 apart from other structure. The recess 94 (FIG. 4) receives the generally rectangular bifurcated manifold plate 117 provided on its underside with a recess 118 (FIG. 6) that sealingly communicates with the apertures 96 formed in the recess 94 of the bottom plate there illustrated. The manifold plate fits snugly into the recess 94 , and is provided with latterly spaced leg members 119 and 121 , the inner confronting edges of which provide a space 122 therebetween that snugly embraces the elongated beam 113 formed on the bottom plate.
Diametrically extending passageways 123 and 124 (FIGS. 5 and 6) formed in the manifold plate communicate with the recesses 118 and 94 , and communicate also with elongated passageways 126 and 127 that extend to near the ends 128 and 129 , respectively, of the leg members 126 and 127 , where they in turn communicate with oppositely extending nipples 131 and 132 , respectively, secured to the side edges of the leg members as shown. Sealingly secured adhesively to the nipples 131 and 132 are inflatable bladders 133 and 134 , respectively, each of the bladders being formed of suitable material to fit on the raised portions 106 and 107 within recess 98 and 99 respectively.
As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bladders 133 and 134 are initially flat, sealed at their distal ends 135 , with their proximate ends 135 ′ sealed about and secured to the nipples, so that the interiors of the bladders communicate with the interiors of the nipples so that fluid under pressure may selectively be injected through the aperture 96 and the passageway communicating therewith and into the bladders to effect their inflation and expansion under pressure, and their subsequent deflation when appropriate. In FIG. 5, it will be seen that the deflated bladders 133 and 134 are superimposed, respectively, upon the elevated areas 106 and 107 formed within the recesses 98 and 99 . The bladders lie generally coextensive with the elevated areas, and opposite elongated side edges 136 and 137 of the bladders lie generally parallel to the beads 108 and 109 as seen in FIG. 5 .
With the bladder assembly thus mounted on the interior of the bottom plate 86 , a first prefabricated comb-like wafer-clamping or gripping device designated generally by numeral 141 is superimposed over the bladder 133 as shown in FIG. 7, and a second prefabricated comb-like wafer-clamping or gripping device designated generally by the numeral 142 is superimposed over the bladder 134 as also shown in FIG. 7 . The wafer-clamping or gripping devices 141 and 142 are identical to one another and the specific structure of each is illustrated enlarged in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 for clarity. As there seen, each of the gripping devices constitutes a separate article of manufacture which may be formed by machining or injection molding.
Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 , it will be seen that each clamping device 141 and 142 is arcuate in its configuration, each spanning an arc of approximately 31° and including a channel-shaped edge portion designated generally by the numeral 143 . The channel 143 is formed with a bottom wall 144 , a first side wall 146 and a second side wall 147 . The two side walls are arcuate and spaced sufficiently that when deposited over a bladder as illustrated in FIG. 7, the channel slips snugly into the arcuate space between the inner edges 101 and 102 , as the case may be, and the corresponding associated rib 108 and 109 , each wafer-clamping device thus being detachably retained from inadvertent displacement in any direction.
Integrally attached to the second side wall 147 of each of the wafer-clamping devices are a series of ten radially-extending beams, each designated generally by the numeral 148 . While ten wafer-clamping beams are illustrated, it should be understood that the quantity will vary with end-effectors of different sizes. The beams 148 are each integrally attached to the associated second side wall 147 by a flexible or “live” hinge 149 which comprises a narrowed section of the beam having a flat backside 151 (FIGS. 9 and 10) and a curved top or front side 152 in the form of a groove having an arcuate bottom as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. From the narrowed down flexible “live” hinge portion 149 , each beam extends radially away from the hinge portion and is tapered approximately 3° along its longitudinal edges 153 and 154 , converging toward an end edge 156 that is narrower than the portion 157 that is integral with the “live” hinge 149 . Additionally, it should be noted that the beams are spaced apart approximately 0.031″ so that each of the beams may be independently displaced without affecting the displacement of the adjacent beams.
Adjacent its end edge 156 , each of the beams is provided with a recess 158 formed by cylindrical walls 159 closed by a bottom wall 161 . Additionally, to enhance the flexibility of the “live” hinges 149 , there are provided through-holes 162 spaced typically 3° apart and thus shortening the length of the arcuate narrowed flexible “live” hinge portion 149 that integrally yet flexibly attaches each of the beams to the associated second flange 147 of channel member 143 . Thus, collectively, the ten side-by-side beams 148 all lying generally in the same plane, subtend an arcuate angle of approximately 31°, with the radial dimension of each of the wafer-clamping devices being approximately 1.150″ and the length of each individual beam, measured from the second flange 147 to the end edge 156 being approximately 0.950″. The through-holes 162 are conveniently approximately 0.125″ in diameter, while the recesses 158 formed adjacent the end edges 156 of the beams are also conveniently approximately 0.125″ in diameter having cylindrical walls approximately 0.070″ deep.
From FIGS. 8 and 10, it will be seen that between the second and third beams 148 , counting from the left in FIGS. 8 and 10, and between the fourth and fifth, and between the sixth and seventh, and between the eighth and ninth beams, there are provided in the adjacent edges of these beams confronting half-circle recesses which define a series of four apertures 163 that are spaced apart and which coincide with the positions of the four bored studs 93 illustrated in FIG. 4, which studs project into the apertures 163 when the wafer-clamping devices are superimposed over the bladders as illustrated in FIG. 7 .
Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 , 9 , 11 and 12 , it should be noted that the recesses 158 formed in the distal end portions of the beams 148 each accommodates a coiled compression spring 171 that slips loosely into the recess and which has a length sufficient that after insertion into the accommodating recess the top end of the spring projects above the top level or upper surface 172 of the beam on which the spring is supported. Since there are two sets of ten beams 148 , there are of course twenty springs, one for each beam. As a consequence, when the top plate is superimposed over and detachably secured to the bottom plate with the coiled compression springs in position, the top ends of the springs come to bear upon the undersurfaces 32 and 33 of the top plate shown in FIG. 3 . The downwardly projecting bored studs 88 in the top plate are axially aligned with the threaded studs 93 on the bottom plate, thus binding the top plate to the bottom plate and capturing the springs.
As a consequence of the elastic resilient force imposed upwardly on the top plate by each of the multiplicity of coiled compression springs, it is seen in FIG. 12 that an equal downward force is imposed by each spring on its associated beam, and each beam 148 is caused by such downwardly directed force to flex downwardly, separating the distal end portion of the beam from the associated inner surface of the top plate and, in the absence of an intervening wafer, bringing the bottom surface 161 of each of the beams adjacent its free end edge 156 into impinging contact with the inner surfaces of the recesses 98 and 99 formed in the bottom plate.
Since this relationship of the parts exists in the absence of a wafer when the bladders are deflated, it follows, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, that when a wafer is in place the very narrow flat surface portion 173 adjacent the end edge 156 of each beam is pressed tightly against the top surface of the wafer in the narrow arcuate band or “free-zone” that surrounds the “non-intrusion” area of the wafer when a wafer is in proper position. Such pressure on the top “free-zone” surface of the wafer causes the complementary bottom arcuate edge portion of the wafer to be pressed tightly against the very narrow flat surface 174 of the bottom plate, as illustrated in FIG. 12 . Thus, when a wafer intervenes and is gripped by each beam, the bottom wall 161 of the beam does not impinge on the inner surface of the bottom plate.
It will thus be understood that the “free-zone” of the wafer is tightly gripped between the multiplicity of downwardly pressing beams 148 and the flat narrow arcuate surface of the bottom plate that lies adjacent the chamfered area of the bottom plate 86 . In this embodiment, FIGS. 11 and 12, the wafer is gripped in a fail-safe manner that prevents inadvertent release of the wafer, thus preserving its integrity and obviating the financial loss that would occur if the wafer were to be inadvertently released and fall from the end-effector.
To free the wafer from the fail-safe gripping action end-effector as illustrated in FIG. 12, reference is made to FIG. 11 where it is seen that the bladders 133 / 134 , interposed between the bottom plate surfaces 106 and 107 and the underside of the two sets of wafer-clamping devices 141 , when inflated by the admission of an appropriate fluid such as nitrogen through the aperture 96 and into the bladders, causes the bladders to expand and, as shown in FIG. 11, elevate the beams 148 against the pressure exerted on them by the springs 171 . As shown, the springs are compressed, and the end portion 173 of each of the beams is lifted and disengaged from the “free-zone” 7 of the wafer, thus releasing the wafer for appropriate storage in a rack (not shown) or transferred to another processing station for further fabrication procedures or testing.
Since the gripping action of the wafer by the end-effector occurs automatically by virtue of the pressure exerted by the springs 171 , and since it is highly unlikely that the bladders would, inadvertently, be inflated, it follows that this embodiment discloses and describes a fail-safe end-effector device for grasping and manipulating a wafer in a non-contaminating manner. It should also be noted that the terms “up”, “down” and “lifted” are relative terms and that the clamp as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 is working down relative to the confronting abutment surface 174 but may also be configured to work upwardly or laterally in relation to an abutment surface.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention in which the bladders must be inflated or pressurized (FIG. 14) to effect gripping of the wafer, with consequent release of the wafer when the bladders are deflated (FIG. 13 ). It will of course be understood that this is a mode of operation that is essentially the reverse of the mode of operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. To effect this result, in this second embodiment, the springs 171 are interposed between the bottom plate and the underside of the beams 148 , while the bladders are interposed between the top plate and the top surfaces of the beams. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13, deflating the bladders causes the springs 171 to flex the beams upwardly, thus disengaging the flat surface 173 of each beam from the “free-zone” of the associated wafer and thus releasing the wafer to a storage rack or to another processing station.
On the other hand, when it is desired to grip a wafer with the end-effector of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the bladders are inflated by an appropriate fluid such as nitrogen under appropriate pressure and control, causing the distal end portions of the beams 148 to be flexed downwardly against the elastic resilience of the springs 171 , resulting in the springs being compressed as shown, and bringing the undersurface 173 of each beam independently into gripping contact with an arcuate portion of the “free-zone” of the wafer surrounding the “non-intrusion” area of the wafer. It should be noted that this mode of operation, while using positive pressure rather than negative pressure or vacuum, equates with the conventional “standard” vacuum-operated end-effector devices in that if the pressure-generating system in this embodiment fails for any reason, the wafer will be released by the end-effector in the same way that it will be released by a “standard” vacuum-operated surface-clamping end-effector of current technology should the vacuum system fail for any reason. Despite this similarity, one advantage of this pressure operated end-effector is that it eliminates the possibility of contamination of the wafer since its only contact with the wafer is with the “free-zone” surrounding the “non-intrusion” area of the top surface of the wafer and a very narrow peripheral arcuate band of approximately 31° on the underside of the wafer. A second advantage is that the holding force is unlimited and at a minimum is three times (3x) that of the conventional technology.
From a structural point of view, it will be noted from FIGS. 13 and 14 that the exterior configuration of the top and bottom plates is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2, but some changes have been incorporated into the interior of the bottom plate. Thus, with respect to the bottom plate 86 ′ , the elevated areas 106 and 107 seen clearly in FIG. 4 are omitted in this embodiment, and the beams are provided with notch 176 in their top surfaces to accommodate the placement of the bladders 133 and 134 , only bladder 134 being shown in these cross-sectional views. Additionally, the recess 158 ′ in each beam adjacent the end edge 156 is formed in the bottom surface of the beam instead of the top surface so that the springs 171 may be accommodated between the undersides of the beams and the bottom surfaces of the recesses 98 and 99 of the bottom plate.
Means are provided on the end-effectors of the first and second embodiments of the invention described above to ensure that the wafer “free-zone” 7 is properly positioned with respect to the gripping surfaces 173 of the beams 148 and the complementary arcuate gripping band 174 of the bottom plate as a condition precedent to the deflation of the bladders in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, and as a condition precedent to the inflation of the bladders in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, it will be noted that the recesses 74 and 76 formed in the underside of the top plate as seen in FIG. 3 confront similar recesses 74 ′ and 76 ′ formed in a corresponding location on the interior of the bottom plate. It should be borne in mind that the top plate as viewed in FIG. 3 is inverted and that when it is superimposed “right-side-up” over the bottom plate the recesses 74 / 74 ′ and 76 / 76 ′ will be in a confronting relationship. In like manner, the recess 44 formed in the beam 34 of the top plate corresponds in location and dimension to the recess 44 ′ formed in the beam 113 in the bottom plate as seen in FIG. 4 . Passageways 81 and 82 communicate with the recesses 76 / 76 ′ and 74 / 74 ′ and a passageway 83 communicates with the interior of the recess 44 formed in the beam 34 . Micro-switch devices 176 , 177 and 178 are enclosed within these recesses as illustrated in FIG. 1, and these are connected by appropriate electrical or electronic leads 181 , 182 that pass from channels 72 and 73 through the channel 143 (FIG. 7) and emerge through the apertures 53 and 54 in the top plate (FIG. 4) to be connected to a source of power and robotics. A fiber optic bundle 183 (FIGS. 11-14) passes through the passageways 77 / 77 ′ and 78 / 78 ′ shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 7 and also continues through the channel 43 formed on each wafer-gripping device as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 11 - 13 .
These micro-switches 176 , 177 and 178 include plungers that are slidably mounted in passageways 81 / 81 ′ , 82 / 82 ′ and 83 / 83 ′ and each switch is appropriately connected to a power source and activated when the peripheral edge of the wafer is properly positioned within the end-effector gripping means and depresses the plunger. The fiber optic bundles 183 lead to optical type sensors mounted in the passageways 77 and 78 that “see” and determine when the wafer is present. When present, the switches check to confirm that the wafer is properly seated in the end-effector. In both instances, the leads from the micro-switches and sensing devices terminate in enunciators that indicate either wafer presence or by the illumination of appropriate illuminated signals when the end-effector and wafer are properly related for activation of the wafer-gripping means. Such activation may be carried out automatically by computer-controlled robotic equipment to which the end-effector is connected by means of an appropriate connector terminal mounted on the bracket designated generally by the numeral 184 and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 15 and 16 .
Such computer-controlled robotic equipment is conventionally used in the industry and is not part of the invention described and illustrated herein. However, the bracket herein illustrated and described is provided to enable connection of the end-effector of this invention to conventional robotic equipment, thus facilitating implementation of the end-effector of the present invention with conventional robotic equipment already in place in wafer handling equipment. As seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, the bracket 184 comprises two bifurcated opposite end portions designated generally by the numerals 186 and 187 . The larger bifurcated end portion 186 includes a bottom plate 188 spaced from and parallel to an upper plate 189 . A through-bore 191 is provided in the geometric center of the bottom plate 188 for connection to a source of gas under pressure or to a vacuum supply.
Third and fourth embodiments of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 and include in FIG. 17 a perspective view of a fail-safe end-effector and in FIG. 18 an end-effector designated generally by the numeral 202 that is not fail-safe and instead is designated as a “standard” end-effector in that it is readily applicable to existing vacuum systems that are used by conventional end-effectors. These two embodiments of the invention are similar to the end-effectors in the sense that they include gripping means that reliably grip the “free-zone” that surrounds the “non-intrusion” area of the integrated circuit wafer that is sensitive to contamination. Referring to FIG. 17, it will be noted that this fail-safe end-effector 201 is similar to the end-effectors described above in that it includes a top plate 203 , a bottom plate 204 , the top plate 203 being superposed over the bottom plate 204 and secured thereto by appropriate machine screws 206 . Mounted on the top plate is an indicator box 207 having three signal lights designated generally by the numeral 208 , the first light when illuminated indicating that the end-effector is ready to accept a wafer, the second light when illuminated indicating that the wafer is loaded into the end-effector, and properly positioned therein, while the third light when illuminated indicates that the end-effector has been clamped onto the wafer. These functions are indicated by appropriate indicia 209 printed on the top surface of the indicator box. To enable mounting of the end-effector in robotic equipment, the end-effector is provided with a rearwardly extending mounting portion designated generally by the numeral 212 provided with appropriate apertures 213 to which the adaptor bracket illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 may be attached. It should be understood that while the indicator box 207 is illustrated and its function explained herein, it is not an essential element of the combination, but is preferred when the end-effectors disclosed herein are robotically controlled.
In like manner, and referring to FIG. 18, which depicts the “standard” non-fail-safe type of edge gripping end-effector illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, it, too, is provided with an upper plate 213 , a lower plate 214 , the plate 213 being superimposed over the plate 214 and secured thereto by appropriate screws 216 . Mounted on the top plate 213 is a signal box 217 provided with a group of three lights 218 , the first of which, when illuminated indicates that the end-effector is ready to receive a wafer, the second light being illuminated to indicate that the wafer is properly loaded and positioned, while the third light when illuminated indicates that the end-effector has clamped onto the “free-zone” of the wafer. These functions are indicated by appropriate indicia designated by the numeral 219 . As with the end-effector illustrated in FIG. 17, the end-effector of FIG. 18 is also provided with a rearward extension designated generally by the numeral 221 having mounting bores 222 for detachable attachment of the mounting bracket or adaptor illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 which facilitates connection of the end-effectors illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 to appropriate robotic equipment.
As previously described, the end-effectors of this invention are designed to reliably grip the “free-zone” on the peripheral annular portion of a wafer that surrounds the “non-inclusion” portion of the wafer. Since there are different diameters of wafers, generally four inches, six inches, eight inches and twelve inches, the end-effectors of this invention are constructed to accommodate the different diameters of wafers by providing an adequate number of gripping beams for the various wafer sizes. Thus, referring to FIGS. 19 through 21, inclusive, it will be noted that the end-effector illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 19 is provided symbolically with ten separate wafer clamping or gripping devices or assemblies arranged in an arcuate pattern corresponding to the peripheral arc of the wafer that they are intended to grip. More or fewer wafer clamping devices could be used under appropriate circumstances. In the interest of brevity in this description, each of the wafer gripping assemblies is designated generally by the numeral 226 and it is noted that each is mounted on the bottom plate of the end-effector and is shown in a mounted relationship on a wafer designated generally by the numeral 227 . As described above in connection with other embodiments, the wafer 227 is provided with an annular “free-zone” 228 that measures approximately 0.080″ radially inwardly from the outer periphery of the wafer, such “free-zone” being the area on the top surface of the wafer that is grasped by the individual gripping assemblies 226 when the end-effector is clamped onto the wafer.
With respect to the end-effector illustrated in FIG. 20, it is noted that in this case the end-effector is applied to a wafer 299 that is nominally eight inches in diameter, thus requiring a shorter include angle to accommodate sufficient gripping or clamping assemblies 226 to adequately grip and reliably support the smaller diameter wafer. As indicated in FIG. 20, this size end-effector symbolically utilizes six of the individual wafer gripping assemblies, again arranged in an arcuate pattern as illustrated.
Referring to FIG. 21, it will be noted that in this case, the end-effector again has been reduced in size to accommodate the reduction in size of the nominally six inch diameter wafer 231 by application symbolically of only four independent wafer gripping assemblies 226 . It should be understood that the independent gripping assemblies 226 are mounted on the bottom plate of the end-effector as illustrated, and that the end-effector and the included gripping assemblies 226 are arranged so as to receive and grip the peripheral annular “free-zone” edge portion of the wafer in a reliable manner.
Referring to FIG. 22, it will here be seen that the wafer 232 is nominally a four inch diameter wafer and that it is attached to the end-effector by the gripping action provided symbolically by three cooperatively associated gripping or clamping assemblies 226 mounted on the bottom plate of the end-effector.
Referring to FIGS. 23 and 33, it will be seen that the internal construction of each of the end-effectors incorporates the gripping assemblies in such a manner that a given end-effector may be normally closed and opened by the application of vacuum or negative pressure to the end-effector, thus operating in a “fail-safe” mode, (FIGS. 24 and 31 ), or they may be arranged in a normally open configuration wherein a vacuum or negative pressure must be applied to the end-effector to effect gripping operation of each of the gripping assemblies as seen in FIGS. 32 and 33, thus operating in a non-fail-safe mode.
Referring to FIGS. 25 through 30, the detailed construction of each of the wafer gripping assemblies, including the various components that make up the assembly, are illustrated as separate components, and as exploded views illustrating the positional relationships of the components one to the other. Thus, referring to FIGS. 25 and 26, each of the gripping assemblies 226 includes a clamp arm designated generally by the numeral 236 and comprises a generally T-shaped structure including a stem portion 237 formed integrally with the cross-bar designated generally by the numeral 238 . This component 236 is preferably fabricated from metal, the stem 237 having transversely extending thickened portion 239 and 241 as illustrated in FIG. 26, to accommodate transversely extending bores 242 and 243 for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained. The cross-bar 38 is provided with slots 244 generally evenly spaced across the length of the bar 238 to provide four segments 246 that are integral with the cross-bar 238 as shown, and which penetrate the cross-bar for a distance of approximately 0.100″ which is approximately one-half the width of the cross-bar 238 . It should also be noted that the edges 247 of the cross-bar are arranged in an arcuate pattern that corresponds to the arcuate curvature of the wafer that the clamping component is adapted to engage. Thus, if the clamp member 236 is adapted to clamp onto the peripheral “free-zone” of a nominally twelve inch diameter wafer, the curvature of the edges 247 of the cross-bar would have a radius dimension of approximately 5.906″. Obviously, this radius dimension will vary depending on the size of the wafers to be gripped by the clamp member.
To provide a proper perspective of the size of the clamp member 236 , it is noted that the stem member 237 of a clamp member adapted to grip the peripheral “free-zone” of a nominally twelve inch diameter wafer is only 0.250″ wide. The overall length of the clamp member 236 amounts to only approximately 1.06″and possesses a thickness of only 0.30″ while the nominal width of the cross-bar 38 is approximately 0.180″. The through bores 242 and 243 , for instance, are only 0.032″ in diameter. Obviously, the dimensions noted are by way of example, and different dimensions could be used, particularly with different size wafers.
Referring to FIG. 23, it will be noted that the clamp members designated generally by the numeral 236 are associated with a diaphragm designated generally by the numeral 251 having an arcuate configuration as illustrated, to fit the conformation of a recess designated generally by the numeral 252 (FIG. 29) formed in the bottom plate 204 of the end-effector 201 . As illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 29, the diaphragm 251 is provided with a downwardly projecting peripheral rim 256 configured and having a depth sufficient to project into an arcuate groove 257 formed in the bottom plate 204 . the wafer clamp assemblies 226 in one embodiment include a monolithic mounting plate or piston 258 as illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 27 (A). This monolithic mounting plate or piston is essentially square, being only 0.6″ on each side and having a thickness of approximately 0.060″. Formed in the top surface of the piston 258 and extending transversely thereof from the left side to the right side as indicated in FIG. 27, is a groove 259 having a depth of approximately 0.050″, thus leaving a bottom wall portion 261 having a thickness of only approximately 0.010″. Formed in the bottom wall 261 , as illustrated in FIG. 27, is a generally rectangular aperture 262 adapted in one embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 26 to receive the end projection 239 formed on the stem-portion 237 of the clamp member 236 . When properly positioned in the aperture 262 , the through-bore 242 in the projection 239 is in axial alignment with through-bores 263 and 264 formed in the piston 258 as illustrated. Thus positioned, the pin 266 illustrated in FIG. 29 is inserted through the bores 263 and 264 and through the bore 242 in the clamp member 236 to pivotally mount the clamp member 236 on the piston 258 . Additionally, the piston 258 is provided with threaded mounting bores 267 for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained.
As illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIGS. 30-31, where a vertical cross-section of the bottom plate 204 is illustrated, the diaphragm 251 is sealingly secured to the upper surface of the bottom plate 204 by placement of the superposed top plate which presses the peripheral flange 256 of the diaphragm into a receptive groove in the bottom plate. Each piston 258 for receiving each clamp arm or beam 236 is mounted centrally between the longitudinal edges of the diaphragm and are spaced apart as shown in FIG. 23 . To mount the piston 258 on the diaphragm, a spring plate designated generally by the numeral 271 and illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 28 (A) is attached to the underside of the diaphragm 251 as shown in FIG. 24, and attached thereto by machine screws 272 that pass upwardly through appropriate apertures 273 formed in the spring plate 271 as shown best in FIG. 28 (A). The spring plate 271 is provided with two downwardly projecting resiliently flexible tongue-like members or tangs 274 that are spaced apart from a third similar tang 276 . The tangs 274 are integral with the plate at their base ends and are displaced downwardly as seen in FIGS. 24 and 28 (A) so that the end portions 277 of the tangs 274 abut the bottom interior surface 278 of the bottom plate 204 as seen in FIG. 24 . In like manner, the tang 276 which lies between the tangs 274 but which extends in the opposite direction, has an end portion 279 which also abuts against the surface 278 of the bottom plate.
It will thus be seen that mounted as illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIGS. 30-33, the elastic resilience of the tangs 274 and 276 has the effect of biasing the diaphragm 251 upwardly below each piston 258 , causing the pin 266 to also be elevated, carrying with it the end portion 239 of the clamp stem 237 , thus causing the clamp member 236 to pivot clockwise about the pivot pin 279 (FIG. 24) so that the end portions 246 of each beam 236 normally move downwardly in the direction of the arrow, to close the gap 281 between the undersides of the members 246 and the top surface 282 of the bottom plate in the absence of a wafer 283 but which space 281 may be enlarged to permit entrance of the wafer “free-zone” peripheral portion when a vacuum is applied to the end-effector through the port 284 .
Thus, when the port 284 is connected to a source of vacuum, the reduced pressure within the recess below the diaphragm 251 causes the diaphragm to be drawn downwardly against the resilient tension in the tangs 274 and 276 , causing the piston 258 to move downwardly, carrying then pin 266 downwardly, and thus causing the clamp arm 236 to pivot counterclockwise, thus raising the grip end 246 of each clamp member 236 so as to open the gap 281 and permit the peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer to penetrate into the end-effector. It is for this reason that the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 24 is considered to a fail-safe embodiment. Since the vacuum system is used only momentarily to effect opening of the end-effector to admit the wafer, which vacuum is immediately discontinued once the wafer is properly positioned in the end-effector, the spring plate 271 automatically elevates the diaphragm and causes the clamp member 236 to clampdown tightly on the peripheral edge portion of the wafer.
It will be understood that under these conditions, the wafer will be held indefinitely gripped between the bottom surface of the clamp portion 246 and the top surface 282 of the bottom plate by the continued pressure exerted by the spring plate 271 against the underside of the diaphragm 251 . It requires activation of the vacuum system to break the grip of the end-effector on the wafer. For greater clarity, the structure illustrated in FIG. 24 is shown in exploded form in FIG. 30 and corresponding reference numbers have been applied to corresponding parts of the structure.
Referring to FIG. 31, it will be seen that this same embodiment of the invention, i.e., a normally-closed fail-safe end-effector that is opened by the application of vacuum pressure is illustrated with only slightly different components. In this embodiment illustrated in FIG. 31, the mode of operation is essentially the same as previously discussed, i.e., a normally-closed mode of operation that requires the application of negative or vacuum pressure to the interior of the end-effector shell to open the end-effector and release the wafer. Without the application of negative pressure, the end-effector remains tightly and reliably gripped to the peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer so that the wafer cannot be inadvertently released from the end-effector. In this view it will be seen that the top plate 203 is superimposed over the bottom plate 204 and secured by the screws 206 (FIGS. 17 and 18) to capture the diaphragm between the top plate 203 and the bottom plate 204 as previously described and illustrated. Superposition of the top plate Causes it to impinge on the peripheral margins of the diaphragm 251 to pressure seal it into the underlying groove formed in the top surface of the bottom plate and which defines the cavity 288 within which is captured the spring plate 271 previously described, dimensioned to impose a constant upward pressure on the underside of the diaphragm 251 , thus causing the pivoted end 289 of the clamp member 236 to be elevated, causing the clamp member 236 to pivot clockwise about then pin 291 as a fulcrum, and thus causing the lower edge 292 of the clamp member to be pressed tightly against the peripheral edge zone of the wafer 283 as previously explained. It will thus be seen that by connecting the passageway 293 which terminates at one end in the chamber 288 , to a source of vacuum, the diaphragm 251 will be drawn downwardly against the resilient pressure exerted by the spring 271 , causing the clamp arm 236 to pivot counterclockwise on the pin 291 , thus opening the end-effector by raising the surface 292 of the clamp member from the surface of the wafer, thus releasing the wafer. As previously discussed in regard to the structure depicted in FIG. 24, this structure oper4ates in a fail-safe mode in that once the gripping function has been performed on the wafer, it requires activation of the vacuum system to disengage the clamp member from the wafer, thus insuring that the wafer will not be inadvertently released from the end-effector.
The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 32, in contrast to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 24, 30 and 31 , operates by a standard mode of operation as distinguished from a fail-safe mode of operation. In this embodiment, the end-effector is again provided with a top plate 203 and a bottom plate 204 superimposed one above the other as illustrated and secured by screws as previously described but not shown in this view in the interest to clarity. They are retained in this position by appropriate screws 206 as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. In this embodiment, the diaphragm 251 is again sealingly captured between the top and bottom plates. In this instance, however, the clamp member 236 is pivoted by the projection 241 (FIG. 26) and a pin 266 , while the left end of the clamp member 236 (FIG. 32) is pivoted by a pin 242 in the projection 239 . The diaphragm 251 seals the chamber 278 and a vacuum passageway 284 is provided for connection to an appropriate source of vacuum pressure. Disposed below the diaphragm 251 as previously described is a spring plate 271 that exerts an upward pressure on the diaphragm 251 , causing the midportion of the clamp arm 236 to be elevated, pivoting counterclockwise about the pin 242 at the left end of the clamp arm, and thus causing the clamping face 292 to normally be elevated and retained in an open condition by virtue of the pressure exerted by the spring plate 271 . Thus, in this mode of operation, the wafer 283 is inserted into the normally-open gap between the surface 292 of the clamp member and the bottom surface 282 of the bottom plate, and once properly inserted and positioned, suitable switches as previously described activate the vacuum system to draw or create a vacuum in the chamber 278 , causing the diaphragm to descend, pulling then pivot pin 266 downwardly, and causing the clamping ace 292 of the clamp member to impinge tightly against the “free-zone” surrounding the peripheral portion of the wafer 283 . Once the wafer has been properly inserted, positioned and clamped, the indicator 207 illustrated in FIG. 17 indicates the condition that exists, and in this case would indicate that clamping of the wafer has been completed.
Referring to FIG. 33, the embodiment of the invention illustrated operates in a normally open mode of operation and utilizes the components illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30, with the exception that in this normally open embodiment of the invention, the clamp arm 236 is connected by the projection 241 and an appropriate pin 266 to the piston which in this embodiment is of the type of two-part piston that is illustrated in FIG. 29 and designated by the reference numeral 288 ′.
Thus, the piston parts are juxtaposed with a space between them to accept the width of the clamp arm 236 and a pin 266 extends through both of the piston parts 288 ′, and forms a pivotal journal for the clamp arm 236 . The left end of the clamp arm 236 , as shown in FIG. 33, is pivotally secured between the top and bottom plates by a pin 293 so that as the diaphragm 251 is elevated by the spring 271 (FIG. 28 (A), the clamp arm 236 is caused to pivot counterclockwise about the pin 293 , thus elevating the grip members 246 of the clamp arm, and opening the gap in the end-effector to receive appropriate insertion of the wafer 283 .
Once the wafer has been properly inserted, positioned and an indication given by the indicator 207 that it is properly loaded, a vacuum pump (not shown) is actuated to draw air from the chamber 288 through a passageway 284 as previously described, and the negative pressure within the chamber 288 causes the diaphragm 251 to be drawn downwardly against the pressure exerted against the diaphragm by the spring 271 . Such downward movement of the diaphragm causes the clamp member 236 to pivot clockwise, bringing the clamp members 246 downwardly into impinging contact with the peripheral “free-zone” of the wafer 283 . It will thus be seen that this structure operates in a normally-open, “standard” mode of operation in which retention of the wafer by the gripping members 246 is dependent upon the integrity of the vacuum system that retains the diaphragm 251 drawn downwardly against the pressure of the spring 271 . This the “standard” method that is utilized in the integrated circuit wafer industry to retain wafers “clamped” on the conventional vacuum operated surface of end-effectors that engage the bottom side or surface of the wafer. Accordingly, the end-effector of this embodiment is readily applicable to existing conventional equipment that is utilized in the vacuum-retention type of equipment. The advantage of this structure however is that no portion of the end-effector contacts the contamination-sensitive surfaces of the wafer, thus eliminating contamination which would otherwise be produced from handling and increasing the percentage of usable wafers that are produced without contamination.
Having thus described the invention, what is believed to be new and novel and sought to be protected by letters patent of the United States is as follows:
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Presented is an end-effector for grasping integrated circuit wafers with a talon-like device that effectively grips an arcuate peripheral “free zone” of the wafer-without effecting contact of the wafer in a manner to contaminate it. Structurally, in one aspect of the invention, the end-effector or talon-like device is formed by-confronting top and bottom plate members configured to form a “shell” within which is displaceably mounted a member which, when selectively displaced in one direction by the imposition-of-an-appropriate force, opens a normally-closed gripping member for receiving the arcuate peripheral “free zone” of the wafer and when selectively displaced in the opposite direction by the removal of the opening force tightly grips the arcuate peripheral “free zone” of the wafer to releasably retain it attached to the end-effector, from which it may selectively be released by the imposition of force in an opening direction that opposes and overcomes the force that effects gripping of the wafer. An indicator may be provided to signal the proper positioning of the wafer in relation to the end-effector, and a control system may be provided to effect opening and closing operation of the arcuate talon-like clamp.
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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELOCATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/273,422 filed Nov. 14, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/073,066 filed Mar. 3, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/589,770, filed Jul. 21, 2004. This application incorporates by reference the aforementioned prior applications.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention pertains to road surface noise emission by moving vehicles and more particularly to a system for reduction of the noise emitted from tires over road rolling contact.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various studies have found that the noise signature produced by traffic on any moderate to high speed roadway is composed of the following elements: 1) Tire to pavement noise due to contact between the rubber surface of the tread on a tire and the surface of the road itself; 2) Aerodynamic noises; 3) Engine/exhaust noise due to the combustion process; and 4) Transmission and other rotating components within the driveline. Typically for an automobile that is in good operating condition with a properly functioning exhaust system, the overwhelming majority of noise is produced by the tire to pavement contact. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that for many high speed highways and interstates, codes require the use of transverse grooves to aid in shedding water from the surface to minimize hydroplaning. Because of the typical highway speeds (55 to 70 MPH), and the regular spacing of the grooves, the action of the tire tread is to have a portion of the contact patch actually alternately contact and not-contact the road surface. This action causes a dominant noise frequency component that is proportional to the speed of the tire and the regular spacing of the rain channel grooves. This tone most usually manifests itself as a whistle or whining noise, which is actually comprised of a relatively narrow spectrum of signals centered around a single dominant component.
[0004] The dominant tone can be defined as the fundamental frequency of oscillation of the tire to road interface. This dominant tone frequency can be calculated from the following relationship: Tone (Hz)=(MPH*17.6)/Groove Spacing (in inches).
[0005] For example, for a vehicle traveling at 60 MPH and a groove spacing of 1 inch, the dominant frequency produced is 1056 Hz.
[0006] The spectral energy density profile for a single tone would be represented by the following diagram:
[0007] It is apparent that most of the acoustic noise energy is concentrated around the dominant tone frequency which is a function of the line/groove spacing and the vehicle speed. Previous efforts such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,105,458 and 4,396,312 have been directed at the road surfacing materials used. Any noise reduction was more or less a side effect. However, the present invention is directed specifically to noise reduction irrespective of the choice of materials used for road surfacing. The application of random transverse grooves has been addressed by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Materials and Research Division, “Evaluation of Tining Widths to Reduce Noise of Concrete Roadways Final Report”, and LEE etal. (Korean Patent 2004005583). In both these applications acknowledgement has been made as to the effectiveness of random patterns but the apparent benefits are less than optimal due to the insufficient pattern repetition lengths and due to the fact that those patterns used were not generated by a random mathematical process. The narrow spectrum gains of short or repetitive patterns are of limited benefit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This invention provides a passive technique for mitigating the effects of the noise generated by the high speed tire to road contact. By applying a method employed in communication systems that essentially trades peak signal power for bandwidth (energy is the same since it is proportional to the area under the curve), one can achieve a fairly dramatic reduction in signal amplitude (volume in the acoustic analogy) by spreading the acoustic energy generated across a wider bandwidth. This technique is what is employed in spread spectrum communications systems, CDMA cellular, etc. . . . In accordance with the present method, the road surface is provided with a randomized pattern of grooves. The technique of randomization described employs the use of a polynomial called a maximal linear code sequence. The maximal linear code (also known as maximal linear sequence) polynomial is used to generate the line spacing for a non-repetitive pattern of grooves to be used in roadway construction. The use of maximal linear codes provides for the most robust and longest non-repetitive code by any given delay element or combinatorial summation of feedback outputs from a polynomial. Additional information on the unique properties of maximal length sequence polynomials is available from a wide variety of sources on the WEB as well as the following:
[0009] 1. Robert C. Dixon Spread Spectrum Systems, 1984 John Wiley and Sons, Inc. pp. 86-91
[0010] 2. T. G. Birdsall, M. P. Ristenbatt, Introduction to Linear Shift Register Generated Sequences, University of Michigan Research Institute Technical Report, October 1958
[0011] 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_length_sequence (Good tutorial of the noise spectral properties of Maximal Length Sequence polynomials)
[0012] The randomization can be as to position, frequency and/or depth to spread the noise spectrum and reduce the volume of noise at any single frequency. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein. The preferred embodiment in the detailed description of the invention provides a mathematical description of the best practice implementation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a pseudorandom line/groove spacing (centered at 1″) in a road surface which produces a reduced peak amplitude of an acoustic signal;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a spectral energy density profile for a spread tone;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a randomization of both line spacing and groove depth;
[0016] FIGS. 4 and 4 A-B are representations of a rake tool for producing the random pattern; and
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 5 A are floats for pattern production.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The spreading of the acoustic energy on a road surface in accordance with the present invention can be achieved by several method variations. A preferred method would be to introduce a certain amount of randomness in the spacing of the lines in the road. The amount of randomness can be relatively small and could be generated by unique line patterns that actually repeat over a spacing of as few as a couple hundred lines. This pattern can be generated by the multiplication or convolution of a pseudorandom number with the average desired line spacing (in this example spaced by about 1 inch). The preferred and most effective implementation would specifically implement a line pattern given by a polynomial of the form:
1+x+x 2 +x 3 +x 4 + . . . ,
[0019] Where each x coefficient represents one unit of time delay. In this particular case it makes no difference what the unit of delay is since the technique would scale to the appropriate delay required which depends on vehicle speed. The polynomial in this case takes the form of a maximal length sequence generator. For typical highway traffic speeds (approx. 60 MPH) one would quantize the delay so as to produce line spacings that have an average pitch of approximately 1 to 2 inches. The outputs of each delay element are chosen in such a way that the randomness of the resultant code is optimized. The polynomial in this case is implemented as a feedback shift register. To use this polynomial in practice one would choose a tap or output of either the first coefficient (x) and or the second coefficient (x 2 ) and or the third coefficient (x 3 ) . . . . By summing the outputs of these coefficients (tables of maximal length linear sequence coefficients are widely available and in use by those skilled in the art), one is able to construct a delay generator whose output is proportional to the desired spacing (or in this case time delay since the vehicle is moving). Summations of the various combinations of outputs from these delay elements are available from a multitude of sources. As described above, for a vehicle traveling at 60 MPH with a line pitch of 1 inch the fundamental tone produced is 1056 Hz. The time delay is the inverse of the frequency or approximately 1 millisecond, which becomes the fundamental unit of delay. The summation of the chosen delay tap coefficients then produces the pattern of lines at 1 mS intervals (1 inch nominal intervals at 60 MPH). The output of the summed polynomial would either be a 1 or a 0 at each 1 mSec interval. An output of “1” could represent a line being present and an output of a “0” could represent a location that does not have a line. Ideally each of these codes is chosen so that one random (auto-correlation) peak is produced. It is this property that optimizes the choice of line spacing that reduces the road noise spectral density to a minimum.
[0020] In the preferred embodiment one would realize the greatest benefit with sequence lengths that don't repeat very often. Line patterns with repetition lengths greater than 250 are probably most beneficial but patterns as long as 2600 lines may still provide additional benefits. The longer the pattern the more effective the randomness becomes. In general this technique can be applied to any sequence length chosen.
[0021] As an example one would apply the above theory to arrive at the following implementation polynomials:
Length Equation Code 2 7 − 1 1 + x + x 7 127 bits 2 9 − 1 1 + x 4 + x 9 511 bits 2 12 − 1 1 + x + x 4 + x 6 + x 12 4095 bits 2 15 − 1 1 + x + x 15 32767 bits
[0022] In the first polynomial the taps with exponents 7 and 1 are summed to form a linear code with optimal random properties. In the second example the exponents 9, 4 and 1 would be summed. Tables of optimal feedback connections for these exponents are widely known.
[0023] The implementation can be applied to any sequence length, but practical limitations exist with implementations of very long sequences. Each of the equations shown describes a successively longer and therefore more optimal method of generating the sequence that one would use to make the rake, or cut the lines etc. The first equation would provide for the shortest sequence. The first equation for example could be implemented with a rake or float or similar device with a pattern described by the equation and it would have 127 tines. The equation describes the position of the 127 tines on the surface of the rake. The longer patterns describe somewhat more effective patterns but would probably require cutting or embossing since the pattern length would only repeat in 10's of feet (probably too long for a rake or multiple sets of rakes).
[0024] The invention does not require any sort of feedback or measurement of already existing noise on the road surface i.e. it does not have to adapt to conditions but is fixed and its pattern is only described by the equation. The method describes the optimal placement for the lines to cause the noise generated to be at a minimum under any traffic conditions. This minimum is independent of the speed or type of traffic.
[0025] Transverse grooves or lines with this pseudorandom spacing will effectively reduce the amplitude of the noise generated at any one frequency and broaden the spectrum, making the noise that is generated more like “white” noise.
[0026] As an example, if one uses one inch as an average groove spacing and applies a pseudorandom variation in groove spacing such that the spacing can take on any value between 0.5 inches and 1.5 inches, one gets an acoustic signal that will decrease in peak amplitude and have nulls separated by 1056 Hz with sidebands that have frequency domain spectral components that theoretically extend to plus and minus infinity.
[0027] The spectral energy density for a “spread” or “whitened” tone due to the randomization is represented by the following diagram:
[0028] It can be clearly seen that a dramatic decrease in noise amplitude can be achieved through the use of line pattern randomization (simulations have shown a 16 dB decrease in peak amplitude). The total acoustic energy level remains the same but the randomization of the lines in the pavement causes a spreading of the acoustic energy present thus reducing the amplitude of the single dominant tone due to tire/road contact.
[0029] Another method variation that can be used to minimize the dominant frequency is to combine groups of grooves that have a regular spacing (maybe 5 to 20 grooves) with areas on the pavement that have no grooves. The area that is free of grooves could have a width that is randomized by similar means to that described above. This method variation would probably be somewhat less effective since it would still produce a dominant tone however on average, the amplitude would be reduced by the fact that the groups of lines have pseudorandomly placed areas that do not contain lines.
[0030] It is believed that the present methods could be applied in road construction practice to reduce the effects of high speed traffic noise in residential areas, possibly eliminating or greatly reducing the necessity of building noise fences and barriers. The application of this invention also will not affect the overall cost of producing the road itself, since it utilizes the exact same techniques that are currently state of the art in the road construction industry.
[0031] A third variation for the purpose of noise reduction in road surfaces would involve the application of grooves that vary in depth thereby causing a variation in amplitude due to the fact that the elastic collision between the tire and the road surface would vary in amplitude on a pseudorandom basis. The most effective approach might be considered a fourth embodiment, and that is the application of both amplitude (groove depth) and position of grooves. By randomizing the position of lines and the depth of the grooves a further reduction in single frequency acoustic energy can be had. It is felt that any of these approaches could be implemented at little additional cost yet realize large gains in road noise performance due to the spreading of the acoustic energy present.
[0032] For maximum noise reduction, the spreading functions used for the generation of the depth profile and the line position should be relatively orthogonal (i.e. Gold codes).
[0033] There are many industry standard methods for imparting the grooved surface texture using rakes, floats, stamps (embossing), and cutting. A method of implementing the invention is to score or stamp the road surface after pouring the concrete during the initial curing cycle. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , this can be accomplished in at least three ways before curing. One is to use a rake 20 with a broad head 22 . The rake 20 would have individual tines 24 that are positioned along the head 22 so that the desired pseudorandom line pattern is embossed or cut into the road surface. The second implementation is to position protrusions 25 on the bottom surface of a float 26 which is done as a final process after the final surface finish is given to the road surface. Again in the case of the float, the protrusions 25 are spaced in accordance with the pseudorandom pattern desired. In both these cases the tool is drawn transversely across the road surface and then indexed at the appropriate point so that there is no overlap in the tooled grooves in the road surface. Since there are practical limitations to the width of the head of the rake or float one could make a set of tools that consist of a set of rakes or floats that each had a unique pseudorandom pattern. For example, if one could make a rake or float with a head width limited to 6 feet and the average pitch (distance between grooves) was set at 2 inches then one tool (rake or float) could realize a pattern that was limited to: (6 ft)×(12″/1 ft)×(pattern length)/(2 in)=36 grooves.
[0034] Since in this example one rake or float is capable of providing a pattern which is relatively short, one could envision a set of three that would provide a unique and non-repetitive pattern of 36×3=108 grooves. It can be shown that patterns of this length can provide sufficiently uncorrelated acoustic spectra to be useful. Ultimately the longer the pattern the more noise like the acoustic spectrum.
[0035] A third approach to obtaining the desired pattern would be to use an embossing or stamping process. This is most typically done with rubber or other suitable material that is used as a pattern master. The pattern is cast or machined into the mould and it is then applied to the roadway to cast the mating surface. This stamping is done prior to the full cure of the roadway material. Versions of this technique are commonly used in ornamental concrete work.
[0036] A fourth way to realize the invention is to cut lines into cured road material using a diamond cutting tool or other suitable tool. This can be done by indexing a single cutting element in a pseudorandom fashion or by the creation of a cutting tool that has multiple cutting elements and cuts many lines/grooves at once.
[0037] Also, shown are float or rake devices for imparting the randomized grooves in a road surface during construction. Stamps or embossing techniques may be employed likewise during construction. Cutting is also possible in finished roads.
[0038] Since there are many industry standard methods for imparting the grooved surface texture using rakes, floats, stamps (embossing), and cutting. The FIGS. 4 and 5 devices suggest a couple inexpensive implementations that are ready adaptations of existing road building tools. Not shown are detailed drawings showing the embossing or stamping process.
[0039] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
[0040] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
[0041] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
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A method for reducing tire to road noise generated by vehicles on a road surface comprises generating a pseudorandom unique line pattern, providing said pattern as transverse grooves disposed in the road surface, said grooves being randomized according said line pattern as to one or more of position, frequency, and depth so as to spread the noise spectrum thereby reducing the amplitude or volume of noise generated at any single frequency and are capable of dramatic reductions in noise generated by high speed traffic on roadways. It can be implemented by conventional construction practice at little or no additional cost and eliminates the need for costly structures such as noise barrier fencing in residential areas.
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This relates to a housing for receiving electrical assemblies and in particular to an enclosure forming a rear wall for such a housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Increasingly, housings are being used for receiving electrical or electronic structural units and assemblies, in which the individual assemblies, which are also usable for other apparatus of the manufacturer, are combined in a respectively desired manner. Standard housings are particularly suited for this, e.g., 19" assembly carriers, since, due to standardization, a plurality of assemblies of various manufacturers are combined with respect to their mechanical structure.
One assembly, which is provided in every electrical or electronic apparatus, is the power pack. This type of power pack is furnished by the manufacturers in a plurality of connecting values (output voltages, power wattage) and corresponds in its outer design to the above-mentioned standards and consequently can be used in every standard housing.
Furthermore, for the standard housing of one manufacturer, front plates or rear walls of another manufacturer can be used, since these housing measurements are standard.
Upon using power pack inserts in the housings, the problem occurs that a substantial part of the heat due to energy loss generated in the entire apparatus originates from the power pack. This heat loss, together with the heat loss of the remaining assemblies, heats up the inner space of the housing, which, on the one hand, requires special cooling measures, and on the other hand, reduces the life span of the assembly parts. Furthermore, special compensation measures have to be taken so that the temperature variations of the individual structural parts are adapted to the often rather high housing inner temperatures.
As an attempted solution of this thermal problem one sometimes provides the power pack part insert with a separate ventilator which is to carry off the heat generated by the power pack towards the rear out of the housing. In this case, a special rear wall with a ventilator unit has to be provided which renders possible the free ventilation of the power pack.
Furthermore, often a ventilator is provided for cooling the electronic assemblies (apart from the power pack) which ventilator again has to be mounted on the rear wall. If the finished apparatus is to be operated in dusty surroundings, then extensive measures have to be taken (filters, etc.), to keep the housing inner space dust-free and nevertheless to secure a sufficient heat discharge.
Finally the power pack, in particular, when it generates large output power, uses up a large part of the housing inner space which consequently no longer is available for receiving the electronic assemblies.
From Great Britain Patent No. 20 45 006 a rear wall for such a housing for electronic assemblies is known which is equipped with cooling fins and on which the semiconductors of the power pack, which generate the heat, are directly screwed on the housing rear wall. Thus the power pack is not interchangeable in different housings, so that a certain power pack (with special voltage, currents) is not always equivalent to or usable with another housing rear wall.
From German-OS Patent No. 24 36 586 a modular constructed housing has been known in which housing parts can be assembled into a unit. The housing parts are so designed that there is always a flush outer rear wall. The major advantage of this arrangement consists in that the individual structural units, which are contained in the housing modules, are protected from one another.
From German-OS Patent No. 29 36 499 a housing has been known where the power pack plug-inboard is insertible parallel to the housing rear wall similar to a mother plate. The housing rear wall itself is designed as a plane surface in the usual manner.
From German-Gm Patent No. 19 31 928 a housing has been known in which cross air ventilation is arranged in the housing, which generates, via ventilators, an air flow parallel with and along the housing rear wall, in order thus to cool the structural elements arranged in the housing interior. The rear wall itself is designed in the usual manner. Further ventilation devices for a housing have been known from German-OS Patent No. 27 44 664.
Starting with the prior art, it is an objective of the present invention to develop a rear wall for a housing in a manner that an increased variability is achieved in the electrical and thermal design of the power pack which simultaneously uses less space and has improved heat discharge without substantial cost increase.
This problem is solved by the combination of elements stated in the claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provide a walled structure or enclosure comprising a hollow body which is attached to a housing for electrical assemblies to form the housing rear wall. The hollow body includes an inner space therein with a power supply pack mounted in the hollow body inner space. The hollow body is adapted to conduct heat to the outside environment. Upper and lower mounting flanges are provided on the hollow body for mounting the hollow body to the housing to form the housing rear wall. The mounting flanges may be located on the hollow body so that the hollow body partially projects from the housing. In another aspect of this invention, there is provided a hollow body housing rear wall which includes a power supply pack mounted in the hollow body inner space, and forced air ventilation means for ventilating heat from the power pack to the outside environment. Upper and lower flanges are provided on the hollow body for mounting the hollow body to the housing to form the housing rear wall.
According to this invention the power pack is placed into the hollow body inner space rather than in the housing inner space, which enables the normal power pack location in the housing inner space to be available for receiving electronic assemblies. Simultaneously, a kind of "two-chamber system" is created according to the principles of this invention, since the housing inner space is only burdened with the discharge heat of the electronic assemblies, while the discharge heat of the power pack is directly carried off in the hollow body at the rear wall. Another essential advantage of this invention consists in that all assemblies, which have to be supplied with power, get their power supply from the rear anyway, that is from the direction of the rear wall which up to the present could only be achieved via a corresponding wiring system. Since the power pack is now located at the rear of the assemblies, the wiring can be done in the shortest manner which reduces the transmission of voltage fluctuations in the power supply from one assembly to another assembly.
When the electronic assemblies in the housing interior do not generate too much waste heat, which usually is the case, then the housing inner space can be hermetically sealed by the rear wall according to this invention, since then the heat discharge from the housing interior is accomplished via the bottom and cover plates of the housing, while the (greater) heat discharge of the power pack takes place via the rear wall.
If one, as preferred, designs the hollow body for receiving the power pack over the entire housing width then a very large area for heat discharge is available. The result is that substantially stronger designed power packs can do without forced ventilation, as is the case with power pack inserts.
If one provides forced ventilation, according to an alternate embodiment of the invention, then the ventilation can be carried out over the entire housing width, which is particularly simple with respect to the current flow conduit and is particularly advantageous with respect to the heat dissipation. This advantage becomes especially obvious when one considers forced ventilation cooled power pack inserts. A further substantial advantage of this cross ventilation is that, upon mounting several apparatus which are equipped in this manner, in a standard cabinet, the heat dissipation of the total apparatus is considerably simpler than previously. Up to now the apparatus generating the most heat (and also the heaviest apparatus because of the corresponding transformers) had to be mounted high up in the cabinet which not only worsens the stability of the cabinet, but also often brings about an undesirable arrangement of the apparatus in the cabinet.
If forced ventilation of the power pack is provided over the entire housing width, then ventilation of the housing inner space can also be provided by branching off a part of the air flow and dimensioning the vents accordingly. If an absolutely dust-free inner space of the housing is desired according to another embodiment of this invention there is provided a heat exchanger in the hollow body, which discharges the heat from the air volume of the housing inner space via correspondingly enlarged transition areas to the outer air.
With respect to the above-mentioned advantages regarding the supply lines from the power pack to the assemblies, it is particularly advantageous when a power bus bar is provided, for example, at or in the hollow body respectively, which runs via the entire housing width. These bus bar types have been known from German design Pat. Nos. 76 13 433 and 78 11 665. This power bus bar system, which, of course, has a plurality of individual bus bars with regular tapping points towards the housing inner space, can be connected, over relatively short transmission paths, with the assemblies located in the housing inner space. In the hollow body itself, various power packs for the various voltages can be provided, which feed their power outputs into the power bus bar. A separate wiring thus is unnecessary.
A particularly preferred embodiment is one where the hollow body is designed as an extrusion profile, since this brings about a plurality of advantages with respect to stability, reworking, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further preferred embodiments result from the sub-claims and the subsequent examples of the embodiments which are explained in detail by means of the illustrations. The various figures show the following:
FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the length of a housing electrical units, the housing having a rear wall formed of a hollow body (not in section);
FIGS. 2 to 13 show cross-sections through respective hollow body rear walls for housing for electrical units according to various preferred forms of embodiments;
FIG. 14 shows a cross-section through a hollow body housing rear wall in a preferred form of the embodiment with power bus bar and cooling fins;
FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a hollow body housing rear wall according to another preferred form of the embodiment;
FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a hollow body rear wall in a further preferred form of the embodiment,
FIG. 17 shows a partial longitudinal section through the hollow body according to FIG. 16 along the line XVII--XVII,
FIG. 18 shows a hollow body housing rear wall in another preferred form of the embodiment of this invention in a perspective view;
FIG. 19 shows a longitudinal section through a hollow body housing rear wall in a further preferred form of this invention;
FIG. 20 shows a view of the hollow body rear wall according to FIG. 19 along the line XX--XX;
FIG. 21 shows a perspective partial view of the hollow body rear wall according to FIGS. 19 and 20;
FIG. 22 shows a horizontal section through a hollow body housing rear wall in another preferred form of the embodiment of this invention along the line XXII--XXII of FIG. 23;
FIG. 23 shows a section along the line XXIII--XXIII from FIG. 22 (longitudinal section);
FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of a hollow body housing rear wall in another preferred form of the embodiment of this invention; and
FIGS. 25 and 26 show a hollow body housing rear wall in two further preferred forms of the embodiment of this invention in a longitudinal and cross-sectional section respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows schematically a 19" assembly carrier housing 1 at the upper and lower wall of which the usual guide rails 2 are used. The guide rails 2 serve to receive assemblies 3, for example, European cards or modules, which, at their front side, are provided with front plates 4 and handles for pulling-out and inserting the assemblies.
At the housing rear, assemblies 3 with soldered-on contact strips 5 are provided, which, upon insertion of the assembly 3 into the housing 1, fit in spring contact strips 6. The spring contact strips 6 are soldered onto a mother plate 7, which connects the spring contact strips 6 for various assemblies 3 in the housing 1 in the desired manner with one another and, if necessary, also carries additional assemblies. A portion of the contact lugs 9 extend outwardly through the corresponding bores in the mother plate 7 in the direction of the, housing rear wall. Of course, not only a mother plate 7 can serve for connecting the spring contact strips 6 or the assemblies 3 respectively with each other, as conventional wiring may be used, in which case the spring contact strips 6 are directly mounted on the housing 1.
At the rear end of the housing 1, slots are provided above and below, in which pre-drilled topped strips 8, which are provided with threads, are inserted. The screw strips 8 serve to mount a rear wall onto the housing 1.
According to this invention, the rear wall is formed of a walled structure or enclosure in the form of a hollow body 10, which contains the power pack for the apparatus. The hollow body 10 is equipped with an upper flange 13 and a lower flange 14 which carries bores corresponding to the thread bores in the screw strip 8, in order to solidly screw the hollow body to the housing 1.
The flanges 13 and 14 are located, in this preferred form of the embodiment shown here, not entirely at the end of the hollow body 10, but are so arranged that a portion of the hollow body 10 projects into the inner space of the housing 1, and the remaining portion projects toward the rear out of the housing 1. Due to this form of the embodiment of this invention a particularly efficient heat discharge is obtained by mere convection ventilation, since not only the rear area of the hollow body 10, together with the power pack located therein, are exposed to the surrounding air, but also a large part of the upper and lower side of the hollow body 10. Furthermore this form of the embodiment guaranties that the hollow body 10 obtains a relatively large inner volume without projecting too far from the housing 1 towards the rear.
In the following, various preferred forms of the embodiment of the hollow body are described in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2 to 13, which all are fabricated as extrusion profiles which bring about a particularly stable structure and yet relatively small manufacturing costs.
All shown forms of the embodiment of a hollow body in accordance with this invention have the common features that continuous slots 15 are provided which serve as receiver bores for self-tapping screws for the mounting of the side covers. Furthermore, all shown forms of the embodiment have slots 18 into which power packs 12 or their plates respectively are insertible so that the power packs are kept securely in the inner space 11 of the hollow body 10.
In the forms of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 to 11 and 13 the hollow body 10 consists of a base part 10", which, at its upper side and its underside, along the entire length, carries flanges 13 or 14 respectively, in which bores 16 are located in order to fasten the base part 10" to the housing. A lid 10' is mounted on the base part 10", with the lid being able to be connected by means of fastening means 17 with the base part 10".
The lid 10' can be designed as a hood (FIGS. 2, 5, 9 to 11, 13) which, depending on the space requirement and required access to the inner space 11, can have larger or smaller dimensions.
In another preferred form of the embodiment the lid 10' is merely designed as a ribbon-shaped plate (FIG. 3, FIG. 7).
In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the hollow body 10 is designed as a unitary member which may lower the mounting expenses.
In FIG. 6, a form of the embodiment is shown in which both halves of the hollow body 10 are connected via the flanges 13 and 14, or respectively via the correspondingly inserted screws.
In the form of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the lid 10' is designed on the housing inner side of the hollow body 10 wherein the form of embodiment according to FIG. 8 has slots 19 for fastening the lid 10' to the base section 10".
As will be obvious from FIG. 13, the design of the hollow body 10 mainly depends on the structure of the power pack 12, since, for example (FIG. 13), one can fasten a construction element 20, which generates particularly high waste heat, at the base section 10".
If one provides pure convection cooling, then, for carrying off larger heat amounts one can provide a plurality of cooling fins 39 at the hollow body 10, for example, at the lid 10', as this is shown in FIG. 14. In order to compensate for the unfavorable arrangement of the cooling fins 39 with respect to convection which is due to the extrusion profile fabrication, it is of advantage that the individual cooling fins 39 increase in length upwardly from below.
The described hollow body with a continuous cross-section preferably runs over the entire housing width. Here it is especially advantageous--as shown in FIG. 14--if, in the hollow body 10 or its base section 10" respectively, a power bus bar 22 is provided. This power bus bar consists of several (in FIG. 14 only two are shown) conducting rails 24, which carry, at regular intervals, bent connecting clamps 25 which project in the direction of the housing inner space. The conducting rails 24 are kept at a defined distance from one another by insulating layers 26 so as to form defined values of capacitomer or inductances respectively. Furthermore, the conducting rails 24 are led, by correspondingly bent connecting clamps, into the inner space 11, whereby these connecting clamps are led through transit openings 28 into the inner space 11. There they are connected with the corresponding connecting points to the power pack 12 by connecting leads 21.
The arrangement consisting of conducting rails 24 with insulating layers 26 in between is held by a rail-type lid 23 at the hollow body 10 or at the base section 10" respectively, by means of retaining hooks 27, which also are formed together with the extrusion profile.
By means of this arrangement a plurality of particularly significant advantages is guaranteed. First, each assembly 3 arranged in the housing 1 can be supplied with power in the shortest manner; secondly, the power pack 12 can consist of separate assemblies, which are composed depending on the wishes of the user (various voltages, various output currents). The feeding of the supply currents from the power packs takes place first into the power bus bar 22, whereby the spatial arrangement of the respective power bus bar 22 to the respective assembly 3. Furthermore, this arrangement of the power bus bars guarantees a certain disengagement of the individual assemblies 3 from one another. If one uses conventional wiring (paired with an insert-power pack), then the jump in the power consumption of an individual assembly leads to an interference impulse in the power supply line which is communicated to the other assemblies and has to be filtered out there by special measures, such as with filters having a large capacitance. This interference is almost completely eliminated with power bus bar 22. Furthermore, the conducting rails 24, in contrast to the usual wiring, may be generously dimensioned so that a voltage drop or a heating-up can be avoided. This is particularly of advantage when large amounts of power are consumed.
FIG. 15 shows further details of the invention under discussion. We see in this figure that the hollow body 10 which extends over the entire width of the housing, is closed off at its sides with side sections 30, 30', which, in the form of the embodiment of this invention shown here, have flanges 31, 31' with fastening bores 32. These side flanges 31, 31' are not absolutely necessary, but are advantageous, if the housing 1 is to be sealed off against dust.
FIG. 15 shows another advantage of the invention under discussion which consists in that a cross ventilation of the inner space 11 of the hollow body 10 can take place. For this, the two side sections 30, 30' have ventilation openings 29, whereby at least the suction opening preferably is provided with a protective grid and a filter. By means of this cross ventilation the entire inner space of the hollow body 10 is ventilated in the simplest and most efficient manner. Note in the embodiment of FIG. 15 that air is sucked in from the outside (that is, not with the heated air from the apparatus inner space), without any particular means being provided for guiding the air flow, as is the case with insert power packs, which on their rear side have to suck in as well as discharge the air.
From FIG. 15 it can be seen that the power supply, which usually operates with alternating current, can be supplied by means of a power cable 38, which directly ends in the power pack. In this manner a considerable decrease in humming interferences is achieved which otherwise are almost unavoidable due to stray capacitances and inductances.
The side sections 30, 30' can be fastened by means of self-tapping screws 15' which are screwed in the openings 15 (see FIGS. 2 to 13).
In the variation shown in FIG. 16, which is designed similar to that of FIG. 15, one of the flanges 14 is wider (or higher) than the other flange 13. The illustrated lower flange 14 consists of a section 14', which is formed in one piece with the hollow body 10', and a removable plate 33, which serves to mount the plug sockets. In order to facilitate the boring of the mounting bores 34 in the plug socket mounting plate 33 by the user, the mounting plate 33 is made completely flat and can be removably fastened by means of screws (not shown) to the flange section 14'. The plate 33 is fastened to the housing 1 at the lower edge.
In all forms of the embodiment shown up to now, the extrusion profile is designed crosswise to the housing. In contrast to this, in the following form of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 18, the extrusion profile is designed vertically, that is, the "disks" to be sliced off from the semi-finished material correspond in their length to the height of the housing or the rear wall respectively. Instead of the side sections 30, 30' the hollow body is closed also by extrusion form pieces 30", which also may have vent openings 29, 29'. Here too, a cross-ventilation takes place, whereby the air intake and air exhaust take place in the vertical direction.
Furthermore the flange 31" of the lower (or upper) form section 30" can be broader so that mounting bores 34 for plug sockets can be provided.
If one does not want to provide forced air ventilation, then one can mount cooling fins 39, which improve the heat discharge, on the hollow body 10, as in all other previously described forms of the embodiment. In the preferred form of the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, these cooling fins 39 run, due to the other "extrusion direction", in the (vertical) direction which is favorable from the flow-technical point of view.
In FIGS. 19 to 21 another preferred variation of this invention is shown similar to the one shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. In this form of the embodiment, the base section 10" is equipped with a shorter flange 14" and similarly the lid section 10' is equipped with a flange 14', wherein the dimensioning is so that between the two flanges 14' and 14" a defined distance is maintained. The above-described plug socket mounting plate is inserted into the intermediate space, which only at its underside has to be connected to the housing 1. The stability of the arrangement is sufficient, because the hollow body 10 or its side sections 30 respectively are provided with side flanges 31.
From FIG. 21 we see furthermore that the side sections 30 also preferably are fabricated as extrusion profiles, whereby only little material waste is generated.
In another preferred form of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the hollow body 10 not only contains the power pack 12, but also a heat exchanger for cooling the inner space of the housing. For this purpose, the inner space of the hollow body 10 is separated by a partition wall 36 into two separate sections of space 11' and 11", whereby the section of space 11' (projecting away from the housing) contains the power pack 12. The ventilation takes place by means of an axial ventilator 35 and that is, in such a manner, that the air for cooling the power pack 12 is first sucked in through the vent opening 29 and is led over the entire width of the hollow body 10 to the outlet opening 29' (with protective grid 40). Thus the structural units 20 of the power pack 12 lie directly in the path of the air flow. A portion of the air supplied by the ventilator 35 passes the rear side of the plate of the power pack 12 and also leaves the hollow body 10 at the opening 29'. At the same time this air brushes the cooling ribs 37 and the partition wall 36 and removes heat from them. On the other hand, by means of a rear ventilator 35', air is sucked in from the inner space of the housing 1 via an inlet opening 29"' into the space section 11" and returned on the opposite side through an opening 29" into the housing inner space. Cooling ribs 37 also project into the space section 11", said cooling ribs being connected to the partition wall 36. By this air flow, an efficient heat exchange between the air from ventilator 35' and that of ventilator 35 is secured (counterflow) so that the inner space of the housing 1, even when it still contains many heat generating structural units or assemblies which necessitate forced air cooling, can be sealed off hermetically and thereby rendered dust-free.
In another form of the preferred embodiment of this invention, not shown here, which is of advantage where the requirement for a dust-free housing inner space is less strict, one may omit the partition wall 36 with cooling fins 37, as well as, if necessary, the second ventilator 35' so that one part of the air fed by ventilator 35 flows through the housing inner space, with the other part flowing over the power pack 12.
In the variation shown in FIG. 24, which is similar to FIG. 18, the one side flange 31 is lengthened so that a mounting plate 33 for the bores 34 for the mounting of plug sockets is created. The mounting of a power bus bar still is easily possible, if one integrates its clamping fixture, for example, into the form piece 30'.
In FIG. 25, another preferred form of the embodiment of this invention is shown in a longitudinal section. This form of the embodiment is particularly suited, if high, upright structural units 20 are arranged on the plate 12, which would hinder the free passage of the air flow in a purely cross flow ventilation. In this form of the embodiment of the invention two ventilators 35, 35' are provided, which suck the air out of the inner space 11, whereby this air flows in via inlet apertures (if necessary, with filters in front of them) and thus directly cools the high upright structural units. Of course, these inlet openings must not be located in the center, but are preferably so provided that efficient cooling over the entire inner space 11 is secured.
The form of the embodiment shown in FIG. 26 is similar to FIG. 19 with respect to the housing cross-section and similar to FIG. 14 regarding the arrangement of a power bus bar. In this case, however, the power bus bar 22 is so arranged that its one retaining hook 27 simultaneously forms the lower mounting flange 14", which, together with the second lower mounting flange 14' supports the plug socket mounting plate 33. Furthermore in this arrangement the connecting clamps 25 project downwardly, that is not into the inner space of the apparatus, which saves space. Otherwise, the power bus bar 22 is designed as the one described in connection with FIG. 14.
Naturally, all random combinations of the forms of embodiments shown here are possible without leaving the scope of this invention. The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understandingly only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
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A rear wall for a standard housing, which housing is adapted for receiving electronic assemblies. The rear wall is provided by an enclosure in the form of a hollow body with mounting flanges for mounting the hollow body to one end of the housing so as to form a housing rear wall. A power pack for supplying power to the electrical assemblies is mounted in the hollow body so that heat may be transferred and carried off towards the outside of the housing. Ventillators and vent openings are provided in the hollow body to enable forced ventilation cooling of the power pack as well as to enable heat transfer from the housing interior. The mounting flanges are positionally located on the hollow body so that the formed housing rear wall is provided within the housing interior and the hollow body extends from the housing rear wall outwardly so as to partially project from the housing.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most present day sewing machines have covers for accessing components located within the bracket arm. These covers are usually held on by screws going through holes in the cover. In addition to these holes being unsightly, a tool is required to remove covers thus fastened, and in using the tool, the finish on the cover around the holes is subject to getting scratched. In an attempt to eliminate these disadvantages, some sewing machines utilize spring clips on the underside of the cover, which are completely hidden from view when the cover is slid laterally into place. A problem, however, exists with this securing means, in that the cover may be inadvertently dislodged in the event that a lateral force is applied thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of this invention to provide in a sewing machine an arrangement for securing a bracket arm top cover in place and which employs a latch on the inside of the cover of which the latch bolt is carried by a member shiftably supported on the sewing machine and carrying a thread guide exteriorly of the sewing machine so that a secure fastening is provided for the cover without detracting from the overall appearance of the sewing machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the bracket arm portion of a sewing machine with the bracket arm top cover locking device of this invention applied thereto;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the sewing machine bracket arm of FIG. 1 with the top cover removed but just the interengaging latch elements which are carried on the cover in the positions which they occupy when the cover is locked on the bracket arm; and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, showing the top cover assembly and the locking device in place.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, a sewing machine bracket arm is generally referred to by the reference number 2. Located within the bracket arm 2 is a drive shaft 4. Attached to the drive shaft 4 by suitable linkages 6 is a thread take-up 8 and a needle bar 10. In the top side of the bracket arm 2 is an opening 12 having formed along its front edge a lip 14. A cover assembly 16, including an outside cover 17 and an inside cover 18, is provided whose shape is congruent with the opening 12 in the bracket arm 2. The outside cover 17 has a front edge 20 which is formed to engage the lip 14 of the opening 12 such that the lip 14 provides a means for limiting the forward movement of the cover assembly 16.
The outside cover 17 also has bosses 22 formed in its underside, to which is secured by fastening means, such as rivets 24, the inside cover 18. The inside cover 18 has a rear edge 26 which is formed into guides 28 for engaging the inside rear edge of opening 12 in the bracket arm 2 limiting the rearward movement of the cover assembly 16.
Secured in the bracket arm 2 and located on the right side of the opening 12 as view in FIG. 1 and extending upward therein, is a stud 30 which is formed with a head portion 32. Correspondingly located on the underside of the inside cover 18 is a spring clip 34 having one end formed in a fork 36 for engaging the head portion 32 of the stud 30. The spring clip 34 is secured to the indside cover 18 by a screw 38.
Situated in the bracket arm 2 and located at the left side of opening 12 as viewed in FIG. 1, is a pivot support 40. The pivot support 40 has a base 41 and two parallel vertical sections, 42 and 43 depending from opposite ends of the base 41. The base 41 is formed with two holes, 44 and 45 through which screws 46 and 47 are passed securing the pivot support 40 to the bracket arm 2. Connecting the two vertical sections, 42 and 43 is a pivot 48. A bracket 50 is pivotally attached at its midpoint to the pivot 48. A first limb 52 of the bracket 50, extending from the pivot 48 and within the bracket arm 2, is formed with downward turned tangs 54. A second limb 56 of the bracket 50 extends from the pivot 48 to the outside of the bracket arm 2 through a hole 58 therein. This second limb 56 of the bracket 50 terminates outside the bracket arm 2 in an offset thread guiding finger 59 adjacent to which a pretension device 60 is secured.
Affixed to the underside of the inside cover 18 adapted to cooperate with the tangs 54 of the bracket 50 is a latch block 62. The latch block 62 is formed with a hole 64 which as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is positioned so as to accomodate the tangs 54 when the cover is in place on the bracket arm 2. The latch block 62 is secured to the inside cover 18 by a screw 66 and preferably projects from the screw 66 in spaced relation to the inside cover 18 such that the tangs 54 of the bracket 50 may engage the hole 64 from between the latch block 62 and the inside cover 18.
The pivot support 40 is also formed with a stop 68 for limiting movement of the first limb 52 of the bracket 50 in the direction of engagement of the tangs 54. Biasing means, in the form of a coil spring 70, is provided for urging the first limb 52 of the bracket 50 against the stop 68.
For installation, the cover assembly 16 is placed over the opening 12 spaced somewhat to the right thereof. While pressing down on the thread guiding finger 59 of the second limb 56 of the bracket 50 so as to elevate the tangs 54, the cover assembly 16 is slid to the left, causing the fork 36 in the spring clip 34 to engage the head portion 32 of the stud 30. In the process of sliding the cover assembly 16 to the left, the lip 14 and the guides 28 act to constrain the cover assembly 16 from moving either frontwardly or backwardly with respect to the bracket arm 2 allowing movement only to the left or right. After the cover assembly 16 is fully seated, the second limb 56 of the bracket 50 may be released causing the tangs 54 in the first limb 52 of the bracket 50 to engage the hole 64 in the latch block 62 thereby locking the cover assembly 16 in position. To remove the cover, assembly 16, it is necessary first to depress the thread guiding finger 59 and then, while depressing the thread guiding finger 59, to apply a lateral force to the cover assembly 16, sliding the cover assembly 16 to the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since this combination of actions is not likely to occur by accident, and since neither of these actions when applied individually will have any effect in dislodging the cover assembly 16, inadvertent detachment of the cover assembly 16 is practically impossible with the present invention.
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A locking device for a top cover on a bracket arm of a sewing machine which employs a latching device of which the retractable bolt is associated with a thread guiding member shiftably supported on the bracket arm and projecting exteriorly thereof. When the cover is in place there are no visible latching devices or fastenings to detract from the overall appearance of the sewing machine.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to subsea oil production systems and in particular to a connector for tying back a riser from a wellhead to a surface platform.
Offshore oil wells may be drilled from a floating platform and thereafter produced to a later constructed fixed or tethered platform. Such a procedure requires the running of tiebacks or risers from the platform deck to the wellhead in order to tieback the wellhead to the platform. Tubing is thereafter run, surface production trees installed, and the wells produced in a conventional manner.
The outermost conductor or riser must be connected and sealed in some manner to the wellhead. Particularly with the tensioned leg platform where the upper end of the riser is permitted to move horizontally, a bending moment is produced at the wellhead. This may occur even with the fixed platform where there is significant current force acting on the riser. The connection to the wellhead must also be capable of carrying substantial vertical force either in compression where insufficient load is carried by the platform or in tension where excessive load is carried by the platform.
Thermal expansion of various components of this structure also occurs depending on whether or not the well is producing at a particular time and the temperature of the fluid being produced. Furthermore as contrasted to the relatively short time period of drilling a well, the riser and its connection must endure these stresses through many cycles over many years.
One approach to making this tieback connection is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,495 wherein the riser funnel is locked to the wellhead housing and seals at the upper end of the housing. This has a single seal location and while the structure can be made very rigid, there can still be slight movements at the seal location which over a period of years would lead to seal failure. Furthermore, the casing hanger packoff is exposed to the fluid and pressure within the inner downhole casing string thereby resulting in possible deterioration of the casing hanger packing.
In another approach to a tieback connection, illustrated in co-pending application Ser. No. 241,187, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,784 issused Oct. 11, 1983, the downwardly-extending funnel surrounds the wellhead housing for purposes of limiting deflection while a floating bushing ties the stab pin to the casing hanger. This again has a single seal location which must accept the repeated bending strain up to the limit provided by the housing-funnel interaction. This connection with the bushing and seal ring is also subject to the entire range of tensile and compressive loads placed on the connector. Any vertical upward loading passing through the riser and bushing to the casing hanger is additive with any expansion forces tending to push the hanger up thereby increasing the difficulty of retaining the hanger at its packed off location with the wellhead housing.
In each of the prior art schemes, the seal location is immediately adjacent the direct load path for both bending and tension; and any attempt to provide a secondary seal is plagued with problems because of fabrication tolerance and movement of the various members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The wellhead which is to be tied back to the platform has a wellhead housing with external grooves and has a casing hanger set within the housing. This casing hanger carries the inner string of casing and is packed off or sealed to the wellhead housing.
A downwardly-extending funnel is secured to the bottom of the riser with locking means on the funnel adapted to mate with and lock in the external grooves of the wellhead housing. An internal hollow cylindrical stab pin is secured and sealed inside the funnel and extends downwardly. It has an inwardly-extending, upwardly-facing shoulder near the lower end. A seal ring is carried on this stab pin and is adapted to seal with the casing hanger.
An internal floating bushing or torque sleeve has a downwardly-facing shoulder engageable with the shoulder on the stab pin and has threads engageable with threads in the casing hanger. This bushing may be rotated in engagement with the casing hanger to draw the stab pin down into sealing contact with the casing hanger. The stab pin has bellows at the upper end which permit movement of the lower end of the stab pin relative to the funnel throughout a small but reasonable distance at very low stresses.
The bellows has separated structural backup rings so that they maintain substantial longitudinal flexibility while still being able to contain substantial pressure.
The funnel also carries a seal engageable with a wellhead housing which is energized when the wellhead housing is locked down.
A casing hanger lockdown engages grooves within the wellhead and transmits a downward force against the casing hanger. Differential movement, caused by thermal expansion, between the two seal locations is thereby avoided. This also avoids placing the strain caused by the expansion on the bellows.
Accordingly, a tight, rigid structural connection is made between the funnel and the wellhead housing with the secondary seal at that location. The stab pin contains the primary seal with this pin and the seal being isolated from the high forces and strains because of the longitudinal flexibility of the bellows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation through the connector and wellhead,
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connector, and
FIG. 3 illustrates the mechanical lock.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Wellhead 10 includes wellhead housing 12 with casing hanger 14 set therein. This hanger carries the inner string of casing and rests on previously-run casing hangers. Lockdown ring 16 is the conventional lockdown ring suitable for holding the hanger down during drilling operations. The hanger has been packed off by energizing packoff seal 18 by rotation of packing nut 20. The wellhead housing also has circumferential grooves 22 on the outside circumference and grooves 24 on the internal circumference.
Riser 26 is run from a floating platform for the purpose of tying the wellhead back to the platform. Funnel 28 is sealingly secured to the bottom of the riser with bolts 30 and seal 32.
This funnel carries locking dogs 34 which are adapted to engage and lock with external grooves 22. Cam ring 36 activates these dogs when it is moved downwardly through the movement of actuation ring 38 operating through connecting rods 40. The cam ring 36 is, therefore, moved vertically with respect to the funnel body 42 to effect horizontal movement and locking of the dogs. A mechanical lock 44 is shown in FIG. 3 with bolt 46 passing through boss 48 which is permanently secured to the funnel body 42. Rotation of the bolt moves washer 50 into contact with the actuation ring 38 after it has been moved downwardly thereby mechanically locking the dog ring behind the dogs so as to preclude inadvertent release. Actuator pins 52 extend upwardly from actuation ring 38 for engagement with hydraulic actuators.
A guide frame, not shown, with hydraulic actuators may be used to operate the various components. This would generally involve a frame run-down on guideline funnels to engage and lock in the template. Hydraulic actuators would then force down actuator pins 52 and separate hyrdaulic actuators would rotate the mechanicl lock 44 to effect mechanical locking of the connector in place.
A guide funnel 54 is secured to the lower end of the funnel to provide protection and to facilitate engagement and alignment of the apparatus when the funnel is being run over the wellhead.
A metallic AX seal ring 56 is secured to the bottom of the funnel during running with a seal surface 58 on the funnel and 60 on the wellhead housing. As the dogs are engaged and forced inwardly, downward movement of the funnel relative to the wellhead energizes seal 56 as well as firmly and securely locking the funnel 28 to the wellhead housing 12.
Stab pin 66 is also sealingly secured to the funnel 28, in the case by being entrapped between the riser and the funnel which is held by bolts 30. Seal 68 seals between the seawater and the outside of the stab pin while seal 32 seals between the seawater and the inside.
The stab pin carries an AX-type metal seal 70 at its lower end adapted for engagement with surface 72 of the casing hanger 14. Stab pin 66 has an inwardly-extending, upwardly-facing shoulder 74 located near the lower end.
A torque sleeve 76 is held in threads 78 while running; and after the dogs have been locked, it is rotated by use of a running tool. It drops free from these threads and engages its lower threads 80 with threads 82 on the casing hanger. This torque sleeve has an outwardly-extending, downwardly-facing shoulder 84 for engagement with the shoulder 74 of the stab pin. Accordingly, rotation of the torque sleeve draws the lower end of the stab pin down energizing seal 70 to effect the primary pressure tight seal. With this seal effected, the casing packoff 18 is protected from prolonged contact with any bore fluid within the casing string.
A longitudinally flexible section in the form of bellows 86 is located between the upper portion where the stab pin 66 is attached to the funnel 28 and the shoulder 84. The bellows is backed up by a plurality of circumferential backup rings 88 each located within an inwardly-extending fold of the bellows. These backup rings are separated, and they facilitate the retention of internal pressure while still permitting longitudinal movement of the stab pin.
This bellows permits the stab pin to elongate as it is pulled in and sealed at the lower end without creating high stresses. It allows for manufacturing tolerance of the components and will accept a reasonable error in the setting height of the casing hanger. Any longitudinal forces or bending forces placed on the connection by the riser are restrained by the high strength connection between the locking dogs 34 and the wellhead housing 12. Any strain occurring because of this bending is not transmitted to the stab pin or its seal because of the ability of the bellows to accept strains in bending and elongation without transmitting high forces. Accordingly, the primary seal 70 is protected from fatigue forces over the production life of the well while a backup seal 56 is also provided between the wellhead housing and the funnel.
Since the connector is secured to both the wellhead housing and the casing hanger, differential movement between the two during operation is of concern. This may occur since the production of a hot fluid may cause the downhole casing to expand thereby tending to lift the casing hanger. Locking rings 16 while satisfactory for lockdown during drilling is not adequate for long-term and possible cycling operation. It inherently has substantial clearance between the lockdown ring and the housing to assure its engagement when setting the hanger. This potential movement can cause fretting and ultimate deterioration of the lockdown ring. Accordingly, with the above-described double connection, it is desirable to have additional lockdown apparatus on the casing hanger.
Accordingly, prior to running the riser, a casing hanger lockdown 90 is run with locking dogs 92 held within recess 94 of the lockdown inner body 96 during running. When the dogs 92 are at the elevation of grooves 24, they are urged outwardly; and the inner body 96 is rotated with respect to the lockdown outer body 98 so that the inner body moves downwardly backing up the dogs 92 and abutting lower surface 100 of the lockdown against the top of the casing hanger. This lockdown thereafter absorbs all expansion forces transmitting the force to the wellhead housing thereby avoiding placing of the cycling strains on the stab pin 66. If expansion moved the casing hanger up sufficiently to close the bellows, it would not adequately perform its task of absorbing strains caused by bending of the riser connection.
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A connector for tying back a wellhead (10) to a floating platform rigidly attaches to the wellhead housing (12). It is engaged with the casing hanger (14) through a bellows (86) arrangement. Strain cycling of the connection is reduced while thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerance are readily tolerated.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns that of a new and improved flashing apparatus for external use on structures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,600, filed by Olson, discloses a flexible flashing device for vertically stacked building side panels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,435, filed by David et al., discloses a flashing for use with siding panels possessing an interior and an exterior surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,477, filed by Lawless et al., discloses a barrier laminate for attachment to the outer surface of a structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,572, filed by Purcell et al., discloses a new concept wall system wherein a moisture and vapor barrier is positioned in an interior insulation finish system to provide thermal stability regardless of climatic variations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,415, filed by Fisher et al., discloses a water flashing device for use in conjunction with the installation of exterior building siding materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns that of a new and improved flashing apparatus for external use on structures. The flashing apparatus essentially serves as an accessory for fiber cement siding and is designed to provide a certain level of water resistance in the seams between the ends of the sections of the siding. The flashing apparatus has a forward projecting flange and comes in various heights to accommodate different sizes of fiber cement siding that may be used in constructing a structure.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a flashing apparatus for external use on structures that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the flashing apparatus that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the flashing apparatus for external use on structures in detail, it is to be understood that the flashing apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The flashing apparatus for external use on structures is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present flashing apparatus for external use on structures. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which is of durable and reliable construction.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a flashing apparatus for external use on structures which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segment of the purchasing public.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the flashing apparatus as it is shown in use.
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the flashing apparatus as it is shown in use.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the flashing apparatus.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the various flashing apparati that incorporate aspects of the flashing apparatus into them.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new flashing apparatus for external use on structures embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 2 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 , a number of construction components are utilized in conjunction with the flashing apparatus 2 to show how the flashing apparatus 2 interrelates with these items. First, a stud 4 is shown as structural support for a structure. The stud 4 , in the completed product, would be not be visible, as it serves as a structural framework within the structure. Attached to the stud 4 would be a layer of sheathing 6 and a weather resistant barrier 8 . The sheathing 6 and barrier 8 could very well be incorporated into one item that is then fixedly attached to the stud 4 .
Over the barrier 8 is then attached a plurality of fiber cement siding pieces 10 . Each of the pieces has a length and a width, with the length being much longer than the width. The length of each of the fiber cement siding pieces 10 is at least eight feet long, but can be longer as needed. Each of the fiber cement siding pieces 10 has a width that can vary widely, depending on the manufacturer and the particular use or look desired for a particular structure. Each fiber cement siding piece 10 also has two edges, a top edge 17 and a bottom edge 15 .
When placed against the weather resistant barrier 8 , the fiber cement siding pieces 10 are placed in parallel rows. Normally, when fiber cement siding 10 is placed against the barrier 8 , it is angled in a way that allows the bottom edge 15 of a particular fiber cement siding piece 10 to overlap the top edge 17 of a fiber cement siding piece 10 that is below the first piece 10 . In addition, all of the fiber cement siding pieces 10 on a structure are overlapped in such a manner that the “butt joints,” which are the areas between two adjoining fiber cement siding pieces 10 at the same level, are not at the same “vertical” location for each level. These characteristics ensure that the water dripping down against the exterior of a structure will not easily get behind the fiber cement siding pieces 10 .
However, without the flashing apparatus 2 , it is possible that small amounts of water could get in between adjacent fiber cement siding pieces 10 . However, proper use of the flashing apparatus 2 in conjunction with the fiber cement siding pieces 10 will prevent this from happening.
The flashing apparatus 2 itself comprises a main body 5 and a lip 3 . The main body 5 ideally has a height of six (6) inches and has two edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. The main body 5 also has a width of anywhere between five and one-fourths (5¼) of an inch and twelve (12) inches. The fiber cement siding pieces 10 ideally has width dimensions of one of several different sizes, including 5¼, 6¼, 7¼, 8, 8¼, 9¼, and 12 inch widths.
Attached to the top edge of the main body 5 of the flashing apparatus 2 is the lip 3 . The lip 3 is attached to the top edge of the main body 5 at a ninety degree angle and extends outward approximately one-fourth (¼) of an inch. When each particular flashing apparatus 2 is used in conjunction with two adjacent fiber cement siding pieces 10 , the lip 3 is wrapped over the top edge 17 of each of the fiber cement siding pieces 10 before fasteners 18 are used to fixedly attach the fiber cement siding pieces 10 to the weather resistant barrier 8 .
The lip 3 of each flashing apparatus 2 essentially holds the flashing apparatus 2 in place against the weather resistant barrier 8 and the fiber cement siding pieces 10 , especially before the fasteners 18 have been used to fixedly attach the fiber cement siding pieces 10 to the weather resistant barrier 8 . In addition, the presence of a flashing apparatus 2 over each “butt joint” where two adjacent fiber cement siding pieces 10 meet each other will prevent water seepage through this area, thereby further protecting the weather resistant barrier 8 , the sheathing 6 , and the stud 4 from external moisture problems.
The flashing apparatus 2 itself is preferably fabricated from galvanized steel. The flashing apparatus 2 would come in a variety of colors, depending on the colors of fiber cement siding pieces 10 that are available.
The concept of the flashing apparatus 2 can also be utilized in other various shapes and sizes as well. FIG. 4 highlights various alternative embodiments of flashing apparati 2 that include a base 20 , a bent portion 22 , and a reverse bend 24 portion. The bent portion 22 of each these alternative embodiments is attached at a ninety degree angle to the base 20 , while the reverse bend 24 is attached to the bent portion 22 and wraps around at a one-hundred eighty degree angle. The various flashing apparati 2 shown in FIG. 4 are not to scale, as they generally have lengths of at least eight to ten feet. Furthermore, the width of each of the bases 20 is preferably between two to three and one-half inches and the width of each bent portion 22 is ideally one to two and one-half inches.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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A flashing apparatus for external use on structures is described. The flashing apparatus essentially serves as an accessory for fiber cement siding and is designed to provide a certain level of water resistance in the seams between the ends of the sections of the siding. The flashing apparatus has a forward projecting flange and comes in various heights to accommodate different sizes of fiber cement siding that may be used in constructing a structure.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/946,244 filed Jun. 26, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a steel alloy that provides high strength and high fracture toughness, and in particular to such an alloy that also provides improved fatigue resistance.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Steel alloys having a good combination of high strength and high fracture toughness are known. Examples of such alloys are described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,415; U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,044; U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,066; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0113931; the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The alloys described in those documents were originally designed for structural aerospace uses such as aircraft landing gear components, aircraft structural members, such as braces, beams, and struts. The known alloys have been made with a process that includes the use of a rare earth treatment to control the size and shape of inclusions such as sulfides, oxides, and oxysulfides that would otherwise adversely affect the strength and toughness of the alloys in the structural applications for which they are designed.
[0006] Since the original development of the above-mentioned alloys, a new application of the alloys has arisen, namely, in rotating shafts for jet engines. In the course of developing rotating shafts made from these alloys, it has been found that the fatigue life of the rare earth treated alloys, particularly the low cycle fatigue life, leaves something to be desired. However, the combination of high strength and high fracture toughness provided by these alloys is still highly desirable for the rotating shaft application. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a steel alloy that provides the combination of high strength and high fracture toughness provided by the known alloys, together with improved fatigue life for the rotating shaft application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to an age-hardenable, martensitic steel alloy having a composition and microstructure that is designed to provide a significant improvement in the fatigue life of a finished component, such as a rotating shaft of the type suitable for use in a jet engine or gas turbine. Summarized in the table below are the Broad, Intermediate, and Preferred chemistries of the material according to the present invention. The values set forth in the table are given in weight percent.
[0000] Broad Intermediate Preferred C 0.2-0.36 0.20-0.33 0.21-0.27 Mn 0.20 max. 0.15 max. 0.10 max. Si 0.1 max. 0.1 max. 0.1 max. P 0.01 max. 0.008 max. 0.008 max. S 0.0040 max. 0.0025 max. 0.0020 max. Cr 1.3-4 2-4 2.9-4.0 Ni 10-15 10.5-15 11.0-13.0 Mo 0.75-2.7 0.75-1.75 1.0-1.5 Co 8-22 8-17 10-14 Ti 0.02 max. 0.02 max. 0.02 max. Al 0.01 max. 0.01 max. 0.01 max.
The balance of the alloy is iron and usual impurities, including additional elements in amounts which do not detract from the desired combination of properties. The alloy according to this invention is further characterized by a dispersion of small inclusions having a size distribution of about 0.4 μm to about 7 μm in major dimension in the alloy matrix. Preferably, the median inclusion size is at least about 1.6 μm. The composition of the inclusions contains essentially no rare earth elements such as cerium and lanthanum.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of improving the low cycle fatigue life of a high strength, high toughness, age-hardenable martensitic steel alloy. The method includes the step of melting an age-hardenable martensitic steel alloy having the weight percent composition set forth above. The method further includes the step of adding calcium to the molten alloy to combine with available sulfur and oxygen in the molten alloy to form inclusions that are removable from said alloy. The method also includes the steps of processing the alloy to remove at least a portion of the inclusions from the alloy and then solidifying the refined alloy, whereby the solidified alloy contains a limited dispersion of such inclusions in the alloy matrix. The retained inclusions have a size distribution of about 0.4 μm to about 7 μm in major dimension and a median size of at least about 1.6 μm. The alloy can be mechanically worked and machined to form a useful product such as a shaft for a rotating machine.
[0009] The foregoing tabulation is provided as a convenient summary and is not intended to restrict the lower and upper values of the ranges of the individual elements of the alloy of this invention for use solely in combination with each other, or to restrict the broad, intermediate or preferred ranges of the elements for use solely in combination with each other. Thus, one or more of the broad, intermediate, and preferred ranges can be used with one or more of the other ranges for the remaining elements. In addition, a broad, intermediate, or preferred minimum or maximum for an element can be used with the maximum or minimum for that element from one of the remaining ranges. Here and throughout this application percent (%) means percent by weight unless otherwise indicated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 presents graphs of the transverse axial-axial fatigue life for a known rare-earth treated alloy and for a calcium treated alloy according to the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 2 presents histograms of the frequencies of sizes of inclusions in the known rare-earth treated alloy and the calcium treated alloy according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The alloy according to the prevent invention contains at least about 0.2%, better yet, at least about 0.20%, and preferably at least about 0.21% carbon because it contributes to the good hardness capability and high tensile strength of the alloy primarily by combining with other elements such as chromium and molybdenum to form carbides during heat treatment. Too much carbon adversely affects the fracture toughness of this alloy. Accordingly, carbon is limited to not more than about 0.36%, better yet, to not more than about 0.33%, and preferably to not more than about 0.27%.
[0014] Cobalt contributes to the hardness and strength of this alloy and benefits the ratio of yield strength to tensile strength (Y.S./U.T.S.). Therefore, at least about 8%, better yet at least about 10%, and preferably at least about 11% cobalt is present in this alloy. Above about 22% cobalt the fracture toughness and the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of the alloy are adversely affected. Preferably, not more than about 17%, and better yet not more than about 14% cobalt is present in this alloy.
[0015] Cobalt and carbon are critically balanced in this alloy to provide the unique combination of high strength and high fracture toughness that is characteristic of the alloy. Thus, to ensure good fracture toughness, carbon and cobalt are preferably balanced in accordance with the following relationship:
a) % Co≦35-81.8(% C).
[0017] To ensure that the alloy provides the desired high strength and hardness, carbon and cobalt are preferably balanced such that:
b) % Co≧25.5-70(% C); and, for best results c) % Co≧26.9-70(% C).
[0020] Chromium contributes to the good hardenability and hardness capability of this alloy and benefits the desired low ductile-brittle transition temperature of the alloy. Therefore, at least about 1.3%, better yet at least about 2%, and preferably at least about 2.9% chromium is present. Above about 4% chromium the alloy is susceptible to rapid overaging such that the unique combination of high tensile strength and high fracture toughness is not attainable with the preferred age-hardening heat treatment. Preferably, chromium is limited to not more than about 3.5%, and better yet to not more than about 3.3%. When the alloy contains more than about 3% chromium, the amount of carbon present in the alloy is adjusted upwardly in order to ensure that the alloy provides the desired high tensile strength.
[0021] At least about 0.75% and preferably at least about 1.0% molybdenum is present in this alloy because it benefits the desired low ductile-brittle transition temperature of the alloy. Above about 2.7% molybdenum, the fracture toughness of the alloy is adversely affected. Preferably, molybdenum is limited to not more than about 1.75%, and better yet to not more than about 1.5%. When more than about 1.5% molybdenum is present in this alloy the % carbon and/or % cobalt must be adjusted downwardly in order to ensure that the alloy provides the desired high fracture toughness. Accordingly, when the alloy contains more than about 1.5% molybdenum, the % carbon is not more than the median % carbon for a given % cobalt as defined by equations a) and b) or a) and c).
[0022] Nickel contributes to the hardenability of this alloy such that the alloy can be hardened with or without rapid quenching techniques. Nickel benefits the fracture toughness and stress corrosion cracking resistance provided by this alloy and contributes to the desired low ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. Accordingly, at least about 10%, better yet, at least about 10.5%, and preferably at least about 11.0% nickel is present. Above about 15% nickel the fracture toughness and impact toughness of the alloy can be adversely affected because the solubility of carbon in the alloy is reduced which may result in carbide precipitation in the grain boundaries when the alloy is cooled at a slow rate, such as when air cooled following forging. Preferably, nickel is limited to not more than about 13.0%, and better yet to not more than about 12.0%.
[0023] Other elements can be present in this alloy in amounts which do not detract from the desired properties. Not more than about 0.20% manganese can be present because manganese adversely affects the fracture toughness of the alloy. Preferably, manganese is restricted to about 0.15% max. and better yet to about 0.10% max. For best results the alloy contains not more than about 0.05% manganese. Up to about 0.1% silicon, up to about 0.01% aluminum, and up to about 0.02% titanium can be present as residuals from small additions for deoxidizing the alloy.
[0024] A small but effective amount of calcium is present in this alloy to provide sulfide and oxide inclusion shape control which benefits the fracture toughness and the low cycle fatigue life of the alloy. It is believed that the use of calcium in this alloy benefits the low cycle fatigue (LCF) life because it beneficially affects the size and distribution of inclusions that form in the alloy matrix during processing. Unlike the alloys described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,415; U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,044; U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,066; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0113931, the present invention avoids the use of rare earth treatments. Therefore, the alloy or product made in accordance with the present invention may contain only trace amounts of such elements as cerium, lathanum, and other rare earths.
[0025] The balance of the alloy according to the present invention is essentially iron except for the usual impurities found in commercial grades of alloys intended for similar service or use. The levels of such elements must be controlled so as not to adversely affect the desired properties of this alloy. For example, phosphorus is limited to not more than about 0.01%, preferably not more than about 0.008%. Sulfur adversely affects the fracture toughness provided by this alloy. Accordingly, sulfur is restricted to about 0.0040% max., better yet to about 0.0025% max., and preferably to about 0.0020% max. Best results are obtained when the alloy contains not more than about 0.001% sulfur. Tramp elements such as lead, tin, arsenic and antimony are limited to about 0.003% max. each, better yet to about 0.002% max. each, and preferably to about 0.001% max each. Oxygen is limited to not more than about 20 parts per million (ppm) and nitrogen to not more than about 40 ppm.
[0026] The alloy of the present invention is readily melted using conventional vacuum or inert gas melting techniques. For best results, as when additional refining is desired, a multiple melting practice is preferred. The preferred practice is to melt a heat in a vacuum induction furnace (VIM) and cast the heat in the form of an electrode. The alloying addition for sulfide shape control referred to above is preferably made before the molten VIM heat is cast. Preferably, the electrode is then remelted in a vacuum arc furnace (VAR) and recast into one or more ingots. It is expected that the alloy would contain not more than about 0.001% calcium after VAR processing. Prior to VAR the electrode ingot is preferably stress relieved at about 1250° F. for 4-16 hours and air cooled. After VAR the ingot(s) is(are) preferably homogenized at about 2150-2250° F. for 6-24 hours. This alloy can also be prepared using powder metallurgy techniques, for example, VIM followed by inert gas atomization.
[0027] The alloy can be hot worked from about 2250° F. to about 1500° F. The preferred hot working practice is to forge an ingot from about 2150-2250° F. to obtain at least a 30% reduction in cross sectional area. The ingot is then reheated to about 1800° F. and further forged to obtain at least another 30% reduction in cross sectional area. It will be appreciated that the alloy can also be hot worked using a single reduction step for some product forms.
[0028] The alloy according to the present invention is austenitized and age hardened as follows. Austenitizing of the alloy is carried out by heating the alloy at about 1550-1800° F. for about 1 hour plus about 5 minutes per inch of thickness and then quenching in oil. The hardenability of this alloy is good enough to permit air cooling or vacuum heat treatment with inert gas quenching, both of which have a slower cooling rate than oil quenching. Whatever quenching technique is used, the quench rate is preferably rapid enough to cool the alloy from the austenitizing temperature to about 150° F. in not more than about 2 h. When this alloy is to be oil quenched, however, it is preferably austenitized at about 1550-1600° F., whereas when the alloy is to be vacuum treated or air hardened it is preferably austenitized at about 1575-1650° F. After austenitizing, the alloy is preferably cold treated as by deep chilling at about −100 to −320° F. for ½ to 1 hour and then warmed in air. Age hardening of this alloy is preferably conducted by heating the alloy at about 850-950° F. for about 5 hours followed by cooling in air.
WORKING EXAMPLES
[0029] In order to demonstrate the improvement in fatigue life provided by the alloy according to the present invention relative to the known alloy, comparative testing was conducted. Samples for testing were obtained from a heat of a known rare-earth treated (RE Treated) material and from a calcium treated (Ca Treated) heat of the alloy according to the present invention. The weigh percent chemistries of the two heats are set forth in Table 1 below.
[0000] TABLE 1 Element RE Treated Ca Treated C 0.224 0.223 Mn <0.01 <0.01 Si 0.02 0.01 P 0.0014 0.0016 S 0.0008 <0.0005 Cr 3.01 3.01 Ni 11.14 11.07 Mo 1.18 1.17 Co 13.44 13.45 Al 0.003 0.011 Ti 0.010 0.009 Ce 0.009 — La 0.006 — N <0.0010 <0.0010 O <0.0010 <0.0010 Ca — <0.005
The balance of each composition is iron and the usual impurities.
[0030] Longitudinal and transverse sections of the sample materials were obtained. Standard tensile and fracture toughness specimens were prepared from each of the sections. The tensile and fracture toughness specimens were heat treated by heating at 1625° F. for one hour and then cooled in air. The test specimens were then deep chilled at −100° F. for one hour, followed by warming in air. The specimens were then age hardened by heating at 900° F. for five hours and then air cooled. The results of the tensile land fracture toughness testing are shown in Table 2 below including the 0.2% offset yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength in ksi, the percent elongation, the percent reduction in area, and the K Ic fracture toughness in ksi√in.
[0000] TABLE 2 Y.S. U.T.S. Elong. R.A. KI C Sample Orientation (ksi) (ksi) (%) (%) (ksi√in.) RE Longitudinal 253.0 286.0 16.0 65.0 136.3 Treated Transverse 251.0 281.0 13.0 46.0 109.9 Ca Longitudinal 246.0 281.0 17.0 70.0 145.4 Treated Transverse 250.0 285.0 17.0 65.0 108.2
The data presented in Table 2 show that the Ca-treated alloy according to the presented provides tensile properties and fracture toughness that is at least as good as the known rare earth treated alloy. There was no adverse effect on the tensile and fracture toughness properties that resulted from the calcium treatment.
[0031] Transverse blanks measuring ¾ in. square×4½ in. long were cut from each of the heats. The blanks were heat treated using the same heat treatment used for the tensile and fracture toughness specimens as described above. The heat treated blanks were low stress ground to form axial-axial fatigue test specimens.
[0032] Smooth fatigue test specimens (K t =1.0) for room temperature axial-axial fatigue testing were prepared in accordance with ASTM E466-96. Servo-Hydraulic test equipment was used with a 20 Hz sinusoidal waveform to cycle the specimens from zero stress to each of three maximum tensile stress levels of 1400 MPa, 1200 MPa, and 1100 MPa (203 ksi, 174 ksi, and 160 ksi, respectively). Six samples of each heat were tested at each stress level. This axial-axial fatigue test was therefore performed under conditions that gave R=0 and K t =1. For economic reasons, testing of a specimen was discontinued at 1,728,000 cycles (24 hours) if the specimen did not fail by that time.
[0033] The results of the fatigue tests for the rare earth treated specimens are shown in Table IIIA and the results for the calcium treated specimens are shown in Table IIIB.
[0000]
TABLE IIIA
Max Stress
MPa
ksi
Sample
Cycles
Average
Std. Dev.
1400
203
1
36,310
1400
203
2
20,495
1400
203
3
34,727
1400
203
4
12,452
1400
203
5
15,521
1400
203
6
31,052
25,093
10,264
1200
174
1
54,333
1200
174
2
17,177
1200
174
3
12,178
1200
174
4
14,621
1200
174
5
39,475
1200
174
6
435,204
95,498
167,243
1100
160
1
26,684
1100
160
2
1,728,000
1100
160
3
1,728,000
1100
160
4
31,239
1100
160
5
44,192
1100
160
6
244,558
633,779
851,512
[0000]
TABLE IIIB
Max Stress
MPa
Ksi
Sample
Cycles
Average
Std. Dev.
1400
203
1
103,467
1400
203
2
128,634
1400
203
3
338,054
1400
203
4
36,116
1400
203
5
48,048
1400
203
6
55,407
118,288
113,370
1200
174
1
312,529
1200
174
2
1,728,000
1200
174
3
59,719
1200
174
4
558,427
1200
174
5
1,441,076
1200
174
6
1,728,000
971,292
748,506
1100
160
1
1,728,000
1100
160
2
1,699,342
1100
160
3
367,452
1100
160
4
1,728,000
1100
160
5
1,728,000
1100
160
6
1,728,000
1,496,466
553,220
[0034] The data presented in Tables IIIA and IIIB are graphed in FIG. 1 which displays the data points and shows lines that connect the median values of the fatigue lives measured at the three stress levels. The data presented in Tables IIIA and IIIB and shown in FIG. 1 graphically illustrate that the calcium treated alloy according to the present invention provides significantly longer fatigue life than the rare earth treated material at each of the three stress levels examined.
[0035] Material from the samples that broke during the fatigue testing were analyzed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to characterize the inclusions formed in each alloy by size and composition. The SEM examined 191 inclusions in the samples from the calcium treated heat and 156 inclusions in the rare earth treated material. Table IV presents the sizes and compositions of the inclusions observed in the rare earth treated alloy. Table V presents the sizes and compositions of the inclusions observed in the calcium treated material.
[0000]
TABLE IV
No. of
Size
Inclusions
(microns)
Morphology
Elemental Constituents
1
0.51
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, P, As , Cr, Co, La , Ni, C, S, W
2
0.52
Irregular
3
0.6
Rectangular
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ce, As, P , Mo, C
4
0.67
rd/oval
1
1.44
Irregular
Fe, S, Ce, La , Cr, Co, Ni, P, As , C
2
1.22
Angular
3
1.2
Irregular
4
1.51
1
0.38
rd/oval
Fe, Co, Ce, Cr, Ni, P and Mo
plus traces of La and As
2
0.55
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ce, As, P , Mo, C
3
0.35
trace La
4
2.96
Irregular
Fe, Ce, P, La, Cr, Co, Ni, O, C, Mo, As
5
1.57
6
2.21
Blocky
Fe, P, Ce , Co, Cr, Ni, La , C, S
7
1.11
Rectangular
8
1.04
Blocky
1
1.14
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, P, As, Co, Cr, La , Ni, C, S
2
1.05
1
0.35
rd/oval
Fe, Co, Ce, Cr, Ni, P and Mo
plus traces of La and As
2
0.65
rectangular
Fe, Ce, P, La , Cr, Co, Ni, O , C, Mo, As
3
0.6
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, P, As , Co, Cr, La, Ni, C, S
4
0.4
5
0.37
elongated
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ce, As, P , Mo, C
1
0.61
blocky
Fe, Ce, P, As , Co, Cr, La, Ni, C, S
2
0.7
rd/oval
3
0.6
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ce, As, P , Mo, C
4
0.63
5
0.49
angular
Fe, S, Ce, La , Cr, Co, Ni, P, As, C
6
1.04
blocky
Fe, Ce, La, S, P , Co, Cr, Ni, As , C, W
7
0.97
rd/oval
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, S, La, Ce, C, Sr
8
1.04
irregular
matrix plus traces of La and Ce
1
1.19
irregular
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, P , C, O
2
1.29
Fe, S, Ce , Co, La , Cr, Ni, P, As, C, Sr
3
2.14
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, P , C, O
4
1.6
rd/oval
Fe, La, Ce, S , Cr, Co, Ni, C
1
2.41
blocky
La, S, Ce, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, O, C
1
0.87
blocky
La, S, Ce, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, O, C
2
1.8
Fe, La, Ce, Cr, Co, Ni
1
2
blocky
La, Ce, S, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, O and C
2
1.13
Angular
plus a trace of W
1
2.28
blocky
S, La, Ce , Fe, Cr, P , Co, Ni, As , C, W
2
0.91
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, As, P , Cr, Co, La , Ni, C, W, S
1
1.11
rd/oval
Fe, Co, La, Ce , Cr, S , Ni, As, C, P
2
1.59
Fe, Ce, As, P , Cr, Co, La , Ni, C, W, S
3
0.85
1
3.74
blocky
La, Ce, S , Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, O and C
plus a trace of W
2
0.89
rd/oval
Fe, Co, Cr, Ce , Ni, La
1
3.37
angular
S, La, Ce , Fe, Cr, P , Co, Ni, As , C, Mo
2
3.62
irregular
1
0.71
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, P, Co, Cr, Ni, La, As, O , C, W, S
2
1
3
0.78
Fe, Co, Cr, Ce, La, Ni
1
0.64
rd/oval
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mo, P, Ce, La, C, W
2
1.81
angular
3
1.16
rd/oval
Ce, P , Fe, La, S, Cr, Co, As , Ni, C
4
0.65
Fe, Co, Cr, Ce, La, Ni
5
0.52
angular
6
0.5
rd/oval
7
0.57
Fe, Ce, As, P , Cr, Co, La , Ni, C, W, S
8
0.45
Fe, Ce, P, Co, Cr, Ni, La, As, O , C, W, S
1
0.74
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, P, Co, Cr, Ni, La, As, O , C, W, S
2
0.89
rectangular
3
0.53
rd/oval
4
0.6
Fe, Co, Cr, Ce, La , Ni
1
1.05
blocky
Fe, Ce, P, Co, Cr, Ni, La, As, O , C, W, S
2
0.76
rectangular
3
1.11
angular
1
1.6
blocky
La , Fe, Ce , Cr, Co, Ni, S
1
1.05
rectangular
matrix plus Ce and La
2
0.76
blocky
matrix plus La, Ce and P
3
0.37
blocky
1
1.38
blocky
S, Fe, La, Ce , Cr, Co, Ni, As , W, P , C
1
0.78
rd/oval
Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Ce, P, La, As, O, C, Mo. Sr
1
0.47
blocky
Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Ce, P, La, As, O, C, Mo. Sr
2
0.45
rd/oval
1
0.76
irregular
Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Ce, P, La, As, O, C, Mo. Sr
2
0.72
rd/oval
matrix plus La, Ce and P
3
0.66
irregular
Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Ce, P, La, As, O, C, Mo. Sr
4
0.36
rd/oval
matrix plus Ce and La
1
2.29
rd/oval
La, S, Ce, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, P, O, As , C, W
1
1.03
rd/oval
Fe, La, S, Ce, Cr, Co, Ni, O , C, W
1
0.9
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, S, La, Cr, Co, Ni, O and C
plus traces of P and W
1
1.54
blocky
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, P, O, As , C, W
1
1.47
rd/oval
S, La, Ce, Fe , Cr, O, Co, Ni, C and As
plus traces of W and P
1
1.08
blocky
Fe, Ce, S, La , Co, Cr, Ni, O , W, As , C
2
0.88
elongated
Fe, Ce, S, La , Co, Cr, Ni, O, W, C
1
1.05
rd/oval
Fe, Ce, S, La , Cr, Co, Ni, As, P, O , C, W
1
1.91
rd/oval
S, La, Ce, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, C and As
plus a trace of W
1
1.86
rd/oval
Ce, Fe, Co, Ni, La, Ce and C
2
1.83
blocky
plus traces of W and P
3
0.77
rd/oval
4
0.43
Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Ce, P, La, As, O, C, Mo. Sr
5
0.59
6
0.53
matrix plus traces of S and La
7
0.72
matrix plus Ce and La
8
0.42
Fe, Ce, La, Ni , Cr, Co, P
9
0.83
matrix plus Ce and La
10
2.07
irregular
1
5.11
blocky
Fe, Ce , Co, P, Cr, Ni, La, O and C
2
12.7
irregular
plus traces of Si and S
3
5.84
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
1
12.6
irregular
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
2
6.5
3
4.32
4
2.5
S, La, Ce, Fe, Cr, O , Co, C, Ni, Sr
5
3.94
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
6
4.97
angular
S, La, Ce, Fe, Cr, O, Co, C, Ni, Sr
7
5.35
blocky
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
8
3.66
irregular
9
3.47
10
3.02
blocky
11
2.47
1
2.11
blocky
Fe, La, S, Co, Cr, Ni, P, O , C
1
2.15
irregular
S, La, Ce, Fe, Cr, O , Co, C, Ni, Sr
2
1.87
blocky
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
1
0.95
angular
Fe, La, Ce , Co, S, Cr, Ni, As, P , C, W
2
1.93
irregular
Fe, Co, La, S , Cr, Ni, C, W
3
0.78
rectangular
1
1.42
angular
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
2
3.42
blocky
Fe, La, S, Co, Cr, Ni, P, O , C
1
1.46
blocky
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
2
1.62
irregular
Fe, La, S, Co, Cr, Ni, P, O , C
3
0.57
angular
Fe, La, Ce , Co, S, Cr, Ni, As, P , C, W
4
1
rectangular
La, S, Ce , Cr, Fe, O , C, Co, Ni, Sr, Ga
5
0.66
Blocky
6
0.91
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, S, La, Ce, P, Ti, C, As , Si
1
1
blocky
Fe, Ce, P, La , Cr, Co, Ni, O , C
2
0.93
3
0.2
4
0.72
irregular
5
0.66
rectangular
6
0.46
blocky
Ce, P , Fe, La, Cr, O, Co, Ni, C, As
7
1.14
rectangular
Fe, Ce, P, La, Cr, Co, Ni, O, C
8
0.42
blocky
9
0.86
1
2.21
irregular
Ce, P , Fe, La, Cr, O, Co, Ni, C, As
2
0.9
3
1.72
4
5.42
Ce, P, La , Fe, O , Cr, C, Co, As , Si, Ni
1
0.79
rd/oval
Fe, S, La, Ce , Cr, Co, Ni, As, P, C, W, Ga
2
2.15
blocky
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, O , Ni, C, W, P
3
2.11
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, O , W, C
1
1.07
blocky
Ce, P, La , Fe, O , Cr, C, Co, As , Si, Ni
2
1.31
3
1.29
irregular
Fe, Ce, P , Co, Cr, Ni, La, O, Si, C, S
4
0.83
Fe, Ce, Co, P, Cr, Ni, La, C, S
5
0.8
Fe, Ce, P , Co, Cr, Ni, La, O, C, Si, S
6
0.75
blocky
7
1.28
matrix plus La
1
2.01
angular
Ce, P, La , Fe, O , Cr, C, Co, As , Si, Ni
1
3.02
blocky
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, O , Ni, C, W, P
2
1.65
Fe, Ce, P, La, Cr, Co, Ni, O, C
1
2.58
angular
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, O , W, C
2
2.86
Fe, S, La, Ce , Cr, Co, Ni, As, P, C, W, Ga
1
1.95
blocky
Fe, La, Ce, Cr, Co, Ni, S
2
2.35
La, S, Ce , Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, O , W, C
Note:
Elements that are enriched compared to matrix values have been highlighted with bold print.
[0000]
TABLE V
No.
Size
of Inclusions
(microns)
Morphology
Elemental Constituents
1
2.1
rd/oval
Ca , Fe, Ti, As , Co, Ni, Cr, O, S, P
2
0.86
Angular
Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ca, S , W, As
1
1.6
rectangular
Fe, Co, Ca , Cr, Ni and a trace of S
1
0.85
rd/oval
Fe, Ca, S, Co, Cr, Ni
1
0.7
rd/oval
Fe, Ti , Co, Ni, Cr, Mo , W, C
2
1.2
Blocky
Fe, Ca, As , Co, Ni, Cr, O, S
and a trace of Ti
1
0.9
Blocky
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni and Cr
plus a trace of W
1
3.4
rd/oval
Ca, Fe, As , Co, O, Ti, Cr, Ni and S
1
1
rd/oval
Fe, Ca, Co, Cr, S and Ni
1
2.4
irregular
Ca, As , Fe, O
2
3.8
irregular
3
5.7
irregular
1
2.8
Angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ti
2
0.8
Angular
1
0.85
Angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ti
1
2.8
rd/oval
Fe, Ca, As , Co, Ni, Cr, O, S
and a trace of Ti
1
1.15
rd/oval
Fe, Ca, S , Co, Cr, Ni
2
1.25
Blocky
1
1
Angular
Fe, Ca, Co, Cr, S, Ti, Ni
1
2.5
Angular
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni and Cr
1
1.6
Blocky
plus a trace of W
1
1.2
Blocky
1
2
rd/oval
Fe, Ti , Co, Ni, Cr, Mo , W, C
1
2
elongated
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni, Cr, W
1
2.3
Blocky
Fe, Ti, Co, Ni, Cr, Mo , W, C
1
1.35
irregular
Fe, Ti, Co, Ni, Cr, Mo , W, C
2
2.65
elongated
Ca , Fe, Ti, As , Co, Ni, Cr, O, S, P
1
1.3
Blocky
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni, Cr, W
1
2.2
irregular
Ti, S, Ca , Fe, Co, Cr, Ni
1
33.8
Blocky
Al, O and Ti plus a trace of Fe
1
2.73
rectangular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni and Cr
1
2.91
Angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni and Cr
1
0.86
Angular
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Ti , Cr, Ni
2
0.81
Angular
1
1.79
Angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
1
2.13
irregular
Ca , Fe, Co, As , Ni, Cr, S, O, Ti
2
2.11
Angular
Ti, S , Fe, Ca, Zr , Cr, Co, Ni, As
3
1.4
irregular
Fe, Ti, Co, Ni, Cr, Zr, S, Ca and W
plus a trace of As
1
1.11
blocky
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
1
2.44
irregular
Fe, Ca , Co, Cr, Ni, Mn
1
2.08
irregular
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Ni, Cr, As, O
2
1.27
rectangular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
1
1.77
angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
2
1.54
angular
1
1.19
blocky
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
2
1.28
rd/oval
3
1.59
angular
4
1.71
blocky
Ca , Fe, S, Co, Ti , Cr, Ni
1
1.4
rectangular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
1
1.81
rd/oval
Ca , Fe, As , Cr, Ni, O, S , W
2
2.74
rd/oval
1
2.16
angular
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Ti, Cr, Ni
2
1.56
angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
1
4.96
rectangular
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Ti , Cr, Ni
2
2.58
angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
3
1.78
rectangular
1
1.19
irregular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
2
1.04
rectangular
Fe, Ca , Co, Cr, Ni, Mn
1
2.21
angular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr
1
1.34
rd/oval
Ca, Fe, S , Co, Ni, Cr, As, O
2
1.23
blocky
1
1.68
blocky
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
2
1.19
irregular
1
1.68
blocky
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
2
1.72
3
1.84
4
2.06
5
1.45
6
2.17
low counts
7
1.25
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
8
2.48
irregular
1
1.85
irregular
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
2
1.85
Ca, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, O and S
plus a trace of W
3
0.81
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
4
1.43
5
2.08
blocky
6
2.29
7
2.1
8
1.15
irregular
Fe, Ca, S , Co, Ni and Cr
plus a trace of Si
9
1.82
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
10
1.53
irregular
Ca , Fe, S, Co, Cr, Ni, O , Si
11
1.64
1
1.66
irregular
Ca , Fe, S, Co, Cr, Ni, O , Si
2
1.98
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
3
2.5
blocky
Ca , Fe, S, Co, Cr, Ni, O , Si
4
1.85
5
2.18
6
1.88
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
7
2.24
irregular
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Cr, Ni, O , Si
8
1.53
blocky
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
9
1.85
irregular
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Cr, Ni, O , Si
10
1.45
11
2.01
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
12
1.91
blocky
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
13
1.13
Ca , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mo, Ti, O
14
2.28
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
15
1.73
16
1.34
angular
Ca, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, O and S
plus a trace of W
1
1.02
irregular
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Cr, Ni, O , Si
2
0.83
3
0.95
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
4
0.92
5
2.05
Ca , Fe, S, Co, Cr, Ni, O , S
6
2.3
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
7
1.14
8
0.99
Ca , Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, O and S
plus a trace of W
9
1.33
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
10
1.69
1
1.14
Irregular
Ca, S , Fe and O
plus traces of Co, Ni and Cr
2
1.13
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
3
1.27
Ca, S , Fe and O
4
1.25
plus traces of Co, Ni and Cr
5
1.88
6
1.27
7
0.83
8
1.11
Ca, O and Fe plus traces of S, Si and Al
9
2.24
Ca, S , Fe and O
plus traces of Co, Ni and Cr
10
1.03
Ca, O and Fe
11
1.57
plus traces of S, Si and Al
12
1.16
13
1.16
14
2.39
15
1.23
16
0.99
Void
17
1.28
Ca, O and Fe
18
1.05
plus traces of S, Si and Al
19
1.08
20
1.37
1
4.33
angular
Ti, Fe, Mo, Zr , Cr, Ni, C
2
2.59
3
3.81
4
2.1
irregular
1
6.62
blocky
Ti, Mo , Fe, Cr, Co, Ca, Zr , C, Ni
1
1.08
angular
Fe, S, Ca, Co, Ni, Cr and Th
plus a trace of Si
1
1.69
irregular
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ti, Ni, Cr, Zr
1
1.31
blocky
Ca, S , Fe, Zr, Ce, Ti , Cr, Cr, Ni, Mg, Al
2
1.58
irregular
S, Fe, Ca , Co, Ni, Cr, Mg
1
2.04
angular
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni and Cr
2
0.68
rd/oval
plus a trace of Sr
1
0.76
angular
Ca, S, Fe, Zr, Ce, Ti, Cr, Cr, Ni, Mg, Al
2
1.05
rd/oval
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni and Cr
3
1.33
blocky
plus a trace of Sr
1
1.42
irregular
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni and Cr
2
1.66
blocky
plus a trace of Sr
3
0.92
blocky
4
0.99
angular
5
0.84
blocky
6
0.79
rectangular
7
0.62
blocky
1
1.08
blocky
Fe, Ca, S, Zr , Co, Cr, Ni, Ce, Ti, Sr
2
1.02
angular
Fe, S, Ca , Ci, Ni and Cr
3
0.8
blocky
plus a trace of Sr
4
0.46
angular
5
0.91
blocky
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni, Cr and Th
plus a trace of Si
6
0.43
rectangular
Fe, S, Ca , Co, Ni and Cr
plus a trace of Sr
1
1.66
rectangular
S, Ca , Fe, Co, Cr and Ni
plus traces of Ti and Si
1
1.26
blocky
Fe, Ca , Co, S , Ni, Si
2
3.38
irregular
Ca, S , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Si
1
3.09
blocky
Ca, Fe, As , Co, S , Cr, Ni, Si
1
2.85
blocky
Ca , Fe, As , Co, S , Cr, Ni, Si
1
3.48
irregular
Ca, S , Fe and Co
plus traces of Ni, Cr, Si and As
2
1.68
blocky
Fe, Ca, S, Ti , Co, Cr, Ni and As
plus a trace of Si
3
1.71
irregular
Ca, Fe, As , Co, S , Cr, Ni, Si
4
2.65
Fe, Ca, S, Ti, Co, Cr, Ni and As
plus a trace of Si
1
2.69
angular
Ca, S , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Si
1
3.48
irregular
Fe, Ca, S, Ti , Co, Cr, Ni and As
plus a trace of Si
1
1.85
irregular
Ca, S , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Si
1
2.22
irregular
Ca, Fe, As , Co, S, Ni, Cr, Zr , Si, Ti, O
2
0.94
angular
Ca, S , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Si
3
1.9
irregular
Fe, Ca, Ti, S , Co, Ni, Cr, Zr, Si, As
4
0.96
Fe, Zr, Ti, Ca, Co, Ni, Cr, S
5
0.96
angular
Fe, Ti, Co, Zr, Ca, Ni, Cr, S
6
1.37
irregular
Fe, Ca , Co, S, Ni, C and Ti
plus a trace of Si
7
1.68
Ca , Fe, S , Co, Cr, Ni, As , Si, Ti, Zr
1
2.72
irregular
Fe, Ca , Co, Ni, Cr, S, Ti, As , Si
1
1.14
irregular
Ca , Fe, As , Co, S, Cr, Ni, Si
2
1.59
3
3.01
angular
4
1.75
5
0.92
1
2.66
irregular
Ca, S , Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Si
2
0.85
rectangular
3
1.24
blocky
1
2.04
angular
Ti, Ca, Mo, Fe and Zr
2
1.67
plus traces of Cr, Co, Ni and Si
3
3.23
rectangular
4
3.21
angular
5
1.67
blocky
Ti, Fe, Mo, Co, Cr and Ni
6
1.36
angular
plus traces of Zr and Si
7
1.12
8
1.11
blocky
Note:
Elements that are enriched compared to matrix values have been highlighted with bold print.
[0036] The data in Tables IV and V show that the type of desulfurization treatment greatly affects the composition of the inclusions. Most of the inclusions in the rare earth treated alloy contain the rare earth elements Ce and La. In contrast, most of the inclusions in the calcium treated alloy contain Ca, but essentially no rare earth elements such as Ce and La. Both the rare earth treatment and the calcium treatment were effective in gettering tramp elements such as P, S, and As.
[0037] The inclusion size data set forth in Tables IV and V fit a Weibull distribution as shown in FIG. 2 . It was determined that the median values of the inclusion sizes between the calcium treated material and the rare earth treated material were statistically different at a 95% confidence level. Therefore, there is a statistically significant difference in median inclusion size between the calcium treated material and the rare earth treated material. The median inclusion size for the calcium treated alloy was determined to be about 1.6 microns, whereas the median inclusion size for the rare earth treated material is about 1.1 microns. It is believed that the generally larger inclusion size of the calcium treated alloy in combination with the different composition of the inclusions resulting from the calcium desulfurization practice according to the present invention significantly benefits the fatigue life provided by the alloy and process according to the present invention. The improvement in the fatigue life realized by the alloy and process of our invention was not expected in view of the differences in the inclusion size and composition relative to the known rare earth treated alloys.
[0038] The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are use as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude any equivalents of the features described or any portions thereof. It is to be recognized, however, that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described and claimed.
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An age hardenable, martensitic steel alloy that provides high strength, high toughness, and good low cycle fatigue life and a method of making same are disclosed. The alloy comprises a matrix having a weight percent composition consisting essentially of about
Carbon 0.2-0.36 Manganese 0.20 max. Silicon 0.10 max. Phosphorus 0.01 max. Sulfur 0.004 max. Chromium 1.3-4 Nickel 10-15 Molybdenum 0.75-2.7 Cobalt 8-22 Aluminum 0.01 max. Titanium 0.02 max. Calcium 0.001 max.
and the balance being iron and usual impurities. The alloy further contains a plurality of inclusions dispersed in the alloy matrix. The inclusions comprise calcium compounds that are about 0.4 μm to about 7.0 μm in major dimension, they have a median size of at least about 1.6 μm in major dimension, and the inclusions contain essentially no rare earth elements.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an automatic apparatus for conjointly sewing two elastic cloths having different elasticity and in particular for the sewing of an elastic cloth onto another elastic cloth having a lower elasticity and being of substantially annular shape. The most important application for such an apparatus is in the clothing field and particularly in the field relating to the manufacturing of corsets, underwears, slip-stockings (collants), bathing suits and the like.
For a better understanding of the present invention, with the term "cloth" it is meant any woven or knitted fabric (wool, silk, flax, synthetic fibers and the like), the elasticity of which depends on the own elasticity of the yarns or on the manufacturing method (i.e. weaving, knitting and similars). With the term "piece" it is meant any manufactured product formed by at least two conjointly sewed cloths to be possibly subjected to further operations.
It is known that a sewing of this type has been so far obtained by manually joining two elastic cloths by means of a conventional sewing machine, which has to be controlled by a single operator. The operator in order to obtain a good seam, has to manually transfer the two cloths to be joined under head of a sewing machine and has further to provide for maintaining the correct relative position of said joined cloths until the completion of the sewing cycle.
Attempts have been effected to partially eliminate the drawbacks due to such a manual work by providing several devices adapted to be applied to the head of the sewing machine in order to carry out at least a part of the manual work entrusted to the operator. Such devices usually comprise mechanical stress regulators, slides, supports and pressing shoes which assist the operator to whom however the task of carrying out the sewing operation is still entrusted and whose intervention is essential for obtaining a proper joint of the cloths.
From the above it results that the pieces thus obtained are costly if compared to the employed labour cost and scarcely reliable as to their quality. As a matter of fact, the time spent by a single operator excessively affects the production cost of the finished piece, and this without taking into account the considerable time spent for training the operator to that specific task, which task requires a good specialization. Moreover, the quality of the finished piece manufactured by the same operator may change from piece to piece and, in any case, it changes anytime the operator is changed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which fully automatically performs the sewing operation of an elastic cloth onto another cloth having a lower elasticity and of substantially annular conformation.
With the apparatus according to the invention the continuous intervention of the operator is no more necessary, to the same operator being left the task of controlling the operation of the apparatus, so that a specific specialization is no more required. The sewing operation is therefore faster and the seam of more uniform quality. Furthermore due to the automatism of the apparatus, a single operator may operate several apparatuses at the same time, by fully exploiting the working time of each sewing machine.
The apparatus according to the present invention, comprising a conventional sewing machine, is characterized in that said apparatus further comprises supporting and feeding means of the cloths to be joined on the working table of the sewing machine, said means being connected to rotating members of the same sewing machine; positioning means for locating said cloths within the sewing area; and discharging means for automatically discharging the sewed pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These objects, advantages and characteristics of the apparatus according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, given only by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1, is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus according to the invention provided with a first preferred embodiment to the cloth supporting and feeding means;
FIG. 1a is a side view of the contour of the pulleys being a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 diagrammatically show the apparatus according to the invention, provided with further embodiments of the cloth supporting and feeding means;
FIGS. 5 and 6 diagrammatically show two further embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention, respectively provided with two and four units of cloth supporting and feeding means;
FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows an example of the means for positioning the cloths within the sewing area; and
FIG 8. diagrammatically shows an example of the automatic discharging means of the finished pieces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It is to be understood that with the apparatus according to the invention two different basic types of sewing operations can be carried out, namely:
1. sewing an elastic cloth having an annular shape(thereinafter also referred to as "elastic band") onto another elastic cloth having a lower elasticity and a substantially annular-shaped contour; 2. sewing of an elongated section of an elastic band onto an elastic cloth having a lower elasticity and a substantially annular-shaped contour.
The first part of the following description relates to the first of the two above-cited cases. It should be noted however that said two types of sewing are very similar; as a matter of fact, the linear section of an elastic band of the second case is also closed to form a ring by an additional and further operation which is carried out after completion of the main sewing operation of the two cloths together.
It is a feature of the apparatus according to the invention to use, as sewing machine, a conventional sewing machine in the trade properly modified, thus allowing the automatization of the conventional sewing machine already used for such a type of sewing. The sewing machine, therefore will not be herein described in details, but only the sewing head and the related sewing devices thereof will be shown.
With particular reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus according to the present invention comprises a sewing machine of which only the sewing head 1 with the related needle 2 and the pressing shoe 3 acting on a working table 4 are shown. Near the sewing head 1 of the machine, supporting and feeding means 5 for the cloths to be jointly sewed are provided, said means comprising in this first embodiment shown, three pulleys 6, 7 and 8 each rotatably supported by its axis the three axes being positioned at the vertices of a triangle. One of said pulleys i.e. pulley 8 in the embodiment shown, is movable, with respect to the other two pulleys so that the mutual distance of said three pulleys can be adjusted according to the diameter of the circumferential cloths to be sewed. It is thus obtained the adaptability of the apparatus to various possible sizes of the circular outline of the less elastic cloth and the self-adjusted stretching of the same.
The adjustement of the position of pulley 8 is obtained by locking in any conventional manner its rotational axis, a shaft 10, in different positions along a slide 9 fastened to the frame of the apparatus, for example by means of a pneumatic cilinder 9a. Otherwise the same pulley 8 may be adjusted by a spring urging said pulley 8 and its shaft 10 away from the other two pulleys. The axes of pulleys 6 and 7 are mounted on supports 15 and 16 which can be fastened in different positions on the frame of the apparatus by means of fastening screws 17, 18 and of slots formed in the same supports 15 and 16.
Pulley 6 is connected by a belt 11 to a rotating member 12 of the sewing machine, thus being the driving pulley, while pulleys 7 and 8 are idle-supported and driven by a belt 13. Pulleys 6, 7 and 8 may be made of any desired material, such plastics, wood, iron or rubber, and they preferably have their profile shaped as shown in FIG. 1a, i.e. comprising a substantially plane portion 51 provided with grooves and a portion formed by two truncated cones 52 and 52a having the major base in common.
For the loading of the cloths on the supporting and feeding means 5, only the following operations have to be carried out: the elastic band is firstly positioned on the three pulleys, the adjustable one of which, indicated by reference numeral 8, is in its nearest position relative to the remaining two pulleys (highest position in FIG. 1) in order to facilitate the insertion of the same elastic band. Said elastic band is positioned not only on the peripheral zone of the pulleys (preferably at zone 51 of FIG. 1a conveniently shaped), but also on a positioning device 14 provided in the proximity of the sewing area, which positioning device will be better described further on. Subsequently, on the same three pulleys there is positioned the annularly shaped cloth of lower elasticity. Due to the particular conformation of the peripheral zones of the pulleys, in particular zone 52, the said less elastic cloth positions itself with its outer edge on the elastic band previously positioned. By operating the apparatus before starting the sewing machine, shaft 10 of pulley 8 is brought away, for example driven by pneumatic cylinder 9a, from the two other pulleys until it reaches an outwardly directed position which depends on the relative elasticity of the two cloths. Pulley 8 will therefore reach a position which is much far away from the center of the triangle formed by the three pulleys as higher is the elasticity of the two cloths to be jointly sewed, so that the resulting stretch at the sewing point will remain, within limited percentage allowances, as constant as possible for any stress to which the cloths are subjected.
The needle 2 of the sewing head 1 can thus be operated to start the sewing operation and the driving pulley 6, connected to the rotating members of the sewing machine, drives the two other pulleys 7 and 8 and therefore the two overlapped cloths to be sewed. At the end of a complete revolution of 360°, the sewing yarn is cut by a known cutting device of the same sewing machine and the sewed piece is automatically discharged by the automatic discharging means schematically shown in FIG. 8, according to the present invention.
Before completion of the sewing cycle, i.e. during the last 20°-30° of rotation of the two cloths ahead of the sewing starting point, the sewing zone positioning device generically indicated with reference numeral 14 in FIGS. 1 and 7 is actuated. With particular reference to FIG. 7, said device 14 comprises a stationary plate slide 53 and an upper movable pressure shoe 54, which is slidable in the two opposite directions parallel to the rotation axes of pulleys 6, 7 and 8, i.e. perpendicularly to an ideal sewing plane, defined by the triangle formed by the same three pulleys. The stationary slide 53 supports during the sewing cycle the less elastic cloth, while the elastic band is supported at the proximity of the sewing point by the movable pressure shoe 54. Thus, during the sewing cycle up to about 20°-30° before returning to the sewing starting point, the two cloths are separated in the zone of device 14 at a distance of about 5-6 cm. from needle 2. At the beginning of the last portion of the sewing cycle, shoe 54 is moved backwardly by conventional means such as microswitch to operate a pneumatic piston 55 connected to shoe 54, which is brought backward, to the inner side of the machine, thus freeing the elastic band. This is allowed to conjoint with no substantial stress the less elastic cloth to which is sewed during the last section (few mms) of the sewing cycle. The stretch previously accumulated due to the distance between slide 53 and upper shoe 54 is, in any case, so little as it is not sensed in said last portion of the sewing cycle. The upper movable shoe 54, which also can be driven by a spring or the like, is brought back to its initial position at the end of the 360° sewing cycle thus allowing the loading of a new piece, such as by means of pneumatic pistons or other known servo-mechanisms controlled by microswitches.
With reference to FIG. 8, a preferred embodiment of the automatic device for discharging the finished pieces at the completion of each sewing cycle, is shown. Said device substantially comprises a pipe 60 provided with a funnel-shaped inlet 61, positioned in proximity of the above described apparatus and kept constantly under vacuum by a suction fan 62. As soon as the cloths are positioned on the device 5 of FIG. 1, the free end of one of said cloths, in particular the free end of the less elastic cloth, is retained inside the funnel 61, but it cannot be sucked inside said pipe 60 since the other end of the same cloth is retained by pulleys 6, 7 and 8. It should be noted -- and this is particularly valid in case of sewing of stockings and slip-stockings -- that the funnel 61 may also be positioned at a certain distance from the device 5 and the sewing area, due to the particular length and lightness of the articles to be sewed. As soon as the sewing cycle has been completed, pulley 8 is brought back, advantageously by automatic means, in its initial position, i.e. closer to the two other pulleys, to slack the stretch onto the sewed end of the piece. Said slackening allows the suction within pipe 60 to such the finished piece and transfer the same into the spreading and discharging device 63. This device 63 comprises a box, advantageously of transparent material, the length of which corresponds to the length of the sewed pieces and the bottom 64 of which is movable and connected to a known servo-mechanism. When piece 65 is entering into the spreading and discharging device 63 a photo-electric cell circuit is closed and the atmospheric pressure inside the spreading device 63 restored -- for example by means of a pneumatic piston and a fan -- while usually the atmosphere within said device is maintained under a vacuum condition. In this situation and upon the complete spreading of the sewed piece along the bottom 64 of device 63, by means of known mechanical members (not shown), the above cited servo-mechanism opens said bottom 64 and piece 65 falls down into an underlying container 66. In FIG. 8 two pieces 65 have been shown, in this particular case two slip-stockings, of which the one already sewed is in position to fall down from device 63 into container 66 and the other one, still undergoing the sewing operation, is partially retained by the suction inside the funnel 61 and pipe 60.
So far, reference has always been made, in so far as it is concerned with the supporting and feeding means for the cloths to be sewed, to the three-pulley device shown in FIG. 1, but obviously different embodiments can be provided for the device 5. Said device 5, for instance can be provided as shown in FIG. 2 with only two pulleys 11 and 12 which can be positioned with their upper circumference portion at the same level from the working table 4 of the sewing machine and interconnected by a flat driving belt 13. The rotation axes 11a and 12a of pulleys 12 and 13 are supported in a similar manner as pulleys 6 and 7 of the previously described embodiment with reference to FIG. 1. Said axes 11a and 12a are respectively mounted on supports 19 and 20 which can be fastened at variable positions on frame 21 of the apparatus by means, for instance, of fastening screws 22 and 23 each located into a slot formed in said supports 19 and 20. The axis of one of the pulleys, of course, could be positioned in such a manner to allow the adjustment of the stress of driving belt 13 as it happened for pulley 8 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Analogously one of the pulleys 11, 12 is connected to rotating members of the sewing machine, thus being the driving pulley while the other pulley is the driven pulley and idle supported on its rotation axis. The driving belt 13, not only controls the forward feeding on the working table 4 of the two cloths to be jointly sewed, but has also the function of supporting said cloths during said forward movement, the arrangement being of course such that the operation of needle 2 is not hindered by said belt. As a matter of fact the two cloths are positioned in a staggered relationship relative to belt 13 and also in this case a positioning device (not shown in FIG. 2) can be provided near the sewing point, as the one previously indicated with reference numeral 14 and shown in detail in FIG. 7.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the supporting and feeding means of the cloths to be jointly sewed may comprise, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3, a substantially funnel-shaped member 25 essentially formed by a truncated-cone shaped portion 26 with a substantially cylindrical portion 27 on its major base. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 27 must be such that the cloths can be positioned thereon with some stretch in order to be dragged into rotation by member 25 itself. Member 25, if desired, may be formed by a plurality of sections radially movable relative to the rotation axis 28 of the same member 25, so that the stretch of the cloths can be changed in order to make easier their insertion on member 25 and to adapt the apparatus to different circumferences of the annular edge of the less elastic cloth. The axis 28 is connected in any desired manner to the rotating members of the sewing machine.
The funnel-shaped member 25 is further provided on its cylindrical portion 27 with a clamping means 29 adapted to secure the cloths thereon. A groove 30 is provided along the circumference of portion 27, in order to allow the needle 2 to penetrate and to carry out the sewing. The cylindrical portion 27 is therefore divided into two sections, the outer section 31 being fixed to the inner section by means of pivots, U-bolts and the like (not shown).
With reference to FIG. 4, a further embodiment of the supporting and feeding means of the cloth to be jointly sewed is shown. Said embodiment comprises a first pair of grippers 32, in a facing relationship, each comprising two jaws respectively rotatable around a central pivot 36 and 37. The two cloths to be sewed are positioned around said pair of opposite grippers 32, 33 when their jaws are in their closed position. Thereafter the jaws are opened to assume, for each gripper, the semicircle conformation shown in FIG. 4. If necessary, tensioning springs may be provided. Outwardly of said pair of grippers 32, 33, with respect to the sewing machine, a second pair of grippers 34, 35 is positioned, the fulcra 36' and 37' of which are respectively coaxial to fulcra 36 and 37 of the first pair. Grippers 34 and 35 overlap grippers 32 and 33 and are generally parallel thereto but they can be provided with a rotational movement around an axis perpendicular to fulcra 36' and 37', so that each jaw of grippers 34 and 35 may come into contact respectively with the corresponding jaw of grippers 32 and 33. The cloths positioned on grippers 32 and 33 are therefore retained on said grippers 32 and 33, other than by the action of said first pair of grippers, also by the retaining action of the second pair of grippers 34 and 35.
The cloth supporting and advancing means, in the embodiment above described and shown or in other possible embodiments, can be stationary or movable relative to the sewing head of the machine. Should said means be of the stationary type, in proximity of the sewing head 1 there will be assembled only one unit comprising three or two pulleys, or one funnel-shaped member, or the two pairs of grippers as respectively shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In this case the operator may load and control several sewing heads, his task being only that of substituting on each sewing machine and at the end of each sewing cycle the finished piece with a new one, or only to load the two new cloths to be conjointly sewed should a discharging device of the finished pieces be provided.
According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention the supporting and feeding means of the cloths are movable relative to the head 1 of the sewing machine. In FIGS. 5 and 6 are shown two preferred assembling solutions of the supporting and advancing means 5 movable relative to the sewing machine.
FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of assemblage in proximity of the sewing head 1, of two supporting and driving units 5 which are supported at the end of a transverse member 39 lying on a plane parallel to the working table 4 of the sewing machine. Each unit 5 may have any of the embodiments above described and shown. Transverse member 39 is connected to driving means (not shown) which cause said member to rotate of 180° at the end of each sewing cycle. This solution allows to reduce the working time, since while an operator loads one of the two units 5, the other unit undergoes this sewing cycle. If desired, more than two units controlled by the same operator can be provided in order to exploit at the maximum the working time of the sewing machine.
In FIG. 6 four supporting and feeding units 5 are shown arranged at 90° on a platform 40 step-by-step rotating around its central axis 41, each step being of 90°, and lying on a plane parallel to the working table 4 of the sewing machine. Also in this case units 5 may be any of the embodiments described and shown in FIGS. 1-4. With this arrangement the production time of the finished pieces is further reduced and the working time of the sewing machine practically fully utilized.
Of course, platforms 40 may be provided having assembled thereon a number n of equally spaced apart units and the platform being step-by-step rotated 360°/n at the end of each sewing cycle.
Reverting now to the second type of sewing operation which can be performed by the apparatus according to the invention, i.e. sewing a linear length of an elastic band onto an elastic cloth having a lower elasticity and a substantially annular shape, it should be noted that the apparatus for obtaining said second type of sewing is substantially identical to the apparatus above described, in particular for what concerns the supporting and feeding means, the positioning means and the automatic discharging means of the finished pieces.
It is sufficient that to the sewing head of the machine is added only a conventional feeding device for the elastic band supplied by a roll, said feeding device usually comprising supporting means for the rolled-up elastic band, guiding means near the sewing head for said elastic band and cutting means for cutting same band into desired lengths according to the circumferential length of the cloth with lower elasticity.
The sewing operation of two cloths having different elasticity is carried out in the same way as in the case of a ring-shaped elastic cloth. The only difference stands in that at the end of the main sewing cycle the two extremities of each length of elastic band have to be sewed together to obtain a closed ring. For carrying out said sewing operation, two solutions are provided by the apparatus according to the present invention.
A first solution resides in that adjacent to the head of the main sewing machine an ancillary sewing machine is positioned, the head of which is adapted to sew together the ends of the length of elastic band. Said second sewing operation is carried out after the completion of the first main sewing operation by transferring, possibly in an automatic way, said two ends under the head of said ancillary machine. In alternative, it is possible to shift in any conventional manner the supporting and feeding means of the main sewing machine towards the sewing head of the ancillary machine, which allows to carry out the sewing of the two ends of the elastic band with the two already jointly sewed cloths still supported by the above described supporting and feeding means.
A second solution consists in that the sewing head of the main machine i.e. the one used for jointly sewing the two cloths, is modified in such a way that the same head can be moved transversely at 90° with respect to the path of the two cloths, at the end of the main sewing cycle, so as that the same machine which has sewed the two cloths can also sew the ends of the elastic band in a direction transversal to the length of the band. The modifications to be brought into the head of the sewing machine for this transverse movement are not therein disclosed since they are well known to the man skilled in the art.
From the above there are clearly apparent the advantages afforded by the apparatus according to the invention, which are:
1. reduction of the production times and full utilization of the working time;
2. possibility to entrust the work to non-specialized personnel;
3. constant quality of the finished pieces independently from the fact that said pieces have been manufactured by one operator or by different operators;
4. adaptability of the apparatus to any possible dimension or size of the pieces to be manufactured, particularly in connection with the different diameters of the circular outline of the less elastic cloth.
Possible modifications and/or additions can be obviously carried out in the above-described and illustrated apparatus without exceeding the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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An apparatus for automatically sewing together two elastic cloths having different elasticity, the less elastic of which has a substantially annular shape, comprises a conventional sewing machine having its rotating devices connected with supporting and feeding means of the two cloths to be joined together, such as at least two pulleys or a funnel-shaped member, or two pairs of grippers, in combination with a means for correctly positioning the cloths within the sewing zone, which is located at 20°-30° before the completion of the sewing cycle, ahead of the sewing machine needle. A suction-operated device conveys the sewed, assembled pieces to a conventional spreading and discharging device, from the openable bottom of which those pieces are caused to drop into a container. The supporting and feeding means will be of the stationary type or of the movable type, in the latter case being mounted on a platform for a step-by-step station of 360°/n, where n is the number of units of said supporting and feeding means. This applies when the cloth of higher elasticity has an annular shape; when on the contrary it is an elongated elastic band section it is necessary to sew together the two ends of the section. This can be accomplished either by an ancillary sewing machine and a conveying system for bringing the two ends under the head thereof, or by modifying the head of the main sewing machine so that it can move transversely at right angles with respect to the main sewing path of the two cloths.
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This is a National filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT/EP01/03171, filed Mar. 20, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to pyrrolidine derivatives. Said compounds are preferably for use as pharmaceutically active compounds. Specifically, pyrrolidine derivatives of formula I are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of premature labor, premature birth and dysmenorrhea. In particular, the present invention is related to pyrrolidine derivatives displaying a substantial modultatory notably an antagonist activity of the oxytocin eceptor. More preferably, said compounds are usefull in the treatment and/or prevention of disease states mediated by oxytocin, including premature labor, premature birth and dysmenorrhea. The present invention is furthermore related to novel pyrrolidine derivatives as well as to methods of their preparation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Oxytocin (OT) is a peptide hormone and causes the contraction of the uterus of mammals during labor. The corresponding Oxytocin receptor belongs to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors and is similar to V 1a and V 2 vasopressin receptors. OT receptors increase dramatically during the course of pregnancy. The concentration of OT receptors has been shown to correlate with spontaneous uterine activity (M. Maggi et al. J. Clin. Endocrinol Metabol; 70; 1142, 1990). Premature labor, though, and premature birth is undesired as it represents a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Hence, the management of preterm labor represents a significant problem in the field of obstetrics.
In recent years, strong evidence has accumulated indicating that the hormone oxytocin plays a major role in initiating labor in mammals, notably in humans. Thereby, it is assumed that oxytocin exerts said effect in a direct as well as an indirect way, by contracting the uterine myometrium and by enhancing the synthesis and release of contractile prostaglandins from the uterine endometrium/decidua. These prostaglandins may furthermore play a role in the cervical ripening process. This “up-regulation” of oxytocin receptors and increased uterine sensitivity seems to be due to trophic effects of rising plasma levels of estrogen towards term. By down-regulating oxytocin, it is expected that both the direct (contractile) and indirect (increased prostaglandin synthesis) effects of oxytocin on the uterine could be blocked. An oxytocin modulator, e.g. blocker or antagonists would likely be more efficacious for treating preterm labor than current regimens. Moreover, as oxytocin at term has only an effect on the uterus, such an oxytocin modulator would have only few or no side effect.
A further condition being related to oxytocin is dysmenorrhea, which is characterised by cyclic pain associated with menses during ovulatory cycles. Said pain is believed to result from uterine contractions and ischemia, probably mediated by the effect of prostaglandins produced in the secretory endometrium. By blocking both the indirect and direct effects of oxytocin on the uterus, an oxytocin antagonost is believed more efficacious for treating dysmenorrhea than current regimens.
Some agents counteracting the action of Oxytocin (OT) are currently used in clinical studies. Such tocolytic agents (i.e. uterine-relaxing agents) include beta-2-adrenergic agonists, magnesium sulfate and ethanol. The leading beta-2-adrenergic agonists is Ritodrine, which causes a number of cardiovascular and metabolic side effects, including tachycardia, increased renin secretion, hyperglycemia and reactive hypoglycemia in the infant. Further beta-32-adrenergic agonists, including terbutaline and albuterol have side effects similar to those of ritodrine. Magnesium sulfate at plasma concentrations above the therapeutic range of 4 to 8 mg/dL can cause inhibition of cardiac conduction and neuromuscular transmission, respiratory depression and cardiac arrest, thus making this agent unsuitable when renal function is impaired. Ethanol is as effective as ritodrine in preventing premature labor, but it does not produce a corresponding reduction in the incidence of fetal respiratory distress that administration of ritodrine does.
The principal drawback to the use of peptide antagonists including also atosiban is the problem of low oral bioavailability resulting from intestinal degradation. Hence, they must be administered parenterally.
The development of non-peptide ligands for pepetide hormone receptors are expected to overcome this problem. The first to report small molecule selective oxytocin antagonists was Merck. Apart from cyclic hexapeptides, Merck suggested indanylpiperidines and tolylpiperazines as orally deliverable OT antagonists (Evans et al. J. Med. Chem., 35, 3919 (1992). In WO 96/22775 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,497 Merck reported benzoxazinylpiperidines or benzoxazinones as OT receptor antagonists.
It is a purpose of this invention to provide substances which more effectively down-regulate—up to antagonizing—the function of OT in disease states in animals, preferably mammals, especially in humans. It is another purpose of this invention to provide a method of antagonizing the functions of oxytocin in disease states of mammals. It is also an objective of the present invention to provide small molecule chemical compounds for the modulation, preferably the down-regulation or even antagonisation of the Oxytocin receptor. Moreover, it is an objective of the present invention to provide methods for preparing said small molecule chemical compounds. It is furthermore an objective of the present invention to provide a new category of pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of preterm labor and dysmenorrhea, and/or diseases mediated by the Oxytocin receptor. It is finally an objective of the present invention to provide a method of treating or prevent disorders mediated by the Oxytocin receptor, like preterm labor and dysmenorrhea by antagonising the binding of Oxytocin to its receptor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned objectives have been met according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are set out within the dependent claims which are incorporated herewith.
The following paragraphs provide definitions of the various chemical moieties that make up the compounds according to the invention and are intended to apply uniformly through-out the specification and claims unless an otherwise expressly set out definition provides a broader definition.
“C 1 –C 6 -alkyl” refers to monovalent alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. This term is exemplified by groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-hexyl and the like.
“Aryl” refers to an unsaturated aromatic carbocyclic group of from 6 to 14 carbon atoms having a single ring (e.g. phenyl) or multiple condensed rings (e.g. naphthyl). Preferred aryl include phenyl, naphthyl, phenantrenyl and the like.
“C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” refers to C 1 –C 6 -alkyl groups having an aryl substituent, including benzyl, phenethyl and the like.
“Heteroaryl” refers to a monocyclic heteromatic, or a bicyclic or a tricyclic fused-ring heteroaromatic group. Particular examples of heteroaromatic groups include optionally substituted pyridyl, pyrrolyl, furyl, thienyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl,1,3,4-triazinyl, 1,2,3-triazinyl, benzofuryl, [2,3-dihydro]benzofuryl, isobenzofuryl, benzothienyl, benzotriazolyl, isobenzothienyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, 3H-indolyl, benzimidazolyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, quinolizinyl, quinazolinyl, pthalazinyl, quinoxalinyl, cinnnolinyl, napthyridinyl, pyrido[3,4-b]pyridyl, pyrido[3,2-b]pyridyl, pyrido[4,3-b]pyridyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, tetrazolyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrehydroisoquinolyl, purinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, xanthenyl or benzoquinolyl.
“C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl” refers to C 1 –C 6 -alkyl groups having a heteroaryl substituent, including 2-furylmethyl, 2-thienylmethyl, 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl and the like.
“Alkenyl” refers to alkenyl groups preferably having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and having at least 1 or 2 sites of alkenyl unsaturation. Preferable alkenyl groups include ethenyl (—CH═CH 2 ), n-2-propenyl (allyl, —CH 2 CH═CH 2 ) and the like.
“Alkynyl” refers to alkynyl groups preferably having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and having at least 1–2 sites of alkynyl unsaturation, preferred alkynyl groups include ethynyl (—C≡CH), propargyl (—CH 2 C≡CH), and the like.
“Acyl” refers to the group —C(O)R where R includes “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl”, “aryl”, “heteroaryl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”.
“Acyloxy” refers to the group —OC(O)R where R includes “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl”, “aryl”, “heteroaryl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”.
“Alkoxy” refers to the group —O—R where R includes “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl” or “aryl” or “heteroaryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”. Preferred alkoxy groups include by way of example, methoxy, ethoxy, phenoxy and the like.
“Alkoxycarbonyl” refers to the group —C(O)OR where R includes “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl” or “aryl” or “heteroaryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”.
“Aminocarbonyl” refers to the group —C(O)NRR′ where each R, R′ includes independently hydrogen or C 1 –C 6 -alkyl or aryl or heteroaryl or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”.
“Acylamino” refers to the group —NR(CO)R′ where each R, R′ is independently hydrogen or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl” or “aryl” or “heteroaryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”.
“Halogen” refers to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo atoms.
“Sulfonyl” refers to group “—SO 2 —R” wherein R is selected from H, “aryl”, “heteroaryl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl” substituted with halogens e.g. an —SO 2 —CF 3 group, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”.
“Sulfoxy” refers to a group “—S(O)—R” wherein R is selected from H, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl” substituted with halogens e.g. an —SO—CF 3 group, “aryl”, “heteroaryl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”.
“Thioalkoxy” refers to groups —S—R where R includes “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl” or “aryl” or “heteroaryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl” or “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”. Preferred thioalkoxy groups include thiometioxy, thioethoxy, and the like.
“Substituted or unsubstituted”: Unless otherwise constrained by the definition of the individual substituent, the above set out groups, like “alkyl”, “alkenyl”, “alkynyl”, “aryl” and “heteroaryl” etc. groups can optionally be substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl”, “C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl”, “C 2 –C 6 -alkenyl”, “C 2 –C 6 -alkynyl”, primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups or quaternary ammonium moieties “acyl”, “acyloxy”, “acylamino”, “aminocarbonyl”, “alkoxycarbonyl”, “aryl”, “heteroaryl”, carboxyl, cyano, halogen, bydroxy, mercapto, nitro, sulfoxy, sulfonyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, trihalomethyl and the like. Alternatively said substitution could also comprise situations where neighboring substituents have undergone ring closure, notably when viccinal functional substituents are involved, thus forming e.g. lactams, lactons, cyclic anhydrides, but also acetals, thioacetals, aminals formed by ring closure for instance in an effort to obtain a protective group.
“Pharmaceutically acceptable salts or complexes” refers to salts or complexes of the below-identified compounds of formula I that retain the desired biological activity. Examples of such salts include, but are not restricted to acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids (e.g. hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, and the like), and salts formed with organic acids such as acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, pamoic acid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalene sulfonic acid, naphthalene disulfonic acid, and polygalacturonic acid. Said compounds can also be administered as pharmaceutically acceptable quaternary salts known by a person skilled in the art, which specifically include the quaternary ammonium salt of the formula —NR,R′,R″ + Z − , wherein R, R′, R″ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, or benzyl, and Z is a counterion, including chloride, bromide, iodide, —O-alkyl, toluenesulfonate, methylsulfonate, sulfonate, phosphate, or carboxylate (such as benzoate, succinate, acetate, glycolate, maleate, malate, fumarate, citrate, tartrate, ascorbate, cinnamoate, mandeloate, and diphenylacetate).
“Pharmaceutically active derivative” refers to any compound that upon administration to the recipient, is capable of providing directly or indirectly, the activity disclosed herein.
“Enantiomeric excess” (ee) refers to the products that are obtained by an asymmetric synthesis, i.e. a synthesis involving non-racemic starting materials and/or reagents or a synthesis comprising at least one enantioselective step, whereby a surplus of one enantiomer in the order of at least about 52% ee is yielded. In the absence of an asymmetric synthesis, racemic products are usually obtained that do however also have the inventive set out activity as OT-R antagonists.
Quite surprisingly, it was now found that pyrrolidine derivatives according to formula I are suitable pharmaceutically active agents, by effectively modulating, in particular by effectively inhibiting the OT-R function and more specifically by antagonising the oxytocin receptor. When the oxytocin receptor is bound by the compounds according to formula I, oxytocin is antagonised by being blocked from its receptor and is therefore unable to exert its biologic or pharmacological effects. The compounds of the present invention are therefore in particular useful in the treatment and/or prevention of oxytocin-related disorders of mammals and in particular of humans. These disorders mediated by the oxytocin receptor, are primarily preterm labor and dysmenorrhea.
The compounds according to the present invention are those of formula I.
Said formula also comprises its geometrical isomers, its optically active forms as enantiomers, diastereomers and its racemate forms, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compound I, are acid addition salts formed with pharmaceutically acceptable acids like hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate or bisulfate, phosphate or hydrogen phosphate, acetate, benzoate, succinate, fumarate, maleate, lactate, citrate, tartrate, gluconate, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, and para-toluenesulfonate salts.
In said formula I, X is selected from the group consisting of CR 6 R 7 , NOR 6 , NNR 6 R 7 .
A is selected from the group consisting of —(C═O)—, —(C═O)—O—, —C(═NH)—,—(C—O)—NH—, —(C═S)—NH, —SO 2 —, —SO 2 NH—, —CH 2 —.
B is either an amido group of the formula —(C═O)—NR 8 R 9 or B represents a heterocyclic residue having the formula B 1
wherein Q is NR 10 , O or S; n is an integer selected of 0, 1 or 2, preferably 0. m is an integer selected of 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 0 or 1.
Y, Z and E form together with the 2 carbons to which they are attached a 5–6 membered aryl is or heteroaryl ring.
R 1 is selected from the group comprising or consisting of unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 -alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 -alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted saturated or unsaturated 3–8-membered cycloalkyl, acyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl, said cycloalkyl or aryl or heteroaryl groups may be fused with 1–2 ether cycloalkyl or aryl or heteroaryl group.
R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from each other from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C 1 –C 6 -allyl, C 1 –C 6 -alkoxy, preferably they are all hydrogen.
R 6 and R 7 are independently selected from the group comprising or consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkoxy, unsubstituted or substituted thioalkoxy, halogen, cyano, nitro, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted saturated or unsaturated 3–8-membered cycloalkyl which may contain 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected of N, O, S, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl.
R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are independently selected from the group comprising or consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted saturated or unsaturated 3–8-membered cycloalkyl which may contain 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected of N, O, S, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl.
Alternatively, each pair R 6 , R 7 and/or R 8 , R 9 could form together with the N atom to which they are attached a 3–8 membered substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which may contain 1–2 further heteroatoms selected from N, S and O and which is optionally fused with an aryl, heteroaryl or 3–8 membered saturated or unsaturated cycloalkyl ring.
R 11 is selected from the group comprising or consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, hydroxy, mercapto, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, halogen, nitro, cyano, acyl, acyloxy, acylamino, aminocarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, sulfonyl, sulfoxy, carboxyl, primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups or quaternary ammonium moieties, unsubstituted or substituted saturated or unsaturated 3–8-membered cycloalkyl.
Preferred pyrrolidine derivatives are those compounds according to formula I wherein B is a group —(C═O)—NHR 9 , in which R 9 is selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 allyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted saturated or unsaturated 3–6-membered cycloalkyl which optionally contains a N atom, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 2 -alkyl aryl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 2 -alkyl heteroaryl.
Preferred heteroaryls are pyridyl, pyrrolyl, furyl, thienyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-triazinyl, 1,2,3-triazinyl, benzofuryl, [2,3-dihydro]benzofuryl, isobenzofuryl, benzothienyl, benzotriazolyl, isobenzo-thienyl, 2,1,3-benzothiadiazolyl, 2,1,3-benzoxadiazolyl, benzodioxolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, 3H-indolyl, benzimidazolyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, quinolizinyl, quinazolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinoxalinyl, cinnnolinyl, napthyridinyl, pyrido[3,4-b]pyridyl, pyrido[3,2-b]pyridyl, pyrido[4,3-b]pyridyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, tetrazolyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolyl, purinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, xanthenyl, acridinyl or benzoquinolyl and whereby said heteroaryl could be fused with a 3–8-membered cycloalkyl containing optionally 1–3 heteroatoms selected from N, O, S.
According to a further preferred embodiment the pyrrolidine derivatives according to the present invention carry a residue B 1 which is a fused heterocycle of the formula
Particularly preferred pyrrolidine derivatives are those compounds according to formula I wherein X is NOR 6 , and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted acyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted saturated or unsaturated 3–8-membered cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl, said cycloalkyl or aryl or heteroaryl groups may be fused with 1–2 further cycloalkyl or aryl or heteroaryl groups. Particularly preferred R 6 is H, CH 3 , unsubstituted or substituted CH 2 -phenyl or allyl.
Under no circumstances B could be a group COOR or a group —(C═O)NR(OR), whereby R is H, alkyl or acyl. Such compounds, notably having a group B=hydroxamic acid are described in WO 99/52868 as being potent inhibitors of metalloproteases.
Further particularly preferred pyrrolidine derivatives are those compounds according to formula I wherein X is CHR 6 , and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, unsubstituted or substituted C 3 –C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkoxy, unsubstituted or substituted thioalkoxy, nitro, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted saturated or unsaturated 3–8-membered cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl, unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl heteroaryl, said cycloalkyl or aryl or heteroaryl groups may be fused with 1–2 further cycloalkyl or aryl or heteroaryl groups. Particularly preferred R 6 is halogen, cyano, C 1 –C 6 alkyl or an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group.
According to a further preferred embodiment the pyrrolidine derivatives have a substituent A being —(C═O)—, or —(C═O)—NH—, or —SO 2 —, most preferred is —(C═O)—.
More preferred groups R 1 are substituted or unsubstituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl, C 2 –C 6 -alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 2 –C 6 -alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, saturated or unsaturated 3–8-membered cycloalkyl and still more preferred R 1 are C 1 –C 6 -alkyl or aryl. A particularly preferred substituent R 1 is biphenyl.
According to a most preferred embodiment, the pyrrolidine derivatives according to formula I are those wherein X is ═NOR 6 or ═CHCl, R 6 is a C 1 –C 6 -alkyl, e.g. a methyl group, or aryl or C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl group, A is —(C═O)— and R 1 is a C 1 –C 6 -alkyl or aryl or C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl group. Even more preferred are those pyrrolidine derivatives, wherein X is ═NOR 6 , or ═CHCl, R 6 is methyl, B is an amido group of the formula —(C═O)NHR 9 , wherein R 9 is an unsubstituted or substituted C 1 –C 6 -alkyl aryl group, e.g. a substituted phenylethyl group, A is —(C═O)— and R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl or an acetylmethyl group.
The compounds of formula I may contain one or more asymmetric centers and may therefore exist as enantiomers or diasteroisomers. It is to be understood that the invention includes both mixtures and separate individual isomers or enantiomers of the compounds of formula I. In a particularly preferred embodiment the pyrrolidine derivatives according to formula I are obtained in an enantiomeric excess of at least 52% ee, preferably of at least 92–98% ee. Also E/Z isomers with regard to pyrrolidine derivatives having residues X being ═CR 6 R 7 whereby both R 6 R 7 are different from each other, and/or with regard to pyrrolidine derivatives having residues X being ═NOR 6 or ═NNR 6 R 7 are comprised by the present invention.
Specific examples of compounds of formula I include the following:
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-N-benzyl-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(4chlorophenoxy)acetyl]-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-allyl-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino),2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarbox-amide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S)-2-[1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4methylene-2-pyrrolidinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-allyloxime (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-allyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -pentyl-N 2 -(6-quinolinyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-N 2 -(6-quinolinyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(eethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N 2 -cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)-oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-methylene-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4 {[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 2 -[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-methylene-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamid (2S,4EZ)-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(6-quinolinyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(methoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-acetyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyl]-1-acryloyl-3-pyrrolidinone O-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxime (2)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamid (2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-3-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-(4-benzoylbenzyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-(3-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-(2-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl],4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-(3,4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl-N-N[(2RS)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(2-naphthyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methoxyimine (3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxycyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxycyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-5-{[(3RS)-3-dihydroxypropyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-5-{[(3RS)-3-hydroxypiperidinyl]carbonyl}-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-5-{[(3RS)-3-hydroxypiperidinyl]carbonyl}-4-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-5-{[(3RS)-3-hydroxypiperidinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-( 3 -pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2R,3S,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1 ′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo-[2.2.1 ]hept-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4E and 4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4E and 4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4E and 4Z)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2R,3S,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2. 1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2RS)-3-({[(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]-carbonyl}amino)-2-hydroxypropanoic acid (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(aminocarbonyl)cyclohexyl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1RS)-2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 4-({[(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}-amino)butanoic acid (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(2-naphthyl)ethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1RS)-2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[l ,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2-RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2R,3S,4R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S,3R,45)-3-hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2R,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2R,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-5-(3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-isoquinolinylcarbonyl)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[ 1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(1R,23)-2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylmethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2RS)-2-[({(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-pyrrolidinyl}carbonyl)amino]-3-phenylpropane acid (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(aminocarbonyl)cyclohexyl]-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(aminocarbonyl)cyclohexyl]-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 4′-{[(2S,4EZ)-2-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-carbonitrile (3EZ,5S)-1-[(3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)carbonyl]-5-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-({4-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-piperazinyl}carbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-({4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-piperazinyl}carbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidine-carboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N,N-dimethyl-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(3S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(3S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-{[2′-(trifluoro-methyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]carbonyl}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-{[2′-chloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]carbonyl}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4E and 4Z)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-(2-phenylethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Thereby, the most preferred compounds are those which are selected from the group consisting of:
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carboxamide (2S,4Z-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (2S,4E)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
A further aspect of the present invention is related to the use of the pyrrolidine derivatives according to formula I for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of premature labor, premature birth, for stopping labor prior to cesarean delivery and dysmenorrhea Preferably, the compounds according to formula I are suitable for the modulation of the OT function, thus specifically allowing the treatment and/or prevention of disorders which are mediated by the oxytocin receptor. Said treatment involves the modulation—notably the down regulation or the antagonisation—of the oxytocin receptor.
More specifically, the compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of preterm labor, premature birth, dysmenorrhea and for stopping labor prior to cesarean delivery.
Still a further aspect of the present invention is related to the actually novel pyrrolidine compounds of formula I. Some very few compounds have actually been disclosed prior to the filing of the present application, without any medical use though. Said known compounds of formula I are those, wherein
X is (═CH 2 ), A is —(C═O)—O—, R 1 is a t-butyl group and B is —(C═O)-NMe 2 ( Tetrahedron 53(2), 539, 1997); —(C═O)—NHMe (WO 95/47718); —(C═O)—NH—CH(Me)—(C═O)—NH—CH(Me)-COOH (WO 95/47718); or —(C═O)—NH—CH(COOCH 2 -Ph)-CH 2 —COOPh ( Tetrahedron 48(31), 6529, 1992). X is (═CHR 6 ) with R 6 being cyclohexylmethyl, A is —(C═O)—O—, R 1 is a t-butyl group and is —(C═O)-NH-t-butyl ( Biorg. Chem. Lett. 3(8), 1485, 1993). X is C 1 –C 20 alkylidene, A is —(C═O)—O—, R 1 is a t-butyl and B is
wherein R is C 1 –C 12 alkyl and Hal is Cl, Br, J. Said compounds are disclosed in DE-1,932,823 as intermediates.
X is C 1 –C 20 alkylidene, A-R 1 is a protective group and B is
with R being H or C 1 –C 12 alkyl (GB-1,118,306)
Hence, the novel compounds are those of the formula I, wherein the above mentioned known compounds are excluded.
Still a further object of the present invention is a process for preparing the pyrrolidine derivatives according to formula I.
The pyrrolidine derivatives exemplified in this invention can be prepared from readily available starting materials using the following general methods and procedures. It will be appreciated that where typical or preferred experimental conditions (i.e. reaction temperatures, time, moles of reagents, solvents, etc.) are given, other experimental conditions can also be used unless otherwise stated. Optimum reaction conditions may vary with the particular reactants or solvents used, but such conditions can be determined by one skilled in the art by routine optimisation procedures.
Generally, the pyrrolidine derivatives according to the general formula I could be obtained by several processes, using both solution-phase and solid-phase chemistry protocols. Depending on the nature of A, B, and X, certain processes will, in some instances, be preferred over others, and it is assumed that the choice of the most suitable process will be known to the practitioner skilled in the art.
According to one process, pyrrolidine derivatives according to the general formula I, whereby the substituent B is C(O)—NR 8 R 9 , with R 8 and R 9 being defined as above, are prepared from the corresponding suitably N-protected 4-substituted pyrrolidine derivatives II, whereby the substituent X is as above defined, by solution-phase chemistry protocols such as described in the Examples and shown in Scheme 1, below. The suitably N-protected 4-substituted pyrrolidine derivatives II are first reacted with primary or secondary amines III, whereby the substituents R 8 and R 9 are as above defined, using conditions and methods well known to those skilled in the art to prepare an amide from an amine and a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid derivative, using standard peptide coupling agents, such as e.g. DIC, EDC, TBTU, DECP, or others, to yield compounds of formula IV. Removal of the N-protecting group using the appropriate deprotection agents produces derivatives of formula V. These can be treated with acylating agents of general formula VI, whereby the substituent R 1 is as above defined, while LG could be any appropriate leaving group. Preferred acylating agents VI are acid chlorides (VIa), used in conjunction with a tertiary amine base, or carboxylic acids (VIb), used in conjunction with a peptide coupling agent, e.g. from the above mentioned group, to yield the products of general formula I, with B being defined as C(O)N 8 R 9 (Ia).
Other derivatives of formula I are prepared using known modifications to the Scheme 1 reaction sequence. Compounds of formula I wherein A is different from the carbonyl functionality are prepared by replacing formula VI compounds with compounds containing the appropriate functional groups, e.g. sulfonyl chlorides, isocyanates, isothiocyanate, chloroformates, substituted alkyl halides, or others to yield sulfonamide, urea, thiourea, carbamate, substituted alkyl derivatives, or others, respectively.
Compounds of formula II, whereby the substituent X is CR 6 R 7 , and R 6 and R 7 are as above defined, can be prepared from compounds of general formula VII by Wittig-type reactions with anions of phosphoranes such as VIIIa and/or of phosphonates such as VIIIb, followed by saponification of the ester function using standard synthetic techniques, as hereinafter described in the Examples and shown in Scheme 2.
Compounds of general formula VII can be prepared from commercially available, suitably N-protected 4-hydroxyproline X, by a reaction sequence consisting of oxidation and esterification, using standard synthetic techniques as hereinafter described in the Examples and shown in Scheme 3.
Compounds of formula II, wherein the substituent X is NOR 6 or NNR 6 R 7 , and R 6 and R 7 are as above defined, can be prepared from compounds of general formula XI by reaction with substituted hydroxylamines XIIa and/or substituted hydrazines and/or hydrazides XIIb using standard synthetic techniques as hereinafter described in the Examples and shown in Scheme 4.
Compounds of formula XIIa are commercially available or prepared by standard synthetic techniques as hereinafter described in the Examples. Compounds of formula II with X═S are accessible from the corresponding suitably protected ketopyrrolidine intermediates VII through standard functional group interconversion methods well known to the person skilled in the art, such as, e.g., by treatment with Lawesson's reagent or others (Pedersen, B. S. et al.; Bull. Soc. Chim. Belg. 1978, 87, 223), followed by saponification.
According to another process, pyrrolidine derivatives according to the general formula I, whereby the substituent B is a heterocyclic residue B1 as above defined, and the substituents are as above defined, are prepared from the corresponding suitably N-protected 4-substituted pyrrolidine derivatives II, whereby the substituent X is as above defined, by solution-phase chemistry protocols such as described in the Examples and shown in Scheme 5, below. The starting suitably N-protected 4-substituted pyrrolidine derivatives II are first reacted with ortho-substituted primary anilines of general formula XI, whereby the substituents Q, Z, E, Y, and R 11 are as above defined, using standard peptide coupling agents, such as DIC, EDC, TBTU, DECP, or others, followed by exposure to dilute weak acid, such as acetic acid, in a suitable organic solvent, such as DCM, to promote cyclisation yielding compounds of formula XIV. Removal of the N-protecting group using the appropriate deprotection agents produces cyclic derivatives of formula XV. These can be treated with acylating agents of general formula VI, whereby the substituent R 1 is as above defined, while LG could be any appropriate leaving group. Preferred acylating agents VI are acid chlorides (VIa), used in conjunction with a tertiary amine base, or carboxylic acids (VIb), used in conjunction with a peptide coupling agent, e.g. from the above mentioned group, to yield the products of general formula I, with B being defined as B1 (Ib).
Other derivatives of formula I are prepared using known modifications to the Scheme S reaction sequence. Compounds of formula I wherein A is different from the carbonyl functionality are prepared by replacing formula VI with compounds containing the appropriate functional groups, e.g. sulfonyl chlorides, isocyanates, isothiocyanate, chloroformates, substituted alkyl halides, or others to yield sulfonamide, urea, thiourea, carbamate, substituted alkyl derivatives, or others, respectively.
According to another general process, summarized in Scheme 6, pyrrolidine derivatives according to the general formula I, whereby the substituents A, B, X, and R 1 are as above defined, are prepared from compounds of formula XVI, using the synthetic techniques as outlined in Schemes 2 and 4. As further shown in Scheme 6, compounds of formula XVI are accessible either from XI, following, e.g., the synthetic methodologies introduced in Schemes 1 and 5, or from Ic through hydrolysis of the methyloxime moiety, e.g. under mild hydrolysis conditions as described hereinafter in the Examples. This present synthetic strategy is most preferred when X is NOH or NNR 6 R 7 , whereby the substituents R 6 and R 7 are as above defined.
According to yet another process, pyrrolidine derivatives according to the general formula I, whereby the substituents A, B, X, and R 1 are as above defined, are prepared from the corresponding suitably N-protected 4substituted pyrrolidine derivatives II, whereby the substituent X is above defined, by a solid-phase protocol such as described in the examples and shown in Scheme 7, below. The N-Boc-protected 4-substituted pyrrolidine derivative II is reacted e.g. with Kaiser oxime resin using standard carbodiimide-mediated coupling conditions well known to the practitioner skilled in the art, followed by Boc-deprotection with dilute TFA in DCM, or with BF 3 .OEt 2 in dilute HOAc in DCM, to give compound XIX. The latter compound can be treated with acylating agents of general formula VI, whereby the substituent R 1 is as above defined, while LG could be any appropriate leaving group. Preferred acylating agents VI are acid chlorides (VIa), used in conjunction with a tertiary amine base, or carboxylic acids (VIb), used in conjunction with a peptide coupling agent, e.g. DIC or EDC, to yield products of general formula XX.
Compounds of formula I wherein A is different from the carbonyl functionality are prepared by replacing formula VI with compounds containing the appropriate functional groups, e.g. sulfonyl chlorides, isocyanates, isothiocyanate, chloroformates, substituted alkyl halides, or others to yield sulfonamide, urea, thiourea, carbamate, substituted alkyl derivatives, or others respectively.
In order to obtain the final compounds of general formula I, the linkage to the resin is cleaved by prolonged treatment with amines of general formulae III or XIII and low percentages of a weak acid, such as HOAc. The cycles within the below Scheme 7 illustrate the resign beads to which the corresponding compounds are linked during the solid phase synthesis. Other is derivatives of formula I are prepared using known modifications to, or variations of, the Scheme 7 reaction sequence. Further to the above mentioned Kaiser oxime resin, other suitable reagents, notably resins, known to a person skilled in the art, could be employed for the solid-phase synthesis of compounds of general formula I.
The reaction sequences outlined in the above Schemes provides enantiomerically pure compounds of formula I, if enantiomerically pure starting materials are used. (R) as well as (S) enantiomers can be obtained depending upon whether (R) or (S) forms of commercially available compounds of formulas II, III, VI, and/or X were used as the starting materials.
However, the reaction sequences outlined in the above Schemes usually provide mixtures of (E) and (Z) isomers with respect to the substituents on the exocyclic double bond of the pyrrolidine ring. In all cases studied, these (E)/(Z)-isomers could be separated by standard chromatography techniques well known to the person skilled in the art, such as by reversed phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) or silica gel flash chromatography (FC). The assignment of the absolute configuration of the exocyclic double bond was performed using NMR-techniques well described in the literature as will be known to the practitioner skilled in the art (for configurationnal assignements of e.g. oxime functionalities, see e.g. E. Breitmaier, W. Voelter Carbon-13 NMR Spectroscopy, 3rd Ed, VCH, 1987, p. 240).
According to a further general process, compounds of formula I can be converted to alternative compounds of formula I, employing suitable interconversion techniques such as hereinafter described in the Examples.
If the above set out general synthetic methods are not applicable for obtaining compounds according to formula I and/or necessary intermediates for the synthesis of compounds of formula I, suitable methods of preparation known by a person skilled on the art should be used. In general, the synthesis pathways for any individual compound of formula I will depend on the specific substitutents of each molecule and upon the ready availability of intermediates necessary, again such factors being appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. For all the protection, deprotection methods, see Philip J. Kocienski, in “ Protecting Groups ”, Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart, New York, 1994 and, Theodora W. Greene and Peter G. M. Wuts in “ Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis ”, Wiley-Interscience, 1991.
Compounds of this invention can be isolated in association with solvent molecules by crystallization from evaporation of an appropriate solvent. The pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of the compounds of formula I, which contain a basic center, may be prepared in a conventional manner. For example, a solution of the free base may be treated with a suitable acid, either neat or in a suitable solution, and the resulting salt isolated either by filtration or by evaporation under vacuum of the reaction solvent. Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts may be obtained in an analogous manner by treating a solution of compound of formula I with a suitable base. Both types of salt may be formed or interconverted using ion-exchange resin techniques.
If the above set out general synthetic methods are not applicable for the obtention of compounds of formula I, suitable methods of preparation known by a person skilled in the art should be used.
A final aspect of the present invention is related to the use of the compounds according to formula I for the modulation of the Oxytocin receptor, the use of said compounds for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the modulation of the oxytocin receptor as well as the formulations containing the active compounds according to formula I. Said modulation of the oxytocin receptor is viewed as a suitable approach for the treatment of preterm labor, premature birth and dysmenorrhea. Hence, the compounds of the present invention are suitable for the treatment of preterm labor, premature birth and dysmenorrhea.
When employed as pharmaceuticals, the pyrrolidine derivatives of the present invention are typically administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition. Hence, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient therefore are also within the scope of the present invention. A person skilled in the art is aware of a whole variety of such carrier, diluent or excipient compounds suitable to formulate a pharmaceutical composition. Also, the present invention provides compounds for use as a medicament. In particular, the invention provides the compounds of formula I for use as antagonists of the oxytocin receptor, for the treatment or prevention of disorders mediated by the oxytocin receptor in mammals, notably of humans, either alone or in combination with other medicaments, e.g. in combination with a further OT antagonist.
The compounds of the invention, together with a conventionally employed adjuvant, carrier, diluent or excipient may be placed into the form of pharmaceutical compositions and unit dosages thereof, and in such form may be employed as solids, such as tablets or filled capsules, or liquids such as solutions, suspensions, emulsions, elixirs, or capsules filled with the same, all for oral use, or in the form of sterile injectable solutions for parenteral (including subcutaneous use). Such pharmaceutical compositions and unit dosage forms thereof may comprise ingredients in conventional proportions, with or without additional active compounds or principles, and such unit dosage forms may contain any suitable effective amount of the active ingredient commensurate with the intended daily dosage range to be employed.
When employed as pharmaceuticals, the pyrrolidine derivatives of this invention are typically administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition. Such compositions can be prepared in a manner well known in the pharmaceutical art and comprise at least one active compound. Generally, the compounds of this invention are administered in a pharmaceutically effective amount. The amount of the compound actually administered will typically be determined by a physician, in the light of the relevant circumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen route of administration, the actual compound administered, the age, weight, and response of the individual patient, the severity of the patient's symptoms, and the like.
The pharmaceutical compositions of these inventions can be administered by a variety of routes including oral, rectal, transdermal, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, and intranasal. Depending on the intended route of delivery, the compounds are preferably formulated as either injectable or oral compositions. The compositions for oral administration can take the form of bulk liquid solutions or suspensions, or bulk powders. More commonly, however, the compositions are presented in unit dosage forms to facilitate accurate dosing. The term “unit dosage forms” refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for human subjects and other mammals, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect, in association with a suitable pharmaceutical excipient. Typical unit dosage forms include prefilled, premeasured ampoules or syringes of the liquid compositions or pills, tablets, capsules or the like in the case of solid compositions. In such compositions, the pyrrolidine compound is usually a minor component (from about 0.1 to about 50% by weight or preferably from about 1 to about 40% by weight) with the remainder being various vehicles or carriers and processing aids helpful for forming the desired dosing form.
Liquid forms suitable for oral administration may include a suitable aqueous or nonaqueous vehicle with buffers, suspending and dispensing agents, colorants, flavors and the like. Solid forms may include, for example, any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gun tragacanth or gelatine; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.
Injectable compositions are typically based upon injectable sterile saline or phosphate-buffered saline or other injectable carriers known in the art. As above mentioned, the pyrrolidine derivatives of formula I in such compositions is typically a minor component, frequently ranging between 0.05 to 10% by weight with the remainder being the injectable carrier and the like.
The above described components for orally administered or injectable compositions are merely representative. Further materials as well as processing techniques and the like are set out in Part 8 of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17 th Edition, 1985, Marck Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., which is incorporated herein be reference.
The compounds of this invention can also be administered in sustained release forms or from sustained release drug delivery systems. A description of representative sustained release materials can also be found in the incorporated materials in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences.
In the following the present invention shall be illustrated by means of some examples which are not construed to be viewed as limiting the scope of the invention. The HPLC, NMR and MS data provided in the examples described below were obtained as followed. The following abbreviations are hereinafter used in the accompanying examples: min (minute), hr (our), g (gram), mmol (millimole), m.p. (melting point), eq (equivalents), mL (milliliter), μL (microliters), mL (milliliters), ACN (Acetonitrile), CDCl 3 (deuterated chloroform), cHex (Cyclohexanes), DCM (Diclloromethane), DECP (Diethylcyanophos-phonate), DIC (Diisopropyl carbodiimide), DMAP (4-Dimethylaminopyridine) DMF (Dimethylformamide), DMSO (Dimethylsulfoxide), DMSO-d 6 (deuterated dimethylsulfoxide), EDC (1-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide), EtOAc (Ethyl acetate), Et 2 O (Diethyl ether), HOBt (1-Hydroxybenzotriazole), K 2 CO 3 (potassium carbonate), NaH (Sodium hydride), NaHCO 3 (Sodium bicarbonate), nBuLi (n Butyllithium), TBTU (O-Benzotziazolyl-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium-tetrafluoroborate), TEA (Triethyl amine), TFA (Trifluoro-acetic acid), THF (Tetrahydrofuran), MgSO 4 Magnesium sulfate), PetEther (Petroleum ether), rt (room temperature).
EXAMPLES
Intermediate 1: (2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid
Commercial (2S,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (30 g, 0.13 mol) was dissolved in acetone (1500 ml). A mechanical stirrer was placed in the flask and the solution stirred vigorously. A freshly made solution of 8N chromic acid was prepared by dissolving chromium trioxide (66.7 g, 0.667 mol) in water (40 ml), adding concentrated sulphuric acid (53.3 ml) and adding enough water to bring the solution volume to 115 ml. The 8N chromic acid solution (115 ml) was then added dropwise over a period of 30 minutes with continued vigorous stirring, the reaction's exotherm being maintained at the optimal temperature of 25° C. by the use of an ice bath. After the complete addition of the chromic acid, the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 15 minutes—maintaining the optimal temperature of 25° C. The reaction mixture was then quenched by the addition of methanol (20 ml). Exotherm controlled by the use of an ice bath and, if necessary, direct addition of a small amount of crushed ice to the reaction mixture itself. The reaction mixture was filtered through a Celite pad and then concentrated in vacuo. The resulting acidic solution was then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×300 ml) and the combined organic layers washed with brine (2×100 ml). Organics then dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. Crude product recrystallised from ethyl acetate to give the white crystalline product, (2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (22.55 g, 76%). The antipodal intermediate, (2-R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, was made according to the same protocol, starting from commercial (2R,4S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid.
1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl3); 1.4 (m, 9H), 2.5–3.0 (m, 2H), 3.7–3.9 (m, 2H), 4.75 (dd, 1H)
Intermediate 2: 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S)-4-oxo-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate
A solution of (2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (1 g, 4.3 mmol) in a 1:1 mixture of methanol and toluene (60 ml) was made. Trimethylsilyl diazomethane (6.5 ml of a 2M solution in hexanes, 13 mmol) was then added dropwise to the stirred solution at room temperature under nitrogen. After completion of the evolution of nitrogen gas, the resulting yellow solution was evaporated in vacuo, and the residue filtered through a pad of silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate. Removal of solvent from the filtrate gave a yellow oil (1.05 g, near quantitative yield).
1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.4 (m, 9H), 2.5 (m, 1H), 2.8–2.9 (m, 1H), 3.7 ((s, 3H), 3.9 (m, 2H), 4.6–4.8 (m, 1H).
Intermediate 3: 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate
Chloromethyltriphenylphosphonium iodide (270 mg, 0.62 mmol) was added to a solution of potassium tert-butoxide (67 mg, 0.59 mmol) in anhydrous diethyl ether (5 ml) under nitrogen and the resulting bright yellow mixture stirred for 30 minutes at ambient temperature. The reaction was then cooled to 0° C. and a solution of 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S)-4-oxo-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate (100 mg, 0.41 mmol in 2 ml anhydrous diethyl ether) was added dropwise. The reaction was then warmed to room temperature and stirred for 30 minutes before adding saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (0.5 ml). The organic layer was removed in vacuo, and the aqueous washed with diethyl ether (3×5 ml). The combined organic layers were dried with brine and magnesium sulfate before filtering and removal of solvent. The desired product was isolated by silica gel chromatography, eluting with 15% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give 105 mg (93% yield) as a off-white wax.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.4 (9H, m), 2.6–2.75 (m, 1H), 2.8–3.0 (m, 1H), 3.65 (s, 3H), 4.1 (m, 2H), 4.4–4.5 (m, 1H)5.9–6.0 (m, 1H).
Intermediate 4: 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S)-4-methylene-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate
Methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (22 g, 61.6 mmol) was added to a solution of potassium tert-butoxide (6.5 g, 57.6 mmol) in anhydrous diethyl ether (450 ml) at 0° C. under nitrogen and the resulting bright yellow mixture stirred for 30 minutes. A solution of 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S)-4-oxo-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate (10 g, 41.1 mmol in 150 ml anhydrous diethyl ether) was added slowly to the reaction mixture, which was then warmed at 35° C. for 3 h. Saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (0.5 ml) was then added. The organic layer was removed, and the aqueous washed with diethyl ether (3×5 ml). The combined organic layers were dried with brine and magnesium sulfate before filtering and removal of solvent. Silica gel chromatography, eluting with 15% ethyl acetate in hexanes gave the desired product 6.9 g (70% yield) as a off-white wax.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.4 (9H, m), 2.5 (m, 1H), 2.8 (m, 1H), 3.65 (s, 3H), 4.0 (m, 2H), 4.3–4.5 (m, 1H), 4.9 (m, 2H).
Intermediate 5:1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate
Diethyl cyanomethyl phosphonate (0.86 ml, 4.4 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (50 ml) and the solution cooled to 0° C. Sodium hydride (205 mg of a 60% suspension in parrafin oil, 5.1 mmol) was then added cautiously and the reaction stirred for 30 min. The reaction mixture was then cooled to −78° C. and a solution of 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (25)-4-oxo-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate (1.0 g, 4.1 mmol) in dry THF (5 ml) was added dropwise. The reaction was then allowed to reach room temperature. Saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (15 ml) was then added, followed by ethyl acetate (100 ml). (The organic layer was removed, and the aqueous washed with ethyl acetate (3×5 ml). The combined organic layers were dried with brine and magnesium sulfate before filtering and removal of solvent. Silica gel chromatography, eluting with 35% ethyl acetate in hexanes gave the desired compound (860 mg, 80%) as an off-white wax.
1 H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.4 (m, 9H), 2.7–3.0 (m, 1H), 3.1–3.3 (m, 1H), 3.7 (m, 3H), 4.2–4.4 (m, 2H), 4.5–4.7 (m, 1H), 5.4 (m, 1H).
Intermediate 6: 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate
Potassium tert-butoxide (6.1 g, 54 mmol) was added portionwise to a solution of benzyl-triphenylphosphonium chloride (22.45 g, 58 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (400 ml) and the reaction stirred at ambient temperature for 1 h. The solution was then cooled to 0° C. and a solution of 1-tert-butyl 2-methyl (2S)-4-oxo-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate (9.36 g, 38.5 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (30 ml) was added dropwise. After stirring for a further 1 h at 0° C. the reaction was stirred for a further 3 h at ambient temperature. Saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (30 ml) was then added. The organic layer was removed, and the aqueous washed with dichloromethane (3×20 ml). The combined organic layers were dried with brine and magnesium sulfate before filtering and removal of solvent. Silica gel chromatography, eluting with 30% ether in hexanes gave the desired product 8.65 g (71% yield) as a pale yellow wax.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 );1.5 (m, 91), 2.8–3.0 (m, 1H), 3.2 (m, 1H), 3.7 (m, 31), 4.2–4.4 (m, 2H), 4.5–4.6 (m, 1H), 6.3–6.4 (m, 1H), 7.1–7.5 (m, 5H).
Intermediate 7: (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid
A solution was made containing (2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (5.0 g, 21 mmol) and O-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (2.7 g, 32.8 mmol) in chloroform (100 ml) containing triethylamine (5.5 g, 55 mmol). The reaction mixture was then stirred at ambient temperature overnight, prior to removal of solvent. The resultant crude reaction mixture was dissolved in ethyl acetate (150 ml) and washed rapidly with 1N HCl (40 ml). The acidic layer was then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 ml) and the combined organic layers washed with brine before drying over magnesiom sulfate, filtering and removal of solvent in vacuo. The desired product (5.3 g, 94%) was isolated as a pale yellow oil.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.45 (m, 9H), 2.8–3.2 (m, 2H), 3.9 (s, 3H), 4.2 (m, 2H), 4.5–4.7 (m, 1H).
Intermediate 8: (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid
A solution was made containing (2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (5.0 g, 22 mmol) and O-ethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (6.4 g, 65.5 mmol) in a 1:1 mixture of pyridine and ethanol (100 ml). The reaction was heated to reflux for 2.5 h before cooling and removal of solvent. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed rapidly with 1.3N HCl (40 ml). The acidic layer was then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 ml) and the combined organic layers washed with brine before drying over magnesiom sulfate, filtering and removal of solvent in vacuo. The desired product (5.5 g, 93%) was isolated as a pale yellow oil.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO); 1.3 (t, 3H), 1.55 (m, 9H), 2.9–2.7 (m, 1H), 3.4–3.1 (m, 1H), 4.1–4.3 (m, 4H), 4.6 (m, 1H), 12–13.5 (br, 1H).
Intermediate 9: (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carboxylic acid
A solution was made containing (2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarbocylic acid (5.0 g, 22 mmol) and O-allylhydroxylamine hydrochloride monohydrate (7.2 g, 65.5 mmol) in a 1:1 mixture of pyridine and ethanol (100 ml). The reaction was heated to reflux for 2.5 h before cooling and removal of solvent. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed rapidly with 1.3N HCl (40 ml). The acidic layer was then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 ml) and the combined organic layers washed with brine before drying over magnesium sulfate, filtering and removal of solvent in vacuo. The desired product (5.9 g, 94%) was isolated as a pale yellow oil.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.5 (m, 9H), 2.8–3.2 (m, 2H), 4.2 (m, 2H), 4.5–4.7 (m, 3H), 5.25 (m, 2H), 5.9 (m, 1H), 11.1 (broad S, 1H).
Intermediate 10: 1-[(aminooxy)methyl]-4-methoxybenzene
A solution was made of Boc hydroxylamine (2.0 g, 17.1 mmol) in dry TBF (60 ml). Sodium hydride (1.1 g of a 60% suspension in paraffin oil, 25.7 mmol) was then added and the suspension stirred. A catalytic amount of KI was then added to the reaction prior to the cautious addition of 4-methoxybenzyl chloride (3.2 g, 20.4 mmol). The reaction was then allowed to stir overnight before removal of solvent in vacuo. The residue was taken up with diethyl ether (100 ml) and HCl gas bubbled in for 20 minutes, causing the start of precipitation of the product. The flask was stoppered and left to stand overnight. The product was then filtered off as a off-white wax (39–52% yield according to varying batches).
1 H NMR (400 MHz, D 2 O); 3.8 (s, 3H), 5 (s, 2H), 7.0 (d, 2H), 7.4 (d, 2H).
Intermediate 11: (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid
The same method as employed in the preparation of Intermediate 7, but starting from (2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (Intermediate 1) and 1-[(aminooxy)methyl]4-methoxy-benzene (Intermediate 10) gave the title compound as a gum in a 85% yield.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO); 1.5 (m, 9H), 2.7–2.9 (m, 1H) 3.9 (s, 3H), 4.2 (m, 3H), 4.6 (m, 1H), 5.15 (s, 2H), 7.1 (d, 2H), 7.45 (d, 2H).
Intermediate 12: 2-aminoethyl acetate TFA-salt
A solution was made containing ethanolamine (36.5 ml, 0.6 mol) in chloroform (1000 ml). The Boc 2 O (13.1 g, 60 mmol) dissolved in chloroform (600 ml) was slowly added dropwise at 0° C. over a 6-hours period (the temperature was maintained all over this period). The reaction was allowed to reach room temperature and was stirred overnight. The organic layer was washed with water (2×500 ml), brine and dried over magnesium sulfate before being concentrated in vacuo. The desired product (9.5 g,>95%) was isolated as a colourless oil and was used without further purification. A solution was made containing the Boc-ethanolamine (1.92 g, 12 mmol) with potassium carbonate (5 g, 36 mmol) in DCM (40 ml). Acetyl chloride (30 ml, 0.42 mol) was added and the reaction stirred for 6 hours at room temperature. The excess of acetyl chloride was removed in vacuo and the crude dissolved in DCM (100 ml). The organic layer was washed with water (50 ml), brine and dried over magnesium sulfate before being concentrated in vacuo. The desired product (1.86 g, 77%) was isolated as a colourless oil and was used without further purification. A solution was made containing the O-acyl, Boc-ethanolamine (1.65 g, 8.1 mmol) in DCM (20 ml) and TFA (20 ml) was added. After one hour at room temperature, the solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude was concentrated from methanol (2–3 times) and from DCM (2–3 times) to give the expected compound (1.75 g, quant.) as an oil used without further purification.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, D 2 O); 2.0 (m, 9H), 3.1–3.2 (m, 2H), 4.15–4.25 (m, 2H).
Intermediate 13: 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid
To a mixture of 4-bromobenzoic acid (30 g, 0.15 mol), 2-methylphenylboronic acid (24 g, 0.15 mol), sodium carbonate (250 g) in toluene (500 mL) and water (500 mL) was added tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium(0) (9 g, 0.0074 mol) under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 10 h. After this time, 100 ml of 10% NaOH were added to the reaction mixture, the aqueous layer was separated and washed with toluene (2×200 mL). Acidification of the aqueous layer with 3N HCl solution gave a solid product, which was filtered, washed with water and dried. The crude product was then crystallized from toluene to yield 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid (20 g, 62.5%). Conversely, the product could also be obtained from 1-bromo-2-methylbenzene and 4-carboxybenzeneboronic acid, using analogous conditions.
1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO); 2.2 (s, 3H), 7.2–7.4 (m, 4H), 7.43 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 7.99 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 13 (b, 1H).
Similarly, using the appropriate commercial boronic acids and arylbromides, the following, related 1,1′-biphenyl intermediates 13 may be obtained: 4′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 3-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2,2′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 3′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 4′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2′-chloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 3′-chloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 4′-chloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2′-(trifluoromethyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 3′-(trifluoromethyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 2′,4′-difluoro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid; 4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid; 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid; 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid; 4-(5-pyrimidinyl)benzoic acid.
Intermediate 14: 4-(3-methyl-2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid
A mixture of 2-bromo-3-methylpyridine (22.5 g, 0.1312 mol), 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylboronic acid (25 g, 0.164 mol), Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 (9.5 g, 0.0082 mol), and sodium carbonate (200 g in 500 ml of water) in toluene (750 ml) were refluxed under nitrogen atmosphere for 15 h. Separated the toluene layer and distilled under reduced pressure to give a residue. The residue was then purified by column chromatography to yield [4-(3-methyl-2-pyridinyl)-phenyl]methanol (12 g, 47%).
To a solution of [4-(3-methyl-2-pyridinyl)phenyl]methanol (12 g, 0.06 mol) in dry DMF (150 mL) was added pyridiniumdichromate (91 g, 0.24 mol) and stirred at RT for 3 days. The reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate (250 mL). The organic layer was washed with water, brine, dried and concentrated. The crude was purified by column chromatography over silica gel to give 4-(3-methyl-2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid (3 g, 25%) as white solid.
1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO); 2.3 (s, 3H), 7.33 (dd, J=7.5 Hz, 5 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J=8 Hz, 2H), 7.75 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.01 (d, J=8 Hz, 2H), 8.50 (d, J=5 Hz, 1H), 13 (b, 1H).
Intermediate 15: 4-(1-oxido-3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid
To a mixture of 4-tolylboronic acid (38 g, 0.28 mol), 3-bromopyridine (44 g, 0.28 mol), Na 2 CO 3 (200 g) in toluene (500 ml) and water (500 ml) was added Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 (16 g, 0.014 mol), and refluxed for 16 h. The reaction mixture was cooled, and the separated organic layer was washed with water and brine, and dried. The solvent was removed to give 4-(3-pyridyl)toluene (42 g, 90%).
To a mixture of 4-(3-pyridyl)toluene (35 g, 0.207 mol) in pyridine (400 ml) and water (400 ml) was added KMnO4 (163 g, 1.03 mol) in portions and refiuxed for 12 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through celite and acidified with cone. HCl. The product was washed with water and dried to give 4-(3pyridyl)benzoic acid (32 g, 76%) as a white solid. To a mixture of 4-(3-pyridyl)benzoic acid (22 g, 0.11 mol) in THF (2.51), mCPBA (152 g 0.44 mol, 50%) was added and stirred at RT for 12 h. The solid was filtered, and washed with TBF to give 4-(1-oxido-3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid (20 g, 86%).
1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO); 7.5–7.8 (m, 5H), 7.9 (d, J=8 Hz, 2H), 8.33 (d, J=5Hz, 2H).
Similarly, starting from 4-tolylboronic acid (45 g, 0.33 mol) and 2-bromopyridine (52 g, 0.33 mol), the related intermediate 4-(1-oxido-2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid was obtained.
Example 1
General Procedure for the Saponification of the Olefin-Type Proline Methyl Esters, Such as Intermediates 3–6
A solution of sodium hydroxide (4.5 g, 112 mmol) in water (70 ml) was added to the relevant proline olefin methyl ester (66 mmol) in 3:1 dioxane:water (500 ml) and the reaction stirred for 3 h. The reaction mixture was then washed with diethyl ether (2×50 ml), and the aqueous phase acidified to pH 2 (0.1N HCl) and extracted into ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer was then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and the solvent was then removed in vacuo to give the desired product in near quantitative yields as an oil which was used without fiber purification.
Example 2
General Protocol for the Solution-Phase Synthesis of Oximether Prolidine Derivatives of General Formula Ia (Scheme 1)
Method A: e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-methoxyethy)-4-(methoxmyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
a) Protocol for the Formation of the Amide Bond
A solution was made containing the central building block, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (Intermediate 7) (1.5 g, 5.8 mmol), an amine or an amine salt, e.g. 2-methoxy-ethylamine (0.51 ml, 5.81 mmol) and DMAP (780 mg, 5.8 mmol) in DCM (30 ml). At 0° C., EDC (1.1 g, 5.8 mmol) was slowly added portion-wise. The reaction was slowly allowed to reach room temperature and was stirred overnight. The DCM was evaporated and the crude purified by column chromatography using EtOAc (100%) to collect the desired product, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-{[(2-meth-oxyethyl)amino]carbonyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (1.5 g, 80%) as a colourless oil.
1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.25 (m, 9H), 2.5–2.9 (m, 2H), 3.1 (s, 3H), 3.2–3.3 (m, 4H), 3.65 (s, 3H), 3.8–4.4 (m, 3H), 6.7 (s broad, 1H).
b) Protocol for the N-Deprotection Step
A solution was made containing the amide compounds from the previous step, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-{[(2-methoxyethyl)amino]carbonyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidine-carboxylate (1.5 g, 0.4 mmol), in anhydrous ether (35 ml). HCl gas was bubbled slowly through the reaction and the deprotection was followed by TLC. After approximately 20 minutes, the ether was evaporated. The product was concentrated in vacuo from DCM (2–3 times) to remove the HCl. The desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (1.2 g, quant.) was isolated as a yellow oil and used without further purification.
c) Protocol for the N-Capping Step
A solution was made containing the free NH-compound from the previous step, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (940 mg, 3.7 mmol), a carboxylic acid, e.g. [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid (740 mg, 3.7 mmol) and DMAP (960 mg, 7.8 mmol) in DCM (30 ml). At 0° C., EDC (715 mg, 3.7 mmol) was slowly added portionwise. The reaction was slowly allowed to reach room temperature and was stirred overnight. The DCM was evaporated and the crude purified by column chromatography using EtOAc (100%) to collect the desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphe-nyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide as a mixture of two isomers as an off-white solid.
1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 2.75–2.85 (m, 1H), 3.1–3.3 (m, 4H), 3.4–3.5 (m, 4H), 3.8 (m, 3H), 4.1–4.3 (m, 2H), 5.1 (m, 1H), 6.9 (m, 1H), 7.2–7.7 (m, 10H). M + (APCI + ); 396.
Method B: e.g. (2S,4E and 4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
a) Protocol for the Formation of the Amide Bond
To a solution of the central building block, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (Intermediate 7) (24.2 mmol, 6.24 g) in dry THF (125 ml) at −25° C. was added NMM (2.5 eq, 60.4 mmol, 6.64 ml) followed by isobutylchloroformate (1.05 eq, 25.4 mmol, 3.3 ml). The resulting mixture was stirred at −25° C. for 30 min and an amine or an amine salt, e.g. (S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol (1.51 eq, 36.5 mmol, 5 g) was then added. The mixture was allowed to gradually warm to rt. After 16 h, the solvents were removed. The residue was dissolved in AcOEt, washed twice with NH 4 Cl saturated solution, then twice with 10% NaHCO 3 solution. The organic layer was dried over Na 2 SO 4 , filtrated and concentrated to afford the desired product, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-({[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]amino}carbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidine-carboxylate (8.76 g, 96%) as a pale yellow oil in 88.5% purity by HPLC.
1 H NMR (CDCl 3 : 300 MHz) δ1.44 (s, 9H, N-Boc), 3.23–2.85 (m, 4H), 3.72 (m, 1H), 3.85 (s, 3H, O—CH 3 ), 4.10 (m, 2H), 4.49 (m, 1H), 4.83 (m, 1H), 7.34 (m, 5H, Ar—H); [M+Na + ] (ESI + ): 400.
b) Protocol for the N-Deprotection Step
A solution was made containing the amide compounds from the previous step, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-({[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]amino}carbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2.64 g, 7 mmol), in anhydrous DCM (35 ml). At 0° C., HCl gas was bubbled slowly through the reaction and the deprotection was followed by TLC. After approximately 20 minutes, the DCM was evaporated. The product was concentrated in vacuo from DCM (2–3 times) to remove the HCl. The desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (1.94 g, quant.) was isolated as a yellow solid and used without further purification.
c) Protocol for the N-Capping Step
To a suspension of 4-(2-methylphenyl)benzoic acid (1.49 g, 7 mmol.) in 35 ml DCM, was added oxalyl chloride and DMF (3 ml) under ice cooling. The mixture was stirred for 2 h at rt. The solvent was removed affording the corresponding acyl chloride as a yellow solid. It was dissolved in DCM (30 mL) and added slowly on a 0° C. solution containing the free NH-compound from the previous step, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (1.94 g, 7 mmol), and triethylamime (5 eq, 35 mmol, 4.9 ml) in dry DCM (35 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at r.t. Poltrisamine was added (2.12 g, 3.45 mmol/g) in order to scavenge excess of acyl chloride. The mixture was shaken 3 h, filtered and the resulting solution was washed with NH 4 Cl sat, brine, and dried over Na 2 SO 4 . After filtration and evaporation of the solvents, the resulting dark oil (3.26 g) was purified by flash chromatography (Biotage system, column 40M, 90 g SiO2, with gradients of DCM and MeOH as eluent), affording (2S,4E2)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide. Separation of the E/Z-isomers was achieved by several chromatographies, affording (2S,4E)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (230 mg, colorless powder, 98.7% purity by HPLC) and (2S,4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (266 mg, colorless powder, 98.3% purity by HPLC).
(2S,4E)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: M.p. 74° C.; IR (neat) ν3318, 2932, 1613, 1538, 1416, 1239, 1047, 848 cm −1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ): 2.27 (s, 3H, ArCH 3 ), 2.89 (dd, J=6, 12 Hz, 1H),3.18 (br d, J=12 Hz, 1H), 3.27 (m, 1H), 3.76 (m, 1H), 3.88 (s, 3H, NOCH 3 ), 4.28 (d, J=10 Hz, 1H), 4.47 (d, J=10 Hz, 1H), 4.59 (br s, 1H), 4.88 (m, 1H), 5.20 (m, 1H), 7.03–7.42 (m, 11H, H arom.),7.45–7.54 (m, 2H, H arom.); M + (APCI + ): 472; M − (APCI − ): 470. analysis calculated for C 28 H 29 N 3 O 4 0.3 H 2 O: C, 70.51; H, 6.26; N, 8.81. Found: C, 70.53; H, 6.30; N, 8.87.
(2S,4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: M.p. 78° C.; IR (neat) ν3318, 2938, 1622, 1538, 1416, 1233, 1045, 852 cm −1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ): 2.28 (s, 3H, ArCH 3 ), 2.69 (dd, J=6, 10 Hz, 1H), 3.02–3.22 (m, 2H), 3.25 (br s, 1H), 3.60 (m, 1H), 3.86 (s, 3H, NOCH 3 ), 4.14 (m, 2H), 4.71 (m, 1H), 4.96 (m, 1H), 7.03–7.42 (m, 1H, H arom.), 7.45–7.54 (m, 2H, H arom.); M + (APCI + ): 472; M − (APCI − ): 470. Analysis calculated for C 28 H 29 N 3 O 4 0.9 H 2 O: C, 68.95; H, 6.36; N, 8.61. Found: C, 68.87; H, 6.25; N, 8.77.
d) E/Z-Isomerisation
The pure E-isomer was isomerized to a mixture of the E/Z-isomers by the following procedure: the E-isomer was dissolved in dioxane/water 3:1 mixture. NaOH (1.7 eq; 0.52 mL of NaOH 1.6N) was added and the resulting solution was stirred 2 h at r.t. The mixture was neutralised with HCl 0.1 N and lyophilised. The components of the resulting E/Z-mixture were separated and purified by flash chromatography using same conditions as described above.
Example 3
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 2, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and N 1 ,N 1 -diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained after column chromatography as an off-white solid as a mixture of E/Z-isomers.
1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 1.05–1.15 (m, 6H), 2.7–2.8 (m, 1H), 2.9–3.2 (m, 6H), 3.4 (m, 1H), 3.6 (s, 3H), 4.0–4.1 (m, 1H), 4.3–4.4 (m, 1H), 3.75 (m, 1H), 3.8 (m, 2H), 6.65 (m, 2H), 7.0–7.1(m, 2H) 7.2–7.3(m, 3H), 7.35–7.45(m, 6H), 8.8 (s/br, 0.5H). M + (APCI + ); 543.
Example 4
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbon)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 2, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained after column chromatography as a mixture of E/Z-isomers as an off-white solid. The two isomers could be separated by another flash chromatographic purification step.
(2S,4E)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (400 Mz, CDCl3); 2.6–2.7 (m, 1H), 2.8–3.0 (m, 3H), 3.2 (m, 1H), 3.4–3.6 (m, 1H), 3.9 (m, 1H), 4.15 (t, 1H), 4.6 (m, 1H), 4.85 (m, 1H), 5.75 (s, 1H), 7.0–7.4 (m, 14H). M + (APCI + ); 461.
(2S,4Z)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 2.5–2.6 (m, 1H), 2.7–2.9 (m, 1H), 3.0 (m, 1H), 3.1–3.4 (m, 1H), 3.4–3.6 (m, 1H), 3.94–4.0 (m, 1H), 4.2–4.4 (m, 2H), 4.6 (m, 1H), 4.8–4.9 (m, 1H), 5.75 (s, 1H), 7.0–7.5 (m, 14H). M + (APCI + ); 461.
Example 5
(2S,4EZ)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 2, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetic acid, and N 1 ,N 1 -diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained after column chromatography as an off-white solid as a mixture of E/Z-isomers.
1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 0.9 (t, 3H), 1.0 (m, 3H), 2.6–3.1 (m, 7H), 3.15 (m, 1H), 3.4 (m, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 3.95 (t, 1H), 4.4–4.7 (m, 4H), 5.1 (m, 1H), 7.0–7.3 (m, 10H), 9.1 (m, 1H). M + (APCI + ); 451.
Example 6
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(-phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 2, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained after column chromatography as an off-white solid as a mixture of E/Z-isomers. The isomers were then separated using column chromatography.
(2S,4E)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.2 (m, 6H), 2.7 (m, 1H), 3.35 (d, 1H), 4.1 (m, 4H), 4.3 (d, 1H), 4.45 (d, 1H), 4.7 (m, 2H), 5.15 (d, 1H), 6.9–7.3 (m, 10H), 7.9 (d, 1H), 8.15 (m, 1H), 9.0 (br s, 1H). M + (APCI + ); 499.
(2S,4Z)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.2 (m, 6H), 2.7 (m, 1H), 3.2 (m, 1H), 4.1 (m, 4H), 4.35 (m, 2H), 4.7 (m, 2H), 5.1 (m, 1H), 6.9–7.3 (m, 10H), 7.9 (d, 1H), 8.15 (m, 1H), 9.0 (br s, 1H). M + (APCI + ); 499.
Example 7
(2S,4EZ)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-oxo-6pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 2, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carboxylic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained after column chromatography as an off-white solid as a mixture of E/Z-isomers. The isomers were separated by column chromatography.
(2S,4E)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimio)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 0.8 (m, 6H), 1.2 (m, 6H), 2.5 (m, 2H), 3.0 (m, 1H), 3.3 (m, 1H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 4.2 (m, 3H), 4.45 (m, 1H), 5.3 (m, 1H), 6.1 (d, 1H), 7.1 (m, 1H), 7.2 (m, 1H), 7.3 (d, 1H), 7.35 (m, 1H), 7.55 (m, 1H), 7.65 (m, 1H), 8.0 (d, 1H), 8.5 (m, 1H), 9.1 (br S, 1H). M + (ES + ); 543.
(2S,4Z)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 0.8 (m, 6H), 1.2 (m, 6H), 2.5 (m, 2H), 3.05 (m, 1H), 3.25 (m, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 4.1 (m, 3H), 4.45 (d, 1H), 5.3 (d, 1H), 6.1 (d, 1H), 7.1 (t, 1H), 7.2 (m, 1H), 7.3 (m, 1H), 7.4 (m, 1H), 7.6 (m, 1H), 7.7 (m, 1H), 8.0 (d, 1H), 8.45 (m, 1H), 9.1 (m, 1H). M + (ES + ); 543.
Example 8
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-benzoyl-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 2, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyl-oxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained after column chromatography as an off-white solid as a mixture of E/Z-isomers.
1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 1.2 (m, 3H), 2.8 (m, 1H), 3.35 (m, 1H), 4.2 (m, 4H), 4.4 (m, 3H), 5.2 (m, 2H), 5.35 (m, 1H), 5.85 (m, 1H), 7.0–7.5 (m, 5H), 7.9 (m, 3H), 8.1 (m, 2H), 8.3 (m, 1H), 9.2 (br s, 1H). M + (APCI + ); 481.
Example 9
General Protocol for the Solution-Phase Synthesis of Oximether Pyrrolidine Derivatives of General Formula I Containing Additional Reactive Groups; (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
a) Protocol for the Formation of the Amide Bond
A solution was made containing the central building block, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (Intermediate 7) (575 mg, 2.2 mmol), the amine or amine salt containing the suitably protected reactive group, e.g. 2-aminoethyl acetate (Intermediate 12) (480 mg, 2.2 mmol) and DMAP (870 mg, 7.1 mmol) in DCM (20 ml). At 0° C., EDC (427 mg, 2.2 mmol) was slowly added portion-wise. The reaction was slowly allowed to reach room temperature and was stirred overnight. The DCM was evaporated and the crude purified by column chromatography using EtOAc/Hexane: 55/45 to collect the desired amide compound, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-({[2-(acetyloxy)ethyl]-amino}carbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (373 mg, 49%) as an oil.
1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 1.7 (m, 9H), 2.1–2.2 (m, 3H), 2.8–3.3 (m, 2H), 3.7–3.8 (m, 2H), 4.0–4.1 (m, 3H), 4.2–4.8 (m, 5H), 7.3 (s broad, 1H).
b) Protocol for the N-Deprotection Step
A solution was made containing the Boc-protected compound from the previous step, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-({[2-(acetyloxy)ethyl]amino}carbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (373 mg, 1.2 mmol) in anhydrous ether (40 ml). HCl gas was bubbled slowly through the reaction and the deprotection was followed by TLC. After approximately 20 minutes, the ether was evaporated. The product was concentrated in vacuo from DCM (2–3 times) to remove the HCl. The desired free NH product, e.g. 2-({[(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl acetate (300 mg, quant.) was isolated as a yellow oil and used without further purification.
1H NMR (400 MHz, D 2 O); 1.75 (s, 3H), 2.55–2.65 (m, 1H), 2.8–3.3 (m, 3H), 3.45–3.55 (m, 3H), 3.8–4.0 (m, 4H), 4.25–4.35 (m, 1H).
c) Protocol for the N-Capping Step
A solution was made containing the amine-hydrochloride from the previous step, e.g. 2-({[(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl acetate (560 mg, 2 mmol) and an acid chloride, e.g. [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride (433 mg, 2 mmol) in DCM (20 ml). Triethylamine (0.7 ml, 5 mmol) was added and the reaction stirred overnight at room temperature. The DCM was evaporated and the crude-purified by column chromatography using EtOAc (100%) to collect the desired amide compound, e.g. 2-({[(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl acetate (457 mg, 54%) as an oil.
1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 1.9 (s, 3H), 2.7–2.8 (m, 1H), 3.2–3.6 (m, 3H), 3.75–3.85 (m, 3H), 4.0–4.4 (m, 4H), 5.15–5.25 (m, 1H), 7.2–7.6 (m, 9H).
d) Protocol for the Deprotection of the Reactive Group
A solution was made containing the side-chain protected compound from the previous step, e.g. 2-({[(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl acetate (450 mg, 10.6 mmol) in TBF (10 ml). An aqueous solution (10 ml) of sodium hydroxide (75 mg, 19 mmol) with methanol (5 ml) was added and the reaction stirred at room temperature for three hours. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the crude purified by column chromatography using THF (100%) to give the expected final product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (300 mg, 75%) as a white solid.
1H NMR (400 Mz, CDCl3); 2.85–3.0 (m, 1H), 3.3–3.6 (m, 3H), 3.7–3.8 (2H), 3.85–3.95 (m, 3H), 4.2–4.5 (m, 2H), 5.15–5.25 (m, 1H), 7.2–7.9 (m, 9H). M + (APCI + ); 382.
Example 10
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 9, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-amino-1-phenylethyl acetate, the title compound was obtained after column chromatography as a mixture of E/Z-isomers as an off-white solid. The two isomers could be separated by another flash chromatographic purification step.
(2S,4E)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 2.75–2.9 (m, 1H), 3.1–3.25 (m, 2H), 3.35–3.6 (m, 1H), 3.7–3.8 (m, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 4.1–4.3 (m, 2H), 4.8 (m, 1H), 5.1 (dd, 1H), 7.1–7.6 (m, 15H). M + (APCI + ); 458.
(2S,4Z)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl)]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); 2.7–2.85 (m, 1H), 3.05–3.25 (m, 2H), 3.35 (m, 1H), 3.65–3.8 (m, 1H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 4.15–4.25 (d, 1H), 4.25–4.4 (m, 1H), 4.75 (m, 1H), 5.1 (dd, 1H), 7.15–7.6 (m, 15H). M + (APCI + ); 458.
Example 11
General Protocol for the Solution-Phase Synthesis of Oximether Pyrrolidine Derivatives of General Formula Ib (Scheme 5); (3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone-O-methyloxime
a) Protocol for the Formation of the Amide Bond
A solution was prepared containing the central building block, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (Intermediate 7) (2.1 g, 8.1 mmol), an ortho-substituted aromatic amine or amine salt, e.g. 1,2-benzenediamine (0.88 g, 8.1 mmol) and DMAP (1.59 g, 13.0 mmol). in dry dichloromethane (30 ml). This solution was cooled to 0° C. and treated with EDC (1.56 g, 8.2 mmol) before warming to room temperature and stirring for 2 days. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the product purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of 30–80% ethyl acetate in hexane to give the desired anilide product, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-[(2-aminoanilide)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate 2.8 g, 97% as a colourless foam.
1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl3); 1.7 (m, 9H), 2.5–3.5 (br, 4H), 3.4 (m, 1H), 4.0 (m, 3H), 4.2–4.4 (m, 2H), 4.9 (m, 1H), 6.9–7.5 (m, 4H), 8.5 (br, 1H).
b) Protocol for the Formation of the Fused Heterocyclic Ring
A solution of the anilide compound from the previous step, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-[(2-aminoanilino)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (0.8 g, 2.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (30 ml) and acetic acid (3 ml) was stirred at room temperature for 3 days. Saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (7 ml) was added to the reaction, the organic phase collected and dried over magnesium sulfate before filtering and removal of solvent in vacuo to give the desired product, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (740 mg, 97%) as an off-white foam.
1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl3); 1.5 (m, 9H), 3.1 (m, 1H), 3.8 (m, 3H) 3.9–4.3 (m, 3H), 5.3 (m, 1H), 7.1–7.6 (m, 4H), 10–10.5 (br, 1H).
c) Protocol for the N-Deprotection Step
Hydrogen chloride gas was bubbled into a solution of the fused heterocyclic product from the previous step, e.g. tert-butyl (2S,4EZ)-2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (740 mg, 2.2 mmol) in dry DCM (20 ml) for 30 min. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give the desired product, e.g. (3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (0.58 g, 99%), as a brown amorphous powder which was used without further purification.
d) Protocol for the N-Capping Step
A solution of the free NH product from the previous step, e.g. (3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime (0.58 g, 2.2 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (25 ml) was treated with an acid chloride, e.g. [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride (0.48 g, 2.2 mmol) and triethylamine (0.9 ml, 6.6 mmol). The resulting solution was then stirred for 3 h at room temp before removal of solvent in vacuo and the desired isomers were isolated by flash chromatography on silica gel, eluting with a gradient of ethyl acetate (10–80%) in hexane to give the two isomers (120 mg of the less polar and 400 mg of the more polar) of the desired product, e.g. (3E,5S)- and (3Z,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime, as off-white powders.
(3E,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime: 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl3); 3.2 (m, 1H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 4.0 (m, 1H), 4.3 (m, 2H), 6.0 (m, 1H), 6.0 (m, 1H), 7.2–7.7 (m, 13H), 10–11 (br, 1H). M + (APCI + ); 411. (3Z,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime: 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl3); 3.1, (m, 1H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 3.9 (m, 1H), 4.3 (m, 2H), 6.0 (m, 1H), 6.0 (m, 1H), 7.2–7.7 (m, 13H), 10–11 (br, 1H). M + (APCI + ); 411.
Example 12
(3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 11, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 1,2-benzenediamine, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=425.
Example 13
(3EZ,5S)-5-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 11, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and N 1 -methyl-1,2-benzenediamine, the title compound was obtained in 83% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI + ): m/z=439.
Example 14
(3EZ,5S)-5-(7-hydroxy-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 11, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2,3-diaminophenol, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=441.
Example 15
(3EZ,5S)-5-(3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolinyl)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 11, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-(aminomethyl)aniline, the title compound was obtained in 77% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=439.
Example 16
(3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 11, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4carbonyl chloride, and N 1 -methyl-1,2-benzenediamine, the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=425.
Example 17
General Protocol for the Solution-Phase Synthesis of Oxime or Hydrazone Pyrrolidine Derivatives of General Formula I (Scheme 6); (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(hydroxyimino)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidine-carboxamide
a) Protocol for the Hydrolysis of the Oximether Group.
The starting oximether compounds, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide, were obtained following the general methods as outlined, e.g., in Example 2, 11 or 22. A solution containing the oximether compound was prepared, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (64 mg, 0.14 mmol), paraformaldehyde powder (95%, 42 mg, 1.41 mmol) and Amberlyst® 15 (30 mg) in acetone containing 10% of water (2 mL). The reaction was stirred 4 h at 60° C. Insoluble materials were filtered off and washed with a small amount of acetone. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was diluted with DCM (15 mL). The organic solution was washed with brine (10 mL), dried over Na2SO 4 , and concentrated. The desired ketocarbonyl product, e.g. (2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (56 mg, 92%) was isolated as a yellow oil and used without further purification.
b) Protocol for the Formation of Oxime and/or Hydrazone Compounds
A solution was made containing the keto-pyrrolidine derivative from the previous step, e.g. (2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (46 mg, 0.11 mmol) and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (12 mg, 0.17 mmol) in chloroform (1 ml) containing triethylamine (29 mg, 0.29 mmol). The reaction mixture was then stirred at ambient temperature for one day, prior to removal of solvent. The resultant crude reaction mixture was purified by column chromatography using DCM/MeOH (25:1) to collect the desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-hydroxyimino)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide as a mixture of two isomers as an off-white solid (46 mg, 96% yield).
1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 2.6–3.3 (m, 4H), 4.0–4.7 (m, 4H), 4.9 (m, 1H), 5.5 (m, 1H), 7.1–7.5 (m, 8H), 7.6–7.8 (m, 5H), 8.1 (m, 1H), 10.9 (m, 1H). M + (APCI + ); 444.
Example 18
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(dimethylhydrazono)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 17, starting from (2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide and N,N-dimethylhydrazine, the resultant crude reaction mixture was purified by column chromatography using DCM/MeOH (30:1) to collect the desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(dimethylhydrazono)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide as a mixture of two isomers as a light yellow oil in 56% yield (90.2% purity by HPLC).
1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 2.35–2.55 (br s, 3H), 2.40–2.60 (m, 1H), 2.75–3.55 (m, 5H), 3.55–3.82 (m, 1H), 3.90–4.4 (m, 2H), 4.83 (m, 1H), 4.93–5.35 (m, 1H), 7.18–7.49 (m, 9H), 7.49–7.68 (m, 5H). M + (APCI + ); 471. M − (APCI − ); 469.
Example 19
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methylhydrazono)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 17, starting from (2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide and N-methylhydrazine, the resultant crude reaction mixture was purified by column chromatography using DCM/MeOH (30:1) to collect the desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methylhydrazono)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide as a mixture of two isomers as a colorless solid in 57% yield (95.2% purity by HPLC).
1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ); 2.45–2.70 (m, 1H), 2.85 (br s, 3H, NNHCH 3 ), 2.85–3.5 (m, 2H), 3.51–4.4 (m, 4H), 4.84 (br s, 1H, NNHMe), 4.95–5.35 (m, 1H), 7.18–7.67 (m, 14H). M + (APCI + ); 457. M − (APCI − ); 455.
Example 20
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]l-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-hydrazono-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 17, starting from (2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide and hydrazine hydrate (4% in EtOH), the resultant crude reaction mixture was purified by column chromatography using DCM/MeOH (30:1) to collect the desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-hydrazono-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide as a mixture of two isomers as a colorless solid in 63% yield (95.3% purity by HPLC).
1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6 , 80° C.); 2.55 (dd, J=9.8; 17.6 Hz, 1H), 2.73 (dd, J=9.8; 18.2 Hz, 1H), 3.28 (m, 2H), 4.12 (m, 2H), 4.61 (m, 1H), 4.85 (m, 1H), 5.15 (m, 1H), 5.70 (br s, 2H, NH 2 N═C), 7.17–7.43 (m, 6H), 7.44–7.60 (m, 4H), 7.66–7.77 (m, 5H). M + (APCI + ); 443. M − (APCI − ) 441.
Example 21
(2S,4EZ)-4-(acetylhydrazono)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
A hydrazono pyrrolidine derivative obtained by the general method outlined in Example 17, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-hydrazono-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (51 mg, 0.11 mmol) was dissolved in pyridine (1 mL). Acetic anhydride (3 eq, 32 μl, 0.35 mmol) was added, and the mixture was stirred overnight. The solvent was evaporated and the resultant crude reaction mixture was purified by column chromatography using DCM/MeOH (20:1) to collect the desired product, e.g. (2S,4EZ)-4-(acetylhydrazono)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide as a mixture of two isomers as a colorless solid in 73% yield (98.4% purity by HPLC).
1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6 , 80° C.); 1.99 (br, s, 3H, CH 3 CON), 2.7–3.4 (m, 5H), 4.26 (m, 2H), 4.63 (m, 1H), 4.89 (m, 1H), 5.15 (m, 1H), 7.18–7.44 (m, 6H), 7.45–7.62 (m, 4H), 7.66–7.85 (m, 5H), 9.97 (br s, 1H, MeCONHN, major isomer), 10.04 (br s, 1H, MeCONHN, minor isomer). M + (ESI + ); 485. M − (ESI − ); 483.
Example 22
General Protocol for the Solid-Phase Synthesis of Pyrrolidine Derivatives of General Formula I
a) Loading Step
Kaiser oxime resin (16.5 g, loading 1.57 mmol/g) was added to a solution of the relevant pyrrolidine carboxylic acid building block (51.8 mmol) and diisopropylcarbodiimide (8.1 ml, 51.8 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (150 ml). The resulting suspension was shaken overnight before filtering at the pump and washing sequentially with DMF, DCM and finally diethyl ether before drying at room temperature in vacuo.
b) N-Deprotection Step
The resin obtained in the loading step was shaken with a 20% solution of trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane (200 ml) for 30 minutes prior to filtering at the pump and washing sequentially with aliquots of DMF, DCM and finally diethyl ether before drying at room temperature in vacuo.
c) N-Capping Step
The resin from the previous step was transferred into a 96-well filter-plate (approx. 50 mg of dry resin/well) and each well treated with an N-reactive derivatising agent, e.g. with either of the following solutions:
a) an acid chloride (0.165 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.165 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (1 ml), overnight b) an acid (0.165 mmol) and DIC (0.165 mmol) in, depending on the solubility of the carboxylic acid, dry dichloromethane or NMP (1 ml) overnight. c) an isocyanate (0.165 mmol) in dry THF (1 ml), overnight d) a sulfonyl chloride (0.165 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.165 mmol) in NMP (1 ml), overnight. e) a benzyl (alkyl) bromide (0.165 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.165 mmol) in NMP (1 ml), overnight. f) a vinyl ketone (0.165 mmol) in THF, overnight g) diketene (0.165 mmol) in TBF, overnight
The plate was then sealed and shaken overnight at ambient temperature. The resins were then filtered, washing the resin sequentially with aliquots of DMF, DCM and finally diethyl ether before drying at room temperature in vacuo.
d) Cleavage Step
A solution of amine (0.05 mmol) in 2% AcOH in dichloromethane (1 ml) was added to each well containing the resin from the previous step. The plate was then sealed and shaken for two days at ambient temperature. The wells were then filtered into a collection plate and the solvent removed in a vacuum centrifuge to yield 2–3 mg of the corresponding products, generally obtained as oils. The products were characterised by LC (205 nm) and mass spectrometry (ES+). All of the following examples were identified based on the observation of the correct molecular ion in the mass spectrum, and were shown to be at least 40% pure (usually 60–95% pure) by LC.
Example 23
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 2-aminoethanol the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=315.2.
Example 24
(2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[2-(diethylamino)-ethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=482.4.
Example 25
(2S,4EZ)-4[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-N-[2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=454.4.
Example 26
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(2-furylmethyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 92% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=574.4.
Example 27
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-N 2 -(2-thienylmethyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=403.2.
Example 28
(2S,4EZ)-2-{[4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-N-pentyl-1-pyrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)piperazine the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=474.4.
Example 29
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 49% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=443.4.
Example 30
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by LC/MS. MS(FSI+): m/z=529.6.
Example 31
4-[((2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-2-{[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]-carbonyl}pyrrolidinyl)carbonyl]benzonitrile
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=576.6.
Example 32
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -pentyl-N 2 -[2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=412.2.
Example 33
(2S,4EZ)-1-acryloyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(2-furylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acryloyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=436.8.
Example 34
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N 2 -cyclopropyl-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 48% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=427.6.
Example 35
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 93% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=475.4.
Example 36
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -[(2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimio)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=411.2.
Example 37
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(benzoylamino)carbonyl]-N-benzyl-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and N-benzyl-N-methylamine the title compound was obtained in 40% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=485.4.
Example 38
(2S,4EZ)-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=480.4.
Example 39
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl)-N 2 -(2-thienylmethyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 98% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=387.2.
Example 40
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 2-methoxyethylamine the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=450.2.
Example 41
(3EZ,5S)-5-{[4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-1-benzoyl-3-pyrrolidinone O-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)piperazine the title compound was obtained in 71% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=609.8.
Example 42
tert-butyl 3-[({(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]pyrrolidinyl}carbonyl)amino]-1-azetidinecarboxylate
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and tert-butyl 3-amino-1-azetidinecarboxylate the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=519.6.
Example 43
(2S,4EZ)-4-1{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(3-methylphenyl)-2-(4-morpholinylcarbonyl)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and morpholine the title compound was obtained in 41% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=467.4.
Example 44
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -cyclopropyl-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=417.2.
Example 45
(3EZ,5S)-5-{[4-(3 4-dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-benzyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine the title compound was obtained in 47% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=639.8.
Example 46
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N-[2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 83% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=341.2.
Example 47
1-({(2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-1-[(4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]pyrrolidinyl}-carbonyl)-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, (4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl chloride, and 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine the title compound was obtained in 64% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=543.6.
Example 48
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinamine the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=564.6.
Example 49
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-[4-(diethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=555.6.
Example 50
(2S)-N 2 -(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-oxo-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from l-(tert-butoxy-carbonyl)-4-oxoproline, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 47% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=450.6.
Example 51
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-4-(chloromethylene)-N-methyl-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and N-benzyl-N-methylamine the title compound was obtained in 61% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=461.4.
Example 52
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocya-nato-3-methylbenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=590.8.
Example 53
(2S)-N-(tert-butyl)-4-methylene-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and tert-butylamine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=375.4.
Example 54
(2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 71% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=443.6.
Example 55
(2S)-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=433.6.
Example 56
(2S,4EZ)-N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyl-oxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=497.6.
Example 57
(2S)-1-({1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinyl}carbonyl)-3-azetidinol
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and 3-azetidinol the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=296.4.
Example 58
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-[2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4carbonyl chloride, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 54% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=623.6.
Example 59
(2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-[(4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]-N-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, (4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 49% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=521.6.
Example 60
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=592.6
Example 61
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=502.6.
Example 62
(2S,4EZ)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)(ethoxyimino)-N 2 -[2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 54% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=500.6.
Example 63
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)-oxy]imino}-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=511.4.
Example 64
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzol-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and N-benzyl-N-methylamine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=532.4.
Example 65
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-1-(1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimio)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.4.
Example 66
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimio)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=465.4.
Example 67
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-N-benzyl-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2,4-oxetanedione, and benzylamine the title compound was obtained in 45% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=332.2.
Example 68
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(2-furylmethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbo-nyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=421.4.
Example 69
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, (4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=590.8.
Example 70
(2S,4EZ)-N-allyl-1-[1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and allylamine the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=378.2.
Example 71
(2S,4EZ)-1-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-methoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=434.4.
Example 72
(2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-1-[2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tent-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 34% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=424.4.
Example 73
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-(methoxy-imino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=418.4.
Example 74
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 52% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=384.4.
Example 75
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=430.4.
Example 76
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoximino)-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and N-benzyl-N-methylamine the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=442.4.
Example 77
(2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=462.4.
Example 78
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, startling from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=480.4.
Example 79
(2!)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-(1-naphthlmethyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxoproline, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 60% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=463.4.
Example 80
(3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 1,2-benzenediamine the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=425.4.
Example 81
(2S)-2-[1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinyl]-1H-benzimidazole
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 1,2-benzenedi-amine the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=380.4.
Example 82
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-methoxyethylamine the title compound was obtained in 55% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=399.6.
Example 83
(3EZ,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-allyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 1,2-benzenediamine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=451.4.
Example 84
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamiine the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=437.4.
Example 85
(2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=554.4.
Example 86
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 58% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.4.
Example 87
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-2-pyrroli-dinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2,4-oxetanedione, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 40% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=382.2.
Example 88
(2S,4EZ)-N-allyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and allylamine the title compound was obtained in 54% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=536.6.
Example 89
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -pentyl-N 2 -(6-quinolinyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 54% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=542.6.
Example 90
(2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=475.4.
Example 91
(2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=427.4.
Example 92
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbo-nyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=468.4.
Example 93
(254EZ)-4-benzylidene-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 71% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=496.4.
Example 94
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecar-boxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2,4-oxetanedione, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=338.2.
Example 95
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino})-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 48% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=464.6.
Example 96
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl-N 2 -(6-quinolinyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ;)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=617.2.
Example 97
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 99% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=432.2.
Example 98
(2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=503.4.
Example 99
(2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-(2-thienylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=448.4.
Example 100
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and benzylamine the title compound was obtained in 82% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=442.4.
Example 101
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]-imino}-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=581.6.
Example 102
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 95% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=542.6.
Example 103
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]carbonyl chloride, and 5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=450.2.
Example 104
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and benzylamine the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=428.2.
Example 105
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and benzylamine the title compound was obtained in 53% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=456.4.
Example 106
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 45% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=491.6.
Example 107
(2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-4-{[(4-methoxyben-zyl oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=578.4.
Example 108
(2S)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-methylene-1-(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=399.2.
Example 109
(2S,4MZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 69% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.4.
Example 110
(2S)-N1-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-N2-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4oxo-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxoproline, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 48% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=466.6.
Example 111
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and benzylamine the title compound was obtained in 60% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=548.4.
Example 112
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=533.6.
Example 113
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2,4-oxetanedione, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 76% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=426.6.
Example 114
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 2 -[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 47% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=535.6.
Example 115
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=508.4.
Example 116
(2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-methylene-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=434.2.
Example 117
(2S,4EZ)-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 49% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=536.6.
Example 118
(2S,4EZ)-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 52% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=558.6.
Example 119
(2S)-4-oxo-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-N-[2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxoproline, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=404.2.
Example 120
(2S,4EZ)-N-cyclopropyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(methoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 54% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=414.6.
Example 121
(2S,4EZ)-N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, staring from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 64% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.4.
Example 122
(3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-acetyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyl]-1-acryloyl-3-pyrrolidinone O-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acryloyl chloride, and 1-acetylpiperazine the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=467.6.
Example 123
(2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 94% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=387.2.
Example 124
(2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 65% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=494.4.
Example 125
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(benzoylamino)carbonyl]-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=492.4.
Example 126
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 80% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=361.2.
Example 127
(2S,4EZ)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 50% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=465.4.
Example 128
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 55% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=497.4.
Example 129
(2EZ)-[5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinylidene]ethanenitrile
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 1,2-benzenediamine the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=405.2.
Example 130
(2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.6.
Example 131
(2S)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylene-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 47% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=469.4.
Example 132
(2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 36% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=345.2.
Example 133
(2S,4EZ)-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 58% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=386.2.
Example 134
4-{[(2S,4EZ)-2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-(cyanomethylene)pyrrolidinyl]-carbonyl}benzonitrile
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 1,2-benzenediamine the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=354.2.
Example 135
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)-butanoyl chloride and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 40% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=490.4.
Example 136
(2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 53% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=396.2.
Example 137
(2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=509.4.
Example 138
(2S,4EZ)-4(chloromethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=354.4.
Example 139
(2S)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 71% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=320.2.
Example 140
(2S, 4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3yl)-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 37% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=541.4.
Example 141
N-{[(2S,4EZ)-2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-(chloromethylene)pyrrolidinyl]-carbonyl}benzamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and 1,2-benzenediamine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=381.4.
Example 142
(2S)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-methylene-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 40% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=507.6.
Example 143
(2)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=514.4.
Example 144
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl-)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 48% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.4.
Example 145
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 32% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=525.4.
Example 146
(2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(3-oxobutyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 3-buten-2-one, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 59% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=415.2.
Example 147
(2S)-1-[(4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, (4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.4.
Example 148
(2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 46% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=500.4.
Example 149
2-[(2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)pyrrolidinyl]-1H-benzimidazole
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 1,2-benzenediamine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=234.4.
Example 150
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=365.2.
Example 151
(2S)-1-benzoyl-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, benzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 52% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=424.2.
Example 152
(2S,4EZ)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-(diphenylacetyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 56% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=557.4.
Example 144153
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-N-(2-furylmethyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]-imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 40% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=448.2.
Example 154
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-(diphenyl-acetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 80% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=493.4.
Example 155
(2S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(3 4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-methylene-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=457.2.
Example 156
(2S,4EZ)-4-(cyanomethylene)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 60% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=532.8.
Example 157
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-N 1 -phenyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, isocyanatobenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=496.4.
Example 158
(2S)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-methylene-N 1 -phenyl-1,2-pyrrolidinecar-boxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, isocyanatobenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=439.2.
Example 159
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 55% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=479.6.
Example 160
(2EZ)-[5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-3-pyrrolidinylidene]ethanenitrile
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and 1,2-benzenediamine the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=421.2.
Example 161
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-1-(2-ethoxy-1-naphthoyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-ethoxy-1-naphthoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 47% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=591.4.
Example 162
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=375.2.
Example 163
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N 1 -phenyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, isocyanatobenzene, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 57% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=487.4.
Example 164
(2S,4EZ)-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(1-naphthylmethyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 39% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=571.6.
Example 165
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-1-benzoyl-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)-oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 61% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=502.4.
Example 166
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-amine the title compound was obtained in 46% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=512.4.
Example 167
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=557.4.
Example 168
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=469.4.
Example 169
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(methoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=437.2.
Example 170
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-pentane, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=540.4.
Example 171
(3EZ,5S)-1-benzoyl-5-{[4(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-ethyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=489.6.
Example 172
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 48% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=569.4.
Example 173
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 2-methoxyethylamine the title compound was obtained in 52% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=322.2.
Example 174
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=528.4.
Example 175
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=506.4.
Example 176
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 61% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=583.4.
Example 177
(2S,4EZ)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 46% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=351.2.
Example 178
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=500.4.
Example 179
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 60% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=514.4.
Example 180
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]-4(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, (4chlorophenoxy)acetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS.MS(ESI+): m/z=533.4.
Example 181
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=573.4.
Example 182
(2S,4EZ)-N 1 -benzoyl-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 59% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=498.4.
Example 183
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 93% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=619.6.
Example 184
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=407.2.
Example 185
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=545.4.
Example 186
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 69% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=393.2.
Example 187
(2S,4EZ)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxy-imino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 77% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=545.4.
Example 188
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N 1 -benzoyl-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=524.4.
Example 189
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=484.4.
Example 190
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-N 1 -pentyl-N 2 -(2-thienyl-methyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 2-thienylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=473.2.
Example 191
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-1-(methoxyacetyl)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=371.2.
Example 192
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 80% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=377.2.
Example 193
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 48% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=553.4.
Example 194
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=283.0.
Example 195
(2S,4EZ)-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)-butanoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=464.2.
Example 196
(2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-1-azetidinyl)carbonyl]-N-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-1-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxoproline, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 3-azetidinol the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=334.2.
Example 197
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 65% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=561.4.
Example 198
(2S)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-methylene-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=512.4.
Example 199
(2S,4EZ)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(methoxyacetyl)-4-(methoxy-imino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=423.4.
Example 200
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=464.2.
Example 201
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N 1 -pentyl-N 2 -[2(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 83% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=426.2.
Example 202
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and 2-methoxyethyl-amine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=242.0.
Example 203
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N 2 -(2-methoxyethyl)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 2-methoxyethylamine the title compound was obtained in 76% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=407.2.
Example 204
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N 2 -(2-methoxyethyl)-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and 2-methoxyethylamine the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=375.2.
Example 205
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-4-benzylidene-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=500.4.
Example 206
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -benzyl-4-benzylidene-N 2 -methyl-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and N-benzyl-N-methylamine the title compound was obtained in 68% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=440.2.
Example 207
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(4phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 99% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=561.4.
Example 208
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 80% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=498.4.
Example 209
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=419.2.
Example 210
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=542.4.
Example 211
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N-cyclopropyl-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=374.2.
Example 212
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-(tert-butyl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and tert-butylamine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=424.2.
Example 213
(2S,4EZ)-N-(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl-4-(ethoxyimino)-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and 4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinamine the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=506.4.
Example 214
(4ZE)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=511.4.
Example 215
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=531.4.
Example 216
(3EZ,5S)-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-5-(1-piperidinylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and piperidine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=339.2.
Example 217
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetoacetyl-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2,4-oxetanedione, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=435.2.
Example 218
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 57% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=477.2.
Example 219
(2S,4EZ)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H)-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 57% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=649.4.
Example 220
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -allyl-N 1 -benzoyl-4-(methoxyimino)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and allylamine the title compound was obtained in 49% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=345.0.
Example 221
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(methoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 46% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=499.2.
Example 222
(2S,4EZ)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 42% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=538.2.
Example 223
(2S,4EZ)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=547.2.
Example 224
(2S,4EZ)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N 2 -(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=552.6.
Example 225
(3EZ,5S)-5-{[4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-(tert-butyl)oxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)piperazine the title compound was obtained in 59% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=595.4.
Example 226
(2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 47% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=588.4.
Example 227
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-benzoyl-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 83% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=415.2.
Example 228
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(methoxyacetyl)-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 71% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=383.0.
Example 229
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-1-(methoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=449.2.
Example 230
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(2-ethoxy-1-naphthoyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-ethoxy-1-naphthoyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 60% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=575.4.
Example 231
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-[(4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, (4-chlorophenoxy)acetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=545.4.
Example 232
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 51% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=557.2.
Example 233
(2s,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(diphenylacetyl)-N-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, staring from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)-imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and 9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=571.2.
Example 234
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(tert-butyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl34-carbonyl chloride, and tert-butylamine the title compound was obtained in 80% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=397.6.
Example 235
tert-butyl 3-[({4-methylene-1-[(pentylamino)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinyl}carbonyl)amino]-1-azetidinecarboxylate
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 1-isocyanatopentane, and tert-butyl 3-amino-1-azetidinecarboxylate the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=395.2.
Example 236
(3EZ,5S)-1-acetyl-5-[(4-acetyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and 1-acetylpiperazine the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=455.2.
Example 237
(2S,4EZ)-N 2 -benzyl-4-(methoxyimino)-N 1 -pentyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanatopentane, and benzylamine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=361.0.
Example 238
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(1naphthylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 60% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=484.2.
Example 239
(2S,4EZ)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-N-cyclopropyl-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=432.2.
Example 240
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)-N-[2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, and 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenylamine the title compound was obtained in 55% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=601.4.
Example 241
(2S)-N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-4-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxoproline, and 1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 71% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=263.0.
Example 242
(2S,4EZ)-N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=475.6.
Example 243
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl-4-(ethoxyimino)-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 41% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=514.2.
Example 244
(2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-1-azetidinyl)carbonyl]-N-(3-methylphenyl)-4-oxo-1-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-oxoproline, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and 3-azetidinol the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=318.0.
Example 245
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl]-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(benzyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol the title compound was obtained in 55% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=546.2.
Example 246
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-N 2 -(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine the title compound was obtained in 97% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=483.2.
Example 247
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(4-cyanobenzoyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-cyanobenzoyl chloride, and 2-methoxyethylamine the title compound was obtained in 44% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=371.0.
Example 248
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-(methoxyacetyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and benzylamine the title compound was obtained in 49% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=426.2.
Example 249
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(2-furylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=345.6.
Example 250
(2S)-1-acetyl-4-methylene-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, acetyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=296.0.
Example 251
(2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-N-(2-furylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 199% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=424.6.
Example 252
(2S)-N 1 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-methylene-N 2 -(6-quinolinyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxy-carbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 1,3-dichloro-5-isocyanatobenzene, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 65% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=441.0.
Example 253
(3EZ,5S)-1-(diphenylacetyl)-5-(1-piperidinylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-(4-methoxybenzyl)oxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, diphenylacetyl chloride, and piperidine the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=526.4.
Example 254
(2S,4EZ)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidine-carboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=435.6.
Example 255
(2S,4EZ)-4[(allyloxy)imino]-N-benzoyl-2-(4-morpholinylcarbonyl)-1-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and morpholine the title compound was obtained in 46% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=401.2.
Example 256
(2S,4EZ)-N 1 -benzoyl-4-(chloromethylene)-N 2 -cyclopropyl-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl isocyanate, and cyclopropylamine the title compound was obtained in 76% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=348.6.
Example: 257
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(methoxyacetyl)-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, methoxyacetyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=514.8.
Example 258
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-N-benzyl-4-(chloromethylene)-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and N-benzyl-N-methylamine the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=369.4.
Example 259
(2S)-N 2 (2-furylmethyl)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylene-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 2-furylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 95% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=356.0.
Example 260
(3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-benzohydryl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyl]-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-ethyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 1-benzhydrylpiperazine the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=541.2.
Example 261
(3EZ,5S)-1-benzoyl-5-(4-morpholinylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-oxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and morpholine the title compound was obtained in 69% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=476.2.
Example 262
(2S)-N 1 -(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylene-N 2 -(1-naphthylmethyl)-1,2-pyrrolidine-dicarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-meth-yleneproline, 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene, and 1-naphthylmethyl-amine the title compound was obtained in 55% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=416.3.
Example 263
N 2 -(2-methoxyethyl)-4-methylene-N 1 -(3-methylphenyl)-1,2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 1-isocyanato-3-methylbenzene, and 2-methoxyethylamine the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=318.0.
Example 264
(2S,4EZ)-N-allyl-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and allylamine the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=438.2.
Example 265
(2S,4EZ)-1-benzoyl-4-(cyanomethylene)-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyanomethylene)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, benzoyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 43% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=396.0.
Example 266
(2S,4EZ)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=621.2.
Example 267
(2S,4EZ)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-{[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]imino}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 100% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=476.2.
Example 268
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-[4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl]-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)butanoyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=437.2.
Example 269
(2S,4EZ)-N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, and N1,N1-diethyl-1,2-ethanediamine the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by LC/MS. (ESI+): m/z=271.0.
Example 270
(2S)-4-methylene-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-methyleneproline, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 48% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=446.2.
Example 271
(2S,4EZ)-1-acryloyl-N-allyl-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acryloyl chloride, and allylamine the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=252.0.
Example 273
tert-butyl 3-({[(2S,4EZ)-1-acetyl-4-benzylidenepyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}-amino)-1-azetidinecarboxylate
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-benzylidene-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, acetyl chloride, and tert-butyl 3-amino-1-azetidinecarboxylate the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=400.2.
Example 273
(2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-[(2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-yl)carbonyl]-N-(6-quinolinyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-4-[(allyloxy)imino]-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-oxo-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-3-carbonyl chloride, and 6-quinolinamine the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=503.2.
Example 274
(2S,4EZ)-4-(ethoxyimino)-N-(1-naphthlmethyl)-1-(phenoxyacetyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(ethoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, phenoxyacetyl chloride, and 1-naphthylmethylamine the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by LC/MS. MS(ESI+): m/z=446.3.
Example 275
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 96.4% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 276
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-3-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-3-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 277
(2S,4EZ)-1-(4-benzoylbenzyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-benzoylbenzoic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 93% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 278
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino-1-(3-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 94% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=474.
Example 279
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-(2-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(metboxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 92% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=474.
Example 280
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimio)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 98% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 281
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 282
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-aminoethanol, the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=396.
Example 283
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-1-[(2′-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-(methylamino)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=410.
Example 284
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-methyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and [(1R,2R,3S,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=498.
Example 285
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)-4-methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and trans-4-aminocyclohexanol, the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=436.
Example 286
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and [(1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 65% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=450.
Example 287
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-phenoxy-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 68% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.
Example 288
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-phenoxy-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 76% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=489.
Example 289
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-phenoxy-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=524.
Example 290
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=474.
Example 291
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chlonde, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=510.
Example 292
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-methyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimio)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexanol, the title compound was obtained in 65% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=450.
Example 293
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexanol, the title compound was obtained in 69% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=451.
Example 294
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexanol, the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 295
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl-N-[(2RS)-2-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]-1,2-benzenediol, the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=490.
Example 296
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 65% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=459.
Example 297
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=459.
Example 298
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 69% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=459.
Example 299
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2,3-dihydroxpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (2RS)-3-amino-1,2-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=412.
Example 300
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[((2RS)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (2RS)-3-amino-1,2-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 64% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=448.
Example 301
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=518.
Example 302
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=519.
Example 303
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 69% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=554.
Example 304
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (2RS)-1-amino-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 82% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=396.
Example 305
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (2RS)-1-amino-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 75% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=432.
Example 306
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(2-naphthyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecaxboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-(2-naphthyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 77% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=544.
Example 307
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-binhenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=503.
Example 308
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyrdinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=504.
Example 309
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 72% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=504.
Example 310
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitropheny)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=504.
Example 311
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=539.
Example 312
(2S-4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and N-(4-{[(2RS)-3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide, the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=545.
Example 313
(2S,4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4pyidinyl)benzoic acid, and N-(4-{[(2RS)-3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide, the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=546.
Example 314
(2S,4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyrdinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and N-(4-{[(2RS)-3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide, the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=546.
Example 315
(2S,4EZ)-N-{(2RS)-3-([4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and N-(4-{[(2RS)-3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide, the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=581.
Example 316
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 317
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 66% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=459.
Example 318
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 76% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=459.
Example 319
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridin)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimnino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 65% puity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=459.
Example 320
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfony)-N-[(2R)-2hydroxy-2-phenyl-ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (1R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=494.
Example 321
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 3-amino-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=395.
Example 322
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and 3-amino-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 64% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=432.
Example 323
(3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 4-phenyl-4-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=498.
Example 324
(3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-1-[4-(4-pyrdinyl)benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyinio)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and 4-phenyl-4-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=499.
Example 325
(3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and 4-phenyl-4-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=499.
Example 326
(3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and 4phenyl-4-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=534.
Example 327
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxycyclohexyl]-4-(methoximino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1S,2S)-2-aminocyclohexanol, the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=436.
Example 328
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxycyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (1S,2S)-2-aminocyclohexanol, the title compound was obtained in 61% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 329
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-(benzylamino)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 330
(2S,4EZ)-N-benzyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyri-dinyl-benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and 2-(benzylamino)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 82% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=473.
Example 331
(3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-5-{[(3RS)-3-hydroxypiperidinyl]-carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (3RS)-3-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=422.
Example 332
(3EZ,5S)-5-{[(3RS)-3-hydroxypiperidinyl]carbonyl}-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl-benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (3RS)-3-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=423.
Example 333
(3EZ,5S)-5-{[(3RS)-3-hydroxypiperidinyl]carbonyl}-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)-benzoyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (3RS)-3-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 84% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=423.
Example 334
(3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-5-{[(3RS)-3-hydroxypiperidin]-carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (3RS)-3-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 335
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4carbonyl chloride, and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.
Example 336
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 64% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=489.
Example 337
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 93% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=489.
Example 338
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxemethyl)-2-phenylethyl-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 82% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=524.
Example 339
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and N 1 -phenyl-1,2-ethanediamine, the title compound was obtained in 93% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=457.
Example 340
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-4-(methoxyimio)-1-[4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(4-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and N 1 -phenyl-1,2-ethanediamine, the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z =458.
Example 341
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(3-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and N 1 -phenyl-1,2-ethanediamine, the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by HPLC. MS (ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 342
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-(2-pyridinyl)benzoic acid, and N 1 -phenyl-1,2-ethanediamine, the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 343
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-anilinoethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and N 1 -phenyl-1,2-ethanediamine, the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=493.
Example 344
(3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)-carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 4-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=422.
Example 345
(3EZ,5S)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-5-[(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)-carbonyl]-3-prolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and 4-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 68% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 346
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2,R3S,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=509.
Example 347
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 3-aminopropanamide, the title compound was obtained in 71% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=409.
Example 348
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and (1R,2R,3S,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 83% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=509.
Example 349
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 4-amino-1-butanol, the title compound was obtained in 68% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=410.
Example 350
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-4-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and 4-amino-1-butanol, the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=446.
Example 351
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and [(1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 40% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 352
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and [(1S,2R,3S,4R)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 58% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=498.
Example 353
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonyl chloride, and [(1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 41% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 354
(2S,4E and 4Z)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compounds were obtained as a mixture of E/Z-isomers of the oxime functionality. Separation of the isomers by flash chromatography yielded (2S,4E)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide in 98.9% purity and (2S,4Z)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide in 99.9% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 355
(2S,4E and 4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecatboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compounds were obtained as a mixture of E/Z-isomers of the oxime functionality. Separation of the isomers by flash chromatography yielded (2S,4E)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide in 98.9% purity and (2S,4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl])-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide in 99.8% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 356
(2S,4E and 4Z)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrohidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1R)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compounds were obtained as a mixture of E/Z-isomers of the oxime functionality. Separation of the isomers by flash chromatography yielded (2S,4E)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide in 99.7% purity and (2S,4Z)-N-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide in 99.7% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 357
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and [(1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 63% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=450.
Example 358
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-amino-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 61% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=412.
Example 359
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2R,3S,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 68% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=473.
Example 360
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1.]hept-5-en-2-yl]1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1R,2R,3S,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=473.
Example 361
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 362
(2RS)-3-({[(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino-pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}amino)-2-hydroxypropanoic acid
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (2RS)-3-amino-2-hydroxypropanoic acid, the title compound was obtained in 44% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=426.
Example 363
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(aminocarbonyl)cyclohexyl]-1-([1,1′-biphenl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=463.
Example 364
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbony)-N-[(1RS)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (2RS)-2-amino-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=396.
Example 365
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=533.
Example 366
4-({[(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}amino)butanoic acid
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 4-aminobutanoic acid, the title compound was obtained in 57% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=424.
Example 367
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.
Example 368
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(2-naphthlyl)ethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-(2-naphthyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=538.
Example 369
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1RS)-2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (2RS)-2-amino-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=410.
Example 370
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 74% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=547.
Example 371
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxymino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 61% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=563.
Example 372
(3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-piperidinol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=436.
Example 373
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-(aminocarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1R,2R,3S,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 55% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=487.
Example 374
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 82% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.
Example 375
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (2RS)-1-amino-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=410.
Example 376
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (2RS)-3-amino-1,2-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=426.
Example 377
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-amino-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=410.
Example 378
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 2-aminoacetamide, the title compound was obtained in 82% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=395.
Example 379
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-aminoacetamide, the title compound was obtained in 92% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=409.
Example 380
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonol)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and 3-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=504.
Example 381
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(1S,2R,3S,4R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and [(1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 64% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=462.
Example 382
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and [(1S,2R,3S,4R)-3-aminobicyclo[22.1]hept-2-yl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 56% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=492.
Example.383
(2S,4EZ)-N-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and trans-4-aminocyclohexanol, the title compound was obtained in 61% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=466.
Example 384
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and [(1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 68% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=480.
Example 385
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-phenoxy-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 80% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=502.
Example 386
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxy-mino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, staring from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 76% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.
Example 387
(2S,4EZ)-N-](2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxy-imino)-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=504.
Example 388
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-1-[(2′-methly[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-methoxyphenol, the title compound was obtained in 67% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=518.
Example 389
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-methoxyphenol, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=534.
Example 390
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-1-(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]-1,2-benzenediol, the title compound was obtained in 69% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=520.
Example 391
(2R,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2R,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxy)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=456.
Example 392
(2R,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2R,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 94% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 393
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=483.
Example 394
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(3′,4′-dichioro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=527.
Example 395
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 95% purity by EPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 396
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]4-carboxylic acid, and (1RS)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 83% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 397
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxy-imino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=488.
Example 398
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxy-imino)-1-[(2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=499.
Example 399
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxy-imino)-1-[(3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=543.
Example 400
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2 hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxy-imino)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=502.
Example 401
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxy-imino)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=502.
Example 402
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=543.
Example 403
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=502.
Example 404
(2S,4MZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-(hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-[(1RS)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]phenol, the title compound was obtained in 90% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=502.
Example 405
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1 1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=546.
Example 406
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (2RS)-1-amino-3-(4methoxyphenoxy)-2-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 77% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=546.
Example 407
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxyethyl)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-aminoacetamide, the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=423.
Example 408
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-amino-2-oxyethyl)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-aminoacetamide, the title compound was obtained in 85% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=423.
Example 409
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-aminopropionamide, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=437.
Example 410
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-prrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-aminopropionamide, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=437.
Example 411
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-phenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-amino-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 70% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=440.
Example 412
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxemethyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxaamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxyhc acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-amino-1,3-propanediol, the title compound was obtained in 68% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=440.
Example 413
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and [(1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl]methanol, the title compound was obtained in 78% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=475.
Example 414
(3EZ,5S)-5-(3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-isoquinolinylcarbonyl)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, the title compound was obtained in 77% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=482.
Example 415
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl-]4-carboxylic acid, and (2R)-2-amino-2-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 416
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-(2-aminoethyl)phenol, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 417
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 4-(2-aminoethyl)phenol, the title compound was obtained in 83% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 418
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-(2-aminoethyl)phenol, the title compound was obtained in 81% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 419
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 3-(2-aminoethyl)phenol, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 420
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(1R,2S)-2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylmethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4carboxylic acid, and (1S,2R)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 73% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=562.
Example 421
(2RS)-2-[({2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-pyrrolidinyl}carbonyl amino]-3-phenylpropane acid
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and DL-phenylalanine, the title compound was obtained in 62% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=500.
Example 422
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(aminocarbonyl)cyclohexyl]-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino) -2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dinethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 92% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=491.
Example 423
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2S)-2-(aminocarbonyl)cyclohexyl]-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxamide, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=491.
Example 424
4′-{[(2S,4EZ)-2-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-4-(methoxyimino)pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl}[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-carbonitrile
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-cyano[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-(1-piperazinyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=476.
Example 425
(3EZ5S)-1-[(3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 3′,4′-dichloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4carboxylic acid, and 2-(1-piperazinyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z =520.
Example 426
(3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,6′-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4carboxylic acid, and 2-(1-piperazinyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 79% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=479.
Example 427
(3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-{[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-(1-piperazinyl)ethanol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=479.
Example 428
(3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-5-({4-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-piperazinyl}carbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, staring from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 1-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazine, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=565.
Example 429
(3EZ,5S)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)carbonyl]-5-({4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-piperazinyl}carbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazine, the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=565.
Example 430
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method-as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and ammonia (0.5M in dioxane), the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=352.
Example-431
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and methylamine (2M in methanol), the title compound was obtained in 96% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=366.
Example 432
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-N,N-dimethyl-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and dimethylamine (5.6M in ethanol), the title compound was obtained in 94% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=380.
Example 433
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1R)-3-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 94% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 434
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(3S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S)-3-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 91% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=486.
Example 435
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1R)-3-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 94% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 436
(2S,4EZ)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(3S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyl-propyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl chloride, and (1S)-3-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanol, the title compound was obtained in 93% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 437
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-{[2′-(trifluoromethyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]carbonyl}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-(trifluoromethyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 87% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=526.
Example 438
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-{[2′-chloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]carbonyl}-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-chloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=492.
Example 439
(2S,4EZ)-N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-aminophenol, the title compound was obtained in 88% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=444.
Example 440
(2S,4EZ)-N-[2-(hydroxyethyl)phenyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2′-methyl[l,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (2-aminophenyl)methanol, the title compound was obtained in 86% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 441
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compound was obtained in 95% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=472.
Example 442
(2S,4E and 4Z)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, [1,1′-biphenyl]-4carbonyl chloride, and (1S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol, the title compounds were obtained as a mixture of E/Z-isomers of the oxime functionality. Separation of the isomers by flash chromatography yielded (2S,4E)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrroidinecarboxamide in 98.8% purity and (2S,4Z)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2S)-2hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide in 97.4% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=458.
Example 443
(2S,4EZ)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-(2-phenylethyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
Following the general method as outlined in Example 22, starting from (2S,4EZ)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 2-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-phenylethanamine, the title compound was obtained in 89% purity by HPLC. MS(ESI+): m/z=456.
Example 444
Preparation of a Pharmaceutical Formulation
The following formulation examples illustrate representative pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention being not restricted thereto.
Formulation 1—Tablets
A pyrrolidine compound of formula I is admixed as a dry powder with a dry gelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ration. A minor amount of magnesium stearate is added as a lubricant. The mixture is formed into 240–270 mg tablets (80–90 mg of active pyrrolidine compound per tablet) in a tablet press.
Formulation 2—Capsules
A pyrrolidine compound of formula I is admixed as a dry powder with a starch diluent in an approximate 1:1 weight ratio. The mixture is filled into 250 mg capsules (125 mg of active pyrrolidine compound per capsule).
Formulation 3—Liquid
A pyrrolidine compound of formula I (1250 mg), sucrose (1.75 g) and xanthan gum (4 mg) are blended, passed through a No. 10 mesh U.S. sieve, and then mixed with a previously prepared solution of microcrystalline cellulose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (11:89, 50 mg) in water. Sodium benzoate (10 mg), flavor, and color are diluted with water and added with stirring. Sufficient water is then added to produce a total volume of 5 mL.
Formulation 4—Tablets
A pyrrolidine compound of formula I is admixed as a dry powder with a dry gelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ratio. A minor amount of magnesium stearate is added as a lubricant. The mixture is formed into 450–900 mg tablets (150–300 mg of active pyrrolidine compound) in a tablet press.
Formulation 5—Injection
A pyrrolidine compound of formula I is dissolved in a buffered sterile saline injectable aqueous medium to a concentration of approximately 5 mg/ml.
Example 445
Biological Assays
a) In Vitro Binding Assay (SPA)
Membranes from HEK293EBNA cells expressing the hOT receptor were resuspended in buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4,5 mM MgCl2 and 0.1% BSA (w/v). The membranes (2–4 μg) were mixed with 0.1 mg wheat-germ aglutinin (WGA) SPA bead (type A) and increasing concentrations of [ 125 I]-OVTA (for saturation binding experiments) or 0.2 nM [ 125 I]-OVTA (for competition binding experiments). Non specific binding was deter-mined in the presence of 1 μM Oxytocin. The total assay volume was 100 μl. The plates were incubated at room temperature for 30 min and counted on a Mibrobeta plate counter. The competition binding data were analysed using the iterative, nonlinear, curve-fitting program, Prism.
b) Biological Results—Discussion
The binding affinities to the oxytocin receptor of the pyrrolidine derivatives claimed in the formula I were assessed using the above described in vitro biological assay. Representative values for some example compounds are given in Table 1 below. The values refer to the binding capacity of the example compounds according to formula I to the Oxytocin receptor. From the values shown in Table 1 it can be derived that said test compounds according to formula I do show a significant binding to the Oxytocin receptor.
TABLE 1
Binding affinity
human OT-R
Structure
IUPAC-Name
IC 50 (μM)
(2S,4E)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
0.13
(2S,4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
0.07
(3Z,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
0.63
(2S,4Z)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-4-(chloromethylene)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
0.35
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino-1-(3-phenoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
2.3
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-1-[(2′,3-dimethyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamine
0.54
(2S,4EZ)-1-[(2′-chloro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
0.17
(2S,4EZ)-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
0.37
(3EZ,5S)-5-[(4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl)carbonyl]-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime
0.30
(2S,4EZ)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]-1-[(2′-methoxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
0.55
According to a preferred embodiment, the compounds display binding affinities (K i (μM)) of less 0.40 μM, more preferred of less than 0.1 μM.
c) Functional Assay No. 1: Inhibition of Ca 2+ -Mobilization by FLIPR
Preparing the plates: FLIPR-plates were pre-coated with PLL 10 μg/ml+0.1% gelatine for 30 min up to 2 days at 37° C. (for HEK-cells). The cells were plated out into 96-well plates (60000 cells/well).
Labelling with fluo-4: 50 μg fluo-4 were dissolved in 20 μl pluronic acid (20% in DMSO). The dissolved fluo-4 was then diluted in 10 ml DMEM-F12 medium without FCS. The medium was removed from the plates, followed by one wash with DMEM-F12 medium. Now, 100 μl of the DMEM-F12 medium containing fluo-4 were added and the cells incubated for 1–1.5 h (CHO-cells), and 1.5–2 h (HEK-cells).
Buffer: 145 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 , 10 mM Hepes, 10 mM Glucose, EGTA. Adjust to pH 7.4.
Preparation of agonists and antagonists: A minimum of 80 μl/well of agonists and anta-gonists (5×) in the above buffer (1×) were prepared (96-well plates).
The activities of the pyrrolidine derivatives according to formula I were assessed using the above described in vitro biological assay. Representative values for some example compounds are given in Table 2 below. The values refer to the capacity of the example compounds according to formula I to effectively antagonize oxytocin-induced intracellular Ca 2+ -mobilization mediated by the Oxytocin receptor. From the values shown in Table 2 it can be derived that said example test compounds according to formula I do exhibit a significant activity as Oxytocin receptor antagonists.
TABLE 2 Inhibition of Ca 2+ mobilization, hOT-R Structure IUPAC-Name IC 50 (μM) (2S,4E)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 0.07 (2S,4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 0.03 (2S,4EZ)-N-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 0.32 (3Z,5S)-5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinone O-methyloxime 0.4 (2S,4Z)-1-([1,1′biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 0.65
d) Functional Assay No. 2: Inhibition of IP3-Synthesis in HEK/EBNA-OTR Cells
Stimulation of the cells: BEK/EBNA OTR(rat or human) cells were plated out into costar 12-well plates, and equilibrated for 15–24 h with [ 3 H]-inositol in medium without inositol supplement, with 1% FCS (0.5 ml/well). 4 μCi/ml were-used. After this, the medium containing the label was aspirated. Then was added DMEM (without FCS, inositol), 20 mM Hepes, 1 mg/ml BSA containing 10 mM LiCl (freshly prepared), for 10–15 min at 37° C. The agonists and antagonists were added for the time required (15–45 min), followed by aspiration of the medium. The reaction was stopped with 1 ml STOP-solution (0.4 M perchloric acid), and let sit for 5–10 min at RT (not longer). Then, 0.8 ml were transferred into tubes containing 0.4 ml of neutralizing solution (0.72 M KOH/0.6M KHCO 3 ), and the tubes vortexed and kept in the cold at least for 2 h. At this stage, samples could be kept over a prolonged period of time.
Separation of IP's: The samples were spun in a table top centrifuge at 3000–4000 rpm for 15 min. 1 ml of the supernatant was transferred to new tubes containing 2.5 ml H 2 O. Packed resin (0.8 ml) was equilibrated with 20 ml H 2 O, and the whole samples poured onto the columns. To discard free inositol, two washes with 10 ml H 2 O were carried out.
Elution of total IP's: The elution was achieved using 3 ml 1M ammonium formate/0.1M formic acid. The eluant was collected in scintillation counting tubes, followed by addition of 7 ml of scintillation liquid. Mixing and counting concluded the operation.
The activities of the pyrrolidine derivatives claimed in the formula I were assessed using the above described in vitro biological assay. Representative values for some example compounds are given in Table 3 below. The values refer to the capacity of the example compounds according to formula I to effectively antagonize oxytocin-induced IP3-synthesis mediated by the Oxytocin receptor. From the values shown in Table 3 it can be derived that said example test compounds according to formula I do exhibit a significant activity as Oxytocin receptor antagonists.
TABLE 3 Inhibition of IP3- synthesis, ratOT-R Structure IUPAC-Name IC 50 (82 M) (2S,4E)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 0.33 (2S,4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 0.03 (2S,4Z)-1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylcarbonyl)-N-[(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide 0.35
e) In Vivo Model for Inhibition of Uterine Contractions
Non-pregnant Charles River CD(SD) BR female rats (9–10 weeks old, 200–250 g) were treated at 18 and 24 hours before the experiment with 250 μg/kg, i.p. diethylstilbestrol (DES). For the assay, the animal was anaesthetised by urethane (1.75 g/kg, i.p.) and placed on an homeothermic operating table. The trachea was isolated and cannulated with a suitable polyethylene (PE) tubing. A midline incision at the hypogastrium level was made and one uterine horn exposed, its cephalic end cannulated with a PE240 tubing and, after filling the internal cavity with 0.2 ml of sterile physiological saline, connected to a “Gemini” amplifying/recording system via a P23ID Gould Statham pressure transducer. For the i.v. route of administration of the test compounds, one jugular vein was isolated and cannulated with a PE60 tubing connected to a butterfly needle to allow the administration by a dispensing syringe. In the case of intraduodenal administration of the test compounds, the duodenum was isolated and similarly cannulated through a small incision in its wall. One carotid artery was also isolated and cannulated with PE60 catheter and connected to a suitable syringe for blood sample collection (see below). After a stabilization period, the same dose of oxytocin was repeatedly injected intravenously at 30-min intervals. When comparable contractile responses of the uterus to the selected dose of oxytocin were obtained, the dose of the test or reference compound was administered. Further injections of the same dose of oxytocin were then made for a suitable time after treatment to assess inhibitory effects of the compounds under study. The contractile response of the uterus to oxytocin was quantified by measuring the intrauterine pressure and the number of contractions. The effect of the reference and test compounds were evaluated by comparing pre- and post-treatment pressure values. In addition, at 2, 30, 90 and 210 minutes after test compound administration, a 0.5-ml blood sample was withdrawn from the cannulated carotid artery of each experimental animal. Plasma was obtained by standard laboratory procedure and the resulting samples were stored at −20° C.
The activities of the pyrrolidine derivatives claimed in the formula I were assessed using the above described in vivo biological assay. Representative values for one example compound are given in Table 4 below. The values refer to the capacity of the example compound according to formula I to effectively antagonize oxytocin-induced -uterine contractions in the rat. From the values shown in Table 4 it can be derived that said example test compound according to formula I does exhibit a significant activity as tocolytic, i.e. uterine-relaxing, agent.
TABLE 4
Route of
% Reduction
administration/
of Utenne
Dose
Structure
IUPAC-Name
Vehicle
Contraction
(mg/kg)
(2S,4Z)-N-[(2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-4-(methoxyimino)-1-[(2′-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)carbonyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide
intravenous;PEG400/saline50:50;5 ml/kg infusion
−23.8 ± 4.1−27.6 ± 4.6−50.4 ± 5.8−65.6 ± 6.4 −76.5 ± 4.24
0.3 1 31030
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The present invention is related to pyrrolidine derivatives of formula (I). Said
compounds are preferably for use as pharmaceutically active compounds. Specifically, pyrrolidine derivatives of formula (I) are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of premature labor, premature birth and dysmenorrhea. In particular, the present invention is related to pyrrolidine derivatives displaying a substantial modulatory, notably an antagonist activity of the oxytocin receptor. More preferably, said compounds are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of disease states mediated by oxytocin, including premature labor, premature birth and dysmenorrhea. The present invention is furthermore related to novel pyrrolidine derivatives as well as to methods of their preparation, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of CR6R7, NOR6, NNR6R7; A is selected from the group consisting of —(C═O)—, —(C═O)—O—, —C(═NH)—, —(C═O)—NH—, —(C═S)—NH, —SO22-, —SO2NH—, —CH2-, B is either a group —(C═O)—NR8R9 or represents a heterocyclic residue having the formula (a) wherein Q is NR10, O or S; n is an integer selected of 0, 1 or 2; Y, Z and E form together with the 2 carbons to which they are attached a 5–6 membered aryl or heteroaryl ring.
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This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 07/890,455, filed on May 29, 1992, issued on Oct. 4, 1994 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,412.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a micro positioning device capable of finely positioning a member such as a roller in the X and Y directions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The attempt to compact existing mechanical systems has a rather long history. However, a technology has recently drawn attention to integrate a mechanical system of a size that varies from several micrometers to several hundreds of micrometers. It comprises a plurality of components such as sensors, actuators, and electronic circuits, and preferably use the IC (Integrated Circuit) fabrication technique called MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems). Sensors in the field of MEMS are fast reaching the level of practical use, mainly as acceleration sensors using transducers, as described in the paper by H. Seidel, et al, "Capacitive Silicon Accelerometer with Highly Symmetrical Design", Transducers '89 Lecture No. B10.4, June 1989, and as pressure sensors, described in the paper by K. Ikeda, et al, "Silicon Pressure Sensor Integrates Resonant Strain Gauge 0n Diaphragm", Transducers '89 Lecture No. B4.3, June 1989. However, the study of micro actuators has just begun. As an example of a micro actuator, an ultrasonic motor using a piezoelectric element is actively studied at present.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The positioning accuracy of detectors in an optical recording or magnetic recording system may be in the future of the order of submicrons. It requires that the positioning device used for the system have an operating range of several hundreds of micrometers in the X and Y directions, respectively, that its size does not exceed several millimeters and, finally, that it get a quick response. Positioning meeting the above requirement can be achieved with a conventional micro ultrasonic motor.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of achieving fine positioning.
It is another object of the present invention to achieve micro positioning of the order of 100-μm in the X and Y directions.
It is a further object of the present invention to arrange, on the same surface, micro actuators of the order of micrometers using semiconductor fabrication techniques and capable of surface-driving the group of actuators with a driving source.
The micro positioning device of the present invention, as described hereinafter comprises: a substrate, a plurality of micro actuators arranged on the substrate, and a moving member placed on the micro actuators. Each micro actuator consists of a driving section for applying a driving force to excite vertical motion on the substrate, and a mechanism for converting vertical motion into rotational motion, displaced in the horizontal direction. The structure of the micro actuator which is the basic component of the present invention differs in terms of the type of driving force used, as will be shown hereinafter.
The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the micro actuator 60 structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the micro actuator structure in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows still another embodiment of the micro actuator structure of the present invention;
FIGS. 4a to 4e show the fabrication process of the micro actuator in FIG. 2;
FIGS. 5a to 5d show the fabrication process of the micro actuator in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6a to 6e and 7a to 7d show the operating principle of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 shows a schematic structural diagram of the micro positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a micro actuator using vibration force as its driving force. A piezoelectric element (PZT) 2 is bonded or laminated to substrate 1, (e.g. a silicon wafer). Aluminum electrodes 3A and 3B are deposited on the PZT 2, and a contact pin 4 is formed across the aluminum electrodes. Although polyimide is used for contact pin 4 in this particular embodiment, it may be possible to use resist which allows the pin to have a large aspect ratio.
FIG. 2 shows the structure of a micro actuator 40 using Coulomb's force as the driving force. Operation of the micro actuator using Coulomb's force will be further described hereinafter. FIGS. 4(a)-4(e) show the fabrication process steps for the driving section 45 of the micro actuator 40. Note that the driving section 45 as shown upon completion in FIG. 4(e) excludes contact pin 4, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
A silicon nitride film is first deposited on a silicon wafer 1. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the silicon nitride film is etched to form a desired pattern 5. Then, steam is applied to silicon wafer 1 to oxidize the etched section 8 to produce the structure shown in FIG. 4(b). Next, additional silicon nitride is deposited on the silicon wafer 1 to form a first silicon nitride film 5', a polycrystal silicon film 6 is deposited on the first silicon nitride film 5', and a second silicon nitride film 5" is deposited on the polycrystal silicon film 6. Following deposition of these layers 5', 6 and 5", the central portion 50 of the layers 5', 6, 5" is etched to a predetermined size to form the structure of FIG. 4(c). Next, the portion 8 is etched at the central section 50 so as to form an opening through the central section 50 to the portion 8, as shown in FIG. 4(d). Subsequently, the silicon wafer 1 is oxidized and oxide films 7 are formed, as shown in FIG. 4(e). The micro actuator 40 with the structure shown in FIG. 2 is obtained by forming the contact pin 4 on the driving section 45 thus fabricated.
FIG. 3 shows the structure of a micro actuator 70 using fluid pressure (e.g., air pressure) as its driving force. In this case, the driving section 75 of the micro actuator 70, which excludes the contact pin 4 illustrated in FIG. 3, is fabricated using the process steps shown in FIGS. 5(a)-5(d).
Silicon nitride films 11 are deposited on both sides of a first silicon wafer 1A. A desired pattern is then formed by lithographic techniques and followed by selective etching. Similarly, a silicon nitride film 11 is deposited on both sides of a second silicon wafer 1B and a desired pattern is likewise formed by lithographic techniques. It is then etched as shown in FIG. 5a in a manner similar to the process used for the first silicon wafer 1A. An anisotropic etching is then applied to the first silicon wafer 1A to form an air channel 9 (FIG. 5b). Likewise, anisotropic etching is also applied to the second silicon wafer 1B in a manner similar to the process used for the first silicon wafer 1A. In it, a wedge shaped pattern acting as a valve for fluid such as air is formed at the central portion of the second silicon wafer 1B (FIG. 5b).
Referring to FIG. 5c, the silicon nitride film 11, which was deposited on the first and second silicon wafers 1A and 1B produced by the process shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, is removed. Finally, the first and second silicon wafers 1A and 1B are thermally bonded to form a driving section (FIG. 5d). Circle 10 in FIG. 5d (enclosed by a broken line) is shown as the portion that functions as a valve for feeding air. Thus, a micro actuator with the structure shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Finally, a contact pin 4 is formed on the driving section to complete the structure.
Following is a description of the operating principle of the present invention [FIGS. 6 and 7].
FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram that illustrates the operating principle when Coulomb's force is used as the driving force. Similarly, FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram that illustrates the operating principle when air pressure is used as the driving force.
First, the operating principle of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 6. When no voltage is applied between the silicon wafer 1 and the silicon nitride films 5A and 5B, contact pin 4 remains static as its initial position (FIG. 6a). When a voltage is applied between silicon wafer 1 and silicon nitride film 5A, the silicon nitride film 5A is lowered by Coulomb's force in the direction shown by the arrow 12. As a result, a difference in height occurs between silicon nitride films 5A and 5B forcing the contact pin 4 placed between silicon nitride films 5A and 5B to tilt towards the right, while the end of the contact pin moves in the direction of the arrow 13 (FIG. 6b).
When a voltage is applied to silicon nitride films 5A and 5B, the films are lowered in the direction of the arrow 12 and 15 until they reach the same height. Thereafter, contact pin 4 returns to its upright position. (Note: it is important that silicon nitride films 5A and 5B are first lowered from their initial position). Thus, the end of contact pin 4 moves in the direction of the arrow 14 (FIG. 6c).
When the voltage applied to the silicon nitride film 5A is removed, the silicon nitride film 5A attempts to move back in the direction of the arrow 17, owing to a spring force inherent to its structure. As a result, the contact pin 4 moves to a position which is a mirror image of the position shown in FIG. 6b. Thus, the end of the contact pin moves in the direction of the arrow 16 (FIG. 6d). When the voltage applied to silicon nitride film 5B is removed, silicon nitride film 5B tries to move back in the direction of the arrow by a force inherent to its structure. Therefore, the end of the contact pin 4 moves in the direction of the arrow 13 (FIG. 6e).
As previously described, the micro actuator is operated by the operating sequence shown in FIGS. 6b through 6d, forcing the end of contact pin 4 to rotate in a clockwise rotation.
The operating principle of the present invention is further explained by referring to FIG. 7. First, a voltage is applied to the silicon wafer 1B to close the wedge-typed air valve V. By applying Coulomb's force, the air-valve V adheres to the lower silicon wafer 1B. Air is supplied to the air channel 8 by an air pump (not shown) after closing the air valve V. Air, however, is not supplied to the right air channel A 2 but only to the left air channel A 1 (as a result of the air valve V being closed). Thus, the upper silicon wafer 1A is raised in the direction of the arrow 32 by air pressure in air channel A 1 . A difference in height occurs between the silicon wafers 1A and 1B and the end of the contact pin 4 moves in the direction of the arrow 30 (FIG. 7a). When the voltage applied to the silicon wafer 1B is turned off, the air valve V opens, and air is supplied in the direction of the arrow 34 to both air channels A 1 and A 2 . As a result, the silicon wafers 1A and 1B move in the direction of the arrow by air pressure in channels A 1 and A 2 . Since a difference in height occurs between the silicon wafers 1A and 1B, the contact pin 4 returns to its upright position, although its height differs from its initial height. Thus, the end of the contact pin 4 moves in the direction of the arrow 36 (FIG. 7b).
When a voltage is applied to the silicon wafer 1B, the wedge-type air valve V closes, air is released from the left air channel A1, and silicon wafer 1A is lowered in the direction of the arrow 44. As a result, because a difference in height occurs between the silicon wafers 1A and 1B, the contact pin 4 tilts and its end moves in the direction of the arrow 42 (FIG. 7c). Finally, when the air valve V, which had been closed in the step illustrated in FIG. 7c reopens, air supplied to the right air channel A2 is released. The silicon wafer 1B descends in the direction of the arrow until silicon wafers 1A and 1B reach the same height, at which time contact pin 4 returns to its initial position with the end of contact pin 4 moving in the direction of the arrow 46 (FIG. 7d).
As previously described, when air pressure is used as the driving force, the micro actuator follows a sequence similar to the one described in FIG. 6, and the end of the contact pin 4 rotates clockwise.
Though the operating principle of micro actuators using Coulomb's force and air pressure as driving forces are described above, the same holds true for a micro actuator that uses vibrational force as its driving force.
A micro positioning device can be structured by arranging the above micro actuators on the same surface as an array and arranging a moving member on the micro actuator array. FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an X-axis-directional structure of a micro positioning device according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment uses vibrational force as its driving force.
In FIG. 8, a first voltage is applied to a first aluminum electrode 3A and a second voltage is applied to a second aluminum electrode 3B. The first and second voltages have a predetermined phase difference. Therefore, PZT 2 bonded on the silicon wafer 1 moves vertically or in the direction of the arrow with the predetermined phase difference. The vertical motion intermittently causes a difference in height between the first aluminum electrode 3A and the second aluminum electrode 3B. The end of contact pin rotates due to the intermittent height difference in the direction of the arrow. Therefore, the moving member 15 (e.g. a roller) placed on a plurality of contact pins 4, moves horizontally by motion of the contact pins 4. When the end of contact pin 4 moves leftward by driving an actuator, the actuator to the left side of the above actuator is activated, the end of the contact pin 4 moves rightward, and the roller 15 is pressed rightward by the actuator. Thus, the roller 15 is positioned at a certain balanced point.
In the above embodiment, only positioning in the X-axis direction was described. However, the same is also true for positioning in the Y-axis direction. Additionally, in the above embodiment, the driving forces use vibrational force. However, the positioning operation is the same as that of the above embodiment even if other types of driving forces are used, and even if the structure of the micro positioning device of the present invention differs.
As described above, the micro actuator of the present invention use a direct driving system directed by a plurality of actuators. It attains a high positioning accuracy even for open loop control. It also attains positioning within an operating range of several tens to several hundreds of micrometers in the X and Y directions. It is thus possible to obtain a compact and lightweight miniature micro positioning device.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
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A device for providing micro positioning having an operating range in the submicron order in the X and Y directions, respectively. Positioning is achieved by a device which includes a driving section bonded to a silicon wafer for applying a driving force to excite vertical motion, and a mechanism for converting this vertical motion into rotational motion. Three types of micro actuators are described herein: one, that uses vibration as its driving force; a second, that uses Coulomb's force; and a third, that utilizes fluid pressure, such as air.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a rove bobbin transporting system in a spinning plant for interconnecting a flyer frame and a spinning frame to transport fully wound rove bobbins from the former to the latter and to transport empty rove bobbins in the opposite direction.
2. Discussion of the Background:
In a spinning plant, roves wound up on a flyer frame are fed to a spinning frame on which they are finished into predetermined yarns. Since the production capacity of a single flyer frame corresponds to a production capacity of several spinning frames, roves wound up by a single flyer frame must be separately transported as rove bobbins in several spinning frames, and to this end, a rove bobbin transporting system is employed.
As one of various types of such rove bobbin transporting systems, a rove bobbin transporting system of the type is used for general purposes wherein a carrier on which a large number of rove bobbins are removably suspended travels along a transport rail which is installed near a ceiling of a building.
In the rove bobbin transporting system, the carrier is constituted such that a guide roller is provided on the upper face side of a carrier frame in the form of an elongated plate for engaging with the transport rail while a plurality of rove bobbins are suspended on the lower face side of the carrier frame by way of bobbin hangers. Friction rollers are pressed against opposite side faces of the carrier frame, and as the friction rollers are driven to rotate, the carrier is fed by the friction rollers. A drive motor is provided at an intermediate position of the transport rail, and rotation of the motor is transmitted to drive shafts provided along the transport rail. Conical friction rollers are fitted at intermediate positions of the drive shafts and are contacted with conical friction rollers provided on shafts of the friction rollers to drive the friction rollers for the carrier frame to rotate.
In such a conventional rove bobbin transporting system as described just above, since frictional motion transmitting mechanisms are provided at two locations of the conical friction wheels and the friction rollers as driving devices for feeding the carrier, abrasion of such friction members cannot be avoided. Accordingly, it is a problem of the conventional rove bobbin transporting system that operation with a high degree of reliability cannot be assured for a long period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel rove bobbin transporting system wherein reduction in reliability due to abrasion of parts can be eliminated by employing a motion transmitting mechanism which depends upon mechanical engagement instead of a motion transmitting mechanism which depends upon friction.
In particular, the present invention enables smooth operation of a rove bobbin transporting system for a long period of time by making it possible for a driving device of the rove bobbin transporting system to continuously feed a carrier and by eliminating the presence of a friction member between the driving device and the motion transmitting mechanism for the carrier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a rove bobbin transporting system showing preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view as viewed in the direction of an arrow mark II in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III--III in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly broken, of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view as viewed in the direction of an arrow mark V in FIG. 4; and
FIGS. 6(A), 6(B) and 6(C) are illustrative views showing relative positions of a carrier and a driving device of the rove bobbin transporting system of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rove bobbin transporting system includes, as principal components, a transport rail 10, a carrier 20 and a plurality of driving devices 30 disposed along the transport rail 10.
Referring also to FIG. 3, the transport rail 10 is an elongated member which is securely installed on a ceiling or the like of a building (not shown) by means of fastening bolts 11. The transport rail 10 has a substantially angular Ω-shape in vertical cross section as seen in FIG. 3 and thus defines an opening d 1 at the lower end thereof. The transport rail 10 has a pair of horizontal legs 10a formed at the lower end thereof and a pair of horizontal support portions 10a formed above the horizontal legs 10a thereof. The transport rail 10 extends over a predetermined transport section, for example, between a flyer frame and a spinning frame.
Referring to FIG. 1, the carrier 20 includes a predetermined number of carrier frames 21 connected to each other in the longitudinal direction of the transport rail 10. Each of the carrier frames 21 has roller units 22 provided at least two front and rear locations thereof and is suspended on the transport rail 10 by way of the roller units 22. Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 5, a joint mechanism 23 is formed at a connecting portion between each two adjacent ones of the carrier frames 21. The joint mechanism 23 includes a pair of tongues 21a extending from the adjacent carrier frames 21 and assembled to each other for bending motion both in vertical and hroizontal directions by way of two pairs of pins 23b and 23d, a pair of intermediate members 23a and another intermediate member 23c. Here, the pins 23b extend in vertical directions while the pins 23d extend in horizontal directions. Each of the carrier frames 21 is a bar member in the form of a simple prism.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the roller units 22 by means of which the carrier frames 21 are suspended on the transport rail 10 includes a pair of vertical rollers 22a mounted for rolling movement on upper faces of the supporting portions 10b of the transport rail 10, and two pairs of horizontal rollers 22b mounted for rolling movement in the opening d 1 of the transport rail 10. The rollers 22a and 22b are supported for rotation on a single support bolt 22c by way of a bracket 22d. In particular, the pair of vertical rollers 22a are disposed on opposite left and right sides of the support bolt 22c while the two pairs of horizontal rollers 22b are disposed two by two on opposite front and rear sides of the support bolt 22c.
A lower end of the support bolt 22c is screwed in the carrier frame 21 so that the vertical position of the carrier frame 21 relative to the transport rail 10 can be adjusted by a set nut 22e. A bush 22f having an outer diameter greater than the opening d 1 of the transport rail 10 and a washer 22g are loosely fitted at a lower portion of the support bolt 22c above the set nut 22e. Accordingly, when the carrier frame 21 is pushed upwardly, the support bolt 22c will not collide with any fastening bolt 11 for the transport rail 10.
Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of bobbin hangers BH are mounted at equal intervals on a lower face of each of the carrier frames 21. Each of the bobbin hangers BH is constituted such that a rove bobbin B may be removably hung thereon. The bobbin hangers BH may be of the known type, and if a rove bobbin B is forced up from below a bobbin hanger BH with their axes aligned with each other, it is held by a hook mechanism provided in the bobbin hanger BH and is thus hung on the bobbin hanger BH. To the contrary, if the rove bobbin B held in this manner is forced up again, then the hook mechanism is released automatically and consequently the rove bobbin B can be released from the bobbin hanger BH.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the bobbin hangers BH is mounted on one of the carrier frames 21 by way of a mounting bracket 24 which will be hereinafter referred to only as bracket 24 for short. The bracket 24 includes a cylindrical body portion 24a and a mounting threaded portion 24b provided at the top of the body portion 24a. The threaded portion 24b of the bracket 24 extends upwardly through a fastening hole 21b perforated in the carrier frame 21, and a nut 24c is screwed to the upward extension of the threaded portion 24b of the bracket 24 to secure the bracket 24 to the carrier frame 21. It is to be noted that connection between the bobbin hanger BH and the bracket 24 is established by screwing of a threaded portion provided projectingly at the top of the bobbin hanger BH into a threaded hole not shown provided in a bottom wall of the bracket 24. The brackets 24 are mounted at equal intervals on the carrier frames 21 such that the interval may be maintained constant also at the connecting portions between the carrier frames 21.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the driving devices 30 is mounted on a side face of the transport rail 10 by way of a mounting bracket 31. The driving device 30 includes a drive motor 33 and a rotary sprocket wheel 34 as principal parts and is accommodated in a small accommodating box 32.
The drive motor 33 is a geared motor installed on a slide base 33a, and an output power shaft of the drive motor 33 is connected to the rotary sprocket wheel 34 by way of a chain sprocket wheel 33b, a chain 33c and another chain sprocket wheel 33d. The rotary sprocket wheel 34 and the chain sprocket wheel 33d may both be fitted on a rotary shaft 34b supported for pivotal motion and extending in a vertical direction in the accommodating box 32 as seen in FIG. 2. The slide base 33a is disposed for movement in forward and backward directions by way of adjusting screw 33e in order to allow adjustment of the tension of the chain 33c.
The rotary sprocket wheel 34 may partially extend below the transport rail 10 as seen in FIG. 1 and rotates in a horizontal plane. The rotary sprocket wheel 34 has teeth 34a the shape and pitch of which are selected so as to allow the teeth 34a to engage with the bracket 24 securely mounted on the lower faces of the carrier frames 21.
The predetermined number of driving devices 30 are disposed in a spaced relationship by a distance smaller than the overall length of the carrier 20 along the longitudinal direction of the transport rail 10. Each of the driving devices 30 includes an angle detecting sensor 35 for detecting that one of the teeth 34a of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 is in an angular position perpendicular to the transport rail 10 as seen in FIGS. 6(A) to 6(C), and an advancement detecting sensor 36 for detecting that a leading end of the carrier 20 which advances along the transport rail 10 reaches a position sufficiently near the rotary sprocket wheel 34. The angle detecting sensor 35 may be a contactless switch such as, for example, a photoelectric switch while the advancement detecting sensor 36 may be a like contactless switch or a conventional limit switch. The drive motor 33 of the driving device 30 is controlled, when it is to be stopped, such that, in response to an output signal of the angle detecting sensor 35, the rotary sprocket wheel 34 is stopped at a stand-by angular position in which one of the teeth 34a thereof extends perpendicularly to the transport rail 10 as seen in FIG. 6(A).
Operation of the rove bobbin transporting system having such a construction as described above will be described below.
It is to be noted that, since operation of the rove bobbin transporting system is similar whether rove bobbins B are hung on the bobbin hangers BH or not, the following description can be applied irrespective of presence or absence of rove bobbins B hung on the bobbin hangers BH.
At first, since the driving devices 30 are disposed in a spaced relationship by a distance smaller than the overall length of the carrier 20 when all of the driving devices 30 disposed along the transport rail 10 are in a stopped condition, the carrier 20 hung on the transport rail 10 opposes at least one of the driving devices 30 along the overall length thereof. Accordingly, the teeth 34a of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 involved in the opposing driving device 30 are held in engagement with the bobbin hanger mounting brackets 24 of the carrier 20. The other driving devices 30 are each stopped at a stand-by angular position in which one of the teeth 34a thereof extends perpendicularly to the transport rail 10.
When the carrier 20 is to be moved, the driver motor 33 of that one of the driving devices 30 in which the rotary sprocket wheel 34 is held in engagement with the bracket 24 is started. Consequently, the carrier 20 starts its traveling movement along the transport rail 10 since it receives a driving force from the drive motor 33 through engagement of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 with the brackets 24.
Since the connecting portions between the carrier frames 21 forming the carrier 20 can be bent both in the vertical and horizontal directions, the carrier 20 can travel smoothly even where the transport rail 10 is curved, in its route, in the vertical and/or horizontal directions with a radius of curvature greater than a predetermined radius of curvature as seen fron FIG. 2.
When the carrier 20 advances until the forward end thereof approaches the next driving device 30 as seen in FIG. 6(A), the rotary sprocket wheel 34 of the next driving device 20 remains in a stopped condition at its stand-by angular position in which one of the teeth 34a thereof extends perpendicularly to the transport rail 10. Thus, when the frontmost bracket 24 on the carrier 20 approaches a position in which it reaches the addendum circle TC of the rotary sprocket wheel 34, this is detected by the advancement detecting sensor 36. Then, if the drive motor 33 is started, the teeth 34a of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 can be brought into meshing engagement with the bracket 24 smoothly with certainty.
Once rotation of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 of the driving device 30 is started, the carrier 20 can be moved smoothly by the driving device of the driving device 30. Accordingly, the carrier 20 can continue its traveling movement irrespective of the condition of the driving device 30 from which the carrier 20 has received a driving force so far.
Here, the number of driving devices 30 will be minimized if the distance between two adjacent driving devices 30 is made substantially equal to the overall length of the carrier 20 so that, directly after one of two adjacent driving devices 30 is started, the rotary sprocket wheel 34 of the other driving device 20 may be disengaged from the bracket 24 as seen in FIGS. 6(B) and 6(C).
Since the rearmost bracket 24 of the carrier 20 is automatically disengaged from the rotary sprocket wheel 34 after the former has passed the position of the latter, the drive motor 33 of the driving device 30 may thereafter be stopped. Although the timing at which the drive motor 33 is to be stopped can be set by detection of the trailing end of the carrier 20 by the advancement detecting sensor 36, preferably another withdrawal detecting sensor 37 is provided for further improvement in reliability. While the advancement detecting sensor 36 is required to have a high degree of accuracy for detection of a starting timing of the drive motor 33, the withdrawal detecting sensor 37 may be provided because the stopping timing of the drive motor 33 need not be set with a high degree of accuracy. It is to be noted that, when the drive motor 33 is to be stopped, the angle detecting sensor 35 is rendered operative in response to a signal from the withdrawal detecting sensor 37 so that the rotary sprocket wheel 34 may be stopped at its stand-by angular position in which one of the teeth 34a thereof extends perpendicularly to the transport rail 10 in order to prepare for a subsequent operation.
By repetitions of such a sequence of operations as described above, the driving devices 30 successively apply a driving force to the carrier 20 so that the carrier 20 can continuously travel along the transport rail 20. Thus, for transportation of rove bobbins B, they are first mounted onto the bobbin BH of the carrier 20 at a predetermined position along the transport rail 10, and then the carrier 20 is moved to another predetermined position at which the rove bobbins B are subsequently removed from the bobbin hangers BH.
It is to be noted that it is a matter of course that the carrier 20 can be fed in the opposite direction if the direction of rotation of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 of each of the driving devices 30 is reversed. Also in this instance, the stand-by position of the sprocket wheel 34 may be such as described above. It is to be noted, however, that it is necessary to provide an advancement detecting sensor 36 at each of the opposite ends of each of the driving devices 30 in order to permit detection of approach of the carrier 20 from the opposite directions to the driving device 30. But if an advancement detecting sensor serves also as a withdrawal detecting sensor, provision of a separate withdrawal detecting sensor can be eliminated.
It is a matter of course that, as a mechanism for applying a driving force to the carrier 20 by means of the driving devices 30, engagement of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 with a separate engaging member provided on the carrier 20 may be meployed in place of the engagement of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 with the brackets 24. For example, either a large number of engaging pins arranged like a ladder may be provided vertically downwardly or a large number of rack teeth may be formed on side end faces of the carrier frames 21 forming the carrier 20 so that they may be engaged with the rotary sprocket wheel 34. Since the pitch of the teeth 34a of the rotary sprocket wheel 34 can be selected arbitrarily, it is possible to reduce the size of the rotary sprocket wheel 34.
It is to be noted that the connection between the drive motor 33 and the rotary sprocket wheel 34 can be provided, other than by the chain 33c and the chain sprocket wheels 33b and 33b, by any other motion transmitting mechanism such as, for example, a gearing assembly. Further, if a suitable slip mechanism or torque limiting mechanism is interposed between the drive motor 33 and the rotary sprocket wheel 34, inadvertent damage to the components including the rotary sprocket wheel 34 can be prevented even if the rotary sprocket wheel 34 is engaged and compulsorily rotated by the carrier 20 when the starting timing of the drive motor 33 is delayed. The slip mechanism or torque limiting mechanism may include 2 one-way clutches which are changed over depending upon the direction of rotation of the rotary sprocket wheel 34. With the arrangement, no slip will be yeilded in transmission of a driving force from the drive motor 33 to the rotary sprocket wheel 34 but a slip will be yielded with certainty in transmission of a driving force in the opposite direction. Accordingly, no loss will be caused in the driving force of the drive motor 33.
As apparent from the foregoing description, according to the present invention, a frictional power transmitting mechanism can be eliminated from a motion transmitting route from a drive motor to a carrier. Accordingly, it is an excellent effect that smooth operation can be assured readily for a long period of time.
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The present invention relates to a system for transporting rove bobbins between a flyer frame and a spinning frame wherein transporting operation of rove bobbins can be assured for a long period of time. The system comprises a plurality of driving devices provided at fixed positions along a transport rail. A carrier for hanging rove bobbins thereon is smoothly moved along the transport rail by way of a mechanical engaging structure which establishes motion transmission between the carrier and a successive one of the driving devices.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 07/873,371 filed Apr. 24, 1992, now abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a respirator for emergency oxygen supply for passengers in aircraft, with a mounting container, which can be closed with a lid, can be fastened above the row of seats, accommodates at least one breathing mask as well as an exothermic chemical oxygen generator connected to the breathing mask in a holder, whose position can be changed between a readiness position and a use position, and by which holder the distance between the oxygen generator and the internal wall surface of the mounting container is increased in the use position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In certain emergency situations in aircraft, it is necessary to enrich the breathing air with oxygen. This may be necessary to raise the oxygen level to a level that permits survival of the user in an atmosphere with reduced oxygen partial pressure, e.g., after a drop in the cabin pressure at high altitude. Therefore, breathing masks connected to chemical oxygen generators are arranged in passenger planes in mounting containers that can be closed with a lid above the passenger seats. The passenger chemical oxygen generators contain, in general, an alkali metal chlorate mixture, which releases oxygen, which can be inhaled via the breathing mask, in an exothermic reaction after activation.
The amount of oxygen to be supplied and consequently the size of the chemical oxygen generator depend on the necessary duration of use. A so-called long-range system, in which the chemical oxygen generators must have a prolonged operating time of up to 22 minutes, is needed especially in the case of prolonged descent time from high altitude.
A considerable amount of heat, which heats the outer wall of the generator housing to about 280° C., is generated in the course of the exothermic reaction in the chemical oxygen generator. Since the mounting container is installed, in general, under the so-called hat racks, the temperature of the mounting container may not exceed a predetermined value even during use, in order not to jeopardize the function of the surrounding components. Moreover, since only a limited space is available for installing the mounting container, the necessary heat insulation cannot, in general, be accommodated within the mounting container.
In an embodiment according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,893 (corresponding to DE-A1 36,13,814), the oxygen generator is arranged on the lid of the mounting container, which lid can be opened, and it ensures increased dissipation of heat in the use position. However, the lid attachment of the oxygen generator shows various disadvantages; in particular, because of the considerable weight of the oxygen generator, the lid must be provided with a relatively stable and consequently weight-increasing lid attachment, for which a pivoting range with an angle of 100° is specified to enable the breathing masks to drop freely. In light of these requirements, arranging the oxygen generator on the lid appears to be unsuitable for certain applications.
A mounting container with rigidly installed oxygen generator, in which the heat is dissipated directly onto the mounting container, has been known from, e.g., DE-G 86,11,223.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the task of improving a respirator with a holder for an oxygen generator such that while sufficient heat dissipation from the oxygen generator to the environment is guaranteed, free mobility of the lid closing the mounting container is not hindered by the oxygen generator.
This task is accomplished by the holder being rigidly mounted on the mounting container such that in the case of use, it permits a change in the position of the oxygen generator by pivoting.
The advantage of the present invention is essentially that by arranging the holder of the oxygen generator on the mounting container, the load on the lid is relieved, so that it is able to freely perform the maximum pivoting stroke specified. In addition, the dissipation of heat from the oxygen generator onto the lid is markedly reduced.
In an advantageous embodiment, the activating device of the oxygen generator may be coupled with the holder of the oxygen generator such that when the lid is opened, the oxygen generator is moved from the readiness position into the use position only in the case of activation. In the practical embodiment, this means that the movement of the oxygen generator in its holder is blocked until the exothermic chemical reaction is activated.
In another advantageous embodiment, a temperature-controllable triggering element, preferably a bimetallic element, may be provided for triggering the movement of the oxygen generator from the readiness position into the use position. The range of movement of the oxygen generator in the use position is preferably limited by a fixed stop or a locking connection.
In an embodiment that was tested in practice, the oxygen generator has a spring-tensioned striking pin, and a locking pin is provided in the striking pin such that when the locking pin is pulled out, the striking pin is released for activation of the oxygen generator, and the pivot mounting of the oxygen generator is also released at the same time, and the oxygen generator will pivot from the readiness position into the use position under the effect of the force of gravity.
The pivoting movement of the oxygen generator may advantageously be supported, if desired, by a pre-tensioned spring.
The oxygen generator is preferably arranged in a cartridge-like, closed housing.
The characteristics of the present invention lead to a respirator in which the oxygen generator has adequate insulation sufficient even for long-range use in the use position, so that installed components are prevented from overheating.
This task is achieved by the holder being designed as a hinged holder which is attached to the oxygen generator and pivots the oxygen generator around a fixed axis on the mounting container between the readiness position and the use position.
The difference between the hinged holder and the pivoting holder is essentially the fact that due to the oxygen generator being connected to a fixed axis on the mounting container, most of the force of the dead weight of the oxygen generator is transmitted in the hinged holder via the body surface, e.g., the jacket surface of the oxygen generator, to the bottom of the mounting container, as a result of which the shock-sensitive activating device with the striking pin, which is used to mount the oxygen generator in the pivoting holder, is relieved.
The hinged holder preferably consists of cartridge holders, which are attached to the jacket surface of the oxygen generator by means of clamping straps and are accommodated, rotatable around axes, in cartridge mounts. The cartridge mounts are rigidly arranged on the bottom surface of the mounting container. The pivoting movement of the oxygen generator is consequently performed around the axes of the cartridge holders as the fulcrum points.
To lock the oxygen generator in the readiness position, the clamping straps of the hinged holder are provided with projections, which may be of a lug-shaped or bead-shaped design.
The activating device of the oxygen generator is advantageously coupled with the hinged holder via a strap such that the strap releases the hinged holder during activation of the oxygen generator, as a result of which the oxygen generator will be moved from the readiness position into the use position. The strap brings about essentially fixation of the oxygen generator in the readiness position, and is blocked by the striking pin of the activating device.
The strap is preferably mounted axially rotatably in strap mounts and has right-angle bends which engage the projections of the clamping straps. Due to the positive locking between the right-angle bends of the strap and the corresponding projections of the clamping straps, the oxygen generator is fixed in the readiness position. The strap mounts may be designed as drilled-through plate folds, which are made in one piece with the mounting container; however, slotted screws and nuts, into whose slots the strap is simply pushed in, have also proved to be advantageous.
It is advantageous to provide the hinged holder with a locking device limiting the range of movement in the use position.
The locking device is preferably designed such that flattened areas are provided on the axes of the cartridge mounts and these flattened areas engage slotted holes of a corresponding shape in the cartridge holders when the oxygen generator is pivoted out into the use position. Wedge-shaped flattened areas, which snap into wedge-shaped slotted holes, have proved to be particularly advantageous.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the mounting of the oxygen generator;
FIG. 2 is schematic a bottom view of the mounting container with the lid removed;
FIG. 3 is a cutaway partial view of the oxygen generator with the activating device;
FIG. 4 is a schematic partially sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment with a hinged holder for the oxygen generator;
FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the hinged holder according to FIG. 4 in the readiness position, viewed toward the striking pin;
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the hinged holder according to FIG. 5 in the use position; and
FIG. 7 is an elevation view showing the breathing mask worn by a user wherein the mask is connected to the respirator of FIG. 1 and wherein the mask may likewise be connected to the alternate respirator embodiment of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a mounting container 1, which is closed with a lid 2 in the readiness position. In the mounting container 1, a cartridge-shaped chemical oxygen generator 3 is pivotably mounted in lateral bearing blocks 4, 5. The positions shown in broken line represent the mounting container with closed lid, wherein the oxygen generator 3 is also located in the readiness position. The components drawn in solid line show the oxygen generator 3 in the pivoted-out use position with the lid 2 opened.
Breathing masks, generally three to four, only one mask 112 is shown in FIG. 7, are accommodated in the free interior space of the mounting container 1. Pivot pins 11, which extend into holes of the bearing blocks 4, 5, so that the cartridge-shaped housing of oxygen generator 3 moves around the pivot pins 11 from the readiness position into the use position, are arranged on the front sides of the cartridge-shaped oxygen generator 3. Tube jointing sleeves 6, 7 slide in arc-shaped guide recesses 8, 9 of the bearing blocks 4, 5. The bearing blocks 4, 5 are provided with circular punched-out openings 10 for weight reduction.
To support the pivoting movement of the oxygen generator 3, a wire spring 12, which is in pre-tensioned contact with the tube jointing sleeve 6 in the readiness position of the oxygen generator 3, is provided on a the pivot pin 11.
An elastic tongue 13 acts as a snap on connection or locking connection, which narrows the guide path of the tube jointing sleeves 6, 7, thus decelerates the pivoting movement occurring under the effect of the force of gravity when the lid 2 is opened along the arc-shaped guide recesses 8, 9, and locks the tube jointing sleeves 6, 7 in their end position, i.e., in the use position, is located in the path of movement of the tube jointing sleeves 6, 7.
The activating device of the oxygen generator 3 is explained in greater detail in FIG. 3. In the stand-by position, a striking pin 15 displaceable in the tubular sleeve 6 engages an elbow 14 made in one piece with the bearing bracket 5. A coil spring 17, which is supported in the tubular sleeve and generates a corresponding pre-tension, is in contact with the end piece 16 of the striking pin 15. The end of the striking pin 15 is secured by a locking pin 18, and the striking pin 15 is released when the locking pin 18 is pulled out.
On opening the lid 2, the breathing masks, to which a cable 19 connected to the locking pin 18 is attached, drop out. By pulling the locking pin 18, the striking pin 15 is released, and its igniting tip 20 strikes the igniting device 21, so that the chemical reaction for generating oxygen is started. At the same time, the locking of the oxygen generator 3 in the stand-by position is abolished by the movement of the striking pin 15, and, under the effect of the force of gravity, the cartridge-like oxygen generator 3, performing a rolling movement, moves along the arc-shaped guide recesses 8, 9 into its position of use, in which it is locked by the elastic tongue 13.
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment for achieving the pivoting movement of the oxygen generator 3 in the form of a hinged holder 30, in a view similar to FIG. 2. Compared with FIG. 2, the striking pin 15 is arranged on the opposite side of the oxygen generator 3. Identical components are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 through 3. What is novel compared with the design according to FIG. 2 is that the oxygen generator 3 is no longer mounted by means of the tube jointing sleeves 6, 7 and the bearing blocks 4, 5 (FIG. 2), but with the hinged holder 30 via the jacket surface 31 of the oxygen generator 3. The hinged holder 30 is designed symmetrically to the oxygen generator 3, and consists of a first cartridge holder 32, which is clamped to the jacket surface 31 of the oxygen generator 3 by means of a first clamping strap 33, and of a second cartridge holder 34, which is attached to the jacket surface 31 by means of a second clamping strap in the same manner as the first cartridge holder 32, as well as of a first cartridge mount 36 and a second cartridge mount 37, in which the first cartridge holder 32 and the second cartridge holder 34, respectively, are pivotably mounted by means of a first axis 38 and a second axis 39, respectively.
In the readiness position shown in FIG. 4, the oxygen generator 3 is located in parallel to a rear lateral surface 40 of the mounting container 1. A strap 41, which is mounted axially rotatably in a first strap mount 42 and a second strap mount 43, also extends in parallel to the rear lateral surface 40; in the area of the strap mounts 42, 43, the strap 41 has a first strap right-angle bend 44 and a second strap right-angle bend 45, which is directed toward the oxygen generator 3.
The strap right-angle bends 44, 45 are located in the area of the clamping straps 33, 35, and the clamping straps 33, 35 are provided with a first projection 46 and a second projection 47, which grip under the strap right-angle bends 44, 45 and thereby fix the oxygen generator 3 in the readiness position. The strap 41 is held in the position shown in FIG. 4 by the striking pin 15. The projections 46, 47 may preferably be integrated within the clamping straps 33, 35, analogously to a so-called "lug strap." Advantageous embodiments for the strap mounts 42, 43 are drilled-through plate folds, which are made directly in one piece with the mounting container 1, or slotted screws and nuts.
The transition from the readiness position into the use position of the oxygen generator 3 takes place such that by pulling the locking pin 18 via the cable 19, the striking pin 15 is released along the arrow 48, as a result of which the strap 41 is released from the locking position with the striking pin 15. Due to the strap 41 being released, the projections 46, 47 will be disengaged from the strap right-angle bends 44, 45, and the oxygen generator 3 will pivot around the axes 38, 39 from the readiness position into the use position.
The transition from the readiness position into the use position is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Identical components are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5 shows a sectional side view of the hinged holder 30 viewed toward the striking pin 15 in the readiness position of the oxygen generator 3. For clarity's sake, only part of the mounting container 1 is shown. Due to the projecting striking pin 15, the strap 41 is located in the locked position, and the second projection 47 of the second clamping strap 35 is blocked by the second strap right-angle bend 45. In the use position, the range of movement of the oxygen generator 3 is limited by a locking device 49. The locking device 49 consists of wedge-shaped flattened areas 50 on the axes 38, 39 and of slotted holes 51 of corresponding shape on the cartridge holders 32, 34. Only the second cartridge holder 34 and the second axis 39 are recognizable in FIG. 5.
FIG. 6 shows the oxygen generator 3 according to FIG. 5 in the use position.
In the pivoted-out vertical position of the oxygen generator 3, the flattened areas 50 (FIG. 5) of the locking device 49 are located, in a positive locking manner, in the slotted holes 51, thus fixing the oxygen generator 3 in the use position.
FIG. 7 shows the mask of the respirator system connected to a user. The mask is shown connected to the respirator embodiment shown in FIG. 1 but in a similar manner, the mask may be connected to the respirator embodiment as depicted in FIGS. 4 through 6. As mentioned above, normally three to four breathing masks are provided in the mounting container 1 but only one breathing mask is shown in the drawing.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
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A respirator for emergency oxygen supply for passengers in aircraft, with a mounting container (1), which can be closed with a lid (2), is fastened above the row of seats, and accommodates at least one breathing mask and an exothermic chemical oxygen generator (3) connected to the breathing mask in a holder (4, 5). The pivotability of the lid of the mounting container is improved by rigidly arranging the holder on the mounting container (1) such that it permits the oxygen generator (3) to change its place by pivoting in the case of use.
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FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to optical fiber connectors and,, more particularly, to such connectors adapted for ready installation in the field.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The termination of an optical fiber with a connector in a field environment generally is a costly and labor intensive process, and has thus slowed the acceptance of fiber optics in both local and wide area networks, as well as in other applications. Additionally, connectors for use in forming terminations of the fiber are generally of such a nature that only limited numbers of individual fibers can be terminated in, for example, a day. Connectors presently in use often require that special tools be present at the job site. Thus, where the fiber end being connected is held within the connector by means of an ultra-violet or heat cured epoxy, a source of ultra-violet light or of heat must necessarily form a part of the tool kit of the technician making the termination. Also, the use of epoxy is time consuming. Generally, when, for example, a heat cured epoxy has been applied, the entire connector assembly must be heat cured for several minutes, and then several more minutes are involved until the assembly is cooled sufficiently for the fiber tip to be polished.
The prior art is rife with connector designs that have been proposed and marketed and that are aimed at increasing installation efficiency through reduction or elimination of one or more of the aforementioned problems. One such approach involves the use of a hot melt glue instead of a heat cured epoxy to affix the fiber to the connector. In this arrangement, the technician places the connector in a heater for a short time to melt a premeasured amount of glue previously placed within the connector. The fiber is then inserted, and, after the connector has cooled for a short time, the tip of the fiber can be polished. Such a hot melt connector has been found to reduce the time involved to completion, and is relatively simple to assemble. However, it is not recommended for use in installation subject to high temperatures. Another approach to the elimination of dependence upon epoxy to affix the fiber to the connector or termination has been the use of crimp-on connectors which form a mechanical connection between the connector and the fiber. Unless the crimping portion grasps the fibers firmly, pistoning of the fiber may occur, and the integrity of the connector jeopardized.
In all of the foregoing arrangements, it is necessary, after the fiber is affixed in place, to cleave and polish that end of the fiber intended to mate with the fiber with which it is to be connected. This, too, requires the use of special tools, and at least some measure of experience and skill on the part of the technician. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,377 of Jarrett et al., there is shown an optical fiber connector which eliminates the need for cleaving and polishing the end of the fiber, thereby reducing both preparation time and reliance on the skill of the technician. The basic component of the connector which makes this possible is a cylindrical body or plug having an axial bore extending therethrough. A short optical stub member of a material having the same index of refraction as the optical fiber to be terminated is located within the bore with one end flush with the end of the cylindrical body, and both are ground and polished to produce a uniformly flat front face. The rear end of the stub, within the bore, is a planar surface. This much of the connector, including the other mechanical and structural elements thereof is manufactured and pre-assembled at the factory, for example, and can be carried into the field by the technician. When an optical fiber is to be terminated by the connector, the end of the fiber is stripped of its protective coating and the end face cleaved. A thin metered layer of index matching polymerizable resin is then placed on the end face of the fiber which is inserted into the bore until it reaches the rear end face of the stub member. The resin is then cured, as by ultraviolet radiation or heat, to bind the fiber end to the stub.
The use of a polymerizable resin for index matching and securing the fiber within the connector, as in the connector of the Jarrett et al. patent, has numerous drawbacks. The resin itself tends to develop numerous microscopic bubbles which degrade the index match, thereby increasing insertion loss. Also, because of the extremely small area of fixation of the end of the fiber to the end of the stub, the cemented joint is not reliable, especially if tensile forces are applied, as they usually are in such connection arrangements, thus placing a strain upon the joint. In order for there to be as perfect an axial alignment as possible between the stub and the fiber, the bore through which the fiber is inserted is only fractions of a micron greater in diameter than the fiber, thus keeping it aligned within the stub. However, such a close fit does not provide space into which the excess resin can spread when it is compressed between the fiber end and the stub end. As a consequence, the resin, which can only be compressed a certain amount, can prevent the fiber end from closely abutting the stub end, which, ideally, is the preferred relationship for minimizing transmission losses.
An optical fiber connector that is easily and inexpensively produced, that can be quickly and easily and thereby economically installed in the field by relatively unskilled personnel, which has low insertion loss and which can withstand the tensile forces ordinarily encountered by connectors during and after installation would clearly be an advance over the connector arrangements which characterize the present state of the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a modular plug which is designed for use in any of a number of butt coupling connectors, such as, for example ST®, Biconic and the like, or in other types of connectors as well.
The plug of the invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, comprises an elongated ferrule of ceramic, plastic, or metal having a central bore extending therethrough. An optical fiber stub is inserted into the bore from the front end and extends along a portion of the length thereof. The stub may be glued or otherwise affixed within the bore, with a first end of the stub being substantially flush with the front end of the ferrule. The end face of the ferrule and the first end of the stub are polished to achieve a planar surface having a high degree of flatness. The second or rear end of the stub is cleaved prior to insertion into the ferrule so that it, too, is substantially flat.
The ferrule has a groove or channel formed therein which communicates with the bore, and which extends longitudinally from the rear face of the ferrule to a point therein slightly beyond or closer to the front of the ferrule than the end of the fiber stub. At the rear of the ferrule are mounted and affixed crimping arms or members. As thus far described, the plug of the invention can be prepared at the manufacturing facility. Stubs having different transmission characteristics to match the different optical fiber transmission characteristics likely to be encountered in the field can be prepared to create a broad range of connectors or couplers. The plug as prepared may form a part of many of the different types of connectors, as mentioned hereinafter.
In the field, the fiber to be terminated is stripped of its protective coating over a short portion of its length, and the distal end thereof preferably is cleaved. A quantity of an index matching gel is inserted into the bore to bear against the cleaved end of the stub, and the fiber is inserted into the bore from the rear until it presses against the gel. Compression of the gel causes the excess thereof to flow into the channel or groove so that the end of the fiber substantially bears against the interior end of the stub with only a thin layer of index matching gel therebetween. The fiber is then glued or cemented in place by a fast setting glue inserted into the channel from the rear, and the crimping arms are crimped to grasp the protective coating of the unstripped portion of the fiber. The fiber is, therefore, terminated by the connector, of which the plug is a fundamental part, which is then ready for connection to the receiving connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a connector having as a component thereof the plug of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the connector of FIG. 1 taken along the line A--A;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the plug of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a partial view of a variation of the plug of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a connector 11 having as a component thereof a plug 12 which embodies the principles of the present invention. Connector 11 is a generic representation of any of a number of connector types, and is not intended to depict any one particular type of connector, being intended solely to illustrate a housing for the plug 12. Connector 11 comprises a body member 13 having a bore 14 for accommodating plug 12, which may be metal, ceramic, or plastic or other suitable material, which is affixed thereto by any suitable means, such as cement or glue. Body member 13 which may be made of metal, ceramic, plastic, or other suitable material, depending upon the particular type of connector used, has a flange or shoulder member 16 which functions as a stop for an internally threaded attaching ring 17.
Plug 12 has an axial bore 18 extending therethrough in which is located an optical fiber stub 19 extending from the front face 21 of plug 12 into the plug for a portion of its length, and also has one or more channels or grooves 22 which communicate with bore 18 and which extend into plug 12 from the rear face 23 thereof to a point adjacent and preferably beyond the rear end 24 of stub 19, i.e., overlapping the rear end 24. The rear face 23 of plug 12 has affixed thereto as by gluing, brazing, welding, riveting or other suitable means two or more crimping arms 27, 27 having toothed or roughened surfaces 30, 30 which will be discussed more fully hereinafter. Where plug 12 is made of, for example, metal, arms 27, 27 conceivably can be made integral therewith, provided that they are deformable.
As thus far discussed, connector 11 and plug 12 may be, and preferably are, manufactured and assembled at a manufacturing facility. As part of the manufacturing of the plug 12, the front face 21 thereof and the front face 28 of stub 19 are ground and polished to produce a planar surface designed to butt against a similar surface, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, at the installation site. It is not necessary, however, that the plug 12 can be assembled with the connector 11 at the factory. Where the connector is a standard type, plugs having stubs 19 of different indices of fraction or different light transmission characteristics may be carried by the technician to the installation site, and the plug having a stub of the same transmission characteristics as the optical fiber to be terminated may then be inserted in, and affixed to, the connector 11. It is not absolutely necessary that plug 12 be affixed to connector 11, but it is desirable that it be a slip-fit within bore 14. When attaching, ring 17 is screwed onto the threaded portion of the mating connector, shown in dashed lines, the compression created thereby causes the flat faces of the mating stubs to seal and bear uniformly against each other, with the stubs axially aligned. It is to be understood that ring 17 is shown as being threaded by way of example only. Other means, such as a bayonet lock may readily be used in place of threads.
The remainder of the assembly depicted in FIG. 1 can best be described in terms of the method involved in terminating a fiber with connector 11. An optical fiber 29 having a protective coating 31 is stripped of a portion of its protective coating, as shown in FIG. 1 for insertion into bore 18 from the rear of the plug or ferrule 12. Prior to insertion, a quantity of an indexing matching gel 32 is introduced into bore 18 and applied to the rear, preferably cleaved, end 24 of stub 19. The gel 32 may be in the form of a liquid, or may have the consistence of, for example, petroleum jelly, or may be of the consistency of a typical caulking material or a silicone rubber material as long as it can be made to flow under pressure. The fiber 29, which preferably has a cleaved end face 33 is inserted into bore 18, which may have a tapered portion 35, as shown, to facilitate insertion of fiber 29 into bore 18, and pushed forward for a longitudinal distance until face 33 contacts the gel 32. Inasmuch as the distance within the plug 12 at which contact occurs cannot be readily determined, the technician performing the termination simply pushes fiber 29 into plug or ferrule 12 until firm resistance is felt. Because the resistance of the gel 32 is minimal, firm resistance indicates that face 33 of fiber 29 abuts face 24 of stub 19 with only very thin layer of gel 32 between the faces, as shown in FIG. 1. The excess gel 32 has been squeezed up into channel 22, as shown, rather than along bore 18, the diameter of which is preferably only a fraction of a micron greater than the diameter of fiber 29. With the end of channel 22 located closer to the front face 21 than the rear end 24 of stub 19, passage of the excess gel 32 into channel 22 is insured. As a consequence, the insertion loss resulting from the discontinuity between fiber 29 and stub 19 is minimized. It can be appreciated that with this arrangement precise measurement of the amount of gel used is not necessary, thereby reducing assembly time. Fiber 29 is affixed to stub 12 by means of, for example, a fast setting cement or glue 34, such as Krazy Glue®, which is inserted into channel or channels 22 from the rear of plug 12. It is not necessary, therefore, to use a curable epoxy cement to affix fiber 29 to connector 11, and no glue or cement is present in the optical path. After glue 34 has set, which is a matter of seconds, crimp arms 27, 27 are deformed to force the teeth or roughened surfaces on the ends thereof to grip the protective coating 31, as shown in FIG. 1. Both the cement 34 and the crimp arms 27, 27 function to insure a firm stable union of connector 11 to fiber 27 and coating 31, with no pistoning of the fiber 29 within bore 18, and with a strong resistance to tensile forces on the fiber encountered in use, which would tend to place undue strain upon a cemented connection common in the prior art. The sequence of the gluing and crimping steps may be reversed and, in some instances, either one or the other step may be omitted.
FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of ferrule or plug 12 wherein one or more radially extending channels 36, 36 extend from the area of the rear face 24 of stub 19 to the exterior of plug 12. In this embodiment, bore 18 has a countersunk portion 37, as shown, for the application of a quick setting glue to affix fiber 29 in place. Countersink portion 37 is not absolutely necessary for the application of the glue, but it does insure that there will be glue along a portion of the length of fiber 29.
In the foregoing embodiments, butt coupling configurations are shown, i.e., a flat face on the connector butts against a flat face on the receiving member. It is also possible for the features and principles of the invention to be used in other than such butt coupling arrangements. For example, the front end 28 of the fiber stub 19 may project outward from the front face 21 of ferrule or plug 12 and may be shaped, as spherically, to focus the light travelling therethrough. Alternatively, a spherical or otherwise shaped focusing member may be located in plug 19 adjacent the front end thereof, as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, bore 18 terminates in a spherically shaped cup 38 within which is affixed a spherical lens 39, against which the front end 28 of stub 19 bears. If desired or otherwise believed necessary, an index matching gel 41 may be used at the point of contact of lens 39 and stub 19 adjacent front face 21. Although a spherical lens 39 is shown, it may have other shapes as well, in which case cup 38 would be shaped accordingly.
It is to be understood that the foregoing described arrangements are simply illustrative of the principles and features of the invention. Other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art while still embodying these principles and features. For example, the foregoing embodiments are shown as being cylindrical in shape, with circular cross-sections. Shapes other than ones of circular cross-section may be used, especially for the ferrule or plug 12, thereby making possible the use thereof in connectors having other than circular cross-sections as well as connectors with a circular cross-section. Thus, it is possible that some sort of a rectilinear block and V-groove arrangement might be used to contain the fiber and a suitable means for holding the fiber therein, such as, for example, a spring. The principles and features of the present invention are thus applicable to a wide variety of connector configurations, without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.
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An optical fiber connector for terminating an optical fiber which has a ferrule or plug member located therein. The plug member has a bore extending therethrough and an optical fiber stub fixed in the bore extending from the front face of the plug to a point within the bore intermediate its ends. One or more channel members in the plug overlap the end of the stub within the plug. The channel members provide, in effect, a receptacle for excess index matching gel when the fiber being terminated is inserted from the rear of the bore and pressed forward to compress the gel. Crimping members are mounted on the rear of the plug and are adapted to grip the protection coating of the fiber being terminated to fix the fiber and the plug relative to each other.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a fiber fleece by a fiber web producing means and a fleece laying machine, which is forming a cross lapped fleece web from a single or multi-layered fiber web continuously output by the fiber web producing means, said cross lapped fleece web having a thickness varying over the laying width.
BACKGROUND ART
A methods and an apparatus of this type are known from DE 43 04 988 C1. The aim of them is to generate a cross lapped fleece web having a uneven thickness profile when seen transversely to the fleece web direction, in that the thickness of the web is smaller in the rim portions than in the center of the web. The reason for this is that during the treatment of the fleece web in a needling machine, the fleece web is laterally drawing-in by the needling process, i.e. it becomes narrower, whereas at the same time the thickness profile changes. From a fleece web having an regular thickness and supplied to the needling machine, the latter generates a felt web being thicker on its rim portions than in its center. In order to eliminate this irregularity, a cross lapped fleece web supplied to the needling machine has a thickness profile in the transverse direction of the web which, starting from the center, becomes gradually smaller towards the rim portions of the web.
Different methods exist how a fleece web can be generated from a fiber web output by a carding machine, said fleece web seen in cross section transversely to the longitudinal extension of the web has an irregular thickness profile of the aforementioned kind. DE 40 10 174 A1 describes a fleece laying apparatus in which a temporary storage is formed in the nonwoven by de-coupling the movement of the laying carriage with respect to the nonwoven suppliers, said storage enabling a variable nonwoven deposition at the outlet of the fleece laying apparatus onto an outlet belt. Within a movement cycle of the fleece laying machine with forward and backward motion of the laying carriage, the fleece laying machine lays as much nonwoven as it is supplied during the same time by the nonwoven producing means. However, it is possible within the laying cycle to let more or less nonwoven emerge at the laying carriage. The mechanical effort and the control effort of such a fleece laying machine is, however, enormous.
DE43 04988 C1 describes a method in which the nonwoven is expanded or upset by a controlled uniform raising or lowering of the speed level of the drives conducting the nonwoven in the fleece laying machine compared to the output speed of the nonwoven producing means. The nonwoven exiting from a carding machine is running at constant speed over a supply belt driven at constant speed to the fleece laying machine whose nonwoven intake speed is varied depending on the movements of the laying carriage of the machine. This leads to a cyclic tensioning and a cyclic upsetting of the nonwoven web entering the fleece laying machine with resulting thinnings and thickenings of the nonwoven. However, only the cyclic timing of the generation of thickenings and thinnings in the nonwoven is fixedly coupled with the motion of the laying carriage. The local cycle or repeating of the thickenings and thinnings in the nonwoven is not defined in the same manner, since the portions at which thickenings and thinnings are produced are not unambiguously defined by the type of device. The tension produced by the drawing action is effective in the entire portion of the nonwoven lying on the supply belt between the carding machine and the fleece laying machine, and is especially effective at locations where thin portions are already existent in the nonwoven. Thus, it is not guaranteed that the thin portions are deposited by the fleece laying apparatus exactly at locations on the output belt where they should be deposited.
A method is known from FR 2 794 475 A1, in which depending on the cross sectional profile of a laid fleece web or a felt manufactured therefrom, the carding machine arranged in front of the fleece laying machine is controlled to generate a nonwoven web with distributed thin and thick portions. The disadvantage of this procedure is that it must be acted on relatively large moved masses, which requires high power control and drive means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a method of the above-mentioned kind and a device suitable for performing same, which allow the deposition of a fleece web of a desired cross sectional profile.
To solve this object, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a fiber fleece by means of a nonwoven producing means and a fleece laying apparatus, which produces a fleece web from a single or multi-layered nonwoven web continuously supplied with a constant supply speed by the nonwoven producing means, said fleece web having a thickness variable across a laying width, in which method an intake speed at which the fleece laying apparatus accepts the nonwoven web is constant and the nonwoven web is longitudinally drawn in a drawing process on its way between the nonwoven producing means and the fleece laying machine cyclically in adaptation to laying movements of the fleece laying machine, wherein before or after the drawing process or before and after the drawing process a buffering of the nonwoven web takes place to adapt fluctuations of the nonwoven web speed caused by the drawing process to the supply and intake speeds of the nonwoven producing means and of the fleece laying machine, respectively.
A device according to the invention for manufacturing a fiber fleece from a nonwoven web, which is continuously output by a nonwoven producing means and supplied to a fleece laying machine, provides that the fleece laying machine is driven at a constant nonwoven intake speed, that a controllable drawing equipment is arranged between the nonwoven producing means and the fleece laying machine, through which said drawing equipment the nonwoven web is passed, said drawing equipment being adapted to draw the nonwoven web in the longitudinal direction, and that means are provided which depending on the laying movements of the fleece laying machine act on the drawing equipment in the sense of a cyclic change of the drawing effect exerted onto the nonwoven web, and that buffer storage means are provided, which are arranged between the drawing equipment on the one hand and the fleece laying machine or the nonwoven producing means on the other hand, or between the drawing equipment on the one hand and both of the fleece laying machine and the nonwoven producing means on the other hand.
Thus, the invention provides that a drawing process between the nonwoven production and the passing-on of the nonwoven web to the fleece laying machine is carried out at a defined location in the transport path of the nonwoven web, in practical application in a separate drawing equipment, which does not only lead to the generation of thick and thin portions in the nonwoven web at predetermined repeatings, but which also enables both units contiguous to the drawing equipment to run at constant speeds. In this case the speed modulation that the cyclically operating drawing equipment generates in the nonwoven web is buffered by buffer or temporary storage means with respect to the units disposed upstream and downstream of said drawing equipment.
When in the drawing equipment the intake-sided roller of the drawing equipment rotates at constant speed corresponding to the constant output speed of the nonwoven producing means and the cyclic drawing is generated by cyclic acceleration and delay of the rotational speed of the outlet-sided roller of the drawing equipment, a buffer storing on the outlet side of the drawing equipment is provided which cyclically accommodates a partial section of variable length of the nonwoven web. If on the other hand the outlet-sided roller of the drawing equipment is driven at constant speed according to the constant nonwoven intake speed of the fleece laying machine and if the drawing process is carried out by cyclic braking and re-accelerating the inlet-sided roller of the drawing equipment, a buffer storing between the nonwoven producing means and the drawing equipment is provided. A combination of both is also possible.
According to an alternative embodiment, the use of a buffer storage can be dispensed with, if the units contiguous to the drawing equipment are driven at the same speeds as the adjoining rollers of the drawing equipment. This requires a corresponding modulation of the output speed of the carding machine or of the intake speed of the fleece laying machine.
According to a further alternative of the invention a buffer storage is provided between the drawing equipment and the fleece laying machine, and the fleece laying machine operates at a nonwoven intake speed that depends on the laying movements of its laying carriage. The aim of such a measure shall briefly be discussed here.
The laying carriage of a fleece laying machine carries out a reciprocating movement extending transversely to the laying belt on which the fleece web is produced by cross-lapped depositing the nonwoven. The reversal of movement at the end of each movement stroke is not carried out suddenly but during controlled braking and acceleration phases. If the nonwoven web is supplied at constant speed, thickenings in the deposited fleece web result due to these braking and acceleration phases exactly where the fleece web is actually to be thinner. Thus, known fleece laying machines are constructed in a manner that the laying carriage has a variable nonwoven transport speed, which requires the use of a buffer storage to synchronize the regular nonwoven intake speed of the supply belt of the fleece laying machine with the variable nonwoven transport speed of its laying carriage.
If the nonwoven intake speed of the supply belt is adapted to the nonwoven transport speed of the laying carriage, a buffer storage in the fleece laying machine can be renounced. The required buffer storing is performed according to this embodiment of the invention by the buffer storage provided between the drawing equipment and the fleece laying machine, said buffer storage being required for the compensation of the cyclically variable output speed of the drawing equipment anyway. If the buffer storage operates by using a movable storage roller or a reciprocating, continuously rotating nonwoven storage belt, the movement drive thereof must be controlled in accordance with the demands of the fleece laying machine and those of the drawing equipment.
The drawing equipment may be a multi-stage drawing equipment, wherein buffer storages may be arranged between the individual stages, said buffer storages allowing a relaxation of the nonwoven fibers that is advantageous in certain applications.
It is further advantageous if the working result is measured, and a feedback control of the drawing equipment is carried out on the basis thereof. For this purpose is the fleece web thickness detected transversely to the longitudinal extension of the fleece web, e.g. by the aid of radiometric, acoustic, optical or mechanical measuring means, and the output signals of these measuring means are used for affecting the drawing extent and the length of the drawing zones within the nonwoven web.
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to an embodiment schematically shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing similar to FIG. 1 with a modified drawing equipment,
FIG. 3 a is a schematic drawing similar to FIG. 2 with a modified drawing equipment,
FIG. 3 b is a schematic drawing similar to FIG. 3 a with a modified drawing equipment, and
FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing similar to FIG. 1 with an alternative embodiment of a buffers storage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
On the left side the drawings show the swift 1 of a carding machine, from which upper and lower transfer belts 2 a and 2 b extend to a drawing equipment 3 consisting of two disk rollers, to which said drawing equipment 3 a first intermediate belt 10 of a nonwoven storage 4 is connected downstream, which leads to the supply belt of a fleece laying machine 5 . The drive means (motors) of carding machine swift, pick-up, outlet, drawing equipment, nonwoven storage and fleece laying machine are not shown for reasons of clarity.
The use of two transfer belts 2 a and 2 b is justified by the fact that the carding machine swift 1 has two pick-ups, namely an upper pick-up 6 a with an outlet 7 a and a lower pick-up 6 b with an outlet 7 b . Thus, two nonwoven webs are output by the carding machine, said nonwoven webs being doubled before the drawing process. The pick-ups and the outlets are conventional and do not have to be explained any further.
A particularity is the drawing equipment 3 for the double-layered nonwoven web supplied thereto. The drawing equipment 3 consists of a pair of disk rollers 8 a and 8 b each consisting of a plurality of matching parallel disks, wherein the axes 9 a and 9 b of the disc rollers 8 a and 8 b have a distance to each other that is smaller than the sum of radii of the disks. The disks of the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b are adjusted “to a gap”, i.e. the disks of the one disk roller engage into the disk spaces of the other disk roller so that the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b penetrate each other. This measure allows to make the drawing zone short.
The mutual axis distance of the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b is preferably adjustable to adapt the length of the drawing zone to the properties of the nonwoven material actually processed, in particular the staple length of the nonwoven fibers.
Moreover, the drawing equipment 3 comprises supports opposing the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b, said supports being formed in the example of FIG. 1 by the lower transfer belt 2 b and the first intermediate belt 10 of the nonwoven storage 4 . Both belts may have an anti-slip surface so that there is sufficient friction between the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b and the supports formed by the belts 10 and 2 b so that the nonwoven between the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b can be drawn longitudinally due to the difference between the circumferential speeds of the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b.
Furthermore, disk rollers and perforated rollers as well as travelling belts can be used as support for the nonwoven web in the area of the drawing rollers.
The use of disk rollers in the drawing equipment gives the drawing equipment special advantages. On the one hand is the nonwoven between the disk rollers and the support compressed. For this purpose it is required that the air contained in the nonwoven may escape from the nonwoven. The gaps between the disks of the disk rollers enable the basically unhindered escape of air from the nonwoven web. This escape may also be enhanced if the lower transfer belt 2 a and possibly the intermediate belt 10 are formed as perforated belts. On the other hand, even if the disks have a relatively large disk diameter, drawing zone lengths may be attained which are smaller than the disk diameter.
As an alternative, perforated rollers may be used instead of disk rollers. However, disk rollers are the preferred rollers, since they have further advantages, namely the above-mentioned advantage that the distance between the clamping lines, formed by a disk roller and the opposing support, can be reduced as far as possible. This distance between the clamping line determines the length of the drawing zone, which in turn shall be chosen in accordance with the fiber length in the nonwoven and the fiber orientation. Thus, the distance between the axes of the two disk rollers 8 a and 8 b is also preferably adjustable.
If the drawing zone is to be very short, rollers of a correspondingly smaller diameter must be chosen so that the distance between the above-mentioned clamping lines becomes small. In this case, it may become necessary for stability reasons to support the rollers at several portions of their longitudinal extension at the side opposite to the drawing rollers.
If the support is a perforated belt, which is guided in the area of the associated drawing roller around a reversing roller, it may become necessary to support the reversing roller on its side opposite the drawing roller at a plurality of portions of its longitudinal extension to prevent a bending.
FIG. 2 shows a structure in which every support is formed by an endless perforated belt 14 , which runs over a support structure 15 , which in the area of the associated drawing roller 8 a and 8 b, respectively, has a reversing surface of a small radius of curvature. This support structure 15 consists at least in the area of the support surface facing the drawing roller of a plurality of ribs arranged adjacently in parallel, which form gaps between them, or it comprises a perforation ventilated towards the outside, into which air pressed out of the nonwoven when entering the gap between the drawing roller and the support can escape through the perforated web. Due to the small radii of curvature of the support structure 15 and the small diameters of the drawing rollers 8 a, 8 b, a very short drawing zone results which is suitable for the processing of fiber nonwovens having a short staple length of the fibers contained in the nonwoven. It is clear that corresponding supply and discharge belts for the nonwoven web are arranged in upstream and downstream of the supports.
An alternative for this shows FIG. 3 a , according to which the nonwoven transport belt 2 b and the intermediate belt 10 in the area of the drawing rollers 8 b and 8 a , shown with a relatively small diameter in this case, are guided over reversing edges 16 of a small radius of curvature, comparable to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 . The support structure 15 for the reversing edges is comparable to that of FIG. 2 and preferably also comprises means for ventilating the nonwoven web. Due to the required support of these reversing edges, said belts must go a certain way round. In this solution, the separate perforated belts according to FIG. 2, which are running in the area of the drawing rollers only, are superfluous, and the additional gaps are also not required which must be bridged by the nonwoven web on its path in the area of the drawing equipment. The belts 2 b and 10 are air-pervious, e.g. perforated belts, in order to enhance the escape of air out of the nonwoven web when compressing the nonwoven web. Both belts may be subjected to a vacuum pressure from their reverse side to support the mechanical compression of the nonwoven web, which is effected by the clamping device (not shown) especially installed for this purpose and in any case positively by the drawing equipment.
Advantageously is the distance between the disk rollers 8 a and 8 b and the opposing supports adjustable to adapt the heights of the gaps formed by them to the thickness of the nonwoven web.
A nonwoven temporary storage 4 is connected to the drawing equipment, said nonwoven temporary storage consisting of the already mentioned intermediate belt 10 on the downstream side of the drawing equipment 3 , a nonwoven storage roller 11 and a second intermediate belt 12 . The nonwoven storage roller 11 is encompassed by the nonwoven web. It supplies the nonwoven web to the lower side of a second intermediate belt 12 to which it is sucked on by a vacuum pressure effective from above and is thereby held. From the second intermediate belt 12 the nonwoven web reaches a supply or intake belt 13 of the fleece laying machine.
Within the nonwoven temporary storage 4 , the nonwoven storage roller 11 is movable along the first intermediate belt 10 and the second intermediate belt 12 . The length of the path that the nonwoven web must take between the outlet of the drawing equipment 3 and the inlet of the supply belt 13 , is therefore variable by adjusting the nonwoven storage roller 11 along the intermediate belts 10 and 12 . The variable buffer storage of the drawn nonwoven web is necessary to accommodate the nonwoven web at cycle times in which the outlet-sided disk roller 8 a of the drawing equipment 3 runs faster than in the remaining times and to prevent upsetting of the nonwoven web in front of the supply belt 13 of the fleece laying machine 5 .
As an alternative shown in FIG. 3B, the nonwoven storage 4 can be arranged at the inlet side of the drawing equipment 3 , namely when the drawing process is performed at a constant speed of rotation of the outlet-sided disk roller 8 a of the drawing equipment by cyclic braking of the inlet-sided disk roller 8 b. In this case an upsetting of the nonwoven web discharged by the carding machine swift 1 in front of the drawing equipment is prevented.
During operation of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 of the device according to the invention, the double-layered nonwoven web supplied by the carding machine swift 1 runs through the drawing equipment. When reaching the drawing equipment 3 , the air contained in the nonwoven web is substantially pressed out by compressing the nonwoven web, wherein it escapes into the gaps between the disks of the drawing rollers and possibly through the support. From the drawing equipment 3 , the nonwoven web reaches the intermediate belt 10 of the nonwoven storage 4 , it encompasses the nonwoven storage roller 11 and is sucked on to the section of the lower drum of the second intermediate belt 12 arranged right of the nonwoven storage roller 11 , said intermediate belt 12 running in anti-clockwise direction at constant speed. The upper section of the second intermediate belt 12 supplies the nonwoven web to the intake belt 13 of the fleece laying machine 5 .
Depending on the movements of the laying carriage (not shown) of the fleece laying machine 5 controlled by a control means (not shown), the outlet-sided drawing roller 8 a of the drawing equipment and the first intermediate belt 10 are cyclically accelerated to a higher speed than the constant circumferential speed of the inlet-sided drawing roller 8 b , and are subsequently braked to the original speed. Simultaneously with this acceleration does the nonwoven storage roller 11 perform a movement to the left to bring the increased speed by which the nonwoven web is transported by the first intermediate belt 10 , to the constant running speed of the second intermediate belt 12 . In other words, an upsetting of the nonwoven web is prevented. If subsequently the drawing roller 8 a and the first intermediate belt 10 are being braked again, the nonwoven storage roller 11 will move to the right again to prevent a drawing of the nonwoven web.
The adaptation of the cyclic acceleration of the drawing roller 8 a and of the first intermediate belt 10 to the laying movement of the fleece laying machine, takes the length of the travelling path of the nonwoven web between the drawing equipment 3 and the outlet portion of the fleece laying apparatus into consideration and is arranged in a manner that thin portions in the nonwoven web generated by the drawing equipment are deposited in the edge portion of the cross-lapped fleece web formed from the nonwoven web.
The speed at which the nonwoven web is received by the fleece laying machine 5 is constant, but due to the drawing of the nonwoven web, it is higher than the constant speed at which the nonwoven web enters the drawing equipment 3 .
If a drawing of the nonwoven on the whole is desired, the circumferential basic speed of the outlet-sided drawing roller, from which the acceleration of the drawing roller takes place, can be set higher than the circumferential speed of the inlet-sided drawing roller.
At this point it must be emphasized that a compressing means may be arranged up-stream of the drawing equipment 3 , said means mechanically compressing the nonwoven web, to press out the air contained therein. This is especially advantageous when the nonwoven web is voluminous and the ventilation effect in the drawing equipment is therefore possibly insufficient.
According to the drawings, the nonwoven web that is supplied to the drawing equipment, consists of two layers that were doubled. As an alternative, it is possible to pass one of the layers only through the cyclically operating drawing equipment, while the other layer is passed by this drawing equipment. However, it is necessary to constantly draw this other layer to a mean extent by which the first mentioned layer is drawn in the cyclically operating drawing equipment, since the speeds of both layers must be adapted to one another before the two layers are superimposed by the fleece laying machine.
The embodiment of the device according to FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 by the construction of the nonwoven temporary storage 4 . If the embodiment according to FIG. 1 requires a second intermediate belt 12 at which the nonwoven web is held by the effect of vacuum pressure, such vacuum pressure means can be renounced in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 . Instead, both intermediate belts 10 and 12 each comprise a vertically guided section, and between those sections, an endlessly rotating storage belt 11 a extends as a substitute of the storage roller 11 of FIG. 1, said belt being able to be adjusted in parallel to the vertical sections of the intermediate belts 10 and 12 to be able to store different lengths of the nonwoven web in the nonwoven storage. This storage belt 11 a keeps the nonwoven web in engagement at both intermediate belts 10 and 12 . The adjustment of the storage belt 11 a is subject to the same laws that apply for the storage roller of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 . An explanation in this respect can be renounced in order to avoid repetitions.
While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.
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In the manufacture of a fiber fleece with a nonwoven producing means and a fleece laying machine, which produces from a single or multi-layered nonwoven web contionuously discharged by the nonwoven producing means a fleece web having a thickness variable across the laying width, the nonwoven web is cyclically drawn on the way between the nonwoven producing means and the fleece laying machine at a fixedly determined location, said drawing depending on the laying movements of the fleece laying machine to form a fleece web of a regular cross sectional profile. Between a separate drawing equipment performing the drawing process and the inlet into the fleece laying machine, the nonwoven web may run through a separate, variable buffer storage, which adapts the speed fluctuations of the nonwoven web on the outlet side of the drawing equipment to the intake speed of the fleece laying machine. The fleece laying machine can be formed without its own buffer storage, since the separate buffer storage may also compensate the transport speed fluctuations of the nonwoven web required by the laying movements.
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PRIORITY
This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/611,103, filed in the US Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 30, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,573,900, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to an application entitled “Apparatus and Method for Transmitting Data Using Transmit Antenna Diversity in a Packet Service Communication System” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 29, 2002 and assigned Serial No. 2002-37697, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a packet service communication system, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for transmitting data using transmit antenna diversity in a packet service communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a packet service communication system is designed to transmit a large volume of burst packet data to a plurality of user equipments (UEs). In particular, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) was proposed as a packet service communication system suitable for transmission of a large volume of data at a high rate.
HSDPA is a generic term referring to devices, systems and methods using a HS-DSCH (High Speed-Downlink Shared CHannel) for supporting downlink packet data transmission at a high rate and its related control channels in a W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access System). For simplicity, HSDPA, which was proposed by the 3GPP (3 rd Generation Partnership Project) and adopted as the standard for 3 rd generation asynchronous mobile communication systems, will be described by way of example. It is to be appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to any other system implementing transmit antenna diversity through two or more transmit antennas.
Three techniques have been introduced into the HSDPA communication system to support high-speed packet data transmission: AMC (Adaptive Modulation and Coding), HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request), and FCS (Fast Cell Select). These techniques are described hereinbelow:
The AMC technique provides a modulation scheme and a coding method, which are selected for a data channel according to the channel condition between a Node B and a UE, to thereby increase the use efficiency of the entire cell. Modulation schemes and codings are used in combination. Each modulation and coding combination is termed an MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme). MCSs can be labeled with level 1 to level N. A data channel signal is modulated and encoded by an MCS adaptively chosen according to the channel condition between the UE and its communicating Node B. Thus, the system efficiency of the Node B is increased.
In accordance with a typical ARQ (Automatic Retransmission Request), ACK (Acknowledgement) signals and retransmission packet data are exchanged between a UE and an RNC (Radio Network Controller). Meanwhile, the HARQ scheme, especially an N-channel SAW HARQ (N-channel Stop And Wait HARQ), adopts the following two novel procedures to increase ARQ transmission efficiency. One is to exchange a retransmission request and its related response between a UE and a Node B, and the other is to temporarily store bad data and combine the stored data with a retransmission version of the data. In the HSDPA communication system, ACK signals and retransmission packet data are exchanged between the UE and the MAC (Medium Access Control) HS-DSCH of the Node B, and the N-channel SAW HARQ establishes N logical channels and transmits a plurality of packets without receiving an ACK signal for a previous transmitted packet. As compared to the N-channel SAW HARQ technique, the SAW ARQ technique requires reception of an ACK signal for a previous transmitted packet data to transmit the next packet data. Thus the ACK signal must be awaited for the previous packet despite the capability of transmitting the current packet data. On the contrary, the N-channel SAW HARQ allows transmission of successive packets without receiving the ACK signal for the previous packet data, resulting in the increase of the channel use efficiency. That is, N logical channels, which can be identified by their assigned times or channel numbers, are established between the UE and the Node B, so that the UE can decide the channel that has delivered a received packet and take an appropriate measure such as rearrangement of packets in the right order or soft combining of corresponding packet data.
In the FCS technique, when a UE supporting HSDPA is positioned in a soft handover region, it fast selects a cell in a good channel condition. Specifically, if the UE enters a soft handover region between a first Node B and a second Node B, it establishes radio links with a plurality of Node Bs. A set of Node Bs with which the radio links are established are called an active set. The UE receives HSDPA packet data only from the cell in the best channel condition, thus reducing the whole interference. The UE also monitors channels from the active Node Bs periodically. In the presence of a cell better than the current best cell, the UE transmits a best cell indicator (BCI) to all the active Node Bs to substitute the new best cell for the old best cell. The BCI includes the ID of the new best cell. The active Node Bs check the cell ID included in the received BCI and only the new best cell transmits packet data to the UE on the HS-DSCH.
As described above, many novel techniques have been proposed in order to increase data rate in the HSDPA communication system. The data rate increase is a dominant factor determining performance in 1×EV-DO (Evolution-Data Only) and 1×EV-DV (Evolution-Data and Voice) as well as HSDPA. Aside from AMC, HARQ, and FCS, a multiple antenna scheme is used as a way to increase data rate. Since the multiple antenna scheme is performed in the space domain, it overcomes the problem of limited bandwidth resources in the frequency domain. The multiple antenna scheme is realized usually by nulling, which will be described in detail later.
Before undertaking the description of the multiple antenna scheme, multi-user diversity scheduling will first be described. A packet service communication system such as HSDPA decides the states of a plurality of user channels requesting packet service based on their feedback information and transmits packet data oil a user channel having the best channel quality. The resulting SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) gain increase effects diversity. A diversity order representing a diversity gain corresponds to the number of users requesting packet service at the same time.
Under a radio channel environment, a mobile communication system suffers signal distortion because of various factors such as multi-path interference, shadowing, propagation attenuation, time-varying noise, and interference. Fading caused by multi-path interference is closely associated with the mobility of a reflective object or a user, that is, the mobility of a UE. The fading results in mixed reception of an actual transmission signal and an interference signal. The received signal is eventually a transmission signal involving serious distortion, which degrades the entire mobile communication system performance. Fading is a serious obstacle to high-speed data communication in a radio channel environment in that the fading incurs distortion in the amplitude and phase of a received signal. In this context, transmit antenna diversity, which is a type of multiple antenna scheme, has emerged as an effective way to combat fading.
Transmit antenna diversity seeks to minimize fading-caused data loss and thus increase data rate by transmitting a signal through at least two antennas.
Transmit antenna diversity is classified into time diversity, frequency diversity, multi-path diversity, and space diversity.
Space diversity is used for a channel having a small delay spread, for example, an indoor channel and a pedestrian channel being a slow fading Doppler channel. The space diversity scheme achieves diversity gain by use of two or more antennas. If a signal transmitted through one antenna is attenuated by fading, diversity gain is obtained by receiving signals transmitted through the other antennas. Space diversity is further branched into receive antenna diversity using a plurality of receive antennas and transmit antenna diversity using a plurality of transmit antennas.
Frequency diversity achieves diversity gain from signals transmitted with different frequencies and propagated in different paths. In this multi-path diversity scheme, the multi-path signals have different fading characteristics. Therefore, diversity is obtained by separating the multi-path signals from each other.
The transmit antenna diversity scheme is implemented in a closed loop or an open loop. The closed loop transmit antenna diversity differs from the open loop one in that a UE feeds back downlink channel information to a Node B in the former, while the feedback information is not required in the latter. For the feedback, the Node B transmits a different pilot signal through each transmit antenna. The UE measures the phase and power of the received pilot channel for each transmit antenna and selects an optimum weight based on the phase and power measurements.
The mobile communication system must overcome fading that seriously influences communication performance in order to carry out high-speed data transmission reliably. This is because fading reduces the amplitude of a received signal by several decibels to tens of decibels. Hence, the above-described diversity schemes are adopted to combat fading. For example, a CDMA communication system uses a rake receiver for implementing diversity reception based on the delay spread of a channel. Besides the above-described methods, the data rate can be increased by carrying out coherent transmission utilizing the characteristics of a space channel. Thus, SNR increases in proportion to the number of antennas.
Meanwhile, antenna beamforming increases limited system transmission capacity in the packet service communication system. The antenna beamforming is signal transmission from a plurality of directional antennas. To prevent a signal transmitted through one antenna from interfering with a signal transmitted through another antenna, nulling is used. The nulling technique can increase the volume of transmitted packet data only if antenna beamforming is performed with antennas spaced by a predetermined gap. It is not feasible when the gap between antennas is rather wide. The antennas are spaced by a relatively short distance
λ 2
for antenna beamforming, whereas they are spaced by a relatively long distance 10λ for transmit antenna diversity. Since there are no correlations between antennas in terms of antenna distance, it is impossible to apply nulling for the transmit antenna diversity.
As described above, beamforming is a technique using nulling based on correlations between antennas spaced by a relatively short distance, for example.
λ 2 .
The nulling technique makes antenna weights w 1 H h 2 =0 and w 2 H h 1 =1 so that a first UE receives only its signal r 1 , not data d 2 for a second UE and the second UE also receives only its data d 2 , not the signal r 1 for the first UE. Here, w 1 is a weight for the first UE and w 2 is a weight for the second UE. h 1 is a channel delivering the signal r 1 and h 2 is a channel delivering the signal r 2 . The mathematical expression of nulling is presented in Equation 1 as follows.
W
Mode
-
1
H
W
=
[
2
1
+
j
0
1
-
j
1
-
j
2
1
+
j
0
0
1
-
j
2
1
+
j
1
+
j
0
1
-
j
2
]
(
1
)
If a channel condition is set in the manner that always generates weights satisfying the above condition, co-channel interference is completely eliminated and thus system capacity is in fact doubled. Nulling is always possible theoretically if the number of UEs to be nulled, including a desired UE, is less than that of the number of antennas by one. However, this ideal situation is possible only when the antennas are fully correlated and differ from each other only in phase. Therefore, the beamforming nulling technique is very difficult to realize in a radio channel environment for mobile communication.
As compared to beamforming, there are little correlations between antennas spaced by a relatively long distance, for example, 10λ in the multiple antenna system. Hence, the nulling technique is not applicable, especially in the CDMA mobile communication system, because the number of antennas exceeds that of UEs being serviced at the same time, and thus exceeds the number of degrees of freedom to set specific signal processing weight values for nulling (i.e., number of antennas−1).
To realize transmit antenna diversity, a transmit antenna array (TxAA) is used. A TxAA is operated in a First TxAA mode (TxAA mode 1) or a second TxAA mode (TxAA mode 2). In TxAA mode 1, UEs calculate weights w 1 and w 2 maximizing signal reception power using pilot signals received from a Node B. The UEs then deliver the weights w 1 and w 2 to the Node B on a particular channel, for example, in an FBI (FeedBack Information) field of a DPCCH (Dedicated Physical Control Channel). Four weights 00, 01, 10 and 11 are available to the UEs in TxAA mode 1. As compared to TxAA mode 1, all power information including phase and amplitude is controlled in TxAA mode 2. While TxAA mode 1 addresses only phase, TxAA mode 2 additionally controls amplitude. A total of 16 weights are defined which represent phases and amplitudes separately.
A weight w is related to a transmit antenna array channel h, as w=h (w and h are vectors). An FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) mobile communication system requires a UE to feedback transmission channel information to a Node B so that the Node B is informed of a transmission channel because the characteristics of a transmission channel and a reception channel are different. To do so, the UE computes a weight and feeds the weight information back to the Node B in the channel h in TxAA mode 1 or TxAA mode 2. In TxAA mode 1, only a phase component is quantized in two bits in the weight information w=[1w 1 1exp(jθ1), 1w 2 1exp(jθ2)], and fed back to the Node B. Therefore, the phase accuracy is π/2 and the quantization error is up to π/4. To increase the efficiency of the feedback, one of the two bits is refined by updating it each time. For example, 2-bit combinations {b(2k), b(2k−1)} and {b(2k), b(2k+1)} are available. Here, b is a bit feedback on a slot basis each time. In TxAA mode 2, the components of the weight information, both phase and amplitude, are fed back. The phase is 3 bits and the amplitude is 1 bit. Hence, the phase accuracy is π/4 and the quantization error is up to π/8. To increase the efficiency of the feedback, one of the four bits is refined by updating it each time in a progressive refinement mode. While each bit is an orthogonal basis in a refinement mode, there is no such regulation in the progressive refinement mode.
In view of the nature of the HSDPA communication system, packet data is transmitted on a predetermined unit basis, for example in frames, to a UE in the best channel condition. Channel quality information is received from a plurality of UEs requesting HSDPA service and their channel conditions are decided based on the channel quality information. The UE in the best channel condition is selected and packet data is delivered only to the selected UE at a corresponding point in time. Therefore, even if system transmission resources are available to more UEs, only the selected UE receives the HSDPA service. As a result, the efficiency of the transmission resources is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for transmitting data using transmit antenna diversity in a packet service communication system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for implementing transmit antenna diversity, which maximizes transmission capacity in a packet service communication system.
The above objects are achieved by an apparatus and method for transmitting packet data through at least two transmit antennas in a packet data communication system using transmit antenna diversity. In the packet data transmitting apparatus, a feedback information interpreter interprets feedback information including, CQIs (Channel Quality Indicators) and antenna weights received from a plurality of UEs requesting a packet data service. A weight generator classifies the antenna weights and selects UEs having orthogonal weights. A transmitter applies the selected weights to packet data destined for the selected UEs and transmits the packet data to the selected UEs simultaneously.
In the packet transmitting method, feedback information including CQIs and antenna weights received from a plurality of UEs requesting a packet data service are interpreted. The antenna weights are classified into weight groups and orthogonal weights are selected as weights to be applied to the transmit antennas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a packet communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating data transmission in a transmit antenna diversity scheme in a packet communication system according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart illustrating the operation of a Node B according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the Node B according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart illustrating the operation of a weight generator 130 illustrated in FIG. 4 ;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a weight generator 130 illustrated in FIG. 4 ;
FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart illustrating the operation of the Node B according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the Node B according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a packet communication system to Which the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , a Node B 10 supports a packet service, for example, HSDPA for high-speed data transmission. First to Xth UEs 20 to 24 are wirelessly connected to the Node B 10, for receiving the packet service. The Node B 10 employs transmit antenna diversity, particularly TxAA. Hence, it transmits data through two or more transmit antennas. TxAA operation nodes are classified into TxAA mode 1 and TxAA mode 2. The Node B transmits a pilot signal to the UEs 20 to 24 . Each UE detects downlink channel characteristics from the received pilot signal and decides weight & CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) information based on the downlink channel characteristics. Here, the CQI information is determined in consideration of a weight for a corresponding TxAA mode. The UE then transmits the weight & CQI information to the Node B 10 on a particular channel, for example, in an FBI field of a DPCCH.
In the context of transmit antenna diversity in TxAA mode 1, the present invention will be described. Data transmission using transmit antenna diversity in the manner that maximizes transmission capacity will be described with reference to FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating data transmission in a transmit diversity scheme in a packet communication system according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2 , a plurality of UEs receive pilot channel signals from a Node B and detect the characteristics of downlink channels, that is, TxAA mode 1 channels from the received pilot channel signals in step 30 . Channel characteristics detection is known to those skilled in the art and thus its description is not provided here. Each of the UEs decides weight & CQI information based on the TxAA mode 1 channel characteristics and transmits the weight & CQI information to the Node B in the FBI field of the DPCCH.
In step 32 , the Node B detects weights and CQIs from the feedback information of each UE and classifies the weights w. Since four weights are available in TxAA mode 1, the Node B groups the received weights correspondingly. The Node B then detects a maximum CQI for each weight group and sums each of CQI pairs corresponding to orthogonal weight pairs. The Node B transmits the addition of data and a pilot channel signal to UEs having CQIs that form the greatest sum in step 32 .
To describe the above in more detail, the first to Xth UEs 20 to 24 operate in the same manner and the Node B 10 is equipped with at least two transmit antennas. The Node B 10 detects weights and CQIs from feedback information received from the UEs 20 to 24 . It processes HS-DSCH signals in space diversity according to selected weights. The Node B 10 then transmits the sums of the HS-DSCH signals and pilot channel signals to UEs. A pilot signal Pi(k) (1≦i≦B, where B is the number of transmit antennas, 2 or greater) can be a CPICH (Common Pilot Channel) signal, a dedicated pilot signal on a DPCCH, or a S-CPICH (Secondary-CPICH) signal. In other words, any channel is available as far as it includes a parameter by which downlink channel characteristics and weights are decided.
Considering the downlink channel characteristics of the respective transmit antennas (hereinafter, referred to as first channel characteristics H, where H is a matrix), the UEs 20 to 24 determine weights and CQIs. The first channel characteristics H represent the phases and amplitudes of a channel signal received at a UE. The columns of the first channel characteristics H matrix denote transient antenna channels and the rows thereof denote a sequential arrangement of delayed signals. That is, the column components are obtained in the spatial domain associated with the transmit antennas, and the row components, in the time domain. The UEs 20 to 24 then transmit the weights and CQIs to the Node B 10 in the FBI field of the DPCCH.
Embodiment 1
In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, a Node B selects orthogonal weights corresponding to maximum CQIs from feedback information received from a plurality of UEs and transmits data to UEs having the selected weights.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the Node B and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the Node B according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 4 , the Node B 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is comprised of AMC units 100 and 102 for applying AMC, gain multipliers 104 and 106 ; spreaders 108 and 110 , weight multipliers 112 , 114 , 116 and 118 , pilot summers 120 and 122 , antennas 124 and 126 , a feedback information interpreter 128 , and a weight generator 130 . The antennas 124 and 126 receive feedback information from the first to Xth UEs 20 to 24 on DPCCHs and transmit spatially processed HS-DSCH signals and CPICH signals to the UEs 20 to 24 .
Referring to FIG. 3 , the feedback information interpreter 128 interprets weight & CQI information from the feedback information received through the antennas 124 and 126 in step 60 . The weight generator 130 selects optimum weights and gains according to the interpreted weight & CQI information and outputs the weights to the weight multipliers 112 to 118 and the gains to the gain multipliers 104 and 106 in step 62 . The remaining steps of FIG. 3 will be described below.
FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart illustrating the operation of the weight generator 130 . Referring to FIG. 5 , the weight generator 130 classifies CQIs according to the type of weight information (step 140 ), selects a maximum CQI for each weight group) (step 142 ), sums each CQI pair corresponding to an orthogonal weight pair (step 144 ), and selects the highest CQI sum (step 146 ).
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the weight generator 130 illustrated in FIG. 4 . Referring to FIG. 6 , the weight generator 130 includes a classifier 150 , maximum value selectors 152 , 154 , 156 and 158 , summers 160 and 162 , and a maximum value selector 164 .
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the classifier 150 groups weights in step 140 . Four (4) types of weights are defined (w□[1, exp(jθ)], θ=nπ/4, n=1, 3, . . . , 7) in TxAA mode 1, and 16 types of weights are defined (wε[a, √{square root over (1−a 2 )} exp(jθ)], θ=nπ/8, n=1, 3, . . . , 7, a=0.2, 0.8) in TxAA mode 2.
The maximum value selectors 152 to 158 select a maximum CQI for each weight group in step 142 . The maximum CQIs from the maximum value selectors 152 and 156 for
θ = π 4 and θ = - 3 π 4 ,
respectively are applied to the summer 160 , while maximum CQIs from the maximum value selectors 154 and 158 for
θ = 3 π 4 and θ = - π 4 ,
respectively are applied to the summer 162 . The reason for feeding the CQIs to the different summers 160 and 162 is that the weights corresponding to a CQI pair fed to the same summer are orthogonal.
The summers 160 and 162 function to sum the transmission capacities of orthogonal channels in TxAA mode 1. This procedure is also applicable to TxAA mode 2 based on the idea of weight orthogonality.
Assuming that a weight set for TxAA mode 1, W mode1 =[w 1 , w 2 , w 3 , w 4 ], w k =[1 exp(j(π/4)(2k−1))] T , orthogonal weight pairs are detected by Eq. (2).
r 1 =( w 1 H d 1 +w 2 H d 2 ) h 1 +n 1 =( w 1 H d 1 +0) h 1 +n 1
r 2 =( w 1 H d 1 +w 2 H d 2 ) h 2 +n 2 =(0+ w 2 H d 2 ) h 1 +n 2 (2)
where elements represented by zeroes are mutually orthogonal and thus the sums of w 1 and w 3 and of w 2 and w 4 are equivalent to the sums of transmission capacities of orthogonal channels, and where n(i) is noise on the “i”th user's receiver signal and d(i) is data transmitted to the “i”th user.
The summers 160 and 162 each sum the received weights in step 144 and the maximum value selector 164 selects the higher of the sums and Outputs CQIs (CQI i , CQI j ) that form the higher sum, and weights (w i , w j ) & indexes (i, j) corresponding to the CQIs in step 146 . The indexes identify UEs which have the selected CQIs and weights and thus will receive the packet service.
Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the AMC units 100 and 102 modulate HS-DSCH signals, HS-DSCH 1 and HS-DSCH 2 in a predetermined AMC in step 50 . The gain multipliers 104 and 106 multiply the modulated signals by their respective gains p 1 and p 2 in step 52 . The spreaders 108 and 110 multiply the outputs of the gain multipliers 104 and 106 by a predetermined scrambling/spreading code and output the spread signals to the weight multipliers 112 & 114 and 116 & 118 , respectively in step 54 .
The weight multipliers 112 to 118 multiply the spread signals by weights w 1 , w 2 , w 3 , and w 4 received from the weight generator 130 in step 56 of FIG. 3 . Specifically, the weight multipliers 112 and 114 multiply the spread signal received from the spreader 108 by the weights w 11 and w 21 , respectively. The outputs of the weight multipliers 112 and 114 are provide to the summers 120 and 122 , respectively. The weight multipliers 116 and 118 multiply the spread signal received from the spreader 110 by the weights w 12 and w 22 , respectively. The outputs of the weight multipliers 116 and 118 are provided to the summers 120 and 122 , respectively.
The summer 120 sums the received signal and a first CPICH signal, CPICH 1 , and the summer 122 sums the received signal and a second CPICH signal, CPICH 2 in step 58 . The summed signals are transmitted through the antennas 124 and 126 , respectively.
Embodiment 2
In accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, the Node B transmits packet data using quasi-orthogonal scrambling codes in the case where orthogonal weights corresponding to maximum CQIs selected from feedback information received from a plurality of UEs are not fully orthogonal.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the Node B and FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the Node B according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The Node B 10 illustrated in FIG. 8 is identical to the Node B 10 depicted in FIG. 4 in configuration. The Node 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is comprised of AMC units 220 and 222 , gain multipliers 224 and 226 , spreaders 228 and 230 , weight multipliers 232 , 234 , 236 and 238 , pilot summers 240 and 242 , antennas 244 and 246 , a feedback information interpreter 248 , and a weight generator 250 .
The feedback information interpreter 248 interprets weight & CQI information from feedback information received through the antennas 244 and 246 in step 210 . The weight generator 250 selects optimum weights and gains according to the interpreted weight & CQI information and outputs the weights to the weight multipliers 232 to 238 and the gains to the gain multipliers 224 and 226 in step 212 .
Step 210 is the same as step 60 of FIG. 3 , and the weight generator 250 illustrated in FIG. 6 operates in the same manner as the counterpart 130 illustrated in FIG. 4 .
Meanwhile, the AMC units 220 and 222 modulate HS-DSCH signals, HS-DSCH 1 and HS-DSCH 2 in a predetermined AMC in step 200 . The gain multipliers 224 and 226 multiply the modulated signals by their respective gains p 1 and p 2 in step 202 . The spreaders 228 and 230 multiply the outputs or the gain multipliers 224 and 226 by predetermined scrambling/spreading sequences and output the spread signals to the weight multipliers 232 to 238 in step 204 . Specifically, the spreaders 228 and 230 multiply the outputs of the gain multipliers 224 and 226 by first and second spreading signals C sp C sc (1) and C sp C sc (2), respectively and output the spread signals to the weight multipliers 232 & 234 and 236 & 238 , respectively.
The first and second spreading signals C sp C sc (1) and C sp C sc (2) include different scrambling codes C sc . Therefore, if full orthogonality is not ensured between two user channels, the users are identified by the scrambling codes. On the other hand, if data transmission relies on only quasi-orthogonality between scrambling codes, not on orthogonality between multi-antenna channels, full orthogonality cannot be achieved. The resulting interference degrades the overall performance. Hence, the simultaneous use of multi-antenna channel orthogonality and the scrambling code quasi-orthogonality compensate for the insufficiency of the channel orthogonality even in the case of a small number of users.
In accordance with the present invention as described above, packet data is transmitted only to UEs having orthogonal channels of good quality according to feedback information about weights and CQIs from UEs, thereby increasing the overall transmission capacity of a mobile communication system. Consequently, nulling is applied to transmit antennas. Thus, packet data transmission is carried out in a manner that minimizes the correlations between the antennas and maximizes transmission capacity.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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An apparatus and method for transmitting packet data through at least two transmit antennas in a packet data communication system using transmit antenna diversity. In the packet transmitting apparatus, a feedback information interpreter interprets feedback information including CQIs and antenna weights received from a plurality of UEs requesting a packet data service. A weight generator classifies the antenna weights and selects UEs having orthogonal weights. A transmitter applies the selected weights to packet data destined for the selected UEs and transmits the packet data to the selected UEs simultaneously.
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This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/044,598, filed Jan. 27, 2005, status issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,466,648 on Dec. 16, 2008.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of messaging and more particularly to dealing with reliable data transfer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a typical messaging system, a source machine sends messages across a network connection to a target machine. Before being sent, each message is first written to a log such that in the event of a failure, recovery is possible. The source, having sent a set of messages, writes a PREPARE record to the log before forwarding a PREPARE command on to the target. The PREPARE command informs the target that it may process the set of messages.
As far as the source is concerned, this set of messages is said to be INDOUBT. These messages are no longer the responsibility of the source—processing has been handed over to the target machine. However, the status of such messages is INDOUBT since the source does not yet know whether the messages have been safely received by the target (indeed a message may not have even actually left the source). A copy of the messages is retained at the source and may not be deleted from the source until acknowledgement of safe receipt of the set of messages is received at the source.
If failure of the source occurs before receipt of such an acknowledgement, the PREPARE log record ensures that the source does not attempt to re-process those messages associated with the PREPARE record without first checking with the target what the last set of messages it received were.
A disadvantage with such a solution is that a PREPARE record must be periodically forced to the log by the source (and also by the target upon receipt of the PREPARE). Writing to the log is expensive in terms of latency whilst the disk revolves. Further, whilst waiting for an acknowledgement of receipt of the PREPARE command, the network connection may not be used for other tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the invention provides a source messaging system comprising: a queue for receiving messages; means for determining whether a message should be permitted to become INDOUBT, wherein the means for determining comprises: means for retrieving a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; means for determining whether the message falls within the range denoted by the value (e.g. between the head of the queue and the maximum number—thus where the value is 4, a message falls within the range if it is one of the first 4 messages on the queue); and means, responsive to determining that the message falls within the range, for permitting the message to become INDOUBT.
INDOUBT in the sense used means that as far as the source is concerned, it is no longer responsible for processing the message. Note, this does not necessarily mean that a message has been received at the target messaging system. Indeed the message may not even have left the source messaging system. However as far as the source messaging system is concerned, the message is in a condition suitable to be sent to the target system.
Preferably it is possible to block transmission of a message from the source to the target (i.e. prevent the message from becoming INDOUBT) until it is determined that the message falls within the range.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment it is possible to receive a value denoting a new maximum number of messages that may be permitted to go INDOUBT at any one time.
Having received the new maximum number, it is preferably possible to determine when the maximum number is less than the old maximum number and means for determining the number of messages on the queue. Responsive to determining that the new maximum value is less than the old maximum value and that the number of messages on the queue is more than the new maximum value, the number of acknowledgements received from a target is counted. Responsive to determining that the number of acknowledgements received is equal or greater than the difference between the old value and the new value, the new value is preferably used to determine the number of messages permitted to become INDOUBT.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment the maximum value can be used when a failure is detected. This could be a failure by the source itself, by the target or even by the network connection connecting the source and the target.
When a failure is detected, the maximum value is preferably used to determine the maximum number of messages that may be INDOUBT. Any message not falling within the range denoted by the maximum value may, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, be processed. Such processing may involve re-routing to another target system. Those messages that are within the range could already have been processed by the original target system. Thus it is preferably possible for the source to negotiate with the target messaging system to determine how many of the assumed to be INDOUBT messages have been received by the target system.
The fact remains however, that messages falling outside the range denoted by the value can preferably be immediately processed (e.g. by re-rerouting the message elsewhere).
Preferably it is possible, responsive to detecting a failure outside of the source (e.g. network connection/target), to determine whether the number of messages on the queue is less than the maximum INDOUBT value and responsive to determining that the number of messages on the queue is less than the maximum INDOUBT value, to reduce the maximum INDOUBT value to the number of messages on the queue.
Preferably, responsive to determining that the failure is restored, it is possible to re-adopt the old maximum INDOUBT value.
According to another aspect, there is provided a method for facilitating data transfer from a source messaging system having a queue, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether a message should be permitted to become INDOUBT, wherein the determining step comprises: retrieving a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; determining whether the message falls within the range denoted by the value; and responsive to determining that the message falls within the range, permitting the message to become INDOUBT.
According to another aspect, there is provided a method for facilitating data transfer from a source messaging system having a queue, the method comprising: determining the number of messages on the queue; comparing the number of messages on the queue with a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; responsive to the number of messages on the queue being less than the value, permitting a message to become INDOUBT.
Preferably responsive to determining that the number of messages on the queue is at least equal to the value, it is possible to block transmission of a message which is not one of the messages denoted by the value.
According to another aspect there is provided a source messaging system comprising: a queue for receiving messages; means for determining the number of messages on the queue; means for comparing the number of messages on the queue with a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; means, responsive to the number of messages on the queue being less than the value, for permitting a message to become INDOUBT.
It will be appreciated that the invention may also be implemented in computer software. Further the software may be stored on a computer readable medium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a messaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows modification of value 70 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 illustrates, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the use of value 70 in recovering from a failure of source 10 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows a messaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Applications (App) 1 , 2 , 3 put messages to an input queue (not shown) at a source 10 . The source then transfers such messages to an output queue 30 .
At the same time as the source 10 places a message on its output queue 30 , a copy of the message is written to long term or durable storage (e-g. disk 60 ) (i.e. logged). Each message is identified by a sequence number (allocated at the source). This sequence number is written into the logged copy of the message as well as into the copy of the message placed on the source's output queue 30 .
Messages on the output queue 30 are sent across a network connection 80 to the input queue 40 of a target 20 . The target 20 can then remove messages from its input queue 40 for processing (once it has stored the messages on a disk in the target; message removal is also preferably logged). Such processing could involve, for example, updating a database using a message.
Note, a copy of each message is retained on the output queue at the source until the source can be sure that the message has been safely received by the target.
As each message (or a set of messages) is received by the target 20 , acknowledgment of safe receipt is sent back to the source 10 . The sequence number (initially allocated at the source) sent with the acknowledgement enables the source 10 to identify the message being acknowledged. An acknowledged message can then be deleted from the output queue 30 of source 10 .
It can be seen however that in the preferred embodiment no PREPARE record is logged, nor is a PREPARE command used to denote a handover from source to target.
It is however preferable for the source to be able to determine that such handover could have occurred and that as a result, certain of the messages on the output queue may be INDOUBT—i.e. the responsibility of the target.
For this reason a Max INDOUBT value 70 is persisted to disk 60 . In this example the value is 3. This value denotes the maximum number of messages that the source will permit to go INDOUBT at any one time.
Messages are typically removed from a queue in first in, first out (FIFO) order. Thus value 70 denotes that the first x messages (where x equals value 70 ) may be INDOUBT. Any remaining messages on the output queue 30 are therefore treated as definitely not INDOUBT. (Note, the messages do not have to be transmitted in order (because each message has a sequence number), but messages other than those in the first x should not be transmitted.)
A message is received at source 10 . This message is placed on output queue 30 . In theory, all messages on output queue 30 are ready to be sent to target 20 and may thus be placed in the INDOUBT status. However, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, value 70 is used to denote the maximum number of messages on the queue that may be placed INDOUBT at any one time.
Thus a comparison is made between the number of messages already on the output queue (i.e. excluding the newly received message) and max INDOUBT value 70 . If the number of messages on the queue is less than max INDOUBT value 70 , then the received message is also permitted to go INDOUBT and will be transmitted.
However, if the number of messages on the queue is not less than value 70 , then the newly received message is not permitted to go INDOUBT and consequently transmission of the message is blocked. Transmission continues to be blocked until the newly received message falls within the range denoted by the maximum INDOUBT value 70 and the head of the queue.
As previously alluded to, a sequence number with an acknowledgement from the target enables the source to determine which of the INDOUBT messages on output queue 40 has been safely received. This message can then be deleted from the output queue at the source. As a result a newly arrived message (if the number of messages already on the queue was before the deletion equal to the max value 70 ) or another message already on the queue (and now as a result of the deletion one of the first x messages) may be permitted to go INDOUBT and be transmitted.
Use of the max INDOUBT value in this way achieves the following advantage:
Definitely not INDOUBT messages may be safely removed by an administrator from those eligible for transmission. Such removed messages can be, for example, be reallocated by a workload manager to a different target system. There is no danger that such messages may have been handed over to the target and therefore there is no possibility of duplicating the messages (i.e. that the message will be seen by more than one target).
It is preferably possible, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for an administrator to set the initial value 70 . Such a value is preferably chosen based on an analysis of a variety of parameters such as the speed of the network connection and the ability of the target 20 to process messages. It is important not to set this value too high. If too many messages are permitted to become INDOUBT at the source at any one time, then the input queue 40 at the target will soon fill up since the target 20 will not be processing (and thus removing) messages quickly enough (i.e. the amount of memory needed by the target to store messages that it wishes to acknowledge will increase). Further at the source there would be fewer definitely not INDOUBT messages which could be removed or reallocated for processing by another system.
It will of course be appreciated that such parameters may change or equally that an initial determination of an appropriate value 70 may be found to be inefficient. Thus, it is preferably possible to modify value 70 by writing a new value to disk 60 .
Note in another embodiment value 70 is not persisted to disk but is hard-coded into the processing of the source messaging system. The disadvantage of this is that in this embodiment an administrator is not given the option of setting/modifying the value 70 .
Modification of value 70 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 . At step 200 , a new value for 70 is received. If it is determined that the new value is greater than the old value (step 210 ), then the old value on disk is overwritten with this new value (step 220 ). Thus it may be determined that the number of assumed to be INDOUBT messages is lower than value 70 and thus that a newly received message may be permitted to-also go INDOUBT. (Of course if there are already more messages on the queue than the old max value, then more of those message(s) will be permitted to go INDOUBT as a result of the increase in max INDOUBT value 70 .)
If it is determined that the current number of assumed to be INDOUBT messages is greater than the new value, then the new value is written to disk without overwriting the old value (step 230 ). (If this is not the case then there is not the danger of assuming that INDOUBT messages are not INDOUBT).
Thus both the new and the old values are preferably maintained on disk. At the time when the new lower value is received, assumed to be all of the messages denoted by the old higher value could be INDOUBT. Thus if the old value of 70 was 5 and a new value of 3 is then received from an administrator, it is possible that all of the first 5 messages on the output queue 30 are already INDOUBT (despite the fact that no more than 3 should now be INDOUBT). Thus it is not possible to immediately achieve the new value 70 .
It is determined from old value 70 how many messages on the queue are assumed to be INDOUBT (whether or not these are actually INDOUBT at the current time, they will go INDOUBT) and as acknowledgements for INDOUBT messages are received from the target system (step 2401 , such messages are deleted from the queue. When sufficient acknowledgements have been received to make the number of INDOUBT messages reduce to the new value, then the old value can be deleted from the disk (i.e. when a number of acknowledgements have been received that is equal or greater than the difference between the old max value and the new max value (step 2501 , the old max value may be deleted from disk) (step 260 ). Henceforth, the new value is used to determine the maximum number of messages that may go INDOUBT at any one time.
Note, if the number of messages actually on the queue is less than or equal to the new maximum value, then the new value can be adopted immediately (this is not shown in FIG. 2 ).
Note, the reason for keeping both the old and the new value on disk concurrently is in case of system failure. If the system fails before the new value is adopted, then a pessimistic view is taken—i.e. the old higher value is used.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the max INDOUBT value may be dynamically changed by the system in the event of the source failing to communicate with the target (e.g. target is down or network failure). The reason to do this would be to minimise the number of messages made INDOUBT to the target and therefore not eligible for re-routing (even though the source cannot send them to the target at the moment).
Via the use of value 70 , it is possible for a messaging system to determine the maximum number of messages on a queue that may be INDOUBT at any one time. By way of example, suppose that value 70 is 4, only a maximum of 4 messages may ever go INDOUBT at any one time. In the process of sending message 3 , the messaging system may suffer a failure at some point (e.g. source, network connection, target). FIG. 3 illustrates, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the use of value 70 in recovering from a failure of source 10 .
At step 300 , source 10 fails. Upon resumption of the source at step 310 a log is used to reconstruct output queue 30 . Once the queue has been reconstructed, source 10 reads value (x) 70 off disk 60 (step 320 ). From value 70 , the source can be sure that at most, the first x messages on output queue 30 are INDOUBT. Thus the source and the target negotiate to determine whether all of the assumed to be INDOUBT messages were received by the target (step 330 ). Note, in order to do this the source may ask target what was the last message received. Based on the answer, the source will either know which messages were received and which messages it is safe to re-process. For example if the last message received had an id of 4 and the INDOUBT messages on the queue have ids of 3, 4 and 5, the source can deduce that message 5 was never received and can therefore be re-processed. Such negotiation will not be described in any more detail since the skilled person will already be familiar with such processing.
Regarding those messages on the queue that were definitely not INDOUBT when the source failed (i.e. those falling outside of value 701 , the source knows immediately that these messages can be processed (step 340 ). There is no need to converse with the target regarding such messages. Thus such messages could for example be sent elsewhere for processing—e-g. if the target system was down at the time of resumption of the source. In the absence of such a solution, it would otherwise be necessary to wait for the target to resume (and for the source and target to negotiate with one another) before it would be possible to process any of the messages on the queue. Otherwise it would be quite possible that some messages would be processed twice.
Whilst FIG. 3 describes the failure of the source, it should be appreciated that the advantages of the present invention (in accordance with a preferred embodiment) are just as applicable to failure of the network connection or the target itself. In all case, the source knows from value 70 that a maximum of x messages may be INDOUBT at any one time and thus that any messages falling outside x can be safely processed.
An optional improvement on the above is that if the source detects a failure to communicate with the target and the current number of assumed to be INDOUBT messages queued is less than the max value, then the max value is reduced to the current number of messages and this value is logged—but does not overwrite the configured max value (e.g. if max value is 5 and 3 messages are currently queued for transmission and a failure is detected the max value is brought down to 3). This prevents subsequent messages 4 and 5 needlessly going INDOUBT to the target. Once communication with the target is recovered the configured value is restored as the max value (that is the reason why the original max value is not overwritten when the updated value is logged.
Note, whilst in the preferred embodiment all messages for the target are put to the output queue 30 (irrespective of whether those messages are INDOUBT or not), this does not have to be the case. For example, in another embodiment only INDOUBT messages are placed on output queue 30 . Other messages are in this case stored at another queue.
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There is disclosed a source messaging system having a queue for receiving messages. The source messaging system has means for determining whether a message should be permitted to become INDOUBT. This is done by retrieving a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; determining whether the message falls within the range denoted by the value; and responsive to determining that the message falls within the range, permitting the message to become INDOUBT.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for determining the pitch of a wellhead and in particular to an underwater wellhead.
2. Prior Art
In cases where wells are drilled underwater and hydrocarbons deposits are discovered, it may be desirable to temporarily abandon the well such that it can later be "tied back" to a producing structure (platform). This allows the exploratory well to be used as an actual producing well; thereby, eliminating the costly redrilling of another well from the producing structure.
When planning and designing for these tieback operations, it is extremely critical to know the misalignment offsets that exists. One of these offsets is the angular misalignment of the wellhead as it exists underwater, near the mudline. This angular misalignment is the inclination of the wellhead as compared to true vertical reference. Not only is the angle of the wellhead (to within a quarter-degree) critical, but equally important is the heading or direction of the deflection. equally important is the heading or direction of the deflection. Often the water depth deters using divers to perform this reading, so it is desirable to obtain this reading using tools which are run from a vessel or structure above the waterline.
Previously there were two means which could be used to give an estimate of this angular misalignment.
a). One method involved measuring the angle found on the 0-5 degree bubble level indicator attached to the guidance and alignment structure (which had been attached to the jetting string). It had to be assumed that this reading would be equivalent to the inclination of the wellhead which was run on the subsequent casing string.
The shortfall of this system is that there is no guarantee that the inclination of an outer string of pipe would be the same as the inclination of an inner string which did not use centralization. Field results have shown that this assumption can misrepresent the wellhead angular offsets by as much as 150%. Another drawback is that the bubble indicator run on the guidance and alignment structure measures from 0 to 5 degrees with increment lines marked only in one degree intervals. This makes taking the reading to within a quarter-degree substantially impossible.
b). The other method involved running a gyroscope multishot survey tool through a flexible drillstring which would land on top of the wellhead. The surveying tool would land in a slotted profile that would allow an inclination measurement of the wellhead to be taken. If properly taken, this angular offset reading would be within the desired precision tolerances and would also give the heading of the offset.
The shortfall of this system is that the effects of wave and current forces acting on the bottom of this flexible drillstring cause fluctuations which prevent the drillstring from having continuous contact with the top of the wellhead. As a result, numerous survey points were needed and an approximate reading had to be determined using statistical analysis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an insert type tool that can be run on drillpipe or carried by a diver in shallow water applications and will set on the top profile of the wellhead. A direct reading of the wellhead can be taken to within an accuracy of 0.2 degrees with the aid of known reading means, such as an underwater remote operated vehicle or underwater camera system, to determine the heading and amount of the angular misalignment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevation of the present invention showing how it is used;
FIG. 2 is a detailed vertical section through the level portion of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base of the level portion;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cover of the level portion; and
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the subject invention in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The subject tool consists of three main components, the level centering insert 10, the level indicator 12 and the support sub 14.
The top of the level centering insert 10 is the level indicator support plate 16 made of a circular steel plate. On the top face of this support plate 16 are four welded insert lift eyes 18,20,22,24. These are four steel plate lips with a single hole bored in each lip for connecting the support cables (not shown) via shackles (also not shown). These lift eyes are positioned on the outer edge of the top surface 34 of the support plate 16 at 90 degree intervals. Also positioned on the support plate are four level indicator clamps 26,28,30,32. These clamps are positioned near the lift eyes and act to attach the level indicator 12 to the support plate 16. Depending from the bottom surface 36 of the support plate are a plurality of steel plate blades 38,40 forming a self-centering alignment means. The blades 38,40 are welded to the support plate 16 such that they form a cross with intersecting axes of 90 degrees. The blades 38,40 are also cut so that they provide a taper of decreasing diameter moving away from the support plate. The function of these blades 38,40 is to help in the stabbing of the insert into the wellhead 42. The actual dimensions of these blades will vary depending on corresponding inner diameter and the type of underwater wellhead to be measured. While a pair of plates have been shown, any arrangement of three or more blades all radiating from the common axis of the tool could likewise be used.
The level indicator 12, see FIGS. 2 to 5, has a base member 44, with an outer lip 46 and a central upwardly directed concave surface 48 having a patterned array of concentric index lines 50 and a cross-hair 52. Each of these lines preferably represents a 0.4 degree increment. A top cover 54, of transparent material such as clear polyurethane, has an outer lip 56 surrounding a central upward semispherical portion 58. A cross-hair 60 is drawn over the centerpoint of the target area inside the level indicator 12. This can also form the axis for concentric index rings 62.
The support sub 14 is attached to the bottom of the drillpipe 64. This sub 14 provides four equally spaced lugs 66,68,70 (only three of which are shown) for receiving the opposite end of the support cables (not shown) connected to the respective insert lift eyes 18,20,22,24. On the bottom of this support sub is a camera housing 72 which provides a means for attaching a downhole camera to the drillpipe.
To use the subject wellhead level insert, the level indicator 12 is attached to the indicator support plate 16 of the level centering insert 10 by the four level indicator clamps 26,28,30,32. A single support cable (not shown) is attached to each insert lift eye 18,20,22,24 with the other end of the cable connected to a respective lug on the support sub 14. A downhole camera 56 is then mounted in the camera housing on the bottom of the support sub 14. The drillpipe 64 is then attached to the top of the support sub 14 and the wellhead level insert 10 is run below the water until it is near the top of the wellhead 42. The assembly is then lowered onto the top of the wellhead whereby the camera is able to observe the inclination measurement as indicated by the bubble or ball 74. In order to assure that the reading is correct, the insert 10 can be picked-up off the top of the wellhead and slightly rotated. After lowering the insert back onto the top of the wellhead, a confirmation reading can be taken. Next a remote operated vehicle can be brought near the wellhead. By referencing a line of projection intersecting two other well slots, along with using the certified platform survey results, the heading of the angular offset can then be determined.
The present invention has been shown and described with a bubble indicator means. It should be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that other similar level indicating means could be used. For example, a conductive ball could be positioned on the concave surface of a base member having a patterned array of conductors embedded therein. Movement of the ball could be detected from the conductors to give the angular offset of the wellhead.
The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes which may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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The angular misalignment of a wellhead is determined by lowering onto the wellhead an assembly having centering means depending from a base plate and level indicator means fixed on top of the plate. The assembly is suspended from the end of a drillstring which carries a level monitoring means.
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CROSS REFERENCES
[0001] Applicant claims foreign priority under Paris Convention and 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0034522, filed Apr. 14, 2011, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, where the entire contents are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn, in which a cellulose-based yarn is treated with a deodorizing solution by a graft polymerization reaction using steam heat in a reactor that is used in a conventional dyeing apparatus, whereby a deodorizing function can be imparted to the yarn without changing the wash durability and touch feeling of the yarn. 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The human olfactory sense is very acute and plays an important role in human life. As the living standard has been improved, the smell of cigarette smoke, the smell of old people or the like which has not been considered a bad small is now recognized as a bad smell.
[0005] The kinds of smells that can be perceived by humans reach about 100,000. According to the current social trend toward cleanliness and etiquette, people who are aware of their own body odor while showing a sensitive response even to a little body odor are increasing.
[0006] Also, as the aging population increases each year, bad smells in the home, the increase in waste caused by the concentration of population to urban areas, and the resulting environmental pollution are also being recognized as objects to be deodorized. Although a variety of bad smells cannot be removed by deodorizing fibers alone, the social recognition of the deodorizing fibers has increased while the marketability of the deodorizing fibers in various fields has increased. In former days, four major offensive odors, including ammonia (NH 3 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), trimethylamine ((CH 3 ) 3 N) and methylmercaptan (CH 3 SH) odors, were objects to be deodorized. Since then, deodorizing fibers against the smell of cigarette smoke were introduced, and in recent years, deodorizing fibers against the smells of humans, including the smell of sweat, have attracted attention.
[0007] There have been a number of attempts to impart a deodorizing function to fibers. Among these attempts, techniques of combining fibers with powdery deodorants, such as zeolite, activated carbon, charcoal, silica gel, active alumina, molecular sieves, and cyclodextrin, have been most frequently suggested. With respect to such techniques of combining fibers with powdery deodorants, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 2-307528 discloses a technique of combining a fiber with a powdery deodorant using a binder, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-176338 discloses a technique of impregnating a powdery deodorant into absorbable resin particles. Also, Korean Patent Registration No. 473613 discloses a technique of incorporating chitosan, modified chitosan, a carboxylic acid polymer and zinc oxide into a binder resin.
[0008] In addition to the powdery deodorants, a number of liquid deodorants such as plant extracts have been suggested. However, when the binder is used to combine a fiber with a deodorant, there are disadvantages in that the touch feeling of the fiber is deteriorated and the deodorant is desorbed after long-term washing so that the deodorizing function of the fiber is deteriorated.
[0009] In recent years, techniques of imparting a deodorizing function to fibers using graft reactions by radiation have been suggested.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a process of treating a fiber with a deodorizing solution by a graft polymerization reaction according to the prior art. As can be seen therein, a fiber base 100 is irradiated with radiation, and the radiation-irradiated fiber is immersed in a deodorizing solution containing a polymerization initiator, and the graft polymerization of the deodorizing solution on the fiber is carried out.
[0011] However, the prior-art process of treating the fiber with the deodorizing solution using radiation is applied to woven fabrics and has not been applied to general cotton yarns.
[0012] In addition, an apparatus of performing the graft polymerization of the deodorizing solution using radiation has a disadvantage in that it is very expensive, making it difficult for petty fiber processing companies to employ the apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn, in which a deodorizing solution is allowed to penetrate into bobbins, wound with a cellulose-based yarn, in a reactor which is used in a conventional dyeing apparatus, and a deodorizing function is imparted to the cellulose-based yarn by a graft polymerization reaction using steam heat.
[0014] To achieve the above object, in one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn, the apparatus comprising: a reactor in which an inlet for introducing a deodorizing solution consisting of a mixture of a deodorizing monomer, a polymerization initiator and water, and an outlet for discharging the deodorizing solution are provided at the lower end of the reactor; a deodorizing solution tank comprising a base placed above the deodorizing solution inlet so as to communicate with the deodorizing solution inlet, and a vertical hollow tube extending vertically from the central portion of the base so as to communicate with the inside of the base; a plurality of spindles placed vertically on the base so as to communicate with the inside of the base, each of the spindles consisting of a tube having a plurality of through-holes formed along the circumstance thereof, in which a plurality of bobbins wound with a cellulose-based yarn are stacked on the spindles; a deodorizing solution-circulating unit serving to circulate the deodorizing solution in the deodorizing solution tank and the reactor; a steam supply unit serving to supply steam to the inside of the reactor so as to subject the cellulose-based yarn to thermal graft polymerization; a compressor connected to the upper portion of the reactor and serving high-pressure air to the inside of the reactor; and a heat-exchange coil placed in the reactor and serving to heat or cool the inside of the reactor.
[0015] The apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a helical guide vane formed on the inner surface of each of the spindles between the through-holes, in which the guide vane serves to guide the deodorizing solution, introduced from the deodorizing solution tank, toward the upper portion of the spindles.
[0016] Also, the apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a plurality of ascending/descending means for ascending/descending each of the bobbin stacks, in which the ascending/descending means is provided on the base.
[0017] Also, the deodorizing solution may comprise 0.3-1.0 wt % of any one selected from among organic peroxide, ammonium peroxodisulfate, benzoyl peroxide and hydrogen peroxide as the polymerization initiator, 3-10 wt % of acrylic acid or neutralized acrylic acid as the deodorizing monomer, and the balance of water.
[0018] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn, the method comprising the steps of: mixing a polymerization initiator, a deodorizing monomer and water to prepare a deodorizing solution; allowing the deodorizing solution to penetrate into bobbins, wound with a cellulose-based yarn, in a reactor; discharging the deodorizing solution from the reactor and dewatering the deodorizing solution that penetrated into the bobbins; supplying steam to the inside of the reactor so as to subject the cellulose-based yarn to thermal graft polymerization; water-washing the cellulose-based yarn that was subjected to the thermal graft polymerization; and drying the washed cellulose-based yarn at high temperature.
[0019] In the method of the present invention, the thermal graft polymerization may be carried out at 100-150° C. for 10-30 minutes, and the washing step may be carried out at 90-100° C. for 20-40 minutes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a process of treating a fiber with a deodorizing solution using a graft reaction according to the prior art;
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn according to the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the spindle shown in FIG. 2 ;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the spindle shown in FIG. 2 ;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a process flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn according to the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the principle by which a cellulose-based yarn treated with a deodorizing solution using a thermal graft polymerization reaction according to the present invention removes a bad smell; and
[0027] FIGS. 7 and 8 are graphs showing FT-IR spectra measured in order to examine the degree of reaction of a deodorizing monomer on a sample treated with a deodorizing solution according to Test Example 1 of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the spindle shown in FIG. 2 , and FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the spindle shown in FIG. 2 .
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , the inventive apparatus for treating a cellulose-based yarn with a deodorizing solution comprises a reactor 1 , a deodorizing solution tank 2 , a plurality of spindles 3 , a deodorizing solution-circulating unit 4 , a steam supply unit 5 , a compressor 6 and a heat-exchange coil 7 .
[0031] The reactor 1 is composed of a body having a space formed therein, and a deodorizing solution inlet 11 and a deodorizing solution outlet 12 are provided at the lower end of the reactor 1 . The deodorizing solution is a mixture of a deodorizing monomer, a polymerization initiator and water. Specifically, the deodorizing solution comprises 0.3-1.0 wt % of ammonium peroxodisulfate as the polymerization initiator, 3-10 wt % of acrylic acid or neutralized acrylic acid as the deodorizing monomer, and the balance of water.
[0032] The deodorizing solution tank 2 is placed above the deodorizing solution inlet in the reactor 1 in such a manner as to communicate with the deodorizing solution inlet 11 and serves to store the deodorizing solution introduced from the deodorizing solution inlet 11 . It comprises a base 21 and a vertical hollow tube 22 . The base 21 is made of a sheet material and has a space formed therein so as to communicate with the deodorizing solution inlet 11 , and it is placed horizontally above the deodorizing solution inlet 11 . Also, the vertical hollow tube 22 is made of a tube and has a hollow portion formed so as to communicate with a base 21 , and it extends upward from the central portion of the base 21 .
[0033] The plurality of spindles 3 are each made of a tube comprising a hollow portion 31 and a plurality of through-holes formed along the circumstance of the tube. The spindles 3 are vertically placed at a certain distance from each other so as to communicate with the inside of the base 21 . Also, on each of the spindles 3 , a plurality of bobbins “B” wound with a cellulose-based yarn are stacked. Also, a helical guide vane 33 is formed on the inner surface of the spindle 3 between the through-holes 32 . The guide vane 33 serves to guide the deodorizing solution, introduced into the lower portion of the spindle 3 , toward the upper portion of the spindle, so that the deodorizing solution is uniformly discharged and the spray pressure of the deodorizing solution is increased. Namely, the deodorizing solution introduced into the spindle 3 is discharged from the spindle 3 through the through-holes 32 , in which the deodorizing solution is smoothly discharged at the lower portion of the spindle due to high pressure, whereas the deodorizing solution is not smoothly discharged at the upper portion of the spindle, because the pressure decreases toward the upper end. Thus, the amount of deodorizing solution supplied is different between the bobbins “B” located at the upper and lower portions of the spindle 3 , so that the deodorizing performance is different between the upper and lower portions of the spindle 3 . To overcome this problem, according to the present invention, the guide vane 33 that guides the deodorizing solution, introduced into the lower end of the spindle 3 , to the upper portion of the spindle 3 , is formed so that the bobbins “B” located at the upper and lower portions of the spindles 3 can be uniformly treated with the deodorizing solution. Also, because the deodorizing solution that is sprayed through the through-holes 32 is discharged from the spindle 3 while it is rotated by the guide vane 33 in the spindle 3 , the spray pressure of the deodorizing solution increases due to the rotating force, and the bombardment of the deodorizing solution toward the bobbins “B” is facilitated due to the increase in the spray pressure, so that the penetration of the deodorizing solution into the bobbins “B” is facilitated.
[0034] Meanwhile, the deodorizing solution-circulating unit 4 serves to allow the deodorizing solution to circulate in the deodorizing solution tank 2 and the reactor 1 , and it comprises a deodorizing solution-circulating pump 41 and a directional control valve 42 . Namely, using the directional control valve 42 , the deodorizing solution inlet 11 is open, and the deodorizing solution outlet 12 is closed. In this state, the deodorizing solution-circulating pump 41 is driven. Then, the deodorizing solution is sent to the deodorizing solution tank 2 , after which it flows upward along the plurality of spindles 3 while it is discharged at high pressure into the reactor 1 through the through-holes formed along the circumstance of the spindles 3 , and the high-pressure deodorizing solution thus discharged penetrates into the cellulose-based yarn wound around the bobbins “B”. On the contrary, if the deodorizing solution is charged in the reactor 1 , the directional control valve 42 is used to open the deodorizing solution inlet 11 and close the deodorizing, solution outlet 12 , so that the deodorizing solution in the reactor can be discharged.
[0035] Also, the steam supply unit 5 is connected to the lower end of the reactor 1 and serves to supply steam to the inside of the reactor 1 so that the cellulose-based yarn treated with the deodorizing solution is steamed. Thus, the thermal graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer on the cellulose-based yarn occurs, so that the cellulose-based yarn has a deodorizing property. Between the reactor 1 and the steam supply unit 5 , a steam control valve 51 for controlling the supply of steam is provided.
[0036] The compressor 6 is connected to the upper portion of the reactor 1 , and it serves to supply high-pressure air to the inside of the reactor 1 to pressurize the reactor 1 , whereby the discharge of the deodorizing solution from the reactor, and the removal of water from the deodorizing solution that penetrated into the cellulose-based yarn can be easily achieved. Between the reactor 1 and the compressor 6 , a high-pressure air control valve for controlling the supply of high-pressure air is provided.
[0037] Meanwhile, the heat-exchange coil 7 is placed at the lower portion of the inside of the reactor 1 and serves to heat or cool the inside of the reactor 1 . Specifically, it functions to heat the inside of the reactor 1 during the steaming or washing process.
[0038] Meanwhile, on the base 21 , a plurality of ascending/descending means such as cylinders, which serve to ascend and descend the bobbin stacks, may further be provided. Namely, these means serve to ascend any one of the adjacent stacks of the bobbins “B” and descend the other bovine stack, so that strong vortical flow can be formed between the stacks of the bobbins “B” to increase the penetration of the deodorizing solution into the bobbins.
[0039] In addition, the apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a pressure discharge unit 8 which is connected to the reactor 1 , wherein the pressure discharge unit serves to reduce the internal pressure of the reactor 1 if the internal pressure of the reactor 1 increases. Between the pressure discharge unit 8 and the reactor 1 , a pressure discharge control valve 81 may be provided.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a process flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the inventive method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 .
[0041] First, the bobbins “B” wound with a refined cellulose-based yarn are stacked on the spindles 3 . In general, because natural cellulose fibers contain a large amount of impurities which reduce the contact area between the cellulose and the deodorizing solution, components such as oils and fats should be removed with a refining agent so that the reactivity of the water-soluble deodorizing solution with the yarn can be increased. For this reason, a refined cellulose-based yarn is preferably used.
[0042] Then, 0.3-1.0 wt % of a polymerization initiator, 3-10 wt % of a deodorizing monomer and the balance of water are mixed with each other to prepare a deodorizing solution (S 10 ). In this regard, the polymerization initiator is preferably an organic peroxide initiator, particularly ammonium peroxodisulfate, benzoyl peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, rather than a radical polymerization initiator. Also, the content of the polymerization initiator in the deodorizing solution has an effect on the graft polymerization reaction of the monomer, and thus is preferably adjusted within the range of 0.3-1.0 wt %. If the content of the polymerization initiator is less than 0.3 wt %, it cannot sufficiently initiate the graft polymerization reaction, and a polymerization initiator content of more than 0.0 wt % will be cost-ineffective. For this reason, the content of the polymerization initiator is adjusted within the range of 0.3-1.0 wt %.
[0043] Also, the deodorizing monomer that is used in the present invention may be an acrylic or vinyl monomer containing a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group or an amino group, which neutralizes bad smells using an ion exchange property. If the deodorizing monomer is used in an amount of less than 3 wt %, it will have little or no deodorizing ability, and if it is used in an amount of more than 10 wt %, an excessive amount of the monomer will not be polymerized and will remain on the fabric. For this reason, the deodorizing monomer is preferably used in an amount of 3-10 wt %.
[0044] Next, the deodorizing solution is sprayed at high pressure onto the stacked bobbins “B” to treat the cellulose-based yarn with the deodorizing solution (S 20 ). Specifically, the directional control valve 42 is controlled to open the deodorizing solution inlet 11 , and the deodorizing solution-circulating pump 41 is driven so that the prepared deodorizing solution is sent to the deodorizing solution tank 2 . The deodorizing solution sent to the tank 2 is introduced under pressure into each of the spindles 3 , and the introduced deodorizing solution is sprayed at high pressure into the reactor 1 through the through-holes 32 . The sprayed deodorizing solution penetrates into the bobbins “B”, and thus the cellulose-based yarn is wet with the deodorizing solution.
[0045] Then, the deodorizing solution in the reactor 1 is discharged, and the deodorizing solution that penetrated into the bobbins “B” is dewatered (S 30 ). Specifically, the directional control valve 42 is controlled to open the deodorizing solution outlet 12 , and high-pressure air is supplied to the inside of the reactor 1 using the compressor 6 . Accordingly, the deodorizing solution in the reactor 1 is discharged through the deodorizing solution outlet 12 , and the deodorizing solution that penetrated into the bobbins “B” is dewatered by high pressure.
[0046] Then, steam produced in the steam supply unit 5 is supplied to the inside of the reactor 1 so that the cellulose-based yarn is steamed (S 40 ). In the steaming process, the heat-exchange coil 7 is heated so that the internal temperature of the reactor is increased to 100-150° C. and maintained at that temperature for 10-30 minutes. When the cellulose-based yarn is steamed as described above, the thermal graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer attached to the cellulose-based yarn will occur, thus obtaining a deodorizing cellulose-based yarn that has good wash durability and gives good touch feeling.
[0047] Next, the steam in the reactor 1 is discharged using the pressure discharge unit 8 , after which the cellulose-based yarn is washed with water (S 50 ). In this regard, the water-washing process is carried out at 90˜100° C. for 20-40 minutes.
[0048] Then, the bobbins “B” wound with the cellulose-based yarn are taken out of the reactor and dried at high temperature using hot air (S 60 ).
[0049] FIG. 6 shows the principle by which the cellulose-based yarn treated with the deodorizing solution by the thermal graft reaction according to the present invention removes bad smells. As can be seen therein, a deodorizing functional group formed on the cellulose-based yarn captures bad smells, and the captured bad smell components are adsorbed onto the deodorizing functional group. When the yarn is washed and dried, the bad smell components adsorbed onto the deodorizing functional groups are volatilized.
[0050] As described above, according to the present invention, by treating the fiber with the deodorizing solution by thermal graft polymerization using steam heat, the graft polymerization reaction can efficiently occur in the inside and outside of the bobbins. Namely, unlike the present invention, if the deodorizing solution charged in the reactor is subjected to graft polymerization by heating the inside of the reactor, the hydroxyl (OH) group of the deodorizing monomer will react more with water than the cellulose-based yarn, indicating that the polymerization efficiency of the monomer is low. Also, unlike the present invention, if the graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer is carried out by heating the inside of the reactor in a state in which the deodorizing solution was dewatered, the outside of the bobbin will be in a dry state, and the inside of the bobbin will have high humidity, so that the graft polymerization of the monomer will differ between the inside and the outside of the bobbin, and thus the deodorizing function of the yarn will be non-uniform. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the internal humidity and temperature of the reactor are maintained uniformly using steam heat, whereby uniform graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer occurs in the inside and the outside of the bobbin, and the hydroxyl (OH) group of the monomer does not react with external water, and thus the efficiency of the graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer on the cellulose-based yarn will be improved.
[0051] Hereinafter, the method for manufacturing the deodorizing yarn according to the present invention will be described with reference to test examples.
TEST EXAMPLE 1
[0052] First, 250 g of acrylic acid as a deodorizing monomer, 75 g of ammonium peroxodisulfate as a polymerization initiator, and 4,675 g of water were mixed with each other to prepare a deodorizing solution. Also, 1.3 kg of a refined cotton yarn together with the deodorizing solution was placed in a 3-kg scale reactor 1 , and the internal temperature of the reactor was increased to 110° C. In order to maintain the internal temperature and temperature of the reactor 1 uniformly, saturated steam having a temperature of 110° C. was injected from a steam supply unit 5 into the reactor 1 , and the deodorizing solution was subjected to a thermal graft reaction in the reactor 1 for 30 minutes. Then, the steam in the reactor 1 was discharged, after which the cotton yarn was washed with water in the reactor 1 at 95° C. for 20 minutes, and the washed cotton yarn was taken out of the reactor and dried with hot air.
[0053] FIGS. 7 and 8 are graphs showing FT-IR spectra measured in order to examine the degree of reaction of the deodorizing monomer on the sample treated with the deodorizing solution according to Test Example 1 of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 7 is the FT-IR spectrum of the sample, measured before treatment with the deodorizing solution is carried out, and FIG. 8 is the FT-IR spectrum of the sample, measured after treatment with the deodorizing solution has been carried out.
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and Table 1 below, before treatment with the deodorizing solution, the carbonyl (C=0) peak of carboxylic acid did not appear, but after treatment with the deodorizing solution, the carbonyl (C═O) peak of carboxylic acid appeared at 1720-1740 cm −1 , indicating that acrylic acid reacted with the cotton.
[0000]
TABLE 1
Treatment with deodorizing solution
Carbonyl (C═O) peak
Carried out
Appeared
Not carried out
Not appeared
TEST EXAMPLE 2
[0055] Test Example 2 was carried out in the same manner as Example 1, except that acrylic acid neutralized to a pH of 4.5-5.5 was used as the deodorizing monomer.
[0056] Table 2 below shows the results obtained by adding 1-7 ml of 1000 ppm ammonia solution dropwise into a bottle containing 5 g of the cotton yarn treated with the deodorizing solution and 100 ml of distilled water and measuring the pH of the content of the bottle 5 minutes after the addition of the ammonia solution. As can be seen in Table 2, when the ammonia solution was added to the bottle containing the cotton yarn treated with the deodorizing solution, there was little or no change in the pH of the cotton yarn, indicating that the neutralized acrylic acid reacted with the cotton.
[0000]
TABLE 2
Amount (ml) of NH 3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Before treatment with
7.2
9.6
9.9
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.4
deodorizing solution
treatment with
7.2
6.8
6.8
6.9
6.9
7.0
7.1
7.1
deodorizing solution
[0057] Table 3 below shows the results obtained by adding 1-7 ml of 1000 ppm acetic acid solution dropwise into a bottle containing 5 g of the cotton yarn treated with the deodorizing solution and 100 ml of distilled water and measuring the pH of the content of the bottle 5 minutes after the addition of the acetic acid solution. As can be seen in Table 3, when the acetic acid solution was added to the bottle containing the cotton yarn treated with the deodorizing solution, there was little or no change in the pH of the cotton yarn, indicating that the neutralized acrylic acid reacted with the cotton.
[0000]
TABLE 3
Amount (ml) of acetic acid
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Before treatment with
7.1
6.8
6.5
6.2
5.9
5.7
5.5
5.3
deodorizing solution
treatment with
6.8
6.6
6.5
6.4
6.4
6.3
6.3
6.2
deodorizing solution
TEST EXAMPLE 3
[0058] In Test Example 3, the degree of reaction of the deodorizing monomer according to the concentration of the polymerization initiator was measured. Specifically, while the concentration of the polymerization initiator in the deodorizing solution in Test Example 1 was changed, whether the graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer occurred was observed. As a result, as can be seen in Table 4 below, when the concentration of the polymerization initiator reached 0.3 wt % or more, the thermal graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer occurred.
[0000]
TABLE 4
Concentration (wt %)
Carbonyl (C═O) peak
Touch feeling
0.1
Did not appear
Good
0.3
Appeared
Good
0.5
Appeared
Good
0.7
Appeared
Good
TEST EXAMPLE 4
[0059] In Test Example 4, the degree of reaction of the deodorizing monomer according to the concentration of the deodorizing monomer was measured. Specifically, while the concentration of the deodorizing monomer in the deodorizing solution in Test Example 1 was changed, whether the graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer occurred was observed. As a result, as can be seen in Table 5 below, when the concentration of the deodorizing monomer reached 3 wt % or more, the carbonyl (C═O) peak appeared, indicating that the graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer occurred.
[0000]
TABLE 5
Concentration (wt %)
Carbonyl (C═O) peak
Touch feeling
1
Did not appear
Good
3
Appeared
Good
5
Appeared
Good
7
Appeared
Moderate
10
Appeared
Moderate
TEST EXAMPLE 5
[0060] In Test Example 5, the degree of reaction of the deodorizing monomer according to the temperature of steam was measured. In Test Example 5, the process of treatment with the deodorizing solution was carried out under the same conditions as those in Test Example 1, except that the temperature of steam was changed. After treatment with the deodorizing solution, the sample was steamed for 30 minutes at each of various temperatures and washed with water, after which the degree of reaction of the deodorizing monomer was observed. As a result, as can be seen in Table 6 below, when the steaming temperature reached 100° C. or higher, the carbonyl (C═O) peak appeared, indicating that the graft polymerization reaction of the deodorizing monomer occurred.
[0000]
TABLE 6
Temperature (° C.)
Carbonyl (C═O) peak
Touch feeling
95
Did not appear
Good
100
Appeared
Good
105
Appeared
Good
110
Appeared
Good
120
Appeared
Good
[0061] As described above, according to the present invention, the deodorizing solution is allowed to penetrate into the bobbins wound with the cellulose-based yarn, and the graft polymerization of the deodorizing monomer on the cellulose-based yarn is carried out using steam heat, thus imparting a deodorizing function to the cellulose-based yarn. By doing so, the deodorizing function can be imparted to the yarn without changing the wash durability and touch feeling of the yarn.
[0062] Also, in the present invention, a general dyeing apparatus is used without using an expensive radiation graft polymerization apparatus, and thus equipment and production costs can be reduced.
[0063] In addition, according to the present invention, the process of treatment with the deodorizing solution is carried out using a thermal graft polymerization reaction by steam heat. By doing so, a more uniform and efficient graft polymerization reaction can occur in the inside and outside of the bobbin, unlike either the case of heating the inside of the reactor in a state in which the deodorizing solution was immersed in the reactor, or the case of heating the inside of the reactor in a state in which the deodorizing solution was dewatered.
[0064] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
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An apparatus and method for manufacturing a deodorizing yarn where a cellulose-based yarn is treated with a deodorizing solution by a graft polymerization reaction using steam heat in a reactor that is used in a conventional dyeing apparatus. The method for manufacturing the deodorizing yarn comprises the steps of: mixing a polymerization initiator, a deodorizing monomer and water to prepare a deodorizing solution; allowing the deodorizing solution to penetrate into bobbins, wound with a cellulose-based yarn, in a reactor; discharging the deodorizing solution from a reactor and dewatering the deodorizing solution that penetrated into the bobbins; supplying steam to the inside of the reactor so as to subject the cellulose-based yarn to thermal graft polymerization; water-washing the cellulose-based yarn that was subjected to the thermal graft polymerization; and drying the washed cellulose-based yarn at high temperature.
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BACKGROUND
[0001] The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for extending the reliability and usefulness of a full width printhead by providing a redundant temporary replacement printhead module that can be positioned to compensate for missing or faulty jets.
[0002] Printers using full width printheads (i.e., printbars) are known and offer several advantages over conventional printheads that must travel back and forth across a print medium to achieve printing of a page. Advantages include faster printing speed, quieter operation, improved reliability due to less moving parts, etc. However, full width printheads suffer from certain drawbacks.
[0003] One particular drawback is a problem with defective nozzles. High productivity printers achieve enhanced productivity by employing a large number of nozzles. However, more nozzles result in greater opportunity for nozzle failure. For instance, a full width ink jet printhead array spanning a typical 8.5″ wide sheet of paper may have 7200 or more discrete individual jet nozzles, each of which must operate properly for the printer to produce a quality print. The problem is increased in high speed production architecture ink jet systems that can have a combined printhead width of up to 24″ or more.
[0004] Partially due to manufacturing limitations and partially to reduce the cost of replacement, many pagewidth or full width printheads use a number of smaller replaceable printhead modules rather than a large single head. The printhead modules are either butted together to form a single linear array, or offset and staggered in length to provide full width functionality. Such full width printheads may also include multiple printhead modules arranged in series (but offset by a partial pixel width to achieve an effective increase in resolution of the head itself).
[0005] For example, a prototype 24″ full color printer uses a first set of 32 modules (eight (8) three inch (3″) long 300 dpi staggered print modules for each of four colors C, Y, M, and K) to achieve 300 dpi printing. A second set of 32 printhead modules is offset by ½ pixel from the first set to effectively double the resolution of the printhead assembly to 600 dpi. Thus, 64 total printhead modules are present. This represents a total of 57,600 individual nozzles in the full width, full color printhead array. Having such a large number of individual jets increases the probability that any single ink jet will fail. This, coupled with very high printer usage in high speed production makes the probability and frequency of nozzle failure a significant problem.
[0006] A simplified example of this is shown in FIG. 1 , which represents a single color printbar 100 having a first set 200 of printhead modules 200 A-D and a second set 300 of printhead modules 300 A-D. The first set 200 includes individual modules 200 A-D that each contain a plurality of nozzles 210 spaced by a center-to-center distance S. The second set 300 similarly includes individual modules 300 A-D that each contain a plurality of nozzles 310 spaced by a distance S. However, the nozzles in the second set 300 are offset from the nozzles in the first set 200 by a spacing S/2. This effectively creates a composite array with twice the resolution (i.e., an effective spacing of S/2) of the individual printhead modules.
[0007] In this simplified example, a defective nozzle 220 is present within printhead module 200 B. As is evident from the vertical lines, nozzles from the offset printhead module 300 B do not overlap with the single defective nozzle 220 shown. Accordingly, once at least one defective nozzle is present, the collective printbar 100 consisting of various printhead modules with nozzles is no longer capable of reproducing a complete image. Instead, the printbar 100 will print with a band or streak at the location of the defective nozzle where no printing can occur. Thus, once one or more nozzles become defective, image quality suffers.
[0008] Failed ink jet detection systems are known in the art. Such technologies include, for example, drop sensors that recognize missing or misdirected drops. One such drop sensing device uses a light beam that is projected across the width of the printing medium and between the printhead and the printing medium to a detector. Based on the timing and degree of occlusion caused by an ink droplet passing through the light beam, the device can sense the size and directional accuracy of the ink droplets. A laser may also be provided for such detection. Examples of suitable detectors include U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,418, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, as well as Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-315914 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-276446.
[0009] Even though nozzle failures, such as defective nozzle 220 , can be detected, no practical method exists to repair individual failed printheads, other than minor problems that can be fixed through routine cleaning or maintenance. Rather, typical repair requires a complete replacement of the printhead module containing one or more defective print nozzles. This, however, is problematic for at least three reasons. First, the failed printhead module is typically thrown away, which represents a significant investment in cost, even though only a single nozzle or jet may be defective. Second, a replacement printhead may not be readily available, which can increase printer down time. Third, typical replacement and necessary alignment must be performed by a qualified technician, which requires additional printer down time to schedule and complete the replacement. Particularly when the printer involved is used for high volume production runs, there is a very high cost associated with the necessity to stop the current production run and make such necessary printhead repairs.
[0010] Various methods and attempts to improve the reliability of such printers are known, including for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,284 to Hermanson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,693 to Drake et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,764 to Kubelik, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,730 to Karz. Each of these four patents is commonly assigned to Xerox Corporation and hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
SUMMARY
[0011] There is a need for a more cost-effective system to compensate for defective ink jets.
[0012] There also is a need for a system and method that can extend the life of a printer before servicing or printhead replacement is necessary.
[0013] There further is a need for a system and method that can enable compensation for defective ink jets on an array that includes nozzles with different alignment offsets using only a single replacement module.
[0014] To provide redundancy at reduced cost, various exemplary embodiments provide one or more extra temporary replacement printhead modules in addition to the modules already provided to achieve fullwidth printing. These one or more replacement modules are not necessarily used during normal operation of the device and instead are mainly activated when one or more nozzles in the primary printhead modules are determined to be defective.
[0015] If the circumstances are that the printhead module with a failure has more than one defective jet, this extra temporary spare module can obviously operate to replace two or more jets in the defective module.
[0016] In order to take advantage of a single extra printhead module and to be able to compensate for more than a single failed jet, it is also possible that the module can be located to compensate for failed jets in two or more modules. If the modules are adjacent modules and the distance between failed jets is less than the length of the replacement printhead module, the module can be aligned to cover both defective jets. Alternatively, additional print passes could be added to compensate for more defective jets if they are not closely spaced.
[0017] In order to further take advantage of a single extra printhead module and to be able to compensate for more than a single failed jet, it is also possible that the module can be provided with roll capability around at least one axis to compensate for failed jets in different modules having non-aligned or non-uniform spacing.
[0018] In various exemplary embodiments, at least one extra printhead module is mounted on a separate translating x-axis or is otherwise adjustable along the x-axis. This architecture requires the addition of only a single printhead module because the x-axis translation ability allows alignment with any of the nozzles of the full width array.
[0019] In various exemplary embodiments, one replacement module can be positioned to compensate for two or more missing jet nozzles. In a preferred embodiment, the replacement module can be rotated or rolled about one axis in addition to x-axis translation to align with one or more defective ink nozzles. This may be particularly useful when defective nozzles are on modules that are offset or otherwise non-aligned with other printbar modules.
[0020] When one or more jets of a full width printhead is irreparably lost or otherwise defective, the jet(s) can be automatically detected by a suitable jet detector. An example of such known detection can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,693 to Drake et al. At this time, the printing process can be temporarily stopped and a spare temporary replacement printhead module moved into an x-direction position that covers the missing jet. The printing process can then be restarted and the printing of the image covered by the defective nozzle can be achieved using a nozzle from the spare replacement printhead module aligned with the defective nozzle. Conventional image processing techniques can provide the substituted drop by compensating the timing and placement of the replacement drop based on the known positional orientation of the spare replacement printhead module. This enables continued operation of the printer without the need for an extended stop to perform a complete replacement of a defective printhead module.
[0021] Although printing could proceed indefinitely through use of the spare module, the defective printhead module may be replaced at an appropriate time, such as after completion of a production run or until service can be scheduled. At this time, it may not be necessary to purchase or install a new printhead module. Rather, because the temporary spare module only needs to have at least one jet that fires, the first time the “replacement” printhead module is used, it can itself be used to replace the defective printhead module having one or more defective nozzles. Then, the defective printhead module can be mounted as the new “replacement” temporary spare printhead module. This “replacement” module can theoretically be used for the life of the product, since it only needs to have one operational jet to serve its purpose as a temporary spare.
[0022] The provision of more than one redundant print head module will further increase the average time between repairs of the printer. However, each added printhead adds additional cost and complexity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein:
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an enlarged, schematic front view of a typical full width printbar made up of a plurality of individual printhead modules and including a defective jet nozzle;
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a partially shown, isometric view of a full width array ink jet printer to which the printbar of FIG. 1 can be provided;
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of a control system for the printer of FIG. 2 ;
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged, schematic front view of a full width printbar further including a translating replacement printhead module in the printer of FIG. 2 ;
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart that achieves correction of a limited number of missing jets according to a first exemplary embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged, schematic front view of the printbar of FIG. 4 showing a defective print nozzle after the replacement printhead module has been translated into a position to compensate for a single defective print nozzle;
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged, schematic front view of the printbar of FIG. 4 showing two defective print nozzles on adjacent print modules after the replacement module has been translated into a position that compensates for both defective print nozzles;
[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart that achieves connection of missing jets having non-aligned spacing according to a second exemplary embodiment; and
[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged, schematic front view of the printbar of FIG. 4 showing two defective print nozzles on different offset print modules having dissimilar nozzle spacings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0033] The disclosure is directed to compensating missing or defective elements in spot imaging reading and/or writing bars. In particular, it pertains to full width array raster input scanning (RIS) and raster output scanning (ROS) bars. These are formed from either a single full width array or more preferably a series of relatively short modules assembled together to have a requisite length and number of elements to scan or write an entire line of information with a high image resolution. In exemplary embodiments, the spot imaging bars are writing devices, preferably liquid ink jet printers, but can also include reading devices, such as LED bars.
[0034] Exemplary printers can be of the continuous stream or drop-on-demand types, such as piezoelectric, acoustic, phase change wax-based or thermal, and have at least one printhead containing an array of nozzles from which droplets of ink are directed toward a medium, such as paper. The particular type of ink jet delivery methodology is not of particular concern, so long as temporary replacement printhead modules are compatible for use with any failed printhead modules in the main array.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an ink jet printer 8 including a pagewidth or large array black print bar 100 positioned to deposit ink on a curved recording medium placed on a rotating drum 11 , which is rotated by a multiple speed motor 9 and which rotates the drum 11 in the direction of an arrow 12 at selected different speeds. The print bar 100 has been assembled similar to that shown in FIG. 1 to have a first set of staggered modules or printhead dies 200 A, 200 B, etc. and a second set of staggered modules or printhead dies 300 A, 300 B, etc. that are offset from the first set. The modules are assembled and aligned to form an extended width array as known in the art having a plurality of individual nozzles or jets. The nozzles are selectively energized to expel an ink droplet from the associated nozzle. The ink channels are coupled into a common ink manifold 14 mounted along and attached to the print bar 100 in sealed communication with the ink inlets of the channel dies through aligned openings. The manifold 14 is supplied with the appropriate ink, black in this example, from an ink container 16 through flexible tubing 18 attached thereto.
[0036] In addition to the single color print bar 100 printing black ink, additional full width array printheads may be provided for printing a respective color, for instance cyan, magenta, and yellow. The appropriate ink can be supplied to the associated printhead by inclusion of an attached printhead ink tank coupled to the printheads themselves or by ink containers attached to the printheads through flexible tubing as used in connection with the black printbar. Alternatively, multicolor printheads could be utilized whereby two or more colors coexist within the same printhead. In this case, the alignment replacement jets on the replacement head would of course have to be of the same color as any given defective jet.
[0037] To print an image, a controller 54 receives bit map images from a print driver which is either resident in the printer or is resident in an image generating device such as a personal computer, or a combination of the two. The bit mapped images are manipulated by the controller 54 such that the appropriate signals are transmitted to the printbar 100 . The drive signals generated by the controller 54 are conventionally applied via wire bonds to drive circuitry and logic on each of the printhead dies 200 A, 200 B, 300 A, 300 B, etc. of each printbar 100 (and any optional color printbars). Signals include pulsing signals that are applied to heat generating resistors or transducers formed in the heater dies or any other conventional or subsequently developed structure used by the printbar to eject ink from a select nozzle.
[0038] The controller 54 may take the form of a microcomputer including a central processing unit, a read-only memory for storing complete programs and a random access memory. The controller 54 also controls other machine functions such as rotation of the drum 11 and movement of a positioning device 440 (to be described later in detail) associated with a carriage 410 to advance a temporary replacement printhead module 500 in position to compensate for missing or defective jets in the printbar 100 .
[0039] Defects resulting from the failure of certain nozzles to eject ink during the printing process can generate images that are unacceptable. Such defects are considered a significant failure mode and can result in a user not printing with the printer until the non-printing nozzle is remedied either through a maintenance operation or by replacement of the printbar.
[0040] In view of such printing defects, various embodiments provide a defective nozzle detection system 90 ( FIG. 3 ), and at least one replacement printhead module 500 mounted on a translating carriage assembly 410 used to compensate for one or more missing or defective jets. The defective nozzle detection system 90 detects which of the nozzles are not printing, and provides information that can be used by controller 54 to moving a properly functioning nozzle of the replacement printhead module 500 into alignment with the detected missing nozzle(s). The controller 54 also then sends image information to the properly functioning nozzle to fill in the missing image information from the defective nozzle(s), and prints the missing image information with the functioning nozzle(s).
[0041] The carriage assembly 400 includes a translatable carriage 410 that is driven by lead screws 420 and 430 by a drive motor 440 . The carriage 410 includes curved frame members 450 and 460 , which support at least one temporary replacement printhead module 500 . Carriage 410 may include threaded apertures through which the lead screws 420 and 430 are threaded. The carriage 410 moves in the X-direction shown to traverse the printer parallel to the length of the printbar 100 and perpendicular to a direction of paper advancement. The replacement printhead module 500 can be conventional in construction and fabricated in accordance with the same techniques used to form individual print modules 100 A within printbar 100 . In preferred embodiments, replacement modules 500 are identical to modules 100 A and are thus suitable for eventual permanent replacement of malfunctioning printhead modules 100 A.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a printing system, including the printer 8 , which not only provides for determination of a missing nozzle, but which can also provide the capability of compensating for defective nozzles. The controller 54 is coupled to a bus 71 for transmission of image information and/or control signals between a plurality of printer devices and an image input device 74 . The image input device 74 includes a number of known image generators that generate image information in the form of various image description languages such as the known Page Description Language (PDL) and Postscript. The image input device could, for instance, include a personal computer, a computer workstation, a computer coupled to a scanner, or other known image input devices. The input image device 74 is coupled through a connecting bus to an interface 75 of the printer which provides for a compatible interchange of the image information generated by the image input device to the printer. The interface 75 is connected to the bus 71 and transmits image data and control data to the controller or to a Random Access Memory (RAM) 76 under the direction of the controller 54 . The printer, in addition, includes a Read Only Memory (ROM) 78 that includes sufficient memory for the storage of predetermined operating system or controlling programs such as is known by those skilled in the art. The controller 54 includes a plurality of circuits that enable the printer 8 to fill in missing data on a printed page, which occurs because of one or more defective nozzles.
[0043] When a defective nozzle is discovered through use of defective nozzle detector 90 , a user may consider whether to continue printing. A user interface 80 may be provided, which typically appears on a display device, for instance, a cathode ray tube or liquid crystal display of the image input device 74 . The user interface may include the selection of two or more document resolutions. For instance, the user interface 80 may include a draft mode selector 82 and a high resolution mode selector 84 which, once selected, are transmitted to a resolution control circuit 85 . In addition, the user interface may include an image mend selector 86 that enables the user to select the option of filling in the missing data on a printed page due to one or more defective nozzle(s).
[0044] Suitable selectors can include pushbuttons, touch sensitive screens, or mouse selectable items in menus as non-limiting examples. If the user does not select the image mend selector 86 function, the user can either decide not to print with the printer until the defective nozzle is corrected (i.e., stop current usage of the printer) or continue to print at reduced image quality (i.e., while retaining the current detected nozzle defect(s)). It is also possible to include a defective nozzle visual indicator 87 in the user interface. The indicator 87 indicates to the user that one or more defective nozzles are present. In various embodiments, the printing system may include a default setting where once a defective nozzle is identified, the system automatically enters the image mend mode 86 until otherwise changed by the user. This can allow near seamless automatic compensation for faulty jets.
[0045] If the user selects the image mend selector 86 (or the feature is automatically enabled), then a signal responsive thereto is transmitted from the image input device 74 over the bus 71 to the controller 54 . Either prior to selection or in response thereto, defective nozzle detector 90 identifies which of the nozzles are defective. The defective nozzle detector 90 is incorporated as part of printbar control circuits 92 , which are coupled to the printbar 100 . In one example of a defective nozzle detector, the defective nozzle detector circuit detects when there is no current being carried by a particular drop ejector, which would indicate, for instance, an open heater or thermal transducer. It is also possible that other defective nozzle detection devices including ink sensing conductors placed within a channel could be used. In addition, a print of a diagnostic test pattern could be made to manually assess missing or faulty jets. The test pattern would allow the user to identify to the machine which of the nozzles are non-functioning. For instance, if the printer does not include nozzle detectors, the printbar could print a test pattern including nozzle identifiers, such as a number, which is printed by each of the functioning nozzles and which identifies a nozzle. The printer might print a test pattern responsive to a user selecting the image mend selector 86 . The missing number or numbers would indicate to the user which of the nozzles is non-functioning. The user would then input the nozzle number or numbers into the printer controller through, a user input device, such as a keypad 93 , of the user interface 80 .
[0046] Once the defective nozzle(s) have been identified, the information is accessed by the controller 54 and is used by a nozzle control circuit 94 . The nozzle control circuit 94 provides a plurality of functions, which include enabling the storage of the identity of one or more defective nozzles as well as the direction of the storage of image data corresponding to a defective nozzle in a defective nozzle data RAM 96 . RAM 96 can be included in the RAM 76 or separately embodied. The nozzle control circuit 94 , upon receipt of the identity of the defective nozzle, would cause the defective data RAM to store appropriate data, which cannot be printed during printing of the image due to the defective nozzle. For instance, if there are two defective nozzles, then the image data, which is not printed by the first defective nozzle is stored in a plurality of registers 97 . This data, for example, corresponds to a single column of information wherein the image data for every pixel location of the column is stored for each of the lines of the missing column of the printed image. The second defective nozzle data is stored in a register 98 .
[0047] During image processing, the controller 54 and the nozzle control circuit 94 transmits the stored image data from the RAM 96 to a suitable selected replacement nozzle for printing. The selected replacement nozzle could be determined as a function of the moving capabilities provided by the positioning device 440 or may be selected as a function of a distance measured in nozzle spacing from the defective nozzles. For instance, if a single nozzle is determined to be defective, the replacement printhead module 500 may be moved by a predetermined distance under control of the positioning device control circuit 95 of the controller 54 . The positioning device control circuit 95 transmits a signal representative of the desired nozzle spacing or the movement thereof to a printer control circuit 99 that is coupled to the positioning device 440 . After the positioning device control circuit 95 has transmitted a signal over the bus 71 to cause the positioning device 440 to move a predetermined distance from the defective nozzle, the controller 54 retrieves the defective nozzle data from the RAM 96 such that the data is printed by the replacement printhead module 500 .
[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary printbar 100 that includes a defective nozzle 220 that has failed to eject ink along a pixel line that is parallel to the moving direction of the recording medium. FIG. 4 also shows carriage assembly 400 and temporary replacement printhead module 500 at a non-use position, such as located at one extreme of the carriage assembly. In a single color (i.e., monochrome) application, only one such printbar 100 may be provided. In a multicolor printer, four such printbars may be needed, one for each of Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and blacK (C, Y, M, K). Additionally, to increase resolution, multiple arrays of each color may be provided in series, but laterally offset by a fraction of the individual nozzle spacing.
[0049] In this particular example, printbar 100 is for a single color, such as black, and includes two serially oriented printbar arrays 200 and 300 . The first printbar array 200 has four individual printhead modules ( 200 A, 200 B, 200 C, and 200 D), each having a length L that collectively provide a full width array extending the length of the printer (e.g., 4×L) and have a uniform nozzle spacing of S. The second printbar array 300 also has four individual printhead modules ( 300 A, 300 B, 300 C, and 300 D) that collectively provide a full width array extending the length of the printer and has a uniform nozzle spacing of S. However, because second printbar 300 is offset from the first printbar 200 by a distance of S/2, the individual nozzles 210 of the first array do not overlap with corresponding nozzles 310 of the second array. Thus, for example, if the spacing S corresponds to 300 dpi (dots per inch), the combination of printbars 200 and 300 will result in an effective doubling of the resolution to 600 dpi. While shown to have four modules in each array, this is a non-limiting example. Any number of modules may be present in each array.
[0050] Various methods of printer operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 5-9 . A first method will be described with reference to FIGS. 5-7 . The method starts at step S 5000 where the process advances to step S 5010 and image input data is received from a suitable source, such as from a scanner or electronic file. At step S 5020 , a routine to detect defective nozzle jets is performed. If no defective jets are detected, the process advances from step S 5030 to S 5040 where a normal print operation is performed. If, however, one or more defective jets are detected, the process advances to step S 5060 where it is determined if all of the defective jets are within a length L of the temporary printhead module. If not, the process advances to step S 5070 and displays a fault. At this point, the user may choose at step S 5080 to stop the current print job by proceeding to step S 5050 , or continue printing, albeit with defective nozzles, by proceeding to step S 5040 .
[0051] If however, all defective jets are determined to be within length L in step S 5060 , the process advances to step S 5090 where the image data is extracted for the defective jet(s). Flow then advances to step S 5100 where the temporary replacement printhead module is positioned in line with the missing jet(s). Flow then advances to step S 5110 where the extracted data from the defective jet(s) is sent to predetermined nozzles of the replacement module. Flow then advances to step S 5120 where a temporary print mode operation is performed. During this temporary operation, properly functioning jets are printed as normal and the missing or defective jet(s) are printed by aligned nozzles in the temporary replacement printhead module through suitable timing and control of the image printing process. From step S 5120 , flow advances to step S 5050 where the process stops.
[0052] Thus, during the method of FIG. 5 , replacement printhead module 500 can be positioned as shown in FIG. 6 to align a nozzle 510 of the replacement module with a defective nozzle 220 from the printbar 100 . Additionally, as shown in FIG. 7 , if more than one defective nozzle is detected and the defective nozzles are within the width of the replacement printhead module 500 , the module 500 can be aligned to replace two or more defective jets, even if they exist on different printhead modules of the printbar. For example, here defective jets 220 A and 220 B from module 200 B and 200 C, respectively, are replaced by replacement nozzles 510 A and 510 B from replacement printhead module 500 .
[0053] A second method of operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 8-9 . In this example, the printbar 100 includes first array 200 and second array 300 that are offset by a spacing of S/2 as shown in FIG. 9 . As also shown, one or more defective nozzles may be present on either array 200 or 300 (i.e., defective nozzles 220 and/or 320 ). Because of the possibility of failure of either of multiple offset or otherwise non-aligning or non-uniformly spaced nozzles, it may be desirable to provide two separate replacement modules, one capable of alignment with each printhead array spacing and orientation. However, this requires an extra redundant printhead module, which adds cost and processing complexity.
[0054] This embodiment provides a mechanism in which a single replacement printhead module 500 can be used and aligned to either array 200 or 300 and may even be adjusted to compensate one or more defective jets on each of two non-aligned modules 200 and 300 . This is possible through a slight roll of the printhead module 500 about a roll axis in a direction R as shown. Thus, besides the ability to translate in the X-axis, the replacement module can be rotated slightly about a roll axis in direction R (which may be counterclockwise as shown or clockwise) to adjust the effective spacing between replacement nozzles to other than an even pitch spacing of S and to better align the replacement module with a defective jet.
[0055] For example, in FIG. 9 , two defective nozzles are shown (nozzle 220 on module 200 C and nozzle 320 on module 300 B that are separated in the X-axis by a spacing other than an integer multiple of S (i.e., 9S/2 in this example). Because of this, a translating nozzle array 500 having a common spacing S may be unable to accommodate compensation for one or the other defective nozzles in both modules. That is, due to movement constraints in the X-axis, alignment may be achieved with one module, but not necessarily the other because of the non-uniform or offset spacing. However, by allowing slight rotation of the module, replacement module 500 can be readily aligned with one or more defective nozzles, regardless of whether the defective nozzle is on the first array 200 or the second offset array 300 . In this example, module 500 can be aligned to have nozzles 510 A and 510 B that align with defective nozzles 320 and 220 , respectively.
[0056] For example, when the replacement printhead module has nozzles arranged in a known sawtooth layout arranged on a diagonal, a nozzle spacing S that results in 300 dpi, and a module length of about 3 inches, a printhead module roll in axis R of at little as 10 m radians can cause a shift in spacing between a far left nozzle and a far right nozzle of a sawtooth of 42 μm, which corresponds to 1/600 dpi. In the illustrated example of a spacing S that corresponds to 300 dpi nozzle spacing, results in the ability to accommodate alignment with a spacing that is a multiple of S/2 as illustrated in FIG. 9 . Similar results can be achieved using a straight nozzle array as shown in the simplified drawings. The roll would be similarly adjusted based on known geometric relationships to achieve a desired effective nozzle spacing between nozzles 510 A and 510 B.
[0057] An example of a method of correction using this structure will be described with reference to FIG. 8 . The method starts at step S 800 and advances to step S 8010 where image input data is received. From step S 8010 , flow advances to step S 8020 where defective nozzle jets are detected. If no defective jets are detected, the process advances from step S 8030 to S 8040 where a normal print operation is performed. If, however, one or more defective jets are detected, the process advances to step S 8060 where it is determined if all of the defective jets are within a length L of the temporary printhead. If not, the process advances to step S 8070 and displays a fault. At this point, the user may choose at step S 8080 to stop the current print job by proceeding to step S 8050 , or continue printing, albeit with defective nozzles, by proceeding to step S 8040 .
[0058] If however, all defective jets are determined to be within length L in step S 8060 , the process advances to step S 8090 where the image data is extracted for the defective jet(s). Flow then advances to step S 8100 where the temporary replacement printhead module is positioned in line with the missing jet(s). Flow then advances to step S 8110 where it is determined whether all defective jets are aligned with corresponding nozzles of the replacement printhead module. If they are, flow advances to step S 8130 where the extracted data from the defective jets is sent to predetermined nozzles of the replacement module. Flow then advances to step S 8140 where a temporary print mode operation is performed. During this temporary operation, properly functioning jets are printed as normal and the missing or defective jets are printed by aligned nozzles in the temporary replacement printhead module through suitable timing and control of the image printing process. From step S 8140 , flow advances to step S 8050 where the process stops.
[0059] However, if it is determined at step S 8110 that all defective jets are not aligned, flow advances to step S 8120 where replacement module 500 is slightly rotated about axis R until defective nozzle(s) are properly aligned with a replacement nozzle of module 500 . From step S 8120 , flow advances to step S 8130 . Alignment can be achieved through use of adjustment tables, known mathematical geometric relationships, or through automated or manual visual inspection and subsequent calibration or adjustment. Thus, with only a single replacement module having nozzles with a spacing S, defective nozzles on two different modules that have non-uniformly aligned nozzles can be compensated for.
[0060] Although printing could proceed indefinitely through use of the spare replacement module 500 , the defective printhead module ( 200 or 300 ) may be replaced at an appropriate time, such as after completion of a production run or when service can be scheduled. At this time, it may not be necessary to purchase or install a new printhead module in the array. Rather, because the temporary spare module only needs to have at least one jet that fires, the first time the “replacement” printhead module 500 is used, it can itself be used to replace the defective printhead module ( 200 or 300 ) having one or more defective nozzles. Then, the defective printhead module ( 200 or 300 ) can be mounted as the new “replacement” temporary spare printhead module 500 . This “replacement” module can theoretically be used for the life of the product, since it only needs to have one operational jet to serve its purpose as a temporary spare. All that is required is knowledge of the location of defective jet(s) so that the replacement module can be suitably positioned to have an operable jet aligned with defective jet(s) in the main printbar array.
[0061] While the various described circuits 85 , 94 , and 95 have been identified as part of the controller 54 , these circuits can be separate from the controller. In addition, the controller 54 as well as the described circuits 85 , 94 , and 95 can be embodied as hardware, software, or firmware. It is known and commonplace to program and execute imaging, printing, document, and/or paper handling control functions and logic with software instructions for conventional or general purpose microprocessors. This is taught by various prior patents and commercial products. Such programming or software may of course vary depending on the particular functions, software type, and microprocessor or other computer system utilized, but will be available to, or readily programmable without undue experimentation from, functional descriptions, such as those provided herein, or prior knowledge of functions which are conventional, together with general knowledge in the software and computer arts. That can include object oriented software development environments, such as C++. Alternatively, the disclosed system or method may be implemented partially or fully in hardware, using standard logic circuits or a single chip using VLSI designs.
[0062] It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
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Methods and apparatus for extending the reliability and usefulness of a fullwidth printhead by providing a redundant temporary replacement printhead module that can be positioned to compensate for missing or faulty jet nozzles. In order to take advantage of a single extra printhead module and to be able to compensate for more than a single failed nozzle, the replacement module is mounted on a separate translating x-axis and preferably provided with roll adjustment along another axis so that an effective spacing of nozzles in the replacement module can be adjusted to align with detected defective nozzles. The fullwidth printhead is formed from at least one array of smaller printhead modules. The arrays may be offset by a non-integer spacing interval of the individual nozzles. For example, if the nozzle spacing is S, the offset may be S/2. By virtue of the x-translation and roll capabilities, a single replacement module can accommodate replacement of one or several defective nozzles spaced closer together than the total length L of the replacement module, even if the defective nozzle(s) are located on different printhead modules and have a non-integer spacing.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a photoprotective personal care composition. The invention more particularly relates to a sunscreen composition that not only provides high sun protection but does that with minimal or no amount of traditionally used organic sunscreens.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Solar radiation includes ultraviolet (UV) radiation, wavelength of which is between 200 nm and 400 nm. Exposure of skin to UV-A (320 to 400 nm) and UV-B (290 to 320 nm) causes various problems like reddening of the skin, localized irritation, sunburn, melanoma and formation of wrinkles. UV radiation is also known to cause damage to hair. Therefore, it is desirable to protect the skin and other keratinous substrates of the human body from the harmful effects of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
[0003] SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a measure of the protection from solar radiation. In order to achieve this, formulators generally include high amounts of UV-A and UV-B organic sunscreens. The present inventors have found that even with very small amount of organic sunscreen agents or with no organic sunscreens, it is possible to achieve high SPF values with inclusion of a specific class and amount of inorganic sunblocks in combination with specific non-ionic surfactants in a cosmetic base comprising fatty acids.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,988A (Knowles, et al. 1996) discloses a combination of sunscreen and insect repellent which is free of organic chemical sunscreens. The composition contains an inorganic micronized substance and DEET (diethyl 3-methyl toluamide) which is applied topically as a lotion or cream. US2010202985A1 (SenGupta) relates to an emulsion-based sunscreen composition including only inorganic ultraviolet radiation (UV) absorbers known in the art.
[0005] Specifically, it relates to sunscreen compositions in the form of oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O ) emulsions that contain inorganic UV-absorbers and an SPF-boosting additive. The said SPF boosting additive is a specific interfacially active polymer.
[0006] The above referenced publications do not disclose a personal care photoprotective composition that provides high SPF through use of widely available and inexpensive materials like inorganic sunscreens along with the non-ionic surfactants as claimed herein in combination with a cosmetic base comprising fatty acids.
[0007] It is thus an object of the present invention to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide high SPF photo-protective sunscreen compositions.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to achieve the above object using negligible amounts or no amount of organic sunscreen agents, which are sometimes unstable and with the added advantage that inclusion of low or no organic sunscreens enables low formulation cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The first aspect of the present invention provides for a photoprotective personal care composition comprising less than 1% organic sunscreen, the composition comprising
(i) 1 to 10% inorganic sunscreen having a refractive Index higher than 1.8; (ii) 0.5 to 5% non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of atleast 13; and, (iii) a cosmetically acceptable base comprising 1 to 25% fatty acid by weight of the composition.
[0013] It is preferred that the cosmetically acceptable base comprises 0.1 to 10% soap by weight of the composition.
[0014] Another aspect of the invention provides for use of a composition of the invention for providing SPF of at least 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilized in any other aspect of the invention. The word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of” or “composed of”. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se.
[0016] Similarly, all percentages are weight/weight percentages unless otherwise indicated. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description and claims indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about”. Numerical ranges expressed in the format “from x to y” are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format “from x to y”, it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated.
[0017] By “A Sunscreen Composition” as used herein, is meant to include a composition for topical application to sun-exposed areas of the skin and/or hair of mammals, especially humans. Such a composition may be generally classified as leave-on or rinse off, and includes any product applied to a human body for also improving appearance, cleansing, odor control or general aesthetics. It is more preferably a leave-on product. The composition of the present invention can be in the form of a liquid, lotion, cream, foam, scrub, gel, or toner, or applied with an implement or via a face mask, pad or patch. Non-limiting examples of such sunscreen compositions include leave-on skin lotions, creams, antiperspirants, deodorants, lipsticks, foundations, mascara, sunless tanners and sunscreen lotions. “Skin” as used herein is meant to include skin on the face and body (e.g., neck, chest, back, arms, underarms, hands, legs, buttocks and scalp) and especially to the sun exposed parts thereof. The composition of the invention is also of relevance to applications on any other keratinous substrates of the human body other than skin e.g. hair where products may be formulated with specific aim of providing photoprotection.
[0018] An advantage of the present invention is that the sunscreen composition is capable of providing an SPF of at least 10, more preferably at least 12, further more preferably at least 15. The invention is capable of providing SPF values as high as 20 and in some cases as high as 25 and in most preferred aspects as high as 30. The composition of the invention includes less than 1% organic sunscreen by weight of the composition. It is preferred that the composition comprises less than 0.8%, preferably less than 0.6%, more preferably less than 0.3%, further more preferably less than 0.1% total organic sunscreens by weight of the composition. In a highly preferred aspect organic sunscreens are absent from the composition of the invention.
[0019] An important ingredient that contributes to benefits of the present invention is a non-ionic surfactant. The non-ionic surfactant for use in the composition of the present invention has an HLB value of at least 13, preferably at least 14.5; further more preferably at least 17.5. The HLB value may be as high as 20, preferably as high as 25.
[0020] HLB is calculated using the Griffin method wherein HLB=20×Mh/M wherein Mh is the molecular mass of the hydrophilic portion of the molecule and M is the molecular mass of the whole molecule, giving a result on an arbitrary scale of 0 to 20. Typical values for various surfactants are given below:
[0021] A value <10 : Lipid soluble (water insoluble)
[0022] A value >10 : Water soluble
[0023] A value from 4 to 8 indicates an anti-foaming agent
[0024] A value from 7 to 11 indicates a W/O (water in oil) emulsifier
[0025] A value from 12 to 16 indicates oil in water emulsifier
[0026] A value from 11 to 14 indicates a wetting agent
[0027] A value from 12 to 15 is typical of detergents
[0028] A value of 16 to 20 indicates a solubiliser or hydrotrope
[0029] The non-ionic surfactant is preferably selected from the class of alkoxylates e.g. fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl phenol ethoxylates or polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters. The preferred non-ionic surfactants are ones with at least 9 alkylene oxide groups preferably at least 9 ethylene oxide groups. Preferred non-ionic surfactants are those sold under the brand names of Brij 35 (polyoxyethylene lauryl ether), Brij 58 (polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether), Brij700 (polyethylene glycol 4400 octadecyl ether), C12EO9, Tween 21(polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate), Tween20 (polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate), Tween40 (Polyoxyethylenesorbitan monopalmitate), Tween 60 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate), Triton X165 (octylphenol Ethoxylate), Triton X405 (octylphenol Ethoxylate) or Triton X705 (octylphenol Ethoxylate). The composition of the invention includes 0.5 to 5% non-ionic surfactant by weight of the composition. The non-ionic surfactant is preferably included in 1 to 3% by weight of the composition, more preferably in 1 to 2.5% by weight of the composition.
[0030] The composition of the invention comprises 1 to 10% inorganic sunscreen having a refractive Index higher than 1.8. The refractive index of the inorganic sunscreen may be as high as 3.0. Preferred range of refractive index of the inorganic sunscreen is from 1.8 to 2.2. Suitable inorganic sunscreens which may be included as per the above criterion are zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulphide, cadmium yellow or Bismuth vanadate. The preferred inorganic sunscreens are titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. The amount of inorganic sunscreen that is incorporated in the composition is preferably 2 to 8%, more preferably 3 to 7% by weight of the composition. The inorganic sunscreens preferably have a primary particle size in the range of 5 to 100 nm. The inorganic sunscreen is preferably hydrophobically coated. Suitable hydrophobic coating materials are aluminium stearate, silicones or ferric stearate.
[0031] The composition of the invention comprises a cosmetically acceptable base comprising 1 to 25% fatty acid by weight of the composition. In a preferred aspect the composition may include 0.1 to 10% soap. The cosmetically acceptable bases are preferably in a cream, lotion, or emulsion format. A more preferred format is a cream or lotion, further more preferred format is a vanishing cream. Vanishing cream base is one which may comprise 3 to 25%, more preferably 5 to 20% fatty acid. The fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated fatty acids. The base preferably comprises 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.1 to 3% soap. C 12 to C 20 fatty acids are especially preferred in vanishing cream bases, further more preferred being C 14 to C 18 fatty acids. The fatty acid is preferably a stearic acid or a palmitic acid or a mixture thereof. In creams, the fatty acid is preferably substantially a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid. Soaps in the vanishing cream base include alkali metal salt of fatty acids, like sodium or potassium salts. The soap is preferably the potassium salt of the fatty acid mixture. The fatty acid in vanishing cream base is often prepared using hystric acid which is substantially (generally about 90 to 95%) a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid. Thus, inclusion of hystric acid and its soap to prepare the vanishing cream base is within the scope of the present invention. It is particularly preferred that the composition comprises at least 6%, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 12% fatty acid. The cosmetically acceptable base is usually from 10 to 97%, preferably from 50 to 95% by weight of the composition. The cosmetically acceptable base preferably includes water. Water is preferably included in 35 to 90%, more preferably 50 to 85%, further more preferably 50 to 80% by weight of the composition.
[0032] The composition of the invention includes less than 1% organic sunscreen. The advantages of the invention are obtained even when no organic sunscreen is present. However the composition may comprise very small amount of organic sunscreen e.g. less than 0.8, preferably less than 0.6, further more preferably less than 0.3, even further more preferably less than 0.1% organic sunscreen, by weight of the composition.
[0033] The composition of the invention may additionally comprise a skin lightening agent. The skin lightening agent is preferably chosen from a vitamin B3 compound or its derivative e.g. niacin, nicotinic acid, niacinamide or other well known skin lightening agents e.g. aloe extract, ammonium lactate, azelaic acid, kojic acid, citrate esters, ellagic acid, glycolic acid, green tea extract, hydroquinone, lemon extract, linoleic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, vitamins like vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, a dicarboxylic acid, resorcinol derivatives, hydroxycarboxylic acid like lactic acid and their salts e.g. sodium lactate, and mixtures thereof. Vitamin B3 compound or its derivative e.g. niacin, nicotinic acid, niacinamide are the more preferred skin lightening agent, most preferred being niacinamide. Niacinamide, when used, is preferably present in an amount in the range of 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.2 to 5% by weight of the composition.
[0034] The composition according to the invention may also comprise other diluents. The diluents act as a dispersant or carrier for other materials present in the composition, so as to facilitate their distribution when the composition is applied to the skin. Diluents other than water can include liquid or solid emollients, solvents, humectants, thickeners and powders.
[0035] The composition of the invention may comprise a conventional deodorant base as the cosmetically acceptable carrier. By a deodorant is meant a product in the stick, roll-on, or propellant medium which is used for personal deodorant benefit e.g. application in the under-arm or any other area which may or may not contain anti-perspirant actives.
[0036] Deodorant compositions can generally be in the form of firm solids, soft solids, gels, creams, and liquids and are dispensed using applicators appropriate to the physical characteristics of the composition.
[0037] The compositions of the present invention can comprise a wide range of other optional components. The CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook, Second Edition, 1992, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes a wide variety of non-limiting cosmetic and pharmaceutical ingredients commonly used in the skin care industry, which are suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention. Examples include: antioxidants, binders, biological additives, buffering agents, colorants, thickeners, polymers, astringents, fragrance, humectants, opacifying agents, conditioners, exfoliating agents, pH adjusters, preservatives, natural extracts, essential oils, skin sensates, skin soothing agents, and skin healing agents.
[0038] The invention is now further described by way of the following non-limiting examples.
EXAMPLES
Example 1 and 2
Effect of Inclusion of Non-Ionic Surfactant in Compositions Comprising no Organic Sunscreens
[0039] Photoprotective personal care vanishing cream compositions (Example—1 and 2) as shown in Table—1 were prepared and the invitro-SPF was measured using the Optometrics 290S instrument model. The substrate used was an 8 cm Transpore tape procured from 3M Company. The sample was applied at 2 mg/cm 2 . The SPF as measured is shown in Table 1 which is an average of 3 measurements. By three measurements (in this examples and in all examples in this specification) is meant that measurements were carried out on three different samples, each sample being measured at twelve different spots.
[0000]
TABLE 1
Ingredients
Example 1
Example 2
Hystric acid
17.00
17.00
KOH
0.57
0.57
Titanium dioxide (MT 100Z)
5.00
5.00
Brij 35(Polyoxyethylene
0
2.00
lauryl ether)
Glycerine
1.00
1.00
Cetyl Alcohol
0.53
0.53
Isopropyl myristate
0.75
0.75
Silicone DC - 200/350
0.50
0.50
Water
To 100
To 100
SPF
4.0
14.0
[0040] In Table—1, above, Hystric acid was a mixture of 45% stearic acid and 55% palmitic acid.
[0041] Titanium oxide MT100Z was included as particles of 15 nm average particle size coated with aluminium stearate/aluminium hydroxide which was procured from Tayca.
[0042] The data in Table—1 indicates that it is possible by way of the present invention to provide for high SPF when a composition comprises no organic sunscreens but is brought about by synergistic interaction of the inorganic sunscreen and non-ionic surfactant in a cosmetically acceptable base comprising fatty acid.
Examples 3 to 8
Effect of Inclusion of Inorganic Sunscreens in Compositions Comprising Small Amount of Organic Sunscreens
[0043] Various compositions as shown in Table 2 were prepared with small amounts of organic sunscreens (total amounts of less than 1%) and the effect of inclusion of inorganic sunscreen was studied. The SPF of the various compositions were measured similar to that of Example 1 and are presented in Table—2 as an average of 3 measurements.
[0000]
TABLE 2
Ingredients
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Hystric acid
17.00
17.00
17.00
17.00
17.00
17.00
KOH
0.57
0.57
0.57
0.57
0.57
0.57
Titanium dioxide (MT
0
0
0
5.00
5.00
5.00
100Z)
Brij 35 (Polyoxyethylene
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
lauryl ether)
Glycerine
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
Cetyl Alcohol
0.53
0.53
0.53
0.53
0.53
0.53
Isopropyl myristate
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
Silicone DC - 200/350
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
Parsol 1789 (1-[4-(1,1-
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.10
0.20
0.30
Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-
3-(4-methoxyphenyl)
propane-1,3-dione
Parsol MCX
0.19
0.38
0.57
0.19
0.38
0.57
(2-ethylhexyl-3-(4-
methoxyphenyl)-2-
propenoate
Water
To 100
To 100
To 100
To 100
To 100
To 100
SPF
2.1
3.1
4.6
14.3
15.9
19.3
[0044] The data in Table—2 indicates that compositions of the present invention (Examples 6 to 8) provide for high SPF when the compositions comprise the desired amount of inorganic sunscreens and non-ionic surfactant even when small amount of organic sunscreen is present, as compared to similar compositions outside the invention which do not comprise the desired inorganic sunscreen agents (Examples 3 to 5).
Examples 9 to 23
Compositions Comprising Non-Ionic Surfactants Within and Outside the Invention
[0045] Various vanishing cream compositions similar to Example 2 were prepared except that various non-ionic surfactants (with different HLB values) were included. The SPF values of these compositions were measured and the data as an average of three measurements is summarized in Table—3.
[0000]
TABLE 3
Ex-
am-
ple
Surfactant
HLB
SPF
Remarks
9
Brij 52 (polyoxyethylene
5.3
7.0
Processing issue with
(2) cetyl ether)
the composition
10
C12EO5
9.3
—
Processing issue with
the composition. SPF
could not be measured.
11
Brij S10 (Ethoxy (10)
12.0
7.0
Processing issue with
stearyl alcohol)
the composition
12
C12EO9
13.6
15.0
13
Brij 58 (polyoxyethylene
16.0
14.0
(20) cetyl ether)
14
Brij 35 (Polyoxyethylene
16.9
14.0
lauryl ether)
15
Brij 700 (Polyethylene
18.8
14.0
glycol 4400 octadecyl
ether)
16
Span 20 (Sorbitan
9.0
—
Processing issue with
monolaurate)
the composition. SPF
could not be measured.
17
Tween 21
13.1
13.0
(Polyoxyethylenesorbitan
monolaurate)
18
Tween 60
14.9
11.0
(Polyoxyethylene sorbitan
monostearate)
19
Tween 40
15.6
12.0
(Polyoxyethylenesorbitan
monopalmitate)
20
Tween 20
16.9
13.0
(Polyoxyethylenesorbitan
monolaurate)
21
Triton 165 (Octylphenol
15.5
12.0
Ethoxylate)
22
Triton 405 (Octylphenol
17.6
19.0
Ethoxylate)
23
Trition X 705
18.4
13.0
(Octylphenol Ethoxylate)
[0046] The data in Table 3 indicates that compositions as per the invention (Examples 12 to 15 and 17 to 23) provide for high SPF while those outside the invention (Example 9 to 11 and 16) either do not provide the benefit or have some processing issue.
Examples 24 to 29
Compositions Comprising Inorganic Sunscreens of Various Particle Sizes.
[0047] Vanishing cream compositions similar to Example 1 were prepared except that inorganic sunscreens (titanium oxide) of various particle sizes or mixtures of different particles were included, as shown in Table—4. The SPF values of these compositions were measured and the data is summarized in Table—4 as an average of 3 measurements.
[0000]
TABLE 4
First
Second
First
inorganic
Second
inorganic
Inorganic
sunscreen
Inorganic
sunscreen
Example
sunscreen
(wt %)
sunscreen
(wt %)
SPF
24
MT-100Z
5
—
—
13.0
(15 nm)
25
MT-500SA
5
—
—
10.0
(35 nm)
26
MT-700Z
5
—
—
12.0
(80 nm)
27
MT-100Z
4
MT-700Z
2
16.0
(15 nm)
(80 nm)
28
MT-100Z
3
MT-700Z
2
16.0
(15 nm)
(80 nm)
29
MT-600B
5
MT-700Z
2
13.0
(50 nm)
(80 nm)
[0048] The data in Table—4 indicates that inorganic sunscreens of various particle sizes preferably in the range of 5 to 100 nm provides the benefit of the invention.
Example 30 and 31
Effect of Inclusion of Non-Ionic Surfactant in Lotion Compositions Comprising no Organic Sunscreens
[0049] Photoprotective personal care lotions compositions (Example—30 and 31) as shown in Table—5 were prepared and the invitro-SPF was measured as per procedure already used for Example 1 and 2. The SPF as measured is shown in Table 5 as an average of 3 measurements.
[0000]
TABLE 5
Ingredients
Example 30
Example 31
Hystric acid
6.00
6.00
Titanium dioxide (MT 100Z)
5.00
5.00
Brij 35 (Polyoxyethylene lauryl
0.00
2.00
ether)
Glycerine
1.00
1.00
Cetyl Alcohol
0.37
0.37
Isopropyl myristate
1.00
1.00
Glyceryl monostearate
1.50
1.50
Carbopol Ultrez 10 (cross-linked
0.30
0.30
polyacrylic acid polymer)
Water
To 100
To 100
SPF
5.0
13.5
[0050] The data in Table -5 indicates that it is possible by way of the present invention to provide for high SPF by synergistic interaction of the inorganic sunscreen and non-ionic surfactant in a cosmetically acceptable base comprising fatty acid.
[0051] The present invention thus provides for high SPF photo-protective sunscreen composition. All this is achieved using low amounts of organic sunscreen agents thereby keeping costs low.
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A photoprotective personal care composition. The invention to a photoprotective personal care composition. The invention more particularly relates to a sunscreen composition that not only provides high sun protection but does that with minimal or no amount of traditionally used organic sunscreens. It is thus objects of the present invention to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and provide high SPF photo-protective sunscreen compositions. Another object of the present invention is to achieve the above object using negligible amounts or no amount of organic sunscreen agents, which are sometimes unstable with the added advantage that inclusion of low or no organic sunscreens enables low formulation cost.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years the use of carbon brake disks have increased and many types of keyslot reinforcements have been proposed to compensate for some of the limitations of physical properties of carbon disks and give increased wear in the keyslots of the disks. A typical keyslot reinforcement used in the past is made of stamped steel or other metal and is shown in such U.S. patents as U.S. Pat. No. 3,907,076 issued to R. L. Crossman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,000 issued to R. E. Berger and U.S. Pat. No. 3,927,740 issued to R. L. Zarembka. The use of stamped steel keyway reinforcements resulted in improved disk life but is limited in that certain shapes cannot be formed by stamping and needed variations in wall thickness cannot be obtained by using a stamped part.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a carbon brake disk having a keyslot reinforcement which is easy to manufacture at lower cost and which has increased durability.
Another object of the invention is to provide a carbon brake disk keyslot reinforcement which has physical properties which are more compatible with the physical properties of the carbon disk with which it is used.
A further object of the invention is to provide a carbon brake disk keyslot reinforcement which is more versatile than previous devices and can be produced to accomodate various keyslot configurations and meet more demanding strength requirements. A still further object of the invention is to provide a keyliner which has full bearing against the keyway to reduce stresses in the assembly.
These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent in the following specification and the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A brake disk comprising an annular friction disk means of carbon based material having: a plurality of substantially U-shaped keyslots spaced around one periphery of the disk and extending transversely therethrough, a plurality of cast keyslot reinforcement members fixedly attached to the disk means at said keyslots each member having: a substantially U-shaped center portion substantially conforming to the contour of the keyslot and in intimate contact therewith, a pair of channel shaped end portions integrally formed with the center portion and receiving within the channel of each end portion, a portion of the sides and periphery of the disk means adjacent to each side of the keyslot, the walls of the end portions intimately contacting the disk means, at least part of the walls of the center portion being substantially thicker than the walls of the end portions, and means fixedly attaching the keyslots to the disk means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a brake disk having metal keyslot reinforcements assembled thereon;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is top perspective view of the keyslot reinforcement member similar to that used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the keyslot reinforcement member shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a segmented brake disk with a metal keyslot reinforcement assembled thereon;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 the numeral 1 indicates generally a brake disk assembly having a continuous annular friction disk or ring 2 of carbon based material. The friction disk 2 is provided at uniformly spaced intervals on its outer circumference with keyslots 3. Metal keyslot reinforcement members 4 are secured to the annular disk 2 at each of the slots 3 and held in place by rivets 5 passing through bushings 6 in holes 7 in the disk 2.
The annular friction disk 2 is preferably made from a carbon base material. The carbon base may be carbon itself, particularly in the form of graphite or amorphous carbon, or carbon compounds typical of which are the carbides such as boron carbide, silicon carbide and titanium carbide. Mixtures of carbon in its various forms may of course be used. In addition to the carbon base, other ingredients may be used such as anti-oxidants, binders, fillers, strengthening agents and reinforcing fibers or cloth laminates. However, it should be understood that the principles of the invention are applicable to any brake material, or brake disk, and are not limited to this type of carbon base material.
The keyslot reinforcement members 4 are castings made preferably by the investment casting process. Stainless steel is one preferred material which may be used although a wide range of metal alloys may be used provided they give the desired physical properties. The use of investment cast reinforcement members makes it possible to form a close tolerance part with a homogeneous metal structure that is not present in the conventional stamped keyslot reinforcement clips which have been previously used. Furthermore, the cast member permits a wider choice of metal alloys with material properties more compatible with the carbon disks. Making the reinforcement members 4 by a casting process makes it possible to have variation in the wall thickness so that in parts of the reinforcement member where greater strength is needed the wall may be made thicker and where less strength is needed the wall may be made thinner thus providing the optimum strength where needed while maintaining a minimum total weight in each reinforcing member.
Describing the members 4 in greater detail as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, they are comprised of a substantially U-shaped center portion 8 and pair of substantially identical channel shaped end portions 9 one of which is integrally formed on each side of the center portion. Each of the end portions has a top wall 10 and a pair of side walls 11 extending downwardly from opposite edges of the top wall. The center portion has a bottom wall 12 and a pair of side walls 13 extending upwardly from each side of the bottom wall 12.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the keyway reinforcement member 4 is cast as a single integral piece with the center portion 8 and the two end portions 9 forming an elongated member curved to fit the periphery 14 of the disk 2, and the center portion shaped to fit the keyslot 3 and forming a substantially U-shaped slot 15 extending transversely across the member 4. The end pieces form substantially longitudinal slots 16 which fit over a portion of the periphery 14 of this disk 2 on each side of the keyslot 3.
The wall thickness of the center portion is preferably about twice that of the wall thickness of the end portions 9. The thick bottom wall 12 provides better stress distribution between the end portions 9 and in turn more uniform loading on the rivets 5. The thick side walls 13 completely cover and bear against the entire side edges 17 and thereby provide greater protection for the side edges 17. The thick bottom wall 12 completely covers and bears against the entire bottom edge 18 of the keyslot.
While the side walls 11 are shown as inclined at an oblique angle to the bottom wall 12, they may also be perpendicular. While various angles may be used, it is preferred that each of the side walls be inclined at approximately 10° to 30° from the perpendicular to the bottom wall 12 so that they define an angle which diverges toward the outer periphery of the disk. If the disk has keyslots on the inner periphery of the disk, then the side walls of the keyslot will diverge toward the inner periphery of the disk.
The reinforcing member 4 completely covers the side edges 17 and the bottom edge 18 of the keyslot 3 and a portion of the periphery 14 on each side of the keyslot and is in intimate contact with the surface of all portions of the disk covered, thereby limiting oxidation of the carbon material in the area covered.
FIG. 6 illustrates how the same keyway reinforcement members 4 that are used on the continuous carbon disk 2 may also be used on a segmented disk assembly 19 comprising an annular disk 20 having segments 21. The segments have interfitting tongues 22 and grooves 23 similar to those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,000. The particular configuration of the segments does not form a part of the invention but is used merely for the purpose of illustration of the use of the keyway reinforcement member 4 with a segmented disk. The keyslots 24 are formed at the juncture of the segments 21 with one sidewall 25 and a bottom wall 26 being formed by one segment and the opposite sidewall 27 of the keyslot 24 being formed by the next adjacent segment 21.
The reinforcement member 4 fits over the keyslot 24 in the same manner as it fits keyslots 3 in FIG. 1 as previously described and is fastened in place by rivets 28. When used with the segmented disk the extra thickness of the bottom wall 12 of the center portion 8 is particularly advantageous in withstanding the stresses on the member 4 at the locations where the segments are joined together.
Other modifications may be made in the embodiments shown herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
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An annular carbon brake disk having cast metal keyslot reinforcement members which are shaped to intimately conform to the contour of the keyslots and to an adjacent surface area of the disk on each side of the keyslots. The reinforcement members are preferably investment castings of heat resistant stainless steel or other suitable metal and the walls of the reinforcement members are substantially thicker at the portion contacting the keyslot than at the other portions of the members. The keyslot reinforcement members may be used with either continuous or segmented disks.
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This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 656,855 filed on 10/2/84, now abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a yarn feed device for a circular knitting machine equipped with stripers mounted in association with each set of machine cams and also in association with a needle removal zone of the needle cylinder, each of said devices being formed by a plurality of yarnguides, normally four, selectively operated by a pattern drum indexed through a ratchet wheel by a rotary moving control in synchronism with the needle cylinder, said control operating at the most once on each and every one of the ratchet wheels on each rotation of the machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the hitherto known circular knitting machines, the stripers are mounted on the periphery of the machine at the rate of one striper per cam set, each striper generally receiving four yarns three of which are retained by the striper and the other is delivered selectively to the needles so that in operation the needles are fed with one of the four yarns.
The changeover of the yarn fed to the needles by the striper, which determines the striping in the fabric, is carried out at the most once on each rotation of the machine and always in one same needle cylinder zone, namely the so-called needle removal zone, having a width of 20 to 30 needles, at the start of which certain needles have been removed, whereas in the remaining portion the needle density is less than in the remainder of the cylinder. Furthermore, in terry machines with stripers, terry sinkers are used in the needle removal zone instead of jersey knit sinkers.
In the known art, as said above, on a yarn changeover, the striper is actuated by a rotary moving control in synchronism with the needle cylinders, which control acts on a lever of the striper through pushers. The striper lever is provided with a pawl which indexes step by step a ratchet wheel attached to a pattern drum in which there are selectively inserted pins which cause levers associated with the moving yarnguides to rock. These yarnguides place the yarn in the path of the needles so that the latter pick it up and knit it. In the yarn changeover process, the yarn to be inserted is offered up so that the needles receive it and start knitting even while the previous yarn is still being knitted. Thus, for a short period of time, two yarns are being knitted simultaneously, namely the incoming yarn and the outgoing one.
In view of the foregoing, it is understandable that it is not possible for the conventional systems positively to feed the circular machines equipped with stripers, since:
only one of each four yarns is knit by the needles;
the yarn change is effected selectively depending on the characteristics of the fabric to be knitted;
on the rotations in which there is no yarn changeover, there appears equally the needle removal zone in which, particularly in terry fabrics, the amount of yarn required by the needles varies considerably.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a yarn feeder capable of overcoming the above drawbacks and of:
delivering a single yarn with positive feeding;
delivering the selected yarn in perfect synchronism with the striping changeover;
positively feeding with the adequate amount of yarn both the needles in the needle removal zone and the remaining needles, without the needles in any case demanding the necessary yarn by pulling it and increasing the tension thereof.
To this end, the yarn feed device according to the invention, being of the type described above, is characterised in that it comprises:
(a) two parallel facing shafts which rotate in synchronism and are separated from one another, each of said shafts having mounted thereon a set of identical toothed rollers such that each of the drive rollers of one set is adapted to mesh with a mating driven roller of the other set, the teeth of the rollers of one set being shifted relative to those of the other so that, in rotation, the teeth of the one penetrate between the teeth of the other without making contact at any point;
(b) operating spaces between the toothed rollers of each set;
(c) a bevelled corner on the toothed rollers facing the corresponding operating space;
(d) two pinions mounted respectively on the parallel shafts, one of them being adapted to cause the other pinion to rotate;
(e) a yarnguide for each operating space hingedly mounted on a shaft and comprising two eyelets defining a line capable of occupying an inoperative position extending through an operating space or an operative position extending between a pair of rollers;
(f) an actuating lever for each yarnguide;
(g) a support head for hingedly mounting one of said parallel shafts;
each of said yarnguide actuating levers being associated with the activating means of a different yarn of the striper at the same time as the support head of said one of said parallel shafts is associated with the drive means synchronised with the rotation of the circular knitting machine and acting upon the striper.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further aspects of the invention will be disclosed in detail in the following description to be read with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a part schematic view of a yarn feed device according to a first, preferred embodiment of the invention associated with the corresponding striper, mounted on a circular knitting machine;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the yarn feed device drive mechanism, longitudinally through the drive means thereof, the latter being shown in section;
FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the yarn feed device and the drive means therefor, on the line III--III of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross section on the line IV--IV of FIG. 3, showing the yarn feed device delivering a yarn; in this Figure the pinions have been omitted and the eyelets are shown in section for greater clarity;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 showing the toothed rollers being opened;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to those of FIGS. 4 and 5, showing the toothed rollers in an inoperative position;
FIG. 7 is a view of the toothed rollers of the yarn feed device, provided with a yarn tension detector, in the non-feeding position according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, showing the start of the yarn feed stage;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8, showing the yarn feed stage;
FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 7 to 9, showing the start of the yarn non-feeding position;
FIG. 11 is a view of the position of maximum separation of the drive gears, with corrected modulus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, without contact being made between the roller teeth;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, showing the gears in the minimum separation position thereof, without there being direct contact between the rollers either.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The purpose of the striper 1 used in the invention is to supply the needles 2 of a circular knitting machine with the striping yarn 4 fed at the speed required by the needle consumption for knitting the desired fabric and partially to reduce the feed in the needle removal zone. When the fabric so requires, the feed yarn is changed over without tense points in the incoming yarn or overfeeding of the outgoing yarn, the whole changeover cycle being carried out.
These operations are performed from the movement of the corresponding moving yarnguide 5 of the striper 1 which, in turn, is driven by levers 6 from a knuckle joint as shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus comprises a feed mechanism 7, object of the invention which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises a set of toothed driving rollers 8 and a further set of driven rollers 9 mounted on respective parallel drive and driven shafts 10 and 11. Said rollers mesh with one another without making any contact, only for the purpose of pulling the yarn along by the alternate friction effect as the yarn passes between the teeth. The rollers of each set are spaced apart and each pair of rollers 8, 9 of each set defines an operating space S, the face of the roller 8 (9) facing the operating space S being provided with a bevelled surface 8a (9a). The function of the bevelled surface 8a (9a) of the toothed driving roller 8 (9) is merely to facilitate the passage of the yarn from the neutral or inoperative area to the operating space, wherein the rollers pick up the yarn and deliver it at a constant speed to the needles.
To drive the rollers 8, 9 of the feed device there is provided a drive pulley 12 mounted on a shaft 13 carrying a bevel gear 14 meshing with a further bevel gear 15 mounted on the shaft 10, to which there is also attached a drive pinion 16. Pinion 16 drives a further driven pinion 17 attached to the shaft 11 of the other toothed roller 9, through two intermediate pinions 18 and 19 having respective shafts 21 and 22. A support head 27 supports the shafts 11 and 22 and pivots around shaft 22 and when the pivoting takes place, the teeth 23 of the rollers 8 and 9 come out of mesh. Conversely, in the meshed position, the teeth 23 of said rollers never make mutual contact, so that the yarn 4 is pulled along without suffering any damage and without losing the prior synchronism of rotation of said rollers 8 and 9.
The shaft 10 is mounted in bearings 24 in the mechanism housing 25, while the shaft 11 is mounted in further bearings 26 in the head 27, which is urged against the housing 25 by a spring 28.
There is a plurality of toothed rollers 8, 9 on each shaft 10, 11, four are shown in FIG. 3, since this is the usual number and they correspond to four striping yarns 4, although only one of them intervenes in each operation.
The feed device receives the corresponding yarn 4 through yarnguides 30, each of which comprises a shaft 31 with two arms 32 each provided with an eyelet 33, one on the inlet side and the other on the outlet side, as seen in FIG. 4. For each operating space S corresponding to the rollers 8, 9, there is a yarnguide 30. One of such yarnguides is in an operative position and the remainder are inoperative, as seen in FIG. 3. Tiebars 34 act upon a terminal block 35 for a lever arm 36 of the yarnguide 30. Each pair of eyelets 33 defines a line which in an inoperative yarnguide 30 extends through the corresponding operating space S and in the operative yarnguide extends through a pair of rollers 8, 9.
The head 27 pivots about the shaft 22 of the pinion 19 and is actuated from point 37 by a tiebar 38 connected to a slide 39 running on a cam track of a cam 40 disposed for moving the head 27 as shown in FIG. 1.
The operation of the yarnguides 30 for the toothed rollers 8 and 9, by way of the tierods 34, is controlled by the moving yarnguides 5 of the striper 1, as seen in FIG. 1, with the aid of a crank lever 41, as a mechanical solution. An electromagnetic solution is feasible as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, with a suitably programmed electromagnet.
FIG. 4 shows the yarnguide in the yarn feed position. The yarn is caught by the teeth 23 of rollers 8 and 9 and delivered at constant speed to the needles 2. FIG. 6 shows the yarnguide in the non-feeding position and in this position there is no engagement between the yarn 4 and the said rollers 8 and 9. Figure 5 relates to the first position mentioned which, in the needle removal zone on a striper change, continues in the feed position but delivering a lesser amount of yarn since, by pivoting of the support head 27, the engagement between the teeth 23 of the rollers 8 and 9 is less and therefore the amount of yarn fed is less, corresponding to the small amount used in the needle removal zone.
FIGS. 7 and 10 show the running of the striper yarn 4 in the different stages of a cycle, with the intervention of a sensor 45 formed by a lever 46 connected to a traction spring 47 and movable between photoelectric sensors 48 and 49, the lever 46 being provided with a yarnguide eyelet 50 for the yarn 4 guided by a further two fixed leading and trailing eyelets 51 and 52.
As shown in FIG. 8, the striper yarn 4 starts the feed stage to the needles 2, whereby the sensor gives way under the tension of the yarn, breaking contact with the sensor 48 which immediately sends a command signal to the electromagnet 42 associated with the yarnguide 30 which pivots to place the yarn in the contact and feed area of the rollers 8 and 9.
FIG. 9 shows the yarn 4 being fed to the needles 2, whereby the eyelet 50 of the lever 46 is fully aligned with the eyelets 51 and 52, in which position the lever 46 intercepts the light ray of sensor 49.
FIG. 10 shows the moment of the striping changeover, whereby the yarn becomes slack, the lever 46 pivots and ceases to obstruct the sensor 49. Immediately the electromagnet operates and removes the yarnguide 30 from the feed zone. Under these conditions, the yarn 4 ceases to be knit by the needles.
FIG. 7 shows the non-feeding yarnguides in the rest position, with the lever 46 blocking the light ray of sensor 48 and a new cycle is started.
For operating the yarnguides 5 as shown in FIG. 1, there is a mechanism mounted on the fixed frame 55 which mechanism is disclosed in Spanish Pat. No. 481,545. On the the frame 56 there moves a control device 56 which actuates an arm 59 connected to a traction spring 60 through pushers 57 and further intermediate pushers 58. Arm 59 is provided with a pawl 61 for a ratchet wheel provided with pins 63 which actuate in each case the said levers 6 of each of the yarnguides 5.
An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 in which pinions 16a and 17a replace the pinions 16 and 17, to give a simplified mechanism. In this embodiment, the pinions 16a and 17a are of corrected modulus as shown in the figures. On the one hand, this simplifies the mechanism since the above described intermediate pinions 18 and 19 become unnecessary and on the other there is no contact under any circumstance between the teeth 23 of the rollers 8 and 9. This is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the former showing the maximum separation between the pinions 16a and 17a, while the latter shows the minimum separation between the rollers, such that in the former case there is a smaller meshing zone between the rollers 8 and 9 and in the latter a larger meshing zone for effective feeding of the yarns.
Both figures show the mean radius R 1 for the corrected modulus teeth of pinion 17a which in FIG. 12 is aligned with the radius R 2 of pinion 16a, while in FIG. 11, the radii are not aligned due to the shift between the pinions.
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A feed device for a circular knitting machine capable of positively feeding the needles with an adequate amount of yarn without the needles having to require the necessary yarn by pulling it and increasing its tension is disclosed. It comprises two sets of toothed rollers adapted to mesh without the respective teeth thereof making contact and a yarnguide for each pair of rollers capable of adopting an operative position in which the yarn guided by the eyelets of the yarnguide runs between the teeth or an inoperative position in which the yarn is spaced from the rollers. In the operative position it is contemplated that the rollers may be moved farther apart, whereby the yarn feed speed is reduced.
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CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of German patent application 10348689.5, filed Oct. 16, 2003, herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a method for the production of a fancy yarn, which corresponds to an existing model fancy yarn and a device for use in producing the same.
[0003] A yarn in which thick locations are present with predetermined larger diameters and with predetermined lengths, the so-called effects, is called a fancy yarn, also referred to as a novelty yarn or an effect yarn. The yarn sections located in between, with a smaller diameter, in other words the effect-free sections, are called webs. Fancy yarns are becoming more and more important. Areas of application are, for example, denims, materials for casual clothing and home textiles.
[0004] Fancy yarns can also be produced on rotor spinning machines. In this case, the fiber feed to the opening roller of the rotor spinning mechanism is changed, for example, in that the speed of the draw-in rollers is varied. For this purpose, mechanical gearings are activated, which drive shafts extending along the length of the machine. These draw-in rollers are made to rotate by means of the shafts. However, owing to the large mass of the moved parts of a drive system of this type and the gearing play, an exact and abrupt change in the yarn thickness at the beginning and end of an effect cannot be achieved, or only with difficulty. The speed during the spinning of fancy yarn optionally has to be sharply reduced when spinning fancy yarn compared to the speed when spinning effect-free yarn.
[0005] German Patent Publication DE 44 04 503 A1 describes a rotor spinning machine, in which each draw-in roller with its drive shaft is directly connected to an associated stepping motor. Each stepping motor can be activated via an activation unit. Random speed changes of the draw-in of the sliver (also known as a sliver) can be generated with a random generator. A fancy yarn with predetermined effects cannot be produced with this known rotor spinning machine. The disadvantage of yarns produced by means of a random generator is primarily that patterns are unintentionally produced in the textile surface by the random production.
[0006] However, in the meantime programs for controlling ring or rotor spinning machines, in particular their supply cylinders have been developed, with which effects can be adjusted in a targeted manner (see for example German Patent Publication DE 40 41 301 A1).
[0007] It is known to store the effect data of previously produced fancy yarns, in order to be able to produce a yarn again with the same effects at a later instant. However, if a fancy yarn exists, which was produced, for example with a ring spinning machine but is now to be produced on a rotor spinning machine with a substantially similar effect specification, the effect and setting data available cannot be directly transferred.
[0008] The effect data includes, in particular, the effect lengths, effect diameters, the effect frequency and the respective effect-free thread length or web length.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the invention is to propose a method and a device, which make the reproducibility of a previously produced fancy yarn possible.
[0010] This object is achieved with a method for producing a fancy yarn, which corresponds to an existing model fancy yarn. Initially the model fancy yarn is guided through a measuring mechanism for measuring, and at least one of the parameters of diameter and mass of the model fancy yarn is continuously measured by means of the measuring mechanism. The measured values are evaluated and the effect formation of the model fancy yarn is determined therefrom from the effect regions and webs located in between. A data set is formed from the data representing the effect formation. Spinning settings are generated, based on the previously formed data set and a fancy yarn is produced with these spinning setting.
[0011] The invention further provides a device for carrying out the above-described method and comprises a measuring mechanism for determining at least one parameter of diameter and mass of a model fancy yarn, an evaluation mechanism which determines the effect data of the model fancy yarn from the measured values, a yarn design unit which generates the data required for spinning on a spinning machine, in particular a rotor spinning machine, from the effect data by means of a yarn design software, and control mechanisms for controlling the drives of the spinning machine based on the data transmitted by the yarn design unit.
[0012] By means of the method according to the invention, all the essential data for the further production of a fancy yarn is collected and brought into a form which makes it possible to produce the presented yarn, regardless of what type of machine it was previously produced on, for example even to produce it on a rotor spinning machine, with the characteristic effect structure substantially being recognizable again.
[0013] Further advantageous configurations and embodiments of the invention reside in the details of determining the effect formation, which result from the transverse dimension values which have been supplied by a measuring mechanism. The important factor above all is to determine regularities in the repetition of effect lengths and dimensions including their repeat length and to eliminate effect-independent irregularities. Only thereby is a reproduction of the model effect possible.
[0014] The yarn produced may also be measured wherein the effect formation of the yarn produced is determined and compared with the effect formation of the model fancy yarn, and the spinning settings are changed until an adequate agreement between the effect formation of the yarn produced and the effect formation of the model fancy yarn is achieved. If a check on the effect achieved is carried out in this manner, an adjustment may take place until adequate agreement is achieved with the original yarn. In other words, it is possible according to the present invention to check, in a plurality of cycles, the result of the respective change in parameters and to initiate a change again. In this manner, the yarn can very closely approach the original yarn. Checking of the agreement may take place either by statistical detection, in particular detection of the effects by tables, in other words, their thickness, length and distribution or else their visual presentation, as is known, for example, by means of the Oasys® system from Zweigle. In the simplest case, the yarns may be directly compared visually.
[0015] The data set of the spinning settings for producing fancy yarn may be stored after completed adjustment, with identification ensuring retrieval. The reproducibility of this yarn is very good owing to storage of such data after adjustment.
[0016] The spinning settings which, apart from the directly effect-related data, vary with the changing transverse dimension of the yarn, also contain further data relating to the basic adjustment of the spinning machine, such as the rotor speed, opening cylinder speed and selection of the spinning means. Such data may be stored on a storage medium for further production of the fancy yarn. Such data may be provided with addresses and addressed to the respective control units provided for the corresponding control operations. By this adaptation to the original yarn, spinning settings also have to be taken into account that relate to the base setting of the machine, which do not vary like the directly effect-related data with the varying transverse dimension of the yarn. Thus, for example, the thickness of the yarn section may be changed by changing the twist factor. The combing out power of the opening roller influencing the effect is determined both by the type of fittings and the peripheral speed of the opening roller.
[0017] The data to then be resupplied to the rotor spinning machine is effective for various control mechanisms. Accordingly, the data contains addresses of control mechanisms, for which it is intended. On downloading, this leads to the intended allocation of the data.
[0018] In this case, data is also included, which is merely brought to a display of the central control mechanism for display. This relates, in particular to data, which cannot be converted by the machine itself. An example is the necessary number of spinning means.
[0019] The device according to the invention may further comprise mechanisms mounted in front of the control mechanisms, with at least, however, the measuring mechanism being configured as separate mechanisms. The separate mechanisms are coupled to the control mechanisms via connections. Thus, this plurality of mechanisms are alternatively connected to the spinning machine or are operated separately from one another. In either case, these mechanisms are alternatively connected via data lines to the control mechanisms of the spinning machine or available by means of transportable data carriers for the control mechanisms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention will be described with the aid of a rotor spinning machine.
[0021] In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a spinning station,
[0023] FIG. 2 shows the opening mechanism of a spinning station in a simplified schematic view, in a partial view,
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the control, in particular of draw-in rollers of a rotor spinning machine,
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a fancy yarn, which is shown by the arrangement side by side of measured values of the yarn diameter and
[0026] FIG. 5 shows the schematic view of a yarn effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Of the large number of spinning stations of a rotor spinning machine, a single spinning station 1 is shown in side view. At the spinning station 1 a sliver 3 is drawn by a so-called compressor 4 into the spinning box 5 of the rotor spinning mechanism from a sliver can 2 . The mechanism arranged in the spinning box 5 for separating the fibers and feeding them into the spinning rotor 6 are known from the prior art and 23 via the drive connection 29 . The stepping motor 23 can be activated by the line 24 . The direction of rotation of the opening roller 28 is indicated by the arrow 30 .
[0028] The schematic structure of a draw-in roller control is shown schematically in FIG. 3 .
[0029] The measuring mechanism 31 described in the present example measures the diameters of the presented yarn. Alternatively, the yarn mass could be determined, for example, by means of a capacitive sensor instead of an optical sensor. In determining the yarn mass, which is generally used as a basis for the determination of the yarn fineness, the mass of a yarn section passing the measuring region is measured, while in an optical measurement, an average diameter value is determined inside the measuring region. Both measurements are equally suitable for evaluation of the effect formation. In the present example, however, the invention is described with the aid of the diameter determination.
[0030] Initially, the original yarn is supplied to the schematically shown measuring mechanism 31 which detects the measured diameters in relation to the thread length running through and transmits this data to an evaluation mechanism 32 ′ of a yarn design unit 32 . The transmission is indicated by the arrow 33 . The effect data is formed in the evaluation mechanism 32 A from the measured values. The evaluation mechanism may also be combined with the measuring mechanism 31 or may be formed by a separate mechanism. The formation of the effect data is described below in conjunction with the FIGS. 4 and 5 .
[0031] The data required for spinning on a rotor spinning machine is generated by means of yarn design software in the yarn design unit 32 . This data includes both the directly effect-related data, which varies with the changing diameter of the yarn and further data relating to the basic setting of the rotor spinning machine. This is, for example, the rotor, draw-off roller and opening roller speed and the selection of the spinning means. While the latter are preferably retrieved from a table, the speeds have to be determined by corresponding algorithms. These algorithms are based on known connections. This involves, for example, the determination of the drawing from the ratio of the speeds of the take-off rollers to the speed of the take-in rollers, or of the rotations per meter from the rotor speed to the take-off speed and the constriction of the fiber assembly connected thereto.
[0032] The data generated in the yarn design unit 32 is transmitted via a data bus, the CAN-BUS 34 here, to a central control mechanism 35 of the rotor spinning machine. The transmission may also alternatively take place using transportable data carriers, such as for example a compact flash card.
[0033] The central control mechanism 35 is connected to the central computer 22 via the data line 36 .
[0034] A control mechanism 25 comprises the control of, for example, 24 stepping motors 23 of the respective take-in rollers 27 via lines 24 . All 24 spinning stations are constructed in the same manner. A control card 40 is connected on the control mechanism 25 by means of a connection device 39 .
[0035] The data required to produce fancy yarn for controlling the stepping motors 23 is transmitted to the control card 40 via a can bus 41 by the central control mechanism 35 . The control card 40 , to produce fancy yarn, converts the data about thickness and length of the effects and webs, with adaptation to the conventional spinning settings, into control data for the stepping motors 23 to generate the rotational movement of the draw-in rollers 27 . The data required for the control of the stepping motors of the draw-in rollers is transmitted via a can bus 42 as a continuation of the can bus 41 to further control cards, not shown, which are connected to control mechanisms of further sections of the rotor spinning machine. One of the further control mechanisms is shown by dashed lines. The further control mechanisms are constructed like the control mechanism 25 , have the same connection device and the same connected control card. Each further control mechanism controls the spinning stations of a section of the rotor spinning machine, in each case.
[0036] If a stepping motor 23 is activated in such a way that it runs more quickly compared to the base speed, the draw-in roller 27 transports more fiber material to the opening roller 28 . This has the result that per time unit more fiber material arrives in the rotor 6 and the thread spun becomes thicker. The length of the thick location depends on the duration of the increased fiber supply. The diameter of the thick location depends on the speed of the stepping motor 23 or the draw-in roller 27 .
[0037] The control mechanism 25 is then activated via the line 43 by the central computer 22 , moreover, when it is input via control commands whether the control mechanism 25 alternatively controls the production of fancy yarn or the production of effect-free yarn.
[0038] By means of one of the sensors 12 , or a separate sensor, which is not drawn in here, the freshly spun yarn is measured out and the measured values transmitted to the yarn design unit 32 which is also provided with a display, not shown, in order to reproduce the current fancy yarn. If the appearance or the statistical description of the freshly spun yarn does not correspond to the original yarn, further changes have to be made. These changes may consist in changing the effect parameters which are input in the yarn design unit and in the change of further machine parameters, which are generally to be input at the central computer 22 . For this, control connections 44 are available at the central computer, which may lead, for example, to a control mechanism 45 for the draw-in rollers 11 or 46 for the spinning rotors 6 , the control mechanisms 45 and 46 being formed, for example, by frequency converters. A display 47 at the central computer also displays the spinning means selected which have a not inconsiderable influence on the formation of the effects.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows the view of the yarn profile of the fancy yarn as an arrangement side by side of measured values. Effects 48 and webs 49 can be seen but the beginning and end of the effects 48 and the effect thickness or the effect diameter DE and the web thickness or the web diameter DST cannot be clearly seen and therefore cannot be seen adequately.
[0040] The measuring mechanism 31 registers the yarn diameter D in each case after 2 mm of yarn length. A cycle step represents a measuring length of 2 mm yarn. In the view of FIG. 5 , the yarn diameter D is shown in a percentage over the yarn length LG as a curve 50 . The curve 50 represents, in the view of FIG. 5 , starting from the left up to point 51 , the yarn diameter DST. From the point 51 , the curve 50 rises and at point 55 passes the value of the limit diameter D GR . At point 53 , the predetermined yarn length L V has been covered since reaching the point 52 . After a diameter increase of 15% is registered at point 52 , and the exceeding of the yarn diameter G GR lasts over the predetermined length L V , for example six cycles or 12 mm, the point 52 is defined as the beginning of the effect. The curve 50 falls below the limit diameter D GR at the point 54 . The falling below lasts up to the point 55 and therefore over the predetermined yarn length L V . The point 54 is therefore defined as the end of the effect. The effect length L E is determined from the beginning and end of the effect between point 52 and point 54 . An arithmetic average value is formed from the four largest diameters 56 inside the effect. The information about the effect diameter is therefore most substantially independent of the natural diameter variations in the effect region as a result. This arithmetic average value is defined as the effect diameter D E .
[0041] The regions between the effects defined in this way are the webs with the basic diameter of the yarn. To determine the repeat, a number of consecutive effects and webs is initially compared with the same number of subsequent effects and webs. This number should advantageously lie below the expected repeat length. The measure of agreement contains information as to whether the sequence of effects and webs on which the comparison is based corresponds to the repeat length. For this purpose the number of effects/webs to be included in the comparison is to be successively increased. If on reaching a certain number of effects/webs a maximum is produced, which differs significantly from the adjacent values, this value corresponds to the repeat length. The last prerequisite for reproduction of the model yarn therefore exists.
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The aim of the invention is to create a method that allows a previously produced fancy yarn to be reproduced. Said aim is achieved by a method in which a model fancy yarn is first guided through a sensor device for measuring purposes, the diameter of the model fancy yarn is continuously measured using the sensor device, the measured diameter values are evaluated, and the formation of the effect of the model fancy yarn is determined therefrom. Spinning settings are generated from the data representing the formation of the effect, and said spinning settings, which are based on the set of data, are used for producing a fancy yarn.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for handling identifying cards including equipment for verifying the identity of the user of and for approving a credit rating when such card is a credit card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTON
The use of identity cards is widespread in completing credit transactions, for use in instant money banking, security entrance controls, etc. Such cards are issued to authorized persons and it is desirable to provide means at the point of use of the card to check on the identity of the individual presenting the card, for example for payment of a bill, before completing such transaction.
To date the most effective way known to insure the identity of an individual is to record a fingerprint or, preferably the prints of several of that person's fingers for comparison with the supposedly corresponding prints of the fingers of the person using the card that are scanned at a later date. When the two sets of prints match, a proper identification is made of the person whose prints are being scanned.
Various systems for identifying the user of a card have been proposed for use for example with credit cards etc, the following being the best examples of such art known to the inventor at the time of the filing of this application.
______________________________________U.S. Pat. Nos.______________________________________3,383,657 to Claasen et al March 14, 19683,532,426 to Lemmond October 6, 19703,584,958 to Miller June 15, 19713,781,113 to Thomas December 25, 19734,048,618 to Hendry September 13, 19774,202,120 to Engle May 13, 19804,253,086 to Szwarcbier February 24, 19814,414,684 to Blonder November 8, 1983______________________________________
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure provides an improvement on the systems shown above in providing a card system making use of a centrally recorded fingerprint to confirm the identity of a person presenting the card for approval. The card may be an entry identifying card for controlling admissions into secure regions, a credit card, an instant money banking card, or a card for any such similar system. Usually the card has a code number, or other identifying indicia such as a magnetic imprint or the like, that is recorded in a filing system that may be maintained at a central station after the card has been issued to an authorized user. Simultaneously with the issuance of the card, the user's fingerprint or several of his or her prints are recorded together with the coded indicia at the central operating office and file bank used for servicing that card system.
When the card is used for a commercial or other transaction it is thereafter presented at a separate card reader station having a fingerprint reader associated therewith. The card code is then operative through a computer means to call up a copy of the fingerprint or prints of the person who is authorized to use that card which is exposed at the reader and a separate computer operated means compare the print transmitted to the central operating station with the print on record for the authorized user. If there is a match between the recorded print and the print transmitted from the reader station to the central file, a signal of approval shows at the card reader station. In this event the transaction is allowed to proceed. If a fingerprint mismatch shows up, however, a rejection signal is transmited to the card reader station and a permanent record is made of the fresh fingerprint that is or prints that are exposed at that station and preferably a photograph of the person presenting the card, who is standing at the card reader station, is made.
If the card is a credit card or instant money card, upon a proper match of the print or prints being found with the fingerprint record at the central file for that coded card, the money transaction proceeds and the system includes computer means to test the credit available to that card for approval and if the amount of the transaction can be authorized for that card's account, means are provided to enter the value of the transaction in the account at the central operating office and at the card reader station, where a permanent record is also made and a receipt is issued at the card reader station for the approved card user's records.
IN THE DRAWINGS
A schematic layout of the system of this invention is shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention makes use of a central file station 1 having computer operated equipment for recording the indicia or other coded index devices used on each of the individual cards issued to approved users of the cards in the system. When a card is handed to a person authorized to use that particular card, that person's thumb print or if desired, additional fingerprints are simultaneously recorded in the central file under that card's coded index record. The computer means at the central file, in addition, if the card is a credit card or bank card or the like, is also adapted to maintain a running account record of the financial transactions entered into by the authorized user of a given coded card and all such transactions are entered therein whenever the card is presented for payment of bills, etc.
The central file is equipped with well known computer equipment having a memory bank sufficiently large and capable of substantially instantaneously calling up data filed under the coded card indicia including the recorded fingerprint or prints of the authorized holder of the card as well as a statement of the current status of the financial account credited to that card for reference when a financial transaction is involved. These fingerprint data when retrieved from the memory bank are fed to a known computer fingerprint comparator means at the central file station so that a substantially instantaneous comparison between the print exposed at a card reader station and the fingerprint associated with that coded card can be made as will be explained more fully below.
A card reading station 2 that is located at a remote position with respect to the central file, cooperates with the central file through suitable electronic connections such as telephone communication lines and the card reader station is equipped with well known transmitter means for sending the encoded card indicia to the central file. Such a transmitter may take the form of a punch card reader, typewriter to transmit a numerical code, a magnetic code reader, or the like. The card reader station is also equipped with well known means upon which the card user places the finger or fingers of his hand for the instantaneous scanning of his fingerprints. There are additional means available at the card reader station to transmit pictures of such prints exposed on the scanner to the central file and to make a permanent record thereof if desired. When the card's encoded indicia and the fingerprint or prints are transmitted from the card reader station to the central station the computer means presents the scanned fingerprint to a known computerized comparator means where an almost instantaneous fingerprint comparison can be made to show that the user presenting the card for approval does have or does not have a print or prints identical to the record at the central file.
The card reader station 2 also has a camera 3 pointed at the fingerprint scanning means to take a photograph of the person standing at the fingerprint scanner when the camera is activated. The fingerprint scanner means is also equipped with known means to produce a permanent record of the fingerprint or prints of the fingers exposed on the scanner when the camera is activated. These recorded prints may be stored at any convenient file center and together with the photograph will provide positive identification of an unauthorized user of the card which process of identifying users will certainly discourage theft of such cards and their unauthorized use.
The card reader station 2 also has signal means associated therewith to indicate when the card submitted by a user has been fully checked at the central file. These signal means are activated to provide a signal showing an approval or rejection message as soon as the fingerprint comparison and if necessary credit check of the user's account has been completed at the central file.
At the central file station, the computer means includes automatically activated triggering device 4 to operate the camera and fingerprint recording means when the fingerprint or fingerprints of any particular card user does not or do not match the print or prints recorded for that particular encoded card then exposed at the card reader station 2. In this instance a permanent identity record is made both photographically and by recording the fingerprint of the unauthorized user of that particular card. On the other hand, if the fingerprint data transmitted to the central station 1 matches the print data recorded for the respective card presented by that user, the approval signal is operated. But if a transaction involving money is concerned the accounting record must be accessed and the amount of the purchase or withdrawal approved before the transaction associated with the card's use can proceed.
As above indicated, suitable accounting files are maintained at the central file in which there are running financial accounts covering the transactions entered into by each of the parties authorized to use the respective cards. In the case of a credit card, for example, the card user's account is credited and debited at the central file when payments and charges are made thus, the financial account of the issuer of the card pertaining to the authorized user's activities are maintained at 5 at the central file and the purveyor's corresponding accounting records 6 are maintained as well. Computer equipment for making such records and maintaining them on a current basis are well known in the art and suitable connections are made between the card reader station and the computer mechanisms at the central file to instantaneously enter the data whereby to update all of those accounts when an acceptable fingerprint match and credit approval signal is sent to the card reader station.
The central file computer is also operative to produce a record at the card reader station in a form to supply a receipt and statement of the current status of his account to the authorized card user whose transaction has just been scrutinized and then approved at the central file.
On the other hand, if the authorized card user whose fingerprint matches the record at the central file, has requested authorization to spend or have cash issued to him in an amount in excess of that which his account indicates is available to him, the central file computer activates the reject signal at the card reader station, but does not initiate the camera and fingerprint recording means. The system may also be programed to indicate the amount of the requested over draft so that the card user and the purveyor may then take such other action as may be deemed appropriate to satisfy the situation and retain the good will of the user of the card standing at the card reader station.
Computer equipment capable of activating the appropriate signals, maintaining the accounting, records, filing data in memory banks and for performing all of the functions described above, are all well known.
Very recently suitable fingerprint comparator means has become available that can produce a permanent fingerprint record and also indicate a match or mismatch of two sets of prints. Such a machine is produced by NEC Information Systems, Inc. and is currently in use in California law enforcement activities. Since the print or prints associated with the card bearing a particular coded indicia is or are stored in the central computer, they can be easily recalled to be compared with the print or prints exposed to the scanner at the card reader station, so that the prints to be inspected can be almost instantaneously compared for possible matching or mismatches. The operations of print comparison of the authorized user's prints with the prints of the person at the card reader station scanner is thus performed substantially instantaneously. Therefore, the required user approval or rejection operation and, if also necessary, account approval manipulations, can be completed about as quickly as an electrical communication can be completed between the card reader station, the central file, and back to the card reader station.
The card reader equipment likewise can be constructed of known devices for either reading a magnetic or other code printed on the card or for scanning any other type of identifying indicia impressed on the face of the card or the like. Any suitable means 3 may be provided that is responsive to the rejection signal when there is a mismatch of the prints to set the fingerprint scanner recorder in operation as well as operate the camera. As also indicated above the systems can be programed to update and otherwise maintain running accounting records of financial transactions for and also provide suitable receipts for the card user, the respective purveyor of goods and services and the credit card issuer.
It is apparent from the above, how the system here described is operative. Many modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the following claims.
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A computerized fingerprint matching system is shown for rapidly identifying a person presenting a previously issued identity card to complete a transaction. The user of a credit card, for example, can prove his right to have it in his possession for use in completing a financial transaction and upon proof of his fingerprint identity the system simultaneously makes a record of the transaction. Means are shown to indicate a disapproval of a particular transaction if the account for that card is overdrawn and other means are shown for recording a photograph and a fingerprint of any person in possession of the card when an unauthorized holder of a card presents the card at a card reader station.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an arrangement for controllably turning pages in a book and, more particularly, to a compact, portable and quiet unit for reliably turning pages, one at a time, in a hands-free manner.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Many devices have been proposed in the art for turning the pages or leaves of a book, pamphlet, sheet music, magazine, newspaper and the like. Such devices are useful by musicians who need both hands to play their instruments, by persons permanently or temporarily suffering from a handicap affecting their arms, hands, or fingers, and by non-handicapped persons who simply wish, for work or leisure purposes, to periodically turn pages in order to read, consult or, in general, use them.
[0005] Such devices have used mechanical transmissions, including rotary cams, rotating cylinders, mobile skids, articulated arms, clamps and like linkages. Such devices have also included pivoted suction conduits for engaging and lifting pages by suction. However, as advantageous as these known devices have been, they are of complicated construction, noisy in operation, expensive to manufacture, difficult to maintain and irregular in operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a page turning arrangement which is efficient, regular and quiet in operation.
[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a page turning arrangement that requires little maintenance and is inexpensive to manufacture.
[0008] Still another object of this invention is to provide a reliable, portable, quiet, convenient and adaptable page turning arrangement.
FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in an arrangement for turning pages of a book, including a support for holding the book open. As used herein, the term “book” is intended to include a collection of pages, whether bound or unbound, whether blank, printed or manuscript, and incorporated as a booklet, pamphlet, sheet music, newspaper, magazine and like collection.
[0010] The arrangement includes a suction source, preferably a vacuum pump, including a nozzle, for generating a suction force at the nozzle in an energized state of the pump, and for discontinuing the suction force at the nozzle in a deenergized state of the pump. The arrangement further includes a drive, preferably including a reversible motor, for moving the nozzle between a pickup position and a release position. The drive and the source are under the control of a controller, preferably a microprocessor.
[0011] In the pickup position, the nozzle is positioned by the drive in an overlying relationship with an outer peripheral margin of the page and within a boundary of the page. Preferably, the outer margin is a corner of the page. The source is energized, and the nozzle engages a page to be turned by suction. After an adjustable time delay in accordance with one embodiment, the drive jointly moves the nozzle and the page in one circumferential direction about a turning axis along a turning path to the release position.
[0012] Alternatively, in conjunction with, or in lieu of, the adjustable time delay, a vacuum sensor is operative, in series with the vacuum source, for sensing that the nozzle has engaged the page. This avoids the possibility that the nozzle is moved without the page.
[0013] In the release position, the drive is halted, and the vacuum source is deenergized to release the page from the nozzle. A solenoid valve is activated to discontinue the suction and insure the total release of the page from the nozzle. A rear end of the nozzle in the release position affirmatively pushes any previous page that was turned toward the support. After another adjustable time delay, the drive returns the nozzle in an opposite circumferential direction about the turning axis along a return path to the pickup position. During the return movement, the nozzle partially bends the page at the outer margin. More particularly, the nozzle bends a lower corner of the page so as to bypass the page and leave the page at the release position.
[0014] An actuator is operatively connected to the drive and the vacuum source for initiating turning of the page. Preferably, the actuator is in wireless communication with the controller. The actuator includes a reader-operated switch, preferably actuated by the reader's foot, to initiate operation. Other actuators may include a blow switch, a finger-operated switch, or any motion-responsive switch that can control an electric circuit.
[0015] The drive and the source are contained in a housing in which a rechargeable battery pack is contained to constitute a self-contained unit to which the book support is connected. The batteries of the pack can be recharged by an external power supply, or the arrangement can be directly operated by an external power supply. A backup set of batteries may be included. A visual or auditory indicator may be used to alert a user to the current level or remaining level of electrical power remaining in the batteries. The unit is mountable on any generally planar support surface, or on a floor-mounted or table-mounted music stand.
[0016] A corner piece, preferably constituted of a nonporous plastic film, is adhered by a pressure sensitive adhesive to the page corner. The corner piece helps insure that only one page at a time is attracted to the nozzle in the pickup position, and that the released page is bypassed when the nozzle returns to the pickup position. The corner piece also helps to protect the page corner from wear due to repeated use.
[0017] It is preferred that the turning axis be aligned lengthwise with the spine or turning axis of the book. A visual indicator on the support helps insure the proper placement of the book thereon. The positioning of the nozzle at the page corner, preferably the lower corner, simulates the real-life page-turning action by a reader. In order to insure that the released page does not return with the nozzle, a pair of fibrous elements is mounted on the support, preferably on a bottom surface thereof, and has fibers that extend along the turning path and along the return path. These fibers frictionally engage bottom edges of the page and resist double sheets from being turned, and also prevent the released page from returning with the nozzle.
[0018] The arrangement is quiet in operation and is inaudible to a listener or the reader. An unlimited number of pages, one at a time, can be turned. The arrangement is portable and easily transportable from place to place. With slight adaptation, the pages can be turned from left to right.
[0019] The arrangement is operational with backup batteries, or an external power supply, even while rechargeable batteries are being charged. Although a wireless actuator is preferred, a wired actuator can be used, for example, if electronic interference is present. If multiple wireless actuators are employed, for example, in an orchestra, then each actuator can be assigned a separate frequency or channel.
[0020] A metronome for signaling a given tempo and/or a tuner for generating one or more tones at a given frequency may be included in the arrangement.
[0021] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] [0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an arrangement for turning pages of a book according to this invention in one condition of use;
[0023] [0023]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 - 2 of FIG. 1, and depicts a page-turning motion in phantom lines;
[0024] [0024]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a self-contained unit of the arrangement of FIG. 1;
[0025] [0025]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 - 4 of FIG. 1;
[0026] [0026]FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5 - 5 of FIG. 4;
[0027] [0027]FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6 - 6 of FIG. 4;
[0028] [0028]FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7 - 7 of FIG. 4;
[0029] [0029]FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8 - 8 of FIG. 4;
[0030] [0030]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 in another condition of use;
[0031] [0031]FIG. 10 is a view analogous to FIG. 7, but of a modified nozzle prior to engagement with a page; and
[0032] [0032]FIG. 11 is a view analogous to FIG. 10, but of the modified nozzle after engagement with the page.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally depicts an arrangement for turning pages of a book 12 according to this invention. Arrangement 10 includes an actuator 14 for initiating the turning of a page, and a portable unit 16 on which the book 12 is supported. As used herein, the term “book” includes a collection of pages, either bound or unbound, either blank, printed or manuscript, and collected in a book, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine, sheet music, and like collection.
[0034] The portable unit 16 includes a support 18 for supporting the book 12 in an open condition. The support 18 includes a planar backrest 20 and a planar base 22 perpendicular to the backrest. The outer sheets of the book or covers 24 (see FIG. 2) rest on the backrest. The bottom edges 26 of the covers 24 and of the pages of the book are supported by the base 22 . The support 18 is tilted relative to a generally planar, horizontal support surface 28 so that the book 12 is held in a rearwardly inclined orientation. As described below, a pair of fibrous elements 30 , 31 is mounted on the base 22 so that the bottom book edges 26 rest directly on the elements 30 , 31 .
[0035] The support 18 is preferably constituted of a metallic material. A pair of magnets 32 is positioned on the covers 24 to hold the latter securely to the metallic backrest. Fasteners, other than magnets, could be used.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the backrest 20 may have a longitudinal channel 34 for receiving a longitudinal spine 36 of the book. The channel 34 serves as a visual indicator and as a mechanical guide for properly positioning the book on the support. Other indicators could include, for example, an arrow. Reference numeral 38 identifies the turning axis about which a selected page 40 is to be turned from its right-side position to its left-side position on the book. In an alternative embodiment, the page could be turned from the left-side position to the right-side position.
[0037] A housing 42 is connected to and below the support to form the portable unit 16 . As best seen in FIG. 3, a linkage 43 is connected behind the backrest 20 to support the unit in the inclined orientation. The linkage 43 includes a bracket 44 connected to the backrest. A first link 46 is pivotably connected to an upper pivot on the bracket. A second link 48 is pivotably connected to a lower pivot on the bracket. Link 48 has a slot in which a fastening post 50 is slidably received. A leg link 52 is pivoted outwardly until it forms an extension of the link 46 at which time, the fastening post 50 is at one end of the slot and is held there by friction, thereby locking the leg link in place. The leg link can be pushed and pivoted back to an initial position directly behind the backrest in an application where the leg support is not needed. Bracket 44 can also be unscrewed and removed in the event that the backrest is required to be laid flat. The entire linkage 43 can be removed if desired. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the portable unit 16 with its folded-up or removed leg is mounted on a rest of a piano 54 , or can be mounted on a conventional floor or tabletop, music stand.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, a suction source, including a vacuum pump 56 is mounted within the housing 42 and is encased in a foam block 58 for absorbing mechanical shock and for damping vibrations and noise. A drive, including a reversible motor 60 , is also mounted within the housing 42 and is encased in another foam block 62 , again for shock absorption and noise reduction. The motor 60 has a drive shaft 64 aligned with the turning axis 38 of the book. A controller 66 , including a microprocessor, is electrically connected to the pump 56 and the motor 60 to control their operation, as described below. The controller 66 includes a radio frequency antenna 68 (see FIG. 3) connected to the controller 66 and in wireless, radio frequency communication with the actuator 14 .
[0039] An eccentric cam 70 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 64 and rides on the armatures 72 , 74 of two microswitches 76 , 78 which are situated at opposite sides of the shaft. A detent 75 on the cam 70 is able to receive a respective roller on each armature 72 , 74 . A circular disc 82 is also fixedly mounted on the shaft 64 and has an arm 80 mounted thereon for joint movement therewith. A drive clamp 84 (see FIG. 5) is fixed to the disc 82 and helps push and pull the arm 80 because, in the preferred embodiment, the arm 80 is a flexible, hollow tubing. An inner end 86 of the arm 80 is connected by additional flexible tubing 88 through a vacuum sensor 85 and a solenoid valve 87 to the pump 56 . An outer end 92 of the arm is connected to a nozzle 90 having a flexible suction cup 94 . A pair of cutouts 96 , 98 is formed in the base 22 to permit movement of the nozzle, as described below.
[0040] In use, a reader initiates the turning of page 40 , typically by stepping on a manual switch 100 on the actuator 14 . Of course, the reader could also depress the switch 100 by hand, or by any other means. This action causes a radio frequency command signal to be sent to the controller 66 via the antenna 68 . Other wireless signals such as infrared or optical signals could also be used. Although not preferred, a hardwired connection could be made between the actuator and the controller. Other actuators for controlling an electrical circuit may be used.
[0041] Upon receipt of the command signal, the controller energizes the pump 56 which begins to draw a vacuum through the tubing 88 and the arm 80 and generate a suction force at the cup 94 . In the preferred embodiment, the suction force amounts to about 5 inches of mercury after about 3 seconds.
[0042] Initially, the nozzle is in a pickup position depicted in FIG. 1. The length of the arm 80 is such that the nozzle 90 is received in slot 96 , overlies an outer peripheral margin 104 of the page, and is located within the boundary of the page. More particularly, the outer margin 104 is the lower, right corner of the page 40 . The cup 94 contacts the corner, and the suction force ensures a tight engagement between the cup and the corner as depicted in solid lines in FIG. 7. At this time, the cam 70 depresses the armature 72 of the switch 76 so that the controller knows that the nozzle is in the pickup position.
[0043] Once a predetermined suction force has been generated and sensed by the vacuum sensor 85 , the motor is energized to drive the page 40 , the nozzle 90 and the arm 80 from the pickup position in one circumferential direction about the turning axis 38 along a turning path (see FIG. 2) to a release position. The flexibility of the arm 80 insures that the reader will not be injured should the reader accidentally place part of his or her body in the turning path. Energization of the motor proceeds after an adjustable time delay customized to the reader's preference and/or because a sufficient vacuum has been sensed by the vacuum sensor 85 . Preferably, the movement along the turning path takes about 1-1½ seconds.
[0044] Upon reaching the release position, and traveling through an obtuse angle of about 180°, the cam 70 activates the armature 74 of the switch 78 , thereby advising the controller to deenergize the pump, activate the solenoid valve 87 to dissipate the vacuum, and release the page. The nozzle 90 has entered the slot 98 . The motor is halted.
[0045] Thereupon, after another customized adjustable time delay, the motor is energized to return the nozzle and the arm in an opposite circumferential direction, again for about 1-1½ seconds, about the turning axis 38 . The drive clamp 84 helps drive the arm 80 back to the pickup position. The released page 40 does not participate in this return movement. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 8, the nozzle, which lies underneath the corner, pushes past the corner and at least partially bends the page at the corner. Upon reaching the about 180° position, a rear surface of the nozzle pushes any previous page to its most rearward position against the support.
[0046] An accessible rotary knob 106 is turned to adjust each time delay. Once the nozzle has reentered the slot 96 , and been repositioned on the next page corner, the cam 70 activates the armature 72 and resets the controller to await the next command signal from the actuator.
[0047] The fabric element 30 has a nap whose fibers lie in a direction toward the backrest. The fabric element 31 has a nap whose fibers also lie in a direction towards the backrest. The orientation of the fibers partially restricts the movement of the page along the turning path to prevent a possible second sheet from jointly turning with the first page, as well as frictionally resisting movement of the page along the return path.
[0048] Preferably, a corner piece 108 having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating is adhered over the page corner 104 . The corner piece is constituted of a nonporous, plastic film and has a triangular shape. The corner piece serves to resist the suction force from passing through the page 40 and resist one or more of the underlying pages to also be gripped by the nozzle in the pickup position.
[0049] The corner piece also has an inclined edge 110 about which the corner 104 is bent during the return movement of the nozzle. This aids in the bypassing of the page 40 .
[0050] A backup battery pack 112 is also contained in the housing 42 to power the electrical components. A rechargeable battery pack 114 is used to power the electrical components. A switch 116 can be switched on to select which battery pack is to be used. A main power switch 118 can be switched on to power the controller, the pump and the motor. The pack 114 may be recharged during operation of the arrangement by being connected to an external power supply.
[0051] [0051]FIGS. 10-11 illustrate a modified nozzle 120 which is preferred over the nozzle 90 described above. Nozzle 120 has a flexible cup 122 mounted for joint movement on a piston 124 which is received in a cylinder 126 . The piston 124 has a head 128 . A spring 130 is captured between the cylinder and the head. The head 128 divides the interior of the cylinder into a first chamber 132 in which the spring is contained, and a second chamber 134 bounded between the head and an end cap 136 .
[0052] In the pickup position of FIG. 7, the nozzle 90 is positioned relative to the page corner 104 so that the cup 94 touches the corner piece 108 . By contrast, in the pickup position of FIG. 10, the nozzle 120 is positioned at a distance on the order of ⅛ inch away from the corner piece 108 . When the suction force is initially drawn within first chamber 132 , the head 128 and the cup 122 are abruptly moved in a sudden stroke toward the corner piece, and concurrently the spring 130 is compressed. This stroke provides an aggressive attack on the page, after which the page is held by the suction force (FIG. 11). The piston and the cup aggressively return to their original retracted position as a result of the reverse of the vacuum now apparent in the chamber 134 redirected as a result of the cup being blocked by the page. When the vacuum is terminated, the piston and the cup remain in their retracted position again due to the restoring force of the spring 130 .
[0053] As described, the nozzle 90 or 120 enters and exits the slots 96 , 98 during the page turning operation. The radial distance from the slots to the turning axis 38 is fixed, thereby making the arrangement useful for a book having pages of a certain size. If different sized pages are to be used with the same arrangement, this invention proposes the formation of a plurality of slots at different radial distances from the turning axis. A corresponding set of arms 80 of different lengths can be matched to the different slots.
[0054] An accessory 140 (see FIG. 4) actuatable by a control switch 142 (see FIG. 1), such as a metronome for signaling a given tempo and/or a tuner for generating one or more reference tones at a given frequency, may be incorporated in the housing.
[0055] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
[0056] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a page turning arrangement, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
[0057] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.
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An arrangement for turning pages successively picks up each page by suction applied to a bottom corner thereof, and turns the page over a turning axis. A wireless actuator initiates the turning. The arrangement is mountable at diverse locations and is quiet in operation.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/395,148, filed May 10, 2010. The content of this application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to a firearm case for a motorcycle or an all terrain vehicle (ATV) particularly to securely lock the firearm and enclose the firearm from harsh weather conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known to provide a protective firearm housing for mounting to an ATV and the like, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,530 issued to Black on Oct. 21, 2003. The Black mounted firearm case comprises a protective gun housing with an opening on the top through which a firearm may pass. The firearm case comprises three portions: a protective firearm housing, a soft firearm case and a mounting assembly. The protective firearm housing is connected to a mounting assembly designed to attach to handle bars. The firearm housing is designed to outline the shape of a hunting rifle and the soft case, used to protect the firearm, is inserted into the firearm housing. The mounting assembly comprises brackets to hold the firearm housing and mounting collars for attachment to the handlebar. An alternative embodiment further comprises an opening in the firearm housing that is closed by a hinged cover.
[0004] One disadvantage of this type of firearm case is that it does not provide a locking feature to keep the firearm safe from theft. Furthermore, although the protective housing of the invention provides a shell to keep the firearm safe from nicks or being banged by foreign objects and from mud, dirt and water being splashed while driving an ATV, this shell does not provide for a protective cage during crashes.
[0005] It is also known to provide a permanently mounted gun safe that has a hinged cover and lock to a motorcycle as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,913 issued to Lindsey et al Dec. 5, 2006. The Lindsey gun safe is sized and shaped to conform to a conventional handgun. The gun safe is bolted through the back wall of an inner surface to a flat area on a motorcycle, so that it cannot be removed without unlocking the gun safe. Although this firearm case does keep the firearm secure from theft and weather elements, it is not easily accessible if the firearm is needed quickly.
[0006] It is also known to mount a firearm to an ATV longitudinally or laterally as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,484 issued to Savant May 7, 2002 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,273 issued to Allen Apr. 10, 1990 respectively. The Savant firearm rack discloses a firearm mounting bracket that is attached to a cargo rack assembly of an ATV. A rigid firearm boot is removably received into a loop shaped mounting bracket by a latch assembly that cooperates with a retaining loop of the firearm boot. Although the Savant firearm rack discloses a protective cover and lock for a firearm it is lacking because it only discloses how to mount the removable firearm boot in a longitudinal direction only on an ATV, and is not applicable for a motorcycle.
[0007] The Allen firearm rack discloses an assembly for mounting a firearm to an ATV comprising a butt end bracket and a forearm bracket that are attached to a rectangular tube. The tube may be attached to the rear frame of an ATV so that the firearm is in a lateral orientation. Although the Allen firearm rack allows for the lateral mounting of the firearm to an ATV or a motorcycle, the disadvantages of the Allen firearm rack is that it does not provide a cover to keep the firearm safe from inclement weather or in crashes and it does not provide a locking system to keep the firearm secure from theft.
[0008] In addition, it is known to provide a locked storage compartment on a motorcycle as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,171 issued to Augustine, Jr. Aug. 7, 2007. The storage compartment discloses a compartment with a lock mounted on the rear fender of a motor cycle so that the access door faces forward. Some disadvantages of this storage compartment are that it is not large enough to contain all varieties of firearms and it does not provide a quick unlock feature to access the contents quickly. U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,516 issued to Hanagan, May 4, 2004, discloses a quick change storage compartment for mounting on a rear fender of a motorcycle.
[0009] Holsters have been designed to attach to the side of a motorcycle. The open frame allows a handgun to be attached to the side of the motorcycle. These holsters have a lock for safe keeping. Also closed storage boxes that are attached to a motorcycle have a lock to secure items within the box.
[0010] What is needed is a firearm case that s secures and store a firearm to a motorcycle or ATV which keeps the firearm safe from dangers such as theft, crashes and inclement weather, yet allows the firearm to be accessed easily and quickly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the firearm case has a frame that includes many pieces to form a cage that has a base portion and a top portion. The base portion of the cage is configured to hold the firearm in place. The top portion of the frame is hingedly attached to the base portion of the cage so it opens and closes. The top portion covers over the top of the firearm when the cage is closed as to provide a secure cage around the firearm. The base portion of the cage includes a firearm barrel alignment at an end of the base portion of the cage for supporting a barrel end of the firearm, and a firearm stabilizer at an opposite end of the base portion of the cage for supporting a butt end of the firearm.
[0012] The firearm case preferably includes a housing that encloses the frame to provide a protective cover which keeps the firearm safe from inclement weather, road debris and the like.
[0013] The firearm case also preferably includes a lockable latch to prevent unauthorized opening of the firearm case.
[0014] The firearm case may also include an optional firearm lock that is positioned in the base portion of the frame intermediate the firearm barrel alignment and the firearm stabilizer to lock the firearm in place.
[0015] Furthermore, for added security, an optional control system can be built into the frame unlocking the firearm case and the firearm lock from a remote control source. The control system may be designed to unlock the firearm case and the firearm lock simultaneously and also may be designed to relock the firearm case and the firearm lock after a predetermined length of time.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a firearm case is constructed for attachment to an exterior of a motor vehicle. The firearm case has an internal clam shell cage member with an upper cage section pivotably connected to a lower frame section for moving between an open and closed position. The cage member has a first locking device for lockably latching the upper cage section to the lower cage section. A firearm clamp has an upper clamp section hingedly attached to a lower clamp section with the lower clamp section mounted in the lower cage section; and the upper clamp section movable between an open position and a clamped locked position encasing a barrel of a firearm disposed in the cage. The firearm clamp having a second locking device for locking the firearm clamp when in the closed position.
[0017] Other objects, advantages and application of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a motorcycle having a firearm case of the invention attached to a rear crash bar of the motorcycle;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the firearm case of FIG. 1 showing a hinged top portion and a firearm lock in an open position to illustrate internal details;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the firearm case of FIG. 1 showing the hinged top portion and the firearm lock in the open position with a firearm in place in a base portion of the firearm case;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the firearm case of FIG. 1 showing the hinged top portion in the open position and the firearm lock in a closed position locking the firearm in place in the base portion of the firearm case;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the firearm case taken substantially along the line 5 - 5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows, with the hinged top portion in the closed position, and with the firearm removed to show internal details;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the firearm case with the housing cut away to show details of an internal frame of the firearm case;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the firearm case with the housing cut away and showing the internal frame of the firearm case with a portion of the internal frame removed to illustrate internal components;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control system for the firearm case; and
[0027] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of an additional embodiment of a firearm case having a plurality of components affixed to the rear wall of firearm case housing
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Referring first to FIG. 1 , a firearm case 10 of the invention is shown attached to a rear crash bar of a motorcycle 11 . The firearm case 10 may be also attached to an ATV or other vehicle or may be attached to any other convenient location on any of the vehicles.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 , the firearm case 10 includes a frame 22 and a housing 12 attached to the frame 22 . The frame 22 has many member pieces that make up a base portion 24 and a hinged top portion 26 as explained below. The housing 12 comprises a front wall 13 , a rear wall 14 , a first side wall 15 , a second side wall 16 , a bottom wall 17 combining to create a lower housing portion, and a top lid 20 defining a cavity 18 therebetween when the top lid 20 is closed as shown in FIG. 5 . The cavity 18 is dimensioned and configured to receive and enclose the frame 22 as shown in FIG. 5 . Internal components of the firearm case 10 include a firearm lock 30 , a time delay module 36 , a latch 42 , a firearm barrel alignment 50 , and a firearm stabilizer 52 . The housing 12 is preferably constructed of a rigid, durable material strong enough to prevent a forced entry into the firearm case 10 .
[0030] FIGS. 2 , 3 , and 4 show the internal components and the firearm lock 30 in an open position, a firearm placed in the firearm case with the firearm lock in the open position, and the firearm placed in the firearm case with the firearm lock in a closed position respectively. A suitable firearm lock 30 is a commercially available electronic gun lock made by Pro-Gard and designated as Model No. U5000UT. The firearm lock 30 has a lower clasp member 31 mounted on base portion 24 of frame 22 with an upper clasp member 32 hingedly connected to the lower clasping member 31 . The firearm lock 30 can be opened remotely by an electric signal and also has a mechanical override in which a key can be placed into a mechanical firearm lock 38 to unlock it manually. Other suitable firearm locks may be used. However, it is preferable any alternate firearm lock be capable of being opened remotely by an electric signal and include a key operated mechanical override.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the invention and discloses how the frame 22 and housing 12 are attached to each other by two external hinges A and B. Each external hinge comprises a lower hinge plate 56 and an upper hinge plate 57 . The two external hinges are located on the outside of the housing 12 . The top lid 20 of the housing 12 is attached to the hinged top portion 26 of the frame 22 by a plurality of fasteners that go through the upper hinge plate 57 , through the top lid 20 and through the hinged top portion 26 of the frame 22 . The lower portion of the housing 12 is attached to the base portion 24 of the frame 22 by a plurality of fasteners that go through the lower hinge plate 56 , through the rear wall 12 and the base portion 24 of the frame 22 . While the drawings show nuts and bolts, any suitable fasteners may be used.
[0032] The two external hinges A and B connect the base portion 24 of the frame 22 to the hinged top portion 26 of the frame 22 so that the frame 22 can be opened and closed while the hinged top portion 26 stays intact. The top lid 20 moves in conjunction with the hinged top portion 26 of the frame 22 while opening and closing.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a perspective of the frame 22 . The base portion 24 of the frame 22 comprises of an oblong rectangular rod 60 that provides a perimeter for the firearm stored in the firearm case 10 . A front plate 62 and a rear plate 63 , both plates being long, narrow and rectangular, attach to the oblong rectangular rod 60 longitudinally. The front plate 62 and the rear plate 63 extend up from the oblong rectangular rod 60 and face each other. A first lower band 64 and a second lower band 65 , both bands being U-shaped, each reach perpendicularly from a long side of the oblong rectangular rod 60 to a second long side of the oblong rectangular rod 60 , such that the first lower band 64 and the second lower band 65 create a bottom cradle of the frame 22 . The firearm barrel alignment 50 is attached at a narrow end of the oblong rectangular rod 60 for supporting a barrel end of the firearm. The firearm barrel alignment 50 is comprised of an L-shaped brace 51 and a rod that protrudes inwardly and carries a tapered plug 53 that fits into the barrel end 59 of the firearm 77 to hold it in place. The firearm stabilizer 52 is attached at an opposite narrow end of the oblong rectangular rod 60 and sits within the first lower band 64 for supporting a butt end 61 of the firearm 57 . The firearm stabilizer 52 is a block with a slot in the top of the block for receiving the butt end 61 of the firearm. The base portion 24 of the frame 22 also includes a mounting plate 70 for the firearm lock 30 that is attached to the oblong rectangular rod 60 .
[0034] The hinged top portion 26 of the frame 22 has a front upper plate 66 and a rear upper plate 67 , both plates being long, narrow and rectangular. The front upper plate 66 and the rear upper plate 67 run parallel to each other and run longitudinally in the hinged top portion 26 of the frame 22 . A first upper band 68 and a second upper band 69 , both bands being U-shaped, each reach perpendicularly from the front upper plate 66 to the rear upper plate 67 to connect the two plates as shown in FIG. 6 .
[0035] The rear plate 63 and the rear upper plate 67 serve as backing plates for the hinges A and B as shown in FIGS. 5 , 6 , and 7 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the structural components that make up the frame 22 are preferably constructed of strong durable material, for example, stainless steel that is strong enough to survive forced entry and severe hits. Non-structural components such as the stabilizer may be made of a convenient material, for example a molded foam.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a perspective of the frame 22 with the front plate 62 removed to show the latch 42 . The latch 42 comprises a latch arm 44 and a catch member 46 . The latch arm is connected to the hinged top portion 26 of the frame 22 at the upper front plate 66 , intermediate to the firearm band. alignment 50 and the firearm stabilizer 52 . The catch member 46 is connected to the base portion 24 of the frame 22 adjacent to the position of the latch arm 44 . A suitable latch 42 is a commercially available electric rotary latch made by SouthCo and designated as Model No. R4-EM-11-131. The latch 42 can be remotely unlocked through an electric signal and also has a mechanical override capability. A mechanical frame lock 48 is attached to the base portion 24 of the frame 22 and protrudes through the housing 12 , such that a key can be placed into the mechanical frame lock 48 as shown in FIGS. 2 , 3 , and 4 . The mechanical frame lock 48 is connected to the latch 42 by a cable 49 , such that when a key is inserted into the mechanical frame lock 48 and the key is turned, the cable 49 pulls an internal catch (not shown) and overrides the latch 42 to open it, releasing the latch arm 44 . Other suitable latches may be used. However it is preferable any alternate latch be capable of being opened remotely by an electric signal and include a key operated mechanical override.
[0037] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an electronic control system for unlocking the firearm case 10 remotely. A remote unlock switch 34 , which can be a button is either wired to the motorcycle or can be a wireless device such as a remote unlock button on a key chain for an automobile. The remote unlock switch 34 sends a signal to a time delay module 36 that is mounted on the frame 22 . The time delay module 36 then relays the signal to both the firearm lock 30 and the latch 42 simultaneously causing both to unlock. The signal holds the firearm lock 30 and the latch 42 in the unlocked position for a predetermined length of time set by the time delay module 36 . If the firearm case 10 is not opened within the predetermined length of time the firearm lock 30 and latch 42 both return to a locked state. As an additional safeguard, the control system may require the motorcycle's ignition to be turned to an auxiliary position before the remote unlock switch 34 can operate. The latch 42 , the time delay module 36 and the firearm lock 30 are powered by a power supply 40 affixed to the motorcycle 11 .
[0038] The firearm case 10 is preferably attached to the rear of the motorcycle in any suitable manner so that front of the firearm case 10 faces forward as shown in FIG. 1 . This precautionary measure is a further protection against an unauthorized forced opening of the firearm case 10 .
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a typical mounting assembly 54 comprising a series of brackets that are attached to the firearm case 10 for mounting it to the motorcycle 11 . When the firearm case 10 is installed, it may become the new holding place for the motorcycle's license plate 58 and LED storable lights 55 as shown in FIG. 1 .
[0040] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under law.
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A firearm case which is attachable to a motorcycle comprises a frame the holds and encloses a firearm. The frame includes a firearm lock and latch that securely locks the firearm in place. A housing surrounds the frame as to enclose the frame and firearm, safe from the weather, theft and minor damage. An optional remotely operated control system unlocks the firearm case and the firearm lock simultaneously for quick and easy access to the firearm.
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This is a continuation-in-part of our co-pending application Ser. No. 871,925 filed June 9, 1986, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many physiological processes are characterized by the generation and propagation of multiple, dynamic and often transient electrical phenomena from the respective tissues and organs where they originate. The purpose of recording physiological signals is to obtain a record which is an exact facsimile of the events under investigation. However, it is seldom feasible to attach pickup elements directly to the tissues or organs being investigated, and some method of sensing the electrical phenomena from the surface of the body is usually employed. Such methods introduce measurement errors that result in a distorted picture of the processes being recorded. In spite of this limitation, these techniques have proven to be highly useful for the medical profession.
A wide variety of pickup elements of various sophistication have been developed and are presently available for recording many important phenomena associated with various physiological function from different anatomical sites. The important requirements for sensing electrodes and transducers presently employed in electrophysiological monitoring and recording are: (a) attachment to the body must result in a minimum of discomfort and movement restriction; (b) once applied, they should maintain their operation status without deterioration for extended periods of time; (c) avoid the necessity for reapplication and/or relocation; and (d) they must allow for a far greater degree of subject movement than usually prevails in clinical investigations.
Although a great deal of effort has already been spent in reducing the weight and size of electrodes and transducers, and in minimizing the adverse effects that occur over prolonged time periods, the present state of the art is far from ideal.
The methods employed for applying even simple bioelectric pickup electrodes in many instances is quite traumatic, as they require abrasion and debridement of the superficial keratinized skin layers. Such procedures frequently cause discomfort, and many contribute to the cause of skin reactions when electrodes are left applied to the same locations for many hours or days. The following scientific studies published in scientific and medical Journals are indicative of previous efforts in remotely recording electromagnetic fields that correspond to internal physiological processes of biological organisms without the use of any intermediary materials or electrodes attached to the skin:
(1) Burr, H. S., and Northrop, F., "The Electrodynamic Theory of Life", Quarterly Review of Biol., 1935, 10:322
(2) Burr, H. S., and Northrop, F., "Evidence For The Existence Of An Electrodynamic Field In Living Organisms", National Academy of Sciences, 1939, 25:284
(3) Burr, H. S., and Maure, A., "Electrostatic Fields of Sciatic Nerve In The Frog", Yale J. of Bio. Med., 1949, 21:455
(4) Seipell, H., and Morrow, R., "The Magnetic Field Accompanying Neuronal Activity Of The Nervous System", J. Wash. Acad. Sci., 1960, 50:1
(5) Cohen, D., "Magnetoencephalography: Evidence Of Magnetic Fields Produced By Alpha-Rhythm Currents", Science, 1968, 161:784
(6) Cohen, D., "Magnetoencephalography: Detection Of Brain's Electrical Activity With A Superconducting Magnetometer", Science, 1972, 175:664
(7) Cohen, D., "Magnetic Fields Of The Human Body", Physics Today, Aug. 1975, pp. 34-43
(8) Gulyaev, P. I., Zabotin, V. L. & Shippenbakh, N.Y., "The Electroauragram Of The Frog's Nerve, Muscle, Heart And Of The Human Heart And Musculature", Doklady Biological Science, 1968, 180, pp. 359-361
(9) Gulyaev, P. I., "The Electroauragram: The Electric Field Of Organisms As A New Biological Connection", Proceedings Of Symposium On Physics And Biology, Moscow, 1967, p. 19
(10) Goodman, D. A. and Weinberger, N. M., "Remote Sensing Of Behavior In Aquatic Amphibia Especially In Necturus Maculosus, The Mud Puppy", Comm. Behavioral Biology, 1971, 6, pp. 67-70
(11) Goodman, D. A. and Weinberger, N. M., "Submerged Electrodes In An Aquarium: Validation Of A Technique For Remote Sensing Of Behavior", Behav. Res. Meth. & Instru., 1971 3:6, pp. 281-286
Other devices have eliminated the necessity of topically connecting electromagnetic sensors to a person's skin. Some of these devices are described in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,980,076 (Wikswo et al), 4,079,730 (Wikswo et al) and 4,444,199 (Shafer). However, these devices are not totally remote in that they will not operate through the ambient atmosphere from up to 12 feet away. Similarly, there have been problems in measuring the EKG, EEG, EMG, EOG and respiration in the super-low frequency (SLF) and extremely-low frequency (ELF) range of 0.3 to 40 Hertz. Thus, there exists a need for the development of physiological monitoring methods and equipment that do not require direct contact with the subject's integument (skin layer), and thus relieve the subjects from annoyance and encumbrance of bodily attachments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a method and apparatus (or system) for the investigation of electromagnetic (EM) waves in the 0.3 to 40 Hertz realm. The SLF/ELF frequency range is generally considered to be from D. C. to approximately 100 Hz. As used herein, superlow frequency (SLF) and extremely-low Frequency (ELF) is a frequency from 0.3 to 40 Hz that corresponds to internal physiological processes. The elements necessary for this type of system are: an antenna, an analog signal conditioner, fiber-optic data links, and a digital signal processor. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the antenna consists of a three element array of supercooled super-conducting niobium plates for the detection of electromagnetic waves in the 0.3 to 40 Hz range with amplitudes in the nanovolt to millivolt range. The three element antenna array is for spatial signal referencing. Each antenna element has its own integral field effective transistor (FET), pre-amplifier and filter which are enclosed in a separate, thermally regulated (via power transistor and thermostat) Dewar flask arrangements at 77° C. Kelvin as opposed to the niobium antenna plate elements which are cooled to 3.7° K. The arrayed antenna is capable of detecting SLF/ELF signals at distances of up to 12 feet. The arrayed antenna output is coupled to the input of low noise, optically isolated analog signal conditioner circuitry with self-contained power source incorporating a follower circuit and output amplifier. The analog signal circuitry has optically isolated (low-noise) first stage which reduces the random 1/f noise of the transistor which in turn improves the signal-to-noise ratio.
The next stage of the analog signal conditioner is an analog fiber-optic data link flowing into a low-pass 40 Hz filter which serves as an output buffer. The output of the signal conditioner is coupled to the input of the digital signal processor system. The input of the digital signal processor is a very fast (nanosecond) 16-bit analog-to-digital converter which allows for the storage of waveforms in the computer memory. The computer (such as a Micro Vax II by Digital Equipment Corporation) then uses a 4-port memory having serial in-time sequencing with overlapping memory windows flowing into four hard-board Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) microprocessors and four autocorrelators which are outboard, dedicated microprocessors. These FFT s and autocorrelators are coupled to a 32-bit mini computer with an array processor incorporating signal discriminating software (Micro Vax II software by Digital Equipment Corporation). The computer uses the FFT and autocorrelation analysis to examine the time dependence of amplitude and frequency modulation in the frequency range of 0.3 to 40 Hz. The FFTs and autocorrelators separate the SLF/ELF fields emitted by the human subject into component waveforms as they are related to specific internal organ functioning such as Electrocardiogram (EKG), Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electromyogram (EMG), Electrooculogram (EOG) and respiration. After the FFT, autocorrelation and signal discrimination functions are completed, the signal is sent directly to a multi-channel waveform display (color video display terminal) or physioscope, as well as being sent through a series of multi-channel digital-to-analog converters (very fast) that lead to a chart recorder or electrostatic printer which records the various component waveforms on a chart.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus or system for monitoring physiological changes in a human subject without attaching electrodes and/or sensors or other devices to the subject's body.
Another object of the present invention is to permit the unshielded remote monitoring of a human subject at a distance of up to 12 feet.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a system that is substantially insensitive to other electrical equipment operating in the same area and to provide a system with a high signal-to-noise ratio.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that has the ability to discriminate between readings of EKG, EEG, EMG, EOG and respiration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the cryogenic remote sensing physiograph (CRESP)system of the present invention in its preferred embodiment,
FIG. 2 is a top sectioned view of a supercooled arrayed antenna in accordance with the invention,
FIG. 3 is a partial section view of the antenna structure of FIG. 2 taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a human subject being remotely monitored by the antenna of FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 shows a waveform after it has been processed by the analog signal conditioner of the CRESP system,
FIG. 6 shows an EKG signal after FFT/autocorrelation analysis and D/A conversion by the CRESP system,
FIG. 7 shows an EEG signal after FFT/autocorrelation analysis and D/A conversion by the CRESP system,
FIG. 8 shows another EEG signal after FFT/autocorrelation analysis and D/A conversion by the system, and
FIG. 9 shows a respiration signal after FFT/autocorrelation analysis and D/A conversion by the CRESP system of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
There has long been a need for remotely monitoring basic human physiological data. The main problems in this type of biomonitoring is recognizing signals such as EKG, EEG, EMG, EOG and respiration at a point remote from the human subject being monitored and separating these various signals from background noise and other sources of interference. These super-low frequency (SLF) and extremely-low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves are generated and propagated by the human body in the frequency range of from about 0.3 Hz to about 40 Hz.
The cryogenic remote sensing physiograph (CRESP) system of the present invention uses three basic elements for the investigation of electromagnetic waves in the 0.3 to 40 Hz range. These elements comprise an arrayed antenna of special design, an analog signal conditioner with fiber optic data links and low pass filtering, and a digital signal processor with 4-port memory. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the entire CRESP system. FIG. 2 is a top sectioned view of the supercooled arrayed antenna with FIG. 3 comprising a partial section view of the arrayed antenna of FIG. 2.
Referring initially to FIGS. 2 and 3, the arrayed antenna 10 of the invention consists in its primary structure of a three element array of super-conducting niobium plates 12 for the detection of electromagnetic waves in the 0.3 to 40 Hz range. The niobium plates 12 are preferrably rectangular in shape, measuring 8"×10" with a thickness of approximately 30 mils, and are arrayed within an equilateral triangular outer enclosure 14. The antenna plates 12, each located at a corner within the outer triangular enclosure 14, are also individually enclosed in an inner antenna housing 16 defining space 18 containing recirculating liquid helium. The outer enclosure 14 has parallel top and bottom walls 14a and 14b, respectively, and annular wall 14c formed of carbon-fiber composite material or polycarbonate and the inner housings 16 have walls formed of the same material. The internal surfaces 16a of the antenna housings 16 are aluminized and space 20, surrounding the antenna housings and defined by outer enclosure 14, is maintained under vacuum. The vacuum may be drawn on space 20 within enclosure 14 via outlet pipe 14a. Thus, each antenna plate 12 is (in effect) contained in a Dewar flask type arrangement, i.e., a double-wall container that has an evacuated space (space 20) between its outer wall (enclosure 14) and inner wall (housing 16) with its innermost surfaces 16a bearing a reflective coating to inhibit heat transfer between the liquid helium in space 18 and the ambient atmosphere surrounding the arrayed antenna enclosure 14.
The three antenna housings 16 are interconnected by pipe sections 22 of carbon-fiber composite or polycarbonate material having internally aluminized surfaces. These pipe sections assist in supporting and positioning the antenna plate housings 16 within the triangular enclosure 14 and provide means for circulating liquid helium throughout the antenna system. Liquid helium may be introduced to such system by inlet pipe 24 and withdrawn from the system by outlet pipe 26.
To the rear of each antenna plate housing 16 is a separate Dewar arrangement 28 consisting of an outer spherical housing 30 and a spaced inner spherical encasement 32 within which is contained the individual array element analog circuitry package 34 including a field effect transistor (FET), preamplifier, filter and D. C. power supply. Each array element package 34 incorporates its own low-noise, optically isolated analog source-following circuitry and an output amplifier. The space 36 between spherical housing 30 and spherical encasement 32 of each Dewar arrangement 28 is interconnected to the space 18 of its associated antenna housing 16 by a pipe section 40 so that liquid helium is circulated within space 36.
From the foregoing description of the arrayed antenna 10 of the invention, it will be noted that each antenna plate 12 and each associated circuitry package 34 is encased in a supercooled environment. Circulation of liquid helium throughout the antenna structure may be accomplished by a closed-cycle, unvented, nonconsumable, recirculating system (not shown in FIG. 2) such as the "Heliplex" System produced by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Through appropriate control of the helium recirculating system the temperature of the niobium antenna plates 12 may be maintained at a desired operating temperature of approximately 3.7° Kelvin. Each of the Dewar arrangements 28 (encompasing the circuitry packages 34) are thermally regulated to a temperature of about 77° K. through the use of a power transistor and thermostat powered by an internal D. C. power supply to avoid any coupling with stray A. C. power fields. The antenna leads 42 and output leads 44 from each of the Dewar-encased circuitry packages 34 are composed of niobium-tin alloy to further reduce system noise. The leads 44 exit the outer enclosure 14 at a central point 46 and connect to the analog signal conditioner of the CRESP system of the invention through cable 48.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the previously described supercooled arrayed antenna is represented by box 10 and is shown in the proximity of a human subject represented by box S. The antenna, in accordance with the invention may be placed at a distance of up to twelve feet from the subject with no contact with, or connection made to, the subject. The antenna cable 48, comprising the antenna array output leads 44, is coupled to the analog signal conditioner section 50 of the CRESP system. The optically isolated (low-noise) first stage 52 of signal conditioner 50 reduces the random 1/f noise of the antenna transistors and improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the system. The antenna signals are next passed to the fiber optic data link stage 54 of the conditioner 50 and thence into a low-pass filter stage 56. The low-pass filters are required to eliminate noise and frequencies over 40 Hz. It is especially important that these filters are tuned to null at 60 Hz. Further, the filters must be designed for sufficient stability and high Q to assure that successive stages will not be saturated by a 60 Hz power field. The 60 Hz power fields are typically generated by A. C. power lines within walls, overhead lighting systems, and various electro-mechanical apparatus in the immediate proximity of the CRESP system as part of the normal environment within which the system will be operated.
The output 58 of the low-pass filter stage 56 is connected to a very fast (nanosecond), 16-bit analog-to-digital converter 60 which converts the analog information to digital information so that it can be stored in the 4-port memory section 62 of a minicomputer 64. The 4-port memory section 62 has serial, in time sequencing with overlapping memory windows. This 4-port memory flows into four hard-board Fast Fourier Transform- (FFTs A to D) dedicated outboard microprocessors 66a-66d and four outboard dedicated autocorrelator microprocessors (correlators A to D) 68a-68d. The FFT and autocorrelator microprocessors are coupled to the minicomputer 64 (32-bit) with an array processor and incorporating signal discriminating software such as the previously mentioned Micro Vax II software by Digital Equipment Corporation. The minicomputer 64 uses the FFT and autocorrelation analysis to examine the time dependence of amplitude and frequency modulation for frequencies in the range of 0.3 Hz to 40 Hz. Explanations of how this analysis may be accomplished are contained in the following references:
(1) Cochran, W. T., "What is the Fast Fourier Transform?", IEEE Transactions on Audio and Electroacoustics, Vol AU-15, No. 2, June 1967
(2) Brigham, O. E., The Fast Fourier Transform, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1974
(3) Raeder, W. A., The Fast Fourier Transform: A Bibliography, TRW Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif. 1969
(4) Luk, A. L., Parallel Processing of the Fast Fourier Transform Via Memory Organization, M.S. Thesis in Computer Science, UCLA, 1976
The FFTs 66a-66d and autocorrelators 68a-68d separate the SLF/ELF fields emitted by the human subject S into component waveforms as they are related to specific internal organ functioning such as EKG, EEG, EMG, EOG and respiration. After the FFT, autocorrelation and signal discrimination functions are completed by the minicomputer 64, the signal is sent directly to a multichannel waveform display unit 70 (color video display terminal) or physioscope, as well as being sent through a series of multichannel digital-to-analog (very fast) converters 72 that pass their output to a chart recorder or electrostatic printer 74 which records the various component waveforms on a chart.
FIG. 4 shows a patient or subject S being monitored by the arrayed antanna structure 10 of the invention. The antenna is attached to a wall W of an examination room by support arms A. The antenna output signals are passed to the analog signal conditioner section of the CRESP system through cable 48. The triangular antenna structure is positioned parallel to the subject S and aligned so that one of the antenna plate elements is directly over the head and chest area of the subject. The remaining two array plate elements are positioned over the lower torso area of the subject. The antenna 10 may be attached to the structure of the bed B or a wheeled cart containing the CRESP system.
The following comprises a discussion of the factors determining the selection and design of an appropriate antenna for the remote monitoring of 0.3 to 40 Hz electromagnetic waves. Wavelengths of frequencies in the 0.3 Hz to 40 Hz range are extremely long, 1×10 9 meters to 7.5×10 6 meters, respectively, and the distance between any system involving a transmitter (a human body) and a receiver (the system of the present invention) will be considerably less than the wavelengths of the signals being measured. Thus, the super-low frequency (SLF) and extremely-low frequency (ELF) signals and their concomitant long wavelengths demand novel approaches when the antenna is placed at a distance anywhere from two to twelve feet away from the transmitter, i.e., the human subject being monitored.
Due to the superlong wavelengths, the classical approach to antenna theory does not hold. Under such circumstances, the antenna problem is reduced to a matter of electrostatics. Examination of the various conditions shows that the antenna problem may be resolved into three basic cases. In case 1 the transmitter is distant from a large ground plane and the receiver is near the large ground plane. In the second case, the transmitter and receiver are in free space. In the third case, both the transmitter and receiver are located near one another and both are in the presence of a large ground plane.
For the first case above, the theoretically best antenna is the largest possible section of the ground plane which is insulated from the rest of the ground plane. This because the electric field is perpendicular to the plane. The sensitivity is in proportion to the size of the plane antenna. For the second case above, there must be an electric dipole formed for reception. In this case, the optimum antenna is the largest possible parallel plane capacitor, with the best sensitivity in the vector which is perpendicular to the plane of the antenna. For the third case above, the receiver should be connected to a common ground plane. The antenna is a large conductive sheet oriented perpendicular to the subject being monitored.
The foregoing antenna problems and needs for accomplishing the remote monitoring of basic physiological data are solved by the unique arrayed antenna structure of the present invention integrated into the CRESP system as described hereinbefore.
The output of the antenna array analog signal conditioners of the CRESP system consists of a complex waveform emanated from the human body. This complex waveform is composed of various wavelengths and amplitudes which correspond to internal physiological processes and a typical waveform, as actually processed by the apparatus and methodology of the invention, is shown in FIG. 5. The computer FFT/autocorrelation analysis separates this complex waveform into its various frequency/amplitude components as they are related to the specific internal organ functioning. FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show typical EKG, EEG and respiration waveforms, respectively, as actually generated by the apparatus and methodology of the invention, after FFT/autocorrelation analysis and D/A convesion. EMG and EOG waveforms have not been shown.
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the teachings herein, and it is intended that all such modifications and variations be encompased within the scope of the appended claims.
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Apparatus and method for remotely detecting super-low frequency (SLF) and extremely-low frequency (ELF) signals eminating from human subjects. The SLF/ELF signals are composed of various wavelengths and amplitudes which correspond to the subjects internal physiological processes. The apparatus includes: a supercooled multi-plate arrayed antenna for detecting the SLF/ELF signals; an analog signal conditioner unit adapted to filter out signals having a frequency of greater than 40 Hertz; and a digital signal processor unit adapted to perform Fast Fourier Transform and autocorrelation signal analyses for separating signal wavelengths and amplitudes which correspond to the internal physiological processes and represent EKG, EEG, EMG, EOG and respiration measurements.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display apparatus.
Conventionally known types of display apparatus include those that use a photographic film such as slide projectors, those that display images on an image-receiving tube using image signals, and the like.
However, in these conventional display apparatus, it is not possible to display images that have a high resolution and so a display apparatus that enables high resolution image display is required.
In order to display high resolution images, one display apparatus has been developed which has a spatial light modulator of reflective type having a configuration that includes a photoconductive layer member between two electrodes, a photomodulation layer member having a photomodulating material that changes the optical nature such as the status of light scattering, birefringence and rotary polarization of light incident thereto in accordance with an electrical field applied thereto.
FIG. 1 is a view of one configuration of a conventional display apparatus using a spatial light modulator SLM of reflective type provided with a photomodulation layer member using a photomodulating material that performs birefringence operation.
The spatial light modulator SLM in FIG. 1 has a power source E connected to electrodes Et1 and Et2 and has an electrical field applied to a photomodulation layer member PCL, so that when a writing light WL is irradiated to the spatial light modulator SLM from the side of the electrode Et1 in the status where the optical intensity of the writing light WL is modulated by the information which is the object of display, that irradiated light WL passes through the electrode Et1 to reach the photoconductive layer member PCL.
The value of the electrical resistance of the photoconductive layer member PCL changes in accordance with the intensity distribution of the light WL that reaches it. This results in a charge image generated having an intensity distribution that corresponds to the intensity distribution of the light WL on the boundary surface between a dielectric mirror DML and the photoconductive layer member PCL.
When non-polarized light radiated from a light source LS via a lens L is incident to a polarization beam splitter PBS, only the S-polarized light is reflected by the beam splitter PBS.
The S-polarized light is irradiated to the spatial light modulator SLM on which the charge image is formed on the side of the electrode Et2 via beam splitter PBS as a reading light RL.
The S-polarized reading light RL passes through a photomodulation layer member PML of birefringence type and is then reflected by a dielectric mirror DML, again passes through the photomodulation layer member PML and is irradiated from the electrode Et2 in the status where the polarization plane of the reading light RL changes in accordance with the charge image described above.
The reading light RL irradiated from the electrode Et2 is irradiated to the polarization beam splitter PBS and only the P-polarized light RLr is applied to a projection lens Lp and is projected to a display screen S.
In the conventional display apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the reading light RL is irradiated parallel to the optical axis of the spatial light modulator SLM and the projection lens Lp is provided along the path of the light RLr irradiated from the polarization beam splitter PBS. So the back focal distance (the distance between the modulator SLM and the lens L p ) becomes large and a wide angle lens cannot be used, accordingly there is the problem that the configuration of a display apparatus that displays large-screen images cannot be made compact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a display apparatus which uses a spatial light modulator of reflective type. The display apparatus has an optical element such as a polarization beam splitter disposed between a screen and a projection lens so that the back focal distance can be shortened. Furthermore, by focussing a reading light from the light source, in the vicinity of the focal point (hereinafter termed the forward focal point) of the projection lens on the side of the screen, it is possible to realize a compact display apparatus that solves the problems described above.
Furthermore, the projection light that is reflected from the spatial light modulator described above is made to pass through a small-diameter opening provided at the position of the forward focal point of the projection lens so that it is possible to remove scattering light that lowers the contrast of the display image and to realize a display apparatus that has a high contrast.
The other objects and features of this invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view describing a conventional display apparatus which uses a reflective type spatial light modulator of birefringence mode;
FIGS. 2 to 6 and 8 to 12 are views that show from a first embodiment to a tenth embodiment of a display apparatus according to the present invention and which uses a reflective type spatial light modulator of birefringence mode; and
FIGS. 7A and 7B are views of embodiments of an optical member MA used in the display apparatus of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals and letters are used to designate like or equivalent elements for the sake of simplicity of explanation.
FIG. 2 is a view of a first embodiment of the display apparatus of the present invention. In the display apparatus shown in FIG. 2, a spatial light modulator SLM of reflective type is configured from a transparent electrode Et1, a photoconductive layer member PCL, a dielectric mirror DML (which can be omitted if the photoconductive layer member PCL reflects a reading light RL and does not have a sensitivity towards the reading light RL), a photomodulation layer member PML using a photomodulation material which performs birefringence operation (such as a photomodulation layer member PML using a liquid crystal which performs birefringence operation, or a photomodulation layer member PML using lithium niobate) and a transparent electrode Et2 (This spatial light modulator SLM is the same as the spatial light modulator used in the conventional display apparatus described earlier with reference to FIG. 1).
To the forward surface of the transparent electrode Et2 on the side of read in the spatial light modulator SLM, a projection lens Lp is disposed so that the principle plane of the lens Lp is parallel to the surface of the transparent electrode Et2 (the surface of the photomodulation layer member PML). It is desirable that the optical axes of the spatial light modulator SLM and the projection lens Lp be disposed so that they are completely or approximately in agreement.
To the forward surface of the projection lens Lp is disposed a polarization beam splitter PBS. Unpolarized light as a reading light which is irradiated from a light source LS, is made a fine image of the light source LS in a portion that is in the extreme vicinity of the position of the optical axis of the polarization section in the polarization beam splitter PBS by a condenser lens Lc.
The polarization beam splitter PBS reflects the S-polarized light in the reading light irradiated thereto, and irradiates the S-polarized light to the projection lens Lp. The S-polarized as the reading light and which is in the substantially parallel status that is, being collimated, is emitted from the projection lens Lp and irradiated to the transparent electrode Et2, substantially perpendicular to the surface of the spatial light modulator SLM.
When a writing light WL carrying information which is the object of display is applied to the transparent electrode Et1 of the spatial light modulator SLM, a charge image corresponding to the optical intensity of the writing light WL is generated as described above with reference to FIG. 1, at the border between the photoconductive layer member PML and the dielectric mirror DML, and as a result, the electrical field due to the this charge image is applied to the photomodulation layer member PML.
Then, the S-polarized light as the reading light irradiated to the spatial light modulator SLM from the projection lens Lp passes through the transparent electrode Et2, the photomodulation layer member PML and reaches the dielectric mirror DML. The reading light is reflected by the dielectric mirror DML and passes through the photomodulation layer member PML and the transparent electrode Et2 and is irradiated from the spatial light modulator SLM substantially perpendicular to the surface thereof.
The reading light emitted from the transparent electrode Et2 is in a status where the polarization plane of the light changes in accordance with the field intensity due to the charge image while the reading light travels through and back through the photomodulation layer member PML to which the electrical field applied.
When the reading light emitted from the spatial light modulator SLM is focussed by the projection lens Lp and irradiated to the polarization beam splitter PBS, the P-polarized light of that reading light passes therethrough and is projected on a display screen S as an image.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a second embodiment of the display apparatus according to the present invention, and shows the configuration of a display apparatus described with respect to FIG. 1, for the display of color images. In the display apparatus shown in FIG. 3, when the S-polarized reading light reflected by the polarization beam splitter PBS is irradiated to the projection lens Lp, the S-polarized reading light becomes in the status where it is substantially parallel and is irradiated to the dichroic prism DP that is used as a 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system, and is split into three colors.
Of the S-polarized reading light that has been color split by the dichroic prism DP, the S-polarized reading light which is red in color is irradiated to the read side in the write spatial light modulator SLMr of reflective type to which the information of the red color is written by a write light WLr, the S-polarized reading light which is green in color is irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLMg of reflective type to which the information of the green color is written by a write light WLg, and the S-polarized reading light which is blue in color is irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLMb of reflective type to which the information of the green color is written by a write light WLb.
The status of the reading light of each of the colors irradiated to the spatial light modulators SLMr, SLMg and SLMb for each of the colors is in the same status as the read light that is irradiated to the spatial light modulator SLM with respect to FIG. 2. The S-polarized reading light is irradiated to the respective transparent electrode Et2 and photomodulation layer member PML of the spatial light modulators SLMr, SLMg and SLMb for each of the colors, in the status where it is substantially perpendicular.
The S-polarized reading light that is irradiated to each of the spatial light modulators SLMr, SLMg and SLMb for each of the colors passes through the transparent electrode Et2, the photomodulation layer member PML and reaches dielectric mirror DML. The reading light is reflected by the dielectric mirror DML and passes through the photomodulation layer member PML and the transparent electrode Et2 and is emitted from the spatial light modulators SLMr, SLMg and SLMb for each of the colors. However, each reading light that is linearly polarized and which is emitted from the spatial light modulators SLMr, SLMg and SLMb for each of the colors, is in the status where the polarization plane is rotated corresponding to the field intensity due to the charge image generated at the boundary between the dielectric mirror DML and the photoconductive layer member PCL corresponding to the respective writing lights WLr, WLg and WLb, while each reading light travels through and back through the photomodulation layer member PML to which an electrical field due to the charge image is applied.
Then, the linearly polarized reading light which is emitted from the transparent electrode Et2 of each of the spatial light modulators SLMr, SLMg and SLMb for each of the colors, is irradiated to the projection lens Lp after it has been 3-color synthesized by the dichroic prism DP. The linearly polarized reading light that is focussed by the projection lens Lp is irradiated to the polarization beam splitter PBS. The polarization beam splitter PBS passes the P-polarized light of that irradiated linearly polarized light and emits it to be projected onto the display screen S as a color image.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show third and fourth embodiments of the display apparatus of the present invention. These are examples of the configuration of an spatial light modulator SLM 1 provided with a photomodulation layer member PML 1 using a photomodulation material that performs scattering operation (such as a photomodulation layer member PML 1 using a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film which has high-resistance liquid crystals scattering in a high-polymer material performing scattering operation or a photomodulation layer member PML 1 using lead lanthanum zirconate titanate performing scattering operation, or the like), and the differences in the configurations of the display apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the configurations of the display apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are that the display apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 have a 1/4 wavelength plate WP inserted along the optical path of the S-polarized reading light that is emitted from the projection lens Lp, and that a pinhole plate 23 is provided so as to remove the unnecessary scattering light from among the light emitted from the polarization beam splitter PBS and passing through the pinhole 23a.
As shown in FIG. 4, the condenser lens Lc and the light source LS are provided such that the light from the light source LS is focussed in the vicinity of the forward focal point of the lens Lp. Also, the position of this point where the light is focussed and the pinhole 23a is the same optical distance with respect to the lens Lp.
In the display apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the S-polarized reading light in the substantially parallel status and which is emitted from the projection lens Lp, is converted into circularly polarized light by the wavelength plate WP and is then irradiated to the transparent electrode Et2 in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 be substantially perpendicular to the surface of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 .
A charge image corresponding to the writing light WL is generated at the boundary between the dielectric mirror DML and the photoconductive layer member PCL in the spatial light modulator SLM and so an electrical field corresponding to the charge image is applied to the photomodulation layer member PML 1 .
Then, the circularly polarized reading light that is irradiated from the projection lens Lp to the spatial light modulator SLM 1 of reflective type passes through the transparent electrode Et2, the photomodulation layer member PML 1 and reaches the dielectric mirror DML. The reading light is reflected by the dielectric mirror DML and passes through the photomodulation layer member PML 1 and the transparent electrode Et2 and is emitted from the spatial light modulator SLM 1 in the status substantially perpendicular to the surface of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 .
The circularly polarized reading light that is emitted from the transparent electrode Et2 in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 is in the status where there is light scattering corresponding to the field intensity of the previously described charge image, while the circularly polarized light travels through and back through the photomodulation layer member PML 1 to which is applied an electrical field due to the charge image.
More specifically, the photomodulation layer member PML 1 using a photomodulation material that performs the previously described scattering operation has the status of the scattering with respect to the light changing in accordance with the electrical field due to the charge image generated corresponding to the writing light WL. So the circularly polarized reading light that is emitted from the spatial light modulator SLM 1 and substantially parallel to the optical axis of the projection lens Lp is in the status where there is intensity modulation corresponding to the information that is carried by the writing light WL.
Then, the circularly polarized light that is emitted from the spatial light modulator SLM 1 is focussed by the projection lens Lp after it has been converted into linearly polarized light by the wavelength plate WP, and is irradiated to the polarization beam splitter PBS. In the polarization beam splitter PBS, the P-polarized light of that reading light which is the irradiated linearly polarized light, passes through and is irradiated to the pinhole plate 23. The pinhole plate 23 operates to remove the unnecessary scattering light, and only the read light that passes through the pinhole 23a is projected as the image to the display screen S.
When there is scattering operation performed in a photomodulation layer member of a spatial light modulator of reflective type, light is emitted in the status of scattering light, from the portion of the photomodulation layer corresponding to a dark portion of the image to be projected onto a display screen. So when that light reaches the screen, this results in a lowering of the contrast of the image. However, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the pinhole 23a selectively passes only the light component that is reflected perpendicularly from the spatial light modulator SLM 1 and so it is possible to display an image having high contrast.
The display apparatus shown in FIG. 5 has a configuration where there is added a 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system to the display apparatus shown in FIG. 4, and is provided with a reflective type spatial light modulator SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b for each color. The operation can be easily understood from the configuration shown in FIG. 4 and the disclosure with respect to FIG. 4 and so details of it will be omitted here.
FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the display apparatus of the present invention.
To the forward surface of the transparent electrode Et2 on the read side in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 of reflective type is disposed a projection lens Lp so that the principal plane of the lens Lp is parallel with respect to the surface of the transparent electrode Et2. It is desirable that the optical axes of the projection lens Lp and the spatial light modulator SLM 1 are disposed so that they are either in agreement or substantially in agreement.
In addition, an optical member MA that is configured with a reflecting mirror (and hereinafter termed simply the optical member MA) is configured so that at least the portion to which the light from the light source LS is irradiated is the reflecting mirror. The optical member MA also has the portion to which the reading light irradiated from the spatial light modulator SLM 1 in the status where it is modulated by the image information in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 , is irradiated and which passes that reading light. Two embodiments of the optical member MA are shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
One embodiment of the optical member MA shown in FIG. 7A is configured so that it is provided with a pinhole PH in the central portion of a reflector surface (mirror surface) portion 13 formed over the substrate. The other embodiment of the optical member MA that is shown in FIG. 7B forms a reflector surface (mirror surface) portion 14 in only one portion on the substrate, with portions other than the previously described reflector surface portion 14 being made a non-reflecting surface 15 (with it being desirable for example, that it be made black in color), and there also being provided a pinhole PH in this non-reflecting surface portion 15.
The optical member MA can be provided with a cold mirror that reflects visible light and that absorbs heat rays, such as glass that absorbs infrared rays.
In the display apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the optical member MA has the portion of the pinhole PH disposed so that it is slightly skewed from the optical axis of the projection lens Lp, and also has the reflector surface of that reflector surface portion 13 (14) which is disposed such that it faces the projection lens Lp and is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens Lp so that it is not parallel to the principal plane of the projection lens Lp.
The unpolarized reading light that is emitted from the light light source LS is supplied to the condenser lens Lc. By the condenser lens Lc, the reading light is made a fine image of the light source LS in the vicinity of the position of the forward focal distance of the projection lens LP in the reflector surface portion 13 (14) and on the position extremely close to the pinhole PH provided in the optical member MA.
The reflector surface of the reflector mirror 13 (14) of the optical member MA reflects the reading light that is irradiated thereto and irradiates the reading light to the projection lens Lp and the reading light is emitted from the projection lens Lp in the status where it is substantially parallel to the optical axis. Then, the reading light is irradiated to the transparent electrode Et2 in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 in the status substantially perpendicular to the surface of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 .
The reading light that is irradiated to the spatial light modulator SLM 1 passes through the transparent electrode Et2, the photomodulation layer member PML 1 and reaches the dielectric mirror DML. The reading light is reflected by the dielectric mirror DML and passes through the photomodulation layer member PML and the transparent electrode Et2 and is emitted from the transparent electrode Et2 in the status where it is substantially perpendicular to the spatial light modulator SLM 1 .
The photomodulation layer member PML 1 using a photomodulation member that performs scattering operation, has a different scattering effect with respect to light in accordance with the electrical field due to the charge image generated corresponding to the writing light WL. So the reading light that is emitted from the spatial light modulator SLM 1 in the status where it is substantially parallel to the optical axis of the projection lens Lp, is intensity modulated corresponding to the information carried by the writing light WL.
The reading light that is emitted from the spatial light modulator SLM 1 of reflector type and is focussed by the projection lens Lp passes through the pinhole PH provided in the vicinity of the position of the spot of light from the light source LS in the reflector surface portion 13 (14) and is projected onto the display screen S as an image.
Since the scattering light that is generated by scattering action is cut by the optical member MA and does not reach the display screen S, it is possible to project a high-contrast image onto the display screen S.
FIGS. 8 to 11 show sixth to ninth embodiments of the display apparatus of the present invention and show configurations of the display apparatus described with respect to FIG. 6, for the case when configured as display apparatus for color images. In the display apparatus shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the configuration of the portions comprising the screen S, the condenser lens Lc and the light source LS, the optical member MA and the projection lens Lp are the same as the corresponding portions of the display apparatus described with respect to FIG. 6 and the display apparatus of FIG. 11 is configured with the display apparatus described with reference to FIG. 6 being provided for each color.
First, in the display apparatus shown in FIG. 8, the reading light that is emitted from the projection lens Lp in the status where it is substantially parallel light is irradiated to the dichroic prism DP that is used as the 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system. This dichroic prism DP splits the reading light that is irradiated thereto, into three colors. Of that light which is three-color split in the dichroic prism DP, the reading light which is of the red color is irradiated to the side of read in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 r of reflector type to which the information of the red color image is written by the write light WLr, the reading light which is of the green color is irradiated to the side of read in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 g of reflector type to which the information of the green color image is written by the write light WLg, and the reading light which is of the blue color is irradiated to the side of read in the spatial light modulator SLMb of reflector type to which the display information of the blue color image is written by the write light WLb.
The status of the reading light of each color irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b is the same as the status of the reading light that is irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 of reflector type in the display apparatus described with reference to FIG. 6.
The status of the reading light that is emitted from each transparent electrode Et2 of the spatial light modulators SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b for each of the colors is also the same as the status of the reading light that is emitted from the transparent electrode Et2 of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 in the display apparatus of FIG. 6.
Then, the read light that is emitted from each transparent electrode Et2 of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b for each color is irradiated to the projection lens Lp after it has been three-color synthesized by the dichroic prism DP. Then, the reading light that is focussed by the projection lens Lp passes through the pinhole PH in the vicinity of the position of the spot of light from the light source LS in the reflector surface portion 13 (14) of the optical member MA and is projected onto the screen S as a color image.
Then, the display apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a display apparatus that is configured using a 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system having a configuration other than the dichroic prism DP that was used in the display apparatus described with reference to FIG. 8 but those portions other than the portions of the 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system in the display apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are the same as those of the display apparatus shown in FIG. 8.
In the display apparatus shown in FIG. 9, the read light that is emitted from the projection lens Lp in the status where it is substantially parallel light is irradiated to a prism 1 in a 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system CSA 1.
The light of the wavelength region of green light in the reading light which is irradiated to the prism 1 passes through both of dichroic filters 4 and 5 and is emitted from a prism 3 in the 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system CSA 1 and then irradiated so that it is substantially perpendicular to the spatial light modulator SLM 1 g of reflector type. The light of the wavelength region of red light in the reading light which is irradiated to the prism 1 passes through the dichroic filter 4, is reflected by the dichroic filter 5 and is emitted from a prism 2 in the 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system CSA 1 and then irradiated so that it is substantially perpendicular to the spatial light modulator SLM 1 r of reflector type. The light of the wavelength region of blue light in the reading light which is irradiated to the prism 1 is reflected by the dichroic filter 4, and is emitted from prism 1 and then irradiated so that it is substantially perpendicular to the spatial light modulator SLM 1 b of reflector type.
In the display apparatus shown in FIG. 10, the reading light that is emitted from the projection lens Lp and is substantially parallel is irradiated to the dichroic prism DP of a 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system CSA 2.
The 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system CSA 2 shown in FIG. 10 has optical path length compensation prisms Pr and Pb added to the dichroic prism DP that is used as the three-color splitting and synthesis optical system in the display apparatus described with respect to FIG. 8. So the information for the three colors is obtained from the spatial light modulators SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b for each of the colors, which are in the in line and on the same plane.
In the display apparatus shown in FIG. 10, the reading light that is emitted from the projection lens Lp in the status where it is substantially parallel is irradiated to the dichroic prism DP of the 3-color splitting and synthesis optical system CSA 2.
The dichroic prism DP splits the reading light that is irradiated thereto, into three colors. Of that light that is color split into three colors by the dichroic prism DP, the reading light that is of the red color and which is split by the dichroic prism DP, is reflected by a totally-reflecting surface Mr of the optical path length compensation prism Pr and is then irradiated to the read side in the spatial light modulator SLM 1 r to which information of the red image is written by the writing light WLr. The reading light that is of the green color and which is split by the dichroic prism DP, is irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 g to which information of the green image is written by the writing light WLg. The reading light that is of the blue color and which is split by the dichroic prism DP, is reflected by a totally reflecting surface Mb of the optical path length compensation prism Pb and is then irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 b to which information of the block image is written by the writing light WLb.
The status of the reading light of each color irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b for each color is the same as the status of the reading light that is irradiated to the read side of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 of reflector type described with reference to FIG. 6.
In FIGS. 9 and 10, the status of the reading light that is emitted from each transparent electrode Et2 of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b for each of the colors is also the same as the status of the reading light that is emitted from the transparent electrode Et2 of the spatial light modulator SLM 1 in the display apparatus of FIG. 6.
Then, the reading light that is emitted from each transparent electrode Et2 of the spatial light modulators SLM 1 r, SLM 1 g and SLM 1 b for each color is irradiated to the projection lens Lp after combined together by the 3-color splitting and synthesis prism CSA 1 in FIG. 9 or by the dichroic prism DP in FIG. 10. The reading light that is focussed by the projection lens Lp passes the pinhole PH in the vicinity of the position of the spot of light of the light source LS in the reflector surface portion 13 (14) of the optical member MA and is projected onto the screen S as a color image.
Then, in FIG. 11, of that reading light that is emitted from the light source LS, the blue color reading light that has passed through a dichroic filter 10 and the condenser lens comprising lenses 6 and 7 forms a small diameter spot of light of the light source LS on the reflector surface in an optical member MAb with respect to the blue light. The reading light of the red color passes through dichroic filters 10 and 11 and the condenser lens comprising lenses 6 and 8 forms a small diameter spot of light of the light source LS on the reflector surface in an optical member MAr with respect to the red light. The read light of the green color passes through dichroic filters 10 and 11, the condenser lens comprising lenses 6 and 9 and a fully reflecting mirror 12, forms a small diameter spot of light of the light source LS on the reflector surface in an optical member MAg with respect to the red light.
The operation of the display apparatus for each color in the display apparatus of FIG. 11 is the same as the operation of the display apparatus described with respect to FIG. 6, and the light emitted from the display apparatus of each color shown in FIG. 11 is combined on the screen S and displays a color image thereon.
FIG. 12 shows a tenth embodiment of the display apparatus of the present invention. In this display apparatus shown in FIG. 12, the configuration and operation of the read light light source LS, the projection lens Lp, the reflector type spatial light modulator SLM, the polarization beam splitter PBS, and the screen S are clear from the description with respect to FIGS. 1 to 11, and so a detailed description will be omitted here.
With the display apparatus described above, it is possible to display an image at high resolution and having a high contrast ratio but in a display apparatus that can project high resolution images as described above, it is possible to recognize that the degree of resolution of the image changes even if there is a slight displacement of the projection lens Lp due to vibration or the like.
So that the display apparatus shown in FIG. 12 does not cause such problems, the projection lens Lp can have automatic control by an automatic focussing control system. Such an automatic focussing control system for the projection lens Lp has sensors such as line image sensors 26, 26, . . . for image information detection disposed in a portion that is not used for the display of an image, such as a portion the periphery of the screen S. Furthermore, predetermined patterns 25, 25, . . . for the detection of image information are placed on the line sensors 26, 26, . . . so as to be displayed by the display apparatus. The projection lens Lp is displaced by a motor 23 and a displacement apparatus 24 in the direction indicated by an arrow X so that the high-frequency component of image signals detected by these image information detection sensors 26, 26, . . . becomes maximum.
More specifically, the predetermined pattern 25, 25, . . . for image information detection and which is projected onto the display screen S by the display apparatus is detected by the image information detection sensors 26, 26, . . . and the obtained image information is amplified by an amplifier 21 and applied to a control circuit 22. Control signals generated by the control circuit 22 are used to drive the motor 23 so that the rotational force of the motor 23 drives the displacement apparatus 24 to displace the projection lens Lp in the direction of the optical axis.
The predetermined patterns 25, 25, . . . for image information detection and which is to be projected from the display apparatus may be superimposed as pattern signals on the information to be written that is applied to the spatial light modulator SLM for example, or it can be provided as a fixed optical pattern in the peripheral portion of the spatial light modulator SLM.
While the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that that disclosures are for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
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There is provided an apparatus for displaying an image on a screen by projecting a reading light from a light source onto a spatial light modulator of reflective type in which the image is written, and projecting a reflected light from the modulator corresponding to the image onto the screen through a projection lens, the modulator, lens and screen being provided so that their optical axes are in agreement on one optical path. The apparatus comprises an optical device provided between the lens and screen for the reading light toward the modulator and passing the reflected light to the screen and a converging element for converging the reading light on the position which is on the optical axis of the lens and located between the lens and screen so that the reading light thus turned becomes a parallel pencil beam which is projected onto the modulator in parallel with the optical axis.
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This is a division of application Ser. No. 466,930 filed on May 6, 1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,827, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 304,871 filed Oct. 19, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,370.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Among the many insecticidal and miticidal compounds available, the organotin compounds have reached a relatively high degree of commercial success. Specifically, the organotins described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,264,177, 3,591,614 and 3,591,615 are widely used. These compounds, however, suffer from considerable unstability due to the presence of an ester linkage to the tin atom. Thus, these compounds are quite susceptible to hydrolysis on use. Additionally, the organotin compounds described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,321,361 and 3,321,365 are useful as insecticides. However, these compounds are quite toxic to vegetation and thus have extremely limited use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It has been discovered that certain organotin compounds have relatively low phytotoxicity properties and are relatively stable. These organotin compounds may be defined by the following generic formula ##STR1## wherein R 1 is lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R 2 can be selected from alkylketoximino, piperidyl, cycloalkylketoximino, alkylaldoximino, alkylcarbamylalkoxy, hexamethyleneimino, alkyloxazolidine, and ##STR2## wherein R 3 and R 4 can be the same or different and can be selected from hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl, alkenyl, benzyl, cyanoalkyl, alkanol, phenyl, alkylphenyl, sulfonamidophenyl, thiazolinyl, alkoxycarbamyl, halobenzyl, furfuryl, provided that when R 3 is hydrogen, R 4 is other than hydrogen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the practice of the present invention, the compounds of the present invention are manufactured by reacting an alkylthiophosphine sulfide with an appropriate amine in a neutral solvent to form an intermediate compound. The intermediate compound is then reacted with an alkyl tin halide to form the end product. The halide moiety in the alkyl tin halide can be selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine. After the compounds of the present invention are formed, they can be applied to the habitat in an effective amount to control respective mites and insects.
The following examples illustrate the merits of the present invention:
EXAMPLE 1 ##SPC1##
A mixture was formed containing 2.2 grams (0.009 mole) of ethylthiophosphine sulfide, 50 ml. of tetrahydrofuran, 2.8 grams (0.015 mole) of dodecylamine and 7.0 ml. of triethylamine. This mixture was allowed to stand for 1 hour wherein 6.1 grams. (0.015 mole) of tricyclohexyl tin chloride was added and the mixture was allowed to stand for 24 hours. Then, the mixture was heated to boiling for a few minutes, then diluted with 100 ml. of chloroform, washed with 100 ml. of water and 50 ml. of sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to yield 6.5 grams of product.
EXAMPLE 2 ##SPC2##
A mixture was formed containing 2.2 grams (0.009 mole) of ethylthiophosphine sulfide, 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran, and 3.0 grams (0.04 mole) of methoxyethylamine. The mixture was allowed to stand for 1 hour, wherein 6.1 grams (0.015 mole) of tricyclohexyl tin chloride was added. The mixture was allowed to stand for 24 hours. Then, the mixture was heated to boiling for a few minutes, diluted with 100 ml. of chloroform, washed with 100 ml. of water and a 50 ml. solution of sodium bicarbonate, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to yield 6.5 grams of product, m.p. 56°-59°C.
EXAMPLE 3 ##SPC3##
A mixture was formed containing 2.2 grams (0.009 mole) of ethylthiophosphine sulfide, 50 ml. of ethyl ether and 4.1 ml. (0.04 mole) of diethylamine. This mixture was allowed to stand for 1 hour. Then, 6.1 grams (0.015 mole) of tricyclohexyl tin chloride and 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran was added and the mixture was allowed to stand for 24 hours. Then, the mixture was boiled for a few minutes, diluted with 50 ml. of ethyl ether and then washed with 100 ml. of water, 50 ml. of a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to yield 7.0 grams of product.
EXAMPLE 4 ##SPC4##
A mixture was formed containing 2.2 grams (0.009 mole) of ethylthiophosphine sulfide, 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran, 1.70 grams (0.015 mole) of cyclohexanoneoxime and 7.0 ml. of triethylamine. This mixture reacted exothermically with the addition of triethylamine. After 1 hour, 6.0 grams (0.015 mole) of tricyclohexyl tin chloride was added and allowed to stand for 2 days. The mixture was diluted with 100 ml. of chloroform. The mixture was then washed with 100 ml. of water, 50 ml. of saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to yield an oil that was triturated with methanol to yield 7.2 g. of crystals, m.p. 76°-79°C.
EXAMPLE 5 ##SPC5##
The procedure of Example 4 was repeated in its entirety except 1.8 grams (0.019 mole) of aniline was substituted for the 1.70 grams of cyclohexanoneoxime. The yield was 6.0 grams of product, m.p. 88°-90°C.
EXAMPLE 6 ##SPC6##
The procedure of Example 4 was repeated in its entirety except 1.37 grams (0.015 mole) of methylhydrazinocarboxylate was substituted for the 1.70 grams of cyclohexanoneoxime and only a 24 hour reaction period was used instead of 2 days. The yield was 5.0 grams of product, m.p. 83°-86°C.
EXAMPLE 7 ##SPC7##
A mixture was formed containing 2.2 grams (0.009 mole) of ethylthiophosphine sulfide, 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran, 2.0 ml. (0.02 mole) n-butylamine, and 7.0 ml. of triethylamine. After standing at room temperature for 1 hour, 5.0 grams (0.0124 mole) of tricyclohexyl tin chloride was added in one portion and the mixture was allowed to stand until the next morning. The mixture was diluted with 100 ml. of chloroform and then washed with 100 ml. of water, 50 ml. of 1N HCl, 50 ml. of saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and then dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to give an oil that was crystallized from 50 ml. of methyl alcohol to yield 6.0 grams of product, m.p. 58°-60°C.
EXAMPLE 8 ##SPC8##
The procedure of Example 7 was repeated in its entirety except 1.1 grams of methylamine gas was substituted for the n-butylamine. The product yield was 3.8 grams, m. p. 81°-83°C.
Other compounds were made in a similar manner using appropriate starting materials. The compounds are listed in Table I. ##SPC9##
INSECTICIDAL EVALUATION TESTS
The following insect species are subjected to evaluation tests for insecticidal activity.
1. Housefly (HF) -- Musca domestica (Linn.)
2. Lygus Bug (LB) -- Lygus hesperus (Knight)
3. Bean Aphid (BA) -- Aphis fabae (Scop.)
4. Two-spotted Mite (2-SM) -- Tetranychus urticae (Koch)
5. Salt-Marsh Caterpillar (SMC) - Estigmene acrea (Drury)
6. Beet armyworm (BAW) -- Spodoptera exigua (Hubner)
7. Tobacco budworm (TBW) -- Heliothis virescens (Fabricius)
Aliquots of the toxicants, dissolved in an appropriate solvent, are diluted in water containing 0.018% of a wetting agent, Sponto 221 (a polyoxyether of alkylated phenols blended with organic sulfonates). Test concentrations range from 0.1% downward to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. In the tests, for these species, ten 1-month old nymphs of the Lygus Bug are placed in a circular cardboard cage sealed on one end with cellophane and covered by a cloth netting on the other. Test concentrations for the Lygus Bug ranged from 0.05% downward to that at which 50% mortality was obtained. Each of the aqueous suspensions of the candidate compounds are sprayed onto the insects through the cloth netting by means of a hand spray gun. Per cent mortality in each case is recorded after 72 hours, and the LD 50 value expressed as per cent of toxicant in the aqueous spray is recorded. The results are in Table II under Column LB.
The following procedure is used to test houseflies: A stock solution containing 0.1 per cent by weight of the toxicant in an appropriate solvent is prepared. Aliquots of this solution are combined with 1 milliliter of an acetone-peanut oil solution in a 60 mm O.D. aluminum pan and allowed to dry. The aliquots are selected to achieve desired toxicant concentration ranging from 100 μg per aluminum pan to that at which 50% mortality was attained. The aluminum pans are placed in a circular cardboard cage, closed on the bottom with cellophane and covered on top with cloth netting. Twenty-five female houseflies are introduced into the cage and the per cent mortality is recorded after 48 hours. The LD 50 values are expressed in terms of μg per 25 female flies. LD 50 values obtained in the above-mentioned housefly test are found in Table II under Column HF.
The compound is dissolved in the appropriate solvent and diluted to a concentration of 0.1 per cent with water containing 0.018% Sponto 221. A portion of the leaf from a bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) plant is immersed in the test solution for 10 seconds and allowed to dry. When dry, the leaf is placed in a Petri dish containing a 9 cm disc of moistened filter paper. Five 3rd-instar saltmarsh caterpillar larvae are placed on the treated leaf. Mortality is recorded after 72 hours. Test concentrations range from 0.1 per cent to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. This latter concentration is recorded as the LD 50 value for the test compound.
The test method for the cotton bollworm, beet armyworm and tobacco budworm is identical to the above except that Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is used as the test plant rather than bitter dock.
The compounds are also active against two-spotted mite (2-SM) Tetranychus urticae (Koch). Pinto bean plants (Phaseolus sp.) are utilized as the host plant and infested with 50 to 75 mites of various ages. Twenty-four hours after infestation, they are sprayed to the point of run off with aqueous suspension of the toxicant. Test concentrations range from 0.05% to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. The values obtained in this test are found in Table II under the Columns 2SM-PE and 2SM-Eggs.
The compounds are also active against bean aphid (Aphis fabae (Scop.)) as a contact toxicant. The same test procedure as given for the two-spotted mite above is used for the bean aphid except nasturtium (Tropaeolum Sp.) plants approximately 2 to 3 inches tall are used as the host plant. The LD 50 values obtained for the compounds of this invention are found in Table II under Column BA.
TABLE II__________________________________________________________________________Example 2-SMNo. HF LB BA PE Eggs SMC BAW TBW__________________________________________________________________________1 80 >.05 0.01 .0003 .0008 .03 .03 .12 50 >.05 >.05 .0003 .0008 .01 .01 .13 75 >.05 .01 .0001 .003 .03 .01 >.14 65 >.05 .003 .0003 .003 >.1 .03 >.15 65 >.05 .008 .003 .003 >.1 .01 >.16 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .003 .1 .08 >.17 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .0008 .03 .008 .18 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .0008 .05 .008 >.19 40 .05 .05 .0003 .003 -- -- >.110 50 .05 .03 .0001 .003 -- -- >.111 80 .02 .03 .0003 .003 -- -- >.112 55 .05 .01 .0005 .003 .01 .03 .113 60 .05 .01 .0003 .003 .1 .03 >.114 80 .05 .01 .0003 .0008 .1 .01 >.115 80 >.05 .05 .0003 .003 .05 .01 >.116 >100 >.05 >.05 .003 .03 >.1 -- --17 80 .05 .03 .0003 .0008 >.1 .01 >.118 90 .05 .03 .001 .008 >.1 .01 >.119 90 .05 .008 .0005 .008 .1 .01 .120 >100 >.05 .03 .001 .008 >.1 .01 >.121 65 >.05 .01 .0003 .003 .1 .1 >.122 65 >.05 .05 .0003 .003 .1 .1 >.123 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .003 >.1 .05 >.124 65 >.05 .01 .0003 .003 .1 .05 >.125 65 >.05 .005 .0003 .003 >.1 .05 >.126 65 .05 .008 .0001 .0008 .05 .005 .0827 65 >.05 .005 .0003 .003 .05 .01 >.128 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .0008 >.05 .01 >.129 65 >.05 .008 .0005 .0008 .03 .005 >.130 65 .05 .008 .0003 .003 .05 .005 >.131 80 >.05 .03 .0003 .0008 .05 .005 >.132 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .0008 >.1 .005 >.133 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .0008 .1 .005 .0834 65 >.05 .03 .0003 .0008 >.1 .01 .0535 65 >.05 .03 .0001 .003 .1 .005 .1__________________________________________________________________________
The compounds of this invention are generally embodied into a form suitable for convenient application. For example, the compounds can be embodied into pesticidal compositions which are provided in the form of emulsions, suspensions, solutions, dusts and aerosol sprays. In general, such compositions will contain, in addition to the active compound, the adjuvants which are found normally in pesticide preparations. In these compositions, the active compounds of this invention can be employed as the sole pesticide component or they can be used in admixture with other compounds having similar utility. The pesticide compositions of this invention can contain, as adjuvants, organic solvents, such as sesame oil, xylene range solvents, heavy petroleum, etc.; water; emulsifying agents; surface active agents; talc; pyrophyllite; diatomite; gypsum; clays; propellants, such as dichlorodifluoromethane, etc. If desired, however, the active compounds can be applied directly to feedstuffs, seeds, etc. upon which the pests feed. When applied in such a manner, it will be advantageous to use a compound which is not volatile. In connection with the activity of the presently disclosed pesticidal compounds, it should be fully understood that it is not necessary that they be active as such. The purposes of this invention will be fully served if the compound is rendered active by external influences, such as light or by some physiological action which occurs when the compound is ingested into the body of the pest.
The precise manner in which the pesticidal compositions of this invention are used in any particular instance will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. Generally, the active pesticide compound will be embodied in the form of a liquid composition; for example, an emulsion, suspension, or aerosol spray. While the concentration of the active pesticide in the present compositions can vary within rather wide limits, ordinarily the pesticide compound will comprise not more than about 50.0% by weight of the composition. Preferably, however, the pesticide compositions of this invention will be in the form of spray tank solutions or suspensions containing about 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the active pesticide compound.
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A composition of matter is described herein which has insecticidal and miticidal activity and methods of use. The composition may be defined by the following generic formula ##EQU1## wherein R 1 is lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R 2 can be selected from alkylketoximino, piperidyl, cycloalkylketoximino, alkylaldoximino, alkylcarbamylalkoxy, hexamethyleneimino, alkyloxazolidine, and ##EQU2## wherein R 3 and R 4 can be the same or different and can be selected from hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl, alkenyl, benzyl, cyanoalkyl, alkanol, phenyl, alkylphenyl, sulfonamidophenyl, thiazolinyl, alkoxycarbamyl, halobenzyl, furfuryl, provided that when R 3 is hydrogen, R 4 is other than hydrogen.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0001] For a variety of reasons, Internet service providers are moving from current, fixed-rate, all-you-can-use Internet access billing plans to more complex billing plans. These new plans charge by metrics, such as volume of data transferred, bandwidth utilized, service used, time-of-day, and subscriber class. An example of such a rate structure might include a fixed monthly rate portion, a usage allocation to be included as part of the fixed monthly rate (a threshold), plus a variable rate portion for usage beyond the allocation (or threshold). For a given service provider there will be many such rate structures for the many possible combinations of services and subscriber classes.
[0002] Many systems have been developed to enable service providers to measure usage of their networks by subscribers. These systems must precisely measure the subscriber's use of the service provider's network to enable accurate billing. The billing data that is generated in this process may be voluminous. However, since the data is used to prepare bills for prompt payment, the billing data does not need to be stored for a long period of time. Rather, typically, the data is stored for a period of no more than several months. This need can be met with relatively small data storage capacity in the service provider's system.
[0003] Network usage analysis is another emerging field that monitors usage patterns of subscribers to assist service providers in meeting their subscribers' needs. Systems for network analysis provide information about how a service provider's services are being used and by whom. This is vital business information that a service provider can use to identify fast-moving trends, to establish competitive prices, and to define new services or subscriber classes as needed.
[0004] Many systems have been developed to extract these trends for service providers based on raw usage data. These systems typically focus on statistical analysis of usage data for the subscribers on a service provider's network. Thus, to accurately identify trends, these systems typically draw on data that covers a longer period of time compared to the data used for billing functions. This data is also typically maintained for longer periods of time than required for billing purposes. This need for accurate identification of trends in subscriber usage, thus, leads to service providers warehousing large volumes of usage data for long periods of time.
[0005] Usage-based billing and network analysis systems begin with the same raw usage data. However, due to differences in function, the data is handled in dramatically different ways. Service providers that implement both usage-based billing and network analysis conventionally store large quantities of data for long periods of time thus requiring extensive data storage systems. This can be a very expensive undertaking for network service providers.
SUMMARY
[0006] Therefore, there is a need in the art for systems and methods for processing raw usage data for use in implementing both usage-based billing and network analysis with reduced storage capacity requirements.
[0007] In one embodiment, a method for monitoring a network is provided. The method includes collecting data containing information on usage of a network by subscribers. The method further aggregates the data for a first type of usage-based function. Further, the method, simultaneously with the aggregating of the data, samples the data for a second, different type of usage-based function.
[0008] In another embodiment, a usage monitoring system is provided. The system includes a usage collector that collects usage records from a network. The system also includes a first usage processor, responsive to the usage collector, that aggregates data in the collected usage records to form a first set of data for a first type of usage-based function. The system further includes a second usage processor, responsive to the usage collector, that samples the usage records simultaneously with the first usage processor to form a second, reduced set of data for a second type of usage-based function.
[0009] In another embodiment, a system for monitoring usage of a network is provided. The system includes a first usage processor that aggregates data in records of usage of a network by subscribers for a first type of usage-based function. The system further includes a second usage processor that selects samples of the records for a second type of usage-based function. The first usage processor aggregates the data simultaneously with the second usage processor selecting samples of the records.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a usage monitor for a network.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of a usage record for use in monitoring the usage of a network.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a process for monitoring the usage in a network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a usage monitor, indicated generally at 100 , for a network 102 . In one embodiment, network 102 comprises a service provider network. For purposes of this specification, a service provider network is a network that carries traffic, e.g., data, voice or video, to and from subscribers. In one embodiment, the network 102 comprises an access network that provides access to the Internet or another network. In other embodiments, the network comprises one or more of a wired network and a wireless network. In other embodiments, the network 102 comprises, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a cable network, a telephony network, the Internet, an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network, or any other appropriate communication network that carries traffic to and from subscribers.
[0015] Usage monitor 100 is configured to monitor usage of the network 102 to enable the service provider to perform two different types of functions based on the same usage data provided by the network 102 . In one embodiment, usage monitor 100 is configured to enable the service provider to implement both usage-based billing and network analysis using the same data provided by the network 102 .
[0016] Network 102 provides messages to usage monitor 100 regarding each use of the network 102 to carry traffic to or from a subscriber. In one embodiment, the messages comprise usage records from network elements in network 102 . For example, in one embodiment, the messages comprise usage records from routers, switches, transmitters, receivers, data logs, management terminals, etc. in the network. In other embodiments, the messages comprise messages from routers that contain information regarding each flow of traffic through the network. For purposes of this specification, a flow of traffic is a unidirectional stream of packets between given source and destination end points through network 102 .
[0017] Usage monitor 100 collects and processes the usage messages from network 102 . Usage monitor 100 includes usage collector 104 . Usage collector 104 receives the messages from network 102 with the information on the usage of network 102 . Usage collector 104 provides this information to first and second usage processors 106 and 108 such that each of usage processors 106 and 108 receive a complete set of the collected messages from network 102 . In one embodiment, first usage processor 106 and second usage processor 108 are separate processors. In other embodiments, first usage processor 106 and second usage processor 108 are implemented on the same processor. In yet further embodiments, one or more of first usage processor 106 and second usage processor 108 are implemented in a bank of multiple processors.
[0018] First usage processor 106 aggregates data in the usage messages from network 102 . First usage processor 106 provides the aggregated data to first usage-based function 110 for further processing. In one embodiment, first usage-based function 110 is a usage-based billing function.
[0019] Second usage processor 108 selectively retains a subset of the usage messages received from network 102 . For purposes of this specification, the term “sample” means a finite part of a statistical population whose properties are studied to gain information about the whole. The samples are provided to second usage-based function 112 . In one embodiment, second usage-based function 112 is a network analyzer function that is used to assist the service provider in planning modifications to its network or service offerings by identifying trends in network use, etc.
[0020] Second usage processor 108 processes the data from usage collector 104 substantially simultaneously with the processing of the data by first usage processor 106 . For purposes of this specification, the term “simultaneous” means occurring at, substantially at, or close to the same time. First usage processor 106 creates a set of data that is an aggregation of the usage data and is suitable for use by a first type of usage-based function such as a billing function. Second usage processor 108 selectively retains a second, reduced set of data that is based on samples of the usage data and is suitable for use by a second, different type of usage-based function such as a network analysis function. By creating two sets of data substantially simultaneously, usage monitor 100 reduces the storage requirements for the service provider. The larger, aggregate data set generated by first usage processor 106 is maintained for a shorter period of time, e.g., a few months for billing purposes, and the smaller, reduced data set produced by the second usage processor 108 is maintained for a longer period of time to allow for network analysis. Thus, only the reduced set of data is maintained for a longer period of time thereby reducing the data storage requirements for the service provider.
[0021] In operation, usage monitor 100 processes messages relating to usage of network 102 for first and second usage-based functions 110 and 112 . When data passes through network 102 , a usage message is created and provided to usage monitor 100 . This message is collected in usage collector 104 . The data collected in usage collector 104 is further processed by first and second usage processors 106 and 108 . In one embodiment, first usage processor 106 aggregates the usage information in usage collector 104 to create a first set of data for a usage-based billing function 110 . Second usage processor 108 samples the usage information in usage collector 104 substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first usage processor 106 . The second usage processor 108 produces a second, reduced data set for a second usage-based function 112 . In this manner, usage monitor 100 provides first and second usage-based functions 110 and 112 with separate sets of data to implement their respective functions starting with the same data but applying separate processes.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of a usage record, indicated generally at 200 , for use in monitoring the usage of a network. Usage record 200 , in one embodiment, comprises the usage messages provided by network 102 of FIG. 1 and collected in usage collector 104 . In this example, the message or usage record 200 includes a number of fields that contain various statistics about a particular flow, e.g., source address 202 , destination address 204 , time 206 , size 208 , and type of service 210 . In one embodiment, the source address 202 and destination address 204 fields contain addresses, e.g., IP addresses, Media Access Control (MAC) addresses, or other appropriate addresses, for the source and destination endpoints of a traffic flow. In one embodiment, the time field 206 contains information on the duration of a flow, e.g., the start time, the end time or the total duration of the flow. In one embodiment, the size field 208 contains an indication of the quantity of data, e.g., the number of packets, number of bytes, etc. in a particular flow. In one embodiment, the type of service field 210 contains an indication of the type of service provided for the flow, e.g., constant bit rate. In other embodiments, the usage records are supplemented with other information to provide usage functions 110 and 112 with information on these and other specific aspects of the usage of network 102 . In one embodiment, the usage message is transmitted to the usage monitor 100 as a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) message.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a process, indicated generally at 300 , for monitoring the usage in a network. The process begins at block 302 with the collection of usage information. In one embodiment, the process collects the usage information from messages or usage records from the network. In one embodiment, the usage records comprise messages from network elements in the network such as routers and the like. In one embodiment, the usage records comprise messages from routers that contain information regarding each flow of data through the network.
[0024] The usage information is processed substantially simultaneously for two types of usage-based functions at blocks 306 and 308 , respectively. At block 306 , a first process is performed on the usage information. In one embodiment, this first process aggregates data from the usage information to produce a first set of data. At block 310 , the first set of data is passed to a first type of usage-based function, e.g., a usage-based billing function, for further processing. At block 308 , the usage information is processed for use in another type of usage-based function. In one embodiment, the process retains samples of the usage information to produce a second, reduced set of data. At block 312 , the reduced set of data is passed to a second usage-based function, e.g., a network analysis function, for further processing.
[0025] The methods and techniques described here may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or with a programmable processor (for example, a special-purpose processor or a general-purpose processor such as a computer) firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus embodying these techniques may include appropriate input and output devices, a programmable processor, and a storage medium tangibly embodying program instructions for execution by the programmable processor. A process embodying these techniques may be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform desired functions by operating on input data and generating appropriate output. The techniques may advantageously be implemented in one or more programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and DVD disks. Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially-designed application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).
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Embodiments for monitoring a network are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes collecting data containing information on usage of a network by subscribers. The method further aggregates the data for a first type of usage-based function. Further, the method, simultaneously with the aggregating of the data, samples the data for a second, different type of usage-based function. In other embodiments, systems and machine readable media for monitoring usage of a network are also provided that provide simultaneous generation of data sets for first and second usage-based functions.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] This present invention relates to plunger lift systems for oil and gas wells, and more particularly to a gas lift plunger with an improved assembly arrangement, and is a continuation in part application of Ser. No. 13/374,830, filed Jan. 17, 2012 and is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 12/586,736, filed Sep. 25, 2009 and of Ser. No. 12/460,099 which is a re-filing of Ser. No. 12/313,279, and is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 11/715,216 and also of Ser. No. 12/217,756, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/350,367, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,395,865 which was based upon Provisional Patent Application 60/593,914, filed 24 Feb. 2005, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention comprises a split-pad plunger assembly for use in wells, particularly those wells producing natural gas as the primary hydrocarbon. The split-pad plunger assembly of the present invention is utilized to cyclically travel up and down, between the top of the well to the bottom of the well and back, to drive the bulk of the liquid present in its travel conduit, to the surface. The plunger assembly is comprised of an elongated hollow central core or mandrel. The elongated hollow core or mandrel consists of an elongated partially hollow first or front (upper) half and an elongated fully hollow second or back (lower) half, with a bore extending therethrough. Each front half and back half, at least in this preferred embodiment, is preferably the duplicate of the other half. The bore in one preferred embodiment is of uniform diameter along the length of its longitudinal axis “L”. The bore extending through the mandrel, in another preferred embodiment, may be of tapered configuration. The taper of the bore would preferably be of narrowing diameter as the bore extends from the bottom or lower barrel end of the plunger assembly towards the top or upper end thereof. The bore in a further embodiment may be comprised of one or more pinched or narrowed diameter sections to have a venturi-like fluid flow effect on fluids passing through that bore.
[0003] The elongated hollow mandrel has a mid-portion with an annular circumferential securement ring ridge disposed centrally therearound. Each half of the mandrel has at least two sets of longitudinally spaced-apart radial arrays of supports.
[0004] A cylindrically shaped “retrieval-neck” is threadedly arranged longitudinally outwardly of the distal most annular array of supports at the upper or top end of the plunger assembly. A hollow barrel is threadedly received onto the lower or downwardly facing end of the plunger assembly. The retrieval neck preferably has a threaded bore extending therein which threadedly receives the screw threaded distal end of the central spine or mandrel. In a further embodiment, the retrieval neck is machined as part of a solid casting with the mandrel, and is irremovable therefrom. In yet a further embodiment of the plunger assembly, the hollow lower end barrel, herein designated as the “lower” end, for example purposes only, may have an annular, hollow protective sensor, for safely and replaceably enclosing proper wireless communicative electronic sensors and alarms, for sensing well casing pressure, time, distance, fluid composition, viscosity, chemical makeup and the like, and also maintaining report/control functions and/or an antennae for the plunger assembly. Such sensors may be in proper communication with sensors embedded within or on an array of arcuate wear pads. The hollow lower end barrel has a channel extending therethrough, to permit gaseous fluids to enter the bore within the mandrel.
[0005] Relative to the “wear functions” of the plunger assembly, an arrangement of, for example, four curved sealing-surface pads are circumferentially arranged about each mandrel half, so as to be radially slidingly supported adjacent the radially outer end of each radially directed support. The curved sealing-surface pads each have a cutout arranged on its longitudinally directed edges. Each cutout slidingly mates with the radially directed support. At least one radial bias spring is arranged between the central spine or mandrel adjacent each radially directed support. The radial bias springs act to radially outwardly bias the curved sealing surface pads against the inner side of the well's conduit in which the split-pad plunger assembly travels. The outward radial bias of the sealing-surface pads acts to minimize loss of pressure from the lower side of that conduit during movement of the plunger therein.
[0006] An arcuately segmented split retainer ring, preferably of semi-circumferential shape, is disposed about the mid-point of the central spine or mandrel, and has an annular lip which secures the other or “proximal” longitudinal edge of each curved sealing-surface pad in proper location about the central spine or mandrel.
[0007] An annular manifold is arranged circumferentially around at least one longitudinal location of preferably both the first half and the second half of the hollow elongated mandrel. Each manifold has a plurality of preferably replaceable fluid discharge nozzles arranged generally radially therein. In another embodiment, those nozzles are fixed orifices, generally radially configured within the annular manifold.
[0008] The gaseous fluid “G” entering the bore in the hollow lower end barrel pressurizably flows into the fluid communicative bore of the mandrel, and through the nozzles in the manifold, as the plunger assembly travels within the conduit “C” of the well. The jet-like fluid pressure of the well gaseous fluids traveling through the first lower bore in the hollow lower end barrel and into the bore within the elongated mandrel flows radially outwardly through the nozzles in the manifold, against the arcuate inner surface of the pads pushing them against the walls of the conduit “C”. This outwardly directed bias force provides an improved sealing of the plunger assembly as it travels through the well's conduit “C”. Further, the gaseous fluid escapes radially outwardly from within the plunger assembly, and into the conduit “C”, keeping liquid from running back downhole via movement under the pads, and also helps keep the liquid on the top (above) of the plunger. That escaping gas thus also lightens the liquid load on above the plunger assembly, so less pressure is required to provide lift to a given amount of fluid above the plunger assembly. The biasing of the well gas “G” against the curved inside surface of the pads assists the springs in biasing the pads radially outwardly against the conduit “C”, thus providing a tighter seal between the plunger assembly and the conduit “C” through which it is moving.
[0009] The replaceable nozzles may be replaced when pads are changed, should different gaseous flow rates be desired by the gas “G” from the central bore, against the inner surface of the wear pads.
[0010] Thus, gaseous fluids “G” enter the lower end of the plunger assembly through the central open channel in the hollow lower end barrel and into the main channel, the bore within the mandrel. The gas “G” enters the manifold and exits out the nozzles therein, and jets against the inner surface of the pads, biasing them radially outwardly, assisting the bias springs thereby. The gas “G” then also enters the conduit “C” and floats upwardly therein, lightning the load of the liquid on top of the plunger assembly, minimizing liquid escaping into the plunger assembly and minimizing liquid passage downwardly into the conduit “C”.
[0011] The invention thus comprises a plunger system for maximizing the liquid lift potential of a plunger arranged for vertical travel in a conduit in a gas/oil production well, the plunger system comprising: an elongated plunger body mandrel having an upper or first end and a second or lower end with a fluid transmitting bore extending longitudinally therethrough, from the second or lower end of the plunger body and into at least a central portion of the plunger body; a plurality of curvilinearly shaped, replaceable wear pads arranged in a controllably radially displaceable manner on the plunger body; and at least one fluid ejecting nozzle arranged extending through a side wall of the plunger body, providing gaseous fluid communication from the bore within the mandrel to an inner surface of at least one of the wear pads on the plunger body, for directing pressurized fluid from the lower end of the plunger body onto the inner surface of the at least one pad for biasing the wear pad radially outwardly. The first or upper end of the plunger body has an attached cap member thereon. The second or lower end of the plunger body has a barrel member thereon. The barrel member has a bore extending longitudinally therethrough. The wear pads have a bias spring arranged between the plunger body and the inner surface of the wear pad to radially bias its adjacent wear pad radially outwardly. The nozzle is arranged as a part of a manifold. The nozzle in the manifold may be replaceable. Fluid is arranged to escape the plunger body around a periphery of a wear pad. The wear pad is guided by alignment members to help control radial displacement. The fluid transmitting bore extending longitudinally within the body of the plunger may in one embodiment be of tapered dimension.
[0012] The invention also comprises a method of improving the flow of liquid upwardly above an upwardly moving plunger in a conduit of an oil/gas production well, comprising one or more of the following steps: arranging a plunger system with an internal, gas communicating channel between a lower end thereof, and a generally radially directed nozzle extending through a body portion of the plunger; and ejecting gas through the generally radially directed nozzle and onto a radially inner side of a wear pad arranged radially displaceably on the body portion of the plunger, so as to bias the wear pad radially outwardly against the wall of the conduit for improved sealing between the plunger and the conduit of the well; permitting gas ejected from a nozzle to escape from the plunger between the wear pad and the body of the plunger so as to lighten the liquid above the plunger in the conduit of the well; arranging an annular array of nozzles in a manifold radially inwardly of an annular array of radially displaceable wear pads on the body of the plunger; biasing the wear pads against the conduit of the well, by a combination of gas pressure and biasing springs arranged radially outwardly on the body of the plunger.
[0013] The invention may also comprise a method of lightening the load of liquid above an upwardly moving plunger in a conduit of an oil/gas production well, comprising one or more of the following steps of: transmitting a flow of gas through a bore beginning in the lower end of the plunger and through a bore within the plunger; ejecting gas from at least one side nozzle in fluid communication with the bore within the plunger, the nozzle being arranged in a wall portion of the plunger, the well gas being biasedly ejected onto an inner side of a wear pad arranged on the wall of the plunger; bubbling the ejected gas through a route between a wear pad and the body of the plunger to permit the gas to escape into the liquid above the vertically moving plunger, and thus lighten that liquid load; and tapering the bore within the plunger so as to increase the velocity of the gas being ejected through a nozzle and against the inside surfaces of the wear pad.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the plunger assembly of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the plunger in non-exploded view;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the plunger shown in FIG. 2 , taken along the lines 3 - 3 therein;
[0018] FIG. 4A is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 4 A- 4 A, of FIG. 3 ;
[0019] FIG. 4B is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 4 B- 4 B, of FIG. 3 ; and
[0020] FIG. 4C is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 4 C- 4 C, of FIG. 3 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIG. 1 , there is shown in an “exploded” view, the present invention which comprises a split-pad plunger assembly 10 for use in wells, particularly those wells producing natural gas as the primary hydrocarbon. The split-pad plunger assembly 10 of the present invention, shown in an assembled embodiment in FIG. 2 , is utilized to cyclically travel up and down, between the top of the well to the bottom of the well and back, to drive the bulk of the liquid present in its travel conduit, to the surface. The plunger assembly 10 is comprised of an elongated hollow central core or mandrel 12 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 . The elongated hollow core or mandrel 12 consists of an elongated hollow first half 14 and an elongated hollow second half 16 , with a bore 19 extending therethrough, as best represented in FIG. 3 . Each half 14 and 16 , at least in this preferred embodiment, is preferably the duplicate of the other half 16 and 14 . The bore 19 in one preferred embodiment is of uniform diameter along the length of its longitudinal axis “L”, as represented in FIG. 3 . The bore 19 extending through the mandrel 12 , in another preferred embodiment, is of tapered configuration, not shown for clarity of the figures. The taper of the bore 19 would preferably be of narrowing diameter as the bore 19 extends from the bottom (lower) or barrel 25 end of the plunger assembly 10 towards the top or upper end thereof. The bore 19 in a further embodiment may be comprised of one or more pinched or narrowed diameter sections to have a venturi-like fluid flow effect on fluids passing through that bore 19 .
[0022] The elongated hollow mandrel 12 has a mid-portion with an annular circumferential securement ring ridge 20 disposed centrally therearound. Each half 14 and 16 of the mandrel 12 has two sets of longitudinally spaced-apart radial arrays of wear pad alignment supports 22 . A cylindrically shaped “retrieval-neck” 24 is threadedly arranged longitudinally outwardly of the distal most annular array of alignment supports 22 at the upper or top end of the plunger assembly 10 and a hollow barrel 23 is threadedly received onto the lower or downwardly facing end of the plunger assembly 10 , as shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 . The retrieval neck 24 preferably has a threaded bore 26 extending therein which threadedly receives the screw threaded distal end 28 of the central spine or mandrel 12 , as is seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 . In a further embodiment, not shown, for ease of viewing, the retrieval neck 24 is machined as part of a solid casting with the mandrel 12 , and is irremovable therefrom. In yet a further embodiment of the plunger assembly 10 , the hollow lower end barrel 23 , herein designated as the “lower” end, for example purposes only, may have an annular, hollow protective sensor 25 , as represented in FIGS. 1 and 3 , for safely and replaceably enclosing proper wireless communicative electronic sensors and alarms, for sensing well casing pressure, time, distance, fluid composition, viscosity, chemical makeup and the like, and also maintaining report/control functions and/or an antennae for the plunger assembly 10 as represented in our parent application Ser. No. 12/460,099, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such sensors may be in proper communication with sensors embedded within or on an array of arcuate wear pads 30 , as represented in FIGS. 1-4A . The hollow lower end barrel 23 has a channel 27 extending therethrough, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 , to permit gaseous well fluids to enter the bore 19 within the mandrel 12 , for functions which are described in greated detail hereinbelow.
[0023] Relative to the “wear functions” of the plunger assembly 10 , an arrangement of for example, four curved sealing-surface pads 30 are circumferentially arranged about each mandrel half 14 and 16 , as represented in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 , so as to be radiatively slidingly supported adjacent the radially outer end of each radially directed support 22 . The curved sealing-surface pads 30 each have a cutout 32 arranged on its longitudinally directed edges 34 . Each cutout 32 slidingly mates with the radially directed support 22 . A radial bias spring 36 is arranged between the central spine or mandrel 12 adjacent each radially directed support 22 . The radial bias springs 36 act to radially outwardly bias the curved sealing surface pads 30 against the inner side of the well's conduit in which the split-pad plunger assembly 10 travels. The outward radial bias of the sealing-surface pads 30 acts to minimize loss of pressure (which pressure pushes the plunger) in the lower portion of that conduit during movement of the plunger 10 therein.
[0024] An arcuately segmented split retainer ring 50 , preferably of for example, semi-circumferential shape, as represented in FIG. 1 , is disposed about the mid-point of the central spine or mandrel 12 , and has an annular lip 52 which secures the other or “proximal” longitudinal edge 54 of each curved sealing-surface pad 30 in proper location about the central spine or mandrel 12 . Each set of split retainer rings 50 is held in place around its respective longitudinal mid-portion of the central spine or mandrel 12 by a bolt 56 extending therethrough.
[0025] An annular manifold 60 is arranged circumferentially around at least one longitudinal location of preferably both the first half 14 and the second half 16 of the hollow elongated mandrel 12 , as may be seen best in the exploded view of FIG. 1 and in the sectional views of FIGS. 3 and FIG. 4A . Each manifold 60 has a plurality of preferably replaceable fluid discharge nozzles 62 arranged generally radially therein, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 3 , and also in FIG. 4A . In another embodiment, those nozzles 62 are fixed orifices 63 , generally radially configured within the annular manifold 60 .
[0026] The gaseous fluid “G” entering the bore 27 in the hollow lower end barrel 23 pressurizably flows into the fluid communicative bore 19 of the mandrel 12 , and through the nozzles 62 and/or 63 in the manifold 60 , as the plunger assembly 12 travels within the conduit “C” of the well. The jet-like fluid pressure of the gas traveling through the first lower bore 25 in the hollow lower end barrel 23 and into the bore 19 within the elongated mandrel 12 flows radially outwardly through the nozzles 62 and/or 63 in the manifold 60 , against the arcuate inner surface of the pads 30 pushing them against the walls of the conduit “C”. This provides an improved sealing of the plunger assembly 12 as it travels through the well's conduit “C”. The gaseous fluid escapes from radially outwardly from within the plunger assembly 12 , and into the conduit “C”, keeping liquid from running back downhole via movement under the pads 30 , and also helps keep liquid on the top of the plunger 12 . That escaping gas also lightens the liquid load on above the plunger assembly 12 , so less pressure is required to provide lift to a given amount of fluid above the plunger assembly 12 . The biasing of the gas “G” against the curved inside surface of the pads 30 assists the springs 36 in biasing the pads 30 radially outwardly against the conduit “C”, thus providing a tighter seal between the plunger assembly 12 and the conduit “C” through which it is moving.
[0027] The replaceable nozzles 63 may be replaced when pads are changed, should different gaseous flow rates be desired by the gas “G” from the central bore 19 , against the inner surface of the wear pads 30 .
[0028] Thus, gaseous fluids “G” enter the lower end of the plunger assembly 12 , through the central open channel 27 in the hollow lower end barrel 23 and into the main channel, the bore 19 within the mandrel 12 . The gas “G” enters the manifold 60 and exits out the nozzles 62 and/or 63 therein, and jets against the inner surface of the pads 30 , biasing them radially outwardly, assisting the bias springs 36 thereby. The gas “G” then also enters the conduit “C” and floats upwardly therein, lightening the load of the liquid on top of the plunger assembly 12 , minimizing liquid escaping into the plunger assembly 12 and minimizing liquid passage downwardly into the conduit “C”.
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A plunger system for maximizing the liquid lift potential of a plunger arranged for vertical travel in a conduit in a gas/oil production well. The plunger system comprises an elongated plunger body mandrel having an upper or first end and a second or lower end with a fluid transmitting bore extending longitudinally therethrough, from the second or lower end of the plunger body and into at least a central portion of the plunger body, a plurality of curvilinearly shaped, replaceable wear pads arranged in a controllably radially displaceable manner on the plunger body, and at least one fluid ejecting nozzle arranged extending through a side wall of the plunger body.
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BACKGROUND
[0001] When ground, soil, or any subsurface becomes contaminated, remediation of the area is often considered. Heretofore, many methods of remediation of a contaminated subsurface required drilling a generally vertical bore hole from a surface into the contaminated subsurface, removing the boring device, and encasing the hole with a liner or casing, for example polyvinylchloride (PVC) piping. Thereafter, a remediation agent was delivered to the bottom of the bore hole through the PVC pipe casing. This technique has limited effect because of the small application area provided to the remediation agent at the bottom of the bore hole.
[0002] It was discovered that prior to delivery of the remediation agent through the PVC pipe casing, a jet cutting machine may be lowered into the bottom of the bore hole to cut various patterns in the contaminated subsurface to create a larger application area for the remediation agent. However, this technique has several drawbacks. One drawback is the PVC pipe casing limits the effectiveness and the spray pattern or the expulsion of the pressurized fluid. Another drawback relates to the runoff of the pressurized fluid after exposure to the contaminated subsurface, which must be transferred out of the bore hole in a controlled manner. Further, application of pressurized fluid into the bottom of the bore hole increases pressure inside the contaminated subsurface which leads to hydraulic fracturing of the subsurface in an uncontrolled manner.
[0003] The invention of more powerful direct push machines motivated the integration of injection nozzle orifices into the tip of a probe rod, which eliminates the need for drilling and depositing a PVC casing inside the bore hole. Using modern injection tips connected to probe rods, remediation agents are directed through probe rods and the nozzle orifice to apply the remediation agent to the contaminated substructure.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,067 issued to Hunt et al. is incorporated herein by reference to provide additional background information on problems faced when remediating a contaminated subsurface. Hunt et al. describes a method and system for bioremediation of contaminated soil using inoculated support spheres.
SUMMARY
[0005] The invention addresses these and other drawbacks associated with the prior art by providing a device for remediating a contaminated subsurface by producing an eroded volume having a desired shape in the contaminated subsurface for use in influencing the orientation and form of resulting hydraulic fractures. According to an embodiment of the invention, the device includes a nozzle head, an inner channel defined by the nozzle head, an outer channel defined by the nozzle head, a plurality of nozzle plugs removably secured to the nozzle head, a nozzle plug channel defined by each nozzle plug, wherein the nozzle plug channel is in fluid communication with the inner channel when the respective nozzle plug is removably secured to the nozzle head, and a plurality of fluid exchange sections defined by the nozzle head, wherein each fluid exchange section is in fluid communication with the outer channel.
[0006] According to another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for remediating a contaminated subsurface by disposing an injection tip assembly into the contaminated subsurface, delivering a pressurized fluid to a nozzle head of the injection tip, spraying the pressurized fluid out of the nozzle head to erode a volume of the contaminated subsurface, collecting the sprayed pressurized fluid in to the nozzle head and delivering the collected sprayed pressurized fluid to the surface, delivering a remediation agent to the nozzle head, and dispersing the remediation agent out of the nozzle head and into the eroded volume to remediate the contaminated subsurface.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for nucleating and propagating hydraulic fractures. The method comprises driving an injection tip into a subsurface, dispensing a first substance through the injection tip to form a cavity in the subsurface, and dispensing a second substance through the injection tip into the cavity. The method also comprises either controlling a pressure in the cavity through the injection tip directly to nucleate a hydraulic fracture from the cavity; or allowing, through the injection tip, a pressure in the cavity to nucleate a hydraulic fracture from the cavity. The allowing is accomplished by fabricating the injection tip such that the dispensing rate of either the first or second substance is correlated to the pressure required to nucleate a hydraulic fracture in the subsurface.
[0008] According to another embodiment of the invention, an injection tip for nucleating and propagating hydraulic fractures is provided. The injection tip extends from a first end to a second end and includes an outer opening defined by the injection tip. The injection tip further includes a first channel defined by the injection tip and extending from the first end to the outer opening, wherein the first channel is configured to selectively transfer substances therethrough. The injection tip further includes a second channel defined by the injection tip and extending from the first end to the outer opening, wherein the second channel is configured to selectively transfer substances therethrough.
[0009] According to another embodiment of the invention, an assembly is provided comprising a fluid control system for controlling the substances transferred into or out of an injection tip. The assembly further comprises a probe rod in fluid communication with the fluid control system, whereby the injection tip is coupled to the probe rode and in fluid communication with the fluid control system through the probe rod. The injection tip comprises a nozzle portion, a first channel defined by the nozzle head, wherein the first channel is configured to transfer a first substance from the fluid control system through the nozzle portion and to the exterior of the injection tip, and a second channel defined by the nozzle head, wherein the second channel is configured to transfer a second substance from the fluid control system through the nozzle portion and to the exterior of the injection tip.
[0010] These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, references should be made to the Drawings and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described exemplary embodiments of the invention.
DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the embodiments of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of two exemplary injection tip assemblies of the present invention connected to rods and driven into a contaminated subsurface.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the injection tip assemblies of FIG. 1 .
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded view thereof, showing a sleeve, nozzle plug, and drive point exploded from a nozzle head of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention disposed in a contaminated subsurface.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7 - 7 of FIG. 6 .
[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and shown with the nozzle plugs removed.
[0020] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention connected to a series of probe rods and with a well head disposed on the outermost probe rod.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention shown spraying a pressurized fluid from an inner channel through the nozzle plugs in a generally horizontal orientation and receiving the sprayed pressurized fluid into an outer channel of the injection tip assembly.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention shown dispersing a remediation agent out through the outer channel and into an eroded volume to induce hydraulic fracturing.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention shown dispersing a concrete material through the center channel and into the bore hole as the injection tip assembly is moved from the bore hole.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 14 is another perspective view thereof.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a top plan view thereof.
[0028] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention with a set of openings shown in phantom.
[0029] FIG. 18 is another perspective view thereof with threads shown in phantom.
[0030] FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0031] FIG. 20 is a top plan view thereof.
[0032] FIG. 21 a is a partial cross-sectional view of an injection tip assembly of the present invention shown spraying a pressurized fluid from an angled inner channel of the nozzle plugs in a generally non-horizontal orientation and receiving the sprayed pressurized fluid into an outer channel of the injection tip assembly.
[0033] FIG. 21 b is a partial cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 21 a , of an injection tip assembly of the present invention shown spraying a pressurized fluid from an inner channel through angled nozzle plugs in a generally non-horizontal orientation and receiving the sprayed pressurized fluid into an outer channel of the injection tip assembly.
[0034] FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional view of a rod assembly of the present invention shown with a slotted probe rod and purge tubing incorporated therein.
[0035] FIG. 23 is a partial cross-sectional view of a rod assembly of the present invention coupled with a fluid control system through tubing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates an injection tip assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and shown in an operating environment 12 . Operating environment 12 includes a surface 13 , a subsurface 14 comprised of a first layer 16 , a second layer 18 , and a contaminated region 20 disposed in portions of both first layer 16 and second layer 18 . Injection tip assembly 10 is removably connected to one or more probe rods 22 to form a rod assembly 24 of desired length. Rod assembly 24 is forced into subsurface 14 by way of a ramming machine 26 and thereafter selectively connected to a fluid control system for controlling the substances flowing through rod assembly 24 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 , rod assembly 24 is capped with a fluid control system comprising a well head 28 and a fluid device 30 . In this embodiment, one or more substances are supplied to well head 28 or retrieved from well head 28 by way of a fluid device 30 .
[0037] FIGS. 2-5 illustrate the injection tip assembly 10 , which extends from a first end 32 to a second end 34 and includes a drive point 36 and a nozzle portion 38 . Drive point 36 is a removable or disposable element optionally positioned within injection tip assembly 10 and configured to penetrate surface 13 and subsurface 14 as rod assembly 24 moves generally vertically downwardly into subsurface 14 . Drive point 36 includes a head 43 connected to a boss 45 . Head 43 includes a smooth conical surface 42 terminating at an apex 44 . Apex 44 and conical surface 42 spread subsurface 14 and cooperate to cam sediments and rocks away from injection tip assembly 10 as rod assembly 24 is driven into subsurface 14 . A smooth annular surface 46 abuts conical surface 42 and extends around the periphery of head 43 . Boss 45 is located proximate annular surface 46 and extends outwardly away from head 43 having generally a smaller cross-sectional profile. Boss 45 defines one or more o-ring grooves 47 extending circumferentially and a corresponding o-ring 49 disposed in the groove so as to establish a fluid seal between the exterior of the drive point 10 and the subsurface 43 .
[0038] Boss 45 is sized to fit within a pocket 50 defined by a first end 54 of nozzle portion 38 . Boss 45 includes a smooth annular surface 48 which abuts a complementary shaped annular surface 52 of nozzle portion 38 when boss 45 is received in pocket 50 . Boss 45 fits within pocket 50 to facilitate a one-way connection or one-way engagement between drive point 36 and nozzle portion 38 . Pursuant to this one-way engagement, boss 45 remains within pocket 50 when rod assembly 24 moves nozzle portion 38 in a first direction, generally vertically downwardly and into subsurface 14 . Conversely, boss 45 slides out of pocket 50 to disengage drive point 36 from nozzle portion 38 when rod assembly 24 moves in a second direction, generally vertically upwardly and out of subsurface 14 . As such, in one embodiment of the invention, drive point 36 is a disposable element engaged with nozzle portion 38 during the positioning and placement of rod assembly 24 in subsurface 14 . As rod assembly 24 is extracted from subsurface 14 , drive point 36 is left behind. In other embodiments of the present invention, drive point 36 is configured to remain with injection tip assembly 10 as rod assembly 24 is extracted from subsurface 14 . In another embodiment, the depth of pocket 50 is configured by either the inclusion or omission of segments of probe rod 22 to be substantially longer than the length of boss 45 .
[0039] Nozzle portion 38 extends from first end 54 to a second end 56 and defines a first channel, referred to hereinafter as an inner channel 58 . In this embodiment, inner channel 58 is coaxially oriented with respect to a second channel, referred to hereinafter as an outer channel 60 . More specifically, proximate second end 34 , inner channel 58 is defined by a cylindrical wall extending outwardly away from a nozzle head 64 to enclose and define inner channel 58 . As shown in FIG. 6 , inner channel 58 extends from a first end 66 to a second end 68 , whereby second end 68 is defined by nozzle head 64 . A plurality of threads 70 are disposed proximate first end 66 and are sized to receive a set of complementarily shaped threads 71 disposed on a first end 72 of a hose 74 ( FIG. 6 ) by way of a threaded engagement between threads 70 and threads 71 . Hose 74 defines an inner channel 76 which is in fluid communication with inner channel 58 when first end 72 of hose 74 is received by threads 70 . Alternatively, inner channel 58 is separated into separate discrete channels extending to a particular element within injection tip assembly 10 . For example, inner channel 58 may comprise two separate channels, with each channel extending to a nozzle or an outlet disposed proximate second end 56 of nozzle portion 38 . In such an embodiment, separate substances such as liquid or other material is delivered through the separated channels of inner channel 58 .
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4-6 , outer channel 60 is partially defined by a sleeve 78 surrounding cylindrical wall 62 . Sleeve 78 extends from a first end 80 to a second end 82 and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, sleeve 78 is machined independently and welded to nozzle head 64 proximate second end 82 by a series of welds 84 ( FIG. 4 ). Alternatively, or in conjunction with welds 84 , second end 82 of sleeve 78 includes a threaded, stepped, or shoulder feature, referred to hereinafter as a shoulder 83 , for receiving a complementary feature, referred to hereinafter as a shoulder 85 , disposed on nozzle portion 38 . In an embodiment of the invention, shoulder 83 of sleeve 78 slidingly engages and receives shoulder 85 of nozzle portion 38 therein to couple sleeve 78 with nozzle portion 38 . Welds 84 are thereafter applied, or sleeve 78 and nozzle portion 38 is removably engaged to allow for cleaning or replacement of either portion. First end 80 of sleeve 78 includes a plurality of threads 86 for use in connecting with a first end 88 of probe rod 22 , as shown in FIG. 2 .
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 6-8 , both inner channel 58 and outer channel 60 terminate in an outer opening 104 comprising a series of multiple openings defined by nozzle head 64 . First end 66 of inner channel 58 spreads into a set of six channels 90 which are oriented generally orthogonally to inner channel 58 and act to alter the general direction of inner channel 58 by approximately ninety degrees in an embodiment of the invention. In another embodiment, the set of six channels 90 is oriented at an angle with respect to inner channel 58 and act to alter the general direction of inner channel 58 by any selected degree. For example, the set of six channels 90 may alter the direction of inner channel 58 by forty-five degrees to present a skirt-like shape of pressurized fluid expelled from injection tip assembly 10 . Each channel 90 is defined by a prong 92 of nozzle head 64 . In an embodiment of the invention, prong 92 is a distinct element. In another embodiment of the invention, prong 92 is machined as an integral part of nozzle head 64 . Prong 92 and each channel 90 terminates at a chamber 94 defined by nozzle head 64 . Chamber 94 is generally comprised of two sections, a threaded section 96 defining a series of threads 98 and a fluid exchange section 100 which extends outwardly away from threaded section 96 . While the area at the distal end of nozzle head 64 is shown comprising channels 90 , prongs 92 , chambers 94 , and fluid exchange sections 100 , any similar orientation or structure for similar or alternative elements is contemplated. For example, rather than distinct channels 90 , nozzle head 64 may combine one or more channels 90 into another a similar opening having a different size and shape.
[0042] Fluid exchange section 100 of chamber 94 is in fluid communication with outer channel 60 by way of a top opening 102 which is defined by nozzle head 64 and allows fluid flow between outer channel 60 and fluid exchange section 100 . Fluid exchange section 100 is also in fluid communication with the exterior of injection tip assembly 10 by way of outer opening 104 which is defined by nozzle head 64 . Further, fluid exchange section 100 is also in fluid communication with pocket 50 by way of a bottom opening 106 which is disposed on one end of a lower channel 108 defined by nozzle head 64 . Lower channel 108 extends from fluid exchange section 100 to pocket 50 . Thus, as shown in FIG. 11 and discussed in greater detail below, fluid flows out of outer channel 60 by passing fluid through top opening 102 and into fluid exchange section 100 and out of nozzle portion 38 by way of outer opening 104 and bottom opening 106 . Conversely, as shown in FIG. 10 and discussed in greater detail below, fluid is received into outer channel 60 in a reverse process, whereby fluid enters outer opening 104 and/or bottom opening 106 and passes through fluid exchange section 100 and into outer channel 60 to be collected by the fluid control system.
[0043] Each chamber 94 is sized to selectively receive a disposable or removable nozzle plug 109 which facilitates dispersion of fluid into the subsurface. Each nozzle plug 109 includes a threaded portion 110 having a plurality of threads 112 disposed thereon. Threaded portion 110 is configured to be removably secured and threadably received by threaded section 96 of each chamber 94 whereby threads 98 of threaded section 96 threadably engage threads 112 of threaded portion 110 such that post 92 abuts threaded section 110 . Threaded section 110 further defines an inlet 114 . Inlet 114 is formed and oriented within threaded portion 110 to align with channel 90 of post 92 when nozzle plug 109 is disposed in chamber 94 , thereby enabling fluid communication between inlet 114 and channel 90 . Inlet 114 converges into an outlet 116 defined by a plug head 118 , whereby plug head 118 extends from threaded portion 110 . As such, outlet 116 is in fluid communication with inner channel 58 by way of channel 90 and inlet 114 . The convergence of inlet 114 into outlet 116 creates a pressurized spray as the fluid moves from inner channel 58 to channel 90 to inlet 114 and finally exits injection tip assembly 10 by way of outlet 116 .
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the cross-sectional area of plug head 118 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of fluid exchange section 100 of chamber 94 . The relative size of plug head 118 with respect to fluid exchange section 100 defines a space therebetween for allowing fluid to move around nozzle plug 109 and enter or exit top opening 102 or bottom opening 106 .
[0045] If the user desires a certain spray angle or orientation of the fluid into the subsurface, the user may select and secure nozzle plugs 109 to fit the desired requirements. Nozzle plugs 109 may be selected based on different spray characteristics and are interchangeable and configurable by the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 , nozzle plugs 109 are selected and configured to spray in a conical or fan-shaped pattern. Alternatively, nozzle plugs 109 are selected and configured to spray generally parallel to its axis. As another example, as shown in FIG. 21 a , nozzle plug 109 a includes an angled channel 116 a that provides a spray characteristic which disperses fluid in a downward lobe orientation while nozzle plug 109 a is secured to the nozzle head 64 in a generally orthogonal direction. Similarly, nozzle plug 109 b includes an angled channel 116 b that provides a spray characteristic which disperses fluid in an upward lobe orientation while nozzle plug 109 b is secured to nozzle head 64 in a generally orthogonal direction.
[0046] In another example, as shown in FIG. 21 b , nozzle plugs 109 a and 109 b include a standard non-angled channel 116 a and 116 b , respectively, but are secured to the nozzle head 64 in an angled orientation to disperse fluid in a downward lobe orientation and an upward lobe orientation, respectively. This allows a user to select standard nozzle plugs 109 and connect the nozzle plugs 109 to the nozzle head 64 in an angled manner, as the nozzle head 64 includes an angled nozzle plug 109 receiving structure.
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 , after insertion of rod assembly 24 into subsurface 14 , the uppermost probe rod 22 extending out of surface 13 is capped with well head 28 . Well head 28 selectively provides substances to injection tip assembly 10 via probe rods 22 . Well head 28 includes a connector segment 120 which is selectively connected to probe rod 22 at a first end 122 and connected to a splitter 126 at a second end 124 . Splitter 126 receives substances such as fluid from various sources and transfers the fluid as required therethrough. Spliter 126 also admits and coaxially secures a jet fluid inlet 130 , which connects to hose or hoses 74 thereby delivering fluid to passage or passages 58 . Splitter 126 receives fluid from a segment 128 of a seal assembly 134 which supplies fluid from either jet fluid inlet 130 or a purge fluid inlet 132 . Seal assembly 134 mounted on splitter 126 maintains fluid pressure within splitter 126 . Jet fluid inlet 130 and purge fluid inlet 132 are in fluid communication with seal assembly 134 which is operatively connected to a first handle 136 and a second handle 138 . The orientations of first handle 136 and second handle 138 determine whether seal assembly 134 is properly clamped down upon segment 128 to provides fluid through splitter 126 to segment 120 . For example, in a particular orientation of first handle 136 and second handle 138 , seal assembly 134 is fittingly secured to segment 128 . In another orientation of first handle 136 and second handle 138 , allows seal assembly 134 to move about segment 128 .
[0048] Segment 120 is connected to hose 74 by way of splitter 126 and segment 128 . Thus, when fluid is supplied to segment 128 by either jet fluid inlet 130 or purge fluid inlet 132 , the fluid travels through splitter 126 and segment 120 and into hose 74 inside rod assembly 24 . As such, the fluid from either jet fluid inlet 130 or purge fluid inlet 132 is directed into inner channel 58 of injection tip assembly 10 by way of rod assembly 24 . To log data and monitor pressure within inner channel 58 , a data logger device 140 is provided and operatively connected to segment 128 to obtain data, which can be recorded as part of a permanent record and/or displayed remotely or locally, from well head 28 and rod assembly 24 . Similarly, a pressure gauge 142 is operatively connected to segment 128 to provide visual feedback information to a user regarding the pressure within segment 128 .
[0049] Splitter 126 also receives fluid from a segment 144 which is connected to a valve 146 which is operatively opened and closed by actuation of a valve handle 148 connected thereto. Valve 148 receives fluid from a slurry inlet 150 . Slurry inlet 150 provides slurry fluid to valve 148 which allows the slurry fluid to pass into segment 144 when valve handle 148 is in a particular orientation and prevents slurry fluid from passing into segment 144 when in a different orientation. Slurry inlet 150 is connected to outer channel 60 by way of segment 144 , splitter 126 , and segment 128 . Thus, when slurry fluid is supplied to segment 144 , the slurry fluid travels through splitter 126 and segment 120 and into outer channel 60 . As such, the slurry fluid from slurry inlet 150 is directed into outer channel 60 of injection tip assembly 10 by way of rod assembly 24 . To log data and monitor pressure within outer channel 60 , a data logger device 152 is provided and operatively connected to segment 144 to obtain data, which can be recorded as part of a permanent record and/or displayed remotely or locally, from well head 28 and rod assembly 24 . Similarly, a pressure gauge 154 is operatively connected to segment 144 to provide visual feedback information to a user regarding the pressure within segment 144 .
[0050] Inasmuch as waste fluid travels out of injection tip assembly 10 and up through rod assembly 24 , splitter 126 receives waste fluid from outer channel 60 by way of segment 120 . This waste fluid is purged from well head 28 through outlet 156 by way of a segment 158 connected to splitter 126 . A valve 160 is disposed between segment 158 and outlet 156 which opens and closes to allow waste fluid to travel therethrough. A valve handle 162 is operatively connected to valve 160 to allow a user to manually open and close valve 160 . Valve handle 162 adjusts the volume of waste fluid passing through valve 160 to configure and affect the pressure in outer channel 60 and subsurface 14 proximate injection tip assembly 10 . In an embodiment of the invention, outlet 156 passes the waste fluid to a reservoir (not shown) to be collected for disposal or remediation. Alternatively, outlet 156 is selectively coupled back to jet fluid inlet 130 , purge fluid inlet 132 , or both, to allow recirculation of the waste fluid back into the fluid control system, shown in FIG. 9 as well head 28 , for further use.
[0051] In operation, injection tip assembly 10 is used to deliver remediation materials into contaminated area 20 . Initially, a user attaches injection tip assembly 10 to a probe rod 22 and positions injection tip assembly 10 of probe rod 22 such that drive point 36 is directed toward first layer 16 of subsurface 14 at surface 13 . First end 72 of hose 74 is connected to inner channel 76 and extends entirely into well head 28 or added in segments along with each new segment of probe rod 22 . As shown in FIG. 1 , ramming machine 26 thereafter imparts a ramming motion to probe rod 22 to drive probe rod 22 and injection tip assembly 10 into first layer 16 of subsurface 14 . This ramming continues until either the original probe rod 22 is almost entirely within subsurface 14 or injection tip assembly 10 is at the desired depth within subsurface 14 . Probe rods 22 and any accompanying segments of hose 74 are added as needed to each successive end of the previous probe rod 22 to form the overall rod assembly 24 penetrating into subsurface 14 .
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 , after injection tip assembly 10 disposed on rod assembly 24 is at a sufficient depth within subsurface 14 , ramming machine 26 is removed from rod assembly 24 and a fluid control system, such as well head 28 and control device 30 , is attached to the probe rod 22 extending outwardly from subsurface 14 at surface 13 . Well head 28 is then connected to fluid device 30 using various hoses and interconnections as desired by the user. Particularly, jet fluid inlet 130 is connected to a source of a substance, such as a pressurized fluid or pressurized water 163 ( FIG. 10 ). Purge fluid inlet 132 is also connected to a substance supply such as a water supply, having much less pressure applied thereto. As such, purge fluid inlet 132 and the associated fluid is used to flush any debris away from nozzle head 64 which has accumulated during the ramming process in penetration of subsurface 14 . Slurry inlet 150 is connected to a supply of substance such as a slurry fluid which may be a remediation agent 165 for use in remediating contaminated area 20 or may be any other slurry or substance as desired. Outlet 156 is connected to an outlet hose which receives expelled fluid from well head 28 and conveys this fluid to fluid device 30 .
[0053] After injection tip assembly 10 is positioned within contaminated area 20 and well head 28 is connected to the upper most probe rod 22 and all interconnected hoses are sufficiently supplied with fluid by fluid device 30 , a user manually actuates well head 28 to observe and control the delivery process. As such, a user approaches well head 28 and actuates valve handle 162 to open valve 160 and further actuates valve handle 148 to close valve 146 . The user then calls for activation of the supply of purge fluid provided at inlet 132 . The fluid from purge inlet 132 thereby expels any contaminates or debris which may be clogging or plugging any part of nozzle head 64 . Expelled material exits from outlet 156 . The user then calls for the activation of the supply of jet fluid provided at inlet 130 .
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , jet fluid inlet 130 provides pressurized water 163 into inner channel 58 by way of hoses 74 connected in succession along rod assembly 24 and extending from cylindrical wall 62 of injection tip assembly 10 to well head 28 . Thus, jet fluid inlet 130 is in fluid communication with inner channel 58 of nozzle head 64 by way of hoses 74 disposed inside each probe rod 22 along the length of rod assembly 24 . A compass (not shown) or another marking system may be implemented in the injection tip assembly 10 for use in illustrating to the user above the subsurface how the nozzle portion 38 is oriented within the subsurface. For example, a notch or marking may be provided in each probe rod 22 with the upper most final probe rod 22 illustrating to the user how the nozzle portion 38 is oriented in the subsurface.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 10 , as pressurized fluid travels down inner channel 58 , this pressurized fluid enters the various inlets 114 of nozzle plugs 109 and is expelled at high velocity in a spray pattern through the associated outlets 116 of nozzle plugs 109 . The spray of the accelerated fluid erodes subsurface 14 into a cavity having a particular pattern, shape, or volume, as dictated by the shape and orientation of nozzle plug 109 . As shown in FIG. 10 , the pressurized fluid sprays outwardly away from nozzle head 64 eroding subsurface 14 and thereafter entering outer channel 60 by way of outer opening 104 and top opening 102 . Thus, the accelerated fluid travels down inner channel 58 and out nozzle plugs 109 and is thereafter collected and received within fluid exchange section 100 and travels back up injection tip assembly 10 by way of outer channel 60 . As shown in FIG. 11 , once an eroded volume 164 or cavity is sufficiently constructed, the user, by observation of pressure gauge 154 , actuates valve handle 162 to close valve 160 to a degree that restricts returning flow and allows pressure to accumulate to a desired magnitude within outer channel 60 , top opening 102 , fluid exchange section 100 , and outer opening 104 , whereby pressure is exerted upon the faces of eroded volume 164 , causing a hydraulic fracture to nucleate at that moment and no earlier. For example, if a user wishes to maintain the general pressure within outer channel 60 and eroded volume 164 of 50 pounds per square inch (PSI), the user observes pressure gauge 154 and notes that the pressure within outer channel 60 and eroded volume 164 is greater than 50 PSI. In this instance, the user opens valve 160 by way of valve handle 162 slowly to allow fluid to escape through valve 160 into outlet 156 and bring the pressure down toward 50 PSI. Conversely, if a user observes a pressure lower than 50 PSI, the user actuates valve handle 162 to close valve 160 to a certain degree to allow the pressure within outer channel 60 and eroded volume 164 to increase toward the desired 50 PSI. As such, a user has pressure feedback at well head 28 as well as a mechanism for controlling and configuring pressure within outer channel 60 and eroded volume 164 . The ability to control pressure within outer channel 60 and eroded volume 164 allows the user to fine tune the nucleation and propagation of a hydraulic fracture as desired.
[0056] Another method for nucleating and propagating a hydraulic fracture in a controlled manner involves dispensing a substance through the injection tip assembly 10 at a first rate, monitoring the pressure in the cavity or eroded volume 164 , and adjusting the first rate to a second rate to change the pressure in the cavity or eroded volume 164 to nucleate and propagate the fracture. Another method for nucleating and propagating a hydraulic fracture in a controlled manner involves collecting a substance through the injection tip assembly 10 at a first rate, monitoring the pressure in the cavity or eroded volume 164 , and adjusting the first rate to a second rate to change the pressure in the cavity or eroded volume 164 to nucleate and propagate the fracture. Yet another method for nucleating and propagating a hydraulic fracture in a controlled manner involves monitoring the pressure in the cavity or eroded volume 164 and adjusting both the substance dispensing rate and the substance collecting rate to alter the pressure to nucleate and propagate the fracture. In another embodiment of the invention, the nozzle head 64 may be fabricated such that the inherent rate by which a substance is dispensed through the nozzle head 64 generates the corresponding desired pressure in the cavity to nucleate and propagate a hydraulic fracture. In this embodiment, the hydraulic fracture is nucleated with minimal or no direct control of the pressure in the cavity by a user.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 11 , once eroded volume 164 is sufficiently constructed and a fracture has been nucleated, the user calls for activation of the supply of slurry that is provided at inlet 150 and actuates valve handle 148 to open valve 146 and allow remediation agent 165 supplied by slurry inlet 150 to pass thereby. Remediation agent 165 enters outer channel 60 by way of probe rods 22 and travels downwardly through rod assembly 24 and into nozzle head 64 by way of outer channel 60 . Remediation agent 165 is thereafter expelled from nozzle head 64 by way of top opening 102 and outer opening 104 and is expelled from fluid exchange section 100 into eroded volume 164 . The user may also use the dispelling of the remediation agent 165 as the mechanism for nucleating and propagating the fracture in a controlled manner.
[0058] Observing pressure gauge 154 and actuating valve handle 162 , the user may allow the pressure to build within eroded volume 164 such that hydraulic fracturing occurs in a controlled manner. As shown in FIG. 11 , hydraulic fracturing occurs in a fractured area 166 outwardly away from nozzle head 64 in a generally horizontal manner within subsurface 14 . This allows remediation agent 165 to travel and be applied in a generally horizontal plane within eroded volume 164 and fractured area 166 of contaminated area 20 which may have particularly efficient remediation effects on contaminated area 20 .
[0059] As shown in FIG. 12 , after remediation agent 165 is applied to eroded volume 164 and hydraulic fracturing has occurred as desired and controlled by the user, rod assembly 24 is pushed inwardly to address targeted intervals at greater depth, or pulled outwardly away from the remediated area once the remediation is completed. If the user wishes to use rod assembly 24 to fill the bore hole created by rod assembly 24 , the user disconnects the hose supplying remediation agent 165 from slurry inlet 150 and connects a new hose supplying a bore hole filling material, for example a cementitious grout 167 . The user opens valve 146 by way of valve handle 148 and closes valve 160 by way of valve handle 162 to allow grout 167 to enter outer channel 60 and to travel down outer channel 60 and out top opening 102 and outer opening 104 into the bore hole as rod assembly 24 is extracted from subsurface 14 . In as much as boss 45 of drive point 36 is seated within pocket 50 of nozzle portion 38 , when rod assembly 24 is extracted from subsurface 14 , drive point 36 remains behind within the bore hole as boss 45 slides out of pocket 50 . With the removal of drive point 36 from nozzle portion 38 , bottom openings 106 are exposed to the bore hole as rod assembly 24 is extracted from subsurface 14 . This allows for cementitious grout 167 to also be expelled from outer channel 60 by way of bottom openings 106 and efficiently fill the bore hole as rod assembly 24 is extracted. Cementitious grout 167 may be applied during the entire extraction of rod assembly 24 to entirely fill the bore hole and seal remediation agent 165 within eroded volume 164 and fractured area 166 . Once the bore hole is filled with cementitious grout 167 , injection tip assembly 10 is removed from probe rods 22 and nozzle plugs 109 are inspected for damage and selectively replaced as desired.
[0060] As shown in Figures. 1-12 , injection tip assembly 10 further includes an ornamental design. An ornamental design also shown in FIGS. 13-16 . An ornamental design is also shown in FIGS. 17-20 with a set of openings and threads shown in phantom.
[0061] Alternative embodiments of this invention may incorporate nozzle plug 109 or another style of nozzle with openings in a vertical plane, which is in contrast to the horizontal plane suggested by FIGS. 2-12 , or may utilize nozzle plugs 109 mounted at various other angles to the axes of the device, in which cases the resulting hydraulic fractures will nucleate and propagate with dip angles other than horizontal as desired by the user. Furthermore, the device may be assembled from its several parts using methods that either permanently join the parts or removably secure the parts.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 21 a , nozzle plug 109 a is provided with an angled or non-horizontal outlet 116 a, whereby the orientation of outlet 116 a acts to spray water 163 in a downward direction relative to injection tip assembly 10 . In this embodiment, eroded volume 164 is embodied in a downward lobe due to the orientation of outlet 116 a of nozzle plug 109 a . Similarly, nozzle plug 109 b is provided with an upwardly angled outlet 116 b , whereby the orientation of outlet 116 b acts to spray water 163 in an upward direction relative to injection tip assembly 10 . In this embodiment, eroded volume 164 is embodied in an upward lobe due to the orientation of outlet 116 b of nozzle plug 109 b.
[0063] In another embodiment of nozzle head 64 , as shown in FIG. 21 b , each nozzle plug 109 a and 109 b includes a non-angled or generally horizontal outlet 116 a and 116 b , respectively. However, each nozzle plug 109 a and 109 b is connected to nozzle head 64 at a non-horizontal angle relative to injection tip assembly 10 , whereby the spray of pressurized fluid is expelled at a downward direction for nozzle plug 109 a and an upward direction for nozzle plug 109 b. The angling of the nozzle plug receiving area within nozzle head 64 may be accomplished by altering the direction of one or more of the various elements within nozzle had 64 responsible for controlling the flow of the pressurized fluid from inner channel 58 to the exterior of nozzle head 64 . For example, channels 90 , prongs 92 , chambers 94 , threaded section 96 , fluid exchange section 100 , or a combination thereof, may be altered or configured to orient the corresponding nozzle plug 109 in a particular direction and thus alter the direction of the flow of fluid therefrom. In this embodiment of the invention, multiple nozzle heads 64 are available for selection by the user, with each nozzle head 64 having prior an orientation of a nozzle plug receiving area defined by the nozzle head in a different orientation. Thus, prior to connecting the nozzle plug 109 to the nozzle head 64 , the user selects a particular nozzle head 64 based at least in part on an orientation of a nozzle plug receiving area defined by the nozzle head 64 .
[0064] Referring to FIG. 22 , an embodiment of the invention includes a slotted probe rod 174 having generally the same shape and configuration as probe rods 22 , including a first end 176 and a spaced apart second end 178 . Intermediate first end 176 and second end 178 , slotted probe rod 174 defines a slot 180 sized to accept a purge tubing 182 therethrough. The purge tubing 182 is connected to inner channel 76 to create fluid communication between the nozzle plugs 109 and the purge tubing 182 and allow fluid to be expelled through plug nozzles 109 as the rod assembly 24 is driven into subsurface 14 . The expelling of fluid through plug nozzles 109 during insertion of rod assembly 24 into subsurface 14 allow the user to clear any debris entering channel 116 of any nozzle plug 109 . Fluid is expelled through plug nozzles 109 periodically in short bursts as needed or desired, or alternatively, fluid is constantly expelled through plug nozzles 109 during the insertion to provide a constant liquid material in channels 116 and prevent the entrance of debris.
[0065] A hammer anvil 184 may be removably disposed on the outer end of slotted probe rod 174 to facilitate improved hammering of the rod assembly 24 into subsurface 14 . To increase the length of rod assembly 24 , after the upper most probe rod 22 is has sufficiently penetrated into subsurface 14 , the user removes the purge tubing 182 from the upper most probe rod 22 , removes the slotted probe rod 174 from the upper most probe rod 22 , and thereafter applies another probe rod 22 into the upper most probe rod 22 . Once an additional probe rod 22 is applied to the rod assembly 24 , the user reattaches purge tubing 182 to the upper most and newly added probe rod 22 , reattaches slotted probe rod 174 , and reapplies anvil 184 . Thereafter, the ramming machine 26 can resume ramming rod assembly 24 into subsurface 14 .
[0066] In an embodiment of the invention, all or part of the structure of the well head 28 is disposed in fluid device 30 or any other suitable location separate and apart from the upper portion of the rod assembly 24 . For example, as shown in FIG. 23 , the structure provided by well head 28 is incorporated into a fluid control system 168 disposed in fluid device 30 . The fluid control system 168 provides similar control over the elements described with respect to rod assembly 24 , such as engaging and disengaging a jet fluid inlet, a slurry inlet, a purge fluid inlet, an outlet, or a combination thereof, or any combination of valves related thereto. A tubing 170 is operatively connected to fluid control system 168 at one end and the top portion of the upper most probe rod 22 of rod assembly 24 by way of an attachment head 172 . Tubing 170 includes internal channels (not shown) configured to pass the various fluids and slurry used by injection tip assembly 10 from fluid device 30 to rod assembly 24 . Further, tubing 170 is configured to collect purge fluid or jet fluid once the fluid has passed through injection tip assembly 10 . The used fluid is captured in order to re-inject the fluid back into the system or collect the fluid for proper disposal.
[0067] While all of the invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept.
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An injection tip assembly 10 and methods for use more reliably provide for delivery of fluid substances, such as materials that promote removal, destruction, or isolation of contaminants, into targeted zones within soil or bedrock. The injection tip assembly 10 permits the application of pressurized fluid 163 so as to erode or cut a desired cavity or eroded volume 164 within the subsurface 14 , allows for timely observation, adjustment, and control of pressure within the cavity, and directs the delivery of a second substance or fluid that may incorporate desired materials. The consequence of managed erosion and pressure control is to nucleate and propagate a hydraulic fracture of desirable form that optimally delivers remedial agents throughout the targeted formation.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of network probes, and in particular, to network probe circuitry that switches between multiple clock signals to access a memory.
2. Statement of the Problem
Packet communications systems are experiencing dramatic growth in both speed and complexity. The primary engines of a packet network are the packet switches that form the nodes of the network. Packet switches are complex and expensive systems that actively process packet traffic for routing, billing, and network management. Packet switches typically require highly trained technical personnel to operate, and require fixed installations with environmentally-controlled floor space. Because of their size, cost, and complexity, packet switches may not represent the best system to monitor network performance.
Network probes are special purpose devices that have been developed to perform network monitoring external to the packet switches. Probes passively copy packet traffic from a network line and process the traffic to generate network performance statistics. Network probes offer several advantages over packet switch based solutions with respect to network monitoring. Probes are much cheaper and less complex than the typical packet switch. Probes can be positioned at a variety of network locations much easier than packet switches. Probes process copies of the packets, but do not need to actively process the packets that are received by the end users. In addition, probes are independent from the switches and may provide a more valid monitoring platform.
Network probes have used pre-configured circuitry to process traffic. Unfortunately, the pre-configured circuitry does not provide the programmability and data storage that is desired for today's rapidly changing multi-service packet networks. Network probes have also used general-purpose software processing to process traffic, but unfortunately, the increasing network speeds overwhelm competitively priced processors. Thus, network probe developers are faced with challenge of designing a network probe that is relatively cheap and simple to use, but has increased programmability and processing capacity.
Current network probe circuitry contains memory that is accessed by multiple processing systems. Often these processing systems operate at different clock rates. Consequently, the memory must be able to interface with the processing systems having the different clock rates. One solution to this problem is to operate the memory at a fixed clock rate and buffer data coming into the memory from the different processing systems. Some problems with using buffers are they are small, expensive, and slow down the access time to the memory. Another problem is that smaller buffers cannot handle large data bursts from the processing systems.
SUMMARY OF THE SOLUTION
The invention helps to solve the above problems with network probe circuitry that has a memory controller to switch clock signals transferred to a memory. The memory controller is advantageously faster than using a buffer and can handle large data bursts.
The network probe circuitry is comprised of a host interface system, a line interface system, a memory controller, and a memory. The line interface system copies packets from a network line to generate a data flow. The line interface system stores the data flow in the memory based on a first clock signal. The host interface system retrieves the data flow from the memory based on a second clock signal. The host interface system generates network performance statistics from the data flow. The memory controller receives the first clock signal and the second clock signal and selects one of the signals based on which of the interface systems has access to the memory. The memory controller transfers the selected clock signal to the memory.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates network probe circuitry with a memory controller in an example of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates network probe circuitry implemented with a system board, a hard drive, and an expansion card in an example of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates network probe circuitry with a memory controller in an example of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Network Probe Circuitry—FIGS. 1-3
FIGS. 1-3 depict examples of network probe circuitry 100 in accord with the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous variations from these examples that do not depart from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that various features described could be combined with other embodiments to form multiple variations of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that some conventional aspects of network probe circuitry 100 have been simplified or omitted for clarity.
FIG. 1 shows an example of network probe circuitry 100 that is comprised of memory controller 102 , memory 104 , host interface system 106 , and line interface system 108 . Memory controller 102 is coupled to memory 104 , host interface system 106 , and line interface system 108 . Line interface system 106 is coupled to network line 190 . Those skilled in the art will understand that in some examples, host interface system 106 and line interface system 108 could be coupled to memory 104 .
In operation, line interface system 108 copies packets from network line 190 to generate a data flow 130 . Line interface system 108 stores the data flow 130 in memory 104 based on clock signal 122 . Host interface system 106 retrieves the data flow 130 from memory 104 based on clock signal 120 . Host interface system 106 generates network performance statistics based on the data flow 130 .
Memory controller 102 controls whether line interface system 108 or host interface system 106 has access to memory 104 and whether clock signal 120 or clock signal 122 is transferred to memory 104 . Memory controller 102 receives clock signal 120 from host interface system 106 and clock signal 122 from line interface system 108 . Memory controller 102 selects clock signal 120 or clock signal 122 based on which interface system 106 or 108 has access to memory 104 . Memory controller 102 transfers selected clock signal 124 to memory 104 .
FIG. 2 shows an example of network probe circuitry 100 that is comprised of system board 202 , hard drive 204 , and expansion card 220 . Expansion card 220 could be one or more expansion cards coupled together. System board 202 is comprised of processor 232 , expansion slot 230 , flash memory 234 , and telemetry port 236 . Expansion card 220 plugs into expansion slot 230 . Processor 232 is connected to flash memory 234 , telemetry port 236 , hard drive 204 , and expansion card 220 . Expansion card 220 is connected to network line 190 .
In operation, expansion card 220 copies packets from network line 290 to generate a data flow. Expansion card 220 transfers the data flow to processor 232 . Flash memory 234 and hard drive 204 store network probe software. Processor 232 executes the network probe software read from flash memory 234 and hard drive 204 to process the data flow received from expansion card 220 . Processor 232 generates network performance statistics from the data flow. Processor 232 stores the network performance statistics in hard drive 204 . Processor 232 transfers the network performance statistics to telemetry port 236 . Telemetry port 236 transfers the network performance statistics on demand to a management system.
FIG. 3 shows an example of network probe circuitry 100 that is comprised of system board 202 and Line Interface Module (LIM) card 310 . LIM card 310 is an example of expansion card 220 in FIG. 2 . System board 202 is comprised of memory controller 102 , memory 104 , and host interface system 106 . Host interface system 106 could be a Peripheral Control Interface circuit. Memory controller 102 is comprised of access arbitration logic 302 and clock switching system 304 . Memory controller 102 could be a gate array, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or some other hardware system. LIM card 310 is comprised of line interface system 108 . Line interface system 108 could be a Segmentation And Reassembly (SAR) circuit. Host interface system 106 is coupled to access arbitration logic 302 and clock switching system 304 . Line interface system 108 is coupled to access arbitration logic 302 , clock switching system 304 , and network line 190 . Access arbitration logic 302 is coupled to clock switching system 304 . Clock switching system 304 is coupled to memory system 104 .
In operation, line interface system 108 copies packets from network line 190 to generate a data flow 130 . Line interface system 108 stores the data flow 130 in memory 104 , using memory controller 102 , based on clock signal 122 . Host interface system 106 retrieves the data flow 130 from memory 104 , using memory controller 102 , based on clock signal 120 . Host interface system 106 generates network performance statistics based on the data flow 130 . The network performance statistics could be Remote Monitoring (RMON) data.
Before line interface system 108 stores the data flow 130 in memory 104 and host interface system 106 retrieves the data flow 130 from memory 104 , they request access to memory 104 from memory controller 102 . Host interface system 106 transfers clock signal 120 to clock switching system 304 and request signal 320 to access arbitration logic 302 . Clock signal 120 represents the clock speed at which host interface system 106 operates. Request signal 320 is a request for access to memory 104 . Line interface system 108 transfers clock signal 122 to clock switching system 304 and request signal 322 to access arbitration logic 302 . Clock signal 122 represents the clock speed at which line interface system 108 operates. Request signal 322 is a request for access to memory 104 .
Access arbitration logic 302 receives request signal 320 and request signal 322 . Access arbitration logic 302 grants access to either host interface system 106 or line interface system 108 based on request signal 320 and request signal 322 . For instance, request signals 320 and 322 could be bus signals where access arbitration logic 302 polls the bus signals to see which interface system wants access to memory 104 . Access arbitration logic 302 generates control signal 340 and transfers control signal 340 to clock switching system 304 . Control signal 340 tells clock switching system 304 whether host interface system 106 or line interface system 108 has access to memory 104 .
Clock switching system 304 receives clock signal 120 , clock signal 122 , and control signal 340 . Clock switching system 304 selects between clock signal 120 and clock signal 122 based on control signal 340 , and transfers clock signal 120 or clock signal 122 to memory 104 as clock signal 124 . For instance, if access arbitration logic 302 grants host interface system 106 access to memory 104 , then clock switching system 304 transfers clock signal 120 as clock signal 124 . When clock switching system 304 switches between clock signal 120 and clock signal 122 and vice-versa, clock switching system 304 forces clock signal 124 low for one full clock period before switching to a new clock signal. Clock switching system 304 therefore avoids transferring a glitch to memory 104 . In the event that neither host interface system 106 nor line interface system 108 requests access to memory 104 , clock switching system 304 selects the highest speed clock signal.
Memory 104 receives clock signal 124 . Memory 104 could be a Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) or any other synchronous memory. Memory 104 operates based on clock signal 124 .
Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of the above-described embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples and illustrations discussed above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.
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Network probe circuitry is disclosed that is comprised of a host interface system, a line interface system, a memory controller, and a memory. The memory controller receives clock signals from the host interface system and the line interface system. The memory controller grants one of the interface systems access to the memory and selects the clock signal corresponding to that interface system. The memory controller then transfers the selected clock signal to the memory. The interface system with access to the memory communicates with the memory based on the selected clock signal. The memory controller is advantageously faster than prior systems and can handle large data bursts.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the improved recovery of C 2 or C 3 and heavier components from hydrocarbon gases.
[0002] In conventional processes for extracting ethane or propane and heavier components from hydrocarbon gases, the C 2 and/or C 3 bearing gases are treated by a combination of expansion (or compression followed by expansion) heat exchange and refrigeration to obtain a partially condensed stream which is collected in a feed separator having a pressure typically in the order of 50 to 1200 psia and a temperature in the order of −50° to −200° F. These conditions of course can vary substantially, depending on the pressure and temperature conditions necessary to achieve partial condensation for a particular gas, and the pressure and temperature at which the feed is available to the process. The liquid resulting from partial condensation is supplied to a fractionation column called a heavy ends fractionation column (HEFC) as a mid-column feed while the vapor from the feed separator is further cooled via heat exchange, expansion or other means and then enters a light ends fractionation column (LEFC) as a feed. The overhead stream from the LEFC is used to generate reflux by partially condensing the overhead vapors from the HEFC through appropriate heat exchange means. In a typical system the HEFC column will operate at a pressure less than or substantially equal to that of the HEFC feed separator (possibly allowing for a small pressure drop as the partially condensed liquid passes from the separator to the HEFC) and the HEFC overhead vapors leave at a temperature in the order of 0° to −170° F. The heat exchange of these overhead vapors against the residue vapors from the LEFC provides partial condensate which is used as a reflux to the LEFC.
[0003] Pre-cooling of the gas before it is expanded to the LEFC pressure will commonly result in formation of a high-pressure condensate. To avoid damage to the expander, the high pressure condensate, if it forms, is usually separated, separately expanded through a Joule-Thomson valve and used as a further feed to the mid-portion of the HEFC column. Refrigeration in such a process is sometimes entirely generated by work expansion of the vapors remaining after partial condensation of the high pressure gas to the column operating pressure. Other processes may include external refrigeration of the high pressure gases to provide some of the required cooling.
[0004] When processing natural gas, feed is typically available at line pressure, of 600-1000 psia. In such case expansion to a pressure in the order of 150-300 psia is common. In an alternate process, facilities may be designed to extract ethane or ethylene or propane or propylene from refinery gases. Refinery gases commonly are available a pressure of 150 psia-250 psia. In this case, at the convenience of the process designer, the LEFC may be designed to operate at a pressure below the pressure of the refinery gas which is available, i.e., perhaps 50-100 psia, so that work expansion can be used to supply refrigeration to the process. This will result in lower LEFC temperatures and will increase potential heat leakage and other engineering problems associated with cryogenic temperatures. It is also possible in this case to compress the refinery gas to a higher pressure so that it may be thereafter expanded in a work-expansion machine to afford refrigeration to the overall process.
[0005] A typical flow plan of a process for separating C 3 and heavier hydrocarbons from a gas stream is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,249 to Jerry G. Gulsby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one embodiment of the invention, there is described a process for separating a hydrocarbon gas containing at least methane, ethane and C 3 components into a fraction containing a predominant portion of the ethane and lighter components and a fraction containing a predominant portion of the C 3 and heavier components or a predominant portion of the methane and lighter components and a fraction containing a predominant portion of the C 2 and heavier components, in which process
[0007] (a) the feed gas is treated in one or more heat exchangers, and expansion steps to provide at least one partly condensed hydrocarbon gas, providing thereby at least one first residue vapor and at least one C 2 or C 3 -containing liquid which liquid also contains lighter hydrocarbons; and
[0008] (b) at least a portion of the C 2 or C 3 -containing liquids is directed into a distillation column wherein said liquid is separated into a second residue containing lighter hydrocarbons and a C 2 or C 3 -containing product; comprising:
[0009] (1) cooling said second residue to partially condense it;
[0010] (2) intimately contacting at least part of one of said first residue vapors with at least part of the liquid portion of the partially condensed second residue in at least one contacting stage and thereafter separating the vapors and liquids from said contacting stage;
[0011] (3) supplying the liquids thereby recovered to the distillation column as a liquid feed thereto; and
[0012] (4) directing the vapors thereby recovered into heat exchange relation with said second residue from the distillation column, thereby to supply the cooling of step (1), and thereafter discharging said residue gases; the improvement further comprising:
[0013] (5) recovering a recycle gas stream from an expander-compressor or residue gas compressor;
[0014] (6) cooling and partially condensing the recycle stream in said one or more heat exchangers;
[0015] (7) expanding the recycle stream thereby further condensing a portion of and cooling the recycle stream;
[0016] (8) feeding the expanded recycle stream to a subcooler, whereby the expanded recycle stream is heat exchanged in the subcooler with gases from top of the heavy-ends fractionation column thereby providing colder temperatures to the vapors from the heavy ends fractionation column,
[0017] The contacting step (2) is carried out in a feed separator/absorber which includes fractionation means for vapor/liquid counter-current contact and
[0018] (i) wherein said partly condensed second residue is introduced into said separator/absorber above or at an intermediate point in said fractionation means, whereby the liquid portion of it passes downwardly through said fractionation means; and
[0019] (ii) wherein said partly condensed portion of the first residue is introduced into said separator/absorber above or at an intermediate point in said fractionation means, whereby the liquid portion of it passes downwardly through said fractionation means; and wherein said portion of the cooled C 2 or C 3 -containing liquid from the separator is introduced into said separator/absorber above or at an intermediate point in said fractionation means, whereby the liquid portion of it passes downwardly through said fractionation means; and
[0020] (iii) said at least part of one of said first residue vapors is supplied to said separator/absorber below said fractionation means, whereby the first residue vapor rises through said fractionation means in counter-current contact with the liquid portion of the partly condensed second residue,
[0021] The fractionation means in said separator/absorber provide the equivalent of at least one theoretical distillation stage arranged to contact at least part of one of said first residue vapors with the liquid portion of the partly condensed second residue.
[0022] The fractionation means in said separator/absorber provide the equivalent of at least one theoretical distillation stage arranged to contact at least part of one of said first residue vapors with the liquid portion of the partly condensed second residue.
[0023] The recycle gas stream recovered may further pass through expander-compressor discharge cooler or other compression discharge cooler prior to it being partially condensed in the one or more heat exchangers. The one or more heat exchangers where the recycle stream is partially condensed may have other liquid and gas flows present therein which can further be used, in addition to the gases from the top of the light-ends fractionation column to partially condense the recycle stream. For example, the liquid product from the light-ends fractionation column, the reboiler fluid, the side heater fluid and/or the residue gas streams may all pass through the one or more heat exchangers.
[0024] The one or more heat exchangers may be shell and tube, plate-fin exchangers or other means of heat exchange. The expansion of the recycle stream may be through a flow control valve or additional turboexpander.
[0025] The cold expanded recycle stream that is fed to the subcooler will combine with the overhead stream from the light-ends fractionation column resulting in a cooler reflux stream that is fed into the light-ends fractionation column thereby promoting increased reflux and thus, a greater recovery from the light-ends fractionation column.
[0026] Further, there is described an apparatus for separating a hydrocarbon gas containing at least ethane and C 3 components into a fraction containing a predominant portion of ethane and lighter components and a fraction containing a predominant portion of the C 3 and heavier components in which apparatus
[0027] (a) one or more heat exchange means and one or more expansion means are provided which are cooperatively connected to provide at least one partly condensed hydrocarbon gas, providing thereby at least one first residue vapor and at least one C 3 -containing liquid which liquid also contains lighter hydrocarbons and
[0028] (b) a distillation column connected to receive at least one of said C 3 -containing liquids which is adapted to separate the C 3 -containing liquids into a second residue containing lighter hydrocarbons and a C 3 -containing product;
[0029] the improvement comprising
[0030] (1) heat exchange means connected to said distillation column to receive said second residue and to partially condense it;
[0031] (2) contacting and separating means connected to receive at least part of one of the first residue vapors and at least part of the liquid portion of the partially condensed second residue and to comingle said vapor and liquid in at least one contacting stage, which means include separation means for separating the vapor and liquid after contact in said stage;
[0032] (3) said means (2) being further connected to supply the liquids separated therein to the distillation column as a liquid feed thereto, and
[0033] (4) said means (2) also being connected to direct the vapors separated therein into heat exchange relation with said second residue from the distillation column in said heat exchange means (1); the improvement further comprising
[0034] (5) Product cooler means connected to said distillation column to receive said second residue from said distillation column and to feed said second residue to said heat exchange means.
[0035] The contacting and separating means includes fractionation means for countercurrent vapor/liquid contact and wherein said means is connected to receive the portion of one of first residue vapors to be treated therein below said fractionation means and to receive the portion of said liquids from the partially condensed second residue to be treated therein above said fractionation means said fractionation means thereby being adapted so that the first residue vapors rise therethrough in countercurrent contact with partially condensed second residue.
[0036] The fractionation means includes vapor/liquid contacting means which are the equivalent of at least one theoretical distillation stage.
[0037] The contacting and separating means (2) comprise means for comingling at least part of one of said first residue vapors with the liquid portion of the partially condensed second residue.
[0038] The contacting and separating means (2) comprise means for comingling at least part of one of said first residue vapors with both the liquid and vapor portion of said partially condensed second residue.
[0039] The contacting and separating means includes fractionation means for countercurrent vapor/liquid contact and wherein said means is connected to receive the portion of one of first residue vapors to be treated therein below said fractionation means and to receive the portion of said liquids from the partially condensed second residue, portion of the partially condensed first residue and portion of the cooled C 3 -containing liquid from the separator to be treated therein above or at an intermediate point in said fractionation means said fractionation means thereby being adapted so that the first residue vapors rise there-through in countercurrent contact with partially condensed second residue and portion of the partially condensed first residue and being further adapted so that the portion of the C 3 -containing liquid from the separator is cooled by the liquids exiting the fractionation means.
[0040] The fractionation means includes vapor/liquid contacting means which are the equivalent of at least one theoretical distillation stage.
[0041] The contacting and separating means ( 2 ) comprise means for comingling at least part of one of said first residue vapors with the liquid portion of the partially condensed second residue, liquid portion of the partially condensed portion of the first residue and portion of the cooled C 3 -containing liquid from the separator.
[0042] The contacting and separating means (2) comprise means for comingling at least part of one of said first residue vapors with both the liquid and vapor portion of said partially condensed second residue, said partially condensed portion of the first residue and portion of the cooled C 2 or C 3 -containing liquid from the separator,
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] FIG. 1A is a partial schematic representation of a hydrocarbons separation process according to the invention which shows half the process due to scaling constraints.
[0044] FIG. 1B is a partial schematic representation of the other half of a hydrocarbons separation process according to the invention which shows the other half of the process due to scaling constraints.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] The present invention provides an improved process for recovering C 2 or C 3 and heavier components from hydrocarbon-bearing gases. In the improved process of the present invention the overhead vapor from the HEFC column is partly condensed and then at least the liquid condensate is combined with at least the vapor from the partially condensed feed gases described above in the LEFC which, in the present invention, also acts as an absorber. The LEFC is designed to afford one or more contacting stages. Usually such stages are assumed for design purposes to be equilibrium stages, but in practice this need not be so. Vapor from the feed separator/absorber passes in heat exchange relation to the overhead from the HEFC, thereby providing partial condensation of that stream, and liquid from the LEFC is supplied to the HEFC as an upper or top liquid feed to the column.
[0046] If the LEFC contains an absorption section, such as packing, or one or more fractionation trays, these stages will be assumed to correspond to a suitable number of theoretical separation stages. Our calculations have shown benefits with as few as one theoretical stage, and greater benefits as the number of theoretical stages is increased. We believe that benefits can be realized even with the equivalent of a fractional theoretical stage. The partially condensed HEFC overhead is supplied above this section, and the liquid portion of it passes downward through the absorption section. The partially condensed feed stream is usually supplied below the absorption section, so that the vapor portion of it passes upwardly through it in countercurrent contact with the liquids from the partially condensed HEFC overhead. The rising vapor joins the vapors which separate from partially condensed HEFC overhead above the absorption section, to form a combined residue stream.
[0047] While described above with respect to a preferred embodiment in which overhead vapors are condensed and used to absorb valuable ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, etc, from the expander outlet vapors, we point out that the present invention is not limited to this exact embodiment. Advantages can be realized, for instance, by treating only a part of the expander outlet vapor in this manner, or using only part of the overhead condensate as an absorbent in cases where other design considerations indicate that portions of the expander outlet or overhead condensate should bypass the LEFC. We also point out that the LEFC can be constructed as either a separate vessel, or as a section of the HEFC column.
[0048] In the practice of this invention there will necessarily be a slight pressure difference between the LEFC and the HEFC which must be taken into account. If the overhead vapors pass through the condenser and into the separator without any boost in pressure, the LEFC will assume an operating pressure slightly below the operating pressure of the HEFC. In this case the liquid feed withdrawn from the LEFC can be pumped to its feed position in the HEFC. An alternative is to provide a booster blower in the vapor line to raise the operating pressure in the overhead condenser and LEFC sufficiently so that the liquid feed can be supplied to the HEFC without pumping. Still another alternate is to mount the LEFC at a sufficient elevation relative to the feed position of the liquid withdrawn therefrom that the hydrostatic head of the liquid will overcome the pressure difference.
[0049] In still another alternate, all or a part of the partially condensed HEFC overhead and all or part of the partially condensed feed can be combined, such as in the pipe line joining the expander output to the LEFC and if thoroughly intermingled, the liquids and vapors will mix together and separate in accordance with a relative volatility of the various components of the total combined streams. In this embodiment the vapor-liquid mixture from the overhead condenser can be used without separation, or the liquid powder thereof may be separated. Such co-mingling is considered for purposed of this invention as a contacting stage.
[0050] In still another variation of the foregoing, the partially condensed overhead vapors can be separated, and the all or a part of the separated liquid supplied to the LEFC or mixed with the vapors fed thereto.
[0051] The present invention provides improved recovery of ethane or ethylene, propane or propylene per amount of power input required to operate the process. An improvement in operating power required for operating a HEFC process may appear either in the form of reduced power requirements for external refrigeration, reduced power requirements for compression or recompression, or both. Alternatively, if desired, increased C2 or C3 recovery can be obtained for a fixed power input.
[0052] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B represent a schematic of a hydrocarbon separation process according to the invention. A hydrocarbon bearing gas natural gas is fed through line 20 to a warm gas/gas exchanger 22 -E 3000 and then to a chiller 22 -E 3400 . Refrigeration is supplied through line 52 and 53 . The chiller has a line 54 which will withdraw refrigeration for recompression and liquefaction. The cooled gas stream is fed through line 21 through a cold gas/gas exchanger 22 - 3100 to a cold separation vessel 22 -D 1000 .
[0053] The hydrocarbon gas stream will be separated into two streams with the vapor leaving through line 22 and the bottoms through line 25 to line 16 . The bottoms will pass through a valve in line 26 for flow control and will rejoin line 26 to line 35 where they will enter subcooler 22 -E 3200 . These cooled hydrocarbon gases leave the subcooler through line 36 and enter light ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 . The hydrocarbon gas stream that is not diverted will continue through line 37 to the light ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 at the top of the column.
[0054] The vapor from the cold separation vessel 22 -D 1000 will leave through line 22 and reach a junction with line 24 . Line 24 will also contain a valve assembly PV which is used to control the flow of the stream in Line 24 . The remainder of the vapor from the cold separation vessel flow through line 23 through an expander/compressor 22 -X 6000 . This expanded hydrocarbon gas stream will be fed through line 29 into the light ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 .
[0055] The vapor from the light ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 will leave through line 39 and pass through line 40 where they will pass through cold gas/gas exchanger 22 -E 3100 and warm gas/gas exchanger before passing through line 55 to an expander/compressor 22 - 06000 where the compressed gas stream will enter and expander/compressor discharge cooler 22 -E 4100 through line 59 . The discharged gas stream will exit through line 58 and for sales or further processing as required.
[0056] Line 56 contacts line 55 and some of the hydrocarbon gas will be drawn off before entering the expander/compressor 22 -C 6000 and recovered for use as fuel gas. A valve assembly is present in line 56 for controlling the quantity of the material to be used as fuel gas.
[0057] The bottoms from the light ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 will exit through line 31 . These bottoms comprise an intermediate liquid stream that required further fractionation. Line 31 is in fluid communication with a transfer pump 22 -P 5000 NB which directs the bottoms from the light ends fractionating column to line 33 and into the top of a heavy ends fractionation column 22 -T 2100 .
[0058] A stream comprising a cooler, intermediate product liquid is withdrawn from the heavy ends fractionation column 22 -T 2100 through line 41 which is fed to a side heater 22 -E 3800 which will heat the stream and return it through line 42 to a point lower in the heavy ends fractionation column from which it was withdrawn. Another side steam is withdrawn from the heavy ends fractionation column 22 -T 2100 through line 43 which is fed to a heavy ends fractionation column reboiler 22 -E 3700 which will heat the side stream. This stream is fed to a trim reboiler 22 -E 4000 where it will be further heated before being returned through line 44 to a point lower in the heavy ends fractionation column from which it was withdrawn. Line 45 will supply heating media (not shown) to the trim reboiler 22 -E 4000 while line 46 will return heating media from the trim reboiler.
[0059] A line at the bottom of the heavy ends fractionating column will remove some of the hydrocarbon comprising mainly of C2s and less volatile hydrocarbons or C3s and less volatile hydrocarbon and direct it to a valve in line 51 . Line 51 receives bottoms from the heavy ends fractionating column 22 -T 2100 . Line 47 feeds the bottoms from the heavy ends fractionating column and feeds them to a heavy ends fractionating column bottoms pump 22 -P 5100 A/B which feeds the bottoms through line 49 to a product exchanger 22 -E 3600 which feeds the bottoms through line 50 to the product pump 22 -P 5200 A/B. This pump directs the bottoms through line 51 where they can be directly fed to a pipeline. A valve in line 49 will allow bypass of the product exchanger 22 -E 3600 and divert the flow to an air or water cooled heat exchanger when the plant is operated in the C3 and heavier recovery mode. After cooling, these bottoms can be fed back into line 49 for feeding to the product exchanger 22 -E 3600 .
[0060] The vapor from the heavy ends fractionation column 22 -T 2100 will exit through line 34 and pass through a subcooler 22 -E 3200 . Line 38 exits the subcooler 22 -E 3200 and connects to a valve. The vapor from the heavy ends fractionation column will be fed through line 30 into the light ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 where they will be further fractionated for reentry back into the heavy ends fractionation column as a reflux stream.
[0061] A portion of the compressed residue gas from stream 58 is recycled through the overall cryogenic process not only to increase ethane and heavier hydrocarbon component recoveries, but also to reduce the energy consumption of the overall system.
[0062] The improved process utilizes the recycle stream 1 in which a portion of the residue gas is cooled and may be partially liquefied in via heat exchange, expanded reducing its temperature and thus increasing the reflux in the light-ends fractionation column, 22 -T 2000 . This recycle stream 1 is fed downstream from the expander-compressor, 22 -X 10600 and expander-compressor discharge cooler, 22 -E 4100 or downstream of the residue gas compressor aftercooler. The recycle stream 1 is cooled and partially condensed in the inlet plate-fin heat exchanger, 22 -E 3000 where the recycle stream 1 can be cross-exchanged with an inlet stream 20 , liquid product stream 49 , the reboiler fluid stream 43 , the side heater fluid stream 41 and the residue gas stream 40 together. The recycle stream leaves the heat exchanger 22 -E 3000 through line 2 and is expanded across a flow-control valve V 2 where further liquefaction and cooling to the recycle stream will occur. This further cooled and liquefied recycle stream passes through flow-control valve V 2 and enters line 3 which is fed into the subcooler 22 -E 3200 . The subcooler 22 -E 3200 provides additional refrigeration by mixing with the vapor from the light-ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 . By reaching these cold temperatures, additional liquefaction occurs thus providing more reflux to the light ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 . Said reflux will result in more ethane adsorption as well as increasing ethane and heavier component recoveries.
[0063] The recycle stream having provided more cooling to the subcooler 22 -E 3200 and subsequently cooler reflux for the light-ends fractionation column 22 -T 2000 flows through subcooler 22 -E 3200 and enters line 4 where it will flow to line 40 where it will be fed through heat exchanger 22 -E 3000 where it will be further heated and then fed through line 55 to expander/compressor 22 -C 6000 . The compressed stream will be fed through line 59 to expander/compressor discharge cooler 22 -E 4100 where it will be recompressed and fed into line 1 where it will recycle ultimately to subcooler 22 -E 3200 .
[0064] While this invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it is apparent that numerous other forms and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The appended claims in this invention generally should be construed to cover all such obvious forms and modifications which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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The present invention relates to a process for separating a hydrocarbon gas into a fraction containing a predominant portion of the methane or ethane and lighter components and a fraction containing a predominant portion of the C 2 or C 3 and heavier components in which process the feed gas is treated in one or more heat exchange, and expansion steps; partly condensed feed gas is directed into a separator wherein a first residue vapor is separated from a C 2 or C 3 -containing liquid; and C 2 or C 3 -containing liquids, at substantially the pressure of separation, are directed into a distillation column wherein said liquid is separated into a second residue is separated to recover a C 2 or C 3 -containing product. The foregoing process is improved by cooling said second residue to partially condense it.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to reusable fabric gift wrappings, which wrappings are complete in and of themselves, requiring no additional materials such as separate fastening or adhesive means, and which accommodate a variety of box sizes and shapes.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Packages are typically gift wrapped using a number of separate steps and a variety of wrapping materials. The gift wrapping must normally be cut to size before being folded around the package, then held in place while transparent adhesive tape is applied across the overlapping edges to secure the wrapping.
In addition to being cumbersome and time consuming, the conventional wrapping process uses paper or other disposable products as the wrapping material. The disposable gift wrap is usually irreparably damaged during unwrapping and must be discarded after a single use. As a result, massive quantities of paper are consumed annually in the production of disposable wrapping paper, requiring the destruction of many acres of forest land and causing needless expenditures of limited timber resources. The disposal of conventional wrapping paper also creates significant environmental problems. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over 500,000 tons of wrapping paper are dumped into American landfills each year. The conventional gift wrapping process is thus costly, wasteful and harmful to the environment.
Various gift wrappings have been designed to minimize the number of steps and materials required in the gift wrapping process. Examples include self-wrapped boxes (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,355,092 (Le Pain) and 4,967,952 (Roessiger)), prefabricated gift wrapping (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,311,289 (French), 3,366,313 Culberg et al.), 3,381,889 (Laskow), and 3,489,333 (Culberg et al.)), and a plastic, heat shrinkable bag (U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,988 (Dixon)). Although these gift wrapping devices may expedite the wrapping process and mitigate the inconvenience, all involve the use of disposable, single-use wrapping materials. Thus, none of these gift wrappings address the above-noted problems of expense, waste and damage to the environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,144 (Selga) discloses another improved gift wrapping, the improvement comprising a reusable fabric gift wrap having releasable Velcro™ fasteners secured to its periphery. While this gift wrap is both complete and reusable, the design suffers in several respects. First, and importantly, each gift wrap accommodates only one standard-size box. Wraps must therefore be constructed and purchased for each particular package shape and size. The instant invention, in contrast, accommodates a variety of package sizes and shapes. Second, the gift wrap must be carefully folded to ensure exact alignment, and thus effective engagement, of the Velcro™ contact strips. Precise strip alignment is required to properly secure the wrapping. Finally, Velcro™ fasteners tend to accumulate lint and debris, particularly during washing, and may detach from the fabric after repeated use.
A need therefore exists for a practical, reusable fabric gift wrap, which is complete in and of itself, and which fits a variety of box sizes and shapes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention eliminates the need for disposable, single-use gift wrapping by providing a reusable fabric gift wrap. The use of such a reusable fabric gift wrapping eliminates the dependence on timber products for the production of gift wrapping, and also obviates the environmental problems associated with the disposal of conventional paper gift wrapping.
The present invention provides a relatively inexpensive and long lasting alternative to traditional paper gift wrap. The sturdy fabric wrap withstands repeated wrappings and, if soiled, is easily washed to return the wrap to its original attractive condition. The reusable fabric gift wrap thus reduces the significant replacement costs associated with traditional gift wrapping paper.
Another important aspect of the present invention is to provide a reusable fabric gift wrap which can readily accommodate various package sizes and shapes. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, an adhesive coating is applied at the periphery of the reusable fabric gift wrap. In a preferred embodiment, a resealable vinyl acetate polymer, sold commercially by 3M Corporation under the registered trademark "Tack It Again," is applied to the border of at least a portion of each of three edges of the wrapping. Although a resealable vinyl acetate polymer is the preferred adhesive coating, any substance or combination of substances having suitable adhesive and resealing properties will work. Most preferably, the adhesive coating is applied to a pair of fabric tabs, attached to opposite sides of the wrap, and to at least a portion of the edge of a third side. The resealable adhesive coating effectively adheres on contact to any portion of the gift wrap, thereby obviating the need for careful folding and precise alignment of a pair of mating contact strips. The reusable fabric gift wrap of the present invention thus provides a significant advantage over known fabric gift wraps by eliminating the strict folding requirements and the concomitant limitations on package shape and size.
Still another significant aspect of the present invention is to provide a reusable gift wrapping for a box or carton which is extremely simple in design. The present invention requires only a single sheet of wrapping material and can be quickly and easily applied by persons without special training or skill. The reusable fabric gift wrapping is complete in itself, requiring no additional materials, such as separate fastening or adhesive means.
The reusable fabric gift wrap of the invention can be formed of any suitable fabric material including, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, rayon, silk and wool. Cotton is the preferred wrapping material due to its light weight, durability, ready availability, and ease of care and economy. The fabric wrap may be formed of a single fabric sheet, or a plurality of sheets may be used for purposes of package protection and reversibility. The fabric wrap may be printed with designs indicative of particular gift-giving situations or with a generic pattern suitable for all occasions and recipients. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric wrap is formed of a solid-colored fabric (most preferably white) which can be decorated with customized print by the user using coordinating fabric pens, with colorful permanent ink, and color-coordinated ribbon.
In a preferred embodiment, an adjustable fabric ribbon is attached to one edge of the fabric gift wrap. The adjustable fabric ribbon is preferably attached at or near its center point to the edge of the wrap on the side comprising the adhesive coating, or adjacent to the two sides with coated fabric tabs, as discussed above. Most preferably, the fabric ribbon is folded to form a decorative bow at one end. The adjustable fabric ribbon may be produced to match the fabric wrap or may be made in complementary colors or patterns. The adjustable ribbon, which is pretreated with an adhesive coating at both ends, is pulled tight around the package to complete the wrapping process and to further secure the gift wrap.
The exact nature of this invention as well as other features and advantages thereof will be readily apparent from consideration of the specification, including the drawings. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to many modifications and variations without departing from its scope as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawing illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reusable gift wrap in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plane view of a square sheet of fabric wrap employed in the article of FIG. 1, showing the location of attachment of the two adhesive-coated tabs and the location of attachment of an adjustable fabric ribbon.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the decorative bow of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown in isolation, illustrating the manner in which the loops are juxtaposed together.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a first intermediate stage in applying the fabric gift wrapping of FIG. 2 to a box.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a second intermediate stage in applying the fabric gift wrapping of FIG. 2 to a box.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a third intermediate stage in applying the fabric gift wrapping of FIG. 2 to a box.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, like numbers indicate like features and the same number appearing in more than one figure refers to the same element.
FIG. 1 illustrates a unitary, reusable gift wrap 1 comprising a flat, square sheet of fabric 2 having an outer exposed surface 3 and an opposite inner concealed surface 4, visible in FIG. 2. The flat sheet of fabric 2 further comprises surge stitches of thread be extending about the entire perimeter of the fabric 2. The reusable gift wrap 1 also includes an adjustable fabric ribbon 5, which is approximately one inch to one and one-half inches in width.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a pair of fabric tabs 6 and 7 are attached on opposite sides of the inner concealed surface 4 of the fabric 2 by stitched seams 8 and 9, respectively. The fabric tabs 6 and 7 are preferably formed of a rectangular strip of matching fabric, which is approximately one inch in width and two inches in length, which is folded over and sewn together at stitched seams 8 and 9. Alternatively, fabric tabs 6 and 7 are formed of one-inch square pieces of fabric. Like the wrap fabric 2, fabric tabs 6 and 7 are first sewn about their perimeters with surge stitching, prior to attachment to the fabric 2. The concealed inner surfaces of fabric tabs 6 and 7 are treated, after attachment, with a resealable adhesive coating such as Tack It Again™.
Also as illustrated in FIG. 2, an adjustable fabric ribbon 5 is attached at or near its center point 11 to the outer exposed surface 3 of fabric 2 by a stitched seam 12. The adjustable fabric ribbon 5 comprises a first end 13 and a second end 14, said second end 14 terminating in a decorative bow 15.
The construction of decorative bow 15 is illustrated in FIG. 3. To create the bow 15, the second end 14 of ribbon 5 is looped around itself to form an inner loop 16. Inner loop 16 is then sewn closed by a transverse line of stitching 17. The second end 14 of ribbon 5 is then further folded, as illustrated, to form two additional loops of increasing diameter, loops 18 and 19, respectively. Loops 16, 18 and 19 are then flattened and secured together with the transverse seam 20 near their concentric center.
Prior to use, resealable adhesive coating such as a resealable vinyl acetate polymer is applied to first end 13 and to the underside 21 of bow 15. Each of these two adhesive coatings covers an area of approximately one inch in width and approximately one to two inches in length. A resealable adhesive coating is also applied, prior to wrapping, to at least one of the four outer edges of the inner concealed surface 4, preferably including the edge comprising stitched seam 12. The resealable adhesive coating(s) on the edge(s) of inner concealed surface 4 is approximately one inch wide and preferably extends the entire length of the package to be wrapped. Although a resealable vinyl acetate polymer is the preferred adhesive coating, any substance or combination of substances having suitable adhesive and resealing properties will work.
In the wrapping operation, best seen in FIGS. 4-6, the fabric 2 is placed with its outer side 3 facing downward and the inner surface 4, which is ultimately concealed, facing outward. A generally rectangular, hexahedral box 22 containing a gift to be wrapped is then placed onto the inner surface 4 of the fabric 2. One side of fabric 2, preferably the side opposite seam 12, is then folded inwardly toward the upwardly facing bottom or back of box 22, as shown in FIG. 4. An outer corner of the folded fabric 2 is then pulled toward the back of box 22, also as shown in FIG. 4. The opposite side of fabric 2, attached to fabric ribbon 5 and comprising seam 12, is then folded over the back of box 22 and secured to said box by the adhesive coating on the edge of inner concealed surface 4, as depicted in FIG. 5. Next, the triangular-shaped flap formed from the double folding of fabric 2 is pulled taut over the covered box, as shown in FIG. 6. The adhesive coating on the inner surface of fabric tab 7 is pressed against the back of box 22 to secure the folded flap to the enclosed box. The side of fabric 2 opposite tab 7 is then folded over the back of box 22 in a like manner and secured to said box back by pressing the adhesive-coated tab 6 to the box. The package is then turned over into the position depicted in FIG. 1 so that both of the folded flaps are on the underside. The first end 13 of adjustable ribbon 5 is pulled around the package and secured to the outer surface 3 by pressing the resealable adhesive coating to the top of box 22. Finally, to complete the wrapping process and to further secure the gift wrap, the second end 14 of ribbon 5 is pulled tight around the package and secured to the outer surface of first end 13 by pressing the adhesive-coated underside 21 of bow 15 to said outer surface of ribbon end 13.
In a preferred embodiment, the reusable gift wrap is constructed to accommodate conventional medium box sizes, namely boxes ranging in size from approximately fifteen inches in length, nine and one-half inches in width, and two inches in height, to boxes of about eleven and one-half inches in length, eight inches in width, and one and one-half inches in height. Medium box sizes are generally used, for example, to wrap shirts, shoes, picture frames and lingerie. To fit such medium size packages, fabric 2 is a twenty-four by twenty-four inch square sheet, and the fabric ribbon 5 is one inch in width and fifty-nine inches in length. The fabric ribbon 5 is attached by a one-inch stitched seam 12 to the fabric 2 at approximately eighteen inches from the edge of first end 13, and the bow 15 is constructed using the first twenty-seven inches of second end 14.
In an alternate preferred embodiment, the reusable gift wrap is constructed to accommodate conventional large box sizes, namely boxes ranging in size from between about seventeen inches in length, eleven inches in width, and three inches in height, and boxes of about fifteen inches in length, nine and one-half inches in width, and two inches in height. Large box sizes are generally used, for example, to wrap sweaters, linens, games and placemats. To fit these large-size packages, fabric 2 is a twenty-nine by twenty-nine inch square sheet, and the fabric ribbon 5 is approximately one and one-half inches in width and sixty-eight inches in length. The fabric ribbon 5 is attached to the fabric 2 at about twenty-two inches from the edge of first end 13, and the bow 15 is constructed using the first twenty-eight inches of second end 14.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible and will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, while the embodiment shown in the drawings hereof comprises a single fabric sheet, a plurality of juxtaposed sheets may be used for purposes of package protection and reversibility. Moreover, although the exemplified ribbon terminates in a longitudinal, multi-looped bow structure, the present invention contemplates all ribbon and bow styles, including plain, nondecorative ribbons and ribbons in combination with hemispherical bows. Further, although the disclosed material dimensions accommodate a variety of box sizes and shapes, the reusable gift wrap can be constructed from any size or shape starting materials to fit packages of extraordinary sizes and nonconventional shapes. Finally, although the exemplified reusable gift wrap does not include additional accessories such as greeting cards or card holders, such accessories can be readily attached to the reusable gift wrap by a variety of means well known in the art.
It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in ways other than as specifically described herein.
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The invention relates to a reusable fabric gift wrapping, which wrapping is complete in itself, requiring no additional materials such as separate fastening or adhesive means, and which accommodates a variety of box sizes and shapes. The reusable gift wrapping comprises a washable fabric sheet which is secured during wrapping by means of a resealable adhesive coating.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wet chemical processing of cotton prior to ginning. More specifically, this invention relates to instituting a wet chemical treatment to provide ease of removal of the lint from the cottonseed.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
OSHA Cotton Dust Standards as well as present and future problems with energy and byssinosis emphasize the need for new approaches to removal of lint from cottonseed. Studies on byssinosis have indicated that the active ingredient in cotton dust, which probably comes from the bract, is water soluble, filterable, non-volatile at relatively high temperature, and nondialyzable. A water rinse of the ginned lint might solve the byssinosis-dust problem by reducing the dust and removing the active byssinosis ingredient from subsequent fiber and textile operations. Because OSHA recognizes this thoroughly washed cotton is exempt from the standards.
When cotton lint is removed from the seed, either by hand or commercial ginning, the point of breakage is at the epidermis, in the immediate vicinity of the elbow. The fiber base below the surface of the constricted region of the shank remains after the fiber is removed. The literature concludes that fibers of cultivated cottons are characterized by some type of weak place in the vicinity of the fiber elbow, and that the weak place is probably due to non-visible differences in wall structure.
It has also been reported that the moisture content of lint during ginning influences lint quality. The quality improves as moisture content is increased, subject to the limitation of wet fibers clogging the gin. It has also been pointed out that a wet gin produced a fiber distribution array with more longer fibers and fewer short (damaged) fibers than did the saw gin, thus significantly improving lint quality.
The Prior Art is thoroughly explored by C. P. Wade and S. P. Rowland, the present inventors, in their disclosure of the present invention in the paper "The Cotton Fiber-Seed Bond: the Weakening Effects of Enzymes and Wetting Agents", which appears in the TRANSACTIONS of the ASAE (Vol. 22, No. pp. 1458-1462) November-December 1979 issued which was mailed on Feb. 29, 1980.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The art of cotton-ginning is advanced by the process of the present invention in that the lint of cottonseed is rendered amenable to easier and more efficient removal from the seedcoat by subjecting the open cotton boll to an impregnation with an aqueous solution containing either a certain wetting agent or a certain enzyme, the latter preferably in combination with a wetting agent. The treatment while affecting the point of attachment of the lint to the seedcoat does not affect the strength of the fiber nor the strength of the products derived therefrom. To achieve full effect of the pretreatment, the cotton pretreated with wetting agent only should be ginned in the wet state, but the cotton pretreated with enzyme and wetting agent should be ginned in the wet or dry state.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Although the process of the present invention is relatively simple, certain parameters must be observed. Significantly, not all wetting agents would work, and very few enzymes provide the weakening of the fiber at the right place. The preferred wetting agents include a wide variety of commercially available solutions. They simply must be diluted to the preferred concentraation. The preferred concentration of the wetting agents is about from as low as 0.01% to as high as about 5%, depending on the particular agent employed. The readily available wetting agents include sodium alkyl sulfate examplified by sodium dodecyl sulfate; alkaryl polyether alcohol, exemplified by Triton X-100; sodium alkyl polyether sulfate, exemplified by Triton 770; trimethylnonyl polyethylene glycol ether, exemplified by Tergitol TMN; and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, exemplified by Aeorosol OT. The enzymes include certain hemicellulases, specifically xylanase from the Aspergillus niger Series.
With reference to applicable temperatures, a range of about from 20° to 70° C. was found suitable, but the preferred figure was 50° C., in a solution having a pH of as low as 3 and as high as 7, but a preferred pH near 4. The time allowed for the fibers to respond to the treatment of the present process has been as low as 15 minutes and as high as 120 minutes.
The following examples are provided to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention and are not meant to limit the invention in any manner whatsoever.
EXAMPLE 1
To Illustrate Certain Negative Aspects to Avoid
When single cottonseeds were placed in cellulase solution (1 ml/10 mg of seed) and shaken for various periods, action of the enzymes was evidenced by weakening of the fiber-seed bond, separation of the lint from the seed, and degradation of the lint into small fiber segments. After 30 minutes of impregnation of the cotton at 50° C. the strength of the fiber-seed bond was reduced to the point where the lint was easily separated from the seed. After 60 minutes of this treatment, fiber degradation occurred throughout the entire length of the fiber. Investigation showed also that there were differences more so between bolls than within bolls. From this investigative work it was determined that time limits must be observed lest an excessive degradation of the lint be initiated. It was also noted that while some enzymes do not attack the cotton there are others which completely convert the cellulose to glucose, such as for example the cellulase from T. viride.
With reference to the treatments with wetting agents, the several series of investigative experiments indicated that a solution containing a wetting agent wherein the pH of the solution was above 5 the seed bonds were not weakened as much as desired. Therefore, it is desirable that pH be maintained near 4 or slightly below.
EXAMPLE 2
To Illustrate the Use of a Suitable Enzyme
A series of experiments was planned to observe the effects of enzymatic action on the seed bond, that is the strength of the point of attachment of the lint to the seedcoat of cottonseed.
The quantity of enzyme in the solution was varied, the temperature of the solution was varied, and the pH was varied. The degree of strength at the point of attachment was determined subjectively, and a more scientific approach to this measurement is being prepared for future studies. The pulling action was applied by hand both to the wet material and to the dry material. A test, for example, which would indicate that the fiber-seed bond was "strong" should tell the reader that the enzymatic action was ineffective. The extreme opposite would be recorded as "weak". This would indicate that enzymatic action was as desired, that is, the seed bond would be weakened; however, further investigation would be required once a "weak" determination was found, since it was desirable to weaken only the point of attachment of the lint to the seedcoat, not the weakening of the entire fiber.
A tabulation of the significant data is presented below for a rapid view of the data obtained from the investigative work. A more complete study would be available in the cited paper by these authors. (See Table I)
TABLE I______________________________________PECTINASE AND HEMICELLULASE ACTIVITY ONFIBER-SEED BOND*En-zyme pH of(amt, Temper- treat- Fiber-seed bondmg) ature, °C. ment Wet Dry______________________________________PECTINASE100 40 3.5 moderately strong strong500 40 3.5 weak moderately strong500 50 4.0 weak moderately strongHEMICELLULASE FROM RHIZOPUS MOLD100 60 5.5 strong strong500 60 5,5 strong strongHEMICELLULASE (XYLANASE) FROM A. niger100 50 4.2 strong moderately weak200 50 4.2 weak moderately weak500 50 4.2 weak moderately weak200 25.sup.++ 4.2 moderately weak very weak200 50 4.2 weak very weak______________________________________ *Conditions of treatment: 20 ml of solution was used per seed (0.05 M citric acidsodium citrate buffer, pH 4.2: or 0.05 M citric acidsodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer, pH 5.5 with 0.1 percent Tergitol TMN); filtered to remove undissolved solids prior to use: treated 120 min. without agitation. Conditions (temperature and pH) employed for the enzymes are those recommended for assay by the suppliers. .sup.+ This treatment was conducted for 16 h. The buffer molarity was reduced from 0.05 to 0.0125 in this solution.
EXAMPLE 3
To Illustrate the Effect of Certain Wetting Agents on the Fiber-Seed Bond
A series of aqueous dilute solutions were prepared for wet-impregnation studies of cottonseeds with some selected wetting agents. Each solution was of a 0.1% concentration, and each solution was made up with 0.05 M pH 4.3 citric acid-sodium citrate buffer.
A single cottonseed boll was pulled apart so as to remove all the seeds and subject seeds from a single boll to this series of treatments. Each seed was immersed and retained immersed in a separate solution, without agitation, for a period of 120 minutes at a temperature of 50°. The wetting agents were as indicated in the table (Table II) mostly commercially available wetting agents.
For identification purposes it must be pointed out that the Triton X-100 is an alkylaryl polyether alcohol, the Triton 770 is a sodium alkyl polyether sulfate, the Tergitol TMN is a trimethylnonyl polyether alcohol, and the Aerosol OT is sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate. Note also that the sodium dodecyl sulfate can be either satisfactory or otherwise for this particular application, depending on the concentration.
TABLE II______________________________________EFFECTS OF VARIOUS WETTING AGENTS ONFIBER-SEED BOND*Treating Solution Fiber-seed bond______________________________________Water only strongTriton X-100 moderately strongTriton 770 moderately weakAerosol OT moderately weakTergitol TMN weakSodium dodecyl sulfate weakTergitol TMN, 0.05 percent moderately weakSodium dodecyl sulfate, 1.0 percent strong______________________________________
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The removal of lint fibers from the cottonseed is facilitated by aqueous pretreatments of the cotton boll with dilute chemical substances. The wet processing of the boll renders the lint amenable to easy removal from the seedcoat in the wet or dry states.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reconfigurable computing systems.
2. State of the Art
As the cost of complex integrated circuits continues to fall, systems companies are increasingly embedding reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processors into non-computer systems. As a result, whereas the bulk of development work used to be in hardware design, now it is in software design. Today, whole applications, such as modems, digital video decompression, and digital telephony, can be done in software if a sufficiently high-performance processor is used. Software development offers greater flexibility and faster time-to-market, helping to offset the decrease in life cycle of today's electronic products. Unfortunately, software is much slower than hardware, and as a result requires very expensive, high-end processors to meet the computational requirements of some of these applications. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are also increasingly used because they offer greater flexibility and shorter development cycles than traditional Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), while providing most of the performance advantages of a dedicated hardware solution. For this reason, companies providing field programmable or embedded processor solutions have been growing very rapidly.
It is desired to have an improved method and apparatus for reconfigurable computing.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention comprises placing address information along with configuration bits in blocks of data stored in an external memory. A reconfigurable chip uses the address data in the blocks to aide in the loading of the configuration bits in the correct locations of the reconfigurable logic.
Since address information is stored in the blocks, the blocks of configuration data stored in the external memory need not be stored in sequence. In prior art configurable systems, an entire configuration is typically loaded from the external memory in sequence, so that the correct loading of configuration data is maintained. The disadvantage of this prior art arrangement is that the entire sequence of configuration data stored in the external memory is relatively large, causing the loading time to be relatively large as well.
The arrangement of the present invention allows for less than all the configuration data to be stored in a downloaded group of the configuration blocks. Each block of data can be independently loaded. The address in the block of data is decoded to provide the reconfigurable chip address for storing the configuration bits. The position of a configuration bit block in the external memory is independent of the reconfigurable chip address stored in the block. This is an advantage in reconfigurable computing environments which use many partial loads of the reconfigurable chip with configuration data. The download time is reduced because not all of the configuration data needs to be downloaded from the external memory at one time.
In a preferred embodiment, each block comprises a line of data. The line of data is preferably sized to fit an internal bus of the reconfigurable chip. The configuration data can be for both the data paths and control path of the reconfigurable logic.
In a preferred embodiment, the loading of the configuration bits, is done using an address decoder to produce select lines. Each select line loads a number of memory elements with one of the configuration bits. There is preferably a configuration bit line is for each of the configuration bits in a block of configuration data. In one embodiment, there is a single such decoder and configuration bit line arrangement. Alternately, a decoder and configuration lines can be used for each of the slices used in the reconfigurable logic chip. The address in the block of configuration data can be an offset address from a base address. If multiple slices are used, a configuration allocation system can allocate the configurations to the correct slice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a reconfigurable chip including the system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of one line of data.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an address decoder used with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a memory element that can be used with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of one embodiment of a memory element used with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 6A-6C are diagrams of the configuration bit system of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of one embodiment of the present invention using multiple address decoders in the embodiment in which the configuration can be allocated to different reconfigurable slices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a reconfigurable chip 20 of the present invention. Reconfigurable chip 20 is connected to an external memory 22 . Data from external memory 22 is loaded into the reconfigurable chip 20 using the memory control 24 and Data Memory Access (DMA) controller 26 . The data is sent across an internal bus 28 . In a preferred embodiment, the external memory stores blocks 30 of data combined into a group 31 . Each block of data includes configuration bits 30 a and address bits 30 b . A group of blocks can store a downloadable configuration to implement a function for the reconfigurable computer. Configuration data blocks are sent to the memory controller across bus 28 to the data controller 26 . The block is then sent to bus 32 . The bus 32 splits into the address line 32 a and the configuration bit lines 32 b . The address lines 32 a are sent to address decoder 40 . The address decoder produces select lines 42 which are sent to the reconfigurable logic along with the configuration bits along lines 32 b . Note that the address decoder 40 can also include a base offset address for the address decoder. The configuration bits on lines 32 b are loaded into a row of configuration memory associated with the active select line. Details of this arrangement are shown below in FIGS. 2-4.
One embodiment of a reconfigurable chip for use with the present invention is disclosed in the patent application “An Integrated Processor And Programmable Data Path Chip For Reconfigurable Computing,” Ser. No. 08/884,380, filed Jun. 27, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,254, incorporated herein by reference. Details of a control system which can be loaded using the system of the present invention is described in the patent application, “Control Fabric For Enabling Data Path Flow and CPU Operand Signal Mobility,” Ser. No. 09/401,194 filed Sep. 23, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,346.
FIG. 2 illustrates the data on the bus including twelve address bits and one hundred and sixteen configuration bits. FIG. 3 shows the address decoder 50 receiving the address bits. The configuration bits and select lines produced by the address decoder are both supplied to a number of memory elements that are used to store the configuration data for the system. Depending upon which select line is active, a row of memory elements are loaded with the configuration bits on the configuration bit lines.
FIG. 4 illustrates a memory element 52 which can be located at the intersections of the select lines and configuration bits shown in FIG. 3 . The memory element 52 produces a configuration bit output on line 54 . The memory element also receives a write select line from the address decoder and a configuration bit line. When the write select line goes high, data on the configuration bit line is stored in the memory element 52 .
FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a one type of memory element that can be used with the present invention. The memory element 60 includes a background plane latch and a foreground plane latch. Two different planes of configuration data are stored. During normal operation of the memory element, the nodes 63 and 66 store the foreground plane bit and the background plane bit respectively. When the write select line to multiplexer 62 goes high, data on the data input line 61 is written into the node 66 . When the write select line to multiplexer 64 goes high, the value at node 66 is loaded into node 63 . This causes the background plane to be loaded into the foreground plane. The reset line 70 can be used to reset the node 66 and 63 to zero.
FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this alternate embodiment, multiple address decoders are used. A configuration allocation block 80 is used to produce signals to the address decoders to cause the loading of the configurations. In this embodiment, different functions configurations can be dynamically loaded into different slices of the reconfigurable logic. An example of this type of system is described in the patent application, “Configuration Loading And Slice Allocation,” Ser. No. 09/507,344, which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate an embodiment of the configuration data arrangement for one embodiment of the present invention. As described above not all of the lines of configuration data need to be stored in each downloaded group.
The advantage of the present invention is the address for part of the configuration data is stored along with the block including configuration bits. The full configuration need always be downloaded. Some configuration bits in a slice or the entire reconfigurable logic may need only to be zeroed which can be done by a reset signal. Alternately, for reconfigurable computing, only parts of the reconfigurable logic may need be written over with the configuration data during the active processing. Thus, to implement certain functions, not all the configuration bits need to be loaded, and thus, not all the configuration bits need to be stored in the external memory.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or character thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is illustrated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes with come within the meaning and range for equivalent thereof are intended to be embraced herein.
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A configuration bit layout for a reconfigurable chip includes address bits stored along with configuration bits. The blocks of data are loaded onto the reconfigurable chip from an external memory and the address information is decoded to load the configuration bits onto the correct locations in the reconfigurable chip. In this way, configuration data need not be stored sequentially in the external memory. Configurations can be allocated into different slices of the reconfigurable chip as well.
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BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanism which produces predetermined motion by a predetermined deformation.
[0002] With the increasing market demand for precision technology, a linear motion actuator providing high precision has become important for machinery requiring precise displacement such as multiple-degree-of-freedom displacement mechanism, micro-manipulator or the like. In most cases, such a fine linear motion actuator employs reduction gearing mechanism, which requires not only a plurality of parts such as different gears but also backlash adjustment of gears and other alignments during its assembly.
[0003] In order to eliminate the need of backlash adjustment and other alignments, there has been proposed a simplified linear motion mechanism using a combination of elastic plates to allow fine linear displacement (see Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. JP2003-075572). More specifically, two elastic plates are fixed to a fixed block at one ends and to a movable block at the other ends. The two elastic plates placed in parallel are connected by a curve elastic plate in the approximate shape of a letter H. The movable block is supported by an elastic plate orthogonal to a plane formed by the H-shaped elastic plates. The curve elastic plate is connected to the slider of a micrometer at the center thereof. Accordingly, extension or contraction of the slider causes the curve elastic plate to push or pull the parallel elastic plates in widening or narrowing directions, which linearly moves the movable block in the retracting or extending direction.
SUMMARY
[0004] However, the above-mentioned linear motion actuator using reduction gearing mechanism requires a plurality of parts, complicated assembly process and complicated adjustment operations. The above-mentioned linear motion mechanism using the elasticity of combined elastic plates has the spatial arrangement of a plurality of elastic plates, resulting in weakness in structural strength, which makes it difficult to achieve precise displacements. Accordingly, the existing techniques cannot achieve a light-weight, miniaturized and simply-manufactured linear motion mechanism providing high precision.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel deformation motion mechanism with precise motion and structural robustness.
[0006] According to the present invention, a deformation motion mechanism includes: an elastic ring member shaped symmetrically with respect to a center line, wherein one end of the elastic ring member is fixed and the other end is movable along the center line; a drive unit which is placed within the elastic ring member and is arranged to rotate a feed screw engaged with both ends of the elastic ring member along an operating line orthogonal to the center line, to press or stretch the elastic ring member along the center line; and a plurality of flexible arms which connects the drive unit to the elastic member in at least a direction of the center line.
[0007] According to the present invention, a deformation motion method includes: preparing an elastic ring member shaped symmetrically with respect to a center line, wherein one end of the elastic ring member is fixed and the other end is movable along the center line wherein a drive unit is placed within the elastic ring member and is arranged to rotate a feed screw engaged with both ends of the elastic member along an operating line orthogonal to the center line; connecting the drive unit to the elastic ring member through a plurality of flexible arms in at least a direction of the center line; and by the drive unit, rotating the feed screw to press or stretch the elastic ring member along the operating line.
[0008] As described above, according to the present invention, the drive unit is placed within the elastic ring member and is flexibly connected to the elastic ring member through the flexible arms in at least a direction of the center line. Accordingly, the drive unit is placed at the center of the elastic ring member irrespective of the presence or absence of elongated deformation of the elastic ring member. Further, the flexible arms are flexible in the center line direction but rigid in the operating line direction. Accordingly, the flexible arms prevents the drive unit from rotating when the drive unit rotates the feed screw.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a deformation motion mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 1 .
[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a typical operation of the deformation motion mechanism shown in FIG. 1 .
[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an analytical example of the operation of the deformation motion mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 .
[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another analytical example of the operation of the deformation motion mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1. Outline of Embodiment
[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a deformation motion mechanism is arranged to use a pressure mechanism to deform a symmetrically shaped elastic ring member along a center line of the symmetrically shaped elastic member to produce a linear motion. More specifically, the pressure mechanism is composed of a feed screw and a drive unit which are provided within the elastic ring member. The feed screw is screwed into a pair of nuts provided at the respective ends of the elastic ring member. The feed screw may have left-handed and right-handed screw sections which are screwed in the pair of nuts, respectively. The drive unit is arranged to rotate the feed screw to press or stretch the hard spring in the minor-axis direction to produce a linear motion in a direction of the major axis of the hard spring.
[0015] In the above-mentioned structure, since the drive unit rotates the feed screw, the drive unit has to be fixed to something secured so as not to rotate itself. However, the drive unit cannot be fixed rigidly because the drive unit joined to the feed screw moves in the major-axis direction of the hard spring when pressing or stretching the hard spring in the minor-axis direction. For instance, if the drive unit is fixed rigidly to the hard spring, the drive unit causes hard deformation of the hard spring, resulting the linear motion with a low degree of accuracy. If the drive unit is fixed rigidly to the base plate of the deformation motion mechanism, the drive unit cannot be moved, which may cause unexpected deformation of the hard spring.
[0016] Accordingly, it is important to fix the drive unit flexibly to the hard spring. Preferably, the drive unit is fixed to the hard spring through symmetrically arranged flexible arms so as to place the drive unit at the center of the elliptical ring of the hard spring before or after deformed. Further preferably, the flexible arms are flexible in the major-axis direction of the hard spring but rigid in a direction orthogonal to the plane including the elliptical ring of the hard spring. As an example, each of the flexible arms may be formed using an elastic plate or a leaf spring. Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describe with references to figures.
2. Exemplary Embodiment
2.1) Arrangement
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a deformation motion mechanism 10 includes a hard spring 101 shaped like an elliptical ring symmetrically with respect to a center line L 1 and an operating line L 2 orthogonal to the center line L 1 . The hard spring 101 is connected to a fixed section 102 and a movable section 103 at both ends of the major axis of the hard spring 101 . The hard spring 101 is joined to a pressure mechanism composed of a pair of nuts 104 and 105 , a feed screw 106 and an input mechanism 107 .
[0018] The feed screw 106 may have left-handed and right-handed screw sections which are screwed into the nuts 104 and 105 , respectively. The nuts 104 and 105 are fixed respectively to both sides of the hard spring 101 in the direction of the minor axis so that the hard spring 101 is sandwiched between the nuts 104 and 105 . The input mechanism 107 rotates the feed screw 106 to press or stretch the hard spring 101 depending on rotation direction. In FIG. 1 , when rotating the feed screw in a direction 108 , the hard spring 101 is pressed in the operating direction 109 to move the movable section 103 in the linear motion direction 110 .
[0019] The input mechanism 107 is a drive unit for rotating the feed screw 106 which rotatably passes through the drive unit as shown in FIG. 2 . The input mechanism 107 is placed within the elliptical ring of the hard spring 101 and is flexibly joined to the hard spring 101 through an even number of elastic arms (here, four elastic arms S 1 -S 4 ). The elastic arms S 1 -S 4 having the same elasticity are placed symmetrically with respect to a center point O, the line (or plane) L 1 , and/or the line (or plane) L 2 so as to keep the input mechanism 107 at the center of the elliptical ring of the hard spring 101 irrespective of the presence or absence of the deformation.
[0020] Preferably, the elastic arms S 1 -S 4 are placed in parallel along their retracting or extending direction which is the same direction as the major axis of the hard spring 101 . In this example, the elastic arms S 1 -S 4 are formed using an elastic plate or a leaf spring and are shaped like an accordion to be made flexible in the major-axis direction of the hard spring 101 . However, as shown in FIG. 2 , the elastic arms S 1 -S 4 are installed vertically, that is, in a direction L 3 orthogonal to the plane L 1 , causing them to be hardly bent in the direction L 3 . Accordingly, the elastic arms S 1 -S 4 prevents the input mechanism 107 from rotating when the input mechanism 107 rotates the feed screw 106 .
2.2) Operation
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3 , when the input mechanism 107 rotates the feed screw in the direction 108 , the nuts 104 and 105 presses and deforms the hard spring 101 in the direction 109 . More specifically, pressure in the direction 109 causes the elliptical ring of the hard spring 101 to be elongated in the direction of its major axis, thereby extending the elastic arms S 1 -S 4 and shifting the feed screw 106 and the input mechanism 107 by a displacement 201 while shifting the movable section 103 by a displacement 202 .
[0022] As shown in FIG. 4 , the respective elastic arms S 1 -S 4 are fixed to the input mechanism 107 at points P 1 -P 4 , which are symmetric about the center point O of the elliptic ring of the hard spring 101 . Accordingly, even when the hard spring 101 is elongated, the input mechanism 107 is kept at the center position of the elongated elliptic ring of the hard spring 101 .
[0023] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5 , the respective elastic arms S 1 -S 4 connecting between the hard spring 101 and the input mechanism 107 are placed symmetrically with respect to the center point O of the elliptic ring of the hard spring 101 . Accordingly, even when the hard spring 101 is elongated, the input mechanism 107 is kept at the center position of the elongated elliptic ring of the hard spring 101 .
2.3) Advantageous Effects
[0024] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the input mechanism 107 which is arranged to rotate the feed screw 106 to deform the hard spring 101 is placed within the elliptic ring of the hard spring 101 and is flexibly connected to the hard spring through elastic arms S 1 -S 4 which are symmetrically arranged along the major axis of the elliptic ring of the hard spring 101 . Accordingly, the input mechanism 107 is placed at the center of the elliptical ring of the hard spring 101 irrespective of the presence or absence of elongated deformation of the elliptic ring.
[0025] Further, the elastic arms S 1 -S 4 are flexible in the major-axis direction of the hard spring but rigid in a direction orthogonal to the plane including the elliptical ring. Accordingly, the elastic arms S 1 -S 4 prevents the input mechanism 107 from rotating when the input mechanism 107 rotates the feed screw 106 .
3. Other Exemplary Embodiment
[0026] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment as shown FIGS. 1 and 2 . Any symmetric arrangement of elastic arms supporting the input mechanism or the drive unit within the elliptic ring can be employed, provided that the symmetrically arranged elastic arms allow the input mechanism or the drive unit to be placed at the center of the elliptical ring irrespective of the presence or absence of deformation of the elliptic ring.
[0027] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The above-described exemplary embodiment and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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A novel deformation motion mechanism with precise motion precise motion and structural robustness is achieved. A deformation motion mechanism includes: an elastic ring member shaped symmetrically with respect to a center line, wherein one end of the elastic ring member is fixed and the other end is movable along the center line; a drive unit which is placed within the elastic ring member and is arranged to rotate a feed screw engaged with both ends of the elastic ring member along an operating line orthogonal to the center line, to press or stretch the elastic ring member along the center line; and a plurality of flexible arms which connects the drive unit to the elastic member in at least a direction of the center line.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In shuttleless looms, that is, those looms in which weft yarn is supplied from a stationary source location outside the lateral limits of the warp yarns, it is customary to insert each pick of weft by means of a reciprocating inserter or inserters. In the most common shuttleless operation a supply of weft is located adjacent the right hand side of the loom and each pick is drawn from the source and inserted into the shed formed between the warp yarns. The insertion itself is effected by means of an inserted carrier which is moved into and from the shed by means of a reciprocating inserter. In this usual form the inserter carrier is met at approximately the center of the warp shed by an extending carrier which grasps the end of the weft being inserted and draws it to the other side of the loom. The extending carrier is moved into and out of the shed by means of a reciprocating inserter in the same manner in which the inserter carrier is moved.
Although shuttleless looms as initially constructed and operated utilized only a single source of weft yarn and were therefore limited to one weft color, diverse types of method and apparatus were developed which ultimately made it possible to effect the insertion of weft yarn drawn from a plurality of sources. After utilization of a plurality of sources became a practical possibility it could be seen that a number of significant alterations in the structural features of certain ancillary parts of the basic weaving machine had been required. For example, when weft yarn was withdrawn from a plurality of yarn packages methods had to be devised to insure that each of the yarns to be inserted was at some position along its length, located at exactly the same point so that the inserting carrier would always engage it during its inward movement into the shed. Additionally, when utilizing only a single source, the inserted weft yarn could be threaded through a completely closed guide in the inserter carrier, since at no time was that yarn ever completely removed from its carrier. In contradistinction, when weft is drawn from a plurality of sources each weft yarn must be capable of being removed completely from the inserting carrier when yarn from a different source is to be inserted. Of course, when a loom that had been weaving with weft from a single source was to be converted to utilize yarn from a plurality of sources it was necessary to effect complete changes in the inserter carrier system. A similar change was required when converting from multiple to single pick insertion.
Therefore, a principle object of this invention is to provide an improved inserter carrier in which a portion of the carrier can be altered to accommodate the insertion of weft yarn from one or from a plurality of outside sources.
An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved inserter carrier in which a yarn guiding back plate can be easily removed and replaced with one suitable for the insertion of weft yarn from a single source or from a plurality of sources, depending upon the function of the plate being removed.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part obvious and in part explained by reference to the accompanying specification and drawings in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a carrier constructed in accordance with the invention, showing alternate backplates, and also showing the inserter to which the carrier is attached;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the carrier of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the backplate;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of the backplate shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the assembled carrier of FIG. 2;
And FIG. 5 is a top elevation of a portion of the assembled inserter of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1. In this figure the numeral 10 indicates a reciprocating inserter which is here shown in the form of a flat tape. This type of inserter is widely and commonly used in shuttleless looms and is a flexible element that is wrapped and unwrapped about the periphery of a reciprocating tape wheel that is located on the side of loom. Other types of inserters are also used, such as rigid rods and telescoping members, but the particular type of inserter used is not important to this invention.
At the lefthand most end of inserter 10 (as viewed in FIG. 1) the carrier is shown as comprising a main body portion 11. Body portion 11 is itself made up of a shank portion 12 a horizontally extending upper wall 13 and a wall 14 which extends substantially vertically downward from the horizontal wall 13. It can be seen that the vertically extending wall 14 extends outwardly away from the inserter 10 and the shank portion 12 and that it is disposed substantially normal to the broad dimension of inserter 10. Additionally it can be seen that the generally horizontally extending upper wall 13 extends outwardly from the upper edge of wall 14 and is provided on the forward side thereof with a depending lip 13'. Upper wall 13 lies in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane containing tape 10.
In order to control or guide the weft yarn to be inserted, means must be provided for contacting the weft as it is being drawn from the source and inserted into the warp shed. Depending upon whether or not weft is to be drawn from a single or from a plurality of sources, one or the other of the backplates 15 and 16 will be required. If a plurality of sources is to be used, then backplate 16 would be mounted on the main body portion 11 whereas if only a single source was to be utilized then the backplate 15 would be assembled to the main body portion. The manner in which element 15 is secured to the main body portion 11 is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
It should be noted that the vertically extending wall 14 of the main body portion 11 and the backplate 15, 16, include means which interfit to provide vertical and longitudinal support between these elements of the carrier structure. Specifically, as best seen in FIG. 3, the backplates 15 and 16 are constructed with an offset that provides a substantially horizontal shoulder 17 and that this shoulder will interfit or mate with the lower edge 18 of the vertically extending wall 14. Similarly each of the backplates is provided with an offset portion 19 (see FIG. 5) that will interfit with the leading edge 20 of vertical wall 14 as well as with a mating surface 21 on the horizontally extending wall 13. By reason of these contacting surfaces there is provided both vertical and longitudinal support between the backplates and the walls of the main body portion 11 that reduce the strains imposed on the means which secure the backplates 15 and 16 to the main body portion.
As shown in the figures of the drawings small fastening elements 25 have been provided to act as the means for assembling the backplates 15 and 16 on the vertically extending wall 14. These fasteners may advantageously be rivets or other readily removable fasteners that provide for easy attachment and detachment between backplates 15 or 16 and wall 14.
Also shown in exploded perspective in FIG. 1 is the gripping means which holds the end of the weft yarn that is being inserted into the shed. This means comprises a spring 26, a spring mounting element 27 and a yarn finger 28 through which it is possible to adjust the tension that grips the yarn being inserted. As best shown in FIG. 1 the elements 26, 27 and 28 interfit and are held in position by means of fasteners 30 that thread into the shank portion 12 of the main body 11. In FIG. 4 the elements of the gripping means are shown in assembled position in which the yarn finger 28 forms the lower forward side of the carrier with the spring 26 and spring mounting element 27 located intermediate the upper surface of said yarn finger 28 and a recess 13" formed on the underside of the depending lip 13'. The lower surface of the spring mounting element 27 is continually urged downwardly by spring 26 into contact with the upper surface of the yarn finger 28 to form the weft gripping means all of which is well known to those conversant in the art.
Whereas, in previously existing yarn inserters it was necessary to completely change the inserting system or at the very least to completely remove an entire carrier from its associated inserter. It now becomes possible to effect a change from a multiple to a single supply source, or vice versa, merely by removing the two fastening elements 25 and merely replacing the backplate of one type with one of a different type.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and the appended claims.
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This invention relates to shuttleless looms and more particularly to an improved carrier for use on a loom of the shuttleless type where the weft yarn is supplied from a stationary source located outside of the warp.
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This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/177,749, filed Dec. 28, 1979, now abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus of the type basically disclosed in British Pat. No. 1,229,894 and Swedish Pat. No. 314,288, such apparatus being designed for treating cellulose pulp or similar material and comprising two intermeshing rotary screws working in a housing enclosing the intermeshing screws and provided with a material inlet and a material outlet. The screws are coupled for synchronized intermeshing rotation during which material such as paper pulp fed into the inlet is conveyed by the interaction of the screws towards the outlet and treated during passage through the space defined by the threads of the screws and the surrounding housing towards the outlet.
BACKGROUND
For optimum treatment of the material in the apparatus it is necessary to discharge the treated material from the apparatus against a controlled counteracting pressure. This problem is solved according to Swedish Pat. No. 314,288 by providing a variable outlet opening between a stationary end-portion of the apparatus and a housing portion shiftable in the longitudinally direction of the screws and biased against the stationary end-portion with an adjustable pressure.
In the construction of a double screw refiner according to British Pat. No. 1,229,894 the housing is stationary and discharge is performed through apertures around the outlet end-portions of the shafts carrying the screw threads. Practical experience has shown that controlled discharge through a variable outlet opening is a factor of great importance for the refining result obtained. The solution of this problem proposed in Swedish Pat. No. 314 288 however, does not appear to be ideal for the following reasons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. Basically, the arrangement according to Swedish Pat. No. 314 288 is complicated and expensive. In order to control the discharge from the machine the housing must be mobile. Thus, resilient connections are required between the housing and the stationary supply and discharge tubes, such connections at the same time being impermeable and insensitive to both pressure and temperature. Such connections require much space and the rubber material used in such connecting bellows will be subject to fatigue due to the uninterrupted movements. Further, the axial movement in the seals between the housing and the shaft causes abnormal wear and difficulties in maintaining the required sealing effect. The axial shifting movement also precludes packings of the labyrinth or similar type which otherwise are specifically suited in a machine of the present type when the relative speeds are high.
2. As in this prior construction fiber material in comparatively solid form (due to high concentration) is caused to rotate at high pressure and high speed against the end-wall of the housing, considerable energy losses are encountered. Also, the frictional heat generated at the end-wall and reaching values up to within the range of 80° to 95° C. tends to burn the pulp when material is treated at high dry-matter content.
3. By feeding the material against the end-wall the shafts are exposed to axial thrusts of a magnitude requiring the use of special expensive bearings.
4. The high degree of friction in the discharge range causes heavy wear of this part of the machine. Due to the heavy wear in the discharge the outlet control may not be fully efficient when material causing heavy wear, such as waste paper, is treated.
All the above described difficulties are avoided by means of a combination of novel constructive features applied to a double screw refiner of the type as defined above, the essential inventive steps residing in providing a feed-reversing surface section on both screws starting near the end of the ordinary feeding screw thread section, placing the material outlet in the side-wall of the elongate housing--normally the downwardly facing part of the side-wall--near the transition from the feeding screw thread section to the feed-reversing surface section, providing an outwardly flaring collar bounding said material outlet and having an outlet opening extending in a plane oblique to the direction of material discharge, and means selectively restricting the outlet area of said collar outlet opening said means being variably biased towards an outlet closing position to selectively oppose the exit pressure of the material through said collar outlet, thereby to achieve material discharge conditions optimizing material pressure and thereby treating conditions within the housing.
Another essential aspect of the invention comprises selecting the pitch and shape of the thread on both screws to establish a high material pressure zone within said housing in the range of said material outlet.
By successfully solving the problem of controlled lateral material discharge, this novel construction fully eliminates the drawbacks experienced with prior-art refiners of the intermeshing-screw type.
1. There is no need for a mobile housing. Accordingly both the inlet and the outlet can be stationarily attached to supply and discharge conduits, respectively. The shafts of the screws in the normal way extend through stationary end-walls of the housing and, accordingly, normal bearings and packings of the most convenient types may be used.
2. Due to the fact that feeding and feed-reversing portions are provided on the same screw shaft pressure contact between the housing outlet end-wall and the compacted treated material is avoided. Thereby energy is saved and undue frictional heating of the material is avoided.
3. As the material is no longer fed forward against the outlet end-wall of the housing, noxious axial thrusts on the shafts are avoided.
4. The present construction reduces wear of both the screws and the discharge opening. Control of the working intensity is improved due to the fact that the machine elements controlling the discharge are no longer deformed by wear. This is of particular importance in connection with the treatment of waste paper. The improvement as far as reduction of wear is concerned is mainly due to the fact that the material is not discharged between surfaces having large relative velocities.
Additional advantages obtained by the present invention are the considerable saving in building cost as compared to the construction according to Swedish Pat. No. 314,288, the possibility to subdivide the housing mantel vertically permitting disassembly of the screws without disconnection of the supply and discharge conduits, and the ability of the screw shafts to be adjusted angularly in relation to each other, such adjustment being compatible with the lateral disposition of the outlet but incompatible with discharge of treated material in an axial direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the refiner of the invention with parts broken away or shown in section.
FIG. 2 is a plan view with the upper part of the housing shown in section.
FIG. 3 is an end-view of the refiner in part in section along the line II--II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an elevational, partly sectioned view of the discharge end of a refiner similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but provided with an alternative discharge-resisting mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a section along line V--V in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a partial view of an intermediate section of the intermeshing screws according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In all the embodiments of the invention shown a refiner housing 1 encloses two intermeshing screws 2 and 3 of mutually opposite pitch. Each screw 2 and 3 has a cylindrical core 2a and 3a, respectively, each such core carrying a treating screw thread 2b and 3b, respectively. On each screw the treating screw thread is subdivided into two sections of mutually opposite pitch in such a way that during operation of the apparatus the right-hand section 2b' and 3b', respectively, of each screw 2 and 3 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 will perform a feeding action from the right to the left, whereas the left-hand section 2b" and 3b", respectively, will perform an action reversing the feeding action performed by sections 2b' and 3b', respectively.
The screw shafts are driven in unison and in mutually opposite directions by a motor and gear unit 4. Material to be treated, e.g. cellulose pulp at a concentration in excess of 12.5%, preferably 25% or more, is supplied to the housing through an inlet 5 arranged in the housing substantially above the feed-starting end of feeding screw thread portion 2b' and 3b', respectively. All the parts of the refiner, mentioned so far, are in a conventional way supported by a bed structure B.
The bearing and drive means of the intermeshing screws are conventional and do not require a more detailed description.
In cotrast to prior-art technique such as represented by Swedish patent specification No. 314,288 the outlet through which material treated during passage through the interspaces between the intermeshing screws and the housing is discharged, is not provided in the end-wall of the refiner housing remote from inlet 5 but in the bottom wall of the housing. A discharge aperture 10 extends through the bottom wall of the housing 1 centrally below the horizontally disposed pair of screws and at a position lengthwise of said screws 2 and 3 adjacent the terminal end of the feeding screw thread portions 2b' and 3b' of respectively screws 2 and 3.
It will be understood that with the thread pitch illustrated in FIG. 2 material transport from the inlet 5 through the machine towards aperture 10 will require a direction of rotation of the screws as indicated by arrows in FIG. 3 which means that a zone of material compression will be created in the bottom of the machine where intermeshing screw thread sections are rotating towards each other in contrast to conditions on the upper side of the screws where intermeshing screw thread sections move apart and thus release the pressure acting on the material enclosed between the screw flanges. Due to the feed reversing action of screw sections 2b" and 3b" such material compression will be concentrated near discharge aperture 10 causing the treated material to pass through said aperture under desirable radial exit pressure and in a direction substantially at right angles in relation to a plane through the axes of said screws.
As shown in FIG. 1, a collar 10a bounding said aperture 10 extends outwardly from housing 1.
As shown in FIG. 3 and further indicated by wall portion 10b in FIG. 1, this collar 10a has a generally outwardly flaring configuration.
Moreover, the collar has a mouth opening extending in a plane oblique to the general direction of material discharge, said mouth opening cooperating with a plane closure element in the form of a flap 11 pivotally attached as at 11a to the edge of collar wall 10b adjacent aperture 10. This construction avoids any abrupt change of the direction of movement of the material through the collar 10a and past flap 11 when the position of the flap 11 is adjusted enabling discharge to be controlled smoothly.
Flap 11 is designed to oppose the discharge of treated cellulosic material from the interior of the housing through aperture 10 and collar 10a to the extent necessary to produce within the apparatus such pressure conditions as required for optimum treating results. For this purpose flap 11 is adjustably biased towards an outlet closing position with the aid of a fluid-actuated means such as the cylinder and piston means 12 shown having a piston rod 12a pivotally connected as at 12b to the outward face of flap 11. By suitable supply of fluid to cylinder and piston device 12 the resistance offered by flap 11 against discharge of material can be adjusted. Obviously, automatic adjustment in dependence on operational parameters is feasible, such parameters for example being the load of the motor driving the screws or the measured pressure prevailing in the material enclosed between the intermeshing screws and the housing.
In order to permit attachment of the outlet to discharge counduit means a second collar 13 may extend outwardly from housing 1 in a position enclosing the first collar 10a as well as flap 11 and part of piston rod 12a extending from pivot 12b.
In the operation of an apparatus of the type here in question pressure conditions within the material treated may be such that certain de-watering of the material occurs, the water thus released collecting in the bottom portion of housing 1. Due to the fact that the feed-reversing screw thread portions 2b" and 3b" prevent an accumulation of pressurized treated material in the neighbourhood of the outlet end-wall of housing 1, such accumulated water may collect in the bottom of the housing there and may be removed by means of a draining hole 14 provided, for example, within the second collar 13.
It may be mentioned that the lateral discharge of the treated material from housing 1 may be improved by selecting the pitch of the feed-reversing screw thread portions 2b" and 3b" so as to provide a desirable radial exit pressure of the material against flap 11 or any other means used instead of such flap. The shape of the feed-reversing screw thread portions 2b" and 3b" may also be specifically adjusted to yield a substantially radially directed material pressure in the outlet. Such modifications of the pitch and shape of the treating thread portion of intermeshing rotary screws are within the professional knowledge of the expert.
The alternative embodiment of the apparatus as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is distinguished from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 merely by the fact that the plane outlet restricting closure element is not a flap but a kind of wedge body 15 presenting a plane inclined surface 16 to the material under discharge through aperture 10 and collar 10a, which also in this embodiment has a generally outwardly flaring configuration as shown in FIG. 5 and an oblique mouth opening. By means 12, 12a similar to those described in connection with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 body 15 to shiftable between a position, in which its plane surface 16 closes the plane opening defined by collar 10, and selective positions, in which said plane surface 16 selectively uncovers the plane opening bounded by the free end of collar 10a. In its shifting movement body 15 is supported by a bearing surface 17 carried by bed structure 13.
As far as operation is concerned, the description given in connection with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 also applies to the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5.
It will be understood that other types of outlet closures may be provided within funnel-like structures such as collars 13 permitting attachment of the outlet to discharge tubes or the like.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the intermeshing rotary screws which under certain operating conditions and with certain treated materials may yield additionally improved discharge of the material through outlet hole 10. In the same way as in the previously described embodiments the feed-reversing thread portion 22b" and 23b" have the same outside diameter as the corresponding feeding screw thread portions 22b" and 23b", respectively. However, in contrast to the previously described embodiments the feed-reversing screw thread portions 22b" and 23b" have lesser hight and correspondingly increased core thickness compared to the feeding screw thread portions 22b' and 23b', the screw core being provided with a transition zone 22a and 23a, respectively, having truncated conical shape, the position of said conical portions 22a and 23a substantially coinciding with the position of outlet aperture 10 longitudinally of said screws 22 and 23. Obviously the feed-reversing section of the screws may be exclusively constituted by truncated conical surface sections extending from the terminal end of the feeding screw thread section on each screw to the end-wall of the housing beyond the outlet. This as well as other modifications and equivalents of the arrangements described above are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.
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In a refiner for treating cellulose pulp or similar material of the type comprising two intermeshing rotary screws operating in a housing having a material inlet and a material outlet, the surface of each screw comprises a feeding thread section merging into a feed-resisting surface section, the outlet being provided in a side-wall of the housing near the zone where the feeding thread sections on both screws end and the feed-reversing surface sections begin. The outlet opens into an outwardly flaring collar having a plane mouth opening oblique in relation to the direction of material discharge through the material outlet. The mouth opening cooperates with a closure element to restrict the outlet area to control working pressure conditions within the housing.
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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/357,140, filed Jul. 20, 1999, and claims the benefit of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/093,319, filed Jul. 20, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The following invention relates generally to aperture coverings and specifically to garage doors.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] In the interest of brevity, conventional garage doors will first be explained. There are three garage door types that constitute the bulk of those currently used in the United States. The technical names for each type vary, so the generic names will be used.
[0006] The most commonly used door for both commercial and domestic purposes is the sectional door. This door includes horizontal panels which are hinged together along their lengths. These panels may be either solid or may contain windows. The ends of each panel terminate in at least one free turning wheel which travels in a track. A system of counterbalancing is usually employed. One system consists of a cable wound around an overhead drum which is attached to a shaft upon which is a torsion spring. The other end of the cable is attached to the bottom edge of the door. Another system uses extension springs which are fully extended when the door is in the down or closed position with the door down. Parts of these counterbalancing systems can break with explosive force, creating a hazard that could result in severe injury or death. When this door is in the up or open position, it hangs from the track horizontally, overhead and parallel to the garage floor. When it is closed, the track and the drive mechanism remain hanging from the garage ceiling. This precludes the use of this overhead space for storage or recreational purposes.
[0007] The California door is the second most common garage door. When closed, this door can appear like a sectional door. This door can be monolithic, however. Since it can be made in one piece, it can have better weatherproof qualities and can possibly be made less expensively than the sectional door. The California door pivots as a unit from the open to closed position. When open, the California door is suspended overhead and situated parallel to the garage floor, much like the sectional door. This door can be dangerous. Besides the danger of flying spring parts, if the springs fail, the full weight of the door can guillotine down through the doorway, creating a hazard that could result in serious injury or death. As with the sectional door, the brackets, drives and door itself exclude the full use of overhead garage space.
[0008] For commercial use, the roll up door is one of the more popular designs. It wraps around a counterbalancing spring and is stored in a cylindrical canister above the doorway when not in use. Very little usable garage space is taken by the roll up door mechanism. This would be an ideal door except for two factors: 1) the door must be rolled up tightly, and 2) it is difficult to include windows in a roll up door. With regard to the first issue, to achieve a small storage canister diameter, the door must roll up tightly. Consequently, the individual panels have to be very narrow. These slats are approximately 1 to 2″ wide, as opposed to the 12 to 18″ width common in sectional doors. The narrow slats give the door the appearance of a tambour door, like that commonly used on a roll top desk. Many home owners find this look aesthetically unappealing. With regard to the second issue of windows, the narrow slats also make it difficult to include wide windows in the door like those windows preferred by most homeowners.
[0009] While not typically used as a garage door, the prior art teaches a method for covering an aperture with interlocking, track-contained slats that disengage when stored in the aperture open position. The slat design employs minimal counterbalancing mechanisms. This method conserves storage space and eliminates exposure to hazardous counterbalance components, but the minimal use of counterbalancing components does not effectively prevent slat jamming within the track, particularly when heavyweight slats are being moved from the aperture closed to aperture open position.
[0010] What is needed is an aperture covering that eliminates the hazardous conditions created by uncontained, exposed, drive and counterbalance components, while minimizing the amount of overhead space encumbered by the stored covering, allowing for panels large enough to contain aesthetically pleasing windows, and still providing sufficient counterbalancing of the aperture cover such that the aperture covering can be opened without jamming. These and other shortcomings of conventional doors are addressed by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is directed to an aperture covering composed of counterbalanced individual interlocking panels that are disengaged when stored. In an embodiment of the invention, an aperture covering includes at least two interconnectable panels, each panel having a surface that defines more than one notch, a storage area for storing the panels when the covering is in an open position, at least one track positioned along a path within which edges of the panels move when the cover is moved from an open to a closed position, and a toothed belt which is positioned in the track and which mates with the panel notches, where the panels are stacked in the storage area and removed one at a time in such a manner that, upon removal of a first panel from the storage area and into the track, the first panel interlocks with a second panel, forcing the second panel from the storage area and into the track, where interlocking and removal of the panels continues until all of the panels are removed or the first panel reaches the end of the track.
[0012] In another embodiment, a drive mechanism that exerts force upon one or more cables, rather than notched belts, is coupled to the panels.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, weight counterbalancing can be assisted by track-contained toothed belts, cable and ball drive mechanisms, or other counterbalancing methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0014] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIGS. 1 A- 1 I are a side elevation of the series of steps for lowering the wall panel system.
[0016] FIGS. 2 A- 2 I are a side elevation of the series of steps for raising the panel wall system.
[0017] [0017]FIG. 3 is a broken-away sectional view of the drive element of the wall panel system.
[0018] [0018]FIG. 4 is a broken-away sectional view of second embodiment of the drive element of the wall panel system.
[0019] [0019]FIG. 5 is a broken-away sectional view of a joint section of the wall panel system.
[0020] [0020]FIG. 6 is a broken-away sectional view of a second embodiment of the joint section of the wall panel system.
[0021] [0021]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the wall panel system in a raised position.
[0022] [0022]FIG. 8 is a broken-away side elevational view of the wall panel system in a lowered position.
[0023] [0023]FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the wall panel system in a lowered position.
[0024] [0024]FIG. 10 is a top view of the wall panel system in a closed position.
[0025] [0025]FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the wall panel system in a closed position.
[0026] [0026]FIG. 12 is a top view of the wall panel system in a partially closed position.
[0027] [0027]FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the wall panel system in a partially closed position.
[0028] [0028]FIG. 14 is a top view of the wall panel system in an open position .
[0029] [0029]FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the wall panel system in an open view.
[0030] [0030]FIG. 16 is a broken-away side elevational view of the wall panel system in a closed position.
[0031] [0031]FIG. 17 is a broken-away side elevational view of the wall panel system in a partially open position.
[0032] [0032]FIG. 18 is a broken-away side elevational view of the wall panel system in an open position.
[0033] [0033]FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the joint of the wall panel system.
[0034] [0034]FIG. 20 is a top view of the wall panel system in a partially open position.
[0035] [0035]FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the wall panel system in a partially open position.
[0036] [0036]FIG. 22 is a top view of the wall panel system in an open position.
[0037] [0037]FIG. 23 is a front elevational view of the wall panel system in an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] In the following description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. The description shows by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0039] The invention provides for panels to be stored and retrieved while staying in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane created by the door when fully deployed. The invention is not limited to parallelism but can include panel counterbalancing mechanisms which allow for panel construction from heavyweight materials. The invention can include other embodiments where other, non-parallel configurations, such as deployment on curved tracks or perpendicular storage of the dissembled sections are advantageous. Additionally, other embodiments of the invention include individual panels that are curved in one or more planes.
[0040] In FIGS. 1 A- 1 G, the sequence of figures represents an exemplary cross-section of an aperture covering as viewed from the left side. Hereinafter right and left refer to one's perspective outside of the garage looking toward the door. FIGS. 1A through 1G progressively show positions of the covering as it moves from an open to closed position. FIG. 1A shows the covering in its full open position. In this position, all of the panels 100 a - e are stacked one against the other in parallel fashion in the diamond shaped storage box 102 above the aperture 104 . The panels 100 a - e are completely independent of each other with no hinges, cables or other means of connection. The front most panel 100 a is partially deployed and held there by the counterbalancing mechanism 108 , which is explained later. As shown in FIG. 7, left rim track 110 a and right rim track 110 b capture the last few inches of each end of the panels to guide their deployment and prevent panel disassembly when in use.
[0041] In FIGS. 1 A- 1 G, the covering deployment process is disclosed. There is a compressed spring or other biasing mechanism 108 at the rear of the storage container 102 . A sloping bottom on the storage container 102 gives a gravity assist to deployment of the panels 100 a - e . The compressed spring biasing mechanism 108 is used together or separately with additional biasing mechanisms (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4), as the application requires. The biasing forces push the panel 100 a - e faces together within the storage container 102 . As an operator pulls the first panel 100 a down (see FIG. 1B) the hook-like nose 112 of the first panel 100 a slides into engagement with the mating groove 114 of the panel 100 b which it is sliding against (see detailed views 1 H and 1 I), since the first panel 100 a never leaves the tracks 110 a and 110 b (only the left track 110 a is illustrated), first panel 100 a guides the second panel 100 b into the top of the tracks 110 a and 110 b (see FIG. 1D), the front bottom edge of the storage container 102 being the terminus of the tracks 110 a and 110 b . Likewise, once the second panel 100 b is in the tracks 110 a and 110 b , track 100 b will engage (see FIG. 1 D) and guide the third panel 100 c into the tracks 110 a and 110 b (see FIG. 1E), and so on until all of the panels 100 a -e are deployed and the first panel 100 a contacts the aperture floor 116 (see FIG. 1G).
[0042] FIGS. 2 A- 2 G illustrate an example of aperture covering storage, the reverse of the deployment procedure. An operator lifting on the first panel 100 a will be aided by the compressed spring counterbalancing system 108 and any additional counterbalancing mechanisms (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). This system not only offsets much of the combined weight of the panels 100 a - e , but also prevents the panels 100 a - e from wedging themselves apart in the tracks 110 a and 110 b (only the left track 110 a is illustrated) and jamming the aperture covering. In FIG. 2A, the panels 100 a - e are deployed except for a portion of the top panel 100 e . This panel 100 e is holding the expanded biasing mechanism 108 open. As the top panel 100 e is pushed up by the panels 100 a -d below it 100 e and the counterbalancing system 108 , top panel 100 e has to stop against the top of the storage container 102 (see FIG. 2B). In detailed drawing 2 J, the top panel 100 e has contacted the top of the storage container 102 and the second panel 100 d below top panel 100 e is beginning to force top panel 100 e out of engagement. In detailed drawing 2 K, the disengagement is concluded. In FIG. 2E, the panel 100 d has pushed completely past and forced the top panel 100 e against the biasing mechanism 108 . FIGS. 2F, 2G, 2 H and 21 show the panels 100 a - d sequentially disassembling and storing themselves 100 a - d in the overhead container 102 .
[0043] Remaining FIGS. 7 through 19 and FIGS. 20 through 23 show other examples of installed aperture coverings, illustrating that the covering stores completely out of the way, while permitting the use of a panel and window style that homeowners typically prefer. Furthermore, since most or all of the drive and counterbalance parts can be contained in the storage box above the panels, there is little danger of injury due to exposed components.
[0044] [0044]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary view of an aperture covering from the left side. Track 110 a prevents panels 100 b and 100 c from moving in any direction other than up or down. The panels 100 b and 100 c also cannot disengage because they cannot move forward or backward far enough to do so. There is a toothed belt 302 at the front of the track 110 a that engages notches in the end caps 304 a or in the faces 304 b of the covering panels 100 b and 100 c . This belt 302 can be permanently attached to the bottom panel of the door on one end. In one unillustrated embodiment, one end is coiled in spiral fashion around a flanged drum attached to a horizontal shaft which rotates in bearings within a compartment above the panel storage box. The shaft can have a torsion spring wound around it in such a way as to offset all or a portion of the weight of the covering panels. In FIG. 3, both ends of the panels 100 b and 100 c are confined in the front, back, and sides by the tracks 110 a and 110 b (only 110 a is illustrated) and toothed belts 302 engaging them 100 b and 100 c on both ends. These belts 302 are biased to offset the panel 100 b and 100 c weight by wrapping the belts 302 around drums attached to a common shaft. Both panel 100 b and 100 c ends will move in synchronous fashion up and down within the track 110 a . The panels 100 b and 100 c are prevented from moving up or down relative to each other within the tracks 110 a and 110 b because they are engaged in the notches 306 of a common belt 302 . This prevents panels 100 b and 100 c from wedging apart and possibly jamming within the track 110 a.
[0045] In FIG. 4 a simplified exemplary cable 402 and ball 404 drive is shown as another mechanism for counterbalancing the panels 100 b and 100 c . Many different drive types can be used. In some applications, a drive or counterbalancing system is not needed or desired.
[0046] Many of the motorized drive systems in use today can be adapted to automate the invention, as embodied in FIG. 4. In one unillustrated embodiment, a motorized drive system is situated in a compartment within or above the storage container where the mechanism would turn the counterbalance shaft in one direction to lower the door and in the other to raise it. In another unillustrated embodiment, commonly used remote controls and security locks are integrated into the design.
[0047] [0047]FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate an exemplary vertical up-and-down embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] [0048]FIGS. 10 through 15 and FIGS. 20 through 23 illustrate an exemplary vertical side-to-side embodiment of the present invention, which is, in a particular embodiment, used as a closet door. In FIG. 21, two vertical shafts 2102 are attached to the top edge of each panel 2104 a and 2104 b . Two wheels 2106 are attached to each shaft 2102 . The wheels 2106 ride on opposite ledges (one per wheel) within the “C” shaped track 2108 attached above the aperture 104 . When stored in the storage container 102 (see FIG. 22), the back panel 2104 b is biased toward the front panel 2104 a (see FIG. 22). When removed from the storage container 102 (see FIG. 20), the back panel 2104 b wheels 2106 are guided by a curved track section 2108 which aids in engaging the back panel 2104 b with the front panel 2104 a as it slides past.
[0049] FIGS. 16 - 18 illustrate an exemplary horizontal embodiment of the present invention. One or more storage containers 102 are located above or below ground level. A toothed belt or other drive mechanism can be located under the panels 100 on one or both sides of the aperture 104 . A SERAPID (meaning “chains that push”) brand or another powered drive can be used to push/pull the lead panel or to drive the toothed belt or other drive mechanism. Above ground storage containers 102 may be disguised as benches, equipment storage boxes, or planters for flowers.
[0050] Other exemplary embodiments of the claimed invention (not illustrated) include: security doors, aircraft hanger doors, shutters, automobile doors, flat roofs, sloped roofs, arched roofs, domed roofs, automotive roofs, dance floors, ice skating rinks, machine way covers, auditorium walls, gymnasium walls, arena walls, convention hall walls, cylindrical buildings, dome buildings, green houses, mobile buildings, bridges, and missile silo doors.
[0051] The panels can be constructed of a variety of conventional building materials such as, e.g., metal, glass, wood, plastic, or fiberglass.
[0052] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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An aperture, covering including track-guided interconnectable panels that are compactly stored in a storage area containing weight counterbalancing mechanisms, such as a compressed spring, is described. When the panels are stacked in the storage area and removed one at a time, the first panel is removed from the storage area and enters the track. As the first panel moves through the track, it interlocks with the second panel and forces the second panel out of the storage area and into the track. Interlocking and removal of the panels continues until all of the panels are removed or the first panel reaches the end of the track. Weight counterbalancing can be assisted by track-contained mating mechanisms, cable and ball drive mechanisms, or other counterbalancing methods. The resulting aperture covering requires minimal storage space for the open aperture position, minimizes exposure to potentially hazardous counterbalancing mechanisms, and allows for heavy-weight panel construction.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to clothing. In another aspect this invention relates to outdoor clothing and means for repelling insects. More particularly, this invention relates to clothing intended for outdoor use and which includes means for repelling insects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The problem of tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and lyme disease as well as other insect-borne disorders such as plague and typhus endanger, or at least encumber, biologists and field workers as well as a growing number of nature enthusiasts.
Although there are a variety of commercially-available insect repellents which are used by both children and adults, such repellents have various disadvantages. For example, there are a number of commercially-available repellent sprays, lotions and powders which have been sold for many years. However, use of such repellent materials is cumbersome and inconvenient. Also, such materials are often greasy and emit unpleasant odors. Many people are sensitive to the odors of these materials. Such materials can also stain certain types of clothing.
Further, convenient insect repellent materials can be difficult or inconvenient to apply to the desired areas in a uniform and effective manner. Also, perspiration can cause dilution of such materials which thereby results in diminished effectiveness. Furthermore, conventional insect repellent sprays, lotions, etc. must be periodically re-applied throughout the day.
There has not heretofore been provided a safe, effective, and easy-to-use insect repellent system for use by humans which avoids the problems inherent with the use of prior insect repellents.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there are provided techniques and systems for rendering clothing (i.e., all types of wearing apparel) repellent to insects.
In a preferred embodiment an article of outdoor clothing is provided with an annular cavity into which there is placed an elongated flexible insect repellent strip to repel insects such as ticks and fleas and prevent such insects from locating on the human body. The cavity preferably extends entirely around the portion of the body covered by the article of clothing. This is referred to herein as an annular cavity. For example, when the article is a stocking, preferably the cavity extends completely around the lower portion of the leg of the person wearing the stocking.
The systems and techniques of the invention are much more convenient and effective than conventional sprays, lotions, powders, etc. Also, the systems of this invention do not stain the clothing and they are not diluted by perspiration.
Thus, the invention provides a line of outdoor clothing which includes cavities or pockets for the insertion of repellent impregnated plastic strips at vulnerable insect entry points such as ankles, collars, belt lines, headbands, sleeves, etc.
Other advantages of the systems and techniques will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views and in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of wearing apparel of the invention which includes an insect repellent strip;
FIG. 1A illustrates one manner in which an insect repellent strip is inserted into a cavity in the article of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of wearing apparel of the invention;
FIG. 2A illustrates one manner in which an insect repellent strip is inserted into a cavity at the lower end of one of the legs of the trousers of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of wearing apparel of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of wearing apparel of the invention; and
FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrate other embodiments of wearing apparel of the invention including insect repellent strips.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIGS. 1 and 1A there is illustrated one embodiment of wearing apparel, a stocking 10, which includes an annular cavity 12 adjacent to the opening at the top of the stocking. In other words, the cavity extends all the way around the interior circumference of the open end of the stocking. The cavity may be made from nylon mesh or other porous fabric, for example.
An elongated flexible insect repellent strip 14 is inserted into cavity 12 through opening 12A, as indicated by the arrow. The strip 14 is retained and carried within the cavity.
The upper portion of the stocking includes conventional elastic so that the upper portion of the stocking will conform to the leg of the person wearing the stocking. This also causes the strip 14 to be closely disposed next to the skin of the wearer during use to repel insects and prevent them from advancing up the leg.
FIGS. 2 and 2A illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In this example the wearing apparel comprises trousers 20 having lower leg portions 21. Each lower leg portion includes a cavity 22 which is annular (i.e., the cavity extends completely or substantially completely around the circumference of the lower leg portion of the trousers). Inserted into the cavity through opening 22A is an elongated flexible insect repellent strip 24. These strips prevent ticks, fleas, and other such insects from entering the lower open ends of the legs of the trousers.
At the upper end of the trousers, i.e., at the waist portion, there is another cavity which extends completely or substantially completely around the waist portion of the trousers. An elongated flexible insect repellent strip 24A is inserted into this cavity through opening 23A. This strip prevents insects from entering into the trousers at the waist.
This particular pair of trousers includes zipper means 25 for detachably fastening the lower leg portions 21 to the upper portion of the trousers.
FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of wearing apparel which includes the insect repellent system in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment comprises a shoe or boot 30. The upper open portion thereof includes an annular cavity (having opening 32A) which extends completely or substantially completely around the opening of the shoe or boot.
An elongated flexible insect repellent strip 34 is located with the cavity after being inserted through opening 32A.
FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of wearing apparel of this invention. This embodiment comprises a shirt 40 having an open neck portion which includes cavity 42 extending around the neck portion. An elongated flexible insect repellent strip 44 is inserted into this cavity and, when the neck portion is closed, the insect repellent strip extends around the neck of the wearer.
The shirt 40 also includes a cavity 42A extending around the arm portion at a point downward from the shoulder but above the elbow. Another elongated insect repellent strip 44A is inserted into this cavity.
The lower end of each sleeve 43 also includes a cavity 42B extending around it. An elongated flexible insect repellent strip 44B is inserted into this cavity.
With the separate insect repellent strips at the various locations in the shirt, there is very good protection provided to prevent insects from entering into the shirt.
FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of wearing apparel which includes the insect repellent strip system of this invention. This embodiment comprises a hat 50 which includes an annular cavity 52 extending completely or substantially completely around the inside of the hat. Inside the cavity there is provided an elongated flexible insect repellent strip of the type illustrated and described above in connection with the other embodiments.
FIG. 6 illustrates a headband 60 which includes an annular cavity 62 which extends around the inside of the band. An elongated flexible insect repellent strip of the type illustrated and described above is contained within the cavity.
The band 60 could be provided in any desired size and accordingly may be worn on an arm or leg, if desired, to provide protection against insects. More than one band may be worn on each limb, if desired.
Thus, the insect repellent system of this invention is easily incorporated into field clothing or other such wearing apparel. The system is safe, convenient, and effective. The system is applicable not only to consumer use by also for military use.
The type of insect repellent strips used in this invention may vary. When a strip is no longer effective it can be easily taken out and replaced with a fresh strip. The insect repelling compounds(s) used may vary, as desired. Preferably the compound(s) is impregnated in plastic or the like in a manner such that it will diffuse at a rate sufficient to repel all insects.
Other variants are possible without departing from the scope of this invention.
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Systems and techniques are described for providing insect repellent characteristics to a wide variety of wearing apparel. Elongated flexible insect repellent strips are secured to or retained in cavities in various articles of apparel to repel insects from the person wearing such apparel. The systems and techniques are applicable to all types of wearing apparel such as stockings, shoes, trousers, hats, shirts, etc.
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This application is a divisional of patent application Ser. No. 08/900,562, filed Jul. 25, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,094.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of computerized information search and retrieval systems and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for comparing database search results.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Information is increasingly being represented as digital bits of data and stored within electronic databases. These databases often include extremely large numbers of records containing data fields reflecting an endless variety of objects. Some databases, for example, contain the full text of judicial opinions issued by every court in the United States for the past one hundred and fifty years. Other databases may be filled with data fields containing particularized information about vast numbers of individuals (e.g., names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.). As more information is stored in these databases, the larger these data compilations become.
Among the many advantages associated with electronic storage is the fact that any given database can be searched for the purpose of retrieving individual data records (e.g., documents) that may be of particular interest to the user. One of the ways to perform this search is to simply determine which data records, if any, contain a certain keyword. This determination is accomplished by comparing the keyword with each record in the database and assessing whether the keyword is present or absent. In addition, database users can search for data records that contain a variety of keyword combinations (e.g., "cats" and "dogs", etc.). This operation, known as a Boolean search, uses the conjunctions "AND", "OR", and "NOT" (among others) to join keywords in an effort to more precisely define and/or simplify the database search. For example, if a user joins the keywords "cats" and "dogs" with the conjunction "AND" and inputs the query "cats AND dogs", only those records that contain both the term "cats" and the term "dogs" will be retrieved.
The problem with this Boolean search however, is that a computer typically makes use of substantial memory space and computing time to perform logical combinations of sets of documents corresponding to the keyword search results. It is therefore desireable to create a system that performs logical combinations on set elements that is space and computation time efficient.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to analyze data records in a database.
It is a further object of the present invention to analyze data records in a database by efficiently representing the results of element tests against the database.
It is another object of the present invention to analyze data records in a database by efficiently combining the results of element tests against the database.
It is still a further object of the present invention to analyze data records in a database by efficiently representing the results of keyword tests against the database.
It is still a further object of the present invention to analyze data records in a database by efficiently combining the results of keyword tests against the database.
It is still a further object of the present invention to analyze data records in a database by efficiently representing the results of field type tests against the database.
It is still a further object of the present invention to analyze data records in a database by efficiently combining the results of field type tests against the database.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for analyzing a database. This analysis is achieved by representing the subdocument lists of an inverted database with encoded bit strings. The encoded bit strings are space efficient methods of storing the correspondence between terms in the database and thier occurrence in subdocuments. Logical combinations of these bit strings are then obtained by identifying the intersection, union, and/or inversion of a plurality of the bit strings. Since keywords for a database search can be identified by selecting the terms of the inverted database, the logical combinations of bit strings represent search results over the database. This technique for generating a search result is computationally efficient because computers combine bit strings very efficiently. The search elements of the present invention are not just limited to keywords. The search elements could also involve types of fields (e.g., date or integer fields) or other extracted entities. These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, drawings, and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a computer system for searching a database according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart that illustrates a process for inverting a database.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart that illustrates a process for searching a database according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of combining bit strings.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates a process for the union combination of bit strings according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart that illustrates a process for the intersection combination of bit strings according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system for searching databases. The computer 20 consists of a central processing unit (CPU) 30 and main memory 40. The computer 20 is coupled to an Input/Output (I/O) System 10 that includes a display 5, a keyboard 7 and mouse 9. The computer 20 interacts with a disk storage unit 50 and the I/O system 10 to search databases that are stored on the disk storage unit 50. The results of those searches are displayed to the user, or alternatively, used by computer 20 for further processing of the information in the database.
According to the present invention, the database that is stored in disk storage unit 50 is inverted. In general, an inverted database is a listing of all the terms of the database and the regions of text associated with those terms. FIG. 2 illustrates a process for operating a computer system to invert a database. In step 132, the computer 20 selects a document from the database in disk storage unit 50. In step 134, the document is divided into subdocuments. In this process, for example, the computer 20 detects paragraph boundaries in the document and creates subdocuments that generally correspond to the paragraphs in the document. Long paragraphs may consist of multiple subdocumnets and several short paragraphs may be included in a single subdocument. The subdocuments all have approximately the same length. Furthermore, each subdocument is assigned a numerical identifier that identifies its location in the database.
In steps 136 and 138 of FIG. 2 respectively, a subdocument is then selected and parsed by the computer 20. Parsing a subdocument generally involves listing the terms in the subdocument. In this embodiment of the present invention, the parsing process is accomplished by assigning linguistic structure to sequences of words in a sentence and listing those terms or noun phrases of the subdocument that have semantic meaning. The parsing process can be implemented by a variety of techniques known in the art such as the use of lexicons, morphological analyzers or language grammar structures.
Once a subdocument has been parsed, step 140 generates a term list associating subdocument terms (including noun phrases) and the corresponding subdocument identifiers in which the terms occur. All the subdocuments for each document of the database are processed in this way and the list of terms and subdocuments is updated. Finally, all the documents of a database are processed according to steps 132-140. The result of this inversion process is a term list identifying all the terms (including noun phrases in this example) of a database and the identity of the subdocuments in which the terms occur.
In this embodiment of the present invention, each list of subdocuments associated with a term in the inverted database is represented and stored by a technique known as run length encoding. This approach recognizes that binary bit strings typically consist of repeated sets of bits of the same value (i.e., "1's" and "0's"), which can be encoded for later application. Using this technique, long binary bit strings that span millions of characters can be efficiently compressed into notably smaller bit strings.
In particular, the list of subdocuments of a database in which a term appears is represented by a series or bit string of 1's and 0's. Each subdocument is represented by a bit position in this bit string. When a `1` occurs in this bit string, its position indicates the particular subdocument in the database in which a term occurs. When a `0` occurs in this bit string, its position indicates that the term did not occur in that particular subdocument. A sample representation of subdocuments associated with a document in which a particular term appears might be "1111111111000000000000000000001111." In this bit string, the particular term appears in the first 10 subdocuments, it does not appear in the next 20 subdocuments and it appears in the next 4 subdocuments. A series of bit strings, wherein each bit represents a subdocument in the database, are then concatenated to represent the appearance of the particular term across the database.
Once the bit string for the entire database has been generated, this bit string is then compressed into a single code. For example, this code for the subdocument described above might be {X 1 , X 2 , X 3 }, wherein X 1 represents the sequence "1111111111", X 2 represents the sequence "00000000000000000000", and X 3 represents the sequence "1111". In this case, the variables used to compute each compressed code (i.e., X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , etc.), are derived by denoting the number of "1's" followed by the number of "0's" in each run. According to this notation, the code {25, 3, 128, 14} could represent a sequence of twenty-five "1's", followed by three "0's", followed by one hundred and twenty-eight "1's", followed by fourteen "0's", and so on. Alternatively, each run of "1's" and "0's" in a given bit string could be encoded with a first indicator that identifies the polarity of the run as either a "1" or a "0" and a second indicator that identifies the total number of bits contained within the run. In this regard, each variable (i.e., X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , etc.) would be a two-number designation in which the first number would be the binary value and the second number would be the length of the run for each of those values, such as {1,25; 0,3; 1,128; 0,14}.
The inverted database in which the subdocument list associated with each term is represented by a run length encoding is stored in disk storage unit 50 and is operated on by the computer 20 to perform a search. FIG. 3 is a flowchart that illustrates the search process. Initially in step 10, the computer 20 selects the inverted database (from among several that may be stored on disk storage unit 50) to be searched. The selection is normally made by a user input to the computer 20. Alternatively the selection could be made by the computer 20 based on predefined selected criteria. Once the database has been selected in step 10, a query is created in step 20 and sent to computer 20. This query is created in a variety of conventional ways such as by a user typing the query on the keyboard or by highlighting text from a document. The computer 20 the parses the query into a series of keywords joined by Boolean logic operators.
Once the query is parsed, the computer 20 performs step 30 in which the compressed bit strings for each term in the query are retrieved. In this step the computer 20 also reduces the logical combination of query keywords into a combination of union, intersection and inversion operations for the compressed bit strings. For example, if the query called for the Exclusive OR of the terms A and B (i.e., retrieve the documents having A or B but not those documents having A and B), then the set operators that are combined to create this search result is: (A intersect (inversion of B)) union (B intersect (inversion of A)). The set operators union, intersection and inversion can be combined to create any Boolean logic operation. As a result, any search request can be executed by combining these set operations on the encoded bit strings representing the occurance of terms in the database.
FIG. 4 illustrates the combination of compressed bit strings for union and intersection. The individual bit strings for Query Term A 32 and Query Term B 34 are illustrated by a solid line representing `1`s and a blank representing `0`s. The shaded area in the intersection 36 and union 38 of A and B represents a `1`. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the Inversion operator is simply accomplished by changing the polarity of each bit in the string.
FIG. 5 illustrates a process for evaluating the union of sets represented by run length encoded (RLE) bit strings. Initially in Step 42 the overlapping range from a first and second RLE is determined. In addition to the range of step 42, steps 44 adds ranges from the minimum of the first or second overlapping RLE and adds range from the maximum of the first or second overlapping RLE. Finally in Step 46 range is added when either RLE has non overlapping range in the other RLE.
FIG. 6 illustrates the process for evaluating the intersection of RLEs. In Step 52, overlapping RLEs are determined. In Step 54, range is generated from the maximum start of the first or second RLE until the minimum end of the first or second RLE. The combinations of the RLE bit strings shown in FIGS. 3-5 can of course be performed on any number (2 or greater) of RLE bit strings. This is significant because a database can be preprocessed to determine bit strings for many elements. When search results are required for any combination of the preprocessed elements, the RLE bit strings can be combined and the search result for the combination of elements is quickly generated.
The process of operating the computer on the inverted and encoded database as illustrated in FIGS. 2-6 is efficient in generating search results over large databases. This is because, generally, there are four major operators for manipulating sets. They are: union, intersection, inversion and testing for the existence of an element in the set. The use of run length encoding allows the computer to perform the operations of union, intersection and inversion efficiently. The set operation of testing for an element over the database does not need to be performed in responding to a query because that step has effectively been done when the database was inverted and encoded. As a result the process of the present invention generates results for database queries quickly and efficiently.
The process of the present invention is not only useful for generating search results on Boolean combinations of keywords but it is also useful to efficiently generate search results on any Boolean combination of elements in a database. In particular, these elements can be types of fields or combinations of words. This is because the terms and thier associated bit strings associated with terms can be categorized into types. For example, all dates can be combined and represented by a date field bit string. The search elements could also involve other extracted entities such as names, places, or relationships (such as a buyer in an acquisition). Database records can also be evaluated for the presence or absence of a sentences, characters, non-text objects (e.g., icons, pictures, sound representations), other types of fields or bit sequences of any sort. A combination of RLE bit strings associated with these elements, and hence a search result, is efficiently generated by this embodiment of the present invention.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other versions are possible. Upon reading the above description, it will become apparent to persons skilled in the art how to make changes in form or detail without departing from the substance of the invention.
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The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating a database search result. The creation of the search result is achieved by representing the subdocument lists of an inverted database with encoded bit strings. The encoded bit strings are space efficient methods of storing the correspondence between terms in the database and their occurrence in subdocuments. Logical combinations of these bit strings are then obtained by identifying the intersection, union, and/or inversion of a plurality of the bit strings. Since keywords for a database search can be identified by selecting the terms of the inverted database, the logical combinations of bit strings represent search results over the database. This technique for method for generating a search result is computationally efficient because computers combine bit strings very efficiently. Also, the search elements of the present invention are not just limited to keywords. The search elements also include types of fields (e.g., date or integer fields) or other extracted entities.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a waveform observation system and, more particularly, to a waveform observation system such as an optical time domain reflectometer (to be referred to as an OTDR hereinafter) used in a noise reduction device by a smoothing process.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in the field of measuring equipment, various waveform observation apparatuses have been realized. A high-precision waveform observation apparatus having accurate observation is strongly demanded.
The above-described OTDR is known as one of these waveform observation apparatuses.
The OTDR incidences an optical pulse into an optical fiber to be measured and converts a reflection optical pulse reflected from a fault point of the optical fiber and a backscattering light generated in the optical fiber into an electric signal at a light-receiving section so as to detect the electric signal. A predetermined operating process is executed to the detected signal to measure the optical loss or fault point of the optical fiber to be measured.
In an OTDR of this type, since the backscattering light is represented as a very smally detection signal, an S/N ratio of the detection signal must be increased by a digital averaging method using an A/D converter, and the signal buried in noise must be detected without waveform distortion.
Since an increase in S/N ratio by a noise reduction technique using a digital averaging process depends on the number of averaging processes and the number of bits of the A/D converter, a time for a measuring process is practically restricted, and an actual increase in S/N ratio is limited due to actual restriction of a measuring processing time and quantization noise. For this reason, in the OTDR using this technique, especially, it may be difficult to accurately measure a long-distance optical fiber.
Of operating techniques for reducing a noise component included in a waveform to be measured without influence of restriction of a measuring time by a smoothing process to extract a target signal component, a technique called a shift averaging method is known.
This shift averaging method performs the following processes to digital waveform data to reduce noise.
When the waveform data has n discrete values x(i) (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n), a resultant value of x(i), i.e., an average value y(i) is calculated using a "weighting function" w(j) (j=-m, . . . , -1, 0, 1, . . . , m) constituted by N (=2m+1) discrete points as follows: ##EQU1## When the weighting function w(j) to be used has a rectangular shape shown in FIG. 2A, a method using this weight function is called a simple shift averaging method. When the weighting function w(j) to be used is a function shown in FIG. 2B, a method using this function is called a polynomial adaptation method.
As is apparent from equation 1, in the shift averaging method, a weighted averaging process is performed to the N data having the value x(i) as a center by the function w(j), thereby calculating the averaged value y(i).
In the shift averaging method for performing the above process, when a waveform level is rapidly changed in a smoothing period N having data x(i) at a middle portion thereof obtained by the width of the weighting function, the change disadvantageously becomes moderate at the positive or negative edge of the rectangular pulse waveform, i.e., the waveform becomes rounded.
In order to solve the above drawback of the shift averaging method, an adaptive smoothing method is used.
That is, in the adaptative smoothing method, a variance σ n 2 (i) of noise of waveform data and a variance σ x 2 (i) of waveform data in a smoothing period N are calculated, thereby calculating a smoothing value y(i) as follows: ##EQU2## where x(i) is an average value obtained by performing the simple shift averaging method to the N waveform data.
The above adaptative smoothing method has characteristics as follows. If σ x 2 (i)≈σ n 2 , then y(i)≈x(i), and if σ x 2 (i)>>σ n 2 , then y(i)≈x(i).
That is, according to the adaptative smoothing method, due to the above characteristics, when a waveform level is rapidly changed in the smoothing period N (i.e., σ x 2 (i)>>σ n 2 ), y(i)=x(i) is obtained. An original waveform is directly used as a smoothing value, and the waveform is not rounded.
In this case, however, a noise component is directly output as the smoothing value, noise is not advantageously reduced.
When a waveform is rounded or noise is not effectively reduced in an OTDR, a marker cannot be desirably adjusted to a predetermined waveform point not to accurately detect a fault point of an optical fiber.
As described above, in the noise reduction technique by a smoothing process free from an influence of restriction of measuring time, although a simple shift averaging method and a polynomial application method included in a shift averaging method is effective to noise reduction, a signal waveform is rounded. In addition, in the adaptative smoothing method, although the signal waveform is not rounded, when the level of the waveform is rapidly changed, noise is not reduced at the rapidly changed portion of the waveform.
Therefore, the noise reduction technique by a smoothing process cannot be directly applied to an OTDR.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved waveform observation system which can perform accurate measurement for a short measuring time using a noise reduction device by a smoothing process capable of suppressing roundness of a waveform and effectively reducing noise.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waveform observation apparatus comprising:
waveform data input means for inputting sequential discrete waveform data to be observed;
level restricting means for determining whether a level of another data in a predetermined data period including a predetermined number of data continuous to one data of the discrete waveform input data input by the waveform data input means is existed or not within a predetermined restriction value using a level of the one data as a reference level, for directly outputting the data when the level of the other data is existed within the predetermined restriction value, and for restricting the level of the data within the predetermined restriction value to output the data when the level of the other data is not existed within the predetermined restriction value;
averaging means for averaging the predetermined number of data output by the level restricting means;
control means for sequentially shifting a sequence of the one data having the reference level in a determining operation of the level restricting means, thereby causing to output smoothed data for the waveform data to be observed from an averaging means; and
display means for displaying, under the control of the control means, the smoothed data output from the averaging means.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for observing a waveform, the method comprising the steps of:
inputting a waveform data to be observed, the waveform data including a predetermined number of sequential discrete waveform input data;
determining whether level of another data in a predetermined data period including a predetermined number of data continuous to one data of the discrete waveform input data is existed or not within a predetermined restriction value using a level of the one data as a reference level, directly outputting the data to output the data when the level of the data is existed within the predetermined restriction value, and restricting the level of the data within the predetermined restriction value when the level of the data is not existed within the predetermined restriction value;
averaging the predetermined number of data which has a restricted level and is output;
sequentially shifting a sequence of the one data having a reference level in a determining operation of level restriction, thereby causing to output smoothed data for the waveform data to be observed through an averaging process; and
displaying the smoothed data output through the averaging process.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical time domain reflectometer comprising:
optical pulse incident means for causing an optical pulse to be incident on an optical fiber to be measured;
light-receiving means for receiving a beam reflected by the optical fiber to be measured;
signal converting means for converting a signal output from the light receiving means into sequential discrete waveform data;
level restricting means for determining whether a level of the other data in a predetermined data period including a predetermined number of data continuous to one data of the discrete waveform input data input by the signal converting means is existed or not within a predetermined restriction value using a level of the one data as a reference level, for directly outputting the data when the level of the data is existed within the predetermined restriction value, and for restricting the level of the data within the predetermined restriction value to output the data when the level of the data is not existed within the predetermined restriction value;
averaging means for averaging the predetermined number of data output by the level restricting means;
control means for sequentially shifting a sequence of the one data having the reference level in a determining operation of the level restricting means, thereby causing to output smoothed data for the waveform data to be observed from an averaging means; and
display means for displaying, under the control of the control means, the smoothed data output from the averaging means.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2A is a graph illustrating a weighting function used in a smoothing process using a simple shift averaging method;
FIG. 2B is a graph illustrating a weighting function used in a smoothing process using a polynomial adaptation method;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining a principle of a noise reduction technique using a smoothing process of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a view in which smoothed data obtained by smoothing an original waveform using the smoothing process of the present invention is compared with smoothed data obtained by smoothing the original waveform using only a conventional simple shift averaging method;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a main part of the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 6 to 10 are views in which the waveform displayed according to the second embodiment is compared with an original waveform and waveforms displayed by smoothing the original waveform using various smoothing processes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several drawings.
First, a smoothing method and a principle of a noise reduction device based on the smoothing method used in the present invention will be described below. In a noise reduction technique based on the smoothing process used in the present invention, the following process is executed to waveform data.
In order to give a predetermined restriction value to a predetermined number of sequential discrete waveform input data, i.e., waveform data in smoothing period, a noise variance σ n 2 of e.g., the waveform data is calculated. Absolute values |x(i)-x(j)| of differences between waveform data x(i) to be smoothed at a specified point and (N-1) waveform data x(j) except for the data x(i) in a smoothing period N are calculated.
The value |x(i)-x(j)| is compared with a value K√σ n 2 (K is a constant) given as a predetermined restriction value. In this case, if the comparison value is give by:
|x(i)-x(j)|≧K√σ.sub.n.sup.2 3
the x(j) is set to be, e.g.,
x(j)=x(i) 4
If the value is given by:
|x(i)-x(j)|<K√σ.sub.n.sup.2 5
the waveform data x(j) is set to be
x(j)=x(j)
The weighted averaging process used in the above-described known simple shift averaging method (or a polynomial adaptation method) is performed to the N waveform data and the resultant data is given as a smoothed value of the data x(i).
The feature of the noise reduction technique using the smoothing method of the present invention is described as follows. A variation in waveform data in the smoothing period N is restricted to, e.g., the value K√σ n 2 , and the shift averaging process is performed to the waveform data.
The symbol K represents a constant for determining a degree of noise reduction and is set to be a desired value, from 4 to 7.
FIG. 3A is a view for explaining the above equations. When an absolute value of a level difference between the waveform data x(i) to be smoothed and waveform data x(j) does not exceed the restriction value K√σ n 2 , the waveform data x(j) is used as the waveform data x(j). When the absolute value exceeds the restriction value, the level of the waveform data x(j) is decreased to that of the data x(i). Thus, the weighted averaging process used in the simple shift averaging method is performed to the waveform data x(i).
FIG. 3B is a view for also explaining the above equations. When absolute values of the level differences between the waveform data x(i) to be smoothed and N-1 (in this case, 6) waveform data x(j) exceed the restriction value K√σ n 2 , all the levels of, waveform data x(j) are increased to the levels of the waveform data x(i), and the weighted averaging process used in the simple shift averaging method is performed to the data x(i). Note that, in these cases, the data x(j) need not be set to be the data x(i), but may be set to be arbitrary data smaller than in the restriction value K√σ n 2 .
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below on the basis of the above principle.
FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing an arrangement of a waveform observation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram of a main part functionally showing the arrangement of a smoothing process section (a noise reduction device) 101. The waveform observation apparatus is mainly constituted by a measuring section 100, a smoothing section 101, and a display section 102. As the measuring section 100, for example, an OTDR or the like is used. The measuring section 100 outputs digital waveform data of a predetermined number of bits for each measuring point.
A variance σ n 2 of noise included in waveform data 1 of a predetermined number of bits applied from the measuring section 100 to an input terminal IN of the smoothing section 101 and subjected to smoothing is calculated by a σ n 2 calculating section 2. In a predetermined averaging period N, an absolute value |x(i)-x(j)| of level differences between ith waveform data x(i) to be smoothed and (N-1) (=2m) waveform data x(j) from j=i-m to j=i+m having the data x(i) as a center, are calculated in a waveform level difference calculating section 3. Note that the smoothing period N is input from an N value input section 4.
By using a constant K for determining a degree of noise reduction input from a K value input section 5 and the variance σ n 2 obtained from the σ n 2 calculating section 2, a restriction value K√σ n 2 is calculated by a restriction value calculating section 6.
The restriction value K√σ n 2 is compared with the absolute values |x(i)-x(j)| of the level difference between the data x(j) and x(i) at a waveform level difference restriction section 7.
During this comparison, the waveform level difference restriction section 7 outputs the data x(j) when the absolute value |x(i)-x(j)| does not exceed the restriction value K√σ n 2 . When the absolute value |X(i)-x(j)| exceeds the restriction value K√σ n 2 , the difference restriction section 7 replaces the level of the data x(j) with the level of the data x(i) and outputs it.
A simple shift average of the data x(i) and the (N-1) data x(j) including the replaced data x(j), i.e., the N waveform data are calculated by a simple shift averaging section 8. The resultant value is output from an output terminal OUT to a display section 102 as a smoothed data 9.
The above sequential processes are controlled by a controller 104 including a CPU and peripheral circuits (a ROM, a RAM, an I/O interface, and, a keyboard), so as to obtain the smoothed value for all of the waveform data.
As shown in the display section 102, smoothed data B obtained when the smoothing period N=3 is applied to original data A according to the present invention does not include waveform roundness (represented by reference numerals 5' to 8' in FIG. 4) which occurs in smoothed data C obtained by a smoothing process using a simple shift averaging method, thereby effectively increasing an S/N ratio.
FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment of the present invention which is applied to an OTDR.
The OTDR of this embodiment substantially comprises a timing generating section 11, a light-emitting section 12, a directional coupler 13, a light-receiving section 14, an amplifying section 15 including first and second amplifiers 15a and 15b and a variable attenuator 15d, a simple adding section (digital averaging section) 17, a smoothing section 19, a logarithmic converting section 20, a display section 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, and a CPU section 28. This OTDR receives and detects a backscattering beam and a Fresnel beam reflected by an optical fiber 30 to be measured by supplying an optical pulse to the optical fiber 30 to be measured, and the received signals are amplified by the amplifying section 15 and then A/D-converted by the A/D converting section 16, thereby obtaining digital waveform data. A simple adding process (a digital averaging process) and a smoothing process are performed to the digital waveform data of each measuring point (e.g., each of 250 to 5,000 points), and the resultant waveform is displayed on the display section 21. An amount of attenuation of the variable attenuator 15d of the amplifying section 15 is manually or automatically controlled to have an optimal value such that saturation does not occur in the displayed waveform.
The CPU section 28 receives a command from the keyboard 28b through the I/O interface 28a and controls the timing generating section 11, the display section 21, the simple adding section 17, the RAM 23, the smoothing section 19, the logarithmic converting section 20, and the ROM 20.
The timing generating section 11 generates and outputs a trigger signal for causing a light-emitting element (e.g., a laser diode; LD) of the light-emitting section 12 to oscillate and a sampling pulse for driving the A/D converting section 16 and the simple adding section 17.
The light-emitting section 12 outputs an optical pulse on the basis of the trigger signal supplied from the timing generator 11, and the optical pulse is emitted to the optical fiber 30 to be measured through the directional coupler 13.
The directional coupler 13 splits the backscattering beam and the Fresnel reflection beam on the light-receiving section 14 side. These beams are reflected from the optical fiber 30 by supplying the optical pulse from the light-emitting section 12.
The light-receiving section 14 is constituted by, e.g., an avalanche photodiode (APD) and receives and detects the backscattering beam and the Fresnel reflection beam split by the directional coupler 13 and generated from the optical fiber 30 to be measured. The amplifying section 15 is constituted by including the first amplifier 15a, the variable attenuator 15d, and the second amplifier 15b. The first amplifier 15a provided in the previous stage amplifies the detection signal from the light-receiving section 14 with a predetermined degree of amplification. The variable attenuator 15d attenuates the signal amplified by the first amplifier 15a, and the signal is amplified by the second amplifier 15b of the sequential stage with a predetermined degree of amplification again. The amplified signal is output to the A/D converting section 16.
The A/D converting section 16 A/D-converts a signal output from the second amplifying section 15b on the basis of a sampling pulse supplied from the timing generating section 11 and outputs it to the simple adding section 17 as, e.g., digital data having 6 bits.
A signal is A/D-converted on the basis of the sampling pulse supplied from the timing generating section 11 as in the A/D converting section 16. The simple adding section 17 causes a digital averaging process to be sequentially applied to the converted signal 2 10 to 2 26 times at every measuring point of the optical fiber 30 to be measured and outputs it to the smoothing section 19 as data of 32 bits per point.
The smoothing section 19 serves as the noise reduction device of the smoothing section 101 in the first embodiment. The smoothing section 19 further reduces noise by a smoothing process so that the unsatisfactory noise reduction performed by the digital averaging process of the simple adding section 17 is compensated, thereby supplying output data of the smoothing section 19 to the logarithmic converting section 20.
The logarithmic converting section 20 sequentially converts the output data from the smoothing section 19 into logarithmic data, and the data is supplied to the display section 21 to be displayed.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing waveform data obtained when the original waveform (a number of measured points is 500) shown in FIG. 7 to which a smoothing process is applied and measured by the OTDR according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 shows waveform data measured (a number of measured points is 500) when a smoothing period N=21 and a constant for determining a degree of noise reduction K=4. As is apparent from FIG. 6, no roundness of the waveform occurs at the positive and negative edges of the pulse waveform, and noise is effectively reduced.
In the noise reduction technique using the smoothing process of the present invention, when a signal level is lower than a noise level, the signal waveform is distorted. When the noise level is lower than the desired signal level by averaging using a simple adding process, smoothing according to the noise reduction technique by the smoothing process of the present invention is performed. At this time, the noise can be effectively reduced without rounding the signal waveform.
FIG. 8 shows a display waveform obtained when a original waveform is smoothed by a conventional simple shift averaging method. In FIG. 8, although noise is satisfactorily reduced, the positive and negative edges of the pulse waveform are rounded, and the pulse width of the waveform is larger than that of the original waveform (FIG. 6).
FIG. 9 shows a display waveform obtained when the original waveform is smoothed by a conventional polynomial adaptation method. In FIG. 9, although the width of the pulse waveform is smaller than that of the pulse waveform in FIG. 8, a degree of noise reduction is degraded.
FIG. 10 shows a display waveform obtained when the original waveform is smoothed by a conventional adaptative smoothing method. In FIG. 10, although the width of the waveform is equal to that of the original waveform, noise remains in the positive edge of the pulse waveform.
Note that, in any cases in FIGS. 8 to 10, a number of measured points is 500, and a smoothing period N is given by N=21.
As is apparent from the above result, the noise reduction technique by the smoothing process of the present invention is effective much more than a noise reduction technique by other smoothing processes.
As described above, in the noise reduction technique using the smoothing process of the present invention, a variance value σ n 2 of noise included in a waveform is calculated by a smoothing section in advance, and a variation in waveform data in a smoothing period N is restricted by a predetermined value K√σ n 2 (K is a constant), thereby performing a smoothing process using a shift averaging method. Therefore, according to the present invention, the following drawbacks can be solved. That is, roundness of a signal waveform is included in a noise reduction apparatus using a smoothing process by a conventional simple shift averaging method, and a degree of noise reduction is degraded at a portion wherein a level of the waveform is rapidly changed.
In an OTDR to which the above smoothing technique is applied, the following advantages can be obtained.
(1) Since a display waveform having a higher S/N ratio can be obtained without rounding the positive edge of a Fresnel reflection beam emitted from a fault point or the like for a measuring time shorter than the measuring time for obtaining the same effect as described above by only simple adding process, a marker is rightly adjusted to a desired waveform point, and the fault point can be accurately measured.
(2) Since the negative edge of the Fresnel reflection beam and the negative edge of a step waveform of a backscattering beam at a fiber connection point are not rounded, a resolution between two points can be improved.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and various changes and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a waveform observation apparatus such as an OTDR capable of accurately measuring a waveform for a short measuring time by a noise reduction device using a smoothing process capable of suppressing roundness of the signal waveform and effectively reducing noise.
Additional embodiment of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope of the present invention being indicated by the following claims.
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According to this invention, a waveform data input section inputs sequential discrete waveform data to be observed. A level restricting section determines whether a level of the other data in a predetermined data period including a predetermined number of data continuous to one data of the discrete waveform input data is existed or not within a predeter mined restriction value using a level of the one data as reference level, directly outputs the data when the level of the data is existed within the predetermined restriction value, and restricts the level of the data within the predetermined restriction value to output the data when the level of the data is not existed within the predetermined restriction value. A averaging section averages the predetermined number of data output by the level restricting section. A control section sequentially shifts a sequence of the one data having the reference level in a determining operation of the level restricting section, thereby obtaining output data by smoothing the waveform data to be observed from an averaging section. A display section displays, under the control of the control section, the output data obtained by smoothing the waveform data and output from the averaging section.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting device which ejects a liquid pressurized in a pressure generating chamber in the form of liquid drops through nozzle orifices.
[0002] There is known a liquid ejecting device of the type which ejects a liquid pressurized in a pressure generating chamber in the form of liquid drops through nozzle orifices, and the liquid ejecting device is capable of ejecting any of various kinds of liquids. A typical example of such a liquid ejecting device is a recording head used in an ink jet recording device. A related technique will be described by using the recording head of the ink jet recording device, and with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0003] The recording head includes a flow passage unit 1 having nozzle orifices 2 and a head case 9 in which the flow passage unit 1 is attached thereto by bonding.
[0004] The flow passage unit 1 is formed with a nozzle plate 3 , a passage substrate 5 and a vibration plate 6 , which are laminated into a unit form. The nozzle plate 3 has a nozzle forming surface 3 A in which an array of nozzle orifices 2 are formed. The passage substrate 5 includes an array of pressure generating chambers 4 formed therein which respectively communicate with the nozzle orifices. The vibration plate 6 closes the openings of lower parts of the pressure generating chambers 4 . Ink reservoirs 8 are formed in the passage substrate 5 . Each ink reservoir 8 communicates with the pressure generating chamber 4 associated therewith via an ink passage 7 , and reserves ink to be fed to the pressure generating chamber 4 . The whole recording head is denoted as H.
[0005] The head case 9 , which forms a base member of the recording head H, is formed by injection molding using thermosetting resin or thermoplastic resin. A pressure generating element 11 is placed in a space 10 which vertically extends in the structure. A back end of the pressure generating element 11 is fixed to a fixing plate 12 mounted on the head case 9 , and a fore end of the same is fixed to a island 6 A on the lower surface of the vibration plate 6 .
[0006] A pressure generating chamber 4 , a pressure generating element 11 and a nozzle orifice 2 are vertically arranged in the structure. A number of combinations each consisting of them are arrayed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the drawing. In this instance, two linear arrays of nozzle orifices are formed. Those nozzle linear arrays eject ink such that the same kind of ink is ejected for each nozzle linear array.
[0007] Conducting wires for input 13 are connected to the pressure generating elements 11 , respectively. The conducting wires are inserted into and passed through through-holes 14 A of a head substrate 14 , and then connected to printed wirings 15 on the head substrate 14 . The printed wirings 15 are gathered and connected to a flexible flat cable 17 via a connector 16 . The flexible flat cable 17 is connected to a drive circuit (not shown). When a drive signal is input from the drive circuit to the pressure generating element 11 , the pressure generating element 11 is expanded and contracted in the longitudinal direction to vary a pressure within the pressure generating chamber 4 . Then, the ink within the pressure generating chamber 4 is ejected through the nozzle orifices 2 in the form of ink drops.
[0008] A damper recess 18 is formed at a part of the head case 9 corresponding to each ink reservoir 8 . When ink is ejected, the damper recess damps a pressure variation in the ink reservoir 8 with the aid of the vibration plate 6 formed with a polyphenylene sulfide film (referred to as a PPS film). The damper recess 18 is a space isolated from exterior. Air in the damper recess 18 flows out into the ink so as to permeate through the vibration plate 6 formed with the PPS film. An air pressure in the damper recess 18 decreases, and a tension of the vibration plate 6 becomes high. As a result, an unsatisfactory damping effect is frequently obtained. To cope with this, a communication passage 9 , which enables the damper recess 18 to communicate with the air, is provided extending from the bottom surface of the damper recess 18 to the opposite surface of the head case 9 , to thereby prevent the pressure reduction within the damper recess 18 .
[0009] In the above structure, an opening area of the damper recess 18 is large, and hence, an area of the vibration plate 6 , which covers the opening area, is also large. In particular, when the ink jet recording device is put in a non-use state, the water content of the ink evaporates and permeates through the vibration plate 6 having the large opening area, and flows into the damper recess 18 . With its pressure increase, the vapor passes through the communication passage 19 and scatters into the air. In such a phenomenon, the amount of water in the ink decreases and a viscosity of ink increases. As a result, when the ink jet recording device is operated again, the ink drop ejection is improper. To avoid this, a passage resistance of the communication passage 19 is increased to thereby prevent the excessive evaporation of the water content of the ink.
[0010] The ink jet recording device designed for the color printing uses plural kinds of color inks of yellow, magenta, cyan and the like, in addition to black ink. Further, nozzle orifices 2 are provided which are respectively assigned for those colors.
[0011] When the print data terminates and the recording head H is put in a non-use state, ink presented at a vicinity of the nozzle orifices 2 is dried, so that the nozzle orifices will be clogged with the dried ink. For this reason, in the related technique, the recording head H is sealed with the cap when no printing operation is performed. When the recording head is left in a sealed state for a long time, a solvent of the ink presented at the vicinity of the nozzle orifices 2 gradually evaporates and a viscosity of the ink increases. In a state that the viscosity of the ink is increased, some troubles tend to occur. For example, the printing operation cannot start quickly or a print quality is deteriorated. The nozzle orifices 2 , which continuously ejects ink drops in the printing operation, successively receive new ink, and little suffers from the clogging. In the case of the nozzle orifices 2 , which are located, for example, at the upper and lower ends of the nozzle array, and have each an extremely small chance of ejecting ink drops, the ink located near those nozzle orifices 2 dries during the printing operation and its viscosity increases, and the recording head is likely to be clogged with the dried ink.
[0012] To cope with such a problem, a “flashing operation” or “cleaning operation” is performed for one form of a preparatory operation before the printing operation starts. In the preparatory operation, at a time point that power to the recording device is turned on or that a print signal is first input to the recording device, the nozzle orifices 2 are forcibly caused to eject ink drops independently of the printing, whereby the clogging is removed and the ink ejection ability of the recording head is recovered.
[0013] The “flushing operation” removes the ink having an increased viscosity presented at the vicinity of the nozzle orifices 2 in a manner that a drive signal is applied to the pressure generating element 11 independently of print data, and the recording head is caused to eject ink drops of such an ink. The “cleaning operation” is performed when the clogging of the nozzle orifices 2 is not removed completely by only the “flushing operation. In the “cleaning operation”, a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle orifices 2 by use of a suction pump thereby to forcibly suck the ink of the increased viscosity in the pressure generating chambers 4 and others.
[0014] The viscosity of the ink presented at the vicinity of the nozzle orifices 2 is more increased and the clogging of the nozzle orifices 2 is more deteriorated as a time (cap leaving time) that the recording head H is left as it is sealed with the cap and a total printing time till the recording head is sealed with the cap are longer. Which of the “flushing operation” and the “cleaning operation” is to be performed is determined by a relation (correlation) between the cap leaving time and the total printing time as shown in FIG. 7. When the cap leaving time or the total printing time is short, the flushing operations in a flushing region indicated by FL 1 to FL 4 are performed. When the cap leaving time or the total printing time is long, the cleaning operation in the cleaning region is performed.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 7, the flushing region that is determined by a relation (correlation) between the cap leaving time and the total printing time, is layered into four regions (FL 1 to FL 4 in this instance) depending on a level of viscosity increase of the ink at and near the nozzle orifices 2 . In the region FL 1 , a degree of the viscosity increase of the ink at and near the nozzle orifices 2 is the lowest. In this degree, to recover the ink ejection ability of the nozzle orifices 2 , the black ink (BK) is ejected by 100 shots, and the color ink (COL) is ejected by a small number of shots, 50 shots.
[0016] When the cap leaving time or the printing time is somewhat longer than that in the flushing region FL 1 , the increase degree of the ink at and near the nozzle orifices 2 somewhat increases from that in the flushing region FL 1 . Therefore, the recovering operation is performed in a flushing region FL 2 . To recover the ink ejection ability of the nozzle orifices 2 , the black ink BK is ejected by 1000 shots, and the color ink COL is ejected by 500 shots, larger than in the flushing region FL 1 .
[0017] In this way, the recovering region is stepwise shifted and finally a flushing region FL 4 is reached in which the ink viscosity increase degree is the highest. In this flushing region, the black ink BK is ejected by 5000 shots, and the color ink COL is ejected by 3000 shots to thereby recover the ink ejection ability of the nozzle orifices.
[0018] The recovering operations are performed before an operation job is executed. The operation job consists of an ink ejection operation of the recording head H, which ranges from an instant that the recording head H starts an ink ejection in response to an operation command signal applied thereto till the recording head ends the ink ejection. In a specific example where the recording head receives a one-operation command signal, which instructs a print of a letter of 3 pages and starts an ink ejection for printing the letter, an operation of the recording head ranging from the start to the end of the Ink injection forms one operation job. The recovering operation in any of the recovering regions is performed before the operation job. In another example where another operation command signal to print a short sentence of about 5 lines after the printing of the letter ends is applied, for another operation job, to the recording head H, the recovering operation in any of the recovering operation regions is performed before the printing operation of the short sentence starts.
[0019] When the recovering operation of the recording head shifts from the flushing operation defined by the regions FL 1 to FL 4 to the cleaning operation, the cleaning operation is performed before the operation job starts. By the cleaning operation, the ink having the considerably increased viscosity is forcibly sucked from the nozzle orifices 2 of the recording head, to thereby recover the normal ink ejection ability of the recording head. After the cleaning operation is performed, a state of the ink at and near the nozzle orifices 2 is returned to a state substantially equal to the initial state that the ink having increased viscosity is removed. Then, the cap leaving time or the printing time is reset, and both the times are counted again from the start.
[0020] When the cap leaving time or the printing time is long and the recovering operation is set to the region FL 4 , the ink-shot recovering operation is performed every operation job till the recovering operation shifts from the region FL 4 to the cleaning region. As in the above case, the black ink BK is ejected by 5000 shots and the color ink COL is ejected by 3000 shots before the printing of the letter of three pages starts, whereby the ink having the most increased viscosity is removed and a normal print quality is secured. Also when the short sentence having about five lines is printed after a relatively short time from the printing of the letter, as in the above case, the recovering operation is performed by ejecting the ink by the same numbers of shots before the printing operation starts, if the recovering operation sequence is set within the region FL 4 .
[0021] This is due to the fact that the flushing operation is executed every job since the recovering operation sequence prepared in advance is set in the region FL 4 . Therefore, if once the recovering operation sets the region FL 4 , the flushing operation of the region FL 4 in which the number of shots is large is repeated till the recovering operation leaves the region and sets to the cleaning region. As a result, a long printing time is consumed. When such a flushing operation assigned to the region FL 4 is repeated for each operation job, the ejection ink is wasted and this is uneconomical. Further, a large space for storing a waste ink is required. This hinders the device size reduction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejecting device which enables a flushing operation assigned to a high liquid-property change region to be efficiently performed.
[0023] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an liquid ejecting device comprising:
[0024] a liquid ejecting head, having a nozzle formation face on which nozzle orifices for ejecting liquid drops are formed; and
[0025] a controller, which performs a recovery operation for removing liquid drops having a changed liquid property, the liquid drops being at and near the nozzle orifices;
[0026] wherein the recovery operation is performed by using at least a flushing mode in which liquid drops are ejected in a state that the nozzle formation face is sealed;
[0027] wherein the controller selectively performs a plurality of flushing modes which are set in accordance with degrees in change of a liquid property of the liquid drops being at and near the nozzle orifices;
[0028] wherein the degrees in change of the liquid property of the liquid drops are determined by a relation between an accumulative time that the nozzle orifices are left in a sealing state and an accumulative time that a liquid ejection is executed;
[0029] wherein a high flushing mode of the flushing modes for removing the liquid having a high degree in change of the liquid property has a first flushing mode which is performed at a first time and second and subsequent flushing modes which is performed at a second and subsequent time; and
[0030] wherein the number of liquid drops ejected in the first flushing mode is greater than the number of liquid drops ejected in the second and sequent flushing modes.
[0031] In the above configuration, the liquid having the high degree in change of the liquid property is removed by the liquid ejection of the predetermined amount of liquid in the first flushing modes. As a result, the recovered nozzle orifices are prepared for its normal liquid ejection. When the second and subsequent flushing modes of the high flushing mode are performed, a time taken for the second and subsequent flushing modes is reduced, and hence, an operation time of the liquid ejecting device is reduced since the liquid ejection amount in the second and subsequent flushing modes is smaller than that in the first flushing mode. The second and subsequent flushing modes are controlled in a minimum level, so that an amount of fresh liquid consumed by the flushing mode is minimized, and an economical liquid ejecting device is provided.
[0032] Preferably, the recovery operation is performed before an operation job is executed, and the operation job is executed during from an instant that the liquid ejecting head starts a liquid ejection in response to an operation command signal applying thereto till the liquid ejecting head ends the liquid ejection. In the above configuration, the flushing modes are performed before the operation job is executed, for example, the liquid ejecting head starts to eject a liquid to one object under liquid ejection. Accordingly, when the liquid is ejected to the object, the highly property changed liquid has completely been removed, and hence, a normal liquid ejection is secure.
[0033] Preferably, ranges of the degrees in change of the liquid property which are correspond to the flushing modes respectively are defined in accordance with an environmental condition having at least one of temperature and humidity at a location where the liquid ejecting device is disposed. In the above configuration, optimum ranges of the degrees in change of the liquid property which is adaptable for every condition around the liquid ejecting head is realized. Accordingly, a flushing mode which is most suitable for changes of liquid properties of the liquid may be performed.
[0034] Preferably, a liquid ejection amount in at least one of the flushing modes is changed in accordance with an environmental condition having at least one of temperature and humidity at a location where the liquid ejecting device is disposed. In the above configuration, if the liquid ejection amount in the winter season and cold districts is set to be larger than that in the summer season and warm-temperature districts, the liquid ejection amount in the flushing operation being adapted for the environmental conditions is secured. Accordingly, a good recovering operation is performed at the nozzle orifices.
[0035] Preferably, the first flushing mode is initially performed after the power to the liquid ejecting device is turned on. In the above configuration, the first flushing mode to first be secured by the liquid ejection amount is performed without fail. The recovery at and near the nozzle orifices is reliably achieved. The second and subsequent flushing modes, which are executed in a state that the power source of the liquid ejecting device is in an on state, are frequently executed after not so long time elapses from the execution of the first flushing mode. Therefore, the function of the nozzle orifices can surely be recovered even if an liquid ejection amount smaller than that for the first flushing mode is used.
[0036] Preferably, a liquid ejection amount in the first flushing mode of the high flushing mode is larger than that in the flushing modes other than the high flushing mode. In the above configuration, a time taken for the flushing mode performed for each operation job in the high flushing mode and an amount of waste liquid are larger than those in other flushing modes. In this respect, the effect to reduce the liquid ejection amounts in the second and subsequent flushing modes is remarkable. A flushing mode is performed by the liquid ejection of an liquid ejection amount suitable for a property change degree. In particular, the flushing mode is performed by use of the ejection liquid whose amount is increased as the result of removing the liquid having the highest property change degree. A more exact recovering operation is performed at and near the nozzle orifices.
[0037] Preferably, the liquid is an ink for printing and is used for an ink jet recording device. The flushing mode is applied to a property change of the ink, so that a normal ink ejection is secured and a good print quality is ensured. Further, a small space for storing the waste ink is required. This feature is advantageous to the device size reduction.
[0038] Preferably, the liquid having a changed liquid property is an ink increased in its viscosity at and near the nozzle orifices. The ink whose viscosity is increased at and near the nozzle orifices of the recording head of the ink jet recording device is removed by the first flushing mode in the high flushing mode, so that the nozzle orifices are prepared for their normal ink ejection. Since the ink ejection amount in the second and subsequent flushing modes is smaller than that in the first flushing mode, the second and subsequent flushing modes performed before the printing of a second document, for example, starts is completed for a short time, and the amount of ink ejected is small. This provides an economical feature of the invention. Accordingly, a rational recovering operation is secured when the liquid have a high viscosity increase degree which is determined by the relation between an accumulative time that the nozzle orifices is left in a sealed state and an accumulative time that the ink ejection is performed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0040] [0040]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording device according to the present invention;
[0041] [0041]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a recording head of the ink jet recording device;
[0042] [0042]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an ink jet recording device according to the invention;
[0043] [0043]FIG. 4 is a chart useful in explaining mode select conditions which are defined by the cap leaving time and the printing time in the liquid ejecting device;
[0044] [0044]FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagrammatically describing operations of the liquid ejecting device;
[0045] [0045]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a recording head of a conventional ink jet recording device; and
[0046] [0046]FIG. 7 is a chart useful in explaining mode select conditions which are defined by the cap leaving time and the printing time, which the conditions are applied to the related ink jet recording device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0048] A liquid ejecting device of the invention is operable to eject any of various kinds of liquids, as described above. In an illustrated embodiment, the liquid ejecting device is typically applied to an ink jet recording device.
[0049] [0049]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a peripheral structure of an ink jet recording device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a recording head 36 , which is similar to the recording head H already described referring to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, like or equivalent portions are designated by like reference numerals used in FIG. 2.
[0050] The ink jet recording device includes a carriage 31 and a capping device 38 . The carriage 31 includes six ink cartridges 37 mounted in an upper part thereof, and a recording head 36 mounted on a lower surface thereof. The capping device 38 is provided for sealing the recording head 36 . In the embodiment, six ink cartridges 37 containing respectively cyan (C), light cyan (LC), magenta (M), light magenta (LM), yellow (Y), and black (BK) are mounted on the carriage.
[0051] The carriage 31 is coupled to a stepping motor 33 by a timing belt 32 , and is reciprocatively moved in a width direction of a recording sheet 35 , while being guided by a guide bar 34 . The recording head 36 is mounted on a surface (lower surface in this instance) of the carriage 31 , which faces the recording sheet 35 . Inks are fed to the recording head 36 , from the ink cartridges 37 . The recording head ejects ink drops onto the recording sheet 35 , while moving the carriage 31 , to thereby images and characters are printed on the recording sheet 35 by a dot matrix method.
[0052] The capping device 38 is located in a non-print region within a movement range of the carriage 31 . When the recording head is not used or operated for printing, the capping device seals the nozzle orifices 2 for preventing the drying of the nozzle orifices 2 . The capping device 38 is also used as a receptacle for receiving ink drops that is ejected from the recording head 36 in the flushing operation. Further, the capping device 38 is coupled to a suction pump 39 . In the cleaning operation, the capping device applies a negative pressure to the nozzle orifices 2 of the recording head 36 so that the ink is sucked from the nozzle orifices 2 .
[0053] [0053]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing an example of the recording head 36 . The recording head 36 is similar to the recording head H already described referring to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, like or equivalent portions are designated by like reference numerals used in FIG. 2. In the figure, the capping device 38 and the suction pump 39 are indicated by two-dot chain lines.
[0054] [0054]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the ink jet recording device. In the figure, a receiving buffer 45 receives print data from a host computer (not shown), a bit map generating unit 46 converts the print data into bit map data, and a print buffer 47 temporarily stores the bit map data.
[0055] Reference numeral 49 designates head drive unit. The head drive unit executes a printing operation in which a drive signal is applied to the pressure generating element 11 so that ink drops are ejected from the recording head 36 in accordance with a print signal from the print buffer 47 . Further, at a timing of the flushing operation, the head drive unit executes the flushing operation in which a drive signal is applied to the pressure generating element 11 independently of a print signal so that ink drops are ejected from the nozzle orifices 2 of the recording head 36 .
[0056] Reference numeral 50 designates a pump drive unit. The pump drive unit 50 executes a cleaning operation in which a negative pressure is applied from the suction pump 39 to the recording head 36 when the recording head 36 is sealed with the capping device 38 to forcibly suck the ink from the nozzle orifices 2 .
[0057] Reference numeral 48 designates carriage control unit. At the time of printing, the carriage control unit 48 drives a stepping motor 33 which in turn moves the carriage 31 to scan the recording head 36 . Further, in the flushing operation or at the end of printing, the carriage control unit 48 moves the carriage 31 to a position where the capping device 38 is confronted with the recording head 36 .
[0058] Reference numeral 51 designates a cap leaving timer. When it is detected, based on a signal from the carriage control unit 48 or the like, that the recording head 36 is sealed with the capping device 38 , the cap leaving timer 51 is driven to measure a cap leaving time that the recording head 36 is left while being sealed with the capping device 38 . Specifically, the cap leaving timer 51 measures an accumulative time (referred to as a “leaving time”) that the nozzle orifices 2 are kept in a sealing state, and is reset at a time point that the cleaning operation is performed.
[0059] Reference numeral 52 is a print timer. When a start of printing operation is detected by use of signals from the head drive unit 49 and the carriage control unit 48 or the like, the print timer 52 is driven to measure a printing time ranging from an instant that the recording head 36 is released from the capping device 38 till the recording head 36 is sealed with the capping device 38 again. Specifically, the print timer 52 measures an accumulative time (referred to as a “total printing time”) that the ink drops are ejected, and is reset at a time point that the cleaning operation is executed.
[0060] Reference numeral 53 indicates mode select unit. The mode select unit 53 receives signals representative of a leaving time and a total printing time from the cap leaving timer 51 and the print timer 52 , and selects a flushing mode to perform the flushing operation or a cleaning mode to perform the cleaning operation on the basis of a correlation between the leaving time and the total printing time and various conditions to be described later, and outputs a signal indicating the selected mode.
[0061] Reference numeral 54 is flushing control unit. The flushing control unit 54 receives a signal from the mode select unit 53 , and causes the head drive unit 49 to apply a drive voltage to the pressure generating element 11 . Upon receipt of the drive signal, the pressure generating element 11 is repeatedly expanded and contracted to vibrate. And, the flushing control unit 54 controls the flushing operation in which the recording head is caused to eject ink drops from the nozzle orifices 2 under various conditions. Reference numeral 55 is cleaning control unit. The cleaning control unit 55 receives a signal from the mode select unit 53 and controls the cleaning operation by the pump drive unit 50 .
[0062] [0062]FIG. 4 is a chart useful in explaining mode select conditions for selecting one of the recovery modes, which are determined by a correlation between the leaving time and the total printing time in the ink jet recording device. The instant chart for determining the mode select conditions is designed to have a flushing region and a cleaning region. A flushing mode is assigned to the flushing region, and a cleaning mode is assigned to the cleaning region. The flushing mode consists of four flushing modes FL 1 to FL 4 , which are respectively defined by recovery levels
[0063] In this instance, a time scale of the total printing time (Hr) contains three reference time values, 1, 2 and 3 hours. A time scale of the leaving time (Hr) contains six reference values 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours. An area hatched in FIG. 4 is the cleaning region in which the cleaning mode is selected. An area defined by the time values, which are smaller than those of the cleaning mode, is the flushing region.
[0064] A mode FL 1 in the flushing region is defined by the total printing time of smaller than 1 hour and the leaving time of smaller than 72 hours. A mode FL 2 is defined by the total printing time from 1 hour to a time value of smaller than 2 hours, and the leaving time of smaller than 48 hours. A mode FL 3 is defined by the total printing time from 2 hours to a time value of smaller than 3 hours, and the leaving time of smaller than 36 hours. A mode FL 4 is defined by the total printing time from 1 hour to a time value of smaller than 2 hours, and the leaving time from 48 hours to a time value of smaller than 72 hours.
[0065] The modes FL 1 to FL 4 are determined by environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, at a location where the ink jet recording device is installed, in addition to factors, such as viscosity increasing rates of various kinds of inks and the amount of consumed ink. For example, in a high temperature environment where the water content of the ink is easy to evaporate, the mode FL 4 is formed to be wide so that the flushing operation of the mode FL 4 starts when the leaving time and the total printing time are relatively short. Thus, in particular in the mode FL 4 as a highly increased viscosity region, a property change of the ink is remarkable. Therefore, it is effective to allow for the environmental factors as mentioned above in forming the flushing mode. Not only the mode FL 4 but also the modes FL 1 to FL 3 and the cleaning region may be formed by considering the environmental factors.
[0066] In the flushing operation of the modes FL 1 to FL 4 , an amount of ejected ink may be defined by using a continuous ink ratio. In the embodiment, however, the ink of the highly increased viscosity is removed by instantaneous ejections of ink of a pulsatory ink ratio. Accordingly, the ink ejection amount is expressed in terms of the number of ink ejections, i.e., the number of shots of ink.
[0067] The flushing conditions in the modes FL 1 to FL 3 are exemplarily listed below:
Mode FL1 Black ink (BK) 100 shots/nozzle Color ink COL) 50 shots/nozzle Mode FL2 Black ink (BK) 1000 shots/nozzle Color ink COL) 500 shots/nozzle Mode FL3 Black ink (BK) 2000 shots/nozzle Color ink COL) 1000 shots/nozzle
[0068] To determine the number of shots in the mode FL 4 , two modes are used for the mode FL 4 ; a mode (first mode) FL 4 used in a print job which is first executed after power on, and a mode (second/subsequent mode) FL 4 used in a print job which is second and subsequently executed. The numbers of shots in the first mode and the second/subsequent mode are:
Mode FL4 (first mode) Black ink (BK) 5000 shots/nozzle Color ink (COL) 3000 shots/nozzle Mode FL4 (second/subsequent mode) Black ink (BK) 1000 shots/nozzle Color ink (COL) 500 shots/nozzle
[0069] The ink ejection amount (the number of shots) in the flushing operation of the modes FL 1 to FL 4 may also be determined allowing for the environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity. If the ink ejection amount in the winter season and cold districts is set to be larger than that in the summer season and warm temperature districts, the ink ejection amount in the flushing operation, which is adapted for the environmental conditions, is secured. In a high temperature environment where the water content in the ink is easy to evaporate, the removal of the ink of a highly increased viscosity is more perfect by increasing the ink ejection amount in the flushing operation. In particular, in the mode FL 4 (first mode) as the highly increased viscosity region, a level of change of ink property is remarkably high. Accordingly, in this mode, it is effective to take the environmental conditions into consideration in determining the ink ejection amount. Also in the modes FL 1 to FL 3 and the cleaning region, the environmental conditions may be taken into consideration in determining the ink ejection amount.
[0070] Operations of the ink jet recording device will exemplarily be described referring to a flow chart shown in FIG. 5. In the figure, a capital letter “S” means a procedural step.
[0071] To start with, the ink jet recording device receives print signals of one job from a host computer. At the start of the print job, the cap leaving timer 51 counts a leaving time, while the print timer 52 counts a total printing time (S 1 and S 2 ). Then, the mode select unit 53 determines whether the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 1 , while referring to a correlation between the leaving time and the total printing time (see FIG. 4) (S 3 ). When the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 1 , the mode FL 1 is selected (S 4 ), the flushing operation of the mode FL 1 is performed (S 5 ), and a printing operation is performed (S 20 ). When the recovery mode does not set to the mode FL 1 in the step S 3 , the mode select unit determines whether the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 2 (S 6 ).
[0072] When the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 2 in the step S 6 , the mode FL 2 is selected (S 7 ), the flushing operation of the mode FL 2 is performed (S 8 ), and a printing operation is performed (S 20 ). When the recovery mode does not set to the mode FL 2 in the step S 6 , determination is made as to whether or not the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 3 (S 9 ).
[0073] When the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 3 in the step S 9 , the mode FL 3 is selected (S 10 ), the flushing operation of the mode FL 3 is performed (S 11 ), and a printing operation is performed (S 20 ). When the recovery mode does not set to the mode FL 3 in the step S 9 , determination is made as to whether or not the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 4 (S 12 ).
[0074] When the recovery mode is set to the mode FL 4 in the step S 12 , the flushing control unit determines whether or not a current job is a job that is first executed after power on (S 13 ). When the job is the jot that is first executed, the first mode FL 4 is selected (S 14 ), a flushing operation of the first mode FL 4 is performed (S 15 ), and a printing operation is performed (S 20 ). In the first mode FL 4 , the job to be executed is the job to first be executed after power on. Accordingly, it is estimated that a relatively long time has elapsed from a previous use of the ink jet recording device. Accordingly, a viscosity of the ink at and near the nozzle orifices 2 has been increased considerably. In the first flushing operation, as already described, inks are ejected by predetermined numbers of shots of ink, that is, the black ink (BK) is 5000 shots and Color ink (COL) is 3000 shots.
[0075] When it is determined that the job to be executed is not the job first executed in the step S 13 , a second/subsequent mode FL 4 is selected (S 16 ), a flushing operation of the second/subsequent mode is performed (S 17 ), and then a printing operation is performed (S 20 ). The second/subsequent mode FL 4 is executed following the previous job, while being in a power-on state. The first mode FL 4 is already executed. The viscosity at and near the nozzle orifices 2 is recovered to some extent since the first flushing operation is already performed. Therefore, the inks are ejected by, for example, the following numbers of shots, that is the black ink (BK) is 1000 shots and color ink (COL) is 500 shots. Those numbers of shots are considerably smaller than those of 5000 shots of black ink (BK) and 3000 shots of color ink COL in the first flushing operation.
[0076] When use of the recording head in a power-on state continues, and so long as the flushing mode executed for each job start is set to the mode FL 4 , the flushing operation is successively performed in the second/subsequent mode FL 4 .
[0077] When the recovery mode does not set to the mode FL 4 in the step S 12 , the next cleaning mode is selected (S 18 ) and performed (S 19 ), and subsequently a printing operation is performed (S 20 ). By performing the cleaning operation in the step S 19 , the cap leaving timer 51 an the print timer 52 are reset, and the leaving time and the total printing time are returned to their initial time values, and the next recovery mode is the flushing mode of the mode FL 1 .
[0078] When the power is turned off in a state that the flushing mode is set to the mode FL 4 , the leaving time and the total printing time are kept in an accumulative state, and the flushing operation of the first mode FL 4 is performed before a first job is executed when the power is next turned on.
[0079] In the above embodiment, the ink of highly increased viscosity is removed by the first flushing operation in which the inks are ejected by predetermined numbers of shots. As a result, the nozzle orifices 2 are prepared for its normal ink ejection. When the second and subsequent flushing operations are performed in the mode FL 4 as a highly increased viscosity region, an amount of ink consumed by that flushing operation is smaller than that by the first flushing operation. Therefore, a time taken for the second and subsequent flushing operations is reduced, and hence, an operation time of the recording head 36 of the ink jet recording device is reduced. The second and subsequent flushing operations are controlled in a minimum level, so that an amount of fresh ink consumed by the flushing operation is minimized, and an economical ink jet recording device is provided.
[0080] The recovering operation is performed before an operation job starts, which the operation job consists of an operation of the recording head 36 ranges from an instant that the recording head 36 receives a one-operation command signal and starts the ink drop ejection till it ends the ink drop ejection. Therefore, the recovering operation is performed before a printing operation of, for example, one document to be printed starts. Accordingly, when the document is printed, the ink of a highly increased viscosity at and near the nozzle orifices 2 has completely been removed. Hence, a normal ink ejection is secured. And, a print of a good print quality is secured.
[0081] The highly increased viscosity region (mode FL 4 ) is determined allowing for environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, at a location where the recording head 36 is disposed. Accordingly, the highly increased viscosity region is set depending on other various conditions and the environmental conditions as well. Accordingly, an optimum highly increased viscosity region which is adaptable for every condition around the head is realized. Accordingly, a flushing operation which is most suitable for changes of ink properties of the ink whose viscosity is highly increased may be performed.
[0082] The amount of ink consumed in the flushing operation is changed allowing for environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, at a location where the recording head 36 is disposed. For example, in the winter season and cold districts, the ink amount consumed by the flushing operation is changed to be larger than that in the summer season and warm districts. By so doing, the ink amount consumed by the flushing operation which is adaptable for the environmental conditions is secured. Accordingly, a good recovering operation is performed at and near the nozzle orifices.
[0083] The first flushing operation is first performed after the power to the ink jet recording device is turned on. Therefore, the first flushing operation is performed after the power-on operation which is always performed before the printing operation. The flushing operation to first be performed is performed without fail. The recovery at and near the nozzle orifices 2 is reliably achieved. The second and subsequent operation jobs, which are executed in a state that the power source of the ink jet recording device is in an on state, are frequently executed after not so long time elapses from the execution of the first operation job. Therefore, the function of the nozzle orifices can surely be recovered even if an ink ejection amount smaller than that for the first operation job is used.
[0084] An ink ejection amount in the first flushing operation in the highly increased viscosity region FL 4 is larger than that in the flushing operations in the regions other than the highly increased viscosity region FL 4 . Accordingly, a time taken for the recovering operation performed for each operation job in that region and an amount of waste ink are larger than those in other regions. In this respect, the effect to reduce the ink ejection amounts in the second and subsequent flushing operations is remarkable. A flushing operation is performed by the ink ejection of an ink ejection amount suitable for an viscosity increase degree. In particular, the recovering operation is performed by use of the ejection ink whose amount is increased as the result of removing the ink having the highest viscosity increase degree. A more exact recovering operation is performed at and near the nozzle orifices 2 .
[0085] When the liquid is an ink for printing and it is used for an ink jet recording device, the flushing operation as mentioned above is applied to a property change of the ink, so that a normal ink ejection is secured and a good print quality is ensured. Further, a small space for storing the waste ink is required. This feature is advantageous to the device size reduction.
[0086] When the printing ink is increased in its viscosity at and near the nozzle orifices and becomes a property changed ink, the ink whose viscosity is increased at and near the nozzle orifices 2 of the recording head 36 of the ink jet recording device is removed by the first flushing operation in the highly increased viscosity region FL 4 which requires the flushing operation, so that the nozzle orifices are prepared for their normal ink ejection. Since the ink ejection amount in the second and subsequent flushing operations is smaller than that in the first flushing operation, the flushing operation performed before the printing of a second document, for example, starts is completed for a short time, and the amount of ink ejected is small. This provides an economical feature of the invention. Accordingly, a rational recovering operation is secured in the highly increased viscosity region having a high viscosity increase degree, which is determined by a correction between an accumulative time that the nozzle orifices 2 is left in a sealed state and an accumulative time that the ink ejection is performed.
[0087] In the embodiment mentioned above, the first flushing operation and the second and subsequent flushing operations are performed in only the mode FL 4 . A mode area of the mode FL 3 of the leaving time of 24 hours or longer may be incorporated into the mode in which the first flushing operation and the second and subsequent flushing operations are performed, if required.
[0088] A time elapsing from the first flushing operation to the second flushing operation is measured. A flushing operation condition of the second flushing operation, for example, the number of shots of ink, may be adjusted depending on the length of the measured elapsing time. A viscosity increase degree of the ink at and near the nozzle orifices 2 varies in proportion to the elapsing time. Accordingly, the second flushing operation is performed in conformity with the variation of the viscosity increase degree. Further, if required, a time elapsing from the second flushing operation to the third flushing operation is measured, and the flushing operation is controlled in accordance with the measured elapsing time in a similar way.
[0089] The liquid ejecting head discussed in the embodiment mentioned above is the recording head used for the ink jet recording device. It should be understood that the liquid ejecting head of the invention may also be used for ejecting glue, sample liquid, conductive liquid (liquid metal) and others, in addition to the ink for the ink jet recording device.
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A liquid ejecting device includes a liquid ejecting head which has a nozzle formation face on which nozzle orifices for ejecting liquid drops are formed and a controller which performs a recovery operation for removing a liquid having a changed liquid property. The recovery operation is performed by using at least a flushing mode in which liquid drops are ejected in a state that the nozzle formation face is sealed. The controller selectively performs a plurality of flushing modes which are set in accordance with degrees in change of a liquid property of the liquid drops being at and near the nozzle orifices The degrees in change of the liquid property of the liquid drops are determined by a relation between an accumulative time that the nozzle orifices are left in a sealing state and an accumulative time that a liquid ejection is executed. A high flushing mode of the flushing modes for removing the liquid having a high degree in change of the liquid property has a first flushing mode which is performed at a first time and second and subsequent flushing modes which is performed at a second and subsequent time. The number of liquid drops ejected in the first flushing mode is greater than the number of liquid drops ejected in the second and sequent flushing modes.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a vehicle crash sensing system and is particularly directed to a method and apparatus for discriminating long duration, slow developing crash events.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Actuatable occupant restraint systems, such as air bags, for vehicles are well known in the art. The air bag has an associated, electrically actuatable ignitor, referred to as a squib. Such systems further include an inertia sensing device for measuring the deceleration of the vehicle. When the inertia sensing device is subjected to a crash acceleration greater than a predetermined value, the inertia sensing device closes an electrical switch causing an electric current of sufficient magnitude and duration to be passed through the squib to ignite the squib. The squib, when ignited, ignites a combustible gas generating composition and/or pierces a container of pressurized gas, which results in inflation of the air bag.
Many known inertia sensing devices used in actuatable occupant restraint systems are mechanical in nature. Still other known actuatable occupant restraint systems for vehicles include an electrical transducer or accelerometer for sensing vehicle deceleration. Systems using an accelerometer as a crash sensor further include a monitoring or evaluation circuit connected to the output of the accelerometer. The accelerometer provides an electrical signal having an electrical characteristic indicative of the vehicle's deceleration, i.e., crash acceleration. The accelerometer is connected to a controller, such as a microcomputer. The microcomputer performs a crash algorithm on the acceleration signal for the purpose of discriminating between deployment and non-deployment crash conditions. When a deployment crash event is determined to be occurring, the restraint is actuated, e.g., an air bag is deployed.
Many types of crash algorithms for discriminating between deployment and non-deployment crash events are known in the art. Algorithms are typically adapted to detect particular types of crash events for particular vehicle platforms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for discriminating crash events and particularly to the discrimination of long duration, slow developing, soft/smooth, frontal crash events such as offset-deformable barrier crash events and car-to-car crash events. In accordance with the present invention, a monitored crash acceleration signal is adjusted using an occupant spring-mass model to provide an adjusted acceleration signal more nearly representative of occupant acceleration. The crash event is discriminated in response to a crash velocity value and crash displacement value determined from the adjusted crash acceleration value.
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for controlling an actuatable restraining device. The apparatus comprises sensing means securable to a vehicle for sensing crash acceleration and for providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. Processing means are provided for processing the crash acceleration signal with an occupant spring-mass model so as to provide an adjusted crash acceleration signal. The apparatus further includes discriminating means for controlling the actuatable restraining device in response to the adjusted crash acceleration signal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling an actuatable restraining device comprising the steps of sensing crash acceleration and providing a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. The method further includes the steps of processing the crash acceleration signal with an occupant spring-mass model so as to provide an adjusted crash acceleration signal, and controlling the actuatable restraining device in response to the adjusted crash acceleration signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an actuatable restraint system made in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an occupant spring-mass model used in the control process of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the velocity of a crash dummy verses displacement of the crash dummy during a typical crash event;
FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of spring force of a belted occupant as a function of occupant displacement for use with the spring-mass model of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of damping force of a belted occupant as a function of occupant velocity for use with the spring-mass model of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the functions performed by the controller shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of a variable threshold value used by the present invention with the value of the occupant velocity (relative to vehicle coordinates) being on the Y-axis and occupant displacement (relative to vehicle coordinates) being on the X-axis;
FIGS. 8A and 8B depict, in flow chart form, the control process in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 9-11 are graphical representations of determined occupant velocity versus occupant displacement during various types of non-deployment events; and
FIGS. 12-16 are graphical representations of determined occupant velocity versus occupant displacement during various types of deployment events.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, an occupant restraint system 20, in accordance with the present invention, for use in a vehicle includes an accelerometer 22 operatively mounted in the vehicle at an appropriate location such as the vehicle's transmission tunnel. The accelerometer 22 outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of the vehicle's crash acceleration. The output of the accelerometer 22 is connected to a controller 24, such as a microcomputer. The acceleration signal is filtered to remove frequency components that are not useful in discriminating a vehicle crash condition. The filtering could occur in an accelerometer module containing the accelerometer. Further filtering of the acceleration signal preferably occurs in the controller 24 using digital filtering techniques. The filtering of the acceleration signal reduces system noise and non-useful information that may be present on the signal. It has been discovered that frequencies below 300 Hz contain useful information for crash discrimination.
The controller 24 monitors the acceleration signal and performs a crash algorithm to discriminate whether the vehicle is in a deployment or non-deployment crash event. The crash algorithm performed by the controller 24, in accordance with the present invention, uses an occupant spring-mass model to adjust the crash acceleration signal. The adjusted acceleration signal is used to determine whether a deployment crash event is occurring.
In response to the crash algorithm, the controller 24 outputs a control signal to an actuator 26, such as a squib of the type well known in the art. The squib or actuator 26 is operatively coupled to an actuatable occupant restraint 28 such as an air bag. Specifically, the squib is operatively connected to a source of gas generating material and/or bottle of pressurized gas. The squib is ignited by passing a predetermined electrical current through the squib for a predetermined time period. The squib ignites the gas generating material and/or pierces the pressurized gas bottle, thereby, actuating the restraint 28, e.g., inflating the air bag. In accordance with the present invention, the control algorithm monitors the crash acceleration, adjusts the value of the crash acceleration using a spring-mass model of an occupant, determines a crash velocity value and crash displacement value from the adjusted crash acceleration value, and determines if a deployment crash condition is occurring in response to the determined crash velocity and crash displacement value.
Referring to FIG. 2, the occupant spring-mass model includes an occupant represented by a mass M o . When the vehicle is subjected to a crash condition, the resulting crash acceleration a(t) experienced by the vehicle is considered to be the driving function which gives an initial pulse to the occupant spring-mass model. A spring force f(X), in the model, is a force on the occupant which results from the seat belt system. A damping force g(V) in the occupant spring-mass model is the frictional effect on the occupant which results from the seat belt system, e.g., friction resulting from seat belt stretching due to occupant loading during a vehicle crash condition. The term X o (subscript "o" for "occupant") is used to represent the position of the occupant relative to an initial location (referred to herein as "ground") at the on-set of the vehicle crash condition. The term X v (subscript "v" for "vehicle") is used to represent the position of the vehicle relative to the ground location from the on-set of the vehicle crash condition. The equation of motion of the vehicle occupant can be expressed as:
M.sub.o X.sub.o +f(X.sub.o -X.sub.v)+g(X.sub.o -X.sub.v)=0
since the sum of the forces must equal 0. By defining X to be:
X=X.sub.o -X.sub.v
and noting that:
-X.sub.v =a(t)
one gets: ##EQU1## where
X(0)=X(0)=0.
Since the "occupant" for the spring-mass model is an "ideal" occupant, such occupant is represented by a crash dummy, referred to herein in equations as "dummy." The relative velocity of the occupant is designated "vel -- dummy -- rel" and the relative displacement of the occupant is designated "displ -- dummy -- rel" so that:
X(t)=vel.sub.-- dummy.sub.-- rel
and
X(t)=displ.sub.-- dummy.sub.-- rel
The normalized spring force "f/M o " can be represented by: ##EQU2## The normalized damping force "g/M o " can be represented by: ##EQU3##
Referring to FIG. 3, a plot of the vel -- dummy -- rel as a function of displ -- dummy -- rel (i.e., occupant relative velocity as a function of occupant relative displacement) is shown which would occur during a vehicle crash condition assuming the occupant spring-mass model.
Referring to FIG. 4, a force value as a function of displacement relationship is shown for the spring portion of the spring-mass model of the present invention. The spring force f as a function of displacement d can be expressed as:
f(d)=K·d
Three different values of K are used by the spring-mass model, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, with the value of K being dependant upon a determined displacement value. When the occupant is in zone I (i.e., displacement X>0), K=K x . When the occupant is in zone II (i.e., -w≦X≦0), K=0. When the occupant is in zone III (i.e., X<-w), K=3K x .
Referring to FIG. 5, the relationship of damping force as a function of both the velocity and displacement are depicted in accordance with the present invention. Three different values of B are shown dependent upon the determined displacement value. When the occupant is in zone I (i.e., X>0), B=B x . When the Occupant is in zone II (i.e., -w≦X≦0), B=2B x . When the occupant is in zone III (i.e., X<-w), B=3B x .
The mass-spring model of the present invention assumes a natural frequency of the occupant between 3-10 Hz. The values shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are empirically determined to provide the desired discriminations for a particular vehicle platform. Other values may be empirically determined for a particular vehicle platform of interest.
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram schematically representing the control processes performed by the controller 24 of FIG. 1. The elements shown in the controller block 24 correspond with operations performed internally by the controller 24. The controller 24 will usually be a microcomputer programmed to perform these functions in a methodical, sequential manner. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functions could be performed with discrete circuitry and that the combination of such discrete circuitry would then form the controller 24.
The accelerometer 22 outputs an acceleration signal 40 having a characteristic indicative of the vehicle's deceleration due to a crash event, also referred to in the art as "crash acceleration." The acceleration signal 40 is preferably pre-filtered by on-board filters physically mounted to an assembly carrying the accelerometer 22. These pre-filters eliminate "road noise" and other extraneous frequency components that are not indicative of a vehicle crash event. Additionally, the acceleration signal is digitally high-passed-filtered by the controller 24 using a high-pass-filter ("HPF") function 44. The filtered acceleration signal 46 is provided to a dead zone function 48.
The dead zone function 48 subtracts a value of ±1 g (g being the value of acceleration due to the earths gravity, i.e., 32 ft/sec 2 ) from the value of the acceleration signal. This dead zone functions as a calibration parameter. One function of the dead zone is to remove the effect of vehicle braking from the acceleration signal that is to be further processed for crash discrimination. Another function of the dead zone 48 is to re-align certain crash events such as pole crashes. During a pole crash, it is desirable to have the "beginning" of the crash event occur (for discrimination purposes) when the pole "hits" the engine block. Depending on the particular vehicle platform of concern and the desires of the vehicle manufacture, the calibration parameter of the dead zone function 48 could be zero or a value greater than 1.
The dead zone function 48 outputs a modified acceleration signal 50 to a positive input 52 of a summing circuit 54. A spring force function 56 outputs a spring force value to a negative input 58 of the summing circuit 54. A viscous damping function 60 outputs a viscous damping value to a negative input 62 of the summing circuit 54. The output 64 of the summing circuit 54 is an adjusted acceleration signal that has been adjusted in response to the occupant spring-mass model and thus more nearly represents true acceleration of the vehicle occupant. Initially, the values of the spring force 56 and the viscous damping 60 are set to zero. Their values are changed upon determination of crash velocity and crash displacement in a manner described below. Since further discrimination is performed on an adjusted acceleration signal that represents the "actual" or "virtual" acceleration of the occupant, the adjusted signal is referred to as a virtual sensor signal.
The adjusted acceleration signal (output 64) is applied to the input of an integrator function 70. The output 72 of the integrator function 70 is the crash velocity value of the adjusted crash acceleration value (i.e., it is the virtual occupant velocity arising from the crash acceleration). The output 72 is applied to the input of the viscous damping function 60 and to a second integrator function 76. The output 78 of the integrator function 76 is the crash displacement based on the adjusted crash acceleration value 64 (i.e., it is the virtual occupant displacement arising from the crash acceleration). The output 78 of the integrator function 78 is applied to the spring force function 56 and to the viscous damping function 60.
The spring force function 56 determines a spring force value to be input to the summing circuit 54 by using the values graphically depicted in FIG. 4. In a microcomputer embodiment of the invention, these values will be stored in a look-up table or will be calculated. In response to the determined displacement value 78, the spring force value is output. In an analog embodiment of the invention, conventional circuit network techniques may be readily used to fabricate a functional block having the transfer characteristics illustrated in FIG. 4.
The viscous damping function 60 determines a viscous damping value to be input to the summing circuit 54 by using the values graphically depicted in FIG. 5. In a microcomputer embodiment of the invention, these values will be stored in a look-up table or will be calculated. In response to both the determined virtual displacement value 78 and the determined virtual velocity value 72, the viscous damping value is output. In an analog embodiment of the invention, the viscous damping function can be conveniently implemented as a variable gain amplifier having the input taken from the output of integrator 70. The gain of the amplifier preferably will be one of several values, with the particular value in effect at a given time being selected as a function of the virtual displacement signal appearing at the output of the integrator 76. In a simplified embodiment, however, the gain of the viscous damping function may have a single, fixed value corresponding to the value used in zone I.
The value of the virtual displacement 78 is input to one input of a comparator function 80. The other input of the comparator function 80 is connected to a predetermined fixed threshold value 82. If the virtual displacement value 78 is greater than the threshold value 82, the comparator function 80 outputs a digital HIGH. Otherwise, the output of the comparator function 80 is a digital LOW. The output of the comparator function 80 is applied to one input of an OR function 84.
The value of the virtual velocity 72 is applied to one input of a comparator function 90. The other input of the comparator function 90 is connected to a predetermined fixed threshold value 92. If the virtual crash velocity value 72 is greater than the threshold value 92, the comparator function 90 outputs a digital HIGH. Otherwise, the output of the comparator function 90 is a digital LOW. The output of the comparator function 90 is applied to the other input of an OR function 84. The output of the OR function 84 is applied to one input of an AND function 96.
The virtual crash displacement value 78 is also output to a displacement indexing function 100 ("D -- INDEX"). The indexing function 100 divides the determined virtual displacement value 78 into discrete values which are used to index a look-up table 104. One of the discrete displacement values is supplied to the displacement threshold determining function 104 ("THRESHOLD -- VD"). The output of the threshold determining function 104 is applied to one input of a comparator function 108. The threshold value output from the function 104 is graphically depicted in the graph of FIG. 7. For example, an index value of I A will select a threshold value of T A . The values depicted in the graph are empirically determined to achieve desired restraint actuation when combined with other deployment requirements. Initially (index less than I B ), the value of the threshold value is set to a predetermined, high value (T B ). This ensures that an initial high value of the acceleration (e.g., an initial acceleration spike) will not result in premature actuation of the restraint.
The velocity value 72 is supplied to the other input of the comparator function 108. The comparator function 108 determines if the virtual crash velocity value 72 is greater than the displacement-dependent variable threshold value 104. If the determination is affirmative, a digital HIGH is output from the comparator function 108. Otherwise, a digital LOW is output from the comparator function 108.
The output of the comparator function 108 is connected to a latch function 110. When a HIGH is output by comparator function 108, the HIGH at the "set" input of latch 110 causes the Q output of latch function 110 to be set HIGH. Latch function 110 continues to output a HIGH until reset. Reset of latch 110 occurs when the virtual displacement value 78 decreases below a reset threshold value 112. To accomplish the reset, the virtual displacement value 78 is connected to one input of a comparator 114. A reset threshold value 112 is provided to the other input of comparator 114. The output of the comparator 114 is connected to a reset input of latch 110. The Q output of latch 110 is connected to the other input of the AND function 96.
The output of the AND function 96 is a FIRE signal 120 which is output to the actuator 26 (FIG. 1). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the active restraint 28 is actuated, in accordance with the deployment control logic of the present invention, (i) when the determined velocity value 72 is greater than threshold 92 OR the determined displacement value 78 is greater than the threshold 82 AND (ii) when the determined velocity value 72 is greater than the displacement dependent threshold value 104. The purpose of the latch 110 is to ensure existence of an affirmative comparison from comparator 108 (i.e., a HIGH) for a time sufficient for the other needed logic determination.
A control process 200, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is represented in FIGS. 8A and 8B. It is assumed, for the purposes of description, that the controller 24 is a microcomputer and that the control process 200 is carried out via an internal program. The internal elements of the microcomputer are conventional and will not be described. The process starts with step 202 in which memories are cleared, flags are set to initial conditions, etc. In step 204, the present value of the acceleration signal is retrieved from an internal A/D converter. The A/D converter converts the value of the acceleration signal 40 into a digital value. Also, in step 204, the acceleration signal is digitally filtered.
The process then proceeds to step 206 where the dead zone realignment function is performed as described above. In step 208, the realigned and filtered acceleration value is summed with spring force and viscous damping values stored in memory. As stated previously, the initial spring force and viscous damping values will be zero. This yields an adjusted or "virtual" acceleration value. In step 210, the virtual velocity value is determined by software integration of the virtual acceleration value. In step 212, the virtual crash displacement value is determined by software integrations of the virtual velocity.
The process then proceeds to step 214 in which the spring-force value is calculated in accordance with the FIG. 4 transfer function. In step 216, the viscous damping value is calculated in accordance with the FIG. 5 transfer function. These values calculated in steps 214 and 216 are then stored in memory for later use in the next pass through step 208. The initial pass through step 208 uses zero for these two values. All subsequent passes through step 208 uses the calculated values. This "feedback" process is represented by the dotted line running from steps 214 and 216 back to step 208.
The process proceeds to step 218, In step 218, the variable threshold value 104 is determined. As part of this step, the value of the displacement determined in step 212 is used to index (address) a look-up table in which the FIG. 7 pattern of threshold values is stored. Further in step 218, a determination is made as to whether the virtual crash velocity value determined in step 210 is greater than the variable threshold value 104.
If the determination in step 218 is negative, the process proceeds to step 220. In step 220, a determination is made as to whether the velocity threshold flag has been latched. The velocity threshold flag is originally set to a FALSE latched condition or logic "0" state. If the determination in step 220 is negative, the process returns to step 204. Otherwise, process flow proceeds to step 224. Thus, steps 224 through 232 may only be performed if the virtual velocity is above the threshold value 104 or has been above the threshold previously during this crash event.
When the determination in step 218 is affirmative, the latch 110 is set in step 222, i.e., the latch state is set to a TRUE logic or logic "1". From step 222 or from an affirmative determination in step 220, the process proceeds to step 224. In step 224, a determination is made as to whether the virtual crash displacement value determined in step 212 is greater than the threshold value 82. If the determination in step 224 is negative, the process proceeds to step 226.
In step 226, a determination is made as to whether the virtual crash velocity value determined in step 210 is greater than the threshold value 92. If the determination in step 224 or step 226 is affirmative, the process actuates the restraint in step 228. If the determination in step 226 is negative, the process proceeds to step 230 where it is determined if the displacement value determined in step 212 is now less than the reset threshold value 112. The reset threshold value 112 is less than threshold value 82. If the determination in step 230 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 232 where the flag of latch 110 is reset. From either a negative determination in step 230 or from step 232, the process returns to step 204.
FIG. 9 shows an 8 MPH 0° barrier crash event which is a NO FIRE crash event, i.e., one in which the air bag is not to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the crash event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are shown. Although both the fixed threshold values 82 and 92 are exceeded during the crash event, the variable threshold value 104 is never exceeded. Since the ANDing function 96 can not be satisfied, no deployment of the air bag occurs.
FIG. 10 shows an 80 MPH rough road travel condition of the vehicle. Such a travel condition will produce outputs from the accelerometer which, in fact "sees" a plurality of acceleration events. This travel condition is, of course, a NO FIRE event, i.e., one in which the air bag is not to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are also shown. Although the variable threshold value 104 is exceeded during the travel event, neither of the fixed threshold values 82 and 92 are ever exceeded. Since the ANDing function 96 can not be satisfied, no deployment of the air bag occurs.
FIG. 11 shows a 40 MPH rough road travel condition of the vehicle. Such a travel condition will produce outputs from the accelerometer which, in fact "sees" a plurality of acceleration events. This travel condition is, of course, a NO FIRE event, i.e., one in which the air bag is not to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are also shown. Although the fixed threshold value 82 is exceeded during the travel event, the threshold value 104 is never exceeded. Since the ANDing function 96 can not be satisfied, no deployment of the air bag occurs.
FIG. 12 shows a 12 MPH 0° barrier crash event of the vehicle. This crash event is a FIRE crash event, i.e., one in which the air bag is to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the crash event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are also shown. The air bag is deployed (fired) when the threshold values 92 AND 104 are exceeded.
FIG. 13 shows a 12 MPH 0° underride crash event of the vehicle. This crash event is a FIRE crash event, i.e., one in which the air bag is to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the crash event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are also shown. The air bag is deployed (fired) when the threshold values (82 OR 92) AND 104 are exceeded.
FIG. 14 shows a 50 KPH 0° barrier crash event of the vehicle. This crash event is a FIRE crash event, i.e., one in which the air bag is to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the crash event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are also shown. The air bag is deployed (fired) when the threshold values 92 AND 104 are exceeded.
FIG. 15 shows a 12 MPH 0° oblique crash event of the vehicle. This crash event is a FIRE crash event, i.e., one in which the air bag is to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the crash event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are also shown. The air bag is deployed (fired) when the threshold values (82 OR 92) AND 104 are exceeded.
FIG. 16 shows a 64 KPH 0° offset crash event of the vehicle. This crash event is a FIRE crash event, i.e., one in which the air bag is to be deployed. The velocity values 72 versus indexed displacement values 100 for the crash event determined by the controller 24 are shown by dots in the graph for a particular vehicle platform. The three threshold values 82, 92, 104 are also shown. The air bag is deployed (fired) when the threshold values 92 AND 104 are exceeded.
From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes, and modifications. For example, the spring-mass model used in the present invention has assumed a belted occupant in the selection of force and damping values. The present invention using virtual sensing is also applicable to an unbelted occupant. The force and damping values used in a spring-mass model for an unbelted occupant would be non-zero and values that are less than those that would be used for the belted occupant for a vehicle platform of interest. In some systems, it may be desirable to switch between different spring force and damping values based upon the state of the seat belt (buckled/unbuckled) and/or upon such occupant characteristics as weight (as measured by a seat pad, for example) or size. The force and damping values may also be based upon the occupant's pre-crash position. Improvements, changes, and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
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A sensor (22) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A processor (54) sums the crash acceleration signal with an occupant spring-mass model (56, 60) so as to provide an adjusted or "virtual" crash acceleration signal (64) more nearly representative of the actual acceleration of the vehicle occupant during a crash event. A discriminating circuit (70, 76, 80, 82, 90, 92, 84, 100, 104, 108, and 96) controls the actuatable restraining device (28) in response to the adjusted crash acceleration signal (64).
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application relies for priority on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/425,212, entitled “ELECTRICALLY SMALL OCTAVE BANDWIDTH NON-DISPERSIVE UNI-DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA,” which was filed on Dec. 20, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to antenna apparatuses and systems, and more particularly, to non-dispersive, electrically small wide relative bandwidth antennas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With respect to the antenna of radar and wide bandwidth communications systems, key antenna characteristics include the size (in wavelengths at the lowest frequency), the beam pattern as a function of frequency, the efficiency versus frequency, the input impedance versus frequency, and the dispersion. Typically, antennas operate with only a few percent bandwidth, where bandwidth is defined to be the −6 dB points of the radiated spectrum. In contrast, many wide bandwidth systems such as radar and digital communications require greater bandwidth and require low dispersion over that bandwidth. For example, as discussed in Lee (U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,364) and McCorkle (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,880,699, 5,606,331, and 5,523,767), UWB antennas can cover multiple octaves of bandwidth. A discussion of other UWB antennas is found in “Ultra-Wideband Short-Pulse Electromagnetics,” (ed. H. Bertoni, L. Carin, and L. Felsen), Plenum Press New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-306-44530-1).
[0004] As recognized by the present inventor, none of the above UWB antennas, however, provide high bandwidth, directional, and non-dispersive characteristics in an electrically small size and in a cost-effective manner. That is, these antennas are expensive to manufacture and mass produce.
[0005] A non-dispersive antenna has a transfer function such that the derivative of phase with respect to frequency is a constant (i.e., it does not change versus frequency). In practice, this means that an impulse remains an impulsive waveform, in contrast to a waveform that is spread in time because the phase of its Fourier components are allowed to be arbitrary (even though the power spectrum is maintained), or because the phase-center of the antenna moves physically with frequency. Non-dispersive antennas have particular application in low cost radio and radar systems that require high spatial resolution and cannot afford the costs associated with adding inverse filtering components to mitigate the phase distortion.
[0006] Another common problem as presently recognized by the inventor, is that most UWB antennas require balanced (i.e., differential) sources and loads. The balanced feed, results in additional manufacturing costs and reduced performance. For example, baluns raise the cost, attenuate the signal, limit the bandwidth, and often skew the beam pattern of balanced antennas.
[0007] Another problem with traditional antennas is that it is difficult to control system ringing. Ringing is caused by energy flowing and bouncing back and forth in the transmission line that connects the antenna to the transmitter or receiver—like an echo. From a practical standpoint, this ringing problem is always present because the antenna impedance, and the transceiver impedance are never perfectly matched with the transmission line impedance. As a result, energy traveling either direction on the transmission line is partially reflected at the ends of the transmission line. The resulting back-and-forth echoes thereby degrade the performance of UWB systems. That is, a clean pulse of received energy that would otherwise be clearly received can be obstructed by the echoes. Ringing is particularly problematic in time domain duplex communication systems and in radar systems because echoes from the high power transmitter can cause long lasting echoes, lasting long enough to cover up the micro-watt signals that must be received nearly immediately after the transmitter finishes sending a burst of energy.
[0008] The duration of the ringing is proportional to the product of the length of the transmission line, the reflection coefficient of the antenna, and the reflection coefficient at the transceiver. Therefore, it would be advantageous for the antenna to allow integration of the transmitter and receiver into the antenna so as to minimize the transmission line length. Transmission lines attenuate higher frequencies more than lower frequencies, and sometimes delay higher frequency components more than lower frequency components (i.e. dispersion). Both of these phenomena cause distortion of the pulses flowing through the transmission line. Thus it is clear that techniques that allow shortening of the transmission line have many advantages—reducing loss, ringing, gain-tilt, and dispersion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the foregoing, there exists a need in the art, and accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an electrically small, directional, low dispersion, wide bandwidth, low cost antenna that has an unbalanced feed where transmit and or receiving circuits can be integrated onto the same substrate to eliminate transmission line losses, dispersion, and ringing.
[0010] It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus and system for providing an antenna that has a flat frequency response and flat phase response over wide bandwidths.
[0011] It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus and system for providing a UWB antenna that exhibits a symmetric radiation pattern.
[0012] It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus and system for providing a UWB antenna that is efficient, yet electrically small.
[0013] It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus and system for providing a UWB antenna that integrates with the transmitter and receiver circuits on the same substrate.
[0014] It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus and system for providing a directional wide bandwidth antenna that can be arrayed in both 1D and 2D, in which the array of UWB antennas are built on single substrate with the radiation directed in a broadside pattern perpendicular to the plane of the substrate.
[0015] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a planer a set of conductive regions, one being called a driven element, and one being called ground, where these planer regions may also be mounted on a conductive box or conductive “U” shaped chassis. For the purposes of orienting this description, the antenna will be described where the ground region is located on the lower part of the plane containing the conductive regions, and may also extend up the sides and may extend across the top in order to make a connection to any conductive box or chassis. The driven element is typically, but not necessarily, symmetrical about a center vertical line, where the feed point is at the bottom on the centerline. The shape of the driven element is tapered such that its width grows monotonically from the feed point to its maximum width, after which point its width shrinks monotonically to its top. The gap between the driven element region and the ground region grows monotonically from the feed point to the point where the width of the driven element is at its maximum.
[0016] Components like transmitter and receiver amplifiers and radio frequency (RF) switches can be placed on the conductive ground region and connected to the feed point in order to minimize transmission line losses and minimize reflection ring-down time. Typically, a simple microstrip or coplanar transmission line is routed in the ground plane, where one end connects to the feed point, and the other end connects to a standard RF connector. The transmission can be made with other standard approaches, include running magnet wire over the ground plane region or coaxial cable over the ground plane. If the conductive elements are formed on the top of a printed circuit board (PCB), the microstrip line can be run on the bottom of the PCB, and connect to the feed point through a via. A coplanar-with-ground “microstrip” line can also be cut into the ground region, where another ground-plane region is added on the bottom of the PCB.
[0017] The monotonic gap between the driven region and the ground region is tapered to produce an impulse response reflection, as measured on a time domain reflectometer (TDR), that is a wide pulse. The wider the pulse, the better the low-frequency response of the antenna. The flatter the pulse, the wider the bandwidth of the antenna. The gap distance at the feed is chosen to match the desired transmission line impedance. A typical number is 0.020 inches gap on a 0.032 inch thick ε r =3.8 PCB material.
[0018] With these and other objects, advantages and features of the invention that may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims and to the several drawings herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate an exemplary embodiment and to explain various principles and advantages in accordance with the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a drawing of the basic antenna showing a conductive driven region in the center, and a conductive ground region on the bottom and sides, and without a box or a chassis, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a detailed drawing of the driven element, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0022] FIGS. 3A , 3 B, and 3 C depict the reflected step response of various antenna tapers as would be measured by a time domain reflectometer, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0023] FIGS. 4A , 4 B, and 4 C depict the reflected impulse response of various antenna tapers as would be measured by a time domain reflectometer, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 5 shows an alternative way of describing the driven element, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 6 shows an alternative driven element with concave edges in the upper region, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 7 shows an alternative driven element with straight edges in the upper region, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 8 shows an alternative driven element with a flat top, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a drawing of a version of the antenna with a conductive driven region in the center, and a conductive ground region on the bottom, sides, and top allowing the ground region to make continuous connection to a box or “U” shaped chassis, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a box with the planner antenna attached to the back side, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a “U” shaped chassis with the planner antenna attached to it, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a drawing showing a “U” shaped chassis with the planner antenna attached to it, and with absorbing material attached to the conducting regions of the planner elements, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a box with the planner antenna attached to it, and with absorbing material attached to the sides of the box, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a plot showing the an isolated and idealized single-cycle waveform radiating directly from the driven element, and a second delayed and inverted single cycle waveform that comes from the back of the chassis or box, and showing how the sum adds constructively to make a larger radiated signal, according to a disclosed embodiment;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The instant disclosure is provided to further explain in an enabling fashion the best modes of performing one or more embodiments of the present invention. The disclosure is further offered to enhance an understanding and appreciation for the inventive principles and advantages thereof, rather than to limit in any manner the invention. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
[0035] It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like, if any, are used solely to distinguish one from another entity, item, or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities, items or actions. It is noted that some embodiments may include a plurality of processes or steps, which can be performed in any order, unless expressly and necessarily limited to a particular order; i.e., processes or steps that are not so limited may be performed in any order.
[0036] Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principles when implemented, may be supported with or in integrated circuits (ICs), such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, static random access memory (SRAM) devices, or the like. In particular, they may be implemented using CMOS transistors. It is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such ICs with minimal experimentation. Therefore, in the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring the principles and concepts according to the present invention, further discussion of such ICs will be limited to the essentials with respect to the principles and concepts used by the exemplary embodiments.
[0037] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a planer a set of conductive regions, one being called a driven element, and one being called ground, where these planer regions may also be mounted on a conductive box or conductive “U” shaped chassis. For the purposes of orienting this description, the antenna will be described where the ground region is located on the lower part of the plane containing the conductive regions, and may also extend up the sides and may extend across the top in order to make a connection to any conductive box or chassis. The driven element is typically, but not necessarily, symmetrical about a center vertical line, where the feed point is at the bottom on the centerline. The shape of the driven element is tapered such that its width grows monotonically from the feed point to its maximum width, after which point its width shrinks monotonically to its top. The gap between the driven element region and the ground region grows monotonically from the feed point to the point where the width of the driven element is at its maximum.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a drawing of the basic antenna showing a conductive driven region in the center, and a conductive ground region on the bottom and sides, and without a box or a chassis, according to a disclosed embodiment. The driven element is typically, but not necessarily, symmetrical about a center vertical line, where the feed point is at the bottom on the centerline. The shape of the driven element is tapered such that its width grows monotonically from the feed point to its maximum width, after which point its width shrinks monotonically to its top. FIG. 2 is a detailed drawing of the driven element, according to a disclosed embodiment. It shows one embodiment of the shape of the driven element being tapered such that its width grows monotonically from the feed point to its maximum width, after which point its width shrinks monotonically to its top. FIG. 1 shows the gap between the driven element region and the ground region grows monotonically from the feed point to the point where the width of the driven element is at its maximum.
[0039] FIGS. 3A , 3 B, and 3 C and FIGS. 4A , 4 B, and 4 C are meant to show trends to illustrate how the antenna functions. FIGS. 3A , 3 B, and 3 C depict the reflected step response of various antenna tapers as would be measured by a time domain reflectometer, according to a disclosed embodiment. FIGS. 4A , 4 B, and 4 C depict the derivative of the waveforms in 3 A, 3 B, and 3 C, respectively, and therefore depict the reflected impulse response of various antenna tapers as would be measured by a time domain reflectometer, according to a disclosed embodiment. In FIG. 3A , the line starts at a match (e.g. 50 ohms) while the wave propagates down the transmission line to the feed point, at t 1 . At t 1 , the reflection coefficient begins sloping upward at a slope that is too slow. The slow slope is caused by the taper in the gap between the lower driven element region and the ground region growing too slowly. In FIG. 3B , the driven element to ground gap taper grows faster than FIG. 3A allowing it to have a steeper slope, between t 1 and t 2 . The steeper slope, means there is less vertical distance to cover between t 2 and t 4 , leading to FIG. 3B having a lower slope than FIG. 3A between t 2 and t 3 and between t 3 and t 4 . Beyond t 2 , the slope is governed by both the ground-to-driven-element taper, and the taper in the width of the upper region of the driven element. A simple model of the wave action would be a first wave that propagates around the circumference of the driven element, and a second wave that propagates across the driven element to the top and back to the feed. T 2 , nominally, represents the time where the second wave comes back to the feed. As such the taper in the width of the driven element defines the slope between t 2 and t 3 .
[0040] The low-frequency cutoff of the antenna is governed by the width of the pulse shown in FIGS. 4A , 4 B, and 4 C, and greater area corresponds to better low frequency radiation and better return loss. A comparison between FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A versus FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B show that the ground-to-driven-element taper in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B provides better low frequency performance.
[0041] FIG. 5 shows an alternative way of describing the driven element, according to a disclosed embodiment. The first and second intermediate points nominally represent where the second wave has had time to come back to the feed.
[0042] FIG. 6 shows an alternative driven element with concave edges in the upper region, according to a disclosed embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 7 shows an alternative driven element with straight edges in the upper region, according to a disclosed embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 8 shows an alternative driven element with a flat top, according to a disclosed embodiment. The shape of the top can be adjusted to obtain more bandwidth by extending the high frequency cutoff at the expense of the low frequency cutoff.
[0045] FIG. 9 is a drawing of a version of the antenna with a conductive driven region in the center, and a conductive ground region on the bottom, sides, and top allowing the ground region to make continuous connection to a box or “U” shaped chassis, according to a disclosed embodiment.
[0046] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a box with the planner antenna attached to the back side, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a “U” shaped chassis with the planner antenna attached to it, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0048] FIG. 12 is a drawing showing a “U” shaped chassis with the planner antenna attached to it, and with absorbing material attached to the conducting regions of the planner elements, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0049] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a box with the planner antenna attached to it, and with absorbing material attached to the sides of the box, according to a disclosed embodiment;
[0050] FIG. 14 is a plot showing the an isolated and idealized single-cycle waveform radiating directly from the driven element, and a second delayed and inverted single cycle waveform that comes from the back of the chassis or box, and showing how the sum adds constructively to make a larger radiated signal, according to a disclosed embodiment.
CONCLUSION
[0051] This disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use various embodiments in accordance with the invention rather than to limit the true, intended, and fair scope and spirit thereof. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment(s) was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims, as may be amended during the pendency of this application for patent, and all equivalents thereof, when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. The various circuits described above can be implemented in discrete circuits or integrated circuits, as desired by implementation.
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An electrically small antenna is disclosed that is directional, has over an octave bandwidth, is non-dispersive, is inexpensive to mass produce, and allows transmitter and receiver electronic components to be integrated into the antenna.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to computing and, more particularly, relates to protection and tracking of information distributed in electronic form.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Great amounts of information are transferred by computer systems in the form of files. Once in the form of a computer files, this information can easily be spread to a vast number of people quickly and easily.
In many cases the information is sensitive in nature. Examples of this include information which is proprietary to a company, government information, or personnel information such as social security numbers and credit card numbers. Methods exist for protecting such data such as encrypting the data. Data encryption requires that the person trying to access the file have the proper key or password to decrypt the file.
Even with encryption, information can still be spread with the knowledge of the originating party. Encryption is never stronger than the good intentions of those who have the password. Therefore, a need exists for a system which would allow the creator of a document to track the spread of the document that does not require a password.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists of an entity that combines digitally-encoded material, a unique identifier, and built-in functions. The digitally encoded material may be any form of digital data including pictures, documents, movies, spreadsheets, or any other form of data. The unique identifier is a number created using an algorithm which virtually guarantees that the same number will never be created twice. This algorithm will often use such information as the time, date, filenames, MAC addresses, and processor serial numbers to as inputs in generating the unique number. The built-in functions are executable programs which might contain, for example, programs to decrypt, copy, print, generate new unique ID's, or encrypt the file.
The three components listed above work together to provide protection of the digital information. The combination of the digitally encoded data along with a unique identifier, built-in functions, and possibly other components such as the document history are referred to as a three component document. In one embodiment, the three components could exist in a single file or document. The unique ID is used to identify the file. Once encoded, the unique ID will remain unchanged for the lifetime of the file, therefore providing an unambiguous identification. The built-in functions are used to perform several operations on the file, typical among these would be to copy, print, encrypt, and decrypt the file. Although the normal copy routines available with most operating systems could be used to copy the file, these functions would not be able to decrypt the file and would therefore not provide a useful copy. By using built-in functions, records of copies can be kept. For example, the built-in copy function could be designed to produce an additional unique ID and place this in the copy, notify the document originator that a copy had been made, and record the history of copies within the file.
By notifying the document creator that a copy had been made, the information contained in the file is offered an additional level of protection. Other advantages offered by the use of built-in functions in conjunction with a unique ID include the ability to prevent copies of files from functioning in a different location, increased flexibility of licensed products, simplified document change tracking, document version control, and well as stronger security.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the appended claims set forth the features of the present invention with particularity, the invention, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating an exemplary computing system with which the present invention can be implemented;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a three-component document in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a copy command in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning to FIG. 1 , an exemplary computing device 100 on which the invention may be implemented is shown. The computing device 100 is only one example of a suitable computing device and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. For example, the exemplary computing device 100 is not equivalent to any of the computing devices 10 - 17 illustrated in FIG. 1 . The exemplary computing device 100 can implement one or more of the computing devices 10 - 17 , such as through memory partitions, virtual machines, or similar programming techniques allowing one physical computing structure to perform the actions described below as attributed to multiple structures.
The invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. In distributed computing environments, tasks can be performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.
Components of computer device 100 may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 120 , a system memory 130 , and a system bus 121 that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit 120 . The system bus 121 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Associate (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.
Computing device 100 typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computing device 100 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computing device 100 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.
The system memory 130 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 131 and random access memory (RAM) 132 . A basic input/output system 133 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer 110 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM 131 . RAM 132 typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit 120 . By way of example, and not limitation, FIG. 1 illustrates operating system 134 , application programs 135 , other program modules 136 , and program data 137 .
The computing device 100 may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only, FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 141 that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 151 that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 152 , and an optical disk drive 155 that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk 156 such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 141 is typically connected to the system bus 121 through a non-removable memory interface such as interface 140 , and magnetic disk drive 151 and optical disk drive 155 are typically connected to the system bus 121 by a removable memory interface, such as interface 150 .
The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 1 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computing device 100 . In FIG. 1 , for example, hard disk drive 141 is illustrated as storing operating system 144 , application programs 145 , other program modules 146 , and program data 147 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system 134 , application programs 135 , other program modules 136 , and program data 137 . Operating system 144 , application programs 145 , other program modules 146 , and program data 147 are given different numbers hereto illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computing device 100 through input devices such as a keyboard 162 and pointing device 161 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 120 through a user input interface 160 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 191 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 121 via an interface, such as a video interface 190 . In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers 197 and printer 196 , which may be connected through a output peripheral interface 195 .
The computing device 100 operates in a networked environment, such as that shown in FIG. 1 , using logical connections to one or more remote computers. FIG. 1 illustrates a general network connection 171 to a remote computing device 180 . The general network connection 171 can be any of various different types of network connections, including a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide-Area Network (WAN), networks conforming to the Ethernet protocol, the Token-Ring protocol, or other logical or physical networks such as the Internet or the World Wide Web.
When used in a networking environment, the computing device 100 is connected to the general network connection 171 through a network interface or adapter 170 , which can be a network interface card, a modem, or similar networking device. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computing device 100 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
In the description that follows, the invention will be described with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations that are performed by one or more computing devices, unless indicated otherwise. As such, it will be understood that such acts and operations, which are at times referred to as being computer-executed, include the manipulation by the processing unit of the computing device of electrical signals representing data in a structured form. This manipulation transforms the data or maintains it at locations in the memory system of the computing device, which reconfigures or otherwise alters the operation of the computing device in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The data structures where data is maintained are physical locations of the memory that have particular properties defined by the format of the data. However, while the invention is being described in the foregoing context, it is not meant to be limiting as those of skill in the art will appreciate that several of the acts and operation described hereinafter may also be implemented in hardware.
Turning to FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the three component document is shown. The digitally-encoded material 204 can include but is not limited to machine-readable or human-readable text, bitmaps, graphics, streamed media, or a combination of same.
The unique ID 202 persists through the lifetime of the document. It persists despite changes to the digitally-encoded material, including material such as titles commonly used for identification, in copies or other works derived from the three element document, and in the sustained history of the three element document.
Built-in functions 206 - 216 represent the whole of the three element documents ability to be transformed or rendered. Rendering functions are those functions which allow the digitally encoded material to be accessed but do not change the form of the information. For example, playing digitally encoded music through a computer audio system is an example of rendering digitally encoded information. Transform functions are those that alter or transfer the digitally encoded information such as copying or editing. The digitally encoded material can only be acted upon in a meaningful way through these functions. The inability of outside functions to act upon the digitally encoded material can be enforced through strong encryption which may be present as one of the built in functions.
The functions are operations which may be performed on any or all components of the three component document. These operations may be in the form of rules, parameters, and/or executable code. The code could take the form of machine level instructions or higher level programs in various programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Visual Basic. These instructions could include scripts and may contain calls to operating system functions.
One built-in function transforms the entity by encrypting\decrypting it so that digitally-encoded material is not revealed to analysis tools such as debuggers when the digitally-encoded material is on permanent storage or in computer memory.
A list of several possible built-in functions is given in the following table:
Render
Close
Finish rendering a view of the material.
Find shape
Find a specified graphic element within the digitally-encoded
material.
Full screen
Maximize the render window within the limits of the current
monitor.
Go to
Move the current apparent point of view to a specified point
within the material (for example “page 5”).
Guides
Overlay the material with reference lines.
Help
Display a reference source to help discover the available built-in
functions.
Open
Render a new view of the material.
Order
Change the displayed sequence of the material.
Pan
Move the apparent viewpoint across the material.
Properties
Get or set properties visible if the material is displayed. Example
properties are title; author; organization; keywords; resolution.
Reveal
Make visible specified portions of the digitally-encoded material
or specified built-in functions.
Rotate or Flip
Change the displayed orientation of the material.
Search
Find specified text string within the digitally-encoded material.
Select
Select specified string or graphic elements.
Size and
Change the render window size and position on the monitor.
Position
Spellcheck
Validate the material against a stored dictionary or rule set.
Zoom
Change the apparent view size of the material (for example
“50%”).
Transform
Copy
Create a copy of digitally-encoded material.
DRM Agent
Maintain Digital Rights in the entity.
Encrypt/decrypt
Encrypt to prevent parsing outside the entity.
Export
Convert a copy of digitally-encoded material for use outside the
entity.
Insert
Create additional digitally-encoded material.
Log
Permanently record a change-of-state event.
New
Create a new entity or new digitally-encoded material in an
entity.
Paste
Insert a copy of digitally-encoded material.
Print
Create a hard-copy of digitally-encoded material.
Replace
Replace digitally-encoded material.
Save As
Incorporate changes in an entity.
Document history 218 may be encoded into the three element document as well. Document history is a log of events that is auditable. An event reflects some change of state of the entity or some attempt to change the state of the entity, for example (1) a successful copy operation or (2) an attempt at a copy operation that a built-in function declined because of a license limitation. So that the record of an event persists even through power-off conditions, an event is logged by a built-in function to permanent storage, for example to a hard drive or optical disk, or to a platform separate from the platform where the entity exists, for example to a server within the same network or to a server within the Internet. The log of events is auditable by recording time, date, geographic, platform, and user information along with the change being logged.
One embodiment of the creation of the three element document is illustrated in the flow diagram in FIG. 3 . The process starts with any form of digitally encoded material in step 302 . In block 304 , a unique ID is created and appended to the digitally encoded material. In block 306 the combination of the unique ID and digitally encoded material are encrypted using a strong encryption process such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). In block 308 source code is added for each built-in function. The encrypted data resulting from block 306 is included as a data segment with the source code. In block 310 the combined source code produced in block 308 is optionally compiled and linked to form an executable program. Many other embodiments exist, for example, block 310 may not be necessary if the source code is an interpreted language such as Java.
Consider one embodiment of a copy command as shown in FIG. 4 . In block 402 , the user invokes a copy command. The invocation could be through a GUI supported by a build in function or any other suitable means. In block 404 , the built-in function copy reads the processor serial number. In block 406 , the processor serial number is compared to a list of computers on which the copy function is allowed to operate. If the processor is not on the list, the user is informed in block 408 that a copy operation is not allowed on this processor. In block 410 the history of the document is updated to include the invalid copy attempt and in block 412 this failed attempt is reported to the document creator. In block 422 , the copy return is exited.
If the processor ID is on the list of computers allowed to copy the document, block 414 produces a new unique ID. In block 416 , the file is reproduced in the new location. In block 418 , the new unique ID is appended to the copy of the file which now contains two unique IDs. In block 420 , the successful copy operation is reported to the document creator and the history of both the new and original files are updated. In block 422 , the copy return is exited.
The inclusion of the second unique ID allows the two files to be separately tracked in the future. Without this second unique ID, there would be no method to differentiate future operations performed on the two files.
One distinct security advantage gained by the use of built-in functions is that files do not have to be decrypted before loading into RAM. If the decrypted file exists in RAM, the contents can be read with programs known as debuggers can be used to view the decrypted data. With the use of built in functions, the data can be stored in RAM in encrypted form because the decryption can be integral to the function being performed.
In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of this invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the embodiment described herein with respect to the drawing figures is meant to be illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of invention. For example, those of skill in the art will recognize that the elements of the illustrated embodiment shown in software may be implemented in hardware and vice versa or that the illustrated embodiment can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention as described herein contemplates all such embodiments as may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.
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A method of storing and tracking digitally-encoded material includes associating a unique identifier with the digitally-encoded material, associating one or more built-in functions with the digitally-encoded material so that the unique identifier and the built-in functions are coupled to the digitally-encoded material. The built-in functions can govern transforms and rendering of the digitally-encoded material. The tracking is performed by associating a history of the digitally-encoded material with the digitally-encoded material. The history can be associated with the digitally-encoded material or kept in a database that communicates with the digitally-encoded material via the identifier. The built-in functions enable the digitally-encoded material to be stored in RAM in an encrypted form. A method for tracking can include encrypting a combination including the digitally-encoded material and the unique identifier and appending built-in function source code and the encrypted combination to form an executable entity executable independent of any particular operating system.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for measuring the performance and controlling the levels of polymeric dispersants and other treatment chemicals in industrial cooling and boiler water systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Maintaining proper residual levels of water treatment chemical actives is critical to the success of high-performance water treatment programs. To function properly, these programs rely on numerous active components including polymers, phosphonates, azoles, chelants, oxygen-scavengers, and, frequently, inorganic inhibitors such as phosphate and zinc. To provide optimum cost and performance, each active component in the water treatment program must be consistently maintained at residual levels sufficient to achieve treatment efficacy without relying on unnecessarily high levels of treatment chemicals.
Traditionally, treatment residuals have been monitored and controlled by analyzing grab samples and manually adjusting chemical feed based on the results of the testing. Tests that are frequently run using this approach include phosphate, phosphonate, and molybdate. Relatively simple colorimetric tests are readily available for these ingredients and have been used for many years. In contrast, simple analytical tests have generally not been available for directly measuring residual polymer levels. Techniques that have emerged rely on the use of inert fluorescent tags attached to the polymer as described in "Tagged Polymer Technology for Improved System Monitoring and Control" Corrosion 93, NACE, Paper 397, 1993. More recently, specific proteins have been attached to the polymer which give a response to an antibody test as described for example in "Toward Field Traceable Polymeric Dispersants" 58 th International Water Conference, Nov.1-5, 1997, Pittsburgh, Pa. However, because both the fluorescent tag and the antibody tests are measuring the level of the polymer indirectly, aggressive system environments sufficient to separate the polymer from the tag or degrade the tag will render the tests unreliable. Further, because the basic polymer must be modified in order to be detected by these tests, the majority of commercially available polymeric dispersants are rendered unsuitable.
In solution, a polymer may function as a dispersant with respect to existing particulates and it may also inhibit the formation or growth of scale forming particles. When a polymer is added to a water treatment system it typically reacts both chemically and physically. Some portion of the added polymer may be adsorbed onto immobile surfaces or may be thermally, chemically, or biochemically degraded as a result of system conditions. This polymer, whether rendered immobile or degraded, is essentially lost from the system and will not be detected by sampling the system water. This loss of polymer has been termed "Polymer Demand." The remaining polymer is essentially present in three forms; unreacted polymer, polymer associated with inhibited particles functioning as a scale inhibitor, and polymer absorbed onto undeposited scale functioning as a dispersant.
Recently introduced polymer test methods, however, are typically either indiscriminate or limited as to which forms or form of polymer may be measured by the disclosed test method. The antibody test, for instance, measures only the unreacted polymer. In light of this limitation, the proponents of the antibody test have suggested that simply maintaining a measurable level of unreacted polymer indicates that there is sufficient polymer available for the desired inhibition and dispersant functions.
In contrast to the antibody method, the fluorescent tagged polymer test measures the system polymer demand by comparing the levels of the tagged polymer and an inert fluorescent tracer fed at fixed ratio to the tagged polymer. The proponents of the fluorescent tagged polymer test recognize that the polymer demand increases as the severity of operating conditions increase, but do not suggest a method for distinguishing between various forms of polymer that will be found in the system. Consequently, although the disclosed method for using the fluorescent tagged polymer test to monitor the system polymer demand can determine if the minimum dosing requirements are being met, this method does not detect instances in which the polymer and/or other treatment chemicals are being overdosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for monitoring and controlling and optimizing the concentration of polymeric dispersants in aqueous systems including both cooling water and boiler operations. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for the direct measurement of free and total polymeric dispersant in an aqueous system. It is another object of the invention to provide a method for measuring the polymer performance in an aqueous system. It is another object of the invention to provide a method for monitoring and controlling the polymer inhibition efficiency in a water system to optimize performance of the system. It is another object of the invention to provide a method for monitoring and controlling the concentration of various chemical actives in an aqueous system that can be implemented in manual, semiautomatic, or automatic systems.
Recognizing the need for improvement in the monitoring and control of treatment components, the present polymer "actives-based" monitoring and control approach was developed utilizing a particular quad-polymer as the active component. The benefits of this quad polymer are described in "A New Polymeric Material For Scale Inhibition And Removal", CORROSION 96, paper no. 163, NACE; and in Alco Chemical Company Product Bulletin TB 4261. As used herein, the term quad-polymer is used to refer to a polymer with four distinct monomers. One anionic quad-polymer useful in the present invention is Quadrasperse™ which is offered by Chem Treat, Inc. in its Quadrasperse™ line of water treatment compositions. It will be appreciated that the differential polymer measurement technique of the present invention, described in more detail below, may be suitably adapted or tailored to measure and control a variety of polymers including homo-polymers, co-polymers, and ter-polymers and to meet a variety of system and end-user needs. In particular, it has been found that the chemically active polymers that incorporate one or more functional groups, for example aromatic groups, that exhibit a distinct chromaphore or spectroscopic activity in, for example, the UV or UV-vis spectrums may be used in practicing the present invention. Such polymers permit the direct measurement of the polymer levels in the water system samples in connection with the present invention, thereby avoiding the expense and uncertainly associated with fluorescent tags, protein tags, or other inert or inactive tracer species.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a calibration curve for the quad-polymer used in the invention.
FIG. 2 shows the % Dispersion vs. Concentration mg/l for a calcium phosphate inhibition test using the quad polymer.
FIG. 3 shows the measurement of free and total polymer from a calcium phosphate test and the ratio of free to total polymer as a percentage, this ratio being expressed as the percent polymer inhibition efficiency.
FIG. 4 shows the % Dispersion and its relationship to % Polymer Inhibition Efficiency in the calcium phosphate inhibition test.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a pilot cooling tower and includes key features of the data acquisition system.
FIG. 6 shows results of a pilot cooling tower test conducted with the quad-polymer indicating the relationship between % Polymer Inhibition Efficiency and Heat Transfer Resistance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The level of total polymer in an aqueous system is determined by applying the test procedure on an unfiltered sample of treated water. The level of free polymer is determined by first filtering a sample of the treated water through a 0.45 μm filter and then applying the test procedure to the filtered sample. The term free polymer should be understood to refer to the quantity of "unbound and readily available polymer" in the system, including polymer associated with colloidal materials that are capable of passing through a sub micron filter. The term absorbed polymer or bound polymer should be understood to refer to polymer that, although still "present" in the aqueous phase, is bound to or associated with particulate or other potential deposit-forming material to such a degree that it is unable to pass through a sub micron filter. The term total polymer refers to the sum of free polymer and bound polymer in the sample.
By comparing levels of free and total polymer, the aqueous system's polymer inhibition efficiency can be determined and monitored. Based on studies undertaken by the applicants, it was determined that optimum performance is generally obtained when the polymer inhibition efficiency is at least 70%. It was also determined that polymer inhibition efficiency values of near 100% are a strong indicator of overfeeding of polymer, a condition that could lead to corrosive conditions and most certainly increases the cost of system operation.
A key component of the present invention was the development of a procedure for measuring the relative levels of free and total polymer present in samples drawn from a treated water system water system. The applicants discovered that a key relationship exists between the free and total polymer concentration as determined from measurement of filtered and unfiltered samples of the system water. This key relationship was termed the polymer inhibition efficiency and could be expressed as a percentage according to the following formula:
% Polymer Inhibition Efficiency=(Free Polymer/Total Polymer)×100%
In one embodiment of the invention, the level of free polymer is determined by filtering a sample through a 0.45 μm filter, followed by acidification or chelation to solublize any fine scale forming or colloidal particles remaining in the sample. The solublization releases into solution all of the polymer in the sample that may have been bound or incorporated into the fine particulates. The level or concentration of the polymer in the filtered and treated sample is then quantified to determine the free polymer concentration. For the measurement of total polymer, an unfiltered sample is similarly acidified or chelated to solublize scale forming particles. The level or concentration of the polymer in the unfiltered sample is then quantified to determine the total polymer concentration.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a measured sample of the treated water is collected and split into two containers, one sample is then filtered through a sub micron filter and the filtrate collected. The concentration of polymer in both the filtered and unfiltered samples is then determined by the following sequence. The sample is passed through a cationic resin cartridge in which the majority of both the preferred anionic quad-polymer and other anionic species become reversibly bound to the resin. The cationic resin cartridge is then washed with a dilute acid solution to remove weakly bound species. This first wash is then followed by a second wash with a measured volume of a more concentrated acid solution to release and extract the reversibly bound polymer and produce a sample of a concentrated polymer solution.
The concentrated polymer sample is then placed into an appropriate spectroscopy test cell and its absorption spectra measured using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer. A predetermined calibration curve of polymer concentration vs. adsorbance for the tested spectra is then used to determine the concentration of polymer in the cooling water sample. FIG. 1 shows a calibration curve prepared for the preferred quad-polymer. Although adsorption spectroscopy is preferred, transmission spectroscopy and emission spectroscopy could be utilized in a similar fashion. Turbidimetric measurements can also be used to determine and compare the levels of free polymer and total polymer. In such a method, the polymer present in both an unfiltered sample (total polymer) and a filtered sample (free polymer) are caused to precipitate and the turbidity of the resulting samples are measured and compared with a calibration curve.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a measured sample of the treated water is collected and split into two containers, one sample is then filtered through a sub micron filter and the filtrate collected the other sample is not filtered. The concentration of polymer in each sample is then determined using the following sequence. Four drops of a 38% solution of the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) are added to a 25 ml sample of the test water. The sample is introduced into a spectrometer configured to measure absorbance at 490 nm and the spectrometer adjusted to read zero. The sample is removed and 1 ml of a 10% solution of monoethanol amine (MEA) is added, followed by 1 ml of a 1% benethonium chloride solution and 0.2 g of potassium chloride. The sample is mixed and allowed to stand for three minutes. The sample is then reintroduced into the spectrometer and absorbance again measured at 490 nm. Using a predetermined calibration curve of Polymer Concentration vs. Absorbance at 490 nm, the concentration of polymer in the sample can be determined.
The applicants also developed a laboratory calcium phosphate inhibition test to evaluate the effectiveness of polymeric dispersants. The following stock solutions were prepared:
Stock solution A: 12.2425 g/l of calcium chloride dihydrate (adjusted to pH 8.5 with 0.1 N NaOH)
Stock solution B: 7270 g/l of sodium dihydrogen phosphate
Stock solution C: 10.3050 g/l of boric acid 12.4258 g/l of potassium chloride
Two liters of a buffered test solution were then prepared from the stock solutions by mixing 100 ml of solution A, 50 ml of solution C, and approximately 1.85 liters of de-ionized water and adjusting the pH of the resulting solution to pH 8.3 using a 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution.
According to the test procedure developed by the applicants, 96 ml of the buffered test solution was added to a clean 125 ml Erlenmeyer flask, followed by a small volume of the treatment chemical solution, approximately 0.1 ml, to produce a solution having less than 30 mg/l of the polymer. The flask was then sealed and the solution was stirred and heated to 60° C. in a rotator incubator. When the solution reached 60° C., four separate 1 ml aliquots of stock solution B were added to the flask at five minute intervals. After the final aliquot had been added, the temperature and stirring were maintained for an additional 20 minutes. The contents of the test solution were then transferred to a 100 ml glass graduated cylinder and the graduated cylinder sealed. The solution was then allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature.
A 13 ml sample was then extracted from the room temperature solution from about the 70 ml mark of the graduated cylinder. A first 5 ml portion of the 13 ml sample was then withdrawn, a single drop of a 0.1 N hydrochloric acid solution was added, and the volume was adjusted to 50 ml using de-ionized water. The resulting solution was then analyzed for phosphate content to determine the level of dispersed phosphate. A second 5 ml portion was then withdrawn from the remaining 8 ml of sample, filtered through a 0.45 μm filter, a single drop of a 0.1 N hydrochloric acid solution was added to the filtrate, and the volume was adjusted to 50 ml using de-ionized water. The resulting solution was then analyzed for phosphate content to determine the level of soluble phosphate. In their experiments, the applicants used a Hach DR 2010 spectrophotometer and the 8048 Reactive Phosphorous method for measuring phosphate levels, it is contemplated that other known equipment and methods could be employed with satisfactory results.
In order to establish a baseline reading, a solution was prepared using 400 μl of stock solution B, a single drop of a 0.1 N hydrochloric acid solution, and sufficient de-ionized water to adjust the volume to 100 ml. The resulting solution was then analyzed to determine its phosphate level. The levels of dispersed and soluble phosphate in the treated solutions could then be expressed as percentages calculated by dividing the readings for dispersed and soluble phosphate by the baseline phosphate reading and multiplying by 100%.
EXAMPLE 1
A series of calcium phosphate inhibition tests were conducted as a function of concentration of quad-polymer. The results of this test are shown in FIG. 2 which graphs the % Dispersed Phosphate vs. Concentration of Polymer in mg/l. FIG. 2 illustrates that the percentage of dispersed phosphate increases with increasing concentrations of polymer. Free and total polymer measurements were made on the samples at the end of the test using the cation resin extraction method followed by UV spectroscopy. FIG. 3 illustrates the relative levels of free and total polymer and the ratio of free to total polymer, this ratio being expressed as a percentage called the % Polymer Inhibition Efficiency.
FIG. 4 illustrates the % Phosphate Dispersion and its relationship to % Polymer Inhibition Efficiency. At low overall levels of polymer, both the polymer inhibition efficiency and the level of dispersed phosphate are low. As the concentration of polymer increases, the difference between the detected levels of free polymer and total polymer decreases, indicating that more of the system polymer is either associated with inhibited particles or remains unreacted. Further, as the system polymer concentration increases, the level of dispersed phosphate also increases. Surprisingly, the applicants found that 100% calcium phosphate dispersion was achieved at a polymer inhibition efficiency of 80%, thereby demonstrating that it is not necessary to maintain near 100% polymer inhibition efficiency in order to achieve excellent phosphate dispersion. This same result also demonstrates that 100% polymer inhibition efficiency is unnecessary and represents a polymer overdose condition. The applicants also found that when the polymer inhibition efficiency decreased below 70%, the level of dispersed phosphate also decreased rapidly, generally leading rapidly to unacceptable levels of system fouling.
From these results, the applicants concluded that efficient operation of an aqueous system is obtained when the polymer inhibition efficiency is sufficiently high to ensure good dispersion of calcium phosphate without reaching an overdose condition in which unnecessary excess polymer is present. Although the overall polymer level and the desired level of polymer inhibition efficiency will be somewhat dependent on the conditions, demands, and the level of control available within the particular aqueous system being treated, the applicants contemplate that polymer inhibition efficiencies between about 75% and 95% will be suitable for most systems.
In connection with their research, the applicants utilized laboratory pilot cooling tower systems that could be operated as small-scale, fully functional evaporative cooling systems. Under typical test conditions, the pilot towers were capable of evaporating approximately 40 gallons of water per day. Makeup water composition and volume was fully controllable and fed from nearby storage tanks. The pilot towers were fully automated using customized data acquisition and control software. FIG. 5 provides a schematic of a typical pilot cooling tower, along with key features of the data acquisition system. Additional details on the pilot cooling tower system and control system used by the applicants were described in "A Computer-Controlled Pilot Cooling Tower: Taking Advantage of the Graphical User Interface," 53 rd International Water Conference, Paper No. IWC-92-52.
EXAMPLE 2
To evaluate the utility of the quad-polymer in the present method and to confirm the bench-top experiments reported in Example 1, the applicants conducted pilot cooling tower testing. FIG. 6 shows results of a pilot cooling tower test conducted by the applicants utilizing the quad-polymer. Test conditions are shown below in Table 1. The objective of the test was to evaluate the impact of high-pH upsets on performance of the quad-polymer and verify the utility of the present invention by quantifying free and total polymer levels and calibrating their respective levels as an indicator of system performance. The cationic resin extraction method was used to measure the concentration of free and total polymer.
TABLE 1______________________________________Pilot Cooling Tower Test Conditions______________________________________Makeup Water 2-cycle synthetic Richmond tapCycles of Concentration 4Calcium 300-350 ppm as CaCO.sub.3Conductivity 2,000 μmhospH 7.5 baselineReturn water temperature 108° F.Average water velocity 3 ft/secTreatment Program Polymer/phosphate/phosphonate/azole______________________________________
As shown in FIG. 6, for the first five days of the experiment, pH was maintained at 7.5-7.6. During this period, free and total polymer averaged 6.4 and 7.2 ppm respectively, with an average polymer inhibition efficiency of 88%. Minimal changes were observed in heat transfer resistance (HTR), as indicated by a pilot cooling tower DATS fouling monitor. On day six of the experiment, pH was raised to 8.6 and maintained at a level of 8.6-8.8 for the next seven days to induce fouling in the system. With the elevation in pH, a slight increase was observed in HTR, with a corresponding slight increase observed in the difference between free and total polymer. The extent to which fouling was induced in the system was much less than had been anticipated based on previous experience with alternative polymers.
Encouraged with the outcome of the high pH excursion, the system was returned to pH 7.6 and polymer levels were reduced by 50%. For the next three days the system was held at the initial pH 7.6 set point. As indicated in FIG. 4, no additional increases in fouling or polymer demand were observed using the reduced polymer level at neutral pH. On day 16 of the experiment, pH was increased to 8.6, and over the next few days incrementally increased to 8.9. As shown in FIG. 4, the reduced level of polymer was not sufficient to maintain stabilization of the system at elevated pH, and beginning on day 18, the polymer inhibition efficiency decreased and fouling rapidly occurred.
The performance breakpoint in treatment of the pilot cooling tower system occurred once free polymer residual was less than 3 ppm, a level that corresponded to a system polymer inhibition efficiency of approximately 75%. Once the polymer inhibition efficiency decreased to this level, fouling occurred. The outcome of the pilot cooling tower test confirmed the applicants' previous bench-top calcium phosphate inhibition studies that had suggested that polymer inhibition efficiency represented a powerful indicator of system performance.
As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations, and variations of the present disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
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A method is provided for monitoring and controlling the level of treatment chemicals in an aqueous system, such as a cooling water system or boiler system, through the direct measurement of one or more chemically active polymers. Polymers typically function as scale inhibitors and dispersants in a water treatment system and exist in aqueous systems in both free and bound states, the free and bound states together comprising the total polymer present in the aqueous system. The ratio of free polymer level to total polymer level defines the polymer inhibition efficiency of the system and provides an indication of the effectiveness of the water treatment program. The total polymer level may be used to determine the volume of treatment chemicals added to the system, while the free polymer to total polymer ratio indicates the dosage required to maintain system performance.
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This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 08/122,435, filed Sep. 24, 1993, now abandoned, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference and a continuation of PCT/DK92/00137 filed on Apr. 30, 1992.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a process for hydrolysis of water-insoluble ester in the presence of a lipase, particularly to such a process for hydrolysis of pitch (resin) in pulp, and to a method of increasing the rate of hydrolysis of water-insoluble ester in the presence of a lipase by incorporation of a polyelectrolyte.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known that lipases can be used with advantage for efficient hydrolysis of water-insoluble esters, particularly triglycerides (e.g. JP-A 51-080305, JP-A 58-126794, JP-A 59-210893, GB-A 2,176,480, WO 88/02775).
It is also known that some types of pulp made from wood have a high pitch content, e.g. various types of mechanical pulp. This can cause so-called pitch troubles in papermaking such as paper contamination or paper breaks. Pitch contains considerable amounts of triglycerides, more commonly known as fats, and other esters.
It is the object of this invention to provide an improved process for ester hydrolysis, applicable to hydrolysis of resin esters.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
We have found that, surprisingly, addition of a water-soluble polyelectrolyte (i.e. an anionic or cationic polymer) significantly increases rate of esters in the presence of lipases.
Various metal cations have been reported to affect lipase activity, and cationic surfactant has been reported inhibit lipase activity (Nishio et al., Agric. Biol. Chem., 51 (1), 181-186, 1987; C. E. Ibrahim et al., Agric. Biol. Chem., 51 (1), 37-45, 1987). The effect of polyelectrolytes on lipase activity has not been described.
Accordingly, the invention provides a process for hydrolysis of water-insoluble ester in the presence of a lipase, characterized by the presence of a water-insoluble polyelectrolyte. The invention also provides a method of increasing the rate of hydrolysis of water-insoluble ester in the presence of a lipase by incorporation of a water-soluble polyelectrolyte.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Polyelectrolyte
The polyelectrolyte used in the invention may be any water-soluble polymer that contains functional groups which ionize in water. It may be cationic or anionic. A group of preferred anionics is anionic polyacrylamide, e.g. a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylate (such as sodium acrylate).
Some preferred cationic polymers are those contaning tertiary or quaternary amine groups. An example is cationic starch having diethylamino-ethyl groups or 2-hydroxy,2-(trimethylamino-methyl)ethyl groups attached to the hydroxyl group in the 6-position of the repeating glucose unit of the starch molecule.
Another example is cationic polyacrylamide, e.g. a copolymer of acrylamide with N-(dimethyl-amino-methyl)-acrylamide, dimethyl-amino-ethyl methacrylate or trimethyl-amino-ethyl methacrylate. A further example is cationic polyamine such as quaternary polyamine and polyethyleneimine.
Use of the above-mentioned polyelectrolytes is particularly advantageous in papermaking where these polymers may simultaneously act flocculants or retention aids.
The amount of polyelectrolyte is preferably 2-1000 ppm, preferably 10-200 ppm in the reaction mixture, or 0.1-10 kg/ton of dry matter, particularly 0.3-3 kg/t.
Lipase
For reasons of economy, microbial lipases are preferred. Examples of suitable enzymes are lipases derived from strains of Pseudomonas (especially Ps. cepacia, Ps. fluorescens, Ps. fragi and Ps. stutzeri), Candida (especially C. antarctica (e.g. lipase A or B, see WO 88/02775) and C. cylindracea), Humicola (especially H. brevispora, H. lanuginosa, H. brevis var. thermoidea and H. insolens), Chromobacterium (especially C. viscosum) and Aspergillus (especially A. niger).
The amount of lipase will typically correspond to a lipase activity of 1,000-100,000 LU/kg dry matter or 50-5,000 LU/litre (LU=Lipase Unit, defined in WO 89/04361).
Ester Hydrolysis Process
Typical process conditions are pH 3-7.5, particularly 4-7, a temperature from ambient to 80° C., particularly 30°-60° C., and reaction times of 0.5-3 hours.
The process of the invention can be used for any lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of water-insoluble esters, particularly triglycerides.
Thus, the process of the invention may be used for fat hydrolysis in the production of fatty acids, glycerides and/or glycerol from fat or oil. The ester may be a liquid at ambient temperature, such as soy bean oil and many other oils, or it may be a high melting fat, such as beef tallow.
Hydrolysis of Resin Esters
The process of the invention is particularly applicable to the hydrolysis of resin esters during a pulping or paper-making process, e.g. to avoid pitch troubles such as paper contamination, paper breaks or contamination of process equipment.
The process of the invention may be applied to any pitch-containing pulp, especially to pulps with a considerable content of triglycerides and other esters from pitch. Examples are pulps produced by mechanical pulping, alone or combined with a gentle chemical treatment, such as GW (Ground Wood), TMP (Thermo Mechanical Pulp) and CTMP (Chemical Thermo Mechanical Pulp).
Hydrolysis of esters in pitch according to the invention can be done in the pulping or stock preparation section, where addition of polyelectrolytes is particularly advantageous since it can also act as a retention or flocculation aid. The pulp typically has a consistency of 0.2-5% dry substance.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Red pine (Pinus radiata) ground wood pulp was treated with Humicola lipase in the presence of various polyelectrolytes. After the reaction the degree of triglyceride hydrolysis was determined by quantitative TLC using latroscan™.
Conditions were: 4% pulp slurry, pH 4.5, temperature 40° C., agitation 300 rpm. The dosage of polyelectrolyte and enzyme is given below as ppm/DS. Results:
______________________________________ Dosage Relative Amount Dosage of of Trigly- of poly. Lipase cerides (*)Polyelectrolyte (ppm/DS) (ppm/DS) (%)______________________________________None (control) 0 1000 100Anionic, High 1000 1000 79MolecularPolyacrylamide-copolymerCationic, High 1000 1000 67MolecularPolyacrylamide-copolymerStrongly Cationic, 1000 1000 64High MolecularPolyacrylamide-copolymerQuaternary Polyamine 1000 1000 67Cationic Polymer 1000 1000 71______________________________________ (*): Determined by quantitative TLC; Iatroscan Method.
It is seen that all the anionic and cationic polymers tested increased the hydrolysis of triglyceride.
Example 2
To verify the effect of polyelectrolytes on lipase activity another experiment was done, using two different cationic polymers. Conditions were: 4% pulp slurry, pH 4.5, temperature 40° C., 2 hours reaction time, agitation 300 rpm. Dosage of polyelectrolytes and enzyme are given below as ppm/DS.
______________________________________Dosage (ppm/DS) Dosage Relativeof (ppm/DS) amountCationic Quarternary of TriglyceridesPolyner Polyamine Lipase (%)______________________________________0 0 0 1000 0 1000 451000 0 1000 361000 0 0 1000 1000 1000 320 1000 0 100______________________________________ (*): Determined by quantitative TLC; Iatroscan Method.
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Addition of a water-soluble polyelectrolyte (i.e. an anionic or cationic polymer) significantly increases the hydrolysis rate of esters in the presence of lipases. The invention provides a process for hydrolysis of water-insoluble ester in the presence of a lipase characterized by the presence of a water-soluble polyelectrolyte. The invention also provides a method of increasing the rate of hydrolysis of water-insoluble ester in the presence of a lipase by incorporation of a water-soluble polyelectrolyte.
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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a voice information service system, more particularly to a voice information service system utilizing approximately matched input character string and key word which are constituted by an access code corresponding to a desired specific character by combining DTMF (dual tone multi- frequency) signals to provide various vocal information services by means of a telephone, and an approximate matching method thereof.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
In general, when the user wants to research detailed information upon and/or after accessing a desired service in a voice information service system, a voice information service system has problems because an exact service number or an item name number must be inputted therein in a precise order, or a corresponding service name or an item name must be precisely inputted therein in order to obtain desired voice information service therefrom. For example, when a service for identifying a present stock quotation is requested by utilizing a telephone through the voice information service system, a desired service number or service name such as "stock market quotes" must be exactly inputted therein. Otherwise, the desired service name and the service number must be authenticated by the system user to obtain a desired service.
In order to resolve the above problems, one object of the invention is to provide access to a voice information service system in which a desired specific character is inputted by selecting two buttons from among the number of buttons of a touch-tone type telephone and pressing them in a given sequence, thereby obtaining the desired service in the form of a vocal output.
Another object of the invention is to provide a voice information service system for inputting a continuous character string without making a distinction between component words, thereby providing a desired service through a touch-tone type telephone.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for approximately matching an input character string with a key word in the vocal information service system.
The preceding objects should be construed as merely presenting a few of the more pertinent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to both the summary of the invention and the detailed description, below, which describe the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The voice information service system utilizing approximately matched input character string and key word, and the method for the approximate matching thereof of the present invention is defined by the claims with a specific embodiment shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention relates to a voice information system utilizing approximately matched input character string and key word. The voice information system comprises a telephone means for transmitting dual tone multi-frequency signals by pressing two buttons of a plurality of buttons in an ordered sequence. The telephone means comprises a character panel including a plurality of buttons which are orderly arranged therein. An exchange means is provided for intermediating the DTMF signals received from the telephone means. A telephone line matching apparatus is connected from the exchange means for detecting a line status of the system and protecting the system from an instantaneous higher voltage. A DTMF receiver apparatus is also provided for converting the DTMF signal inputted from the telephone means into a corresponding digital signal. A service provider terminal means is provided for inputting a plurality of key words corresponding to a plurality of service names and a plurality of information data to be provided. A key word storage apparatus is provided with a service name file unit for storing a service name file in which a plurality of the service names and service numbers corresponding thereto are registered, and a key word dictionary unit for storing a key word dictionary in which a plurality of the key words and service numbers are registered. A text information storage apparatus is provided for storing a plurality of information data corresponding to each service name of information data to be provided, which is inputted from the service provider terminal means. A central processing unit is provided for converting digital signals outputted from the DTMF receiver apparatus into an input character string, reading information data corresponding to a service name, which is obtained by matching the input character string with the key words stored in the key word storage apparatus, from the text information storage apparatus to thereby provide read information data, converting the read information data into digital voice data, and receiving a service name, a key word and information data to be provided, which are newly listed by the service provider terminal means to transfer and to store the service name and the key word to and at the key word storage apparatus, the information data to and at the text information storage apparatus, respectively. A voice output apparatus is connected from the central processing unit, for converting digital voice data output signals into a voice signal to transfer the voice signal through the telephone line matching apparatus and the exchange means to the telephone means.
Preferably, the central processing unit comprises: an input unit for syllabicating an input character string inputted by a user into character units; a service name matching unit for attempting to match the input character string inputted from the input unit with a service name corresponding thereto of a plurality of the service names stored at the service name file unit; a key word matching unit connected to the service name matching unit for attempting to match the input character string with a key word corresponding thereto of a plurality of the key words stored at the key word storage apparatus to thereby determine at least one or more additional prospective service names; an optimum service name determining unit connected from the key word matching unit for determining one optimum service name of the prospective service names if more than two of the prospective service names exist; and, an output unit connected both to the service name matching unit and to the optimum service name determining unit for receiving a service name and/or an optimum service name from any one of the service name matching units and/or the optimum service name determining unit to thereby output information data corresponding to each service name and/or an optimum service name.
The present invention further includes a method for approximately matching an input character string with a key word in the voice information service system including a central processing unit comprising the steps of:
A) discriminating as to whether all characters of an input character string, formed by syllabicating an input character string into a plurality of character numbers having a first character through a last character, are matched with all characters of a service name having a first character through a last character stored in the central processing unit;
B) discriminating as to whether a matched key word obtained by matching the first character of the input character string with the first character of the key word stored in the system exists, if all the characters of the input character string are not matched with all characters of a service name at step A);
C) discriminating as to whether a matched key word obtained by individually matching all remaining characters including the last character of the input character string with those of the key word exists, if the matched key word exists at step B);
D) storing service numbers and all the character numbers relating to matched key words, all the character numbers representing a corresponding character sequence of the input character string, in a matching result file, if the matched key words exist at step C);
E) sequentially adding a next character number either to the first character of the input character string at step B), or to the partially matched character thereof at step C), if the matched key words do not exist at step B) or C);
F) identifying whether the individual matching from the first character of the input character string to the last character of the input character string between those of the key word has been accomplished;
G) selecting optimum service names by investigating the matching result file stored at step D); and,
H) determining the number of prospective services finally obtained by determining optimum service names at step G), both to output information data corresponding to the service name obtained either by taking one if the number of the prospective services is one, or by selecting one of them if the number thereof is two, thereby ending the method, and to return from step H) to step A), if the number thereof is either none or more than two.
According to one feature of the invention, the CPU (central processing unit) converts signals transferred from a DTMF receiver apparatus into an input character string to thereby provide a converted input character string, so that the converted input character string is discriminated as to whether it is matched with a service name or an item name stored at a service name file unit in the key word storage apparatus. Then, the CPU receives from an external computer or its text information storage apparatus employed therein information data corresponding to the service name or the item name if the matching therebetween is accomplished, and receives information data corresponding to a service name or an item name obtained by re-matching the input character string with a key word stored at the key word dictionary unit in the key word storage apparatus if the matching therebetween is not accomplished, respectively, and then transfers them to a voice output apparatus. The voice output apparatus then converts the text data into a voice signal to transmit it through a telephone line matching apparatus and an exchange means to the telephone means.
According to other features of the invention, a key word is provided by dividing a service name or an item name and an additional key word in the form of a compound noun type into its component word, and is then stored at the key word dictionary unit in alphabetic order to increase the processing speed of the CPU.
Therefore, in light of the fact that a key word is mainly made in the form of a compound noun type, the invention has advantages that a service name such as, for example, "Stockmarket", "Marketquotes", "Stockquotes" or "Stock", etc. can be inputted directly into the voice information service system through a MFC (multi-frequency code) type telephone which is well known in the art without inputting an exact service number or an exact service name such as, for example, "Stockmarketquotes", thereby providing a desired service to users.
The more pertinent and important features of the present invention have been outlined above in order that the detailed description of the invention which follows will be better understood and that the present contribution to the art can be fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention described hereinafter form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed herein may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Further, those skilled in the art can realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing a voice information service system according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a configuration of a conventional character panel for inputting a plurality of characters;
FIG. 3 is a configuration of a character panel used in a voice information service system according to the invention;
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are a key word storage apparatus and an information storage apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating matching procedures in CPU according to the invention; and,
FIG. 6 is a detail flow chart illustrating matching procedures in CPU according to the invention.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a voice information service system 100 for inputting a character string. DTMF signals inputted from character panel 30 for generating character data, which is attached to a telephone means 1 for subscriber, are supplied through a well known exchange means 2 for intermediating the character data to a telephone line matching apparatus 3. The telephone line matching apparatus 3 supervises a telephone line status of, for example, ringing signal, dial tone and busy tone, etc., while it blocks the instantaneous higher voltage introduced therein due to such as, for example, a thunderbolt, thereby protecting the system. Also, the telephone line matching apparatus 3 is connected through a DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency) receiver apparatus 4 and a voice output apparatus 5, respectively, to a CPU 8. The CPU 8 is connected to a key word storage apparatus 6, a text information storage apparatus 7 and a service provider terminal means 9, respectively.
On the other hand, the DTMF receiver apparatus 4 converts DTMF signals inputted by a user into 4 bit digital signals to thereby supply converted digital signals to the CPU 8. The CPU 8 then converts the converted digital signals transmitted from the DTMF receiver apparatus 4 into a character string, and attempts to match the character string with a plurality of key words stored at the key word storage apparatus 6. The results of the approximately matching procedure thereof will be explained in detail in connection with FIG. 5.
Herein, the key word storage apparatus 6 includes a service name file unit 6A and a key word dictionary unit 6B, as shown in FIG. 4A. The service name file unit 6A includes a plurality of service names and service numbers stored therein, and the key word dictionary unit 6B includes a plurality of key words and service numbers stored therein.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the CPU 8 reads information data corresponding to a service number obtained in the resulting of its matching procedure from the text information storage apparatus 7. The CPU 8 then converts information data into voice data and transfers the converted voice data to the voice output apparatus 5. The voice output apparatus 5 then converts voice information data from the CPU 8 into a voice signal to thereby supply the voice signal through the telephone line matching apparatus 3 and exchange means 2 to the telephone means 1, thereby allowing the user to hear the desired information in a voice form. The CPU 8 also receives a plurality of service names, key words and information data, which are newly inputted by means of service provider terminal means 9, and transmits service names and key words to the key word storage apparatus 6 and service information data to the text information storage apparatus 7, respectively, to register them therein.
FIG. 2 shows a conventional character panel 20 for inputting characters. The character panel 20 is constructed in the manner to input a character string by selectively pressing a plurality of buttons 20N the number of times corresponding to the position of the predetermined character, to which a number of characters are respectively allotted. For example, in order to input English characters "C, E, G", the user must press the buttons 1, 2, 3 of a plurality of buttons 20N the number of times of 3, 2, 1 corresponding to relative sequential position of each character, in the manner that the format "111, 22, 3" is formed. However, such configuration causes the inconvenience in pressing the same button repeatedly. Further, the receiving error often happens due to the vague input, since the time interval for pressing each of a plurality of buttons 20N to input a character string is often uneven. For example, the characters "ac", "ca", and "bb" are inputted by pressing button 1 four times to form the format "1111" in the same way. Consequently, it is difficult for a receiving side to distinguish between the inputted characters.
In order to resolve these problems, a character panel 30 having a character arrangement in connection with a plurality of buttons 30N mounted on the telephone means 1 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3.
Inputting a character by using the character panel 30 is performed by pressing two adjacent buttons in a given order, in the manner that a button close to the representing character is firstly pressed, and then another button spaced away therefrom in the same direction is pressed. For example, inputting the word "school" is made by pressing two adjacent buttons of a plurality of buttons 30N corresponding to the position of each of characters "s, c, h, o, o, l" in a given order in connection with the position of the representing character in the character panel 30, so that the format "58, 23, 65, 47, 47, 98" may be formed. Therefore it is easy to input characters, while it can solve the inconvenience in pressing the same button several times as in the prior art. Also, since only two figure buttons per each character are operated, it can prevent the receiving error from occurring, which often happens in a conventional character panel 20 as shown in FIG. 2. On the other hand, the character panel 30 can be manufactured separately from the telephone means 1 or be manufactured by directly printing them on the telephone means 1.
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B represent configurations of a key word storage apparatus 6 and a text information storage apparatus 7. The key word storage apparatus 6 includes a service name file unit 6A and a key word dictionary unit 6B. The text information storage apparatus 7 stores a plurality of information to be provided. It is assumed that service names are A, B, C. Service names A, B, C and service numbers i, j, k corresponding thereto are stored in the service name file unit 6A of the key word storage apparatus 6, so that the former, service names, may be stored in alphabetic order to increase the researching speed of the memory device, and the latter, service numbers, may be designated to avoid overlapping with one another. The key word dictionary unit 6B stores a plurality of key words obtained by dividing a service name of a usually compound noun type and an additional key word into each component word, and a plurality of service numbers corresponding thereto in alphabetic order. Herein, it is noted that one key word can have two or more service numbers. For example, a key word b1 has service numbers "j" and "k", as shown in FIG. 4A, so that service names become key words of B, C. Assuming that the service name is "stock market quotes", component words "stock", "market", "quotes" become key words. Each of these key words is stored in the key word dictionary unit 6B with service numbers allotted to "stockmarketquotes". If two services such as, for example, "express bus time table" and "train time table" are present, each of "time" and "table" has two service numbers. The text information storage apparatus 7 stores information data IA, IB, IC ... corresponding to each service name. Each of the information data is not uniform in shape and size.
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating the matching procedure between an input character string and a key word in the CPU 8 of FIG. 1. An input unit 11 syllabicates the input character string into characters to transfer them to a service name matching unit 12. The service name matching unit 12 attempts to match the transferred input character string with a service name. It then transfers it to an output unit 15, if successfully matching thereof; otherwise, it transfers the input character string to a key word matching unit 13. The key word matching unit 13 attempts to match the input character string with a plurality of the key words stored in the key word dictionary unit 6B to determine a prospective service name and to transfer it to an optimum service name determining unit 14. The optimum service name determining unit 14 determines an optimum service name, if two or more prospective service names are present, and then transfers it to the output unit 15. The output unit 15 outputs information data corresponding to the optimum service name to the telephone means 1. Detailed matching procedures will be described in detail below.
FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of the approximately matching procedures illustrated in FIG. 5. In the first step, the CPU 8 is initialized with a starting signal. An input character string is inputted in the form of character units at step 101. Step 101 then proceeds to step 102 to syllabicate the input character string, which is inputted without distinguishing between their component words, into character units a1, a2, a3 ... aN. Then, an attempt is made to match the input character string by character units with a plurality of service names stored at the service name file unit 6A in the key word storage apparatus 6, at step 103. Giving a concrete example, it is assumed that an input character string is "phonedirectory" and a service name to be matched is "phone banking", the first character "p" of the input character string is compared with first character "p" of the service name of a plurality of service names, and the next characters therebetween "h" and "h", "o" and "o" ... are compared with each other in order. At step 103, if the service name matched with all characters of the input character string exists, that is, the service name which is the same as the input character string exists, the step 103 proceeds to step 104 to output the corresponding service name. This ends the matching procedures.
On the contrary, if the matching is unsuccessful at step 103, step 103 proceeds to step 105 to compare the first character, "a1", of the input character string with the first character of the key word stored at the key word dictionary unit 6B in the key word apparatus 6 shown in FIG. 1. If their first characters are equal, step 105 proceeds to step 106, otherwise step 105 proceeds to step 108. At step 106, the next characters of the input character string are continuously and individually compared or matched with the second character, third character, ..., of the key word in the key word dictionary unit 6B. If the key word matched successfully with their last characters exists, step 106 proceeds to step 107, otherwise step 106 proceeds to step 108. At step 107, both service numbers with respect to the key words which are matched at step 106 and the input character string numbers representing a corresponding character sequence of the input character string with respect to the matched key word, are stored in a matching result file and step 107 proceeds then to step 108. For example, assuming that the input character string is "credit card check", and the key words in which the matching has been accomplished are "credit", "credit card", "card" and "check", in the way that the key word "credit" has the registration numbers of 5, 7 and 8, the key word "credit card" has the registration number of 5, and the key word "card" has the registration numbers of 5, 6, 7 and 9, the key words "credit", "credit card", "card" and "check" are then registered at service number 5 to coincide with the sequence of the matched input character string, as shown in TABLE 1 in which an example of the matching result file is illustrated. That is, the key word "credit" is registered at the positions from the first to the sixth character of the input character string.
Returning to FIG. 6, at step 108, a next character number is added either to the first character of the input character number (i) at step 105, or to the partially matched character thereof at step 106. Step 108 proceeds then to step 109 to identify whether the matching has been performed to the last character (aN) of the input character string. If the matching is completed, step 109 proceeds to step 110, otherwise step 109 proceeds to step 105 in order to re-match the input character string having an increased character number with the key word. At step 110, the matching result file stored at step 107 is investigated to select optimum service names.
A selecting procedure of an optimum service name will be described with reference to TABLE 1. An input character string, "credit card check" consisting of 15 characters has been matched with four key words ("credit", "credit card", "card", "check") according to the results of their matching. Key words, "credit", "credit card", "card" and "check" matched successfully at service number 5 are 4. Arranging the key words to avoid overlap with each other, the key words become "credit card check", "credit check" and "card check", etc. The number of key words for the arrangement "credit card check" containing the maximum number of key words is 3. This number is the largest constituting number of key words, which are matched exclusively to each other. The maximum number of key words having service numbers, 6 and 7, is 2. In this case, the service names corresponding to service number 5 which is the largest number of key words are selected as optimum service names.
On the other hand, step 110 proceeds to step 111 to determine the number of prospective services to be finally selected. If the optimum service name selected at step 110 is 1, step proceeds to step 113 to select the corresponding service name, and to output it. If the number of optimum service names selected at step 110 is none or more than two, step 111 returns to step 101 to input the input character string again. If the number of the optimum service names selected at step 110 is two, step 111 proceeds to step 112 for the user to select one of them as indicated at step 112A. Thus, step 112 proceeds to step 113 to output the corresponding optimum service names through the telephone means for the system user to select one of optimum service names, thereby completing the selecting procedures of the optimum service. Finally, information data corresponding to a service name selected during the matching procedures is outputted to the telephone means in a vocal form.
As described above, the invention can avoid the undesirable need for recalling or identifying an exact service number and item number one by one, notwithstanding that the character string is inputted using a conventional MFC type telephone. Also, the invention has prominent effects in exactly finding a service name or item name through only the approximately input operation by dividing a service name or an item name and an additional key word into their component words so as to store them in the key word dictionary unit in an ordered sequence, by comparing input character string, which has been continuously inputted without making a distinction into its component words, with key words stored in the key word dictionary in ordered sequence, and by selecting either a service name or an item name which has the largest number of matched key words.
Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
TABLE 1______________________________________EXAMPLE OF THEMATCHING RESULT FILE CONTENTSINPUT MAXIMUMSERVICE NUMBER OFNUMBER CREDITCARDCHECK KEY WORDS______________________________________5 CREDIT 4 CREDITCARD CARD CHECK6 CREDIT 2 CARD7 CARD 2 CHECK8 CREDIT 19 CHECK 1. . .______________________________________
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A voice information system utilizing approximately matched input character string and key word and a method for the approximate matching thereof is disclosed. A telephone apparatus is provided to transmit a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal by utilizing a character panel including a plurality of buttons which are orderly arranged therein. An exchange apparatus is provided to intermediate the DTMF signal. A telephone line matching apparatus is connected from the exchange apparatus to detect a line status of the system and protect the system from an instantaneous higher voltage. A DTMF receiver apparatus converts the DTMF signal into a corresponding digital signal. A service provider terminal apparatus is provided to input a plurality of key words corresponding to each service name and information data to be provided. A key word storage apparatus includes a service name file unit for storing a service name file, and a key word dictionary unit for storing a key word dictionary. A text information storage apparatus stores a plurality of information data corresponding to each service name. A central processing unit converts a digital signal outputted from the DTMF receiver apparatus into an input character string to match the input character string with the key words stored in the key word storage apparatus in order to provide information data. A voice output apparatus is connected from the central processing unit, for converting a digital voice data signal into a voice signal to thereby provide the desired information service to the user.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to therapeutic and prophylactic devices, and more particularly to devices for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb.
It is known that the velocity of blood flow in a patient's extremities, particularly the legs, markedly decreases during confinement of the patient. Such pooling or stasis of blood is particularly pronounced during surgery, immediately after surgery, and when the patient has been confined to bed for extended periods of time. It is also known that stasis of blood is a significant cause leading to the formation of thrombi in the patient's extremities, which may have a severe deleterious effect on the patient, including death. Additionally, in certain patients it is desirable to move fluid out of interstitial spaces in extremity tissues, in order to reduce swelling associated with edema in the extremities.
Devices have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,013,069 and 4,030,488, incorporated herein by reference, which develop and apply the desired compressive pressures against the patient's limbs. Such devices comprise a pair of sleeves which envelop the patient's limbs, and a controller for supplying fluid pressure to the sleeves. It is disclosed that the pressure rise times in the chambers may be modified through use of manifolds which has required precision in manufacture, and has proved both unduly expensive and inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal feature of the present invention is the provision of an improved device for applying compressive pressures from a source of pressurized fluid against a patient's limb.
The device comprises an elongated pressure sleeve for enclosing a length of the patient's limb, with the sleeve having a plurality of laterally extending separate fluid pressure chambers progressively arranged longitudinally along the sleeve from a lower portion of the limb to an upper portion of the limb proximal the patient's heart relative to the lower portion. The device has a plurality of conduits communicating with the pressure source, and a plurality of connecting devices connecting the conduits to the chambers of the sleeve. The connecting devices have restriction members with orifices of varying sizes.
A feature of the present invention is that the pressure rise times in the chambers may be controlled through use of the restriction members in the connecting devices.
Another feature of the invention is that the restriction members may be inserted into the connecting devices in order to define the desired pressure rise times in the chambers.
Thus, another feature of the invention is that the pressure rise times may be controlled through use of the restriction members in a simplified manner.
Yet another feature of the invention is that the restriction members may be readily changed in the connecting devices to modify the pressure rise times in the chambers, as desired.
Still another feature of the invention is that the connecting devices and restriction members utilized to control the pressure rise times may be manufactured at a reduced cost and may be assembled in a simplified manner.
Further features will become more fully apparent in the following description of the embodiments of this invention and from the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a compressive pressure device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front plan view, partly broken away, of a compression sleeve for the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a back plan view, partly broken away, of the sleeve of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a front plan view of fluid impervious sheets defining chambers in the sleeve of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a back plan view of the fluid impervious sheets of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 6--6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 7--7 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 8--8 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the sleeve during placement on a patient's leg;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of connecting devices for attaching conduits to chambers of the sleeve;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the assembled connecting devices of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 12--12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 13--13 of FIG. 11; and
FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a typical pressure profile developed in the sleeve chambers during use of the device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an intermittent compression device generally designated 20 having a controller 22, and a pair of elongated compression sleeves 26 for enclosing a length of the patient's extremities, such as the legs as shown. The controller 22 is connected through a tube 28 to a source S of pressurized gas, and to an exhaust tube 30. Also, the controller 22 is connected to the separate sleeves 26 through separate sets of conduits 34 and 35. The controller may be of any suitable type, such as the controllers described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,013,069 and 4,030,488.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve 26 has an outer cover sheet 36 covering the entire outer surface of an outer fluid impervious barrier sheet 38. Also, the sleeve 26 has an inner cover sheet 40 covering an inner surface of an inner fluid impervious barrier sheet 42. The outer cover sheet 36 may comprise a relatively inelastic fabric with a brushed matte or napped finish of nylon or polyester, such as a fabric sold under the trademark Flannel/Flannel II, No. 11630, by Guilford Mills, Greensboro, N.C., which provides an attractive outer surface for the sleeve, and also defines brushed or napped fibers across the entire outer surface of the sleeve for a purpose which will be described below. In suitable form, the fabric of the sheet 36 may be warp knit from polyester yarns on a tricot machine, after which the fabric is dyed to a suitable color, and the fabric is brushed or napped on a suitable machine to raise loops from the fabric. The inner cover sheet 40 may comprise a suitable nonwoven material which provides a comfortable inner surface of the sleeve for the patient. The barrier sheets may be formed from a suitable flexible plastic material, such as polyvinylchloride. If desired, a segment of the brushed nylon fabric may be formed into a tube 44 to cover the conduits which extend from the sleeve to the controller. As shown, the conduits and covering tube 44 may extend through an opening 46 in the inner cover sheet 40.
The sleeve 26 may have a pair of side edges 48a and 48b, and a pair of end edges 50a and 50b connecting the side edges 48a and b, with the side edges 48a and b being tapered toward a lower end of the sleeve. The sleeve 26 may also have an elongated opening 52 extending through a knee region 53 of the sleeve, and defined by peripheral edges 54 extending around the opening 52. In addition, the sleeve 26 has an elongated opening or cut-out 56 in the knee region 53 extending from the side edge 48a toward a lateral central portion of the sleeve, with the opening 56 being defined by peripheral edges 58 extending from the side edge 48a around the opening 56. As shown, the inner end of the opening 56 is spaced from the opening 54, and the opening 56 defines an upper flap 60 and a lower flap 62 of the sleeve which are separated by the opening 56. Further, the sleeve 26 may have a pair of lower fastening strips 61, such as a hook material sold under the trademark Velcro, secured to the inner cover sheet 40 along the side edge 48b.
With reference to FIGS. 4-8, the inner and outer fluid impervious barrier sheets 38 and 42 have a plurality of laterally extending lines 64, such as lines of sealing, connecting the barrier sheets 38 and 42 together, and longitudinally extending lines 66, such as lines of sealing, connecting the sheets 38 and 42 together and connecting ends of the lateral lines 64, as shown. The connecting lines 64 and 66 define a plurality of longitudinally disposed chambers 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68e, and 68f, which for convenience will be termed contiguous. As shown, the chambers 68 extend laterally in the sheets 38 and 42, and are disposed in the longitudinal arrangement between the end edges 50a and 50b. When the sleeve is placed on the patient's leg, the lowermost chamber 68a is located on a lower part of the leg adjacent the patient's ankle, while the uppermost chamber 68f is located on an upper part of the leg adjacent the midthigh.
As shown, the longitudinal line 66 nearest the side edge 48b is separated intermediate the chambers 68b and c, 68c and d, and the chambers 68e and f. The lateral lines 64 define ventilation channels 70a, 70b, and 70c extending laterally in the sleeve from the longitudinal line 66 adjacent the side edge 48a toward the longitudinal lines 66 adjacent the side edge 48b, with the ventilation channels 70 being positioned at spaced locations longitudinally along the sleeve intermediate different pairs of adjoining chambers. Thus, the ventilation channel 70a is located intermediate the chambers 68b and 68c, the ventilation channel 70b is located intermediate the chambers 68c and 68d, and the ventilation channel 70c is located intermediate the chambers 68e and 68f. Moreover, the ventilation channels 70 have a width substantially less than the width of the chambers 68 such that the channels 70 do not detract from the size and volume required for the compression chambers 68. The inner and outer barrier sheets 38 and 42 also have a longitudinally extending line 72 which defines a connecting channel 74 intermediate the line 72 and the adjacent longitudinal line 66. As shown, the connecting channel 74 extends along the sides of the chambers 68c, 68d, and 68e, and communicates with the ventilation channels 70a, b, and c, such that the channel 74 connects the spaced ventilation channels 70. Further, the inner barrier sheet 42 has a plurality of openings or apertures 76 which communicate with the channels 70. Thus, when the sleeve 26 is placed on the patient's leg, the openings 76 face toward the leg.
With reference to FIGS. 4-7, the longitudinal lines 66 and 72 adjacent the side edge 48b define a pair of flaps 78a and 78b of the barrier sheets 38 and 42 which extend between the respective lines and the side edge 48b. As shown, the sheets 38 and 42 have a longitudinally extending line 79 which defines a directing channel 80 intermediate the lines 79 and 72, with the opposed longitudinal ends of the channel 80 being open. The sleeve 26 has a first connecting device 82a which is commonly connected in fluid communication to the two lowermost chambers 68a and 68b, and which is connected to a conduit 34a in the illustrated conduit set 34. As shown, the conduit 34e passes through an opening 84a in the upper barrier sheet flap 78a which retains the conduit 34a at the desired position in the sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 also has a second connecting device 82b which is commonly connected in fluid communication to the second pair of adjoining chambers 68 c and 68d, and which is connected to a second conduit 34b in the conduit set 34. The conduit 34b passes through an opening 84b in the upper flap 78a which retains the conduit 34b at the desired position. The sleeve 26 has a third connecting device 82c which is commonly connected in fluid communication to the uppermost chambers 68e and 68f, and which is connected to a third conduit 34c in the conduit set 34. As shown, the conduit 34c passes through an opening 84c in the upper flap 78a, with the conduit 34c extending through the directing channel 80 in order to retain the third conduit 34c at the desired position in the sleeve. The sleeve 26 also has a connector 83 which is connected in fluid communication to the connecting channel 74 in order to permit passage of air to the ventilation channels 70. As shown, the connector 83 is connected to a fourth conduit 34d in the conduit set 34, with the conduit 34d passing through an opening 84d in the upper barrier flap 78a. Thus, the conduits 34a, 34b, and 34c are separately connected to pairs of adjoining chambers, while the conduit 34d is connected to the connecting channel 74. Of course, the other sleeve associated with the conduits 35 may be constructed in a similar manner. It will be apparent that the barrier flaps 78a and 78b, the directing channel 80, and the openings 84 cooperate to retain the conduits at the desired position within the sleeve. Further, the sleeve 26 has suitable securing means 86, such as regions of heat sealing or adhesive, bonding the flaps 78a and 78b to opposed sides of the conduits 34 adjacent the opening 46. Thus, in the event that forces are applied to the conduits 34 exterior the sleeve 26, the forces are transmitted to the flaps 78a and b rather than the connectors 82a, b, and c, in order to relieve possible strain from the connectors and prevent severance of the connectors from the sleeve.
In use, the sleeve 26 may be placed below the patient's leg preparatory to securement about the limb, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Next, the upper flap 60 and lower flap 62 may be independently passed around the patient's leg at locations above and below the knee, respectively. Thus, the opening 56 separates the flap portions of the sleeve in the region of the knee to permit independent wrapping of the upper and lower portions of the sleeve about the leg and simplify placement of the sleeve, as well as provide an improved fit. After both the upper and lower flaps 60 and 62 have been suitably wrapped about the patient's limb, the remaining part of the sleeve adjacent the side edge 48b may be wrapped over the flaps 60 and 62, and the fastening strips 61 may be pressed against the outer cover sheet 36. Thus, the hook fastening strips 61 engage with the brushed fibers of the outer cover sheet 36, such that the strips 61 and sheet 36 interengage and retain the sleeve in the wrapped configuration. Since the sheet 36 extends entirely across the outer surface of the sleeve 26, the sleeve may be readily adjusted as necessary for the desired fit according to the size of the patient's leg. Thus, the sleeve 26 may be placed in a simplified manner while accomplishing an improved fit on patients having varying leg sizes. In addition, the openings 52 and 56 greatly reduce the amount of material and bulk for the sleeve in the region of the patient's knee. Accordingly, the sleeve provides flexibility in the knee region in order to prevent binding and permit flexation of the knee during the extended periods of time while the sleeve is secured about the leg.
After placement of the sleeves on the patient's limbs, the controller 22 may be initiated in order to supply air to the sleeves 26. The controller 22 intermittently inflates the chambers 68 during periodic compression cycles, and intermittently deflates the chambers 68 through the exhaust tube 30 during periodic decompression cycles intermediate the compression cycles. The inelastic cover sheet 36 of the placed sleeve restricts the size of the inflated chambers, and greatly enhances the compressive action of the chambers to permit lower fluid volumes during the compression cycles. Further, the controller 22 supplies air through the conduits to the connecting channels 74 in the two sleeves. The air then passes from the common connecting channels 74 to the spaced ventilation channels 70 and through the openings 76 onto the patient's legs. In this manner, the device 20 ventilates a substantial portion of the patient's legs to prevent heat buildup and provide comfort for the patient during extended periods of time while the sleeves are retained in a wrapped condition about the patient's limbs. In a preferred form, the controller 22 supplies air to the ventilation channels 70 during the periodic decompression cycles. Also, the controller 22 may have suitable means, such as a switch, to selectively permit passage of air to the ventilation channels 70 or prevent passage of air to the ventilation channels 70, as desired. In addition, the switch may be utilized to control the quantity of air which ventilates the patient's limbs for maximum patient comfort.
The connecting devices 82 are illustrated in FIGS. 10-13, and comprise a connecting member 90, a pair of adapters 92a and 92b associated with the connecting member 90, and a restriction member 94. The connecting member 90 has an elongated tubular member 96 defining a lumen 98, and an annular end section 100 of smaller outside diameter for placement in the downstream lumen end of the associated conduit. The connecting member 90 also has a pair of spaced lower and upper connecting portions 102a and 102b, respectively, extending outwardly from the tubular member 96, with the connecting portions 102a and b defining associated ports 104a and 104b of uniform diameter communicating with the lumen 98 of the tubular member 36 through associated apertures 106a and 106b. The connecting portions 102a and b have annular end sections 108a and 108b of reduced external diameter for a purpose which will be described below.
The adapters 92a and b have generally planar lower flanges 110a and 110b, respectively, for securement to the sleeve with respective apertures 112a and 112b of the adapters 92a and b in communication with adjoining chambers of the sleeve. The adapters 92a and b also have housings 114a and 114b, respectively, defining outer openings 116a and 116b having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the connecting member end sections 108a and b, such that the connecting member end sections 108a and b may be received in the associated openings 116a and b of the adapters 92a and b. Thus, each of the connecting devices 82 establishes communication between a conduit and adjoining sleeve chambers through the associated connecting member 90 and spaced adapters 92a and b communicating with the adjoining chambers.
The restriction member 94 has a cylindrical section 118 having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the connecting portion ports 104a and b, with the cylindrical section 118 defining a relatively short lumen 120. The restriction member 94 also has an end wall 122 defining an orifice 124 extending through the wall 122 and having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the ports 104a and b in the connecting portions 102a and b and the sizes of the apertures 106a and b of the connecting member 90. The restriction members 94 may be inserted into the ports 104a and/or 104b of the connecting portions 102a and b with the end walls 122 preferably facing the connecting member apertures 106a and b, and the orifice size of the restriction members 94 may be selected to limit passage of fluid from the connecting member lumen 98 to the adapters 92a and/or 92b and the associated adjoining chambers. Accordingly, control of fluid passage may be accomplished in the simplified manner of selecting and inserting a restriction member 94 with desired orifice size into the desired connecting portions 102a and 102b. In this manner, the rate of pressure increases may be readily controlled to produce the desired pressure rise times in the sleeve chambers during inflation thereof.
In a suitable form, the restriction members 94 may be inserted only in the upper connecting portion 102b of each of the connecting devices 82a, 82b, and 82c, while leaving the ports 104a of the lower connecting portions 102a in the connecting devices 82a, 82b, and 82c free of obstruction, although it will be understood that suitable restriction members may be inserted into the lower connecting portions 102a, if desired. A suitable configuration for the sizes of the connecting member ports and restriction member orifices will be set forth as follows. The ports 104a and b of the connecting portions 102a and b in each of the connecting members 90 may have an inside diameter of approximately 0.141 inches. The restriction member 94 inserted into the upper connecting portion 102b of the connecting device 92a may have a diameter of approximately 0.046 inches, the restriction member 94 inserted into the upper connecting portion 102b of the connecting device 82b may have an inside diameter of approximately 0.037 inches, and the restriction member 94 inserted into the connecting portion 102b of the connecting device 82c may have an inside diameter of approximately 0.046 inches.
A chart of a typical pressure profile developed by the device of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 14 where the pressure P is plotted against the time t, with the sleeve chambers being intermittently inflated during periodic inflation cycles between the times t 0 to t 3 , and being intermittently deflated during periodic decompression cycles between the times t 3 to t 0 , i.e., between the inflation cycles. In a preferred form, a plurality of timed fluid pressure pulses are applied at time t 0 to chambers 84a and 84b, at time t 1 to chambers 84c and 84d, and at time t 2 to chambers 84e and 84f. During inflation of the lower first set of adjoining chambers 84a and b, the associated restriction member 94 limits passage of fluid into the upper chamber 84b of the set, such that the rate of pressure increase of the lower chamber 84a is greater than that in the upper chamber 84b. During subsequent inflation of the second set of adjoining chambers 84c and 84d, the associated restriction member 94 limits passage of fluid into the upper chamber 84d of the set, such that the rate of pressure increase of the lower chamber 84c is greater than that of the upper chamber 84d. Similarly, during subsequent inflation of the third set of adjoining chambers 84e and 84f, the associated restriction member limits passage of fluid into the upper chamber 84f of the set, resulting in a rate of pressure increase of the lower chamber 84e greater than the rate of pressure increase of the upper chamber 84f. Accordingly, through use of the timed pulses at times t 0 , t 1 , and t 2 , in combination with the restriction members 94 to control the rate pressure increases in the chamber sets, a compressive pressure gradient is developed which decreases from the lowermost chamber 84a to the uppermost chamber 84f of the sleeve.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a compressive pressure gradient may be established in the pressure profile exerted by the chambers against the patient's limb through use of the restriction members in the connecting devices. The connecting devices may be manufactured in a simplified manner at a reduced cost, and the restriction members may be readily inserted into the associated connecting members, as desired. Further, the orifice sizes of the restriction members may be suitably selected to define the desired pressure profile, and, of course, the restriction members may be readily changed with orifices of different sizes to modify the pressure profile, if desired.
The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
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A device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb from a source of pressurized fluid. The device has an elongated pressure sleeve for enclosing a length of the patient's limb, with the sleeve having a plurality of laterally extending separate fluid pressure chambers progressively arranged longitudinally along the sleeve from a lower portion of the limb to an upper portion of the limb proximal the patient's heart relative to the lower portion. The device has a plurality of conduits and connecting devices for connecting the conduits to a plurality of the chambers. The device also varies the effective lumen size associated with a plurality of the connecting members and conduits to vary the pressure rise times in the chambers.
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[0001] This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 12/491,055, filed on Jun. 24, 2009, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/075,307, filed Jun. 24, 2008, the entire contents of each of the applications are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention provides benzyloxy anilide derivatives which activate or otherwise modulate voltage-gated potassium channels. The compounds are useful for the treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders which are affected by modulation of potassium ion channels. One such condition is seizure disorders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Epilepsy is a well-known neurological disease, found in about 3% of the population. Approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy do not respond to currently available therapies. Such unfortunate patients—who number hundreds of thousands of people world-wide—must contend with both uncontrolled seizures and the resulting narrowing of their options in such crucial areas of life as health insurance, employment, and driving.
[0004] Retigabine (N-[2-amino-4-(4-fluorobenzylamino)phenyl]carbamic acid, ethyl ester) (U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,330) has been found to be an effective treatment of seizure disorders and has also been found useful in treating pain. Retigabine has been found to be particularly potent in models for the drug-refractory types of epilepsy. Bialer, M. et al., Epilepsy Research 1999, 34, 1-41; Blackburn-Munro and Jensen, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2003, 460, 109-116; Wickenden, A. D. et al., Expert Opin. Ther. Patents, 2004, 14(4).
[0005] “Benign familial neonatal convulsions,” an inherited form of epilepsy, has been associated with mutations in the KCNQ2/3 channels. Biervert, C. et al., Science 1998, 27, 403-06; Singh, N. A., et al., Nat. Genet. 1998, 18, 25-29; Charlier, C. et al., Nat. Genet. 1998, 18, 53-55; Rogawski, Trends in Neurosciences 2000, 23, 393-398. Subsequent investigations have established that one important site of action of retigabine is the KCNQ2/3 channel. Wickenden, A. D. et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 2000, 58, 591-600; Main, M. J. et al., Mol. Pharmcol. 2000, 58, 253-62. Retigabine has been shown to increase the conductance of the channels at the resting membrane potential, with a possible mechanism involving binding of the activation gate of the KCNQ 2/3 channel. Wuttke, T. V., et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 2005. Additionally, retigabine has been shown to increase neuronal M currents and to increase the channel open probability of KCNQ 2/3 channels. Delmas, P. and Brown, D. A. Nat. Revs Neurosci., vol. 6, 2005, 850-62; Tatulian, L. and Brown, D. A., J. Physiol., ( 2003) 549, 57-63.
[0006] The seizure type that has been most resistant to therapy is the so-called “complex partial seizure.” Retigabine is active in several seizure models, including, as indicated above, models for drug-refractory epilepsy. Because of retigabine's broad spectrum of activity and its unusual molecular mechanism, there is hope that retigabine will be effective in management of several seizure types, including the complex partial seizure, which have been resistant to treatment. Porter, R. J., Nohria, V., and Rundfeldt, C., Neurotherapeutics, 2007, vol. 4, 149-154.
[0007] The recognition of retigabine as a potassium channel opener has inspired a search among compounds with structural features in common with retigabine for other compounds which can affect the opening of, or otherwise modulate, potassium ion channels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a compound of formula I
[0000]
[0000] wherein R 1 and R 2 , are, independently, H, CN, halogen, CH 2 CN, OH, NO 2 , CH 2 F, CHF 2 , CF 3 , CF 2 CF 3 , C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl; NH 2 , NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl; N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, NHC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)N(CH 3 ) 2 , C(═O)N(Et) 2 , C(═O)NH 2 , C(═O)NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, SO 2 NH 2 , NHSO 2 —C 1 -C 6 alkyl; C(═O)OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, SC 1 —C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, Ar, (CH 2 ) m thienyl, (CH 2 ) m furyl, (CH 2 ) m imidazolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrazyl, (CH 2 ) m oxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isoxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m thiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isothiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m phenyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrrolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyridyl, or (CH 2 ) m pyrimidyl, which cycloalkyl and said cycloalkenyl groups optionally contain one or two heteroatoms selected independently from O, N, and S, and which are optionally substituted as described below; wherein m is zero, 1, or 2, Ar is a 5- to 10-member mono- or bicyclic aromatic group, optionally containing 1-4 ring heteroatoms selected independently from N, O, and S; or R 1 and R 2 , together with the ring carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-member fused ring, which ring may be saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, which optionally contains one or two heteroatoms selected independently from O, N, and S, and which is optionally substituted as described below; R 3 and R 4 are, independently, H, CN, halogen, CF 3 , OCF 3 , OC 1 —C 3 alkyl, or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; X═O or S; Y is O or S; q=1 or zero; R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 5 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein w=zero, 1, 2, or 3, Ar is a 5- to 10-member mono- or bicyclic aromatic group, optionally containing 1-4 ring heteroatoms selected independently from N, O, and S; R 6 is H or C 1 -C 3 alkyl; wherein all cycloalkyl and cycloalkenyl groups optionally contain one or two ring heteroatoms selected independently from N, O, and S; wherein all alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, and heteroaryl groups in R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and Ar are optionally substituted with one or two substituents selected independently from C 1 -C 3 alkyl, OCF 3 , halogen, CN, OH, OMe, OEt, CN, CH 2 F, and trifluoromethyl; and wherein, additionally, all cycloalkyl and heterocycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with a carbonyl group, and halogen designates Cl, F, Br or I and the terms alkyl refers to branch or unbranched alkyl groups and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and esters thereof. Such compounds are potassium channel activators or modulators.
[0009] Essentially all combinations of the several variables in formula I are embraced by this invention.
[0010] In another embodiment, this invention provides a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and at least one of the following: a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of a compound of formula I, and a pharmaceutically acceptable ester of a compound of formula I.
[0011] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a pediatric pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, a syrup for pediatric use, and at least one of the following: a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable ester of a compound of formula I, and a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of a compound of formula I.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a chewable tablet, suitable for pediatric pharmaceutical use, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, and at least one of the following: a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of a compound of formula I, and a pharmaceutically acceptable ester of a compound of formula I.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a method of preventing or treating a disease or disorder which is affected by activation voltage-gated potassium channels, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula IA or a salt or ester or solvate thereof.
[0014] This invention includes all tautomers and salts of compounds of this invention. This invention also includes all compounds of this invention wherein one or more atoms are replaced by a radioactive isotope thereof.
[0015] This invention provides compounds of formula I above wherein the group NH—C(═X)—(Y) q —R 5 is each of the following: NHC(═O)R 5 , NHC(═O)OR 5 , NHC(═S)R 5 , NHC(═S)SR 5 , NHC(═S)OR 5 , and NHC(═O)SR 5 .
[0016] Thus, in one embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein NH—C(═X)—(Y) q —R 5 is NHC(═O)R 5 .
[0017] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein NH—C(═X)—(Y) q —R 5 is NHC(═S)R 5 .
[0018] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein NH—C(═X)—(Y) q —R 5 is NHC(═S)SR 5 .
[0019] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein NH—C(═X)—(Y) q —R 5 is each NHC(═O)OR 5 .
[0020] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein NH—C(═X)—(Y) q —R 5 is NHC(═S)OR 5 .
[0021] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein NH—C(═X)—(Y) q —R 5 is NHC(═O)SR 5 .
[0022] In another generic embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0023] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I wherein R, is located as shown below:
[0000]
[0024] In another embodiment, R 1 is located as shown below:
[0000]
[0025] In another embodiment, R 1 is located as shown below
[0000]
[0026] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is H.
[0027] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is halogen.
[0028] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is Cl or F.
[0029] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is trifluoromethyl.
[0030] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 3 and R 4 are, independently, H, Cl, methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, or methoxy.
[0031] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero and R 3 and R 4 are Cl, ethyl, methoxy, or methyl.
[0032] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero and R 3 and R 4 are both methyl.
[0033] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 3 and R 4 are, independently, H, Cl, ethyl, methoxy, or methyl.
[0034] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 3 and R 4 are, independently, H, Cl, ethyl, methoxy, or methyl.
[0035] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 3 and R 4 are, independently, H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl.
[0036] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero, and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0037] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is 1; Y is O; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0038] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is 1; Y is S; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0039] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is H and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0040] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is H and R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0041] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is H and R 5 is (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0042] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 2 is H and R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl or CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0043] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl.
[0044] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is Cl or F; and R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl.
[0045] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is Cl or F; R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0046] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is phenyl, optionally substituted.
[0047] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is phenyl, optionally substituted, and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0048] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, NH—C(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl; O—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)—OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, or OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0049] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or NH—C(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0050] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is C(═O)OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or OC 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0051] In another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen, and R 2 is methyl or ethyl.
[0052] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen, and R 2 is phenyl.
[0053] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen, and R 2 is F.
[0054] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, or methoxyethyl.
[0055] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, or methoxyethyl; R 2 is H, methyl, or halogen; and R 3 is methyl or Cl.
[0056] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is phenyl, optionally substituted, and R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen.
[0057] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is CF 3 or C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen.
[0058] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is methoxy, and R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen.
[0059] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is 2-dimethylamino ethyl, and R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen.
[0060] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero, R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen, R 1 is phenyl, optionally substituted; and R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl.
[0061] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero, R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen; R 1 is CF 3 or C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl.
[0062] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero, R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen; R1 is F; and R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl.
[0063] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein q is zero; R 1 is Br; R 2 is H, methyl, methoxy, or halogen; and R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, ethyl, or methyl.
[0064] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 below.
[0000]
[0000] wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, CN, CH 2 CN, CHF 2 , CF 3 , C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OCH 3 , (C═O)OCH 3 , O(C═O)CH 3 , OCF 3 , (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, phenyl, and pyridyl; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, F, OCH 3 , CH 3 , and CF 3 ; R 3 and R 4 , are independently, selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, CF 3 , OCF 3 , OC 1 —C 3 alkyl, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and R 5 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 )wCH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, and (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein w=0-3, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, and pyridyl; and R 6 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl; wherein all alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl groups in R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 , and Ar are optionally substituted with one or two substituents selected independently from C 1 -C 3 alkyl, halogen, OCH 3 , OCH 2 CH 3 , CN, and CF 3 .
[0065] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2 below.
[0000]
[0000] wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, CN, CH 2 CN, CHF 2 , CF 3 , C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OCH 3 , (C═O)OCH 3 , O(C═O)CH 3 , OCF 3 , (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, phenyl, and pyridyl; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, F, OCH 3 , CH 3 , and CF 3 ; R 3 and R 4 , are independently, selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, CF 3 , OCF 3 , OC 1 —C 3 alkyl, and C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and R 5 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 )wCH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, and (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein w=0-3, Ar is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, and pyridyl; and R 6 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl; wherein all alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl groups in R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 , and Ar are optionally substituted with one or two substituents selected independently from C 1 -C 3 alkyl, halogen, OCH 3 , OCH 2 CH 3 , CN, and CF 3 .
[0066] In still another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3 below.
[0000]
[0067] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IB-1 below.
[0000]
[0068] In another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IB-2 below.
[0000]
[0069] In another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IB-3 below.
[0000]
[0070] In formulas IA-3, IB-1, IB-2 and IB-3, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are defined as in formula I.
[0071] In another more specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, formula IA-2, or formula IA-3, wherein R 2 is H, alkyl, or halogen; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0072] In another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, formula IA-2, or formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; R 2 is H, alkyl, or halogen; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0073] In another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, formula IA-2, or formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is methoxy, methoxymethyl, or methoxyethyl; R 2 is H, alkyl, or halogen; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0074] In yet another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 5 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0075] In yet another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0076] In yet another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0077] In yet another specific embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0078] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0079] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0080] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0081] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 2 is H; R 3 is methyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0082] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 2 is H; R 3 is methyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0083] In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 2 is H; R 3 is methyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0084] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, or trifluoromethyl; R 3 is methyl; and R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0085] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, or trifluoromethyl; R 3 is methyl; and R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0086] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl,or trifluoromethyl.
[0087] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, or trifluoromethyl.
[0088] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, or trifluoromethyl; R 2 is H, methyl, or F; R 3 is methyl; R 4 is methyl or Cl; and R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0089] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, or trifluoromethyl; R 2 is H, methyl, or F; R 3 is methyl; R 4 is methyl or Cl; and R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0090] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, or trifluoromethyl; R 2 is H, methyl, or F; R 3 is methyl; R 4 is methyl or Cl; and R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0091] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, or (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkenyl; and R 3 is methyl or Cl.
[0092] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, or (CH 2 ) m C 3 -C 6 cycloalkenyl.
[0093] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is methoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl; or methoxyethyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 is methyl; R 4 is methyl or Cl; and R 5 is (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl or (CHR 6 ) w Ar.
[0094] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is phenyl, optionally substituted.
[0095] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is methyl, halomethyl, ethyl, or haloethyl.
[0096] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl.
[0097] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is methyl or ethyl.
[0098] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 2 is fluoro, R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0099] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 2 is 4-fluoro, R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0100] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R, is (CH 2 ) m imidazolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrazyl, (CH 2 ) m furyl, (CH 2 ) m thienyl, (CH 2 ) m oxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isoxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m thiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isothiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m phenyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrrolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyridyl, or (CH 2 ) m pyrimidyl; and R 2 is H.
[0101] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 is (CH 2 ) m imidazolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrazyl, (CH 2 ) m furyl, (CH 2 ) m thienyl, (CH 2 ) m oxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isoxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m thiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isothiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m phenyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrrolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyridyl, or (CH 2 ) m pyrimidyl; R 2 is H and R 5 is pyridyl or phenyl, optionally substituted.
[0102] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 2 is CF 3 or C 1 -C 3 alkyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0103] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 3 and R 4 are methyl or trifluoromethyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0104] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 2 is methoxy or ethoxy; and R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0105] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 2 is phenyl, optionally substituted; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0106] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is (CH 2 ) m imidazolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrazyl, (CH 2 ) m furyl, (CH 2 ) m thienyl, (CH 2 ) m oxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isoxazolyl, (CH 2 ) m thiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m isothiazolyl, (CH 2 ) m phenyl, (CH 2 ) m pyrrolyl, (CH 2 ) m pyridyl, or (CH 2 ) m pyrimidyl; R 2 is H; and R 5 is pyridyl or phenyl, optionally substituted.
[0107] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 2 is CF 3 or C 1 -C 3 alkyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0108] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are methyl or trifluoromethyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0109] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 2 is methoxy or ethoxy; and R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0110] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 2 is phenyl, optionally substituted; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0111] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R′ is 4-phenyl, optionally substituted; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0112] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R′ is CF 3 or C 1 -C 3 alkyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0113] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R′ is 4-methyl or 4-ethyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0114] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R′ is methoxy or ethoxy, R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0115] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0116] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 2 is H, F, or methyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0117] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is H.
[0118] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is halogen.
[0119] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is F.
[0120] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is methyl or ethyl.
[0121] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is methyl or ethyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0122] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is halogen; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0123] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is H; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0124] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is 1-phenyl, optionally substituted.
[0125] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is 4-phenyl, optionally substituted.
[0126] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R′ is CF 3 or C 1 -C 3 alkyl.
[0127] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R′ is H; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0128] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R′ is F; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0129] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R′ is 1-phenyl, optionally substituted; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0130] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R′ is 4-phenyl, optionally substituted; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0131] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 2 is CF 3 or C 1 -C 3 alkyl; R 5 is C 4 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is H, F, Cl, Br, methoxy, or trifluoromethyl.
[0132] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of-formula IA-1, wherein R 1 and R 2 , are, independently, H, CN, F, Cl, Br, CH 2 CN, OCH 3 , CH 2 OCH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 ; CH 2 F, CHF 2 , CF 3 , CF 2 CF 3 , or C 1 -C 6 alkyl and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, wherein w=0, 1, or 2.
[0133] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, R 1 is H, CN, F, Cl, Br, CH 2 CN, OCH 3 , CH 2 OCH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2 , CF 3 , CF 2 CF 3 , or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R 2 is H, F, Cl, or methyl; R 3 is methyl or chloro; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, wherein R 6 is H or methyl and w=1 or 2.
[0134] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0135] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar 1 .
[0136] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0137] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0138] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0139] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 5 is haloalkyl.
[0140] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is haloalkyl.
[0141] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is haloalkyl.
[0142] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is haloalkyl.
[0143] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IB-1, wherein R 5 is haloalkyl.
[0144] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IB-2, wherein R 5 is haloalkyl.
[0145] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IB-3, wherein R 5 is haloalkyl.
[0146] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 5 is methoxy alkyl.
[0147] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 5 is cyano alkyl.
[0148] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0149] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0150] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0151] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0152] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-1, wherein R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0153] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-2, wherein R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0154] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-3, wherein R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0155] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0156] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0157] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0158] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-1, wherein R 5 is CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0159] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-2, wherein R 5 is CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0160] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-3, wherein R 5 is CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl or CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0161] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 C 5 -C 6 alkyl.
[0162] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 C 5 -C 6 alkyl.
[0163] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 C 5 -C 6 alkyl.
[0164] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-1, wherein R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 C 5 -C 6 alkyl.
[0165] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-2, wherein R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 C 5 -C 6 alkyl.
[0166] In another embodiment, the invention provides a compound of formula IB-3, wherein R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 C 5 -C 6 alkyl.
[0167] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are chloro, methoxy, or methyl and R 5 is CH 2 -cycloalkyl.
[0168] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are chloro, methoxy, or methyl and R 5 is haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or methoxyalkyl.
[0169] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are methyl and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or methoxy alkyl.
[0170] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 3 and R 4 are methyl and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or chloroalkyl.
[0171] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 3 and R 4 are trifluoromethyl and R 5 is methoxyalkyl.
[0172] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are both methyl and R 5 is 2-(2-halo cyclopentyl)ethyl.
[0173] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are both methyl and R 5 is 2-(2-furyl)ethyl.
[0174] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are both methyl and R 5 is 2-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)ethyl.
[0175] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are both methyl and R 5 is 2-phenyl ethyl.
[0176] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are both methyl and R 5 is 3-phenyl propyl.
[0177] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are both methyl and R 5 is 2-phenyl propyl.
[0178] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w al 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and R 1 is halogen.
[0179] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; R 2 is H or halogen; and R 1 is halogen.
[0180] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; R 2 is H or halogen; and R 1 is halogen.
[0181] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; R 2 is H or halogen; and R 1 is halogen.
[0182] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; R 2 is hydrogen; and R 1 is halogen.
[0183] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; R 2 is hydrogen; and R 1 is halogen.
[0184] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0185] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar 1 .
[0186] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 and R 4 are Cl, methoxy, or methyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 5 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0187] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, halogen, or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is CH 2 CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 4 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0188] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, halogen, or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is CH 2 CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0189] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, halogen, or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is CH 2 CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 4 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0190] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R, is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, halogen, or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is CH 2 CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkyl.
[0191] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl, halogen, or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is CH 2 CR 6 -C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0192] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is halogen or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; and R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0193] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is halogen or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; and R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0194] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is halogen or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; R 3 and R 4 are Cl, methoxy, or methyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0195] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is halogen or haloalkyl; R 2 is H or F; and R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0196] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is methyl, fluoro, or fluoroalkyl; R 2 is H or F; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0197] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is Cl, F, or CF 3 ; R 2 is H or F; R′ is H or CH 3 ; and R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0198] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is Cl, F, or CF 3 ; R 2 is H or F; R′ is H or CH 3 ; and R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0199] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0200] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0201] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and wherein R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbons, form a six-membered ring.
[0202] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; wherein R 5 is C 2 -C 6 alkyl, CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkenyl; and wherein R 1 and R 2 , are on adjacent carbons, and are both other than H.
[0203] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; wherein R 5 is C 2 -C 6 alkyl, CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkenyl; and wherein R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbons, are both halogen.
[0204] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; wherein R 5 is C 2 -C 6 alkyl, CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH 2 CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkenyl; and wherein R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbons, are both fluorine.
[0205] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R′ is F, methyl, or H; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0206] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R′ is F, methyl, or H; R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ),X 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0207] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R′ is halogen and R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar 1 .
[0208] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 and R 2 are on adjacent carbon atoms and are both other than H.
[0209] In an embodiment, this invention provides a-compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbon atoms are, independently trifluoromethyl or halogen; and wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0210] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0211] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is halogen and R 2 is H, or R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbon atoms are, independently trifluoromethyl or halogen; and wherein R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0212] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar 1 .
[0213] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is halogen or trifluoromethyl and R 2 is H, or R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbon atoms are, independently trifluoromethyl or halogen; and wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar.
[0214] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein X is S, q=1, Y is O, and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR6) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR6) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR6) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0215] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein X is S, q=1, Y is O, and R 5 is CR6=CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR6-C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR6) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR6) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0216] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein X is S, q=1, Y is O, and R 5 is Ar, (CHR6) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR6) w Ar, or (CHR6) w CH 2 Ar.
[0217] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein X is S, q=zero, and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, (CHR6) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR6) w CH 2 C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, or CH 2 (CHR6) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0218] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA, wherein X is S, q=zero, and R 5 is CR 6 ═CH—C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CH═CR 6 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w C 5 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0219] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2 wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0220] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0221] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 is halogen or trifluoromethyl and R 2 is H or R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbon atoms, are, independently, halogen or trifluoromethyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0222] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is halogen or trifluoromethyl and R 2 is H or R 1 and R 2 , on adjacent carbon atoms, are, independently, halogen or trifluoromethyl; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0223] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 are, independently, methyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, F, Cl, or H; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0224] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 and R 2 are, independently, methyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, F, Cl, or H; R′ is H; and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl or (CHR 6 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0225] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2 or IA-3, wherein R 1 is halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, mono-halo C 1 -C 6 alkyl, CN, di-halo C 1 -C 6 alkyl, CF 3 , CN, or O—C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R′ is methyl or ethyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0226] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2 or IA-3, wherein R 1 is H, halogen, cyano, CF 3 , or methoxy, R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is H, halogen, methyl, ethyl, or methoxy, and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0227] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is F, Cl, or CF 3 ; R 2 is H; and R′ is halogen, methyl, ethyl, or methoxy; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0228] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is halogen or CF 3 ; R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is phenyl; R 3 and R 4 are H, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0229] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is halogen or CF 3 ; R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is halophenyl; R 3 and R 4 are 1-1, methyl, or Cl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0230] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is NH 2 , NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl; N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, NHC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)N(CH 3 ) 2 , C(═O)N(Et) 2 , C(═O)NH 2 , C(═O)NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, SO 2 NH 2 , NHSO 2 —C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0231] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I wherein R 1 is NH 2 , NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl; or N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl; and R 2 is H or halogen.
[0232] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I wherein R 1 is NHC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)N(CH 3 ) 2 , C(═O)N(Et) 2 , C(═O)NH 2 , or C(═O)NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0233] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula 1 wherein R 1 is NHC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)N(CH 3 ) 2 , C(═O)N(Et) 2 , C(═O)NH 2 , or C(═O)NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0234] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula 1 wherein R 1 is SO 2 NH 2 or NHSO 2 —C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0235] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2 wherein R 1 is SO 2 NH 2 or NHSO 2 —C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0236] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is C(═O)OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, or SC 1 —C 6 alkyl.
[0237] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is (CH 2 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl.
[0238] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is CH 2 OCH 3 , CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, or SC 1 —C 6 alkyl.
[0239] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is C(═O)OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, or SC 1 —C 6 alkyl.
[0240] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is CH 2 OCH 3 , CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, or SC 1 —C 6 alkyl.
[0241] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is C(═O)OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OC 1 —C 6 alkyl, or SC 1 —C 6 alkyl; R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0242] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is NH 2 , NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl; or N(C 1 -C 6 alkyl)-C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0243] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is NHC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C(═O)N(CH 3 ) 2 , C(═O)N(Et) 2 , C(═O)NH 2 , C(═O)NH—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, SO 2 NH 2 , or NHSO 2 —C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0244] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, optionally substituted.
[0245] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R, and R 2 form a fused, nitrogen-containing ring.
[0246] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused, oxygen-containing ring.
[0247] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused thiazolo or isothiazolo group.
[0248] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused cyclopentane, optionally substituted.
[0249] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused cyclohexane, optionally substituted.
[0250] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused, nitrogen-containing ring.
[0251] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused, oxygen-containing ring.
[0252] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused thiazolo or isothiazolo group.
[0253] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused cyclopentane, optionally substituted.
[0254] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused cyclohexane, optionally substituted.
[0255] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused, nitrogen-containing ring; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0256] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused, oxygen-containing ring; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0257] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused thiazolo or isothiazolo group; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0258] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused cyclopentane, optionally substituted; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0259] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 form a fused cyclohexane, optionally substituted; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0260] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is halogen; R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0261] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is halogen; R 2 is H, F, or methyl, R′ is 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0262] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is halogen; R 2 is H, halogen, or methyl, R′ is H; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0263] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 is halogen; R 2 is H or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0264] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is Br, Cl, F or methyl; R 2 is H or F and R 5 is t-butyl or cyclopentylmethyl.
[0265] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is trifluoromethyl; R 2 is H or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0266] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 wherein R 1 is trifluoromethyl; R 2 is H or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0267] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 wherein R 1 is trifluoromethyl; R 2 is H or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0268] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1 or IA-2, wherein R 1 wherein R 1 is trifluoromethyl; R 2 is H or methyl, R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0269] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 is trifluoromethyl; R 2 is F; R′ is halogen or methyl; and R 5 is C 5 -C 6 alkyl or CH 2 —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl.
[0270] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, or thiazolyl.
[0271] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is F.
[0272] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is Cl.
[0273] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is Br.
[0274] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is F.
[0275] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is Cl.
[0276] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is Br.
[0277] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is F and R 2 is H, OCH 3 , or F.
[0278] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is F; R 3 and R 4 are both methyl; and R′ is H.
[0279] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is CF 3 ; R 3 and R 4 are both methyl; and R′ is H.
[0280] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 and R 2 are both F.
[0281] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is mono-, di-, or tri-halomethyl.
[0282] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is CH 2 F, CHF 2 , or CF 3 .
[0283] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is CH 2 Cl.
[0284] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 is CH 2 Br.
[0285] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 and R 2 are both F; R 3 and R 4 are both methyl; and R′ is H.
[0286] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 is F.
[0287] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 1 and R 2 are both F.
[0288] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 is F.
[0289] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 1 and R 2 are both F.
[0290] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is isoxazolyl or isothiazolyl.
[0291] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is quinolyl or isoquinolyl.
[0292] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is pyrimidyl or purinyl.
[0293] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is indolyl, isoindolyl, or benzimidazolyl.
[0294] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is halo phenyl.
[0295] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is dihalophenyl or dihalopyridyl.
[0296] In another embodiment, invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is mono- or di-halothienyl, mono- or di-halofuryl, mono- or di-halobenzothienyl, or mono- or di-halobenzofuryl.
[0297] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is o-, m-, or p-xylyl or o-, m-, or p-anisyl.
[0298] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, wherein R 1 or R 5 is CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is m- or p-cyanophenyl or m- or p-cyanomethyl phenyl.
[0299] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, in which R 3 and R 4 are halogen, CF 3 , or C 1 -C 3 alkyl and R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, wherein the alkyl group is substituted with one or two groups selected, independently, from OH, OMe, OEt, F, CF 3 , Cl, or CN.
[0300] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula I, in which R 3 and R 4 are halogen, CF 3 , OCF 3 , C 1 -C 3 alkyl, or OC 1 —C 3 alkyl, and R 5 is (CH 2 ) w C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, wherein w is 1 or 2, wherein the cycloalkyl group is substituted with Me, OH, OMe, OEt, F, CF 3 , Cl, or CN.
[0301] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, in which R 3 and R 4 are halogen, CF 3 , or C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 5 is (CH 2 ) w —C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted, or (CH 2 ) w —C 5 -C 6 heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted.
[0302] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is CH 2 phenyl or CH 2 CH 2 -phenyl.
[0303] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 1 is Ar, CH 2 Ar or CH 2 CH 2 —Ar, wherein Ar is 3,5-dichlorophenyl or 3,5-difluorophenyl.
[0304] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl; R 3 and R 4 are H or C 1 -C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or two groups selected from OH, OMe; and R 6 is CN, CH 2 CN, or halogen.
[0305] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl; and R 1 is F, CH 2 F, CHF 2 , CF 3 , or CF 2 CF 3 .
[0306] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is OC 1 —C 6 alkyl or C(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0307] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR6) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is C(═O)OC 1 —C 6 alkyl or OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0308] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, R 1 is C 2 -C 6 alkenyl or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, q is 1, and X and Y are both O.
[0309] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is SC 1 —C 6 alkyl.
[0310] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, methoxy, or C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 1 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0311] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl; R 3 and R 4 are H, Cl, methoxy, or C 1 -C 2 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or two groups selected from OH, OMe; and R 1 is CN, CH 2 CN, or halogen.
[0312] In another embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl; and R 1 is F, CH 2 F, CHF 2 , CF 3 , or CF 2 CF 3 .
[0313] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-1, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is OC 1 —C 6 alkyl or C(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0314] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is OC 1 —C 6 alkyl or C(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0315] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is OC 1 —C 6 alkyl or C(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0316] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-3, wherein R′ is phenyl or methoxy, R 2 is H, and R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is C(═O)OC 1 —C 6 alkyl or OC(═O)C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0317] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, and R 1 is SC 1 —C 6 alkyl.
[0318] In an embodiment, this invention provides a compound of formula IA-2, wherein R 5 is Ar, (CHR 6 ) w Ar, CH 2 (CHR 6 ) w Ar, or (CHR 6 ) w CH 2 Ar, wherein Ar is phenyl or pyridyl, R 3 and R 4 are H or C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 1 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl.
[0319] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disease, disorder, or condition that is affected by modulation of potassium ion channels in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula I in an amount of up to about 2000 mg per day.
[0320] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disease, disorder, or condition that is affected by modulation of potassium ion channels in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula I in an amount of from about 10 mg to about 2000 mg per day.
[0321] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disease, disorder, or condition that is affected by modulation of potassium ion channels in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula IA-1 in an amount of up to about 2000 mg per day.
[0322] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula I in an amount of up to about 2000 mg per day.
[0323] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula I in an amount of from about 10 mg per day to about 2000 mg per day.
[0324] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula I in an amount of from about 300 mg per day to about 2000 mg per day.
[0325] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula I in an amount of from about 300 mg per day to about 1200 mg per day.
[0326] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula IA-1 in an amount of up to 2000 mg per day.
[0327] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula IA-1 in an amount of from about 10 mg per day to about 2000 mg per day.
[0328] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula IA-1 in an amount of from about 300 mg per day to about 2000 mg per day.
[0329] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating or preventing a seizure disorder in a patient comprising administration of a compound of formula IA-1 in an amount of from about 300 mg per day to about 1200 mg per day.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0330] As provided by this invention, compounds of formula IA are designed for oral or intravenous dosing of up to 2000 mg per day. Yet the high activities of many of these compounds indicate that dosing of less than 1200 mg per day—the current anticipated dosing level of retigabine in adults is possible. Thus, this invention comprises tablets, capsules, solutions, and suspensions of compounds of formula IA which are formulated for oral administration. Similarly, solutions and suspensions suitable for oral pediatric administration, comprising, in addition to compounds of formula IA, a syrup such as sorbitol or propylene glycol, among many other examples, are also contemplated. ally, solutions and suspensions comprising, in addition to compounds of formula IA, a syrup such as sorbitol or propylene glycol, along with colorants and flavorings suitable for oral pediatric administration, are also contemplated. Additionally, both chewable and non-chewable tablets comprising compounds of formula IA, along with pharmaceutically acceptable tabletting agents and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and excipients, are also contemplated. As used herein, the term pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises such excipients, binders, lubricants, tabletting agents, disintegrants, preservatives, anti-oxidants, flavours and colourants as are typically used in the art of formulation of pharmaceuticals. Examples of such agents include—but are not limited to—starch, calcium carbonate, dibasic calcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose lactose, polyethylene glycols, polysorbates, glycols, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, and Povidone. Additionally, disintegrants such as sodium starch glycolate; lubricants such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, and SiO 2 ; and solubility enhancers such as cyclodextrins, among a great many other examples for each group, are contemplated. Such materials and the methods of using them are well known in the pharmaceutical art. Additional examples are provided in Kibbe, Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients, London, Pharmaceutical Press, 2000.
[0331] As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable acid salts” refers to acid addition salts formed from acids which provide non-toxic anions. The pharmaceutically acceptable anions include, but are not limited to, acetate, aspartate, benzoate, bicarbonate, carbonate, bisulfate, sulfate, chloride, bromide, benzene sulfonate, methyl sulfonate, phosphate, acid phosphate, lactate, maleate, malate, malonate, fumarate, lactate, tartrate, borate, camsylate, citrate, edisylate, esylate, formate, fumarate, gluceptate, glucuronate, gluconate oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, saccharate, stearate, succinate, tartrate, tosylate and trifluoroacetate salts, among a great many other examples. Hemi-salts, including but not limited to hemi-sulfate salts, are likewise contemplated.
[0332] For a review on suitable salts, see “Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts: Properties, Selection, and Use” by Stahl and Wermuth (Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany, 2002).
[0333] As is well known, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula I may be prepared by reaction of a compound of formula I with the desired acid; by removal of a protecting group from a suitable precursor of the compound of formula I or by ring-opening a suitable cyclic precursor, for example, a lactone or lactam, using the desired acid or base; and by conversion of one salt of the compound of formula I to another by reaction with an appropriate acid or base or by passage through an appropriate ion-exchange column.
[0334] As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable solvate” refers to describe a molecular complex comprising the compound of the invention and a stoichiometric amount of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable solvent molecules, including but not limited to water and ethanol. Thus, the term solvate includes a hydrate as one example and an ethanolate as another example.
[0335] The compounds of the present invention may possess one or more asymmetric carbons. Accordingly, any optical isomers as separated and any mixtures including racimic mixtures are embraced by the scope of the present invention. Resolution of racemic mixtures can be accomplished by methods known to those skilled in the art.
[0336] The compounds of the present invention may also exist as geometric isomers and in different tautomeric forms. Those geometric isomers and tautomeric forms are included within the scope of the present invention.
[0337] As used herein, modulation of ion channels refers to activating the ion channels, to affecting the kinetics of opening and closing of the ion channels, or to causing any change in the channel open probability of the ion channels.
Preparation of Compounds
[0338] The Preparation of Compounds of Formula I is Outlined in Schemes I and II.
[0000]
[0339] While in the above Scheme I nitrophenol is exemplified, a great many substituted nitrophenols are known and are therefore embraced by Scheme I. Thus, for example, compounds of Formula I wherein R 3 and R 4 are CF 3 , OCF 3 , OC 1 —C 3 alkyl or C 1 -C 3 alkyl or C 1 -C 3 alkyl can be prepared from the appropriate substituted nitrophenol starting material. Likewise the exemplified flurobenzylchloride of. Scheme I can be replaced by a number of other substituted benzyl chloride. For example, if the compounds of Formula I wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl or OC 1 —C 6 alkyl can be prepared from the appropriate substituted benzyl chloride starting material. It is to be understood that while the benzyl chloride of Scheme I is substituted by a single R group, a second R group which would correspond to the R 1 and R 2 groups of Formula I is included.
[0340] While Scheme I exemplifies the preparation of a substituted carbamic acid ethyl ester wherein the ethyl group would correspond to the R 5 position of Formula I, it is to be understood that substitution of the appropriate reagent for the diethyl pyrocarbonate of Scheme I would yield the corresponding moiety which is defined by R 5 .
1-nitro-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene
[0341] A mixture of 4-nitrophenol (1.39 g, 10 mmol), potassium carbonate (1.38 g, 10 mmol) and 4-fluorobenzyl bromide (1.89 g, 10 mmol) in 20 ml of anhydrous DMF was stirred at 100° C. for 2 days. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was poured into 200 ml of ice-water with stirring. The solid was filtered and washed with water and dried to give 2.37 g (96%) of 1-nitro-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene as yellow solids.
[0342] The following compounds were synthesized by the same procedure:
[0343] 1-Nitro-2-fluoro-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene, yellow solids, 96%
[0344] 1-Nitro-2-methyl-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene, yellow solids, 97%
[0345] 1-Nitro-2-trifluoromethyl-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene, yellow solids, 95%
[0346] 1-Nitro-3-fluoro-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene, yellow solids, 91%
[0347] 1-Nitro-3-chloro-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene, yellow solids, 85%
[0348] 1-Nitro-3-methoxy-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene, yellow solids, 97%
4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline
[0349] 1-Nitro-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene (2.37 g) was dissolved in 200 ml of methanol and catalytic amount of Raney Ni was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature under atmospheric pressure in a hydrogen atmosphere for 3 hours. After filtering off Raney Ni over Celite and washing with methanol, the obtained filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a solid product 4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline, which is pure enough for next step.
[0350] The following compounds were synthesized by the same procedure:
[0351] 2-Fluoro-4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline
[0352] 2-Trifluoromethyl-4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline
[0353] 2-Methyl-4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline
[0354] 3-Fluoro-4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline
[0355] 3-Chloro-4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline
[0356] 3-Methoxy-4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline.
[4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-phenyl]carbamic acid ethyl ester
[0357]
[0358] 4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-aniline (0.22 g, 1 mmol) was dissolved in 8 ml of anhydrous ethanol and diethyl pyrocarbonate (0.20 g, 1.2 mmol) was added dropwise at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours, then stored at −20° C. overnight. The crystals was filtered and washed with cold ethanol to give pure product as crystal solids (88 mg, 30%). The filtrate was concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by silica gel column to give another batch of pure products. 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ9.38 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 O, NH), 7.46 (dd, J=5.7 and 8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.32 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.18 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.90 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 5.00 (s, 2H), 4.07 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.20 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS: 288 (M−1).
[0359] The following compounds were synthesized by the same procedure:
[2-Methyl-4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-phenyl]-carbamic acid ethyl ester
[0360]
[0361] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ 8.62 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 O, NH), 7.46 (dd, J=5.7 and 8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.19 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.12 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 6.83 (d, J=2.7 Hz, 1H), 6.76 (dd, J=2.7 and 8.7 Hz, 1H), 5.02 (s, 2H), 4.04 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.19 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS: 302 (M−1).
[2-Fluoro-4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-phenyl]carbamic acid ethyl ester
[0362]
[0363] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300MHz): δ 8.97 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.47 (dd, J=5.7 and 8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.37 (t, J=8.71 Hz, 1H), 7.20 (t, J=8:7 Hz, 2H), 6.93 (dd, J=2.7 and 12.3 Hz, 1H), 6.78 (dd, J=2.7 and 8.7 Hz, 1H), 5.05 (s, 2H), 4.05 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.19 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS: 307 (M−1).
[2-Trifluoromethyl-4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-phenyl]carbamic acid ethyl ester
[0364]
[0365] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ 8.83 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.50 (dd, J=5.7 and 8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.33 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.21 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.26 (dd, J=2.7 and 8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.24 (d, J=2.7 Hz, 1H), 5.15 (s, 2H), 4.03 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.16 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS: 356 (M−1).
[3-Fluoro-4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-phenyl]-carbamic acid ethyl ester
[0366]
[0367] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ 9.61 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.46 (dd, J=5.7 and 8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.36 (dd, J=1.8 and 13.8 Hz, 1H), 7.20 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.16 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (dd, J=1.8 and 9.0 Hz, 1H), 5.06 (s, 2H), 4.08 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.21 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS: 306 (M−1).
[3-Chloro-4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-phenyl]-carbamic acid ethyl ester
[0368]
[0369] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ 9.59 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.55 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (dd, J=5.7 and 8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.29 (dd, J=1.8 and 8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.21 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.15 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 5.10 (s, 2H), 4.08 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.21 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS: 322 (M−1).
[3-Methoxy-4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-phenyl]carbamic acid ethyl ester
[0370]
[0371] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 300 MHz): δ 9.40 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.45 (dd, J=5.7 and 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.18 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.18 (m, 1H), 6.89 (m, 2H), 4.96 (s, 2H), 4.08 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.21 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS: 318 (M−1).
[0000]
[0372] While in the above scheme II 3,5-dimethylphenol is exemplified, a great many substituted phenols are known and are embraced by this scheme. Thus for example, compounds of formula I wherein R 3 and R 4 are CF 3 , OCF 3 OC 1 —C 3 alkyl or C 1 -C 3 alkyl can be prepared from the appropriate substituted or disubstituted phenol starting material to arrive at the corresponding nitrophenol. Likewise the exemplified (fluoro)-benzyl chloride of the above scheme can be replaced by a number of other substituted benzyl chlorides. For example if compound of formula I wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 cycloalkyl or OC 1 —C 6 alkyl can be prepared from the appropriate substituted benzyl chloride starting material. It is to be understood that while the benzyl chloride of Scheme I is substituted by a single R group, a second R group which would correspond to the R 1 and R 2 groups of formula I is included.
[0373] In the above scheme II, R 1 of scheme II would correspond to R 5 of formula I and R would correspond to R 1 and R 2 of formula I.
3,5-Dimethyl-4-nitrophenol
[0374] [3,5-Dimethyl-4-nitrophenol was synthesized by the reference procedures (U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,640) J 750 ml of Concentrated hydrochloric acid was added to a solution of 3,5-dimethylphenol (80.6 g) in 750 ml of 95% ethanol. The mixture was cooled to 0° C. in an ice/methanol bath. While maintaining the temperature of the reaction mixture below 5° C., a solution of NaNO2 (69.0 g) in 150 ml of water was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for more than an hour and then poured into 9 liters of water. The aqueous mixture was filtered to give a yellow solid which was recrystallized from hot methanol and filtered to give 71.45 g of 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitrosophenol as a yellow solid. Mp. 180-181° C.
[0375] A mixture of 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitrosophenol (70.63 g) from above and (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 .4H 2 O) (2.83 g) in 770 ml of glacial acetic acid was warmed to 100° C. 30% H 2 O 2 (84 ml) was added to the mixture in 10 ml portions until an exothermic reaction was observed. The reaction mixture was then stirred and the remainder of the H 2 O 2 solution added in small portions. The reaction mixture was heated and stirred until a clear dark red solution results. A yellow-orange solid precipitated from the solution after stirring for another 20-30 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight and filtered to give a small amount of a yellow solid and a clear dark red filtrate. The red filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and partitioned between water and ether. The aqueous layer was washed with ether and the combined ether extracts washed with 10% sodium carbonate until the aqueous layer becomes basic. The ether extract was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, concentrated and allowed to cool overnight. After cooling in an ice bath the mixture was filtered to give 49.5 g of 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitrophenol as a yellow-green solid. Mp. 106-108° C.
5-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0376] A mixture of 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitrophenol (0.97 g, 5.79 mmol), 4-fluorobenzyl chloride (1.26 g, 8.69 mmol) and anhydrous potassium carbonate (1.24 g, 9.0 mmol) in 50 ml of acetone was stirred under reflux for 22 hours. TLC showed this reaction is complete. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered and washed with acetone. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness to give the crude product, which was used for next step without further purification.
[0377] The following compounds were synthesized by the same procedure:
[0378] 5-(4-Chloro-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0379] 5-(4-Bromo-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0380] 5-(4-Methyl-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0381] 5-(4-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0382] 5-(2-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0383] 5-(3-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0384] 5-(3-Chloro-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0385] 5-(3-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0386] 5-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
[0387] 5-(3,4-Difluoro-benzyloxy)-2-nitro-meta-xylene
4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0388] 1-Nitro-4-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-benzene (0.5 g) was dissolved in 60 ml of methanol and catalytic amount of Raney Ni was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature under atmospheric pressure in a hydrogen atmosphere for 3 hours. After filtering off Raney Ni over Celite and washing with methanol, the obtained filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a solid product 4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline, which is pure enough for next step.
[0389] The following compounds were synthesized by the same procedure:
[0390] 4-(4-Chloro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0391] 4-(4-Bromo-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0392] 4-(4-Methyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0393] 4-(3,4-Difluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0394] 4-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0395] 4-(4-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0396] 4-(3-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0397] 4-(2-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0398] 4-(3-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
[0399] 4-(3-Chloro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline
N-[4-(4-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0400]
[0401] To a solution of 4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethylaniline(0.20 g, 0.82 mmol) from above and triethylamine (125 mg, 1.24 mmol) in anhydrous methylene chloride (20 ml) was added dropwise tert-butylacetyl chloride (135 mg, 1 mmol) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. Water was added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was washed with saturated brine and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (ISCO, hexane/EtOAc, 0-40%, 40 min) and recrystallized from hexane/EtOAc (5:1) to give 230 mg (82%) of the white solids. 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.92 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.46 (dd, J=4.7 and 6.4 Hz, 2H), 7.19 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 6.70 (s, 2H), 5.02 (s, 2H), 2.16 (s, 2H), 2.08 (s, 6H), 1.03 (s, 9H). MS: 344 (M+1).
[0402] The following compounds were synthesized by the same procedure:
N-[4-(4-Chloro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0403]
[0404] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.94 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.46 (s, 4H), 6.72 (s, 2H), 5.07 (s, 2H), 2.18 (s, 2H), 2.10 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 360 (M+1).
N-[4-(4-Bromo-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0405]
[0406] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.94 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 O, NH), 7.59 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.39 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.71 (s, 2H), 5.05 (s, 2H), 2.18 (s, 2H), 2.10 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 404 (M+1).
N-[4-(4-Methyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0407]
[0408] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.94 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.30 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.20 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.70 (s, 2H), 5.01 (s, 2H), 2.31 (s, 3H), 2.18 (s, 2H), 2.09 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 340 (M+1).
N-[4-(4-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0409]
[0410] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.95 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.76 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.66 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.74 (s, 2H), 5.19 (s, 2H), 2.18 (s, 2H), 2.10 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 394 (M+1).
[0411] N-[4-(2-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0000]
[0412] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.96 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.80 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.59 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.72 (s, 2H), 5.19 (s, 2H), 2.19 (s, 2H), 2.11 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 394 (M+1).
N-[4-(3-Trifluoromethyl-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0413]
[0414] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.96 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.80 (s, 1H), 7.75 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.70 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.75 (s, 2H), 5.18 (s, 2H), 2.19 (s, 2H), 2.11 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 394 (M+1).
N-[4-(3-Chloro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0415]
[0416] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.94 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.50 (s, 1H), 7.41 (m, 3H), 6.73 (s, 2H), 5.09 (s, 2H), 2.18 (s, 2H), 2.10 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 360 (M+1).
N-[4-(3-Fluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0417]
[0418] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.94 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.50 (s, 1H), 7.41 (m, 3H), 6.73 (s; 2H), 5.09 (s, 2H), 2.18 (s, 2H), 2.10 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 360 (M+1).
N-[4-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0419]
[0420] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): δ 8.96 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.61 (dd, J=8.3 and 15.3 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (dt, J=2.2 and 10.1 Hz, 1H), 7.13 (dt, J=2.2 and 8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.74 (s, 2H), 5.06 (s, 2H), 2.19 (s, 2H), 2.11 (s, 6H), 1.05 (s, 9H). MS: 362 (M+1).
N-[4-(3,4-Difluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-butyramide
[0421]
[0422] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): 5 8.93 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.49 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (dd, J=6.9 and 15.2 Hz, 1H), 7.28 (m, 1H), 6.70 (s, 2H), 5.03 (s, 2H), 2.16 (s, 2H), 2.08 (s, 6H), 1.03 (s, 9H). MS: 362 (M+1).
3-Cyclopentyl-N-[4-(3,4-difluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-propionamide
[0423]
[0424] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 400 MHz): 5 8.99 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D 2 0, NH), 7.48 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.42 (dd, J=6.9 and 15.2 Hz, 1H), 7.28 (m, 1H), 6.70 (s, 2H), 5.03 (s, 2H), 2.27 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 2.06 (s, 6H), 1.75 (m, 3H), 1.60 (m, 4H), 1.47 (m, 2H), 1.10 (m, 2H). MS: 388 (M+1).
3-Cyclopentyl-N-[4-(4-fluoro-benzyloxy)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]-propionamide
[0425]
[0426] 1 H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δ 8.98 (brs, 1H, exchangeable with D20, NH), 7.46 (dd, J=4.7 and 6.5 Hz, 2H), 7.20 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.69 (s, 2H), 5.02 (s, 2H), 2.28 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 2.11 (s, 6H), 1.76 (m, 3H), 1.60 (m, 4H), 1.47 (m, 2H), 1.10 (m, 2H). MS: 370 (M+1).
Biological Results
[0427] Compounds of this invention formula were evaluated for activity toward potassium channels in a cell-based Rb + efflux assay. This cellular bioassay is believed to faithfully represent the M current channel activities identified with KCNQ2/3 heteromultimers. The most active compounds of this invention have EC 50 s in the single-digit nM range. Additionally, antiseizure activity in vivo was evaluated in a mouse maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model, and neurotoxicities were determined from a rotorod neurocognitive motor impairment model.
Methods:
Rubidium Efflux Test
[0428] PC-12 cells were grown at 37° C. and 5% CO 2 in DMEM/F12 Medium (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium with Nutrient Mix F-12, available from Invitrogen of Carlsbad, Calif.), supplemented with 10% horse serum, 5% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 U/ml streptomycin. They were plated in poly-D-lysine-coated 96-well cell culture microplates at a density of 40,000 cells/well and differentiated with 100 ng/ml NGF-7s for 2-5 days. For the assay, the medium was aspirated, and the cells were washed once with 0.2 ml in wash buffer (25 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 ; 0.8 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 2 mM CaCl 2 ). The cells were then loaded with 0.2 ml Rh + loading buffer (wash buffer plus 5.4 mM RbCl 2 , 5 mM glucose) and incubated at 37° C. for 2 h. Attached cells were quickly washed three times with buffer (same as Rb + loading buffer, but containing 5.4 mM KCl instead of RbCl) to remove extracellular Rb + . Immediately following the wash, 0.2 ml of depolarization buffer (wash buffer plus 15 mM KCl) with or without compounds was added to the cells to activate efflux of potassium ion channels. After incubation for 10 min at room temperature, the supernatant was carefully removed and collected. Cells were lysed by the addition of 0.2 ml of lysis buffer (depolarization buffer plus 0.1% Triton X-100) and the cell lysates were also collected. If collected samples were not immediately analyzed for Rb + contents by atomic absorption spectroscopy (see below), they were stored at 4° C. without any negative effects on subsequent Rb + analysis.
[0429] The concentrations of Rb + in the supernatants (Rb + Sup ) and the cell lysates (Rb + Lys ) were quantified using an ICR8000 flame atomic absorption spectrometer (Aurora Biomed Inc., Vancouver, B.C.) under conditions defined by the manufacturer. Samples 0.05 ml in volume were processed automatically from microtiter plates by dilution with an equal volume of Rb + sample analysis buffer and injection into an air-acetylene flame. The amount of Rb + in the sample was measured by absorption at 780 nm using a hollow cathode lamp as light source and a PMT detector. A calibration curve covering the range 0-5 mg/L Rb + in sample analysis buffer was generated with each set of plates. The percent Rb + efflux (F) was defined by
[0000] F═[Rb + Sup /(Rb + Sup +Rb + Lys )]×100%.
[0000] wherein the F c is the efflux in the presence of compound in depolarization buffer, F b is the efflux in basal buffer, and F s is the efflux in depolarization buffer, and F c is the efflux in the presence of compound in depolarization buffer. The efflux (F) and compound concentration relationship was plotted to calculate an EC 50 value, a compound's concentration for 50% of maximal RV efflux. The results are shown below in Table 1.
Maximal Electroshock Seizure (MES) and Acute Toxicity Tests
MES Test
[0430] The MES testing protocol is based on procedures established at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in conjunction with the Anticonvulsant Screening Program (ASP) at the University of Utah (White, H. S., Woodhead, J. H., Wilcox, K. S., Stables, J. P., Kupferberg, H. J and Wolf, H. H. 2002. “General Principles: Discovery and Preclinical Development of Antiepileptic Drugs,” in Antiepileptic Drugs, 5 th Edition, R. H. Levy, ed.; R. H. Mattson, B. S. Meldrum, and E. Perucca: Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.), The goal of the test rapid identification and characterization of the in vivo anticonvulsant activity of any compounds that have been shown active in PC-12 cellular based RV efflux assay.
[0431] Adult male CF-1 albino mice (18-25 g, Charles River Laboratories) are exclusively used for in-house MES screen of compounds. Male Sprague-Dawley albino rats (100-125 g, Charles River Laboratories) are also used to test anticonvulsant compounds. Variability of test outcomes is reduced by using animals of the same sex, age, and weight. Animals are permitted to rest and recover from transit for at least 48 hr prior to experimentation. Animals are used for AED testing only once. In some instances, the animals may be anesthetized prior to blood collection and/or whole brain extraction for pharmacokinetic assay. All animals are maintained and handled as outlined in standard animal care guidelines.
[0432] In the experiments, testing compounds are prepared as suspensions in 0.5% methyl cellulose (Sigma, Cat #M0512, Viscosity 4000 cP at 20° C.) in water, regardless of solubility. Dry powder compounds are initially ground with a glass rod in a test tube in several drops of methyl cellulose to create a paste and to break down any large chunks. After several minutes of grinding, the volume of the suspension is increased to the final concentration desired. The suspension is then sonicated using a Branson sonicator model 3510 in a water bath at room temperature for 15 minutes. Compound suspensions are further vortexed prior to animal dosing. In some of the cases, DMSO is used to initially solubilize compounds in small volumes and then this solution is added to the 0.5% methyl cellulose solution, in order to create more even and less aggregated compound suspensions. The final concentration of DMSO is 3.75%, an amount with no apparent toxicity or neuroprotective effects in our usual rotarod and MES tests. Methyl cellulose/DMSO compound suspensions are identically prepared for intraperitoneally (i.p.) to mice or orally (p.o.) to rat dosing.
[0433] Initially the animals are weighed with an electronic scale and then marked. Data recording sheets are generated for each compound assessment. Mice or rats are dosed with the compound suspension at 0.01 mL/g of body weight. The typical injection volume range is between 180-250 μl for mice. Compounds are dosed by i.p. to mice using a 25 or 22 gauge needle, depending on the viscosity of the suspension. Rats are p.o. dosed using a flexible feeding tube, typically starting at a compound dose of 5 mg/kg.
[0434] A Rodent Electroconvulsive Stimulator (Model 200, Hamit-Darvin-Freesh, Snow Canyon Clinic, Ivins, Utah) is used for MES testing. A 60-Hz alternating current (50 mA for mice; 150 mA for rats) is delivered for 0.2 seconds through corneal electrodes to the mice. A drop of 0.5% tetracaine (Sigma, Cat. #T-7508) solution is placed on the eye prior to current delivery. The electrodes are subsequently placed gently onto the eyes of the animal and the electrical shock is initiated by triggering through a foot-pedal activator. The animals are restrained by hand and gently released as the shock is delivered and the seizure commences. Animals are monitored for hind limb tonic extension as the end point for this test. Current delivery is recorded as a measure of overall seizure-induction potential. Electrical current delivery can vary from approximately 30-55 mA (mice) or 90-160 mA (rats) depending on impedance in the animal and quality of the current delivery (i.e., correct placement of the electrodes on the cornea). Seizures will be successfully induced in control animals throughout this current range. Tonic extension is considered abolished if the hind limbs fail to become fully extended at 180° with the plane of the body. Lack of tonic extension suggests that the test compound has prevented the spread of seizure discharge through neural tissue. Although unnecessary in mice, the rats are pre-screened for seizure induction potential using the MES 24hr prior to compound dosing and the subsequent MES test. A success rate of 92-100% has been determined for the rat seizure induction potential. Rats that fail to develop tonic/clonic seizures during the pre-screening are not used for drug testing.
[0435] For compound testing, time-to-peak effect studies are initially performed using 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hr time points, typically using a single 5 or 25 mg/kg dose. The determined time-to-peak effect is used for further titration of a compound's potency (ED 50 , the dose of a drug that protects 50% of animals from electrical induced seizure) in both mouse and rat models. For titrations, 8 animals are used per concentration and dose (normal 5 concentrations) is varied until a full dose response curve can be obtained. Probit analysis (ASP method) or non-linear regression analysis on Graph Pad (constraining the lower dose/effect value) is used to calculate an ED 50 value for the test compound.
Rotarod Test
[0436] Prior to MES testing, compound dosed mice are scrutinized for abnormal neurologic status as defined by motor impairment on a slowly turning (6 rpm) rotarod apparatus (Model 755, Series 8, IITC Life Sciences, Woodland Hills, Calif.). The inability of a mouse to maintain its balance on the rotarod over a period of one minute (three falls=failure) signifies motor impairment and hence acute toxicity. These measurements are done at the same time points as the MES assay. Untreated normal mice are able to maintain balance on the rotarod for at least one minute without falling. Median toxicity of a compound (TD 50 , the dose of a drug that results in motor impairment in 50% of animals) is determined.
Open Field Test
[0437] Before the MES test, compound treated rats are visually observed for acute toxicity signs for approximately one minute in the open field test. Here, rats are gently placed into a plexiglass enclosure and are monitored for behavior consistent with toxicity including ataxia, trembling, hypoactivity (including failure to seek the walls), hypersensitivity, lack of exploratory behavior and lack of avoidance of the open area. Typically if the rats exhibits two or more of these abnormal behaviors they are scored as toxic.
[0000]
TABLE 1
ACTIVITIES OF EXEMPLARY COMPOUNDS
ACTIVITY
COMPOUND
EC 50
D
D
D
D
B
C
B
C
C
C
D
C
C
C
C
C
C
Legend:
A: EC 50 ≦ 1 nM;
B: = 1 nM < EC 50 ≦ 10 nM;
C: 10 nM < EC 50 ≦ 50 nM;
D: 50 nM < EC 50 ≦ 500 nM
Studies of KCNQ2/3 Opening Activity and KCNQ Subtype Selectivity Using Electrophysiological Patch Clamp in Xenopus Oocytes
Expression in Xenopus Laevis Oocytes
[0438] Female Xenopus laevis extracted ovaries can be purchased from eNASCO (LM00935MX, eNASCO Fort Atkinson, Wis.). Following manual dissection of the oocytes into smaller groups, the oocytes are defolliculated by enzymatic treatment with collagenase type 2 (LS004177, Worthington, Lakewood, N.J.) for 1½ hour in the presence of calcium-free Culture Bath solution (88 mM NaCl, 1 mM KCl, 0.82 mM MgSO 4 , 2.4 mM NaHCO 3 , and 5 mM HEPES, pH 7.5). Oocytes are then kept in supplemented Culture Bath solution (88 mM NaCl, 1 mM KCl, 0.82 mM MgSO 4 , 0.9 mM CaCl 2 , 2.4 mM NaHCO 3 , 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.05 mg/ml Geneticin, 100 U/ml penicillin, 0.1 mg/ml streptomycin and 5 mM HEPES, pH 7.5) at 19° C. for 24 hours before injection of cRNA. Approximately 50 nl cRNA (about 50 ng) is injected for KCNQ1, KCNQ4, and KCNQ5 using a Nanoject microinjector (Drummond, Broomall, Pa., USA). For co-expression of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 and of KCNQ1 and KCNE1, cRNA's are mixed in equal molar ratios before injection of approximately 50 nl. The mixtures contain about 10+10 ng and 12.5+2.5 ng cRNA, respectively. The smaller amounts are needed because larger currents arise when KCNQ2/KCNQ3 and KCNQ1/KCNE1 are co-expressed. Oocytes are kept in Culture Barth solution at 19° C. which is changed daily and currents are recorded after 3 to 5 days.
Electrophysiology
[0439] KCNQ channel currents expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes are recorded using a two-electrode voltage-clamp. The recordings are made at room temperature in recording solution (96 mM NaCl, 2 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 , 1.8 mM CaCl 2 , and 5 mM HEPES, pH 7.5) using a two-electrode voltage-clamp amplifier (OC-725C, Warner Instrument, Hamden, Conn., USA). The oocytes are placed in custom built perfusion chambers connected to a continuous flow system and impaled with a current electrode and a voltage-clamp electrode pulled from borosilicate glass on a Flaming/Brown Micropipette Puller (Sutter Instruments Co., Novato, Calif., USA). Recording electrodes are filled with 3 M KCl and had a resistance of 0.5 to 2.5 MΩ.
Compounds
[0440] All compounds are dissolved in DMSO to obtain concentrated stock solutions. On the day of electrophysiological experiments the stock solutions are thawed and diluted in recording solution to their final concentrations. The final DMSO concentration never exceeds 0.1%. Compound delivery is performed using a custom built multi-barrel apparatus connected to the flow system.
Calculations
[0441] Data are acquired by means of an Axograph X software (Axograph Scientific, Sydney, AU) and analyzed using Graph Pad Prism (GraphPad Software Inc., Calif., USA).
[0442] Concentration—response curves are constructed by plotting the increase in steady-state current expressed in percentages as a function of drug concentration. During the course of the experiment, while various concentrations of the drug are being dosed, the resting voltage is held at −90 mV and pulsed to −60 mV, −40 mV, and −50 mV for 5 s for KCNQ2/KCNQ3, KCNQ4 and KCNQ5 channels respectively. The plot was then fitted to a Hill function:
[0000] Response= R 2+( R 1 −R 2)/[1+(C/EC 50 )̂nH]
[0000] wherein R1 is the initial response, R2 is the maximum response, C is the drug concentration and nH is the slope (Hill coefficient) of the curve.
[0443] The efficacy of compounds of this invention in comparison with Retigabine (as a positive control) are determined by recording the steady current using the above voltage protocol for the channels in the presence of the EC 75 of the drugs. After steady channel current is recorded in the presence of Retigabine at its EC75, recorded oocyte is washed with the recording solution until its steady current returned to its normal level without the presence of any drugs. Then the channel steady current is recorded in the presence of the test compound at its EC 75 . The percent efficacy is then expressed as:
[0000] % efficacy=( C 2/ C 1)×100%
[0000] wherein C2 is the recorded steady current in the presence of follow-on compound at its EC 75 and C1 is the recorded steady current in the presence of Retigabine at its EC 75 .
[0444] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
[0445] As various changes could be made in the above methods and products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
|
The present invention relates to benzyloxyanilide derivatives having the following structural formula:
The compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders which are affected by activation or modulation of potassium ion channels. One such condition is seizure disorders.
| 2
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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application 61/619,045, filed Apr. 2, 2012, and claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a)-(d) of European Application No. 12 002 391.6 filed Apr. 2, 2012, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a monitoring apparatus and a pivoting door.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The prior art discloses pivoting doors which are mounted such that they can rotate about a vertical rotation axis and, in addition, have a motorized drive. These pivoting doors are often equipped with an opening sensor, the control system of the opening sensor opening the door by means of the motorized drive when a person approaching the door is detected. In addition, so-called safety sensors are known in pivoting doors of this kind, the safety sensors stops the movement of the pivoting door as soon as an object which could collide with the opening door is detected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The object of the present invention is to propose a monitoring apparatus in the case of which the susceptibility to faults during operation can be improved.
[0005] Accordingly, a monitoring apparatus according to the present invention for monitoring the movement of a movement element which is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a rotation axis and which is driven by means of a drive comprises a sensor for detecting an object and for monitoring a spatial angle. The movement element can be pivoted between an open and a closed state of an opening which is to be closed. A movement element is, for example, a pivoting door which allows access to a space, wherein the opening which leads to the space can be closed by means of the door element. A pivoting door can be mounted in a rotatable manner by means of a door hinge, for example. A rotation axis is defined by the door hinge being fitted. The movement element itself, for example the door element, is moved about the rotation axis during opening and during closing by means of a motor.
[0006] In the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention, the sensor can be fitted in the region of the rotation axis. This measure can result in the spatial angle which is to be monitored being arranged such that the spatial angle has its origin in the region of the rotation axis. The term ‘spatial angle’ within the meaning of the invention does not necessarily comprise a conical spatial angle. Instead, the term ‘spatial angle’ within the meaning of the present invention means a region of the space which is defined by it being possible for the origin, that is to say the point at which the receiver or transmitter is situated, to be connected to all points of this spatial region or spatial angle by means of a rectilinear connection or a beam. The spatial angle can therefore also be, for example, a cone in which a segment has been detached through the lateral surface along the longitudinal axis.
[0007] The sensor itself comprises a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic detection radiation. The electromagnetic radiation is preferably infrared light (IR). However, it is also feasible, in principle, to use ultraviolet light (UV) or visible light (wavelength of approximately 400 nm to 800 nm, where nm: abbreviation for nanometers). The transmitter and receiver can be arranged in a common housing of the sensor.
[0008] The light can be emitted, in principle, within the corresponding spatial angle; however, in general, the light is emitted into the space over a relatively large region. Furthermore, electromagnetic radiation is usually received or detected only within the spatial angle which is to be monitored. The receiver is therefore generally designed and set up such that the corresponding spatial angle which is to be monitored is detected, but not a further region which goes beyond the spatial angle. As soon as the receiver detects the electromagnetic radiation, it emits detection signals. The detection signals are, for example, electrical signals. However, it is also feasible for these detection signals to be converted into optical signals (with a light-emitting diode or IR diode).
[0009] Furthermore, the monitoring apparatus comprises an evaluation unit which is designed to evaluate the detection signals depending on their position in the spatial angle. This means that the receiver can be used to establish the direction from which the detected signals arrive. It may also be possible to determine the distance of the corresponding detected object from the receiver, for example, by measurement of the delay time. Therefore, if an object is detected, it is also possible to determine the position of the object. The corresponding detection signal contains this corresponding information, that is to say whether an object is detected at all and the position of the object within the spatial angle.
[0010] The sensor can be fitted in the region of the rotation axis such that the movement element at least enters the detected spatial angle, or at least partially passes through the spatial angle, when it moves about the rotation axis.
[0011] In the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention, the evaluation unit is designed to draw a distinction between the movement element and an object depending on the current angular position of the movement element. The evaluation unit is therefore designed to receive signals which can contain information about the current angular position of the movement element in any form. A form of reception may be direct transfer of the angular position. However, it is also feasible for the corresponding angular position to be encoded in any form.
[0012] It is feasible for the angular position to be measured and then transferred to the evaluation unit, or else for the angular position to already be available and merely to be transferred. As a result of the evaluation unit also taking into consideration the current angular position of the movement element during the evaluation, it is possible to blank out the movement element within the detected spatial angle region. This measure can prevent “faulty detection operations” because it is possible to draw a distinction between, in the case of an opening sensor, opening the door only when a person actually approaches the door and, in the case of a safety sensor, stopping the movement when there is actually a risk of collision with the movement element. This prevents detection of the door itself being interpreted as an object or person by the sensor. If the receiver detects a radiation signal, a position in the spatial region which is to be detected can be assigned to this radiation signal. The emitted detection signal, which is delivered to the evaluation unit, carries this information. The evaluation unit uses the current angular position of the movement element for evaluation purposes. The angular region, which can be assigned to the movement element in its current position, can be blanked out, that is to say this region is either not taken into consideration in the evaluation or it is assumed that detection in this region is detection of the movement element itself and not of an object or a person.
[0013] In order to be able to draw a distinction between an object or a person and the movement element, additional information which allows this distinction to be drawn is generally required. If the evaluation unit is designed such that the current angular position of the movement element is transmitted directly by the control apparatus or the control system of the drive of the movement element, the additional information that an object which is located in this corresponding angular region is the movement element is given by the angular position having been transferred by the control apparatus of the drive. However, if the current angular position were to be delivered directly by the monitoring apparatus or the sensor of the monitoring apparatus, additional information which indicates that the detected object is the movement element is required.
[0014] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the sensor for detecting the object and for monitoring the spatial angle is in the form of a distance sensor for determining the distance of an object. A sensor of this kind may be, in particular, a time-of-flight sensor (ToF sensor). A ToF sensor of this kind operates by means of a delay time measuring device. By way of example, a different signal or a frequency which has a lower frequency than the frequency of light is modulated onto the light signal which is emitted from the sensor by means of the transmitter. The signal which is received back in the receiver by means of reflection then has a phase shift with respect to the emitted light, it being possible to determine this phase shift and this phase shaft containing information about the delay time. Sensors of this kind have the advantage that they have a particularly low price and therefore allow cost advantages. In addition, distance sensors make it possible to determine the distance of a detected object from the sensor, it being possible to utilize this in an advantageous manner in the present invention in order to establish whether there is a chance of the movement element colliding with the object or whether the door has to be opened because a person is approaching the door. Furthermore, the ToF sensor can also be in the form of a 3D sensor.
[0015] The angular position alone is not always sufficient to obtain this information, especially since, for example, a person who is relatively far away from the movement element will not or cannot collide with the opening door. It is therefore made possible to also detect the actual movement space of the movement element and its extension by means of the sensor of the monitoring apparatus. In the case of a pivoting door, the evaluation unit can, for example, contain information about the radius to which the movement element opens. An object which is further away from the sensor than this radius can generally not constitute a collision risk.
[0016] The door is automatically opened, inter alia, by means of a control apparatus for controlling the drive of the movement element and the drive itself. The drive is generally a motor with which the door, in particular a pivoting door, can be opened. Within the meaning of the present invention, control means open-loop control and/or closed-loop control. The control apparatus receives, for example, a signal from a sensor, for example an opening sensor, that a person is approaching the door, and the control apparatus accordingly actuates the motor and the movement element is set in motion, that is to say is moved to an open state. The control apparatus can also be connected to a safety apparatus or a safety sensor, and therefore when the safety sensor detects an object with which the movement element may collide, the movement of the door is stopped. In this case, the opening signal of an opening sensor can also be overridden since avoidance of a collision generally has priority over opening of the door. In most cases, the current angular position of the movement element can be read from this control apparatus. The angular position can be obtained, in principle, in a different way. It is feasible, for example, for the motor or the drive to have its own rotary encoder or angle encoder by means of which the information about the current angle of the movement element can be read.
[0017] It is also feasible for the time or a measure of the time for which the motor has already currently driven the movement element to be determined or read, and for this information to be used as a measure of the current angular position. It is also feasible for the control apparatus to have its own angle encoder which determines the current angular position of the movement element. Therefore, a transmission apparatus which connects the control unit to the evaluation unit and accordingly transmits the current angular position is provided in a simple refinement of the invention. It is further feasible for the evaluation unit to be directly connected to the motor or to the drive itself, provided that the current angular position can also be read directly from the motor.
[0018] The transmission unit can also be designed in a different way. It is feasible, for example, for the transmission unit to merely be a data cable which connects the control apparatus and/or the drive to the evaluation unit. This is sufficient, for example, when firstly the evaluation unit and secondly the control apparatus or drive comprise an interface which allows said information to be directly emitted or directly read in. However, it is also feasible for an electrical signal which contains said information to be tapped off within the respective circuit. In principle, the angular position can be read out or the corresponding signal may contain the position in an encoded form. A particularly advantageous feature of this embodiment is that the information about the current angular position of the movement element is obtained independently of a sensor of the monitoring apparatus. In addition, this refinement is comparatively low cost because generally only one connection to the control unit or to the drive has to be established.
[0019] A further refinement makes it possible to wirelessly transfer the current angular positions. It is also feasible, for example, for the angular position to be transferred by radio. By virtue of this refinement, disruptive cables can be avoided and also a more compact structure with savings in respect of space is made possible.
[0020] The transmission apparatus can, however, also be in the form of a communications apparatus, that is to say an apparatus which is designed to receive and transmit instructions. It is feasible, for example, for the control apparatus and the drive or evaluation unit to communicate with one another by means of a bus. It is also feasible for data to be interchanged, but also, in principle, for the data to flow only in one direction. The evaluation unit can, for example, request current angular positions of the movement element from the transmission apparatus at regular intervals by means of corresponding instructions. The transmission apparatus then in turn sends instructions to the drive or the control apparatus which then delivers the current angular position and the angular position is finally transferred to the evaluation unit. It is further possible, as already described above, for the transfer apparatus to comprise only one connection to the control apparatus or to the drive and for the request made by the evaluation unit to be passed directly to the control apparatus or the drive.
[0021] The question of whether the transfer apparatus is in the form of a separate circuit or merely in the form of a cable depends, for example, on whether the evaluation unit and the control apparatus or drive can communicate directly with one another. If this is not the case since, for example, the two structural units are delivered to a different manufacturer, it may be advantageous to provide a transmission apparatus which allows communication of this kind and data flow of this kind. Communication of this kind between the evaluation unit, transmission unit and control apparatus/drive can also take place by radio.
[0022] One way of determining the current angular position of the movement element involves establishing the time period for which the drive or the motor has already been in operation. If the speed of the motor specifically is known, it is possible to derive the current angular position of the movement element from this. However, if the angular position is determined in this way, corresponding deviations in the actual angular position of the movement element from the angular position which is determined over time may occur if, for example, the assumed speed of the motor does not correspond to the actual speed. The result of this would be that the monitoring device would ultimately blank out a region which does not correspond to the actual position of the movement element. This, in turn, could lead to either the movement of the movement element being stopped, even though no object could actually cause a collision, because the movement element itself is incorrectly deemed to be an object of this kind or, in the case of an opening sensor, to the door being opened even though no one is in the corresponding region in the vicinity of the door but the movement element is deemed to be an, approaching person of this kind. Conversely, there is once again the risk of an object or an approaching person being deemed to be the movement element and, in this way, a collision with the movement element can occur, or else the door is not opened or is opened only too late. Accordingly, it may be advantageous to provide a separate angle measuring apparatus which determines the current angular position of the movement element. An angle measuring apparatus of this kind may be an angle encoder which is integrated in the drive or in the motor, but a separate sensor which determines the angular position of the movement element is also feasible. The angle measuring apparatus can operate by means of a mechanical coupling.
[0023] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is feasible for the angle measuring apparatus to comprise a lever which is mechanically coupled to, for example rotatably mounted on, the movement element. Furthermore, the angle measuring apparatus is then designed to detect the angular position of the movement element by means of the displacement of the lever when the movement element moves. In the case of a pivoting door, the lever can, for example, likewise execute the rotary movement together with the movement element. However, it also feasible, for example, for the lever to be guided in a slotted link on the sensor side and therefore for the pivoting movement to be converted into a linear movement. It is important that an angular position of the movement element can be unambiguously assigned to the corresponding position of the lever. In this case, the angle measuring apparatus identifies the position which the lever is in. The lever is used as a measurement sensor to a certain extent. An embodiment of this kind can likewise be realized in a cost-effective and reliable manner.
[0024] However, the angle measuring apparatus can also operate in an optical manner. Essentially two embodiments are feasible here, specifically firstly that the angle measuring apparatus is in the form of an optical distance sensor which determines the angular position of the movement element. If the distance sensor is fitted at a fixed point, the distance or spacing from the sensor also changes as a pivoting door executes the pivoting movement. This information can be employed such that an angular position of the movement element can be unambiguously assigned to the distance.
[0025] Another optical detection option is also feasible. The optical sensor can transmit a light beam, for example, which is at least partially reflected at a defined point of the pivoting door and then strikes a receiver. When the movement element moves, that is to say, for example, when the door pivots, the angle of the movement element in relation to the beam striking it changes. The reflected signal is therefore reflected at another angle and strikes the receiver at another point or at another angle. This deviation can be established. In the case of a vertically rotatably mounted door, a beam which runs in a horizontal direction, for example, can be directed at the door, wherein the reflection then changes its position horizontally and in a line. The light source used may be, for example, an LED (light-emitting diode) spotlight. The sensor can comprise, for example, a linear array sensor which ascertains the position of the spotlight depending on the door opening.
[0026] In a development of the invention however, the angle measuring apparatus can also be integrated in the sensor itself, which means that the angle measuring apparatus is not in the form of a separate sensor, and therefore the sensor for detecting the object and for monitoring the spatial angle additionally has the function of the angle measuring apparatus for the purpose of determining the angular position of the movement element. This can also provide cost advantages since no additional sensor has to be provided; a saving in respect of space is also possible. In this context, it is important for it to be possible to draw a distinction between the movement element and another object by additional information being transferred. This additional information can be acquired by a received signal having a characteristic shape if it originates from the movement element. When distance sensors, for example ToF sensors are used, it is feasible, for example, for a characteristic distance of the door to be established, for example, when the door leaf is detected by the detection radiation, the door leaf being at a constant spacing from the sensor when it is pivoted about the sensor which is located in the region of the rotation axis.
[0027] However, it is also feasible to provide a marking unit which can be fitted to the movement element such that it can be detected by the angle measuring apparatus when the movement element moves. The marking unit can be designed in such a way that it can be identified by the evaluation unit as a reference marking for determining the angular position of the movement element on account of its optical properties. This reference marking can be configured in a simple manner such that it can be concluded that it is not an object or a person that is in the corresponding region. The marking unit also provides the advantage that it can be employed in a virtually universal manner. If the marking unit is fastened to the door leaf, for example, this can be done in an inconspicuous manner, and therefore the user does not really see this marking, even when glass doors are used. An embodiment of this kind is generally unproblematic, specifically when the monitoring apparatus is retrofitted to the existing door systems, since it can be fitted to virtually any door system and can be used with any door system. The marking unit is ideally fastened to the door leaf on the hinge side in the vicinity of the sensor, for example directly on the hinge-side edge of the door leaf or in a region up to 10 cm away from the edge of the door leaf. As a result, the ToF sensor can identify the situation a sudden change in a detected distance as a measure of the angular position of the door leaf when the distance corresponds to the characteristic distance between the sensor and the marking unit.
[0028] However, it may not be necessary to fit a marking unit of this kind at all. It is also feasible for the sensor to be designed to detect a point on the movement element as a reference marking for determining the angular position of the movement element. In this embodiment, it is important for the corresponding point to have optical or reflection properties such that the evaluation unit can reliably sense a distinction of this kind. It is feasible for a characteristic distance from the door handle or a characteristic reflection from the door handle to be identified as a corresponding point on the movement element. For example, the door handle can be detected by the sensor. An embodiment of this kind has the particular advantage that a marking unit can be saved and therefore the situation of the marking unit having an objectionable effect on the appearance of the door can always be avoided.
[0029] In many cases, it is advantageous to fit a marking unit according to one embodiment of the invention when, on account of the steep angle at which a detection beam from the monitoring apparatus strikes the movement element, no reflected signal or only a very weak reflected signal can re-enter the receiver of the monitoring apparatus. In the worst case, the angle tends toward 180°. Since the marking unit can be designed and fitted such that the signal strikes the surface at a less steep angle, ideally 90°, a higher intensity of the return reflection can be expected. The measurement can therefore be significantly improved.
[0030] In order to possess a corresponding characteristic property, the marking unit can at least partially have a diffusely scattering surface. As a result, it is possible for a point which atypically reflects back, specifically diffusely scatters, the light in relation to other objects or persons to be detected in this detected angular region, as a result of which the movement element can be identified.
[0031] It is also feasible, in principle, for an opposite property to be utilized by, for example, a reflection element being provided which therefore reflects back a signal which has a high intensity. This embodiment can be used particularly when the ToF sensor is used as a simple optical sensor, for example a photodiode, a phototransistor or a quadrant diode.
[0032] The monitoring apparatus within the meaning of the invention can firstly be in the form of a safety sensor, in the form of an opening sensor or in the form of a sensor which simultaneously assumes the function of a safety sensor and an opening sensor.
[0033] The aim of the safety sensor is to stop the movement of the movement element in order to prevent undesired collisions with the object, while the opening sensor is used to open the movement element as the object approaches. However, the sensor can also perform both functions simultaneously. Since the two sensors are geared toward different objectives to a certain extent, in one case specifically starting the movement for opening the movement element and in the other case stopping the movement of the movement element, in order to avoid a collision, a strict distinction is required in this case too so that malfunctions do not result. An expedient distinction is that the monitoring area which is assigned to the opening sensor is a different monitoring area to that which is assigned to the safety sensor.
[0034] The first monitoring area, which is assigned to the safety sensor, is generally closer to the actual door. This first monitoring area generally comprises the movement region of the movement element, especially since there is, in principle, a risk of collision with the movement element in this region.
[0035] The second monitoring region, which is assigned to the opening sensor, is generally further away from the door since a person approaching the door has to be identified early so that the door can be opened in good time. If, for example, a person leaves the second monitoring region since he has in the meantime entered the first monitoring region, it is sufficient, for example, when the opening sensor holds open the door for a sufficient amount of time; if the person remains standing in the movement region of the door for example, the safety sensor ensures that there is no collision with the door since it has assumed monitoring in the first monitoring region. In this case, it is sufficient for the opening sensor to initiate opening of the door and to provide a sufficient possibility for the person to be able to pass through the opening of the door. In a particular refinement, a sensor can be designed such that it assumes the function of an opening and safety sensor. By way of example, the transmitter can be designed such that a portion of the emitted radiation runs only in the first monitoring region and a further portion runs only in the second monitoring region. An overlap between the first and the second monitoring region should generally be avoided since malfunctions may occur when an object is located in the overlap region between the first and the second monitoring region. In the case of a distance sensor, the two monitoring areas can be delimited by a specific distance or a specific boundary area, so that detected objects can be unambiguously assigned to the two monitoring areas on the basis of their distances.
[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, it is feasible, in particular, for the opening sensor to be separate and to have the function of an angle measuring apparatus, so that the current angular position of the movement element determined as a result is transmitted to the evaluation unit and is used to ensure that the opening sensor does not accidently deem an approaching person to be the movement element itself and attempt to open the door again when the door is being closed for example.
[0037] In a development of the invention, the transmitter can be designed such that it emits radiation in a broad spatial angle region. This is possible, for example, by means of a corresponding lens, for example a kind of fish-eye lens. It is also feasible, in principle, for the transmitter to emit radiation only in discrete regions of a spatial angle. However, it is generally necessary in this case for either a plurality of radiation-emitting transmitters or a plurality of light sources to be provided or, for example, for a perforated mask to provide the discrete regions. However, it is generally more cost-effective to provide a corresponding lens which allows for correspondingly wide-angle emission of radiation. In addition, this measure provides the advantage that the emitted light can enter a correspondingly wide region without individual gaps therebetween.
[0038] However, in the case of the receiver, it is generally advantageous for said receiver to detect only individual spatial angle regions. This can be done, for example, by individual component receivers being provided, these together forming the receiver but pointing in different directions, so that they can detect correspondingly different component spatial angles. Only this refinement makes it possible for a specially defined spatial angle region to be assigned to each receiver, as a result of which the angular position or position in space can already be encoded.
[0039] In addition, a pivoting door according to the invention is designed such that it comprises a door frame and a movement element which can be pivoted about a rotation axis and is fastened to the lateral door frame by means of a door hinge such that it can rotate, wherein the movement element can be pivoted between an open and a closed state of an opening of the pivoting door. The door frame can also be formed by the wall. The opening generally comprises the pivoting door making it possible to pass through a wall or a wall element to another space. The movement element closes this opening, wherein access through the opening is made possible when the movement element is opened. A monitoring apparatus according to the invention can advantageously be used for monitoring the movement in the case of the pivoting door.
[0040] In a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the sensor is arranged fixed in position, in particular on the lateral door frame and/or on the rotation axis and/or less than 50 cm or less than 20 cm above the floor, in particular so as to directly adjoin a lower door hinge. In particular, detection can be performed parallel to the floor. Therefore, the floor itself is not detected. However, detection close to the floor should be carried out with particular preference, especially since contact with the floor by a person or an object generally takes place independently of the size of the person or object.
[0041] The stationary fitting, which is performed on the opening side and the hinge side, is particularly advantageous in the invention. Arrangement on the opening side means that the sensor is arranged on the side of the door on which the pivoting movement of the movement element takes place. Fastening on the hinge side means that the fastening is performed in the location of the rotation axis of the movement element. The monitoring sensor is positioned to a certain extent at the origin or in the vicinity of the origin of the angular region about which the pivoting movement of the door takes place. This makes it possible for an angular region to be blanked out in a particularly simple manner.
[0042] Fitting the sensor with detection parallel to the floor and close to the floor can be compared, to a certain extent, with the advantages of a step contact mat which likewise utilizes the situation of a person tripping a contact in the floor region when he enters the door opening region. Blanking out can be performed in a simple manner by the door leaf angle position being detected and exactly this position being blanked out. The angle measuring apparatus or the angle sensor can, in principle, be located in the same housing as the safety sensor, for example when the sensor is identical to the angle encoder but also when, for example, an additional sensor is provided as an angle encoder, for example a mechanical or an optical sensor. A physical unit with the safety sensor can accordingly be ensured.
[0043] However, it is also feasible for a 3D door opening sensor to be separately provided, said 3D door opening sensor being arranged beneath or on the opening side on the upper horizontal door frame, the so-called door lintel, or on the opening side on the wall above the door opening or on the door lintel. This arrangement has the advantage that orientation in the second monitoring region, which is at a further distance from the door, is made possible in a simple manner. However, it is also feasible for the safety sensor and the opening sensor to be integrated in a unit, even when the monitoring apparatus is fastened in the lateral region closer to the rotation axis. The opening sensor can then be oriented such that its beams are oriented in an angular region close to 90° from the closed door, that is to say project into a region which is further away from the door.
[0044] The opening sensor, which is integrated in the monitoring apparatus, possibly together with the safety apparatus, can also be oriented, in particular, such that its monitoring region is situated outside the movement region or the first monitoring region. If the door itself or a marking unit on the door is detected, the door edge or the lateral door hinge generally constitutes a reference point. The distance sensor used can be, in particular, a 3D distance sensor, for example an 8×8 ToF sensor. When the safety sensor is arranged on the hinge side, it can be arranged such that it detects both the region in front of and the region behind the door when the door is not fully open or fully closed, wherein the region in which the door itself is located is blanked out. Furthermore, lighting means, but possibly also computation power, can be saved in an advantageous manner when opening and safety sensors are integrated in one device because the blanking out operation can be performed in a particularly simple manner and no further image processing is required.
[0045] In a preferred development of the invention, the regions in front of and behind the movement element (that is to say the opening side and the side averted from the opening) are monitored, specifically by two separate safety sensors. If the door is open, a person or an object which is located between the movement element and the door may, for example, not be able to be detected by the safety sensor which is fitted laterally to the door frame or by the opening sensor above the door. Therefore, a safety sensor can advantageously be fitted in the upper region of the door frame (or else above the door), the safety sensor monitoring this region. Furthermore, communication with this sensor in the upper region of the door frame can be provided, so that, for example, the sensor in the upper region of the door frame receives the information about the current angular position of the movement element and the spatial angular region which is therefore to be monitored at the present time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained below with further details and advantages being indicated.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a monitoring apparatus with monitoring in a space;
[0048] FIG. 2 shows a monitoring apparatus according to the invention with monitoring in a horizontal and vertical plane;
[0049] FIG. 3 shows a monitoring apparatus with monitoring in a horizontal plane;
[0050] FIG. 4 shows a schematic detailed view of a monitoring apparatus;
[0051] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a monitoring apparatus and a pivoting door;
[0052] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a monitoring apparatus having a sensor which is in the form of a safety sensor and an opening sensor;
[0053] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of the monitoring apparatus having a separate optical angle encoder;
[0054] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of the monitoring apparatus having a separate mechanical angle encoder; and
[0055] FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a monitoring apparatus having two safety sensors.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0056] FIG. 1 shows a pivoting door 1 which is arranged in a wall 2 and has a movement element 3 which blocks off an opening 4 in the closed state and allows passage through the opening 4 in the open state. A monitoring sensor is arranged on the wall side of the door frame 6 in the region of the rotation axis 5 . This monitoring sensor is arranged such that it is situated virtually at the origin of the angular region which the door 3 passes over as it pivots. The monitoring sensor itself is not illustrated in FIG. 1 . It has a transmitter which emits light in a wide spatial region. The receiver of the monitoring sensor is once again designed such that it detects only discrete spatial angles. The total spatial angle, which is detected by the receiver or which is formed by the component spatial angles which in turn are detected by the receiver, is formed on the floor side such that the spatial angle runs horizontal above the floor and comprises individual planes in the vertical direction, the individual planes being situated between the pivoting door and the wall 7 which runs at 90° with respect to the wall 2 . These component spatial angles are indicated by reference symbol 8 . In the floor-side region (floor 9 ), the component beam bundles 8 run parallel to the plane of the floor 9 .
[0057] If the movement element 3 is pivoted about the rotation axis 5 , that is to say opened, it passes through individual component spatial angles 8 . On account of a marking unit (not illustrated any further here on the door), the monitoring unit receives signals which can be assigned to the movement element. In the present case, a marking unit of this kind is a diffuse scattering device, and therefore the door or the movement element 3 can be unambiguously identified. As the pivoting movement of the door 3 increases in magnitude, the corresponding component spatial angle regions are successively passed through by the movement element. The corresponding angular region which can be assigned to the movement element 3 , that is to say the current angular position of the door 3 , can then be blanked out by the evaluation unit, that is to say this region is no longer available when an object is intended to be identified.
[0058] FIG. 2 shows a similar monitoring apparatus, wherein, however, only component spatial angles which run horizontally, that is to say parallel to the floor 9 , and a vertical plane region with component spatial angles, which are oriented substantially parallel to the movement element, are detected in the present case. The component spatial angles, which are oriented in the horizontal direction, are denoted by the reference symbol 8 ′. They are sufficient to detect the current angular region of the door since one component spatial angle region after another is passed through by the door. Some of the receivers are advanced such that the component spatial angle regions 8 ″ are detected in a region which is situated directly in front of the door, and therefore the corresponding region can be detected when the door is opened. It is also feasible for, from the perspective of FIGS. 1 and 2 , a region behind the door to be detected if the corresponding sensor is correspondingly arranged.
[0059] FIG. 3 once again shows a monitoring apparatus in which only the floor-side region is scanned by individual component spatial angle regions 8 ′. An arrangement of this kind can be sufficient, in principle, since an approaching person remains substantially close to the floor. It is feasible for this horizontal plane, which comprises the component spatial angle regions 8 ′, to be fitted at a level of between 0 cm and 70 cm (cm: centimetres) above the floor, in particular <60 cm, <50 cm, <40 cm, <30 cm, <20 cm and <10 cm. Otherwise, the detection region, which is detected, for example, by the receiver in the case of a ToF sensor, is a region which is a maximum of approximately 7.5 m (m: meters) away from the receiver.
[0060] FIG. 4 shows the monitoring apparatus 10 which is fitted in the lateral region on the door frame 11 . Furthermore, a marking unit 12 is provided on a door 13 . The marking unit 12 is an object with a diffusely scattering surface. In this example, the monitoring apparatus is in the form of a safety apparatus, wherein the receiver of the sensor detects component spatial angles 8 in the horizontal direction. The emitted light, which is emitted by the sensor, is not illustrated in any detail in the figure. If the diffuse scattering device 12 enters the region which is detected by a receiver, it is correspondingly detected and the angular position of the door 13 is correspondingly detected and taken into consideration by the evaluation unit. This means that an object is only identified when it does not correspond to this specific angular position which is assigned to the pivoting door. In the present case, the angle encoder is integrated in the safety sensor to a certain extent. An object which is located next to the door for example, that is to say cannot be allocated to the angular position of the movement element, is sensed to be an object which could, for example, cause a collision with the movement element 13 , and therefore the movement of the movement element can then be blocked.
[0061] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the monitoring apparatus with the door frame and the door. FIG. 5 shows the door frame 11 to which the monitoring apparatus 10 is fastened, wherein the door 13 is fastened to the door frame in a rotatable manner by means of an articulation or door hinge 14 . A diffusely scattering marking unit 12 is, in turn, fitted to the door. The monitoring apparatus 10 monitors a spatial angle which is formed by component spatial angles 8 which are, in turn, sensed by the receiver of the sensor 10 . If light which is emitted from the transmitter of the sensor reaches the marking unit 12 , it is diffusely scattered and the marking unit 12 is sensed. The corresponding angular region, which can then be assigned to the movement element 13 , is blanked out by the evaluation unit which is integrated in the monitoring unit 10 .
[0062] FIG. 6 shows the corner between two walls 2 and 7 and also a monitoring sensor 20 which monitors component spatial regions 8 . However, the monitoring apparatus 20 is not only a safety apparatus but also an opening sensor which monitors a second monitoring region which is further away. This is illustrated by a receiver which is oriented toward a region, which is further away, over the component spatial region 21 . Therefore, both a safety monitoring operation and an opening monitoring operation can be performed by a single monitoring apparatus.
[0063] FIG. 7 comprises a monitoring apparatus 30 which is fitted to a door frame and which again monitors a region by means of a safety apparatus in the horizontal direction over the component spatial regions 8 . However, an angle encoder 31 which is in the form of an optical angle encoder is additionally integrated. The angle encoder comprises a light-emitting diode which creates a spotlight which is incident on a marking unit 32 on the movement element. This marking unit 32 on the movement element has a reflective surface, and therefore the corresponding light beam is reflected back again and finally strikes a linear array sensor of the sensor 31 . When the door 13 is pivoted, the reflected beam moves along the line of the linear array sensor, and therefore an angular position of the movement element can be determined by the position. The evaluation unit is connected to the sensor 31 and can correspondingly blank out the current angular position of the movement element 13 .
[0064] FIG. 8 shows a similar monitoring apparatus to the monitoring apparatus 31 from FIG. 7 . The monitoring apparatus 40 illustrated in FIG. 8 likewise monitors component spatial regions 8 in a horizontal plane in a safety apparatus. However, it additionally has a mechanical angle encoder 41 . In the present case, the lever 42 is mounted in a rotatable manner on the sensor side and has a slotted link guide on the door side. The sensor 41 accordingly measures the rotation within the bearing in order to ascertain the current angular position of the movement element 13 . However, it is also feasible for the bearing to be arranged in the opposite way and for a slotted link guide to be provided on the sensor side. Accordingly, the current angular position is also blanked out in this embodiment, analogously to that in FIG. 7 .
[0065] FIG. 9 shows a pivoting door 1 with a door frame 6 and a movement element 3 which is mounted such that it can rotate about an axis 5 and is driven by a motor. The opening 4 is opened and closed by the movement element 3 . The side X which is averted from the opening is monitored by the safety sensor 50 of the monitoring apparatus (horizontally running region 8 ), while the opening-side region Y is monitored by the safety sensor Y (spatial angle 61 ). The sensor 60 is informed of the current angular position of the door, and therefore said sensor can adapt to the spatial angle 61 which is to be monitored.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0000]
1 Pivoting door
2 Wall
3 Movement element
4 Opening
5 Rotation axis
6 Door frame
7 Wall
8 Component spatial region
9 Floor
8 ′ Horizontal component spatial region
8 ″ Vertical component spatial region
10 Monitoring apparatus
11 Door frame
12 Marking unit
13 Movement element
14 Door hinge
20 Monitoring apparatus
21 Subregion of the 2nd monitoring region
30 Monitoring apparatus
31 Optical angle encoder
32 Reflection unit
40 Monitoring apparatus
41 Mechanical angle encoder
42 Lever
50 First safety sensor
60 Second safety sensor
61 Monitored spatial angle
X Region which is averted from the opening
Y Opening-side region
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Monitoring apparatus for monitoring a movement element pivoted between open and closed states of an opening to be closed, the apparatus having a sensor for detecting an object and for monitoring a spatial angle originating at or near the rotation axis. The sensor is fitted at or near the rotation axis and includes a transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving radiation within the spatial angle. The sensor emits detection signals generated by the receiver when radiation is detected. The monitoring apparatus includes an evaluation unit that evaluates the detection signals depending on the angular position of the detected radiation in the spatial angle and determines whether an object has been detected and/or the position of the detected object. The evaluation unit draws a distinction between the movement element and an object depending on the current angular position of the movement element.
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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer systems and software and more particularly to a method and system to layout topology objects, particularly in a primitive environment.
Typically, robust personal computer (PC) applications and the like that are capable of displaying topological layouts, network graphs or similar representations may offer as a core function the ability to “click-on” and “drag” or move topological objects as a means to reposition objects and layout the network graph or representation. Such robust PC applications may also provide the functionality to bend links or “lasso” and drag multiple objects to re-layout large areas of topology. However, in other less robust or primitive applications or device types, such as Web/Markup Applications or the like, the ability to perform complex interactions, such as dragging, selecting, repositioning and similar operations, may not be available. An additional challenge is that these primitive environments may run in a stateless environment. In a stateless environment, the graphical display is independent of the topology data model. Within a markup language, a topology map is simply a singular image and is not made up of multiple different objects (links, nodes, etc.) that can be easily recognized, selected or manipulated by the client. Because the topology object itself cannot be directly distinguished by the computer pointing device in such primitive or stateless environments, the ability to directly influence, select, manipulate or perform other operations is not possible.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method to layout topology objects may include determining a relative position of a click event in an image on a client computer. The method may also include generating a Universal Resource Locator (URL), wherein the URL includes location parameters corresponding to the relative position of the click event in the image. The method may further include submitting the URL to a server.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a system to layout topology objects may include a data structure to determine a relative position of a click event in an image on a client computer. The system may also include a data structure to generate a URL, wherein the URL includes location parameters corresponding to the relative position of the click event in the image. The system may further include a data structure to submit the URL to a server.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product to layout topology objects may include a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable medium may include computer readable program code configured to determine a relative position of a click event in an image on a client computer. The computer program product may also include computer readable program code configured to generate a URL, wherein the URL includes location parameters corresponding to the relative position of the click event in the image. The computer program product may further include computer readable program code configured to submit the URL to a server.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B (collectively FIG. 1 ) are a flow chart of an example of a method to layout topology objects or the like in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A-2D are a sequence of images or computer screen shots illustrating operation of a method to layout topology objects or the like in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary system to layout topology objects in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following detailed description of embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments having different structures and operations do not depart from the scope of the present invention.
As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.
Any suitable computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Java7, Smalltalk or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
The present invention is described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
FIGS. 1A and 1B (collectively FIG. 1 ) are a flow chart of an example of a method 100 to layout topology objects or the like in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 100 may be divided into operations or functions that may typically be performed by a client computer system (client 102 ) or the like as illustrated in FIG. 1A , and operations or functions that may typically be performed by a server, web server or the like (server 104 ) as illustrated in FIG. 1B . However, depending on system design or configuration, some functions or operations may be performed by a component of a system other than as illustrated herein. The invention is not intended to be limited in any way by the specific component, client 102 or server 104 , that may be illustrated in the example method 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B as performing a particular function.
In block 106 , an image may be displayed of the topology map, layout of topology objects or the like. FIG. 2A is an example of an image 200 or computer screen shot of a topology map 201 or layout of topology objects in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The image 200 may be a primitive view in a primitive environment, stateless environment or the like. Accordingly, the image 200 may be any graphical display where the graphical or topology data model may be a singular image or where the image is made up of multiple objects that cannot be individually recognized by a client computer system or the like and manipulated. The image 200 may include multiple objects 202 - 204 . Examples of objects may include nodes 202 , links or connectors 204 that may interconnect the nodes 202 and labels or other textual data. The labels may be associated with and identify each node 202 and may be a separate object or form a single object 202 with the node being labeled. The node objects 202 may represent different computer systems, servers, databases or other components that may be interconnected by the communication links or connectors 204 to form the topology map 201 or layout of topology objects depicting a network or larger system.
Returning to FIG. 1A , in block 108 , a click event may be detected in a client computer system 102 or the like. The click event may be any commonly known click event in the computer field, such as a user manipulating a computer pointing device, mouse or the like and operating a button, thumb wheel, joy stick or similar mechanism associated with the pointing device while the pointing device or virtual indicator displayed on a computer monitor, corresponding to the pointing device, is positioned substantially over or at least partially touching an object or objects in an image. The click event may also be a particular type of click event as is known in the computer field, such as a “left click,” a “right click” or other similar operation. Typically, a “left click” or operating a left button on a computer pointing device, mouse or the like may correspond to directing a computer program or application to select the object. The computer pointing device or rather virtual indicator displayed on a computer monitor that corresponds to the pointing device may be positioned over or touching the object intended to be selected in the image. The left button on the pointing device or mouse may then be depressed or operated to select the object underlying or touched by the virtual indicator of the pointing device. A “right click” may cause the computer program or application to perform some predetermined function, such as displaying a context menu, as indicated in block 108 , and as discussed in more detail below with respect to block 130 in FIG. 1B and FIG. 2C .
In block 110 , a relative position where the click event occurred in the image may be determined. The relative position or location of the click event may be determined by proportional means, such as calculating a percentage of distance from a vertical side edge and a horizontal side edge of the image to where the click event occurred. The relative position of the click event may also be determined by calculating relative distances and directions from a reference point or points such as the edges of the image or the like.
In block 112 , a Universal Resource Locator (URL) or the like may be generated. The URL may contain location parameters corresponding to the relative position or location of the click event determined in block 110 . The URL may also include any other data or parameters associated with the click event, such as the type of click event, an option that may have been selected from a context menu displayable by a preset click event, e.g., a right mouse click, in block 108 or the like. In block 114 , the URL may be submitted or transmitted to a server.
In block 116 ( FIG. 1B ), real or actual graphical coordinates of the location or position of the click event in the image may be determined in response to or based on the location parameters in the URL. In block 118 , the click event type may be determined. If a “select” type click event occurred, e.g., a left mouse click, the method 100 may advance to block 120 . In block 120 , at least one object located substantially at the coordinates determined in block 116 may be located in the image or layout of topology objects. In block 122 , a determination may be made whether one or more objects have been located substantially at the coordinates determined in block 116 and therefore are associated with or have been selected in response to the “select” type click event. If one or more objects are determined to be located in the image corresponding to the coordinates of the click event, the method 100 may advance to block 124 . In block 124 , the object or objects may be indicated as being selected. The object or objects may be indicated as being “selected” by distinguishing, highlighting or otherwise identifying the selected objects from other objects in the image.
As previously discussed, a “select” type click event may involve touching or contacting an object to be selected with a virtual indicator (typically and arrow or the like) that corresponds to the pointing device in an image on a computer monitor and operating a left mouse button. The object may then be highlighted or otherwise distinguished from other objects in the image to identify the object as being selected. Multiple objects may be highlighted or distinguished, i.e., selected by a single click event or multiple click events associated with each selected object. As an example, clicking on one object may also cause any other objects connected downstream or only in a communication path with the one selected object to also be distinguished from other objects in response to the click event.
From block 124 , the method 100 may advance to block 126 . In block 126 , a new image may be generated with the selected object or objects being distinguished or otherwise identified. The method 100 may then return to block 106 in FIG. 1A and the image may be displayed with the selected object or objects being distinguished from other objects. FIG. 2B is an example of a new image 210 illustrating objects 202 a , 202 b and 202 c and associated labels being selected and distinguished from other objects in the image 210 or layout in response to a click event. The objects 202 a , 202 b and 202 c may be distinguished by highlighting as represented in FIG. 2B by the broken or dashed line surrounding the objects 202 a - 202 c or the objects 202 a - 202 c may be distinguished by some other means appropriate to bring a user's attention to the fact that the objects 202 a - 202 c have been selected.
Returning to block 122 in FIG. 1B , if no object or objects are located in block 122 corresponding to the coordinates, the method 100 may advance to block 128 . In block 128 , any objects that may have been indicated as being selected are deselected. The method may then advance to block 126 and the method 100 may proceed as previously discussed. In block 106 , the image or layout of topology objects may be displayed without any objects being selected, highlighted or otherwise distinguished from other objects.
Returning to block 118 , if the click event is determined to be a preset type click event, such as a right click event, the method 100 may advance to block 130 . In block 130 , a context menu may be displayed at the client 102 as previously discussed with respect to block 108 . FIG. 2C is an image 212 or computer screen shot of the topology map 201 or layout of topology objects illustrating a context menu 214 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The context menu 214 may be displayed in response to a preset type click event, such as a right click event or other preset click event. The object 202 a or objects 202 a - 202 c that were touched or contacted in association with the preset or right click event in block 108 may be selected or distinguished from other objects in image 212 to indicate that any options selected or actions taken with respect to the context menu 214 are applicable to the selected or distinguished objects 202 a - 202 c . Distinguishing of the selected objects 202 a - 202 c is illustrated in FIG. 2C by a dashed or broken line surrounding the objects 202 a - 202 c which may correspond to highlighting or otherwise drawing a user's attention to the selected objects 202 a - 202 c in the image 212 .
Examples of different options that may be selected in the context menu 214 may include “Deselect All,” “UnHide All,” “Selection,” “Center here!” “Move here!,” “Viewer Content.” The “Center here!” option or “Move here!” option 216 may be used to move the selected objects 202 a - 202 c and thereby layout topology objects. A location indicator or mouse point 218 may be positioned on the image 212 using a pointing device to select the new position of the objects 202 a - 202 c in the primitive or stateless environment.
The click event in block 108 of Figure IA may include moving the mouse point 218 to a new desired position of the objects 202 a - 202 c . The relative position of the mouse point 218 at the new desired position may also be determined in block 110 similar to that previously described for the click event and parameters for the new desired position of the mouse point 218 may be included in the URL generated in block 112 and submitted to the server 104 in block 114 similar to that previously described.
Returning to FIG. 1B , in block 132 , a distance and direction may be determined to the mouse point 218 in response to the “Move here!” option 216 or a similar option being selected in the context menu 214 ( FIG. 2C ). The distance and direction to the mouse point 218 may be determined from the click event parameters submitted to the server 104 in block 114 . In block 134 , the object or objects associated with the click event or events may be moved to the new coordinates corresponding to the distance and direction to the mouse point 218 from the original coordinates of the click event or events determined in block 116 . From block 134 , the method 100 may advance to block 126 . In block 126 , a new image, layout of topology objects or the like may be generated and transmitted to the client 102 . In block 106 ( FIG. 1A ), the new image, layout or the like may be displayed or presented to the user. FIG. 2D is an image 220 or computer screen shot of a topology map 201 or layout of topology objects illustrating moving selected topology objects 202 a - 202 c associated with a click event to new coordinates defined by the mouse point 218 in FIG. 2C in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The moved objects 202 a - 202 c may still be distinguished from other objects in the layout 201 to indicate they remain selected until the user accepts the new location of the objects 202 a - 202 c . Accordingly, the user may further move the objects 202 a - 202 c or select another option by performing another preset click event, for example a right click event, to present the context menu 214 as illustrated in FIG. 2C . Alternatively, the user may perform a click event in any space in the image 220 not occupied by an object and the method 100 may advance to block 128 similar to that previously described. In block 128 the objects 202 a - 202 c may be deselected to accept the new location of the moved objects 202 a - 202 c.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary system 300 to layout topology objects in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B may be embodied in and performed by the system 300 . The system 300 and method 100 may generate and present the images or screen shot examples illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D to a user. The system 300 may include one or more user or client computer systems 302 or similar systems or devices.
The client computer system 302 may include a system memory or local file system 304 . The system memory 304 may include a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The ROM may include a basic input/output system (BIOS). The BIOS may contain basic routines that help to transfer information between elements or components of the computer system 302 . The RAM or system memory 304 may contain an operating system 306 to control overall operation of the computer system 302 . The RAM may also include a browser 308 or web browser. The RAM may also include data structures 310 or computer-executable code to layout topology objects or the like that may be similar or include elements of the method 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B . The RAM may further include other application programs 312 , other program modules, data, files and the like for other purposes or functions.
The computer system 302 may also include a processor or processing unit 314 to control operations of the other components of the computer system 302 . The operating system 306 , browser 308 , data structures 310 and other program modules 312 may be operable on the processor 314 . The processor 314 may be coupled to the memory system 304 and other components of the computer system 1102 by a system bus 316 .
The computer system 302 may also include multiple input devices, output devices or combination input/output devices 318 . Each input/output device 318 may be coupled to the system bus 316 by an input/output interface (not shown in FIG. 3 ). The input and output devices or combination I/O devices 318 permit a user to operate and interface with the computer system 302 and to control operation of the browser 308 and data structures 310 to access, operate and control the automated risk management system. The I/O devices 318 may include a keyboard and computer pointing device or the like to perform the operations discussed herein, such as the click events.
The I/O devices 318 may also include disk drives, optical, mechanical, magnetic, or infrared input/output devices, modems or the like. The I/O devices 318 may be used to access a medium 320 . The medium 320 may contain, store, communicate or transport computer-readable or computer-executable instructions or other information for use by or in connection with a system, such as the computer systems 302 .
The computer system 302 may also include or be connected other devices, such as a display or monitor 322 . The monitor 322 may be used to permit the user to interface with the computer system 302 . The monitor 322 may present the images 200 , 210 , 212 and 220 , web pages or screen shots represented in FIGS. 2A-2D to a user or requester that may be generated by the data structures 310 to layout topology objects.
The computer system 302 may also include a hard disk drive 324 . The hard drive 324 may be coupled to the system bus 316 by a hard drive interface (not shown in FIG. 3 ). The hard drive 324 may also form part of the local file system or system memory 304 . Programs, software and data may be transferred and exchanged between the system memory 304 and the hard drive 324 for operation of the computer system 302 .
The computer systems 302 may communicate with a remote server 326 and may access other servers or other computer systems (not shown) similar to computer system 302 via a network 328 . The system bus 316 may be coupled to the network 328 by a network interface 330 . The network interface 330 may be a modem, Ethernet card, router, gateway or the like for coupling to the network 328 . The coupling may be a wired connection or wireless. The network 328 may be the Internet, private network, an intranet or the like.
The server 326 may also include a system memory 332 that include a file system, ROM, RAM and the like. The system memory 332 may include an operating system 334 similar to operating system 306 in computer systems 302 . The system memory 332 may also include data structures 336 to layout topology objects or the like. The data structures 336 may include operations similar to those described with respect to method 100 in FIG. 1B . The server system memory 332 may also include other files 338 , applications, modules and the like for other purposes or to perform other operations.
The server 326 may also include a processor 340 or a processing unit to control operation of other devices in the server 326 . The server 326 may also include I/O device 342 . The I/O devices 342 may be similar to I/O devices 318 of computer systems 302 . The server 326 may further include other devices 344 , such as a monitor or the like to provide an interface along with the I/O devices 342 to the server 326 . The server 326 may also include a hard disk drive 346 . A system bus 348 may connect the different components of the server 326 . A network interface 350 may couple the server 326 to the network 328 via the system bus 348 .
The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the invention has other applications in other environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.
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A method to correlate and consolidate a plurality of events may include consolidating each of the plurality of events to form a multi-personality event. Each event may be emitted from a respective one of a plurality of components forming an event producer in response to an incident affecting the event producer. The method may also include providing the multi-personality event to an event consumer.
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[0001] Priority is herewith claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from copending Provisional Patent Application 60/295903, filed Jun. 5, 2001. The disclosure of this Provisional Patent Application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to optically readable data storage media and, more particularly, to methods, compositions, and articles of manufacture of optically readable data storage media wherein the data is accessible for a finite period of time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Optical discs such as CDs and DVDs are sold and rented to consumers. The content of the optical discs may be music, movies, video clips, software or data. The purchase price of CDs and DVDs can be high; this reflects the value of the information encoded on the discs, such as movies or software, rather than the manufacturing cost of these optical discs. Frequently, content providers, such as movie studios or software companies, do not want to sell at a low cost copies of their information that will have a long lifetime in the marketplace. Consumers frequently want to access content information only for a brief period and at a low cost. Rentals of CDs and DVDs enable consumers to access content information at a lower cost than if consumers had to purchase the media, but the need to return the physical media is inconvenient. It would be desirable to have limited play/expiring optical media that the user could purchase at a low cost, would address the concerns of the content providers about lifetime of their content in the marketplace, and which would not have the disadvantage of having to be returned, as is the case with videotape movie rentals today. It would also be desirable to manufacture such optical media at low cost and with minimum changes to existing manufacturing processes for optical discs. Finally, in order for the content providers to be willing to provide their content through limited play/expiring optical media, the mechanism that limits playing of the media should not be easily defeatable, enabling access to the content beyond the intended period of use.
[0004] Heretofore, the requirements of low cost, limited content lifetime, avoidance of rental returns, resistance to attempts to defeat, and minimum changes to existing manufacturing processes referred to above have not been fully met. What is needed is a solution that simultaneously addresses all of these requirements. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to meeting these requirements, among others.
[0005] Several approaches have been proposed to make a limited play (expiring) optical disc based on a layer that changes from a non-interfering (“transparent”) state where it does not interfere with the reliable reading of the information on the optical disc to an interfering (“opaque”) state where the layer interferes with the reading of the data on the optical disc (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,484 assigned to Smith et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,772 assigned to Rollhaus et al.). The interference may be due to the layer becoming dark, reflective, highly birefringent, pitting, bubbling, shattering, corroding, bending, changing refractive properties or combinations of these, among other possibilities.
[0006] Optical discs with such a layer changing from a transparent to an opaque state in response to a stimulus such as exposure to oxygen in the atmosphere, or the light of the reading laser, can be used to manufacture limited-play optical discs (such as DVDs) that become unusable in a predetermined way (such as within a certain period of exposure to environmental oxygen). Such discs can find a variety of commercial applications, such as the viewing of a video by consumers at a moment chosen by the consumer and without the need to return the expired optical disc.
[0007] The interfering layer that renders the disc unplayable by inhibiting the reading of the data can be applied via a variety of techniques to the surface of an optical disc. Such an approach, however, has a number of disadvantages. For example, it may be defeated by finding a way to reverse the transition of the layer to an opaque state, such as exposing the disc to a reducing chemical substance that reverses an oxidation reaction, or by entirely removing the layer through chemical means (such as solvents) or mechanical means (such as polishing or grinding). Also, adding an additional layer can complicate manufacturing of the optical discs, for example by requiring additional capital equipment and additional steps in the manufacturing process, and thus can increase the costs and/or decrease the yields for the manufacturing of optical discs.
[0008] A protective layer engineered to resist attempts to defeat the disc can be applied on top of the interfering layer, an approach that has been used by at least some of the present inventors. However, this introduces still another step in the manufacturing process, further adding to costs and possibly further reducing manufacturing yields. Furthermore, since the protective layer would still be at the surface of the disc, it could still be removed by chemical means (such as solvents) or mechanical means (such as polishing or grinding), or could be defeated by chemical substances that could diffuse through the protective layer and reach the reactive layer.
[0009] As explained above, when manufacturing expiring optical discs, it is desirable to employ a cost effective manufacturing process and to make discs that are not easily defeatable. In addition, it is desirable for the disc to make a rapid transition from the playable to the expired state. Among other benefits, this would reduce the variation of the playing period among optical media players and drives, despite the fact that there is substantial variability in the ability of the players and drives in the market to play discs with a given deterioration in their physical playability characteristics (such as the reflectivity to the light of the reading laser).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Under a first aspect of the present invention limited play optical devices are provided with an interstitial reactive layer and methods of making same.
[0011] Under a second aspect of the present invention a method is provided for authoring a master to produce a substrate of a multi-substrate, optically-readable storage medium wherein a topology having a plurality of pits and lands is used to create an inverted version of the topology in which said inverted version of the topology is used as the topology of the master.
[0012] Under a third aspect of the present invention a method is provided for forming a multi-substrate, optically-readable storage medium, wherein the medium has information defined as a plurality of pits and lands on an upper substrate and said information is to be read by light being transmitted through a lower substrate wherein an adhesive layer bonds the upper substrate and lower substrate together.
[0013] Under a fourth aspect of the present invention a data storage device is provided having a first substrate having defined thereon a plurality of pits and lands covered by a reflective material and a second substrate wherein a bonding layer containing a reactive agent, which inhibits transmission of light in response to a predetermined stimulus, resides between the first substrate and the second substrate.
[0014] Under a fifth aspect of the present invention an adhesive is provided for bonding a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein said adhesive comprises a carrier material and a reactive material that renders the data encoded substrate unreadable.
[0015] Under a sixth aspect of the present invention a mechanism is provided that causes the data stored on an optically-readable data storage medium to first become unreadable and second destroyed.
[0016] Under a seventh aspect of the present invention an optically-readable data storage medium is provided having a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate has information encoding features, and a bonding layer between first substrate and second substrate in which said bonding layer comprises a carrier material and a reactive material where said reactive material changes from a transparent state to an optically opaque state as a result of a predefined stimulus.
[0017] Under a eighth aspect of the present invention a method making an adhesive is provided for bonding a first substrate and a second substrate wherein a blocked dye is combined with a carrier material in which said blocked dye is subsequently unblocked resulting in the reduced form of the unblocked dye.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of select stages in the process of creating a physical stamper used in replicating DVD-5 substrates.
[0019] [0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of a single layer DVD-5 disc.
[0020] [0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating the manufacturing and reading of a standard DVD-5.
[0021] [0021]FIG. 4 is a diagram representing single sided single layer, single sided double layer, double layer single sided, and double layer double sided DVD constructs.
[0022] [0022]FIG. 5 is a graphic depicting the index of refraction as a function of substrate thickness for single layer and double layer DVDs.
[0023] [0023]FIG. 6 is a schematic illustrating the read-out possibilities for single-layer and dual-layer DVDs.
[0024] [0024]FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating a modified DVD-5 construct with the bonding layer in the optical path of the reading laser.
[0025] [0025]FIG. 8 is schematic cross sectional view illustrating the manufacturing and reading of an altered DVD-5 construct with the bonding layer in the optical path of the reading laser in which the mother stamper was used to mold the L1 substrate.
[0026] [0026]FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating the stamper reference plane of a standard DVD-5 construct wherein the pits and lands are molded in the L0 substrate.
[0027] [0027]FIG. 10 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating the stamper reference plane of a modified DVD-5 construct wherein the pits and lands are molded in the L1 substrate.
[0028] [0028]FIG. 11 is a graphic depicting an atomic force microscope image of a DVD-5 father stamper.
[0029] [0029]FIG. 12 is a graphic depicting an atomic force microscope image of a DVD-5 mother stamper.
[0030] [0030]FIG. 13 is a graphic depicting an atomic force microscope image of the L1 layer of a modified DVD-5 that was molded from a mother stamper.
[0031] [0031]FIG. 14 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating the manufacturing and reading of a modified DVD-5 in which the L1 layer was molded from a father stamper wherein the direction of the spiral track was reversed during mastering.
[0032] [0032]FIG. 15 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating the stamper reference plane of a modified DVD-5 construct wherein the pits are above the surfaces of the lands and the lands are at the reference plane of the L1 substrate.
[0033] [0033]FIG. 16 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating the stamper reference plane of a modified DVD-5 construct wherein the pits are above the reference plane of the L1 substrate and the lands are at the reference plane of the L1 substrate.
[0034] [0034]FIG. 17 illustrates a potential synthetic pathway for the synthesis of triisopropylsilyloxycarbonylleucomethylene blue.
[0035] [0035]FIG. 18 illustrates the cyan reflectance density of optically readable storage media coated with triisopropylsilyloxycarbonylleucomethylene blue as a function of time in the presence 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane.
[0036] [0036]FIG. 19 is a graphic depicting the spectral absorption of methelene blue.
[0037] [0037]FIG. 20 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating a modified DVD -9 construct, wherein the L0 layer is partially metallized.
[0038] [0038]FIG. 21A and 21B are graphics depicting Koch test results for a modified DVD-5 construct wherein the pits are molded as depressions in the L1 substrate using a father stamper in which the direction of the spiral track is reversed during mastering.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Certain optical discs, such as DVDs, consist of two plastic halves (“substrates”), which are metallized and bound together with an interstitial bonding layer. It would be desirable to use an interstitial layer between the two substrates to interfere with the reading laser in order to inhibit reading of the disc. This would result in a disc that is more difficult to defeat, as the two halves of the optical disc would protect the interfering layer. Using an interstitial layer as the interfering layer still allows triggering the process of disc expiration. For example, polycarbonate, which is typically used to manufacture DVD substrates, allows the propagation of oxygen that could reach the interstitial reactive layer and trigger a reaction that causes the expiration of the disc.
[0040] Furthermore, it would be desirable to use the bonding layer itself as the interfering layer, for example by changing the chemical composition of the bonding layer through the incorporation of a reactive substance. This could simplify the manufacturing of limited-play optical discs because no additional layers would be introduced, and attempting to defeat the limited-play mechanism by removing this layer could destroy the optical disc itself, as the bonding layer is critical to the integrity of the optical disc. However, in certain types of optical discs, such as a DVD-5, the bonding layer is not in the optical path. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the layers typical of a DVD-5 construct. Thus while the bonding layer could play part in an expiration process for a DVD-5 that does not rely on direct interference with the reading laser (e.g., by corroding the reflective metal layer that is in contact with the bonding layer), it would not be possible to make this type of disc expire by transitioning the bonding layer to a state that prevents the reading laser from reading the data on the disc. Since it is often desirable to make the disc unplayable by means of a process that interferes with the reading laser, it is desirable to have a disc similar to a DVD-5 where the interstitial bonding layer is in the optical path.
[0041] In limited use optical discs where the expiration process relies on interference with the reading laser, the data encoding structures (such as metallized pits on a polycarbonate substrate) typically are preserved in an expired disc, although the reading laser is prevented from reading the encoded information. As long as these data structures are present, there is always the possibility of the disc being defeated by enabling the reading laser to access the information. It would thus be desirable to have additional mechanisms that prevent recovery of the data, such as permanently erasing the data by compromising the integrity of the data structures on the optical disc.
[0042] These, and other, goals and embodiments of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
[0043] A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the components and operation of model systems provided with the invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
[0044] We now describe the different aspects of the current invention, and several corresponding embodiments and examples.
[0045] DVDs are the most common optical discs used for distribution of movies. DVDs are made from two bonded plastic substrates, typically referred to as L0 for the bottom substrate and L1 for the top substrate, where “top” and “bottom” refer to a DVD in a playing position where it is read from the bottom, as is the common convention. These substrates are molded from materials such as polycarbonate, acrylic, or polyolefine, which is injected in a molten form to a mold and pressed against a stamper. The process of creating the physical stampers used in replicating the DVD substrates is referred to as Mastering. The following procedure is used, which is illustrated in FIG. 1:
[0046] 1. Float glass blank 5 is polished and coated with a primer 10 to enhance adhesion with the photo resist layer 15 .
[0047] 2. Photo resist coating 15 is applied, baked, and then exposed to the laser for recording. The formatted data signal is used to modulate the cutting laser of a laser beam recorder (LBR) machine which creates pits 20 in the glass disc.
[0048] 3. The exposed glass is then developed leaving pits 20 and lands 25 across the surface.
[0049] 4. This “Glass Master” then has a thin (110 nm) metal layer sputter-applied to make the surface conductive for electroplating.
[0050] 5. The glass master is then placed into an electroplating solution where nickel is formed to the desired thickness. (Typically 0.300 mm).
[0051] 6. This “Metal Father” (or “father stamper 30 ”) is then separated from the glass master 35 and cleaned. At this step, the metal father 30 could be used for the molding process, but if the part gets destroyed or damaged in replication, the entire process must be repeated.
[0052] 7. Therefore, most manufacturers will grow “Metal Mothers” (or “mother stampers 40 ”), which are negatives of the father 30 . Typically, four mother stampers 40 can be grown from one father 30 without quality degradation, and from each mother 40 , up to 8 stampers (“sons 45 ”) can be grown.
[0053] 8. Stampers get sent to replication facilities and mothers 40 are stored for reorders or replacement parts.
[0054] In the case of a DVD-5, which is a single layer disc illustrated in FIG. 2, the L0 substrate 100 is covered with a thin reflective layer 105 of aluminum by a sputtering process. This creates a metallic coating between 60 and 100 angstroms thick (the L0 layer). The L0 substrate 100 is then bonded 110 to a blank L1 substrate 110 , as illustrated in FIG. 3. For a DVD-9, which is a two-layer disc, the L0 layer is formed as a very thin, semi-reflective metal layer, and is typically made of gold. A fully reflective aluminum layer is formed on the L1 substrate (the L1 layer). The two substrates are subsequently bonded with appropriate adhesive material, which forms a transparent bonding layer, to form the DVD-9 disc.
[0055] As seen in the DVD family illustration in FIG. 4, a DVD disc may contain either one or two information layers for each substrate, resulting to different types of disc capacities, such as DVD-5 200 (single sided, single layer, 4.7 Gbyte capacity), DVD-9 205 (single sided, dual layer, 8.5 Gbyte capacity), DVD-10 210 (double sided, single layer, 9.4 Gbyte capacity), DVD-14 (double sided, one side single layer, one side dual layer, 13.2 Gbyte capacity), and DVD-18 215 (double sided, dual layer, 17 Gbyte capacity).
[0056] A dual layer disc such as a DVD-9 205 must conform to the “DVD Specifications for Read-Only Disc, Part 1 Physical Specifications Version 1.0“, which require the following:
[0057] 1. Total Disc thickness, including bonding layer 110 , spacer(s) and label(s), shall be 1.20 mm+0.30 mm/−0.06 mm
[0058] 2. Index of refraction (RI) of the transparent substrate shall be 1.55+/−0.10 The index of refraction of the spacer shall be (RI of the substrate +/−0.10)
[0059] 3. Thickness of the transparent substrate is specified as a function of its index of refraction. Typically with polycarbonate at RI −1.56, the thickness values for the disc substrate would be 0.57 mm˜0.63 mm (see FIG. 5A and 5B)
[0060] There is no specification for the DVD-5 200 and DVD-10 210 spacer layer (bonding layer 110 ), as long as the total disc thickness conforms to the DVD specification and the half discs (molded substrates) conform to RI related specifications as above.
[0061] The information in DVDs is encoded in the pits 20 and lands 25 (data areas that are not pits) that are molded into the substrates and subsequently are metallized to form the corresponding data layer. The pits and the lands are organized in a spiral track, which, in the case of a DVD-5 200 , is read in a clockwise direction beginning at the inside of the disc and proceeding towards the outside of the disc. The reference area of the disc that is not occupied by data is used for tracking of the reading laser. The reading laser, which has a wavelength of 630-650 nanometers in vacuum, is focus on the L0 layer 100 of a DVD-5 200 or DVD-9 205 , or on the L1 layer 115 of a DVD-9 by penetrating through the semi-reflective L0 layer 100 , and it is reflected back to a photo detector. During transitions from a pit 20 to a land 25 or vice versa, interference patterns develop, which are detected by the photo detector and result in changes in its electrical output. These changes in the electrical output of the photo detector allow the player to read the information recorded on the DVD.
[0062] Dual-layer discs, such as DVD-9s 205 , typically utilize one of two methods for read-out of the disc information:
[0063] A dual-layer Parallel Track Path (PTP) disc 299 will have a Lead-in 300 and a Lead-out 305 area on both layers, as illustrated in FIG. 6. For each layer, the lead-in 300 area is located at the inner radius of the disc, and lead-out 305 area is located at the outer radius of the disc. This layout structure is comparable with the layout of the single layer 320 disc. Reading of the data is done, as in a DVD-5, 200 from the inner radius of the disc to the outer radius, for both layers. With proper authoring of the content on the disc, the PTP method can allow quick access from layer to layer, for example in order to provide background information and commentary in one track along with the movie in the other track.
[0064] A dual-layer Opposite Track Path (OTP) 325 disc, also illustrated in FIG. 6, offers the possibility of seamless continuation of the playback from the L0 100 to the L1 115 layer. The first information layer (L0) 100 starts with a lead-in area at the inner radius of the disc and ends with a so-called middle area 330 at the outer radius. The second information layer starts with a Middle Area 330 at the outer radius and ends with a lead-out 300 area at the inner radius of the disc. Reading the data 335 stored on the disc will start at the inner radius of the first information layer and proceed until the Middle Area 330 of this layer is reached. Then a switch over to the Middle Area in the second information layer is made, in order to continue reading of the data from the outer radius up to the lead-out 305 Area in the inner radius of the second layer (L1) 115 .
Single Layer Optical Discs
[0065] One embodiment of the present invention is an optical disc similar to a DVD-5 where, unlike a standard DVD-5, the interstitial layer 400 typically used as the bonding layer 401 is in the optical path 405 of the reading laser (e.g., see FIG. 7). In one embodiment of the present invention (labeled below as “Special DVD-5 design #1”), this disc is manufactured by inverting the reflective layer 410 of a standard DVD-5, and reading the information through the non-information-bearing substrate 415 and the bonding layer 401 . In another embodiment of the present invention (labeled below as “Special DVD-5 design #2”), the direction of the spiral track is inverted during mastering, the information bearing substrate is flipped “upside down”, and the information is read through the non-information bearing substrate 415 and the bonding layer 401 . In this type of optical disc, the bonding layer 401 is an integral part of the optical path 405 of the reading laser. Even though the structure of the “Special DVD-5” disc described herein differs from a standard DVD-5, a player would play this disc as if it were a standard DVD-5.
[0066] This embodiment of the present invention has significant advantages in terms of allowing the manufacturing of a low-cost “limited-play” optical disc that is resistant to attempts to defeat it. In particular, because it does not incorporate any additional layers compared to a standard DVD-5, it can be manufactured on equipment designed to manufacture DVD-5 discs with minimal changes to that equipment. Furthermore, because the bonding layer 401 is in the optical path, 405 modifying that layer to interfere with the reading of data in response to a predetermined stimulus results in a disc that is very difficult to defeat, as the interfering layer 400 is protected by the two substrates 415 and 420 , respectively of the optical disc. For example, grinding the interfering layer 400 off the disc is impractical, as it would most likely destroy the disc. Similarly, attempting to compromise the bonding/interfering layer in other ways is likely to destroy the structural integrity of the optical disc.
[0067] We now describe in detail the manufacturing of three embodiments of the current invention, which we label as “Special DVD-5” designs 1, 2 and 3.
Special DVD-5 Design #1
[0068] In one embodiment of the invention, the above process is modified by using the mother stamper to replicate the L1 disc substrate 420 . FIG. 3 shows how the stamper or father is used to mold a normal single layer DVD-5 substrate. FIG. 8 illustrates manufacturing this embodiment of the current invention by using the mother stamper 40 and creating a disc with the bonding layer 401 in the optical path 405 .
[0069] In a normally molded standard DVD-5 information is encoded on the L0 100 side with “pits” 20 and “lands” 25 molded on the L0 substrate 100 and metallized with a reflective metal coating, 105 as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 9. In one embodiment of the current invention, the mother stamper 40 is used to mold the L1 side 420 as shown in FIG. 8. This side is subsequently metallized and bonded with a blank L0 substrate, 415 leaving the bonding layer 401 in the optical path, 405 as shown in FIG. 10. Using the specified layer thickness of 0.055 mm +/−0.015, the thickness of the L0 substrate 100 is targeted at 0.55 mm˜0.57 during molding, to yield a focal length of the disc thickness (including the bonding layer) consistent with standard DVD specifications, allowing the player to be in the normal focusing range for reading a L0 layer 100 . Thus the player interprets the disc as a standard single layer DVD-5. Field experience has shown that spacer layer thickness can be maintained at 0.045 ˜0.065 mm consistently in production. This controlled variation in production along with the reduced thickness of the molded disc keeps the focus and optics within the specifications set by the DVD licensing authority and the hardware manufacturers.
[0070] For the replication facility, most applications would remain unchanged in the actual pressing and bonding portions of production. The main areas of change would be in the LBR (laser beam recording) and developing areas of mastering. Typically, masters are cut with larger pit volumes to compensate for plastic shrinkage and replication inefficiencies. The ratio of pit to land areas on a disc is measured by a term called asymmetry. Because asymmetry is a ratio of pit to land area, and because for each pit area, typically defined by I3 to I14 pit, there is an equal and opposite land area I3 to I14 land, typically it is easier for manufacturers to target a positive asymmetry (larger pit area) to account for loses in replication to the plastic substrate. For example, the master may be cut with a positive 10˜12% for asymmetry, while the end result from molding may be 5˜7%. The specification for the disc substrate is: −0.05 ≦asymmetry ≦+0.15. In the case of DVD discs, a positive asymmetry represents a larger pit volume compared with the land area.
[0071] For this embodiment of the invention, it may be desirable to change the asymmetry set point on the LBR to produce a higher asymmetry value on the father stamper while subsequently increasing the asymmetry on the mother stamper used for molding. Asymmetry can be changed on the master by modifying the power of exposure, focusing intensity and offset, developing time/endpoint detection, or baseline (control of how fast the laser diode cuts the laser exposure beam off between exposure). There are many other possible ways to control asymmetry, but the basic process or set point control would be the easiest to implement. This process of molding from the mother stamper would also eliminate the need to grow additional stampers and the subsequent yield loses attributed to the family process.
[0072] In this embodiment of the invention, the pits 20 are molded in the L1 layer 420 using a mother stamper, 40 and as a result the surface of the pits 20 is elevated relative to the reference plane 450 of the L1 layer 420 as illustrated in FIG. 10. This reference plane 450 is typically used for tracking by the disc player (tracking area). By contrast, in a normal DVD-5 the pits 20 are molded as cavities in the L0 substrate 100 as illustrated in FIG. 9. Using the common convention of describing a disc as if it is in a play position where it is read from the bottom, and a convention that we will follow hereinafter unless otherwise specified, in a normal DVD-5 the pits 20 are lower than the reference plane 450 , while the lands 25 are at the reference plane 450 (see FIG. 9). In the embodiment of the invention described above the blank L0 substrate 415 and the bonding layer 401 are below the L1 substrate 420 in the optical path 405 of the reading laser, and the surface of the pits 20 in the L1 substrate 420 is below the reference plane 450 while the lands 25 are at the reference plane 450 (see FIG. 10). Note that this construction requires the pits 25 to be molded in an unconventional way (they protrude from the reference plane 450 of the disc), which is achieved by molding the L1 substrate 420 from a mother stamper 40 . FIG. 11 shows an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) image of a Father stamper 30 for a DVD-5, FIG. 12 shows an AFM image of the corresponding Mother stamper 40 , and FIG. 13 shows an AFM image of the L1 layer of a Special DVD-5 Design #1, molded from the Mother stamper 40 .
[0073] This molding required for this embodiment of the invention can present certain challenges. In a typical injection molding process, the polymer material flows around the pits 20 on the stamper, which are raised from the reference plane 450 . This is easier than to mold from the mother, where the polymer material must flow into cavities that will form the pits 20 on the separated part. As the material flows over the surface of the mother stamper 40 , the molecular chains cool off through contact with the relatively colder reference surface of the stamper. After the mold is completely filled, then pressure must be applied to bend and force the cooler polymer material into the pit 20 cavities. Although this method is capable to reproduce discs within the specifications of a standard DVD-5 configuration, the molding process is more difficult. However, one skilled in the art can address such challenges by adjusting the process characteristics of the molding machine, e.g., by increasing mold surface temperature and cycle time. Alternatively appropriate materials with higher melt flow rate could be used, such as PMMA or high melt flow rate polycarbonate. For example, General Electric's SPOQ research grade polycarbonate has twice the melt flow rate of standard grade polycarbonate.
[0074] As long as the index of refraction (RI) of the bonding adhesive used is approximately equal to the RI of the L0 substrate 415 , the thickness of the bonding layer 401 is uniform, and the thickness of the L0 substrate 415 has been adjusted to compensate for the presence of the bonding layer 401 in the optical path 405 of the reading layer, the player will not be able to distinguish Special DVD-5 Design #1 from a standard DVD-5. Experience has shown that playable discs can be manufactured even without these adjustments, because most players will play discs that do not fully conform to the DVD specification, as long as the departure from the specification is not excessive.
EXAMPLE 1:
Special DVD-5 Design #1
[0075] A father stamper 30 was mastered with slightly increased symmetry (positive asymmetry=larger pits 20 compared to lands 25 ). The asymmetry can be increased or decreased many ways. The simplest method and the one used for this design, was to increase the development time (endpoint detection set point) to overdevelop the pits 20 . By lengthening the development process, the pit volume surrounding, that which was exposed, will increase in volume causing a shift to positive asymmetry.
[0076] A mother stamper 40 was grown from the father stamper 30 as with a normal family process. Disc substrates were molded from the mother stamper 40 , taking advantage of the larger indentation caused by the positive asymmetry. The larger pits 20 that resulted from molding with the mother 40 helped to compensate for the additional shrinkage of the pit 20 , which is now an extremity to the body of the substrate, rather than a cavity as in the standard molding process. Typically, the molten plastic flows around the pits 20 in a normal (father 30 or son 45 ) stamper like a river flows around a hill. As the level rises, the hill or the pit 20 will be covered. As the molten plastic flows across the cooler stamper surface, a skin layer forms right on the surface that acts as a heat insulator. This allows for the plastic to maintain its flow rate necessary to form the pit volume without undue stress or cooling. In the case of Special DVD-5 design #1, the plastic has to flow into the indentations of the mother stamper 40 , rather than around the bumps of a father/son stamper 30 and 45 respectively. This is difficult because as the plastic flows across the surface of the mother stamper 40 , it again forms a skin layer on the surface. Then as the mold volume increases with continued injection and packing/holding time, the molten plastic must be forced into the indentation. Because this skin layer is solidified typically below the glass transitional temperature of the plastic, the material does not free flow into the indentation. Because the pit-forming plastic in the L1 substrate 420 of Special DVD-5 design #1 is not in the optical path of the reading laser, the material can be filled with greater force without the concern for birefringence and residual stress, although there is a limit to the pressure due to warping (tilt) caused by excessive packing pressure on the plastic. In this example, the combination of larger indentations in the mother stamper 40 as well as increased mold temperatures assisted in replicating the desired pits 20 . Typically, in direct water injection systems for the mold heating and cooling, safety interlocks of 120° C. max temperature limit the temperature of the water. By using a 50/50 solution of glycol and water, the temperature can be effectively run at a max temperature of 130° C. This added temperature assists in keeping the skin layer in the molten state, close to its glass transition temperature, which facilitates the replication of L1 substrates 420 for Special DVD-5 design #1. Also, the mother stamper 40 must be filled quickly with molten plastic in order to prevent skinning on the surface.
[0077] L1 substrates 420 were molded as above using a mother stamper 40 . FIG. 13 shows an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) image of an L1 layer 420 molded from a mother stamper 40 . FIGS. 11 and 12 show AFM images of the father 30 and mother 40 stampers used in the process. For these discs to be formed, it was necessary to raise the melt temperature from 360° C. to 390° C. while maintaining a mold temperature of 121° C. compared to the standard of around 100° C. The clamp force was set at maximum of 30 tons and the filling time was decreased from 0.13 to 0.09 seconds. These parameters were adjusted until the proper pit 20 formations were achieved.
[0078] The molded L1 substrates 420 were bonded using optical grade UV curable DVD adhesives, as used in DVD-9 production, to blank L0 substrates 415 , to manufacture design #1 of the Special DVD-5. L0 substrates 415 were molded at a thickness of 0.55˜0.57 mm (i.e., 30˜50 micron thinner than standard DVD halves) to compensate for the bonding layer in the optical path, thus preserving the same focal depth for the information-carrying layer as in a standard DVD-5.
Special DVD-5 Design #2
[0079] The electronics of optical media drives, including DVD players, are typically designed to read the information contained in a layer on the disc by identifying the interference patterns caused by the transitions from a “land” 25 to a “pit” 20 in that layer. The pits 20 are often molded with a height approximately equal to, and typically somewhat less than, one quarter of the wavelength of the reading laser. For example, in DVDs the typical wavelength of the reading laser is 635-650 nanometers (in vacuum), or 410-420 nm in a material with RI=1.55 (which is typical of the materials used to manufacture the DVD substrates), and thus the height of the pits 20 in a standard DVD-5 should be approximately 100-105 nanometers. Consequently, a transition from a land 25 to a pit 20 or vice versa corresponds to a change to the path of the reading laser of approximately one half wavelength, or a phase change of approximately 180 degrees. Two identical waves with a phase difference of 180 degrees will interfere with each other and cancel out, and the electronics of the optical drive are designed to detect the resulting interference patterns. Using the standard convention of the disc being read from below, in a standard DVD-5 the surface of the pits 20 is below the surface of the land 25 , and a transition from a land 25 to a pit 20 is a “down” transition, while a transition from a pit 20 to a land 25 is an “up” transition. If the height of the pits 20 is one quarter of the wavelength of the reading laser then a transition from a land 25 to a pit 20 in a standard DVD-5 is a “down” transition that corresponds to a phase change of +180 degrees, and a transition from a pit to a land 25 is an “up” transition that corresponds to a phase change of −180 degrees. If an “up” and a “down” transition differ by 360 degrees, as in the case described above, their effects will be identical. One implication of this is that the pits 20 of a DVD-5 could be molded in the opposite direction, i.e., with the pit surface approximately one quarter wavelength above the land 25 surface, and the electronics of the optical disc player are unlikely to be influenced by whether a detected transition is in the “up” or “down” direction, i.e. whether a pit 20 area is higher or lower than the land 25 area.
[0080] In a standard DVD-5, the laser pick up will read through the L0 substrate 100 focusing on the pits 20 aligned in a spiral track. The rotation of the disc would be in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the side of the reading laser), and the spiral track would be in the clockwise direction. Given that the pit 20 direction can be reversed without changing the electrical signal seen by the player, in another embodiment of the current invention the pits 20 are molded as depressions 500 into the L1 substrate 420 , by employing a normal (father/son) DVD-5 stamper 30/45, as illustrated in FIG. 14. The direction of the spiral track is reversed during mastering, as the disc will be read from the side of the bonding layer 401, rather than through the substrate as in a standard DVD-5. The resulting disc has information encoded as a DVD-5, although the pits 20 are formed in the L1 layer 420 : the surfaces of the pits 20 are above the surfaces of the lands 25 , and the lands 25 are at the reference plane of the L1 layer 420 , as illustrated in FIG. 15. The pit 20 width, length, height, and shape give the corresponding HF signals needed to decode the data on the DVD. The signals are encoded utilizing an eight-to-fourteen modulation (EFM) signal. The pit 20 edges and slopes of the sidewalls serve to distinguish the logical transition of 0's and 1's. This results in pit 20 length units measured as 3 units long to 14 units long, which set the frequency limits of the EFM signal, read from the disc. This measurement is commonly referred to as 3T-14T signal with T referring to a period of time. As long as the pits 20 are replicated in standard fashion, the player will still be able to distinguish the pit 20 start and end position, while reading from the reverse side, to correctly identify its data identity. In many circumstances this will be the preferred embodiment of the invention, as it does not require molding from the mother stamper 40 , as is the case with Special DVD-5 design #1 above.
[0081] The actual height of the pits 20 in a standard DVD-5 is typically somewhat less than one quarter wavelength of the reading laser. This is intended to avoid complete cancellation of the reflected laser during a pit-to-land transition, which facilitates the functioning of player electronics. For example, a value of 0.88*(laser wavelength)/4 is sometimes recommended, i.e. approximately 90 nanometers for a material with RI=1.55. Thus it may be desirable to mold the pit 20 surfaces in this embodiment of the current invention somewhat higher than one quarter the wavelength of the reading laser, so that the change in the path of the reading laser during a transition from a land 25 to a pit 20 in the special DVD-5 design #2 will be exactly one wavelength longer than the corresponding change in a standard DVD-5. For example, if the reading laser wavelength is 650 nanometers (i.e., 420 nm in a polycarbonate substrate of RI=1.55), and the pits in a standard DVD-5 are 90 nanometers, the pits 20 in this embodiment (Special DVD-5 design #2) can be molded at 120 nanometers, i.e., one half wavelength (210 nm) from the position of the pit 20 surface in design #1.
EXAMPLE 2:
Special DVD-5 Design #2
[0082] A special stamper for molding L1 substrates 420 for Special DVD-5 Design #2 was produced through a modified mastering process, where the direction of rotation of the laser beam recorder turntable was reversed during the cutting process, resulting in a spiral tracking path in the opposite direction from that in a normal DVD-5. This stamper was produced by forcing the turntable to rotate in the reverse direction from cutting a normal DVD-5, while the content information was fed to the laser beam recorder as a DVD-5 image. The scanning velocity that is normally preset for DVD formats was manually set to the velocity of 3.49 m/s typical in DVD-5 mastering. L1 substrates 420 were then molded on standard molding machines set up for DVD-5 fabrication.
[0083] Some of the molded L1 substrates 420 were bonded using optical grade UV curable DVD adhesives to blank L0 substrates 415, to manufacture design #2 of the Special DVD-5. As in Example 1, the L0 substrates 415 were molded at a thickness of 0.55˜0.57 mm (i.e., 30˜50 micron thinner than standard DVD halves) to compensate for the bonding layer 401 in the optical path, thus preserving the same focal depth for the information-carrying layer as in a standard DVD-5. To bond the discs, the machines were placed into a DVD-9 production mode and the semi-reflective metallizer for the L0 layer was taken offline. Then the cure time was adjusted to compensate for the decrease in cure exposure needed due to the missing semi-reflective layer. Curing was basically set for a DVD-5 disc, and the disc was flipped to cure through the L0 layer. This function is typically reserved for DVD-9 production.
[0084] The discs were then tested with a Koch DVD testing system and played in four different DVD players. They performed indistinguishably from regular DVD-5 discs, as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22. Also, the discs played with no errors in an additional three DVD players and two DVD-ROM drives.
[0085] Some of the molded substrates were used to manufacture discs with a reactive bonding layer (see Example 9).
Special DVD-5 Design #3
[0086] The electronics of optical media drives, including DVD players, can be designed to read the information contained in a layer on the disc by identifying pits 20 and lands 25 in that layer based on the absolute and/or relative elevation of these pits 20 and lands 25 , thus distinguishing between an “up” and a “down” transition in the information encoding layer, but without being influenced by the elevation of the pits 20 and lands 25 relative to the reference plane 450 of the layer. Thus in another embodiment of the current invention, during mastering the direction of the spiral track is reversed and also the pits 20 and lands 25 are reversed, so that the pits 20 become lands 25 on the resulting stamper 30 , and lands 25 become pits 555 . The L1 substrate 420 is then molded by employing 550 a normal (father) stamper 30 and is bonded to a blank L0 substrate 415 . The resulting disc has information encoded as a DVD-5, the relative elevation of pits and lands, and the “up” and “down” transitions in the information encoding layer, are identical to a DVD-5. Specifically, the surface of the pits is below the surface of the lands. However, while in a standard DVD-5 the surface of the lands is at the reference plane of the L0 layer, in this embodiment it is the surface of the lands 560 (corresponding to pits on a standard DVD-5) that is at the reference plane of the L1 layer, with the pits 565 (corresponding to lands on a regular DVD-5) being above this reference plane, as illustrated in FIG. 16.
The Reactive Bonding Layer
[0087] Another embodiment of the present invention is having a reactive material incorporated in an interstitial layer. In one embodiment, the interstitial layer is the bonding layer of the disc.
[0088] In one embodiment of the invention, the stimulus triggering the reaction is exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Upon exposure to oxygen, a reactive material, e.g., leuco methylene blue, which is essentially colorless, is oxidized to form an opaque or semi-opaque layer (e.g., the deep blue dye, methylene blue). Data storage media with the opaque/semi-opaque layer can no longer be played in media players. By adjusting the time it takes to turn opaque, this method can be used to provide limited-play data storage media having the desired life for the given application.
[0089] The reactive layer, which comprises both a carrier and a reactive material, should initially have sufficient transmission to enable data retrieval by the data storage media device, and subsequently form a layer which inhibits data retrieval by that device (e.g., which absorbs a sufficient amount of light i.e., incident and/or reflected light) at the wavelength of the laser in the given device). Typically a layer that allows an initial percent reflectivity from the reflective layer of about 50% or greater can be employed, with an initial percent reflectivity of about 65% or greater preferred, and an initial percent reflection of about 75% or greater more preferred. Once the media has been exposed to oxygen, e.g., air, for a desired period of time (e.g., the desired allowable play time of the media), the layer preferably comprises a percent reflectivity of about 45% or less, with about 30% or less preferred, about 20% or less more preferred, and about 15% or less especially preferred.
[0090] Possible reactive materials include oxygen sensitive leuco or reduced forms of Methylene Blue, Brilliant Cresyl Blue, Basic Blue 3, Methylene Green, Taylor's Blue, Meldola's Blue, New Methylene Blue, Thionin, Nile Blue, Celestine Blue, and Toluidine 0, as well as reaction products and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing material; the structures of which are set forth below:
Methylene Blue 661 nm Brilliant Cresyl Blue 622 nm Toluidine Blue O 626 nm Basic Blue 3 654 nm Methylene Green 657, 618 nm Taylor's Blue 649 nm Janus Green B 660, 395 nm Meldola's Blue 570 nm New Methylene Blue 630, 591 nm Thionin 598 nm Nile Blue 638 nm Celestine Blue 642 nm
[0091] A method of synthesis of leucomethylene blue and the oxygen dependent reoxidation to form the colored form of the methyleneblue dye is shown below:
[0092] In addition to the above reactive materials, numerous other dyes and light blocking materials, can be synthesized to operate to render the data storage media limited play. For example, some other possible reactive materials can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,257, hereafter incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,484, hereafter incorporated by reference. The reactive materials can further comprise a mixture comprising at least one of any of the above mentioned reactive materials.
[0093] The reactive material is preferably mixed with a carrier for deposition on and/or impregnation into at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. Possible carriers comprise the thermoplastic acrylic polymers, polyester resins, epoxy resins, polythiolenes, UV curable organic resins, polyurethanes, thermosettable acrylic polymers, alkyds, vinyl resins and the like, as well as combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing carriers. Polyesters include, for example the reaction products of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids including, e.g., fumaric or maleic acid with glycols, such as ethyleneglycol, propyleneglycol, neopentylglycol, and the like, as well as reaction products and mixtures comprising at least one of the foregoing.
[0094] Some epoxy resins, which can be the used as the organic resin, include monomeric, dimeric, oligomeric, or polymeric epoxy material containing one or a plurality of epoxy functional groups. For example, reaction products of bis phenol-A and epichlorohydrin, or the epichlorohydrin with phenol-formaldehyde resins, and the like. Other organic resins can be in the form of mixtures of polyolefin and polythiols, such as shown by Kehr et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,697,395 and 3,697,402, hereafter incorporated by reference.
A Non-bonding Reactive Layer
[0095] Optionally, the reactive layer can be applied to the substrate using various coating techniques such as painting, dipping, spraying, spin coating, screen printing, and the like. For example, the reactive layer can be mixed with a relatively volatile solvent, preferably an organic solvent, which is substantially inert towards the polycarbonate, i.e., will not attack and adversely affect the polycarbonate, but which is capable of dissolving the carrier. Examples of some suitable organic solvents include ethylene glycol diacetate, butoxyethanol, the lower alkanols, and the like.
[0096] For surface coatings, the reactive layer may also optionally contain various additives such as flatting agents, surface active agents, thixotropic agents, and the like, and reaction products and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing additives. The thickness of the reactive layer is dependent upon the particular reactive material employed, the concentration thereof in the reactive layer, and the desired absorption characteristics of the layer both initially and after a desired period of time.
Development of Blocked Reactive Compounds
[0097] One embodiment of the present invention is the use of blocked forms of the reactive compounds in the reactive layer. These compounds will unblock within a predetermined time period after the disc is manufactured or packaged, and typically before the disc is used by the consumer. This is desirable when the stimulus that triggers the reaction that causes the disc to become unplayable (e.g., atmospheric oxygen) can trigger this reaction during the manufacturing of the disc, and thus measures need to be taken so that the reactive compound is not activated during the manufacturing of the disc. For example, in the case of oxygen triggered reactions, unless a blocked form of the reactive compound is used, manufacturing may need to take place in an oxygen free environment, such as a nitrogen atmosphere.
[0098] One embodiment of the present invention comprises the idea of using a chemically blocked reactive substance for the purpose of producing optical discs that become unplayable after being exposed to oxygen, a specific such blocked leuco dye, a method of preparing this leuco dye precursor, a formulation including this leuco dye precursor which permits the deblocking and oxidation of the leuco dye precursor at acceptable rates, methods of applying this formulation to optical discs both on the surface of optical discs and as bonding layers for optical discs, the use of bases to increase the rate of methylene blue generation in blocked leuco dye-containing layers in or on optical discs, and the use of silyllaating agents such as hexamethyldisilazane to stabilize the blocked leuco dye in coating fluids.
[0099] In one embodiment of the invention, to manufacture an optical disc that becomes unplayable after being removed from its package (a “limited-play disc”), the disc incorporates a reactive layer with a composition containing a leuco dye which oxidizes to a colored dye which absorbs light at the wavelength of the reading laser of an optical disc player, preventing enough of the reading laser light from being reflected off the disc to render the disc unplayable. The oxidation of the leuco dye can be initiated by exposure of the coating containing the dye to atmospheric oxygen, which diffuses through the coating to oxidize the leuco dye molecules. One problem with putting such a coating on the surface of the disc is the possibility of the coating being removed by a consumer to make the disc permanently playable. Another problem with putting such a coating on the surface of an optical disc is that this requires an additional step in the disc manufacturing process, entailing higher cost, special tooling for production equipment, and inevitably lower manufacturing yields. Finally, the oxygen-sensitive fluid used to make such a coating is difficult to handle because of its oxygen sensitivity.
[0100] In some methods of coating a leuco-dye-containing fluid on the surface of an optical disc, some of which were described above, the coating is solvent based and the solvent must evaporate to yield a hard coat containing the leuco dye and any other components required, typically bound in a polymer matrix. There are several disadvantages to such a solvent coating. First, most of the solvent based fluid is spun off of the disc during a spin coating manufacturing process and is difficult or impossible to recover due to solvent evaporation, which both wastes fluid (increasing the cost of the process) and fouls the coating equipment. Second, evaporation of the solvent takes time, which reduces the rate at which such coated discs can be manufactured and thereby increases the cost of the process. Third, the solvent vapors emitted by the coated disc during the coating and drying process must be vented from the manufacturing equipment, increasing the cost of the installed equipment and presenting process and environmental obstacles to disc replicators considering adopting this manufacturing process.
[0101] All of the problems discussed in the previous two paragraphs could be avoided if the leuco dye could be coated in a solventless, light or radiation cured (hereafter called generically “UV-cured”) layer, and if this layer could be the same as the optical disc bonding layer that is used to bond the two substrates which compose certain types of optical disc, such as a DVD. The major obstacle to creating such a system is that many leuco dyes, and in particular leucomethylene blue (hereafter “LMB”, which has been used by the present inventors to render DVDs unplayable in a solvent-based, surface coated system), inhibit both radical and cationic polymerization reactions of the type used to cure UV-curable monomers such as the acrylates that are commonly used as adhesives for bonding DVD substrates. The oxidized dyes (including methylene blue) also are inhibitors of such polymerization reactions. So putting a leuco dye (which will inevitably contain some of the oxidized, colored dye) in a UV-curable composition will either prevent the UV-curing from taking place, or slow the UV-curing and make the process much less economical by reducing the rate at which discs can be manufactured. Moreover, the process of UV-curing can result in some of the leuco dye becoming oxidized if any oxygen or other oxidizing agent is present in the layer to be cured, resulting in a product prematurely containing oxidized dye which may interfere with the readability of the disc or change the rate at which it becomes unreadable after exposure to oxygen.
[0102] Chemically blocked (sometimes called “protected”) leuco dyes (also called “leuco dye precursors”) are known and have been used for decades in applications such as “carbonless copy paper”. In particular, blocked versions of leucomethylene blue are known and have been used in such applications, and one such compound at least, benzoyl-leucomethylene blue (BLMB), is commercially available. However, we have found that BLMB does not deblock easily enough to yield an acceptable limited play DVD product. Other blocked leucomethylene blue compounds share this problem, or deblock too easily such that oxidizable leucomethylene blue is generated in the coating fluid before it is desired.
[0103] We have found that triisopropylsilyloxycarbonylleucomethylene blue (hereafter “TIPSOCLMB”), whose structure and exemplary synthesis are illustrated in FIG. 17 and described in Example 4, has the following desirable properties for use in creating limited-play DVDs:
[0104] 1. It is readily synthesized in two steps from commercially available starting materials.
[0105] By isolating and purifying the BOC-LMB produced in the first step as shown in FIG. 17, the TIPSOCLMB is prepared from a pure compound rather than from the typically very impure methylene blue.
[0106] 2. It can be incorporated into an acrylate formulation described in Example 5 in which it is stable (to conversion to oxidized methylene blue) for at least several weeks at temperatures below 0 C., allowing coating formulations to be prepared at one facility and shipped to another facility for DVD manufacturing if desired.
[0107] 3. It can be deblocked in a period of a week or less, presumably by a hydrolysis reaction involving water or other nucleophiles which can either be provided in the acrylate formulation or be absorbed from the atmosphere in which the DVD is manufactured or in the DVD packaging material.
[0108] 4. The deblocked LMB is stable (to oxidation to methylene blue) in the absence of oxygen. The rate at which the deblocked LMB oxidizes in the presence of oxygen can be controlled by controlling the effective pH of the coating formulation. It is known in the art that the rate of oxidation of LMB increases as the pH of its environment increases. Thus the rate of oxidation can be increased by the addition of basic substances that are soluble in the matrix containing deblocked or blocked LMB and which do not react with the matrix or substrate used. One such basic compound is DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] octane), an amine. Other amines may be added or substituted. Further, the addition of a strong protic acid such as camphorsulfonic acid decreases the rate of LMB oxidation in a polymer film.
[0109] 5. In the absence of water or other nucleophiles, it is a stable solid which can be stored after synthesis for at least several months, even in the presence of oxygen. Acrylate-based coating fluids containing TIPSOCLMB can be handled in the presence of oxygen until the deblocking reaction has taken place, which reaction is slow enough that the handling of the coating fluid during the DVD manufacturing process can be done in normal (undried) air and is not difficult.
EXAMPLE 3:
BocLMB Preparation
[0110] [0110] Chemical Amount Moles Mol. Wt. Na 2 S 2 O 4 60.0 g 0.345 (2.1 eq) 174.11 H 2 O 300 mL 10% aq. NaOqH 240 mL Methylene Blue 60.0 g 0.160 373.90 CH 2 Cl 2 700 mL + 25 mL Boc 2 O 81 mL (d = 0.95 g/mL) 0.352 (2.2 eq) 218.25 DMAP 3.0 g 0.025 (0.15 eq) 122.17 Hexanes 400 mL Methanol 200 mL estimate
[0111] In a 2-liter separatory funnel was dissolved 60.0 g of sodium hydrosulfite (sodium dithionite, Na 2 S 2 O 4 ) in 300 mL cold distilled water. To this solution was added 60.0 g methylene blue (dark green powder) from several different bottles, and the separatory funnel was stoppered and shaken vigorously over a 30-minute period, during which time the dark green solids gradually form a tan suspension of insoluble leucomethylene blue. To this suspension was added three 60-mL portions of 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution with vigorous shaking after each addition. Some heat is evolved, and a lighter suspension results. After allowing the mixture to stand for a short while to cool, 700 mL methylene chloride was added and the separatory funnel was stoppered and shaken to dissolve the solids. An amber organic layer began to separate below an emulsion. An additional portion of 60 mL aqueous NaOH was added, the stoppered funnel was shaken, and the emulsion was allowed to stand for 30-60 minutes to separate into two liquid phases. Alternatively, fresh Na 2 S 2 O 4 and reasonably pure methylene blue may be used to result in a faster and cleaner phase separation.
[0112] To a 1-liter, 3-necked, round-bottomed flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and nitrogen inlet inside a fluted adapter (Aldrich Z11,563-0) packed with 1.5 sheets of crumpled small Kimwipe® tissues (11×21 cm) was added 81.0 mL di-tert-butyldicarbonate (Boc 2 O) diluted with 25 mL methylene chloride. After stirring under nitrogen for 5-10 minutes, 3.0 g of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) was added followed by dropwise addition of the leucomethylene blue solution from the separatory funnel and through the fluted Kimwipe-containing tube. The stem of the separatory funnel was connected to the fluted tube through a one-holed rubber stopper so that the addition was performed under nitrogen. Gas evolution (CO 2 ) began immediately. After two hours, the addition was completed to give a dusty green reaction mixture that was stirred overnight under nitrogen at room temperature.
[0113] On the following morning, the dusty green reaction mixture was arranged for atmospheric distillation. About 550 mL CH 2 Cl 2 was distilled off and replaced with 300 mL hexanes. A gray-blue solid separated out. Distillation was continued until the head temperature reached about 55° C. The mixture was allowed to cool; then the solid was collected by filtration through a sintered glass funnel. The solid was washed with hexanes (2×50 mL) to remove excess Boc 2 O, and then it was washed with methanol (amount unspecified, 4×50 mL estimate) to remove unreacted and oxidized leucomethylene blue until the wash liquid was only faintly blue. The resulting gray solid was dried in air and then under vacuum at room temperature. Yield: 47.0 g (76%). (MW of BocLMB=385.53)
[0114] Thin layer chromatography analysis on a 5×10 cm Whatman K5F silica gel plate eluting with 5% acetone in methylene chloride showed a faint blue spot at the origin, a very weak spot at R f =0.58, and a large product spot at R f =0.63. The initially colorless product spot became dark blue upon standing in air, and rapidly when heated in a 120° C. oven.
[0115] Repetition of this reaction at the same scale resulted in a yield of 48.0 g (78%).
EXAMPLE 4:
TipsocLMB Preparation
[0116] [0116] Chemical Amount Moles Mol. Wt. BocLMB 35.61 g 0.092 385.53 CH 2 Cl 2 200 mL 2,6-Lutidine 26.0 mL (d = 0.92 g/mL) 0.223 (2.5 eq) 107.16 TipsOTf 39.0 mL (d = 1.14 g/mL) 0.145 (1.5 eq) 306.42 Hexanes 420 mL
[0117] To a 500-mL, 3-necked, round-bottomed flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer, addition funnel, and condenser under a nitrogen bubbler was dissolved 35.61 g BocLMB in 200 mL methylene chloride to give a blue solution. To this solution was added 26.0 mL 2,6-lutidine followed by dropwise addition of 39.0 mL of triisopropylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TipsOTf) over a 15 minute time period. The green-blue reaction mixture was then stirred under reflux for 6 hours. TLC analysis (K5F silica, 5% acetone/CH 2 Cl 2 ) showed only a small amount of BocLMB starting material present at R f =0.67 with a large product spot at R f =0.74. The reaction mixture was then stirred overnight at room temperature under nitrogen.
[0118] On the next morning, the green-blue clear reaction mixture was again stirred under reflux for one hour. TLC analysis still indicated that a trace of BocLMB or similar Rf impurity was present. The solution was then concentrated on a rotary evaporator under vacuum to remove most of the methylene chloride, resulting in a dark green-blue syrup. After addition of 200 mL hexanes, the mixture was stirred by hand to effect the separation of a blue-gray solid. Upon heating this mixture under reflux with continued hand stirring, the TipsocLMB product dissolved in the hot hexanes leaving behind a dark blue salt residue as a melt or crusty solid. The hot hexanes solution was decanted from the residue, and the residue was further extracted with 60 mL boiling hexanes. The combined hot hexanes extract (green in color) was allowed to cool slightly and was then filtered through a 1.5 cm-hick layer of Celite to obtain a clear, pale tan filtrate. After washing the Celite twice with 30 mL portions of hot hexanes, the combined filtrate (˜320 mL volume) was placed in the freezer (about −20° C.) overnight.
[0119] On the following morning, an off-white solid with a greenish cast was observed to have crystallized. The mixture was filtered cold, and the product was washed with cold hexanes (2×50 mL), sucked dry, and dried under vacuum at room temperature to an off-white solid. Yield: 33.3 g (75%). (MW of TipsocLMB=485.77) The melting point from an earlier run was 121-123° C.
[0120] TLC analysis (K5F silica, 3% acetone/CH 2 Cl 2 ) showed very weak spots at the origin and at R f =0.53 (probably unreactied BocLMB) with the main spot at R f =0.61 that is initially colorless and becomes dark blue upon standing at room temperature for several hours, or in a 120° C. oven for a few minutes.
[0121] Examples 5 and 6 illustrate how TIPSOCLMB can be incorporated in a coating fluid that can be UV-cured to create a reactive layer containing TIPSOCLMB. Example 7 illustrates how the above technique can produce an interstitial reactive layer, which allows the Special DVD-5 designs 1, 2 and 3 to be used to manufacture expiring optical discs. Example 8 illustrates how TIPSOCLMB deblocks and becomes oxygen sensitive LMB in either a surface or an interstitial layer. When exposed to oxygen, the LMB oxidizes into methylene blue, as illustrated by the increasing cyan density in FIG. 18; methylene blue strongly absorbs light in the 650 nm wavelength, as illustrated in FIG. 19.
EXAMPLE 5
Formulation of Coating Fluid Containing TIPSOCLMB
[0122] 80 mg TIPSOCLMB
[0123] 80 mg Irgacure 819 (Ciba Geigy; sensitizer)
[0124] 4.0 ml CD-501 acrylate (Sartomer; propoxylated[6] trimethylolpropanetriacrylate)
[0125] 18.5 mg 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (“Dabco”; Aldrich; base)
[0126] 155 μl 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (“HMDZ”; Aldrich”; stabilizer)
[0127] The TIPSOCLMB, Irgacure 819, and Dabco are weighed into a brown glass bottle, a stir bar is added, the CD-501 is poured in to the proper weight, and the HMDZ is added by syringe. Dry nitrogen is blown into the bottle for a few minutes and the bottle is capped and the cap covered by parafilm. The contents are stirred at room temperature for at least two hours to dissolve the solids. If not all of the material is used, blow the bottle with nitrogen, cap and seal with parafilm, and store in a freezer; warm the bottle before opening to prevent water from condensing in the bottle.
EXAMPLE 6
Preparation of Disk Surface-coated with TIPSOCLMB/acrylate Formulation
[0128] A DVD clear half disk (an unmetalized 0.6 mm thick and 120 mm diameter polycarbonate disc) or a full DVD (two layers bonded together, back to back with a adhesive) is centered on a laboratory spin coating turntable rotating at roughly 60 rpm's. A 4 ml solution from example #5 is then applied uniformly in a circular ring by a syringe at about a 34 to 40 mm diameter from the center of the disc. The spin speed is then rapidly increased to about 200 rpm for about 15 seconds, resulting in a coating of acrylate/TIPSOCLMB fluid about five μm thick. The spinning is slowed; excess fluid wiped off of the edge of the disk with a tissue and base solvent, if available, and then removed to a lab bench. At this point, the disc is subjected to about five flashes from a Norlite 400 xenon flash lamp at its max setting. The time between flashes is dictated by the charging of the flash lamp, but should be sufficient as to not induce added stress from heat generated in the cure (typically about 5 seconds). This process will yield a clear, uncolored, fully cured acrylate film. Other disks are also prepared with similar acrylate formulations that contain either no Dabco or 10×the amount of Dabco described in Example 5.
EXAMPLE 7
Preparation of Disk Sandwich-coated with TIPSOCLMBI/acrylate Formulation
[0129] A DVD half disk is centered data side up on the turntable as stated above. The turntable is held stationary while the fluid is dispensed on the data side in a manner creating drops with a syringe roughly 3˜5 mm round. These are evenly spaced about 3mm apart on a diameter of 30˜40 mm. The disc to be bonded is then placed data side facing the solution and slightly bowed away from the bottom disc by the edges. The disc will be lowered at an angle until the first contact point between a fluid drop and top disc occurs. We do not want to place the top disc immediately on the bottom because of entrapped air and subsequent bubbles. Therefore, to get a more uniform capillary flow, we can rotate the disc in a clockwise rotation while keeping it slightly bent under light pressure until each of the fluid drops begins to form a capillary bridge ring. Once the capillary ring is completed, the top disc can be released and the capillary action will continue. We can wait for the capillary flow to cover the surface, or we can spin the disc at 100 rpm's until the material at least reaches the maximum OD diameter. At this point the turntable can be turned on and rotated at about 500 rpm's for 5 seconds. This will level the spacer layer (adhesive layer) and remove excess material from the OD. The disc edge can then be wiped and the disc will then be UV cured. It is important that prior to curing, the disc halves be aligned as close as possible to avoid center hole misalignment an subsequent play back problems. At this point, the disc is subjected to about 20˜30 flashes from a Norlite 400 xenon flash lamp at its max setting. The time between flashes is dictated by the charging of the flash lamp, but should be sufficient as to not induce added stress from heat generated in the cure (Typically 5 seconds). This process will yield a clear, uncolored, fully cured acrylate film. Other disks are prepared with similar acrylate formulations that contain either no Dabco or 10×the amount of Dabco described in Example 5.
EXAMPLE 8
Deblocking and Oxidation of TIPSOCLMB in Surface and Sandwich-coated Disks, and the Effect of a Base Included in the Coating Formulation
[0130] Disks prepared as described in Examples 6 and 7 were cut into six ‘chips’ each and the chips were stored in either dry nitrogen, dry air, or room air (average RH about 30%) and their cyan reflectance densities were recorded periodically with an X-Rite 504 densitometer (the samples stored in nitrogen were only tested at the start and end of the experiment as they were visibly unchanged and it was desired to minimize their exposure to oxygen). In all cases the samples stored in nitrogen showed no methylene blue (MB) generation, as expected. Incorporating 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (Dabco) into an acrylate formulation at 1.0 equivalent with respect to the TIPSOCLMB gave very significant acceleration of the deblocking/oxidation rate compared to a control (FIG. 18), while a higher concentration of this compound was actually less effective. In general the open samples (those with the TIPSOCLMB layer coated on top of a DVD half without any cover) generated MB only slightly faster than the sandwich structures, indicating that deblocking and oxidation of the LMB is not significantly limited by the transfer of either water or oxygen through an unmetallized 0.6 mm polycarbonate layer. Rather, the deblocking of the TIPSOCLMB is likely to be rate-limiting in these systems. The control samples without any added base shows noticeably faster MB generation in room air than in dry air, suggesting that moisture in the air speeds deblocking in this sample.
[0131] Example 9 illustrates how a reactive bonding layer was incorporated into Special DVD-5 Design #2, thus manufacturing a disc that was normally playable like a DVD-5 and subsequently became unplayable.
EXAMPLE 9
Incorporating TIPSOCLMB into a Special DVD-5 design #2 Bonding Layer
[0132] A set of experiments was performed to test whether a formulation containing TIPSOCLMB, Irgacure -819, Dabco, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (as a fluid stabilizer), and Sartomer CD-501 acrylate monomer could be used as a DVD adhesive to produce playable DVDs. Using the formulation described in Example 5, filtered through a 1.0 μm glass syringe filter, the fluid was syringed onto either clear or metallized Special DVD-5 Design #2 halves manufactured as in Example 2. A DVD half disk is centered data side up on the turntable as stated above. The turntable is held stationary while the fluid is dispensed on the data side in a manner by creating drops with a syringe roughly 3˜5 mm round. These are evenly spaced circularly about a diameter of 30˜40 mm. The disc to be bonded is then placed data side facing the solution and slightly bowed away from the bottom disc by the edges. The disc will be lowered at an angle until the first contact point between the fluid and top disc occurs. We do not want to place the top disc immediately on the bottom because of entrapped air and subsequent bubbles. Therefore, to get a more uniform capillary flow, we can rotate the disc in a clockwise rotation while keeping it slightly bent under light pressure until each of the fluid drops begins to form a capillary bridge ring. Once the capillary ring is completed, the top disc can be released and the capillary action will continue. We can wait for the capillary flow to cover the surface, or we can spin the disc at 100 rpm until the material reaches the maximum OD diameter. At this point the turntable can be turned up and rotated at about 500 rpm's for 5 seconds to thin out the adhesive and achieve a resulting 50 μm adhesive films (determined by profilometry). This will level the spacer layer (adhesive layer) and remove excess material from the OD. The disc edge can then be wiped and then the disc UV cured. It is important that prior to curing, the disc halves be aligned as close as possible to avoid center hole misalignment an subsequent play back problems. At this point, the disc is subjected to about 20˜30 flashes from a Norlite 400 xenon flash lamp at its max setting. The time between flashes is dictated by the charging of the flash lamp, but should be sufficient as to not induce added stress from heat generated in the cure (Typically 5 seconds). This process will yield a clear, uncolored, fully cured acrylate film that plays on the DVD test player.
[0133] The discs were manufactured under normal ambient conditions, and were subsequently put in a nitrogen box for 3-4 days, to remove the oxygen dissolved in the substrates (which would take an estimated 12-20 hours), and to allow TIPSOCLMB to unblock into LMB (which would take 2-3 days).
[0134] The Special DVD-5 design #2 discs were subsequently removed from the nitrogen box and were measured for reflectivity at the 650 nm wavelength as a function of time. The discs were clear and playable for 12-16 hours after which time they turned dark blue within 24 hours and became unplayable with reflectivities under 2% at 650 nm.
Multiple-layer Optical Discs
[0135] As seen in the DVD family illustration in FIG. 4, in a dual layer optical disc designed to read multiple layers from one side, the spacer (bonding) layer is in the optical path. In the case of Dual Layer DVDs, the given specification for this spacer layer thickness is 0.055 +/−0.015 mm. The thickness of the substrate for a dual layer DVD with optical path bonding is typically 0.55 mm˜0.64 mm.
[0136] Incorporating a reactive compound inhibiting the reading laser in the bonding layer 800 of either type of dual-layer disc would only inhibit the player from reading the L1 layer 805 , as the bonding layer 800 is not in the optical path for reading the L0 layer 810 . Furthermore, the metal 815 in the L0 layer 810 might act as a barrier preventing a predetermined stimulus such as moisture or oxygen to permeate to the reactive compound in the bonding layer 800 in a controllable manner.
[0137] One method around this potential problem would be as follows. Typically, when a player or a drive begins reading a disc, it looks for the table of contents or information area in the lead-in area for the L0 layer 810 (see FIG. 6). When authoring the disc, it is possible to have the L0 lead-in 820 area contain commands to directly access the L1 layer 805 . In order to be able to read the L0 layer 810 to direct the play sequence to the L1 805 , we would have to metallize the L0 side 810 . This would then possibly interfere with the reactive adhesive material 800 causing unstable or uncontrolled kinetics of reaction that would be dependent on the permeability of the metal layer. One approach around this would be to change the metallizer masking for the L0 semi-reflective layer 800 , which is typically run out to 58 mm to 59 mm radius on the disc, to something closer to the lead-in or information data area on the L0.
[0138] To facilitate activation of the reactive material 800 , e.g., when the activating stimulus is oxygen or moisture that might be prevented from reaching the reactive bonding layer 800 because of the L0 metal layer 820 , part of the L0 layer 810 can be masked during metallization, so that part of the reactive layer will be easier to expose to the stimulus and thus the corresponding part of the L0 layer will be disabled. These discs would have a partially metallized L0 layer 810 , as illustrated in FIG. 20. For example, if only the lead-in area or program start portion of the L0 layer 810 is metallized, the player is able to read the lead-in data, and is able to access the information stored on L1 layer 805 . As only a small area on the L0 layer 810 would be metallized, a substantial part of the reactive bonding layer would be in direct contact with the L0 substrate 810 , which is typically permeable by stimuli such as oxygen or moisture. When the reactive bonding layer responds to the appropriate stimuli and starts interfering with the reading laser, the player is no longer able to access the corresponding part of the L1 layer 805 .
[0139] Another embodiment of the present invention is utilizing authoring techniques, such as sequencing and branching commands to be executed by the optical media player, to ensure that making a certain part of a disc unplayable will interfere with playing other parts of the disc, or the entire disc. The part of the disc made unplayable for this purpose may be in the single layer of a one-layer disc, or in any of the layers of a multi-layer disc. For example, one embodiment of this invention consists of a DVD-9 authored so that making a certain part of the L1 layer unplayable would interfere with playing other parts of the disc, or the entirety of the disc. For example, reading the L0 layer lead-in area would direct the player to access a part of the L1 layer that would become unreadable when the reactive layer starts interfering with the reading laser, which would cause the disc to be inoperable. A DVD-9 disc can be authored so that all or part of the L1 layer is essential in order to play any information on L0 and/or L1. For example each chapter on the disc can be authored so that it requires reading certain information on L1 before proceeding.
[0140] In another embodiment of this invention, activation of the reactive material is facilitated by controlling the deposition of the L0 layer. For example, fast deposition of a gold or silver or silicon L0 layer through sputtering is known to result in grainy dendritic formations that are easier to penetrate by oxygen and moisture. Also, a thinner L0 layer can be deposited, which is easier to penetrate by oxygen and moisture. While depositing grainy or thin L0 layers may be unacceptable for a permanent, archival quality disc, it is often adequate for a limited use, expiring disc.
EXAMPLE 10
DVD-9 Discs with TIPSOCLMB Incorporated in a Reactive Bonding Layer
[0141] A DVD-9 with parallel track path encoding can have two distinctly different layers for play back. In the encoding or data mastering process, the Lead-in area normally found on the L0 disc, can have information telling the reading players to read from either or both layers on the disc. Therefore, for this example using a reactive bonding material, the reactive layer could prevent play back from the L1 layer while not affecting the L0. For this example corresponding L0 and L1 masters were manufactured, and L0 and L1 substrates were normally molded and metallized.
[0142] The DVD halves were bonded as in example 9 above using an adhesive containing the formulation TIPSOCLMB, Irgacure -819, Dabco, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (as a fluid stabilizer), and Sartomer CD-501 acrylate monomer described in Example 5. The solution was filtered through a 1.0-μm glass syringe filter. A DVD half disk is centered data side up on the turntable as stated above. The turntable is held stationary while the fluid is dispensed on the data side in a manner by creating drops with a syringe roughly 3˜5 mm round. These are evenly spaced circularly about a diameter of 30˜40 mm. The disc to be bonded is then placed data side facing the solution and slightly bowed away from the bottom disc by the edges. The disc will be lowered at an angle until the first contact point between the fluid and top disc occurs. We do not want to place the top disc immediately on the bottom because of entrapped air and subsequent bubbles. Therefore, to get a more uniform capillary flow, we can rotate the disc in a clockwise rotation while keeping it slightly bent under light pressure until each of the fluid drops begins to form a capillary bridge ring. Once the capillary ring is completed, the top disc can be released and the capillary action will continue. We can wait for the capillary flow to cover the surface, or we can spin the disc at 100 rpm until the material reaches the maximum OD diameter. At this point the turntable can be turned up and rotated at about 500 rpm's for 5 seconds to thin out the adhesive and achieve a resulting 50 μm adhesive films (determined by profilometry). This will level the spacer layer (adhesive layer) and remove excess material from the OD. The disc edge can then be wiped and then the disc UV cured. It is important that prior to curing, the disc halves be aligned as close as possible to avoid center hole misalignment an subsequent play back problems. At this point, the disc is subjected to about 20˜30 flashes from a Norlite 400 xenon flash lamp at its max setting. The time between flashes is dictated by the charging of the flash lamp, but should be sufficient as to not induce added stress from heat generated in the cure (Typically 5 seconds). This process will yield a clear, uncolored, fully cured acrylate film that plays on the DVD test player.
[0143] The discs were manufactured under normal ambient conditions, and were subsequently put in a nitrogen box for 7 days, to remove the oxygen dissolved in the substrates (which would take an estimated 12˜20 hours), and to allow TIPSOCLMB to unblock into LMB (which was estimated to take up to 5-6 days). The discs were subsequently removed from the nitrogen box and were normally playable on both the L0 and L1 layer for 2-3 days on a Pioneer player. After 7 days of exposure to ambient oxygen, the discs became unplayable on the L1 layer, although they would play normally on the L0 layer.
EXAMPLE 11
DVD-9 Discs with Partially Metallized L0 Layer
[0144] As in example 10 above, DVD-9 master tapes were generated with the data area being identified on layer L1 and the L0 layer serving only to provide the lead-in and subsequent table of contents relating to the disc type and information. During play back, the L0 lead-in would instruct the disc to read from the L1 data side. In this case, we would not have to metalize the entire surface of the L0 layer because there is no information to be read outside of the lead-in area. Therefore, DVD-9 master tapes were produced with lead-in and command information on L0 and data area on L1. Typically, the metalizer masking covers areas from 25 mm through 118 mm diameters on both layers. Being as the lead-in area data covers the diameters of 25.2 mm to a maximum of 48 mm, and the subsequent information area starts at no less than 48 mm diameter, the metalizer masking can be reduced to cover the lead-in only. This would allow a reflective signal to read the lead-in on the L0 layer and then switch to the L1 layer for data playback without having to read through additional semi-reflective metal.
[0145] In this example, we manufactured donut-masking plates that dropped into the metalizer OD mask assembly. By registering the masking from the OD, we are able to reduce the metalized diameter to an area allowing lead-in playback. We extended the mask just outside of the lead-in 48 mm diameter in order to compensate for eccentricity tolerance with the masking position. Additionally, in order to prevent a reflective spike from the transition of clear disc area to metalized disc area when reading the L1 layer, the edge of the masking was slightly raised above the disc to cause a shadowing or tapered layer uniformity. This would cause a gradual focusing compensation rather than a large “speed bump” effect causing its radial noise and focusing error to fall out of specification and perhaps jump track.
[0146] The resulting DVD-9 halves were bonded as in Example 10. The DVD-9s constructed were tested for playability in a Pioneer DVD player and in a DVD-ROM drive, and were subsequently put in a nitrogen box for 7 days, so that the TIPSOCLMB would unblock into LMB. The discs were subsequently removed from the nitrogen box and were clear and playable for 12-16 hours, and turned dark blue within 24 hours after that, becoming unplayable. The discs were effectively prevented from having information read from either L0 or L1.
Controlling the Timing of the Reaction
[0147] Preferably, the data quality of the disc should remain high for the intended period of use and then decay rapidly resulting in a rapid degradation of the ability to read data off the optical disc. One benefit of this embodiment of the present invention is that for a broad class of stimuli, such as those requiring diffusion of a substance through a barrier layer, incorporating the reactive material in an interstitial layer results in substantial advantages regarding the timing characteristics of the reaction.
[0148] One method of achieving the above mentioned desirable timing characteristics is to use a reactive interstitial material between the disc substrates, as described earlier, which reacts with a substance that needs to diffuse through the substrates of the disc. For example, if the reactive material is sensitive to oxygen, there will be an extended period in which there will be no reaction while the oxygen diffuses through the disc substrates. Once oxygen reaches the reactive layer, the resulting reaction can be fast, resulting in rapid expiration of the disc.
[0149] When oxygen is used as the diffusing substance, it may be necessary to remove oxygen that dissolves in the disc during the different stages of its manufacture. This can be done, for example, by storing the discs in a vacuum or in an oxygen free environment for an appropriate period of time. It has been established theoretically and experimentally that 24 hours is an adequate period to extricate oxygen dissolved in a 0.6 mm thick polycarbonate disc substrate. Alternatively, if a blocked reactive material is used as described earlier, an oxygen scavenging material, such as iron or an organometallic compound, can be used to extricate oxygen from the optical disc before the blocked reactive material unblocks. This method has several manufacturing advantages; for example, it can avoid oxygen extrication during manufacturing of the disc by including the oxygen scavenging material in the packaging of the disc, which allows the extrication of the oxygen to take place after the disc is manufactured and packaged.
[0150] Another means for controlling the timing of the expiration of the disc is to include in or adjacent to the reactive layer a finite, controlled quantity of an appropriate protective substance, such as an antioxidant in the case that the reactive layer reacts with oxygen. The protective substance would prevent the reactions that cause the disc to expire until such time as the anti-oxidant was consumed, at which time the disc would rapidly degrade and become unplayable. For example, an organometallic compound that reacts with oxygen can be packaged with the disc to protect the disc from oxidation while in the package. Alternatively, the organometallic compound can be incorporated into the substrate, thus continuing to protect the metal layer for a period of time after the package has been opened.
[0151] Depletion of a protective substance could be combined with diffusion of the triggering substance through the substrate of the disc, to result in longer delays before the disc expires, or to enable finer control of the characteristics of the expiration process, such as the steepness of reflectivity degradation.
Example of Antioxidant in Reactive Layer
[0152] Alternatively, the protective substance may be a reducing agent which may be incorporated into the reactive bonding layer itself. In an experiment in which the concentration of TLMB was also varied and shown to have an effect, the play time was shown to be more greatly affected by varying the amount of stannous ethylhexanoate reducing agent (see Table I).
TABLE I Concentration Play Time (hrs) Formulation # TLMB Sn(ll) EtHexanoate short long A 1% 2% 14 22 B 1% 4% 38 55 C 0.5% 2% 18 26 D 0.5% 4% 46 58
[0153] DVD-5 discs were made using a TIPSOCLMB-containing adhesive formulation, and deblocked in an oxygen-free atmosphere for 48 hours at 60° C. At that time the discs were exposed to ambient room air and the rate of methylene blue color development was quantified with an X-Rite reflection densitometer. The short Play Time was chosen to be the time at which the cyan density increased by 0.35, which roughly corresponds to a playability cutoff at 45% reflectance as typified by a low quality DVD player. The long Play Time was chosen to be the time at which the cyan density increased by 0.85, which roughly corresponds to a playability cutoff at 10% reflectance as typified by a high quality DVD player.
[0154] The most likely mechanism for this extended play is reduction of the initially formed methylene blue dye back to the leuco form until most of the reducing agent is consumed. Alternate mechanisms, such as the stannous compound acting as a primary oxygen scavenger to consume oxygen before the leuco dye is affected, are also possible.
[0155] The mobility within the cured matrix is expected to have a significant effect upon the reduction rate; indeed, the calculated glass transition temperature (Tg) of the monomers used in this example is −34° C. In such a soft matrix, adequate molecular mobility should exist to allow molecular contact of reducing agent and dye molecules.
[0156] Alternate reducing agents might include other Sn(II) compounds which would be soluble in the UV cure formulation, such as acetylacetonate chelates, fatty alpha-aminoacid chelates and salts; soluble iron(II) compounds, such as fatty carboxylates and chelates such as acetylacetonates; ascorbic acid and its derivatives such as ascorbyl palmitate; hydroquinones, such as 2,5-di-tert-amylhydroquinone; alkylhydroxylamines; hydrazines; dithionates with a solubilizing counterion; reducing saccharides such as glucose; alpha-hydroxyketones, such as acetol; appropriately substituted boron and silicon hydrides. Although many of these materials are difficultly soluble in current active adhesive formulations, a more expeditious choice of monomers and oligimers might allow the use of one of these alternate reducing agents while still providing good adhesive and dye stabilization properties.
Preventing Expired Discs from Playing in Future Generation Players
[0157] Future generations of optical discs and players are typically developed to offer increased performance for consumers and other users of the technology. For example, DVDs offer increased storage capacity compared to CDs, and the next generation of “blue laser” DVDs will offer improved capacity compared to today's DVDs. Subsequent generations of optical storage media, such as the “DVR” format currently under development, will have even greater capacity and performance.
[0158] Optical media players are typically engineered with the ability to play previous generations of discs. For example, while CD players employ a laser with a wavelength of 780 nanometers to read CDs, DVD players typically employ their reading laser with a wavelength of 650 nanometers to read CD discs. The next generation DVDs (“blue laser DVDs”) is designed to be read with a laser with a wavelength of 450-460 nanometers; the “DVR” format will use lasers emitting around 405 nm. Future generation players are likely to be able to read current DVDs with their 450-460 nanometer or 405 nanometer lasers.
[0159] Dyes used to inhibit the reading laser in current optical disc players are typically designed to interfere with the reading laser employed by these players; such dyes, however, may not interfere with the reading laser future players, which is likely to have a shorter wavelength. The implication is that expired discs, even though they may not play in the current generation of players, they may become playable when future generation players become available. Dyes used to inhibit the reading laser in current DVD players are typically designed to interfere with a 650 nanometer reading laser; such dyes, however, may not interfere with a reading laser in the 450-460 nanometer range. For example, methylene blue, which is one of the read inhibit dyes proposed in Smith et al, while strongly absorbent in the 650 nanometer wavelength, it is essentially transparent in the 450-460 nanometer range (see FIG. 19). The implication is that expired DVDs may play in blue laser DVD players.
[0160] Another embodiment of the present invention is an optical disc that will not play in future generation players, thus preventing an expired disc from becoming playable when future generation players (e.g., blue laser DVD players) become available. This can be accomplished by incorporating in the optical path of the disc a selectively interfering layer that will interfere with the reading laser of future generation players, and thus will inhibit reading of the disc in such players. Such a layer can be designed by incorporating a dye or pigment that does not interfere with the reading laser in a certain type of players, but does interfere with the reading laser in other types of players (or will change to become interfering in response to a predetermined stimulus). For example, Acridine Yellow [135-49-9], is essentially transparent at the 635-650 nanometer wavelength but strongly absorbs at the 450-460 and 405 nanometer wavelengths (absorption max in ethanol at 462 nm, molar absorptivity=37,000 M −1 cm −1 ). Alternatively 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene [10075-85-1] also does not absorb at all in the 635-650 nanometer range, but is strongly absorbent in the 450-460 and 405 nanometer range (absorbance max 455 nm in cyclohexane, molar absorptivity 33,000 M −1 ). Other classes of dyes and pigments that can be used for blocking blue laser light (at either 450-460 or 405 nm) include aromatic hydrocarbons, azo dyes, cyanines, polymethines, carotinoids, hemicyanines,, styryls, quinaldines, coumarins, di- and triarylmethines, anthraquinones, nitro and nitrosos. As mentioned above, methylene blue is essentially transparent at the 450-460 nanometer wavelengths, but strongly absorbs at the 635-650 nanometer range.
[0161] In one embodiment of the current invention, the selectively interfering layer is a dedicated layer in the optical path of the reading laser. In another embodiment, which is likely to be the preferred embodiment because it does not introduce an additional design element for the optical disc, the selectively interfering layer is combined with another element of the disc, such as the substrate or the reactive layer. For example, this could be accomplished by mixing an appropriate dye or pigment, such as Acridine Yellow [135-49-9] or 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl) anthracene [10075-85-1], with the polycarbonate or other polymer used to mold the substrate of the disc, or with the reactive layer in an expiring disc, such as the bonding layer in the special DVD-5 designs described earlier.
Use of Additional Mechanisms to Prevent Recovery of Data
[0162] Another embodiment of the present invention is combining the mechanism(s) that prevent reading of the optical disc by inhibiting the reading laser with additional mechanism(s) for preventing recovery of the information encoded in the data structures on the disc. These additional mechanism(s) can be designed with less accurate control of the timing of their activation than the mechanism(s) that work by inhibiting the reading laser. Thus it may be desirable to combine the mechanism that controls expiration of the optical disc by interfering with the reading laser with additional mechanism(s) that permanently prevent the recovery of the data on the optical disc. For example, a disc may become unplayable by transitioning a layer in the optical path from transparent to opaque in a controlled time period, for example approximately 24 hours after a predetermined stimulus, such as removing the disc from its packaging. In addition, a secondary mechanism could corrode the metal layer on the disc, such mechanism acting over a longer period of time, such as 1-2 weeks, and being triggered by the same or a different stimulus. Additional mechanisms may also be employed, such as an additive that degrades the polycarbonate material from which the disc is composed, which process can be triggered by the same stimulus (such as exposure to ambient air), or a different stimulus (such as the centrifugal forces generated when a disc is played in a CD or DVD player). Other triggering stimuli for these backup mechanisms can include various constituents of air, light, physical motion, and time from manufacturing or packaging. Many other mechanisms are possible.
[0163] One method of accomplishing this is to deposit a layer of metallic silver separated from the information bearing aluminum layer by a material incorporated for this purpose, or by an existing material, such as the bonding layer or one of the substrates of the optical disc. This silver layer can be above or below the aluminum layer, and if it is below (and thus in the optical path of the reading laser) it needs to be sufficiently transparent initially so that the reading laser can read the information on the aluminum layer.
[0164] In one embodiment of the invention, a DVD-9 disc is manufactured with a reactive bonding layer consisting of a material with appropriate dielectric properties, and with appropriate selection of metals for L0 and L1. For example, L0 can be made of silver and L1 can be made of aluminum.
[0165] When a silver layer and an aluminum layer are separated by an appropriate dielectric material, then upon exposure to oxygen the silver serves as a cathode, on which O 2 is reduced, and aluminum serves as an anode. Corrosion is fast only if a short develops between the silver and the aluminum layers. The development of the short results from the growth of a silver dendrite through the separating material. To grow the dendrite through the separating material it is desirable to use a material that has some ionic conductivity. Several likely separating materials consist of or contain polyacrylate. If the polyacrylate is slightly hydrolyzed, or if it is, for example, a 2-hydroxyethylacrylate copolymer, there will be some ionic conductivity. Preferred are co-polymers of poly(acrylonitrile), or of poly(4-vinylpyridine), or of poly(l-vinylimidazole). All of these should conduct silver, copper or thallium ions (Ag + Cu + or T + ). Thallium is less preferred due to its toxicity. The chemical equations are as follows:
[0166] Silver is air-oxidized:
4Ag+O 2 →Ag 2 O (complexed with lacquer)
Ag 2 O+H 2 O+complexant→2Ag + (complexed)+2OH −
[0167] Ag + is reduced by aluminum, which is oxidized (if Ag + is mobile in the lacquer, which is designed to conduct Ag + )
Ag + +Al→Al 3+ +3Ag 0
Al 3+ +3OH − →Al(OH) 3 →Al(O)OH +H 2 O
[0168] A silver dendrite starts growing from the aluminum to the silver. When the two layers are shorted, the “switch” between a battery's (Al) anode and (Ag) cathode is closed. Corrosion is rapid and catastrophic. One skilled in the art will recognize that other similar metals may be substituted for Al and Ag in this example.
[0169] Alternatively, other ways of permanently corroding data layers via the reactive layer can be employed. For example, certain embodiments of this invention may have a bonding layer that promotes the corrosion of the reflective metal layer or may involve the diffusion of some substance from the bonding layer to the reflective layer(s). In other embodiments, the additional mechanisms will not be part of the bonding material. For example, a precursor of a corrosive substance may be deposited adjacent to the metal layer. When oxygen or some other appropriate substance diffuses through the substrate and reaches the corrosive precursor, a reaction could be initiated that results in producing a corrosive substance that over a period of time permanently destroys the data structures on the disc. Alternatively, the material in the substrate of the disc, such as polycarbonate, could be engineered so that it degrades over a period of time, thus making the disc unusable. Such substances and reactions are known to the skilled in the art.
[0170] Another composition that performs a similar function is one in which the substrate itself is modified over time. The modification of the substrate could cause it to change its optical qualities, thereby degrading the signal reaching the reader. These optical qualities could include its index of refraction or its transparency.
[0171] Moreover, the modification of the substrate could cause the underlying metal layer to change its optical properties, as described above. In this way, a time-sensitive substrate and/or lacquer could be combined with a reflective layer that becomes non-reflective.
[0172] The transparency of a polymer film can be changed by any of the following: reaction of the film with water; reaction of the film with oxygen; or crystallization of the polymer, meaning increased alignment of polymer molecules in the film.
[0173] As an example, a substrate could be chosen that is changed by components in air such as oxygen or water. For example, oxygen could oxidize the substrate, causing a change in its transparency or its index of refraction. Alternatively, the substrate could be designed to absorb water in the air, causing it to swell and change its optical properties. Another example is that the substrate could change its permeability to oxygen over time, thereby permitting the oxidation of the metallic layer. In the later case, the overall time sensitivity of the optical media could be a function of the properties of both the substrate and/or lacquer and the reflective layer.
[0174] The substrate or the metallic layer could also be made sensitive to specific wavelengths of light. Exposure to these wavelengths would cause a change in the optical qualities of the layer, thereby degrading the signal reaching the reader. Examples include photodepolymerization of the substrate; photogeneration of acid; photogeneration of singlet oxygen; and unzipping of the polymers (e.g., fissure of cross linking hydrogen bonds). Incorporation of light-activated catalysts into the substrate or the metallic layer can assist in this process.
[0175] Accordingly, the present invention has been described at some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.
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Methods and apparatus are provided for making an optically readable storage media in which the reading beam passes through a bonding layer configured with a reactive material that transforms from an optically transparent state to an optically opaque state after exposure to a predefined stimulus, thereby inhibiting access to the data encoded on the optically readable storage media. The method includes steps of synthesizing a blocked dye combining the blocked dye with a carrier material curing the resultant combination deblocking the dye to produce a reduced dye in the resultant bonding layer exposing the optically readable storage media with the reactive material in its bonding layer to a predetermined stimulus. In a further aspect of the present invention methods and apparatus are provided for making an optically readable storage media wherein the reading light passes through the bonding layer and the data encoded information is encoded on the L1 substrate. In yet another aspect of the present invention methods and apparatus are provided for making an optically readable storage media with at least two mechanisms for limiting access to the encoded data of the optically readable storage media.
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STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for government purposes without the payment of any royalties therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates in general to plastic bonded explosive molding powder and in particular to an improved coating process for plastic bonded explosive molding powder.
Traditional water slurry methods for producing explosive molding powder have been used for over 40 years in explosive production facilities. Even when a high quality molding powder is produced by the traditional water slurry method, uncoated explosive particles remain in the batch. These uncoated explosive particles damage the sensitivity characteristics of the explosive molding powder.
Plastic bonded explosive molding powder is typically made in a batch process. A polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent to form a lacquer. The lacquer is mixed with a high explosive solid in a slurry kettle filled with water. After the lacquer is transferred to the mixture, the temperature is raised to distil off the solvent. The slurry is cooled and the batch is dewatered and then dried.
In known coating processes, granulation of the molding powder occurs during the addition of the lacquer, or by the addition of quench water after addition of the lacquer, and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to uniformly coat all of the explosive material surface with binder. Therefore, there exists a need for a coating process that results in a more uniform coating of all sizes of explosive material particles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method of making a batch of explosive molding powder comprising preparing a lacquer comprising an organic solvent, a binder and, if required by the explosive formulation, a plasticizer; adding water to a kettle; adding explosive material to the kettle; adding the lacquer to the kettle; heating contents of the kettle to above 98 degrees C.; cooling the contents of the kettle to below about 55 C.; separating the water from the explosive material; and drying the explosive material to form the explosive molding powder.
Using the above method, the present invention ensures that granulation of the molding powder is delayed until some of the solvent is removed by evaporation and/or distillation, thereby ensuring that all the explosive particles are coated with binder.
The present invention can be used to manufacture, or rework, any of the explosive formulations made by traditional methods, the binder to plasticizer ratio being predetermined by existing explosive material specifications.
Preferably, the organic solvent comprises ethyl acetate or methyl ethyl ketone, the binder and the plasticizer are in accordance with the explosive specification and may be selected by those skilled in the art. A ratio of an amount of solvent to binder is in the range of about 24:1 to about 90:1. A ratio of an amount of water to explosive batch is in the range of about 4:1 to about 8:1, the preferred amount of water being dependent upon the size of granulation required for the molding powder.
The explosive ingredients and the lacquer are then added to a kettle and agitated. Depending upon the explosive formulation being produced, the agitation may occur at ambient temperature. However, for certain explosive formulations, an agitator speed, for example 45 rpm, is established prior to adding any material to the kettle. The explosive material is then added and agitated at ambient temperature for a time period which is dependent upon the explosive formulation. The kettle is heated to from about 53 degrees C. to about 62 degrees C. and higher agitator speed is then established, for example 70 rpm, and the lacquer is added to the kettle and the mixture is agitated for a time dependent upon the explosive formulation. For reworking batches, either for granulation and/or composition, the lacquer is added to the kettle at ambient temperature to prevent excessive deposits on the wall of the vessel.
The mixture is then heated to about 98 degrees C. for about 10 to about 30 minutes. The mixture is then cooled to below about 55 degrees C. During the cooling step, the agitator speed is slowed, for example to about 50 rpm. The mixture is then dried until explosive material moisture content is less than about 0.1%.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention includes a new coating process for producing high coating quality molding powder. The presence of uncoated explosive particles is minimized as are batch-to-batch variations. Explosive molding powder produced by the invention showed the following advantages:
1. Better and more reliable coating quality.
2. A decrease in the amount of uncoated particles, particularly uncoated fine particles.
3. Improvement in safety characteristics because of eliminating or minimizing uncoated particles.
4. No dusting problem during pressing operations because of eliminating or minimizing uncoated fine particles.
5. More reproducible, simpler manufacturing process with a lower reject rate.
6. More consistent material characteristics, such as bulk density and powder internal frictional coefficient.
The inventive process includes the following steps:
1) The first step in the process of making explosive molding powder is to make a lacquer. The lacquer for coating explosive molding powder is a mixture of an organic solvent, a binder and if required, a plasticizer. The ratio of the amount of solvent to binder is in the range of about 24:1 to about 90:1. The solvent is poured into a first kettle having an agitator. The binder and plasticizer are added and the ingredients are agitated until the binder has dissolved.
2) The second step in the process is to add water. The water is added to a second kettle with an agitator. The second kettle includes a steam, or oil heating jacket, and a condenser system such that the organic solvent may either be refluxed or distilled. The water to batch ratio is in the range of about 4:1 to about 8:1. “Batch” is defined as the amount of explosive material plus the amount of binder plus the amount of any required plasticizer.
3) The required amount of explosive material is added to the water in the second kettle and agitated at ambient temperature (around 23 degrees Centigrade) for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes dependent upon the explosive formulation. Numerous explosive materials can be used in this process, for example RDX (Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) or HMX (Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine), and can be selected by those skilled in the art.
4) If required for the explosive formulation, the vessel is heated to from about 53 degrees C. to about 62 degrees C. This brings the temperature of the slurry in the second kettle to from about 50 degrees C. to about 64 degrees C.
5) The lacquer is added over from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes to the second kettle at a temperature from about ambient to about 65 degrees C. and the slurry is then agitated for about 30 to about 60 minutes.
6) The slurry in the second kettle is slowly heated until the temperature is greater than 98 degrees C. Granulation of the explosive material is achieved during this heating step.
7) The temperature is maintained above 98 degrees C. for about 10 to about 30 minutes to finish distilling off the solvent.
8) The slurry is then cooled to below about 55 degrees C.
9) The water is separated from the explosive material by, for example, discharging the slurry through a valve in the bottom of the kettle and filtering the slurry to remove the explosive material.
10) If desired, the explosive material may be washed with water to remove any remaining solvent.
11) The explosive material is placed in trays and dried in an oven until the moisture content is less than about 0.1%.
The following examples illustrate the process set forth above.
EXAMPLE #1
A batch of PBXN-7 explosive molding powder was made. The batch size was 1,540 pounds (explosive material plus binder). One thousand, one hundred and sixty eight pounds of methyl ethyl ketone was used as the solvent to prepare the lacquer. Seventy seven pounds of Fluorel, a fluoroelastomer, was used as the binder.
A 300 gallon kettle with an anchor blade agitator was used to prepare the lacquer. The methyl ethyl ketone and Fluorel were added to the kettle and agitated for 18 hours at ambient temperature.
A 2,500 gallon kettle fitted with a turbine blade agitator, a solvent condenser system and a steam heated jacket, was used to prepare the explosive molding powder. Demineralised water in the amount of 11,528 pounds was added to the kettle (water to batch ratio 7.47:1). The agitator speed was brought up to 50 to 55 rpm and the explosive material, 924 pounds of TATB (triaminotrinitrobenzene) Class 1 and 539 pounds of RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) Class 5, was added. The speed of the agitator was increased to 70 rpm and the slurry was agitated at 70 to 75 rpm for 10 minutes at ambient temperature.
The condenser system on the vessel was set to reflux and the slurry was heated to 62 degrees C. The previously prepared lacquer was added to the slurry, over a period of 10 to 30 minutes. A further eight hundred and sixteen pounds of methyl ethyl ketone was added to the slurry (total solvent to binder ratio 25.7:1). The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at 60 to 64 degrees C.
The condenser system on the kettle was then switched to distil and the slurry heated to 78 degrees C. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 60 minutes at 78 to 80 degrees C. Over a period of about 60 minutes, the temperature of the slurry was brought up to 98 degrees C. while still agitating at 70 rpm. The temperature was maintained above 98 degrees C. for about 10 minutes to finish distilling the solvent.
The agitator was slowed to 50 to 55 rpm and the slurry was cooled to 55 degrees C. The bottom valve of the kettle was opened and the slurry was discharged through a filter to separate the water from the explosive material. The explosive material was washed with water for about 10 minutes to remove any traces of solvent.
The explosive material was placed in trays and dried in an oven for about 30 hours at 55 degrees C. until the moisture content was less than 0.1%.
The final composition of the 1,540 pound batch was 60% TATB Class 1, 35% RDX Class 5 and 5% fluoroelastomer.
EXAMPLE #2
A batch of PBXN-7 explosive molding powder was reworked for granulation. The batch size was 1,540 pounds of explosive material.
A 2,500 gallon kettle fitted with a turbine blade agitator, a solvent condenser system and a steam heated jacket, was used to rework the explosive molding powder. Demineralised water in the amount of 11,528 pounds was added to the kettle (water to batch ratio 7.47:1). The agitator speed was brought up to 50 to 55 rpm and the explosive material, PBXN-7, was added. The speed of the agitator was increased to 70 rpm and the slurry was agitated at 70 to 75 rpm for 10 minutes at ambient temperature.
The condenser system on the vessel was set to reflux. One thousand, nine hundred and eighty four pounds of methyl ethyl ketone was added to the slurry (solvent to binder ratio 25.7:1) over a period of 10 to 30 minutes. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at ambient temperature.
The slurry was heated to 62 degrees C. and then agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at 60 to 64 degrees C.
The condenser system on the kettle was then switched to distil and the slurry heated to 78 degrees C. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 60 minutes at 78 to 80 degrees C. Over a period of about 60 minutes, the temperature of the slurry was brought up to 98 degrees C. while still agitating at 70 rpm. The temperature was maintained above 98 degrees C. for about 10 minutes to finish distilling the solvent.
The agitator was slowed to 50 to 55 rpm and the slurry was cooled to 55 degrees C. The bottom valve of the kettle was opened and the slurry was discharged through a filter to separate the water from the explosive material. The explosive material was washed with water for about 10 minutes to remove any traces of solvent.
The explosive material was placed in trays and dried in an oven for about 30 hours at 55 degrees C. until the moisture content was less than 0.1%.
Prior to reworking the PBXN-7 granulation was 81.8% passing through #14 sieve, 54.6% passing through a #18 sieve and 2.1% passing through a #100 sieve. After reworking the PBXN-7 granulation was 97.0% passing through #14 sieve, 52.4% passing through a #18 sieve and 0.0% passing through a #100 sieve.
EXAMPLE #3
A batch of PBXN-7 explosive molding powder that was low in %TATB was reworked to correct the composition. The batch size was 1,587 pounds of explosive material.
A 2,500 gallon kettle fitted with a turbine blade agitator, a solvent condenser system and a steam heated jacket, was used to prepare the explosive molding powder. Demineralised water in the amount of 12,038 pounds was added to the kettle (water to batch ratio 7.59:1). The agitator speed was brought up to 50 to 55 rpm and the explosive material, 1540 pounds of PBXN-7 and 47 pounds of TATB, was added. The speed of the agitator was increased to 70 rpm and the slurry was agitated at 70 to 75 rpm for 10 minutes at ambient temperature.
The condenser system on the vessel was set to reflux. Two thousand and seventy two pounds of methyl ethyl ketone was added to the slurry (solvent to binder ratio 27.4:1) over a period of 10 to 30 minutes. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at ambient temperature.
The slurry was heated to 62 degrees C. and then agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at 60 to 64 degrees C.
The condenser system on the kettle was then switched to distil and the slurry heated to 78 degrees C. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 60 minutes at 78 to 80 degrees C. Over a period of about 60 minutes, the temperature of the slurry was brought up to 98 degrees C. while still agitating at 70 rpm. The temperature was maintained above 98 degrees C. for about 10 minutes to finish distilling the solvent.
The agitator was slowed to 50 to 55 rpm and the slurry was cooled to 55 degrees C. The bottom valve of the kettle was opened and the slurry was discharged through a filter to separate the water from the explosive material. The explosive material was washed with water for about 10 minutes to remove any traces of solvent.
The explosive material was placed in trays and dried in an oven for about 30 hours at 55 degrees C. until the moisture content was less than 0.1%.
Prior to reworking the composition of the PBXN-7 was 58.5% TATB. After reworking the composition of the PBXN-7 was 60.0% TATB.
EXAMPLE #4
Three batches of PBXN-9 explosive molding powder were made.
For each batch, the batch size was 1,540 pounds (explosive material plus binder plus plasticizer). One thousand and fifteen pounds of ethyl acetate was used as the solvent to prepare the lacquer. Thirty one pounds of Hytemp 4454, a polyacrylic elastomer, was used as the binder (solvent to binder ratio 32.9:1). Ninety three pounds of Di (2-ethylhexyl)-adipate (DOA) was used as the plasticizer (plasticizer to binder ratio 3:1).
A 300 gallon kettle with an anchor blade agitator was used to prepare the lacquer. The ethyl acetate, Hytemp 4454 and DOA were added to the kettle and agitated for 18 hours at ambient temperature.
A 2,500 gallon kettle fitted with a turbine blade agitator, a solvent condenser system and a steam heated jacket, was used to prepare the explosive molding powder. Demineralised water in the amount of 11,574 pounds, 9,259 pounds and 7,716 pounds, was added respectively to the kettle for each of the three batches (water to batch ratio 7.5:1, 6:1 and 5:1). The agitator speed was brought up to 50 to 55 rpm and 1,417 pounds of HMX (cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine) explosive material was added. The HMX comprised a mixture of Class 1 and Class 5 grists at a ratio of 55:45 Class 1 to Class 5. The speed of the agitator was increased to 70 rpm and the slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at ambient temperature.
The condenser system on the vessel was set to reflux and the slurry was heated to 52 degrees C. The previously prepared lacquer was added to the slurry, over a period of 10 to 30 minutes. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at 50 to 55 degrees C.
The condenser system on the kettle was then switched to distil and over a period of about 90 minutes, the temperature of the slurry was brought up to 98 degrees C. while still agitating at 70 rpm. The temperature was maintained above 98 degrees C. for about 15 minutes to finish distilling the solvent.
The agitator was slowed to 50 to 55 rpm and the slurry was cooled to 55 degrees C. The bottom valve of the kettle was opened and the slurry was discharged through a filter to separate the water from the explosive material. The explosive material was washed with water for about 10 minutes to remove any traces of solvent.
The explosive material was placed in trays and dried in an oven for about 30 hours at 55 degrees C. until the moisture content was less than 0.1%.
The final composition of all three 1,540 pound batches was 51% HMX Class 1, 41% HMX Class 5, 2% Hytemp 4454 and 6% DOA. The granulation of the batches, % passing through a #8 sieve, were 99, 92 and 90% respectively.
EXAMPLE #5
A batch of PBXN-9 explosive molding powder was made from a batch of PBXW-11.
The batch size was 1,540 pounds (explosive material plus binder plus plasticizer). One thousand and fifteen pounds of ethyl acetate was used as the solvent. Eleven pounds of Hytemp 4454, a polyacrylic elastomer, was used as the binder (solvent to total binder ratio 33:1). Twenty six pounds of Di (2-ethylhexyl)-adipate (DOA) was used as the plasticizer (plasticizer to binder ratio 3:1).
A 300 gallon kettle with an anchor blade agitator was used to prepare the lacquer. The ethyl acetate, Hytemp 4454 and DOA were added to the kettle and agitated for 18 hours at ambient temperature.
A 2,500 gallon kettle fitted with a turbine blade agitator, a solvent condenser system and a steam heated jacket, was used to prepare the explosive molding powder. Demineralised water in the amount of 4,630 pounds was added to the kettle. The agitator speed was brought up to 50 to 55 rpm and the explosive material, 1035 pounds of PBXW-11 and 435 pounds of HMX (cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine) Class 5, was added. The speed of the agitator was increased to 70 rpm and the previously prepared lacquer was added to the slurry, over a period of 10 to 30 minutes. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 60 minutes at ambient temperature.
A further 3,086 pounds of demineralised water was added to the slurry (total water to batch ratio 5:1) and the slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at ambient temperature.
The condenser system on the vessel was set to reflux and the slurry was heated to 57 degrees C. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at 55 to 60 degrees C.
The condenser system on the kettle was then switched to distil and over a period of about 90 minutes, the temperature of the slurry was brought up to 98 degrees C. while still agitating at 70 rpm. The temperature was maintained above 98 degrees C. for about 15 minutes to finish distilling the solvent.
The agitator was slowed to 50 to 55 rpm and the slurry was cooled to 55 degrees C. The bottom valve of the kettle was opened and the slurry was discharged through a filter to separate the water from the explosive material. The explosive material was washed with water for about 10 minutes to remove any traces of solvent.
The explosive material was placed in trays and dried in an oven for about 30 hours at 55 degrees C. until the moisture content was less than 0.1%.
The final composition of the 1,540 pound batch was 51% HMX Class 1, 41% HMX Class 5, 2% Hytemp 4454 and 6% DOA.
EXAMPLE #6
A batch of PBXW-11 explosive molding powder was made.
The batch size was 1,540 pounds (explosive material plus binder plus plasticizer). One thousand and fifteen pounds of ethyl acetate was used as the solvent. Fifteen pounds of Hytemp 4454, a polyacrylic elastomer, was used as the binder (solvent to binder ratio 66:1). Forty six pounds of Di (2-ethylhexyl)-adipate (DOA) was used as the plasticizer (plasticizer to binder ratio 3:1).
A 300 gallon kettle with an anchor blade agitator was used to prepare the lacquer. The ethyl acetate, Hytemp 4454 and DOA were added to the kettle and agitated for 18 hours at ambient temperature.
A 2,500 gallon kettle fitted with a turbine blade agitator, a solvent condenser system and a steam heated jacket, was used to prepare the explosive molding powder. Demineralised water in the amount of 7,720 pounds was added to the kettle (water to batch ratio 5:1). The agitator speed was brought up to 50 to 55 rpm and 1,480 pounds of HMX (cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine) explosive material was added. The HMX comprised a mixture of Class 1 and Class 5 grists at a ratio of 76:20 Class 1 to Class 5. The speed of the agitator was increased to 70 rpm and the slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 10 minutes at ambient temperature.
The condenser system on the vessel was set to reflux and the slurry was heated to 52 degrees C. The previously prepared lacquer was added to the slurry, over a period of 10 to 30 minutes. The slurry was agitated at 70 rpm for 30 minutes at 50 to 55 degrees C.
The condenser system on the kettle was then switched to distil and over a period of about 90 minutes, the temperature of the slurry was brought up to 98 degrees C. while still agitating at 70 rpm. The temperature was maintained above 98 degrees C. for about 15 minutes to finish distilling the solvent.
The agitator was slowed to 50 to 55 rpm and the slurry was cooled to 55 degrees C. The bottom valve of the kettle was opened and the slurry was discharged through a filter to separate the water from the explosive material. The explosive material was washed with water for about 10 minutes to remove any traces of solvent.
The explosive material was placed in trays and dried in an oven for about 30 hours at 55 degrees C. until the moisture content was less than 0.1%.
The final composition of the 1,540 pound batch was 76% HMX Class 1, 20% HMX Class 5, 1% Hytemp 4454 and 3% DOA.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous changes, alterations and modifications to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.
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A method of making a batch of explosive molding powder including preparing a lacquer comprising an organic solvent, a binder and if required, a plasticizer; adding water to a kettle; adding explosive material to the kettle; adding the lacquer to the kettle; heating contents of the kettle to above 98 degrees C.; cooling the contents of the kettle to below about 55; separating the water from the explosive material; and drying the explosive material to form the explosive molding powder.
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STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
[0001] This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Contract Number W912HQ-10-C-0022 awarded by the U. S. Department of Defense. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.
TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of tin electroplating. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods for mitigating tin whisker formation on tin-plated films and tin-plated surfaces by doping the tin with germanium.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The worldwide transition to lead-free electronics is forcing most major suppliers of electronic components to convert their product lines from tin/lead-containing finishes to lead-free finishes. As a result, most electronics suppliers have moved to pure electroplated tin finishes. However, there is a tendency of electroplated pure tin finishes to form tin whiskers that extend a distance from the surface. Such tin whiskers have been found to form on a wide variety of tin-plated components, and under a wide range of environmental conditions. Since these tin whiskers are comprised of nearly pure tin and are therefore electrically conductive, they can cause problems, such as, for example, shorting of electronic components. Therefore the growth of tin whiskers from tin-plated surfaces continues to cause reliability and other problems for electronic systems that use components that are plated with tin. Undesirable effects on electronics attributable to tin whisker formation on tin-plated surfaces have caused significant customer dissatisfaction resulting in significant financial impact on the manufacturers of electronics. To date, the only way to ensure that tin whiskers do not grow within an electronic system is to eliminate pure tin from such a system. However, the increasing reliance on the use of tin and tin-plated components in the electronic industry makes this tin elimination strategy unworkable. One tin whisker mitigation strategy has been to immerse all tin-plated component leads into molten tin/lead, from the tip of the lead up to the component body. However, this process can undesirably affect the component and is expensive to implement into the manufacturing process.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] According to one variation, the present disclosure relates to a method for mitigating tin whisker growth on a substrate surface. A germanium-containing compound is dissolved to make a germanium-containing solution. Water and a complexing agent are then added to the germanium-containing solution. A water-soluble tin-containing compound is then added to the germanium-containing solution. An optional surfactant/leveling agent may be added before or after the tin-containing compound is added to the germanium-containing solution. Electrodes are immersed into the solution with the electrodes connected to an electrical power source capable of providing an electrical current. The power source is activated to provide the electrical current to the solution resulting in an amount of germanium and tin co-deposited onto the cathodic substrate surface. According to one variation, the cathodic substrate surface comprises copper, a commonly used material for electronic components such as, for example, leads. Preferably, the germanium and tin are co-deposited onto the substrate surface to a thickness from about 1 to about 10 microns, with an amount of from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent by weight germanium and 99.5 to about 95% be weight tin co-deposited on the substrate surface.
[0005] According to further variations, the germanium-containing compound is selected from the group including germanium dioxide, or other germanium-containing compound that can be solubilized into aqueous solutions, preferably alkaline solutions. Preferably, germanium dioxide is dissolved in a sodium hydroxide solution. According to a still further variation, the germanium-containing compound is provided to the solution directly as a salt, such as germanium fluoroborate, or other water-soluble germanium salt, and combinations thereof. It is understood that the tin-containing compound is added to the solution as a water-soluble salt, preferably tin (II) sulfate.
[0006] The present disclosure further relates to a method for mitigating tin whisker growth on a substrate surface comprising the steps of, dissolving an amount of a germanium-containing compound in a basic solution, (preferably germanium dioxide dissolved in a sodium hydroxide solution), adding an amount of water, preferably deionized water, to the germanium-containing compound in solution, adding a complexing agent (preferably d,l-tartaric acid), optionally adding a surfactant/leveling agent, and dissolving an amount of tin-containing compound (preferably tin (II) sulfate) into the germanium-containing solution. A tin-containing anodic electrode is immersed into the germanium-containing and tin-containing solution and a cathodic substrate surface is immersed into the germanium-containing and tin-containing solution. An electrical power source is provided to the anodic electrode and the cathodic substrate (acting as an electrode) comprising a cathodic substrate surface, and then activated to provide an electrical current to the electrodes, resulting in co-depositing an amount of germanium and tin onto the substrate surface. The systems, methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure could also be used and incorporated into systems and methods using a three electrode system with the third electrode being used as a reference electrode.
[0007] In a further variation, the present disclosure relates to a method for making an electroplating bath comprising the steps of dissolving an amount of a germanium-containing compound in a basic solution (preferably germanium dioxide in an amount of sodium hydroxide solution), adding an amount of water (preferably deionized water) to the germanium-containing solution, adding an amount complexing agent (preferably d,l-tartaric acid) to the germanium-containing solution, optionally adding a surfactant/leveling agent, and dissolving an amount of water-soluble tin-containing compound (preferably tin (II) sulfate) into the germanium-containing solution. In addition, the present disclosure contemplates an electroplating bath made according to the above method.
[0008] In a still further variation, the present disclosure relates to an electroplating bath comprising an amount of a germanium-containing compound in an aqueous solution (preferably germanium dioxide in an amount of sodium hydroxide solution), an amount of water added to the solution, an amount of complexing agent (preferably d,l-tartaric acid), an amount of optional surfactant/leveling agent, and an amount of tin-containing compound (preferably tin (II) sulfate).
[0009] Still further, the present disclosure relates to a coating for mitigating tin whisker growth by co-depositing an amount of a germanium and tin onto a substrate surface. According to a preferred variation, the germanium and tin are electro-deposited onto a substrate surface, preferably to a thickness of from about 1 micron to about 10 microns. Preferably, the substrate surface comprises copper, and the germanium is preferably co-deposited with the tin onto the substrate at a concentration of from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent germanium, and more preferably, from about 1 to about 2 weight percent germanium.
[0010] The present disclosure contemplates the described coatings as usefully coating any object, including, but in no way limited to, electronic components where it is desirable to mitigate the formation of tin whiskers by replacing a pure tin-containing surface with a tin and germanium plating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Having thus described variations of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0012] FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are flowcharts for processes of plating a coating comprising germanium and tin onto a substrate surface;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an electroplating bath for plating a germanium and tin coating onto a substrate surface;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for a process of plating a coating comprising pure tin onto a substrate surface;
[0015] FIGS. 4 and 5 are micro-photographs of tin whiskers growing from a pure tin-plated substrate surface;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a micro-photograph of a surface coated with a plating comprising germanium and tin;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an electronic component with leads oriented along the perimeter of the component body; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a further enlarged schematic representation of the leads shown in FIG. 7 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The present disclosure relates to the development of electroplated tin films that are doped with germanium to suppress the growth of tin whiskers from the plated substrate surface, as otherwise commonly occurs with tin-plated substrates. The addition to tin of amounts of germanium of from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent germanium has now been shown to significantly suppress undesired tin whisker growth.
[0020] FIG. 1 a shows a flow chart for one preferred electroplating method variation 10 a . An amount of germanium-containing compound was dissolved in an aqueous solution 12 a . An amount of water was added 14 a to the germanium-containing solution. An amount of complexing agent was added 16 a to the germanium solution. Optionally, an amount of surfactant/leveling agent 17 a was added to the germanium solution. An amount of water-soluble tin-containing compound was dissolved into solution and added to the germanium solution 18 a . The tin and germanium solution was then used to electroplate a substrate surface 19 a.
[0021] FIG. 1 b shows a flow chart for one preferred electroplating method variation 10 b . An amount of germanium-dioxide was dissolved in a sodium hydroxide solution 12 b . An amount of deionized water was added 14 b to the germanium-containing solution. An amount of d,l-tartaric acid was added 16 b to the germanium solution. Optionally, an amount of surfactant/leveling agent 17 b was added to the germanium solution. An amount of tin (II) sulfate was added to the germanium solution 18 b . The tin and germanium solution was then used to electroplate a substrate surface 19 b.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2 , an electroplating bath 20 comprises container 24 comprising a germanium- and tin-containing electrolyte solution 22 into which is suspended an anode 26 (e.g. a pure tin anode, a tin and germanium anode, etc.) and a cathode 28 (e.g. a copper or other metallic cathode, etc.).
Example 1
[0023] GeO 2 (99.98%, Aldrich) in an amount of 0.1479 g was dissolved in 2.086 g of 1N NaOH solution (Integra Chemical). The solids were ground with a Teflon rod until the solids dissolved. An amount of 6 ml of deionized water was added to the solution and stirred until a substantially clear and colorless solution was achieved. An amount of 0.3919 g of d,l-tartaric acid (99%, Alfa Aesar) was dissolved into the solution with stirring to obtain a substantially clear and colorless solution. The solution was then tested and found to have a pH of 2.28. A surfactant/leveling agent, Triton X-100 (Dow Chemical), in an amount of 0.0618 g in 20 ml of deionized water was added with stirring. Tin (II) sulfate (99.6%, Alfa Aesar) in an amount of 0.340 g was dissolved in the electrolyte solution to obtain a translucent, colorless solution. The electrolyte solution was then used to electroplate substrate surfaces. According to the present disclosure, germanium is co-deposited with tin onto a substrate surface in the electroplating solution in a preferred amount of from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent germanium, more preferably, from about 1 to about 2 weight percent germanium.
[0024] Plating was conducted using 30 ml of the GeO 2 /Sn electrolyte solution described immediately above at 18° C. in a 50 ml beaker with stirring. (See FIG. 2 , stirring not shown.). The anode was constructed from tin sheet (99.998%, Aldrich) and had a surface area of approximately 2 cm 2 . Two coupons were plated at a time. The two coupons were used as the cathode by connecting both of them together using an alligator clip. The two coupons had a total surface area of 2 cm 2 . Plating was conducted at 0.995 volts and 14 milliamps for 8 minutes to yield a light gray matte plated film on the coupons. The tin anode was cleaned using 500 grit SiC paper before each set of samples was plated.
[0025] The first and seventh germanium-doped tin films were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy. The ICP results are shown in Table 1, along with other properties of the tin and germanium platings and pure tin control platings.
[0000]
TABLE 1
ICP
Average
Analysis
ICP Analysis
Plating
Roughness
Roughness
Grain
Plated
(First
(Last
Thickness
as Plated
as Plated
Size
Grain
Film
Coupon)
Coupon)
(microns)
(Ra) (nm)
(TIR) (nm)
(microns)
Morphology
Sn
4.9
105
725
2.88
Columnar
SnGe
1.0% Ge
1.1% Ge
2.3-3.8
117
715
2.33
Columnar
[0026] Typically, the tin and germanium plated films were completely dissolved off the coupons using a mixture of 8 ml of 1:1 nitric acid and 4 mls of concentrated hydrochloric acid in a small beaker. This solution was then transferred to a 100 ml volumetric flask, diluted to volume with deionized water, and analyzed to confirm the presence of the elements of interest (Ge and Sn) in the plating by using an ICP spectrometer. The surface roughness of the plating was measured using a KLA-Tencor Alpha-Step 200 profilometer. The average surface roughness (Ra) and the maximum trough to peak roughness (TIR) were also measured (see Table 1).
[0027] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the method 30 for electroplating the pure tin-coated samples for use as comparative control samples. This was achieved using the method developed by Yun Zhang (described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,017). Triton X-100 (Dow Chemical) in an amount of 0.1259 g was dissolved in 80 ml of deionized water 32 . Methanesulfonic acid (70%) (Aldrich) in an amount of 20 ml was added 34 . Phenolphthalein solution (0.5%) (Aldrich) in an amount of 2.00 g was added drop wise while stirring 36 . Tin methanesulfonate solution (50%) (Aldrich) in an amount of 10 ml was added to the solution while stirring 38 . Plating was conducted using 30 ml of the above electrolyte solution held at 50° C. in a 50 ml glass beaker while stirring 39 . The anode was constructed from 99.998% tin sheet (Aldrich). Plating was performed at 0.045 V and 10.9 milliamps for 8 minutes to yield a gray satin plating.
[0028] Immediately after plating, the test specimens were put into a 50° C./50% relative humidity chamber in an effort to accelerate tin whisker formation and growth. Specimens plated with pure tin were also put into the test chamber for use as a control. At approximately 6 months, 12 months and 18 months, the test specimens were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The pure tin plated films had numerous nodules and whiskers growing from the surface. See FIG. 4 (3500× magnification after 12,000 hours of aging) and FIG. 5 (300× magnification after 12,000 hours of aging). In contrast, the germanium-doped tin plated films had zero whiskers develop across the 1 mm 2 area evaluated over the same 6 month, 12 month and 18 month evaluation periods. See FIG. 6 (1000× magnification after 12,000 hours of aging).
[0029] As shown in the Example above, various surfactants may be added to the electrolyte solution containing the germanium and tin. Preferred surfactants are non-ionic surfactants that act as leveling agents to help obtain a substantially uniform coating when plating onto a substrate. Preferred surfactants include Triton X-100, Igepal CA-630, Nonidet P-40, Conco NI, Dowfax 9N, Igepal CO, Makon, Neutronyx 600 series, Nonipol NO, Plytergent B, Renex 600 series, Solar NO, Sterox, Serfonic N, T-DET-N, Tergitol NP, Triton N, etc., with Triton X-100 being particularly preferred.
[0030] Without being bound to a particular theory, it is believed that the d,l-tartaric acid serves to complex the germanium ions and probably the tin ions in solution. In theory, two metals with different electromotive potentials cannot be practically plated at the same time. This limitation is usually overcome by chemically complexing one or both metals, which effectively brings their electromotive potentials closer together and allows them both to be plated/deposited at the same time. Other complexing agents that may work for the tin and germanium system include without limitation, citric acid, succinic acid, aspartic acid, EDTA, mannitol, or any organic compound with carboxylic acid groups, or other groups capable of complexing metal ions in solution, etc.
[0031] The germanium-doped tin coatings affected through the processes set forth in this disclosure are understood to be deposited onto a substrate of choice to a preferred thickness of from about 1 to about 50 microns, and more preferably to a thickness of from about 1 to about 10 microns, with a preferred germanium concentration of from about 0.5 to about 5% by weight, and more preferably from about 1 to about 2 weight percent. It is understood that the germanium may be present in concentrations in excess of 5%. However, the tin whisker mitigation observed during 18 months of observation was achieved with germanium concentrations of only about 1%. It is believed that excessive germanium concentrations could impact the economic feasibility of the disclosed methods and coatings, perhaps without offering enhanced performance relative to tin whisker mitigation. In addition, the germanium concentration must not interfere with the physical and chemical performance of the tin relative to, for example, soldering of the coated component, etc.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged schematic view of a representative electronic component having tin-plated leads. As shown, component 70 has tin-plated copper leads 72 about the periphery and extending from the body of component 70 . FIG. 8 is a further enlargement of a cross-sectional view of a tin-plated copper lead 72 showing the copper 74 coated by a tin electroplate 76 . It is understood that the electroplated coatings of the present disclosure will find utility relative to any and all electronic components and parts comprising copper or other metals where a tin coating would be required to make parts solderable, for example.
[0033] The examples presented herein contemplate use of the tin and germanium platings on objects including electronic components such as, for example, quad flat packs, plastic dual in-line packages (PDIPs), small-outline integrated circuits (SOICs), relays, etc., or as a plating for traces on printed circuit boards, etc. It is further contemplated that such electronic parts plated with the tin and germanium coatings of the present disclosure will find utility in any electronics systems used, for example, in any aircraft, spacecraft, terrestrial or non-terrestrial vehicles, as well as stationary structures and objects. A non-exhaustive list of contemplated vehicles include manned and unmanned aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, terrestrial, non-terrestrial and surface and sub-surface water-borne vehicles, etc.
[0034] While the preferred variations and alternatives of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes and substitutions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should only be limited by the accompanying claims and equivalents thereof.
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The present disclosure generally relates to the field of tin electroplating. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods for mitigating tin whisker formation on tin-plated films and tin-plated surfaces by doping the tin with germanium.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electric motor.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
A synchronous motor has inherent advantages over induction and DC motors. In a synchronous motor, the speed of the rotor is exactly proportional to the frequency of the system which supplies the synchronous motor with electrical power. Accordingly, the synchronous motor is further characterized by the fact that it runs at a constant speed (for constant supply frequency) at leading power factor and has low starting current. The efficiency of such a motor is generally higher than for other electric motor types.
An armature of a synchronous motor is generally built with one set of AC poly-phase distributed windings, usually on the stator or outer annular ring of the motor. As such, the field winding of the motor is usually found on the rotor, and typically consists of more than one pole pair. It is generally understood that the field poles are excited with direct current. The configuration and method of exciting the rotor field windings determines the type of synchronous motor. In general, a separate exciter, slip rings, and brushes are required.
The exciter, slip rings and brushes are eliminated in the synchronous induction motor which has a rotor designed with differing reluctance paths across the air gap separating the stator and rotor to facilitate in developing reluctance torque. There are no field windings on the rotor, and hence no excitation source is required. The stator armature windings are then powered directly from an AC supply line.
The induction motor is simple and cheap to manufacture but does not offer the performance of the synchronous motor. On the other hand, slip-ring synchronous motors are more complex and expensive because of the exciter, slip rings and brushes required for operation. This also increases maintenance requirements, whereas the induction motor is virtually maintenance free. Brush DC motors have similar drawbacks although they are easier to control and have excellent traction characteristics. The slip rings and brushes are eliminated in brushless synchronous motors but the AC brushless exciter configuration still means additional cost, space and complexity.
Permanent magnet synchronous motors appear to be the most attractive. However, the manufacture and high cost of high field strength permanent magnets, and the process of attaching these magnets to the rotor, especially for large machines, becomes an engineering challenge. The maximum field strength of permanent magnets is also limited by the current state of the art. The synchronous induction motor, although very simple in construction, is not very efficient and is generally much larger than a slip-ring synchronous motor for similar performance. In practice, synchronous induction motors have not found much use above a few kilowatts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an electric motor which includes
an armature having at least two armature windings arranged to form two respective armature phases;
a salient pole rotor arrangement within the armature which rotor is separated from the armature by an air gap, said rotor being shaped and configured so that the salient pole arrangement defines a higher and a lower magnetic reluctance path through said gap between the rotor and armature, and which rotor further includes field windings about the salient poles of the rotor which windings are configured to form at least one pole pair, said field windings terminating in a selective electrical switch which determines the electrical continuity of said field windings so that a reverse voltage bias imposed across the switch results in the field winding being open circuit; and
control means which is configured to regulate the magnetizing of the field winding by applying a voltage to the armature phase linked to the field winding via the lower reluctance path so that the energized armature phase in turn imposes a reverse voltage bias across the switch through induction, this reverse bias preventing the flow of current in the field winding but the applied voltage to the armature phase increasing magnetic flux density in the rotor, the control means thereafter removing said applied voltage once a predetermined flux density in the rotor is reached so that the removal of applied voltage induces a reversal of voltage to a forward voltage bias across the switch allowing current to flow in the field winding which current prevents the decay of the flux density in said rotor, and which control means is further configured to regulate the production of torque in the motor by applying a voltage to the other respective armature phase not responsible for energizing the field winding, so that, at any given moment, one armature phase is usable for magnetizing the field winding whilst the other phase is responsible for torque production.
It is to be appreciated that the selective switch in the field winding improves the efficiency of the motor by effectively capturing the magnetic flux density in the rotor when current is allowed to flow in the field winding. This no longer requires the armature winding to supply magnetizing current continuously as well as torque current, as is the case with, for example, existing induction motors.
It is further to be appreciated that the motor employs a switched mode flyback principle in order to magnetize the rotor.
The armature may include a plurality of packed slotted metal laminations to reduce eddy-currents in the armature. The rotor may include a plurality of packed slotted metal laminations to reduce eddy-currents in the rotor.
The selective switch may include a freewheeling diode. The selective switch may include a solid-state device, e.g. a transistor, a thyristor, or the like.
The control means may include a microprocessor. The control means may include electronic switches for controlling the energizing of the armature phases. The electronic switches may include transistors. Accordingly, the electronic switches may be arranged in an H-bridge arrangement.
The control means may include sensors for sensing the position of the rotor relative to the armature phases so as to regulate the energizing of the phases at the correct instances.
The control means may be configured to determine the position of the rotor from armature phase current and voltage characteristics.
The control means may regulate the flux density in the rotor depending on the speed of the motor, e.g. at high speed the magnetization of the field winding need only be topped up every few revolutions of the rotor, whereas at low speed the field winding may require topping up multiple times during one revolution of the rotor.
The control means may be configured to control the motor as a generator under suitable circumstances.
An armature phase may be dedicated to magnetizing the field winding. Accordingly, an armature phase may be dedicated to torque production in the motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
FIG. 1 shows, in radial cross-sectional view, an electric motor, in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 shows, in axial cross-sectional view, the electric motor of FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 3 shows, in schematic view, a circuit diagram representing an armature phase interaction with the field winding through the lower magnetic reluctance path;
FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show, in radial cross-sectional view, the rotor of the motor in different positions relative to the armature;
FIG. 5 shows graphs of the current and flux density of the different field and armature windings during operation of the motor shown in FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 6 shows, in schematic view, one embodiment of the control means;
FIG. 7 shows, in radial cross-sectional view, a further embodiment of the motor; and
FIG. 8 shows graphs of the armature winding currents during operation of the motor shown in FIG. 7 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to the accompanying drawings, an electric motor, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 .
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer member of the motor 10 consists of packed slotted steel laminations 11 for holding the armature windings 12 , which together constitute the stator 13 . The armature windings 12 are further divided into two separate windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 constituting two separate phases.
Similarly, the inner member consists of packed steel laminations 15 relatively fixed to a drive shaft 16 with a field winding 17 terminating in the selective switch being a freewheeling diode or rectifier 18 in this embodiment which collectively constitute the rotor 14 being able to rotate relative to the stator 13 .
It is to be appreciated that, for the purposes of explanation, a reference coordinate system d-q is shown on FIG. 1 . This coordinate system is rotatively associated or referenced to the rotor 14 . Regarding the salient pole arrangement of the rotor 14 , the air gap in the direct axis d is much smaller than the air gap in the quadrature axis q.
The reluctance of the magnetic circuit along the q axis is thus much greater than the reluctance along the d axis. This is an important feature of the invention and is integral to its mode of operation. The higher reluctance in the q axis reduces the magnetic coupling of the torque producing armature phase with the rotor 14 , which is desirable. The larger air gap along the q axis also provides space for the field winding 17 resulting in the salient pole structure.
It is to be appreciated that the invention generally requires the rotor 14 to be of a salient pole nature. The shape of the laminations 15 are similar to that of a reluctance motor (not shown), but the motor 10 does not operate on reluctance torque; the action of the field winding 17 and diode 18 combination are directly involved in the production of torque.
In the embodiment shown, the rotor 14 has one pole pair, but in other embodiments, the rotor may be constructed with multiple pole pairs. Similarly, the stator 13 may be constructed with more than two phases in further embodiments.
Referring now to the position of the rotor 14 relative to the armature phase windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 in FIG. 1 . One novel aspect of the invention is the method by which the rotor 14 pole pair is magnetized, i.e. the method by which the field winding 17 is excited. Ignoring the action of the field winding 17 for the moment; current applied to the armature phase 12 . 1 will produce a magnetic field in the direction of the q axis. Similarly, current applied to the armature phase 12 . 2 will produce a magnetic field in the direction of the d axis. The magnetic field in the d axis will be many times larger than that in the q axis due to the much larger reluctance in the q axis.
In operation, either stationary or rotating, by correct timing and switching of the armature phases 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 the magnetic field excitation of the rotor 14 will be kept at a maximum along the d axis and a minimum along the q axis (essentially zero).
When the armature phase winding 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 centre axis is aligned with the rotor 14 direct axis d, then the particular armature winding is strongly coupled to the field winding 17 . Similarly, when the armature phase winding 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 centre axis is aligned with the rotor 14 quadrature axis q, then the particular armature winding is weakly coupled to the field winding 17 .
FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a transformer representation 20 of the armature winding 12 . 2 strongly coupled to the field winding 17 terminated in the diode 18 . The armature winding 12 . 2 serves as the primary of the transformer 20 , and the field winding 17 serves as the secondary of the transformer 20 . It is to be appreciated that the transformer representation 20 is only valid when the centre axis of the armature phase winding 12 . 2 is aligned with the rotor direct axis d, i.e. strongly coupled. When the armature winding 12 . 2 is in quadrature to the field winding 17 , there is no transformer action due to the respective windings' central axis being perpendicular to one another.
As is convention, the black dots 21 . 1 and 21 . 2 indicate the “same” polarity of the respective windings. There are two positions of the rotor 14 in one full cycle of rotation when the armature phase 12 . 2 centre axis aligns with the rotor d axis.
In a first position, with the switch 22 closed so that positive voltage is applied to the primary 12 . 2 , the diode 18 will be reverse biased as shown in FIG. 3 . In a second position, the rotor 14 being 180° rotated with positive voltage applied to the primary 12 . 2 , the diode 18 will be forward biased (not shown).
Considering the first position, the switch 22 is closed thus applying a positive voltage to the primary winding 12 . 2 . A voltage is induced in the secondary 17 which applies a reverse bias to the diode 18 preventing current from flowing in the secondary winding 17 . However, the magnetizing current in the primary winding 12 . 2 and, hence, the magnetic flux density in the rotor laminations 15 will increase or ramp up from zero, according to:
v=L·di/dt (1)
di=dt·v/L (2)
where:
v is the applied voltage in volts (V) L is the primary inductance in Henrys (H) di is the change in current in amps (A) dt is the change in time in seconds (s)
The switch 22 is opened when the magnetic flux density reaches the predetermined or desired value. This interrupts the primary current which must decrease to zero—the rate of change of the current di/dt is therefore negative and from equation (1) the voltage across the primary winding becomes negative.
Accordingly, the secondary winding 17 also experiences a voltage reversal through induction, causing the diode 18 to become forward biased and conducting. The current thus caused to flow in the secondary winding 17 will be proportional to the magnetic flux density created in the core laminations 15 by the primary winding 12 . 2 in the first place. The current in the rotor field windings 17 effectively captures the magnetic flux density in the core laminations 15 .
It is to be appreciated that the voltage impressed across the secondary winding 17 by the diode 18 forward voltage is much lower than the voltage initially applied across the primary 12 . 2 . From equation (1), this means that the decay rate of the secondary 17 current di/dt and hence the decay of the magnetic flux density is much slower than the ramp rate of the primary 12 . 2 current, and hence the ramp rate of the magnetic flux density.
As such, the decay time of the field magnetization can be designed to be orders of magnitude longer than the ramp time by the correct choice of applied voltage, and primary to secondary turns ratio. For example, a typical applied voltage may be 300 V and diode forward voltage may be 1V, and accounting for the turns ratio, once the rotor field is at maximum magnetization it only needs to be charged for 50 us every 15 ms, say, to maintain the field strength within 10% of its maximum.
Considering now then only the magnetization of the rotor 14 of FIG. 1 (and not torque production) with the rotor 14 rotating at speed relative to the stator 13 . The control means or power-drive-electronics (not shown) briefly applies the correct polarity voltage to the particular armature phase 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 whenever the rotor 14 direct axis d (with the correct polarity of diode, 18 ) aligns momentarily with, in passing, the phase 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 centre axis to give the rotor 14 a magnetic “charge”.
At start up, the magnetic “charge” time will be ten times longer, say, than the running top up “charge” time, in order to get the rotor 14 magnetic field up to its maximum value initially. When running at high speed the rotor 14 magnetization may only need topping up every few cycles whereas at very low speed it may need topping up a few times per cycle.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a diode 18 is used as the switching element in the rotor winding 17 . It is however to be appreciated that any type of switching element that is suitably synchronized to the switching of the armature phase windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 may be used, e.g. transistor, thyristor, MOSFETs, and/or the like.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a similar principle to that described above is employed in the operation of a flyback transformer in a switched mode power supply. However, in the flyback transformer, energy is continuously transferred from the primary winding to a fixed secondary winding connected to a resistive load, whereas in the motor 10 the flyback principle is used to maintain the magnetic flux density in a relative, rotating rotor.
Let us now consider torque production in the motor 10 . The force exerted on a current carrying conductor in and perpendicular to a magnetic field is given by the Lorentz force equation:
F=I·i·B (3)
Where:
F is the force in Newtons, N. I is the conductor length in metres, m. i is the current in the conductor in amps, A. B is the magnetic flux density in Tesla, T.
And the torque in a motor would be given by;
T = F · r = l · i · B · r ( From ( 3 ) ) ( 4 )
Where:
r is the rotor radius. T is the torque in N·m. F is the force in Newtons, N.
Referring to FIG. 1 , assume that the rotor 14 is fully magnetized. The magnetic flux lines 19 passing azimuthally through the stator core 13 do not cross the conductors of the armature phase 12 . 2 and hence these conductors experience no force. The conductors of armature phase 12 . 1 however, are perpendicular to, and lie directly in, the magnetic flux lines 19 crossing from the stator 15 to the rotor 14 across the air gap and thus experience a torque according to equation (4).
Since the conductors of the armature phase winding 12 . 1 are fixed in the stator 13 and since the rotor 14 in turn experiences an opposite reaction, the rotor 14 will experience the resultant torque and motion. Thus torque is produced in the rotor 14 by current flowing in the stator conductors 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 that are located in the smaller, or d axis, air gap.
In operation, both the armature phases 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 will alternately produce torque and magnetizing charge as the motor rotates. The torque producing current will be applied for a large portion of the rotor cycle whereas magnetization will be a fraction of the time. Microprocessor controlled power transistors, with suitable position detection of the rotor 14 , and armature phase current feedback, can accomplish the required timing and current control between the phases.
The angular position of the rotor 14 can be determined directly through sensing elements mounted on the rotor 14 and feedback circuits. Otherwise, the position can be indirectly determined from the voltage and current characteristics of the armature windings since these are affected by the variable reluctance presented by the rotor 14 dependent on its angular position (due to the difference in air gap in the direct and quadrature axis).
In other words, in a first rotor position shown in FIG. 4 a , armature phase winding 12 . 1 produces torque when carrying current while at the same time armature phase winding 12 . 2 charges up the magnetic field in the rotor 14 . Similarly, in a second rotor position shown in FIG. 4 b , the roles are reversed and armature phase winding 12 . 2 produces torque while armature phase winding 12 . 1 charges up the magnetic field in the rotor 14 .
Graphs showing the currents I 12.1 , I 12.2 , and I 17 for the armature phase windings 12 . 1 , 12 . 2 , and the rotor field winding 17 , respectively, and the rotor 14 magnetic flux density B 14 verses time over one full cycle of rotation are given in FIG. 5 , for a particular direction of rotation. The armature phase current I 12.1 and I 12.2 waveforms consist of two torque producing segments and two magnetizing pulses in a full cycle, as indicated.
It is to be appreciated that the direction of rotation of the rotor 14 is easily reversed by changing the polarity of one of the armature phase currents, I 12.1 or I 12.2 , or simply by swapping the timing sequence of I 12.1 and I 12.2 .
The motor 10 will operate as a generator by reversing the polarity of the armature phase current I 12.1 and I 12.2 torque producing segments, but with the same timing and polarity of the magnetizing current pulse as they are shown in FIG. 5 .
Whether motoring or generating, in forward or reverse direction, the timing of the currents are synchronized to the rotor 14 position.
An electronic circuit for the control means for driving the motor 10 is shown in FIG. 6 . A schematic representation of the motor 10 is included showing the armature windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 ; the rotor 14 , the rotor field winding 17 , and the free wheeling diode 18 .
In the embodiment shown, a DC power source (not shown) supplies the main DC bus 45 . 1 and 45 . 2 for the motor 10 . An “H-bridge” arrangement of MOSFET transistors 40 . 1 , 40 . 2 , 40 . 3 , 40 . 4 is used to switch the required current to the armature phase winding 12 . 1 and an “H-bridge” arrangement of MOSFET transistors 42 . 1 , 42 . 2 , 42 . 3 , 42 . 4 is used to switch the required current to the armature phase winding 12 . 2 .
This allows either phase to be independently controlled, for positive and negative current polarity and, through the employment of pulse width modulation, independent control of the current magnitudes.
A microprocessor 52 controls the switching of the MOSFETs via a MOSFET driver interface 50 , and hence directly controls the timing, magnitude, and polarity of the currents I 12.1 , I 12.2 and I 17 . Current sensor elements 41 . 1 , 41 . 2 , 41 . 3 , 41 . 4 provide feedback signals to the microprocessor 52 , via an analog to digital converter 54 , for current magnitude control.
The position of the rotor 14 relative to the stator 13 is required for the microprocessor to control the phase currents, I 12.1 and I 12.2 and rotor field current I 17 , in magnitude and timing, according to FIG. 5 . An example of a rotor position detecting means is shown by use of a disc 30 rotatively fixed to the rotor 14 ; and four optically reflective sensors 31 . 1 , 31 . 2 , 31 . 3 , 31 . 4 fixed relative to the stator of the motor. The disc 30 has a 90° segment reflectively coloured (white) as shown, with the remaining 270° segment being non-reflective.
The signals from the optical sensors 31 . 1 , 31 . 2 , 31 . 3 , 31 . 4 are returned to the microprocessor 52 via a buffer, or signal conditioning element 56 . With the disc 30 positioned as shown with the white, reflective element under optical sensor 31 . 2 , the signal returned by optical sensor 31 . 2 would be a digital “1” for example, and the signals returned by the remaining sensors 31 . 1 , 31 . 3 , 31 . 4 would be a digital “0”. The microprocessor 52 thus controls the current applied to the armature phase windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 in accordance with FIG. 5 synchronized to the rotor 14 position, determined by the digital combinations returned by the optical sensors 31 .
Other detection means may also be employed, such as magnetically coupled position detection, direct slide contact switches, commutator, or the like.
In a preferred embodiment, the microprocessor 52 monitors the state of switches and a variable resistor included in the user interface panel 58 to start, stop, or change direction of the motor. Upon starting the motor 10 , the rotor 14 is initially completely unmagnetized, i.e. no current I 17 flows through the field winding 17 and free wheeling diode 18 .
As such, the rotor 14 must first be fully magnetized or “charged” by whichever is strongly coupled of the armature windings 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 to the rotor field winding 17 (as per FIG. 3 and its corresponding description). The microprocessor 52 determines the orientation of the rotor 14 with respect to the armature windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 from the signals obtained from sensors 31 and selects the winding 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 which is strongly coupled to the rotor field 17 and determines the required current direction. The microprocessor 52 switches on the required MOSFET transistor pair from the two “H-bridges” 40 and 42 to charge up the magnetic flux density B 14 in the rotor 14 to the required value.
The rotor 14 remains stationary during this process. Once the magnetic flux density has reached the required value, the active or charging armature winding of 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 is switched off. The previously idle armature winding of 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 is then switched on to produce torque. If there is a reasonable or light load coupled to the motor 10 it will accelerate up to speed and the timing and control of currents will resemble those shown in FIG. 5 . However if the load is too large for the motor 10 , i.e. locked rotor 14 , or a high inertia load, the first armature winding of 12 . 1 or 12 . 2 will have to keep topping up the rotor 14 magnetic flux density B 14 , while the second winding will have to keep supplying driving or torque current continuously until the rotor 14 begins turning whereupon the two armature windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 will begin alternately supplying torque current and magnetizing current according to the rotor 14 position.
The above general description and mechanicals, windings and electronics are the preferred embodiment of the invention. A second embodiment could be implemented with armature windings 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 being always torque-producing windings, with additional windings 12 . 3 and 12 . 4 located in the stator being always magnetizing windings. A schematic of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 , and the corresponding current graphs are shown in FIG. 8 .
The graphs in FIG. 5 are an example of possible armature currents I 12.1 and I 12.2 wave-shapes and timing. The torque producing current portions are shown as constant values for a quarter of a cycle, or 900 of mechanical angle of the rotor 14 , for simplicity. These wave-shapes may be modified to optimize torque and reduce harmonics e.g. stepped, sinusoidal, or the like.
The magnetizing current pulse portion of the armature currents I 12.1 and I 12.2 may have a much larger magnitude than the torque producing portion but the pulse width will be a hundred times, or more, narrower resulting in an average or RMS value of magnetizing current far less than the average or RMS value of torque current.
For example, the magnetizing pulse RMS value may be only 0.5 A for an RMS torque current value of 10 A. The magnetizing pulse current therefore produces very little heating losses in the stator windings 12 compared to the torque producing current. The major portion of magnetizing losses occurs in the rotor windings 17 , since the rotor field winding current I 17 is very nearly continuous at a reasonable value.
It is to be appreciated that the maximum magnetization current in an induction motor is generally limited by the current carrying capacity of the stator windings and harmonic distortion of the sinusoidal magnetizing current when approaching magnetic saturation. The maximum magnetization of a permanent magnet motor is limited by the current state of the art concerning magnet production.
The motor 10 herein described does not suffer from these drawbacks and a much higher magnetization of the rotor and higher torque current is obtained, at comparable efficiencies, resulting in higher power density and torque for similar sized motors.
The overall efficiency of the motor 10 can be dynamically optimized by keeping the rotor 14 's copper losses equal to the stator 13 's copper losses. The microprocessor 52 can adjust the magnitudes of torque current and magnetizing current for optimum efficiency, over the full speed range and variable loading.
It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.
The Inventor regards it as an advantage that the motor has overall performance exceeding that of the synchronous motor, induction motor and brush or brushless DC motor, whilst incorporating the simplicity and cost effective manufacturability of the induction motor.
The Inventor regards it as a further advantage that the motor has a higher power density and efficiency compared with all other motor types. The Inventor regards it as a yet further advantage that the motor has high starting torque for low starting current which finds particular application in traction applications.
The Inventor also regards it as an advantage that dynamic speed and torque control at optimal efficiency over the full load range, with full four-quadrant operation (motoring, generating, forward and reverse), is simple to implement.
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An electric motor ( 10 ) which includes an armature ( 11 ) with at least two armature phase pair windings ( 12 ) and salient pole rotor arrangement ( 15 ) having field windings ( 17 ) terminating in a selective electrical switch which determines the electrical continuity of said field windings ( 17 ). Also included is control means which is configured to regulate the magnetizing of the field winding ( 17 ) so that, at any given moment, one armature phase pair is usable for magnetizing the field winding while the other pair is responsible for torque production.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention pertains to the field of image resizing, and more particularly to a method for image down-sampling wherein single pixel width details in the input digital image are preserved.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Image resizing is an operation that is used in many different digital image processing chains. Often digital output devices such as printers and softcopy displays require digital images of a particular image resolution. When it is desired to display digital images having a different resolution, it is necessary to use an image resizing operation to produce an image of the desired resolution. For example, a particular printer may be designed to print 600 dpi images. To print a 200 dpi input image, it would be necessary to resize the image by up-sampling the image by a factor of 3×. In other cases, it may be necessary to down-sample the image when the input image has a higher resolution than the printer requires.
[0003] Another application where image resizing can be required is when images need to be stored in a limited amount of memory, or sent across a communication link having a limited amount of bandwidth. In this ease, high resolution images are down-sampled to create smaller images having a lower resolution.
[0004] FIG. 1 shows an example of a system 100 for printing images where image resizing is typically applied. The system 100 has two components: a host device 101 , and a printer 102 , connected by a communication link 110 . The host device 101 could, for example, be a personal computer connected to the printer using a USB cable. Alternately, the host device 101 could be some other device such as a digital camera that can communicate directly with the printer 102 using a wireless connection, such as a wireless connection using the well-known Bluetooth protocol.
[0005] The host device 101 performs host device processing 106 to process an input digital image 104 to produce a processed digital image 108 . For the example where the host device 101 is a personal computer, the host device processing 106 would typically occur in a printer driver. Conventionally, printer drivers will receive the input digital image 104 from a host application using standard operating system interfaces. Generally, the printer driver would receive input digital images 104 having a specific image resolution (e.g., 600 dpi). The input digital image 104 may be a photographic image, or alternately may be some other form of digital image, such as documents containing text and graphics.
[0006] The host device processing 106 can perform a variety of different image processing operations depending on the requirements of the particular printer 102 . Examples of such image processing operations would include color correction, sharpening, halftoning and resizing. Typically, the printer 102 may require that the host device 101 supply digital image data of a particular resolution. The required resolution may correspond to the native resolution of the printer 102 , or may correspond to a resolution that will enable the printer to receive the image data at a sufficient speed to support the printer's optimum throughput. For example, if the printer is specified to print a certain number of pages per minute in a draft printing mode, the image data must be supplied to the printer at that rate. In this case, it may be necessary to limit the resolution of the image data being sent to the printer in order to achieve the required speed, particularly when using low bandwidth communication links such as wireless links. Therefore, it will often be necessary for the host device processing 106 to down-sample the image using a resizing operation.
[0007] The printer 102 receives the processed digital image 108 from the host device 101 via the communication link 110 . The printer 102 applies printer processing 112 to produce a print-ready digital image 114 . The printer processing could include a wide variety of image processing operations including color correction, resizing, sharpening, halftoning, and swath generation. The print-ready digital image 114 is then passed to a printer engine 116 to produce the output printed image 118 .
[0008] Consider the case where the host device 101 receives an input digital image 104 having a 600 dpi resolution, but the printer 102 requires that the host device 101 supply a processed digital image 108 having a 300 dpi resolution. In this case, the host device processing must apply a resizing operation that applies a 2× down-sampling of the image data. The down-sampling operation can sometimes result in a loss of image quality. This is particularly true when the input digital image 104 contains fine details, such as single pixel width lines.
[0009] FIG. 2A shows an example of a grayscale input digital image 120 having a pair of crossed single pixel width lines. The input digital image 120 has a background comprised of white pixels 122 having an 8-bit code value of 255. The single pixel width lines are shown as black pixels 124 having an 8-bit code value of 0.
[0010] One common algorithm that is used in many resizing operations is cubic interpolation. With this method, interpolated pixels are determined by performing a weighted average of pixel values for a neighborhood of input pixels. Some resizing algorithms employ a bicubic interpolation algorithm which considers a 2-dimensional neighborhood of pixels. In other implementations a 1-dimensional cubic interpolation algorithm is first applied to the image rows to resize the digital image in one direction, and then subsequently applied to the image columns to resize the digital image in the other direction.
[0011] FIG. 2B illustrates the use of a cubic interpolation algorithm to apply a 2× down-sampling operation to one row of image pixels 130 from the input digital image 120 shown in FIG. 2A . To compute a particular output pixel value 136 B, the cubic interpolation algorithm computes a weighted summation of the input pixels values for a pixel neighborhood 131 . A set of weighting factors 132 is used to weight the pixel values in the pixel neighborhood 131 to produce weighted pixel values 134 . The weighted pixel values 134 are then added together to produce the corresponding output pixel value 136 B. In FIGS. 2C-2E the same cubic interpolation algorithm is applied to produce output pixel values 136 C, 136 D and 136 E using corresponding pixel neighborhoods 131 .
[0012] FIG. 2F illustrates a down-sampled digital image 140 determined by applying the cubic interpolation algorithm just described to each row and then to each column of the input digital image 120 . It can be seen that the pixel values for down-sampled line pixels 141 are no longer black, but rather correspond to light gray pixel values. This represents a significant loss of image quality relative to the input digital image 120 , because the visibility of the single pixel width details will be substantially reduced.
[0013] Consider the case where this approach is used by the host device processing 106 in the system 100 of FIG. 1 to produce a 300 dpi processed digital image 108 , which is passed to the printer 102 via the communication link 110 . If the printer engine 116 has a native resolution of 600 dpi, the printer processing 112 must then apply a resizing algorithm to perform a 2× up-sampling operation. One common resizing algorithm that is used for up-sampling operations is pixel-replication (also known as nearest-neighbor interpolation). FIG. 2G shows a pixel-replicated digital image 142 produced by applying pixel replication to the down-sampled digital image 140 . Comparing the pixel-replicated digital image 142 to the input digital image 120 reveals that the pixel-replicated line pixels 143 have a much lower density than the original black line in the input digital image 120 . Thus the printed image 118 will suffer from significant image quality degradation due to the round-trip 2× down-sampling/2× up-sampling operations.
[0014] A number of resizing algorithms have been developed to try to address the loss of image quality that is associated with down-sampling images having fine details.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,682 to Pawlicki et al., entitled “Method for resizing of a digital image,” discloses a method in which interpolation weights are determined based on local image derivative values, thereby producing images having improved continuity and sharpness characteristics.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,816,166 to Shimizu et al., entitled “Image conversion method, image processing apparatus, and image display apparatus,” discloses a method in which a linear interpolation algorithm and a nonlinear interpolation algorithm are applied to an input digital image. Weighting values are determined as a function of the image content for the input digital image, and are used to combine the two interpolated images.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,009 to Shezaf et al., entitled “Method and apparatus for improved image interpolation,” discloses a method for up-sampling images where an interpolation formula is changed depending on local image gradient values.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,390 to Atkins, entitled “System and method for scaling and enhancing color text images,” discloses a method for up-sampling text images wherein super-pixels are selected for the output image by applying a template matching algorithm to local image neighborhoods to identify characteristic image patterns.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 7,149,369 to Atkins, entitled “Method and system image scaling,” discloses an image resizing algorithm wherein different interpolation filters are used depending on edge characteristics determined for a local pixel neighborhood.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,278 to Long et al., entitled “4×4 pixel-based edge detection and edge enhancement without line buffer overhead,” discloses a method for up-sampling images wherein a rotated interpolation filter is used when diagonal edges are detected.
[0021] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0172152 to Altunbasak et al., entitled “Method and apparatus for adjusting the resolution of a digital image,” discloses an image resizing method where interpolation filters are updated based on iteratively applying a classifier to the image pixels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention represents a method for resizing an input digital image having input pixel values to produce an output digital image having output pixel values, wherein the output digital image has a lower resolution and wherein single pixel width details in the input digital image are preserved, the method being performed by a processor and comprising:
[0023] a) determining an output pixel value for the output digital image by interpolating within a corresponding neighborhood of image pixels in the input digital image;
[0024] b) detecting whether the input digital image contains a fine detail within the corresponding neighborhood of image pixels;
[0025] c) adjusting the output pixel value when a fine detail is detected; and
[0026] d) repeating steps a)-c) for a plurality of output pixels.
[0027] This invention has the advantage that the appearance of fine details is preserved in down-sampled images.
[0028] It has the additional advantage that down-sampled images can be transmitted to a printer across a communication link having a low bandwidth without suffering a significant loss of fine details in prints created from the down-sampled image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art system for printing images;
[0030] FIG. 2A shows an example input digital image;
[0031] FIGS. 2B , 2 C, 2 D and 2 E illustrate computing interpolated pixel values using a prior art cubic interpolation algorithm;
[0032] FIG. 2F illustrates a down-sampled image created using a prior art cubic interpolation algorithm;
[0033] FIG. 2G illustrates a pixel-replicated image created from the down-sampled image of FIG. 2F ;
[0034] FIG. 3 is high-level diagram showing the components of a system for determining a resized image according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates a cubic interpolation algorithm that can be used in accordance with the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 6A illustrates a down-sampled digital image created using one embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 6B illustrates a pixel-replicated image created from the down-sampled image of FIG. 6A ;
[0039] FIG. 7A illustrates a down-sampled digital image created using an alternate embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 7B illustrates a pixel-replicated image created from the down-sampled image of FIG. 7A ;
[0041] FIG. 8A illustrates a down-sampled digital image created using an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and
[0042] FIG. 8B illustrates a pixel-replicated image created from the down-sampled image of FIG. 8A .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0043] In the following description, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in terms that would ordinarily be implemented as software programs. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the equivalent of such software may also be constructed in hardware. Because image manipulation algorithms and systems are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to algorithms and systems forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, the method in accordance with the present invention. Other aspects of such algorithms and systems, together with hardware and software for producing and otherwise processing the image signals involved therewith, not specifically shown or described herein may be selected from such systems, algorithms, components, and elements known in the art. Given the system as described according to the invention in the following, software not specifically shown, suggested, or described herein that is useful for implementation of the invention is conventional and within the ordinary skill in such arts.
[0044] The invention is inclusive of combinations of the embodiments described herein. References to “a particular embodiment” and the like refer to features that are present in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to “an embodiment” or “particular embodiments” or the like do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or embodiments; however, such embodiments are not mutually exclusive, unless so indicated or as are readily apparent to one of skill in the art. The use of singular or plural in referring to the “method” or “methods” and the like is not limiting. It should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly noted or required by context, the word “or” is used in this disclosure in a non-exclusive sense.
[0045] The phrase, “digital image file”, as used herein, refers to any digital image file, such as a digital still image or a digital video file.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a high-level diagram showing the components of a system for resizing an image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a data processing system 310 , a peripheral system 320 , a user interface system 330 , and a data storage system 340 . The peripheral system 320 , the user interface system 330 and the data storage system 340 are communicatively connected to the data processing system 310 .
[0047] The data processing system 310 includes one or more data processing devices that implement the processes of the various embodiments of the present invention, including the example processes described herein. The phrases “data processing device” or “data processor” are intended to include any data processing device, such as a central processing unit (“CPU”), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mainframe computer, a personal digital assistant, a Blackberry™, a digital camera, cellular phone, or any other device for processing data, managing data, or handling data, whether implemented with electrical, magnetic, optical, biological components, or otherwise.
[0048] The data storage system 340 includes one or more processor-accessible memories configured to store information, including the information needed to execute the processes of the various embodiments of the present invention, including the example processes described herein. The data storage system 340 may be a distributed processor-accessible memory system including multiple processor-accessible memories communicatively connected to the data processing system 310 via a plurality of computers or devices. On the other hand, the data storage system 340 need not be a distributed processor-accessible memory system and, consequently, may include one or more processor-accessible memories located within a single data processor or device.
[0049] The phrase “processor-accessible memory” is intended to include any processor-accessible data storage device, whether volatile or nonvolatile, electronic, magnetic, optical, or otherwise, including but not limited to, registers, floppy disks, hard disks, Compact Discs, DVDs, flash memories, ROMs, and RAMs.
[0050] The phrase “communicatively connected” is intended to include any type of connection, whether wired or wireless, between devices, data processors, or programs in which data may be communicated. The phrase “communicatively connected” is intended to include a connection between devices or programs within a single data processor, a connection between devices or programs located in different data processors, and a connection between devices not located in data processors at all. In this regard, although the data storage system 340 is shown separately from the data processing system 310 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that the data storage system 340 may be stored completely or partially within the data processing system 310 . Further in this regard, although the peripheral system 320 and the user interface system 330 are shown separately from the data processing system 310 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that one or both of such systems may be stored completely or partially within the data processing system 310 .
[0051] The peripheral system 320 may include one or more devices configured to provide digital content records to the data processing system 310 . For example, the peripheral system 320 may include digital still cameras, digital video cameras, cellular phones, or other data processors. The data processing system 310 , upon receipt of digital content records from a device in the peripheral system 320 , may store such digital content records in the data storage system 340 .
[0052] The user interface system 330 may include a mouse, a keyboard, another computer, or any device or combination of devices from which data is input to the data processing system 310 . In this regard, although the peripheral system 320 is shown separately from the user interface system 330 , the peripheral system 320 may be included as part of the user interface system 330 .
[0053] The user interface system 330 also may include a display device, a processor-accessible memory, or any device or combination of devices to which data is output by the data processing system 310 . In this regard, if the user interface system 330 includes a processor-accessible memory, such memory may be part of the data storage system 340 even though the user interface system 330 and the data storage system 340 are shown separately in FIG. 3 .
[0054] The present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 4 . An interpolation step 402 is used to determine an output pixel value 404 from a corresponding pixel neighborhood of an input digital image 400 . The interpolation step 402 can use any interpolation method known to those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interpolation step 402 utilizes the well-known one-dimensional cubic interpolation algorithm to first down-sample the rows of the input digital image 400 . The cubic interpolation algorithm is then applied a second time to down-sample the image columns.
[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates how a cubic interpolation algorithm can be used to process a row of input image pixels 500 . To compute an output pixel value 508 (D), a corresponding pixel neighborhood 502 from the row of input image pixels 500 is identified. In this example, the pixel neighborhood 502 comprises 4 pixels having pixel values P i . A set of weighting factors 504 (W i ) is then used to scale the pixel values to determine weighted pixel values 506 (d i =W i ×P i ). Finally, the weighted pixel values 506 are summed to determine the output pixel value 508 . This can be represented in equation form as:
[0000]
D
=
∑
i
=
1
4
W
i
P
i
.
(
1
)
[0000] The exact values of the weights will vary depending on the down-sampling factor. For a 2× down-sampling factor, weighting factors of W 1 =W 4 =0.17 and W 2 =W 3 =0.33 can be used.
[0056] Returning now to a discussion of FIG. 4 , in alternate embodiments of the present invention other interpolation algorithms can be used by the interpolation step 402 . Examples of well known interpolation algorithms would include bicubic and bilinear interpolation algorithms.
[0057] Next, a detail detection step 406 is used to analyze the input digital image to determine a detail status 408 , which is an indication of whether the corresponding pixel neighborhood in the input digital image 400 contains fine details. The detail detection step 406 can use any method known to one skilled in the art to detect image details.
[0058] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the fine details are single pixel width details, and the single pixel width details are detected by determining whether an input pixel value differs by more than a specified threshold from the input pixel values of adjacent input pixels within the neighborhood of input pixels. With respect to the pixel neighborhood 502 of FIG. 5 , one means for detecting single pixel width details is to use the following test:
[0000]
DetailStatus
=
{
TRUE
;
(
(
(
P
1
-
P
2
)
>
T
)
AND
(
(
P
3
-
P
2
)
>
T
)
)
OR
(
(
(
P
2
-
P
3
)
>
T
)
AND
(
(
P
4
-
P
3
)
>
T
)
)
FALSE
;
Otherwise
(
2
)
[0000] where T is a threshold value, AND is a logical “and” operation, OR is a logical “or” operation and DetailStatus is a variable representing the detail status 408 . It can be seen that the effect of this test is to identify cases where either the P2 or the P3 input pixel value is darker than both of its immediate neighbors by more than the threshold value. In this way, pixel neighborhoods containing single pixel width dark vertical details (e.g., vertical lines) on a light background are identified.
[0059] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an absolute value operation can be applied to the pixel differences in Eq. (2) before they are compared to the threshold value:
[0000]
DetailStatus
=
{
TRUE
;
(
(
P
1
-
P
2
>
T
)
AND
(
P
3
-
P
2
>
T
)
)
OR
(
(
P
2
-
P
3
>
T
)
AND
(
P
4
-
P
3
>
T
)
)
FALSE
;
Otherwise
(
3
)
[0060] In this way, the detail detection step 406 can detect both dark details on a light background and light details on a dark background.
[0061] The test shown in Eq. (2) can be repeated for a vertically oriented pixel neighborhood to identify single pixel width horizontal details (e.g., horizontal lines). In one embodiment of the present invention, the detail status 408 is a Boolean value which is set to TRUE if either a vertical or horizontal single pixel width detail is detected, and is set to FALSE otherwise. In other embodiments, it is desirable to distinguish between vertical and horizontal details. In this case, the value of the detail status 408 can be an integer value which is given different values depending on the type of fine detail detected. For example: a value of “0” can indicate that no fine details were detected; a value of “1” can indicate that a vertical detail was detected; a value of “2” can indicate that a horizontal detail was detected; and a value of “3” can indicate that both vertical and horizontal details were detected (e.g., due to a diagonal line or an isolated dot).
[0062] In alternate embodiments of the present invention, other types of detail detection algorithms can be used by the detail detection step 406 . Examples of detail detection algorithms that are well-known in the art would include Canny edge detectors and gradient-based edge detectors.
[0063] Next, an adjust output pixel value step 410 is used to adjust the output pixel value 404 responsive to the detail status 408 producing an adjusted output pixel value 412 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the adjusted output pixel value 412 is determined by adding or subtracting a specified incremental value to/from the output pixel value 404 for pixels where the detail status 408 indicates that the input digital image 400 contains a fine detail. This can be represented in equation form by:
[0000]
D
A
=
{
D
;
DetailStatus
=
FALSE
D
-
Δ
D
;
DetailStatus
=
TRUE
(
4
)
[0000] where D A is the adjusted output pixel value 412 and ΔD is the incremental value.
[0064] The incremental value ΔD used for a particular implementation can be empirically determined. The optimal value will generally be a function of the interpolation method and the resolution difference between the input digital image and the output digital image. When the resized image is adapted to be printed on a digital printer, the optimal value of the incremental value ΔD may also be a function of the characteristics of the digital printer. For the case where cubic interpolation is used to reduce the resolution of the output digital image to half that of the input digital image, incremental values in the range of 65 to 150 have been found to produce good results for images to be printed on an inkjet printer.
[0065] As discussed earlier, in one embodiment of the present invention the interpolation process is implemented by two successive one-dimensional interpolation steps. In this case, the adjust output pixel value step 410 can be applied once after both of the horizontal and vertical interpolation steps have been applied. FIG. 6A illustrates a down-sampled digital image 600 determined by using this approach to apply the method of the present invention to the input digital image 120 ( FIG. 2A ). In this case, an incremental value of ΔD=100 was subtracted from the output pixel values 404 for each of the detail pixels 602 within the bold outline region.
[0066] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the adjust output pixel value step 410 can be applied after each of the successive interpolation steps. In this case, it may be desirable to use different incremental values ΔD following the horizontal and vertical interpolation steps. For example, if a vertical detail is detected the output pixel value 404 can be adjusted by an incremental value of ΔD V following the horizontal interpolation step, and if a horizontal detail is detected the output pixel value 404 can be adjusted by an incremental value of ΔD H following the vertical interpolation step.
[0067] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the adjust output pixel value step 410 is applied only after the first interpolation step. In this case, it may be desirable to used different incremental values ΔD depending on whether horizontal or vertical details are detected. FIG. 7A illustrates a down-sampled digital image 700 determined by using this approach to apply the method of the present invention to the input digital image 120 ( FIG. 2A ). In this case, an incremental value of ΔD H =150 was subtracted from the output pixel values 404 following the first interpolation step when horizontal details were detected and a value of ΔD V =65 was subtracted from the output pixel values 404 following the first interpolation step when vertical details were detected. The output pixels that were affected by the adjust output pixels value step 410 are detail pixels 702 shown within the bold outline region. One reason that a larger incremental value is used for horizontal details is that the subsequent vertical interpolation step will result in and additional loss of contrast for the horizontal details, whereas the contrast of the vertical details will remain largely unchanged.
[0068] For the case where the detail detection step 406 detects both light and dark details (e.g., using Eq. (3)), the incremental value ΔD would be subtracted for dark details (assuming that 0 is dark and 255 is light), and would be added for light details.
[0069] After the incremental value ΔD is added or subtracted from the output pixel value 404 , the adjusted output pixel value 412 should be checked to make sure it is within a specified valid range (e.g., 0 to 255 for 8-bit pixel values). For cases where the adjusted output pixel value 412 exceeds this range, it should be constrained accordingly.
[0070] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the adjust output pixel value step 410 can adjust the output pixel value 404 by setting it equal to an input pixel value of the detected fine detail. For example, if a single pixel width detail having a particular code value (e.g., 0 for a black line) is detected, the adjusted output pixel value 412 can be set to be equal to that same value in order to preserve the density of the fine detail. FIG. 8A illustrates a down-sampled digital image 800 determined by using this approach to apply the method of the present invention to the input digital image 120 ( FIG. 2A ). In this case, the output pixel values 404 for each of the detail pixels 802 within the bold outline region were set to be equal to the corresponding input pixel values in the input digital image 120 .
[0071] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the input digital image is a color digital image having a plurality of color channels (e.g., RGB or CMYK). In one implementation, each of the color channels is processed independently. In this manner, fine details may exist and be adjusted in one color channel, but no adjustment may be applied to the corresponding pixels in the other color channels.
[0072] In an alternate embodiment, fine details are detected by analyzing the color digital image, and then the output pixel values for all of the color channels are adjusted if a fine detail is detected in the color digital image. In one arrangement, a fine detail is detected in the color digital image by analyzing each of the color channels independently. If any one of the color channels is found to contain a fine detail, the color digital image is said to have a fine detail at that location. In another arrangement, a plurality of the color channels of the color digital image can be processed together to detect fine details. For example, a luminance image can be determined by computing a weighted combination of the color channels of the color digital image; fine details in the color digital image can then be detected by analyzing the resulting luminance image.
[0073] In one embodiment of the present invention, the image resizing process is applied as part of a system for printing images, such as that shown in FIG. 1 . For example, the image resizing operation can be applied in the host device processing 106 to produce a lower resolution processed digital image 108 for transmission to the printer across the communication link 110 for printing on a printer 102 , such as an inkjet printer. Transmitting a lower resolution image across the communication link 110 has the advantage that a smaller data bandwidth is required. This can be particularly significant when communication links 110 having a limited bandwidth are used (e.g., wireless communication links).
[0074] Often, it may be desirable for the printer processing 112 to apply a second resizing process to resize the output digital image to a printer resolution before it is printed. The second resizing process can use any resizing method known to one skilled in the art. In one embodiment of the present invention, this second resizing process uses a nearest neighbor interpolation algorithm. FIGS. 6B , 7 B and 8 B show pixel-replicated digital images corresponding to the down-sampled digital images shown in FIGS. 6A , 7 A and 8 A, respectively. In this case the pixel-replicated digital images have a resolution 2 × the resolution of the down-sampled digital images. It can be seen that the improved density of the fine details has been preserved through the second resizing process.
[0075] A computer program product can include one or more storage medium, for example; magnetic storage media such as magnetic disk (such as a floppy disk) or magnetic tape; optical storage media such as optical disk, optical tape, or machine readable bar code; solid-state electronic storage devices such as random access memory (RAM), or read-only memory (ROM); or any other physical device or media employed to store a computer program having instructions for controlling one or more computers to practice the method according to the present invention.
[0076] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
PARTS LIST
[0000]
100 System
101 Host device
102 Printer
104 Input digital image
106 Host device processing
108 Processed digital image
110 Communication link
112 Printer processing
114 Print-ready digital image
116 Printer engine
118 Printed image
120 Input digital image
122 White pixel
124 Black pixel
130 Row of input image pixels
131 Pixel neighborhood
132 Weighting factors
134 Weighted pixel values
136 B Output pixel value
136 C Output pixel value
136 D Output pixel value
136 E Output pixel value
140 Down-sampled digital image
141 Down-sampled line pixels
142 Pixel-replicated digital image
143 Pixel-replicated line pixels
310 Data processing system
320 Peripheral system
330 User interface system
340 Data storage system
400 Input digital image
402 Interpolation step
404 Output pixel value
406 Detail detection step
408 Detail status
410 Adjust output pixel value step
412 Adjusted output pixel value
500 Row of input image pixels
502 Pixel neighborhood
504 Weighting factors
506 Weighted pixel values
508 Output pixel value
600 Down-sampled digital image
602 Detail pixels
604 Pixel-replicated digital image
700 Down-sampled digital image
702 Detail pixels
704 Pixel-replicated digital image
800 Down-sampled digital image
802 Detail pixels
804 Pixel-replicated digital image
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A method for resizing an input digital image having input pixel values to produce an output digital image having output pixel values, wherein the output digital image has a lower resolution and wherein single pixel width details in the input digital image are preserved, the method being performed by a processor and comprising: determining an output pixel value for the output digital image by interpolating within a corresponding neighborhood of image pixels in the input digital image; detecting whether the input digital image contains a fine detail within the corresponding neighborhood of image pixels; adjusting the output pixel value when a fine detail is detected; and repeating steps a)-c) for a plurality of output pixels.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for forming a yarn including a component of staple fibres and a component formed by a continuous strand.
PRIOR ART
In published European Application No. 31250 there is disclosed an apparatus and method for spinning a yarn of the above type. In this apparatus there is provided a pair of rollers arranged such that a surface of each of the rollers cooperates with a surface of the other to form an elongate yarn formation zone at a line of closest approach of the surfaces, means for feeding the staple fibres to the elongate zone, means for guiding the continuous strand to the elongate zone and means for rotating the surfaces about respective axes to twist the fibres and the strand to form a yarn.
The guide means in the above disclosure comprises a small bore tube arranged to extend toward the line of closest approach from the side opposite the fibre feed means. The tube is chamfered to allow closest possible approach and is curved to direct the strand to approach the yarn axis substantially parallel thereto. The spacing between the rollers in a typical example is of the order of 0.15 mm and hence the geometry of the system severely limits the close approach of the tube to the yarn formation line.
This new technique for forming a composite yarn provides a yarn of totally new structure. However, the apparatus proposed to date has the disadvantage that, because the strand leaves the guiding tube some distance from the yarn formation line, ballooning and instability of the strand can occur whereby the exact axial location at which it joins with the staple fibres being deposited on the yarn formation line can vary in a transient manner. As explained in the above European Patent Publication 31250, this change in the axial location of the joining point will produce a change in the structure of the yarn, with more or less fibres joining the outer sheath of staple fibres. It will be appreciated that consistency of structure along the length of the yarn is essential for consistent performance in subsequent processes or end uses.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the above type wherein the axial location of the joining point of the strand with staple fibres is more accurately controlled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for forming a yarn including a component of staple fibres and a component formed by a continuous strand comprising, a pair of rollers arranged such that the surface of each of the rollers cooperates with a surface of the other to form an elongate yarn formation zone at a line of closest approach of the surfaces, means for feeding the staple fibres to the elongate yarn formation zone, means for guiding the continuous strand to the elongate yarn formation zone and means for rotating each of the surfaces about a respective axis to twist the fibres and strand to form a yarn, wherein at least one of the surfaces includes a peripheral recess lying in a plane which is radial to the axis of rotation of the surface for receiving the strand guide means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line I--I of FIG. 2, of an apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an alternative form of the grooved roller.
The apparatus is of the general type substantially as disclosed in published British Patent Application No. 2042599A and reference is made to that document for detailed disclosure of the principles involved. In addition, the apparatus employs the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned European Patent Publication No. 31250.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
For simplicity, description will be made here only of the modifications made to the apparatus according to the present invention.
The apparatus comprises an imperforate roller 1 and a perforated roller 2, the latter having an inner duct member 3, defining a slot 4 through which air is drawn to develop the necessary air stream to entrain fibres through a fibre feed duct 5. Fibres are fed into the fibre feed duct as an airborne supply, by means of fibre feed apparatus the outlet passage 9 of which is shown in FIG. 1. The fibre feed apparatus is generally of the type shown in FIG. 5 of published British Patent Application No. 2042599A and comprises a beater 10 operating with a feed roller and a feed pedal.
The roller 1 is mounted upon a shaft 11 driven by a belt and pulley arrangement 16, 17 and carried in bearings 12, 13. The bearings are in turn mounted in a cradle 7, comprising uprights 14, 15 and a cross-member 8. The cradle 7 is supported by a front frame member 19 and a rear frame member 10 in such a way that the upright 15 is pivoted on a pivot pin 18 on the member 10, whereby the upright 14 can be raised and lowered from its defined position on the frame member 19. This movement is provided to facilitate cleaning as disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 52412.
A fine guide tube 20 of ceramic material, typically 0.75 mm internal diameter, for a continuous strand delivered by a tensioning device 23 from a supply package 22, is carried by the cross-member 8 and extends toward the line of closest approach of the two rollers 1,2 at right-angles thereto. A peripheral recess 21 is provided in the roller 1 of such a depth and width that it just receives the yarn guide tube 20 to allow it to extend as far as the line of closest approach without touching either of the rollers. In contrast to the yarn guide tube disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 31250, the tube 20 is straight and extends toward the line of closest approach and terminates in a direction at right angles to the line. The depth and width of the peripheral recess or groove 21 in the surface of the roller 1 may both be 1.5 mm so as to readily receive a tube of 1 mm outside diameter. Such a tube is of sufficient size to receive a continuous filament strand of up to 150 Dtex although, of course, the dimensions of the parts may be increased or decreased, according to requirements.
The groove may however have an axial dimension greater than its radial dimension to allow the tube 20 to be repositioned axially of the rollers 1,2. Alternatively this same facility may be provided by having the roller 1 replaceable by another in which the groove 21 may have a width just sufficient to accommodate the tube 20 but the groove may be at a different location along the roller.
As a further alternative, shown in FIG. 3, more than one peripheral recess or groove may be provided in the roller 1 to allow adjustment of the axial position of the tube 20 relative to the rollers by fixing to the cross-member 8 at different axial locations.
The mouth of the yarn guide tube 20 terminates in the common plane of the roller axes which is at a small spacing, of the order of 1 mm, above the line of yarn formation, but again the actual position of termination can be adjusted to ensure the minimum separation from the yarn formation line. In this way the undesirable transient variability of the position where the strand enters the yarn formation line and joins with the staple fibres is reduced to a minimum.
As the yarn guide tube 20 is secured to the cross-member 8, it is lifted by movement of the cradle 7 about the pivot pin 18, so that both ends of the yarn guide tube are accessible for threading.
The grooves 21 are of sufficiently small dimensions that they do not materially detract from the spinning performance.
In contrast to the previous publications mentioned above, the surface of the roller 1 is formed of a metallic material, although other materials are possible.
In an alternative arrangement (not shown) cooperating peripheral recesses or grooves are provided in both rollers so that the depth of each is correspondingly reduced. This arrangement may, for example, be used in an alternative embodiment wherein both of the rollers are perforated as opposed to the illustrated embodiment wherein the imperforate roller is particularly convenient to receive the full depth of the required groove.
FIG. 2 shows that the recess is provided between two separate axially successive coaxial bodies 1a and 1b which together form the roller 1. The bodies 1a and 1b could instead be spaced apart by a distance at least as great as the diameter of the tube 20.
The strand guide tube 20 could alternatively project upwardly into the nip from below the rollers 1,2 and the fibre feed duct could then guide the airborne fibres down onto the rollers from above.
|
Friction spinning apparatus for producing a composite yarn has a groove or recess formed in at least one of the friction spinning rollers, to receive a strand guide tube which can then guide a core strand directly to the yarn formation line substantially at the nip between the rollers.
| 3
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to optical elements composed of plastics and suitable for applications in regions with stringent fire safety regulations, and to uses of the optical elements of the invention. These regions with stringent fire safety regulations are in particular aircraft interiors or else ships, where it can usually be difficult for the passengers to escape in the event of a fire. Components used in such conveyances are therefore subject to particular fire protection regulations, set out in the corresponding standards or specifications. Particularly relevant standards for aircraft are JAR/FAR 25.853a, JAR/FAR 25.869 and ABD0031.
[0002] Plastics resistant to high temperatures are known from the prior art, an example being polyphenylene sulphide, which is said to be stable in prolonged use at temperatures up to 200° C. and to withstand brief exposure to temperatures of up to 240° C. It is flame-retardant to the German DIN 4102 standard, i.e. it is self-extinguishing once the source of ignition has been removed.
[0003] DE 39 00 674 A1 likewise describes plastics resistant to high temperatures and based on copolymers of polysulphone and polyimide, these being suitable for prolonged exposure in the range from 150° C. to 180° C.
[0004] However, an intrinsic feature of all of these plastics is that although they are to some degree transparent they have a yellow colour clearly discernible by the naked eye, and cannot therefore be used as material for optical elements for passage of light in the visible region for spectrum. For this reason, by way of example, the outer panes of aircraft windows are manufactured from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), for which exceptional approval has been given, this material also being known by its trade name Plexiglas. This is a transparent material which is substantially colourless, but not flame-retardant. This compromise is accepted because windows with a clearly discernible colour are considered likely to be unpopular with passengers.
[0005] The mirrors in aircraft bathrooms are moreover not currently manufactured from plastics, but from polished aluminium, an attendant disadvantage of which is that the actual polishing process has high production cost. A polished aluminium surface is also susceptible to scratching, and the mirrors in aircraft bathrooms therefore require frequent replacement. This replacement is another noticeable adverse feature of airline operating costs.
[0006] Glass cannot be used as material for these applications in passenger aircraft, because laminated glass would be required in order to meet requirements for preventing injuries caused by glass splinters, and this type of glass is heavy, and reduce payload, or would undesirably increase operating costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Against this background, it was an object of the present invention to provide optical elements composed of plastic which are transparent and have minimum intrinsic colour, and also to provide uses of the optical elements of the invention in regions with stringent fire safety regulations. For the purposes of this application, intrinsic colour is a colour of the plastics material when it comprises none of the colorant additives which can be added with specific purpose and intention.
[0008] The object is achieved through the independent claim. Preferred embodiments are found in the subclaims.
[0009] For the purposes of the present invention, plastics are at least to some extent synthetically produced high-molecular-weight materials, also termed polymers, obtained via covalent linkage of starting materials, especially of low-molecular-weight monomers. The expression is independent of the method of production of the plastics of the invention, and therefore encompasses plastics which by way of example have been produced by chain polymerization (kinetic chain reaction or chain growth polymerization) or by way of example by step polymerization (step-growth polymerization), and in particular in this case by polycondensation or by polyaddition. The expression encompasses all of the additives which can be added. This particularly applies to plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers and/or colorants. The optical element of the invention has a colour rendering index R a of at least 97 at a thickness of 4 mm. It is flame-retardant to DIN 60332 and is mainly composed of a plastic having structural elements selected from the group of the sulphones and/or sulphides and/or ethers and/or esters and/or ketones and/or imides.
[0010] The colour rendering index R a is a measure of colour rendering quality. The best value, with the most natural colour rendering, is 100. Optical elements through which light passes produce a colour through absorption of light at certain wavelengths. The adsorbed fractions of the spectrum are then invisible to anyone observing light passing through the optical element—it is filtered out from the initial spectrum of the light source, the resultant perception being that the optical element is coloured. In this instance the colour rendering index R a assumes values smaller than 100. Values greater than 90 are regarded as very good.
[0011] The colour rendering index R a as used in this description is determined by evaluating the colour shift of the light passing through the optical element according to the standard DIN EN 410. For this, eight different colour specimens of defined test colours are first illuminated by a light source and assessed. The optical element is then installed in front of the light source so that its light passes through the optical element, and the eight specimens of the test colours are again assessed. The value for the shift of perceived colour through introduction of the optical element for each colour specimen is weighted by the factor ⅛ and the total of these gives the colour rendering index. The light used comes from a standard illuminant D 65 . The DIN standard DIN EN 410 gives a detailed description of the method for determining the colour rendering index R a and of the definition of the standard light source D 65 , and that standard is incorporated by way of reference into this application. The R a value of the optical elements of the invention is determined on substantially planar panes with a thickness of 4 mm.
[0012] The optical element of the invention is moreover flame-resistant to DIN 60332. This means that it self-extinguishes within a short period after removal of the source of ignition. The flame tests make a distinction, as a function of application and installation situation, between vertical and/or horizontal tests, the flame exposure time here being 12 seconds or 60 seconds. The standard uses a burner operated with methane gas as ignition source. The dimensions of the test specimens have to be 305 mm×75 mm. The tests must be carried out at an ambient temperature of 23±2° C. and at 50% relative humidity. The observations made comprise combustion length, i.e. the permitted distance over which the material can burn within a prescribed unit of time, and also the combustion time of any drips. The abovementioned standards and their references give a detailed description of the method, and are incorporated herein by way of reference. According to the invention, the optical element is composed of at least one plastic having structural elements selected from the group of the sulphones and/or sulphides and/or ethers and/or esters and/or ketones and/or imides.
[0013] For the purposes of the invention, structural element means that constituent of the polymer which has participated significantly or has been produced during the linkage of the monomers, thus being a suitable descriptor. According to the invention, the linkage of the structural elements preferably involves aromatic systems, and aromatic systems here are cyclic compounds having conjugated double bonds and optionally moreover containing any desired substituents. Examples of known aromatic systems are benzene and phenol. However, other systems bonding the structural elements are likewise conceivable and encompassed by the invention.
[0014] The previously known plastics resistant to high temperatures often have a yellow or brown tinge even before they are processed, i.e. they have a yellowish or brownish intrinsic colour. This means that they usually have Ra values smaller than 90. The inventors have discovered that very good values for the colour rendering index R a can be achieved if high-purity starting products are used during production of the plastics. It therefore appears that the intrinsic colours are brought about by contaminants in the raw materials, or else by undesired reaction during polymerization, for example oxidation reactions or other side reactions, in which free-radical mechanisms brought about by contaminants can also be complicit.
[0015] The plastic of an optical element of the invention is preferably obtained by polycondensation and therefore preferably beleong to the group of polycondensates. Polycondensation is a stepwise condensation reaction proceeding stepwise by way of intermediates which are stable but which retain reactivity, and forming macromolecules (polymers and/or copolymers) from a wide variety of low-molecular-weight substances (monomers), with elimination of simple molecules. For the purposes of this invention, a plastic obtained by polycondensation is called polycondensate or condensation polymer.
[0016] For the purposes of the invention, it is also possible that the optical element of the invention is produced mainly from a mixture of plastics which have the abovementioned structural elements. The mixing can be advantageous for appropriate adjustment of the properties of the optical element. These can in particular be mechanical properties, such as toughness and/or impact resistance, or else resistance to ultraviolet radiation, or to attack by acids and/or alkalis, and also by water.
[0017] The plastics are preferably thermoplastics, because they can use low-cost processing methods with high levels of design freedom.
[0018] It is likewise particularly preferable that the optical element of the invention is flame-resistant to the test standards ABD0031 and JAR/FAR 25.853a (App. F Part I and II) JAR/FAR 25.869.
[0019] For the purposes of the selection of the abovementioned group of plastics, the plastic of the optical element of the invention preferably comprises polysulphone. A diagram of its structural formula is
[0000]
[0000] where SO 2 represents the structural element described above. R in the invention is any desired moiety, which can preferably comprise an aromatic system likewise described above. However, it is also possible to use non-cyclic moieties, including those having relatively few carbon atoms. The index n indicates that the sequence of the principle structural formula is repeated within the plastic. n typically assumes values of from 20 to 1000. The physical state of the plastic, when it has been processed as optical element of the invention, is preferably solid.
[0020] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polysulphide having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0021] The structural element here is embodied by the element S.
[0022] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyether having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0023] the structural element here being represented by the element O.
[0024] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyarylate having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0025] and/or having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0026] These polyarylates are members of the ester group. The structural element here can be represented by —O—R—C═O or —O—R 1 —O—C═O. For the purposes of the invention, R 1 and R 2 represent the abovementioned moiety R, and R 1 and R 2 here can be identical or different moieties. All of the conceivable isomers thereof are also included.
[0027] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyketone having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0028] where —C═O can be the structural element.
[0029] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyimide preferably having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0030] and/or having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0031] The structural element here can be represented by R—C(O)—NR—C(O)—R, where C(O) is a carbonyl function.
[0032] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyether sulphone preferably having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0033] having the possible structural element O—R—SO 2 —R and/or polysulphone preferably having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0034] having the possible structural element SO 2 —R—O—R—C(CH 3 ) 2 —R—O, where C(CH 3 ) 2 is a dimethyl group.
[0035] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyaryl ether sulphone preferably having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0036] The structural element here can be represented by R—O—R—SO 2 .
[0037] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyetherimide preferably having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0038] having the possible structural element O—R—C(O)—NR—C(O)—R.
[0039] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyether ketone preferably having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0040] and/or having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0041] O—R—C═O and/or O—R—O—R—C═O can be the structural elements here.
[0042] It is likewise preferable that the plastic of the optical element of the invention comprises polyester carbonate, preferably from the group of the polyarylate copolymers, preferably having the diagrammatic structural formula
[0000]
[0043] It should be emphasized that all of the derivatives and isomers of the compounds whose structural formula diagrams are given are likewise included in the invention. The inventors have also provided mixtures of the compounds mentioned within the selected group of compounds.
[0044] If polysulphide is used as constituent of the optical element of the invention, the moiety R particularly preferably includes para-phenylene, and the diagrammatic structural formula of the polysulphide can therefore be
[0000]
[0045] Another recognized numerical measure for evaluating the appearance of materials, alongside the colour rendering index, is the yellowness index. It is desirable to minimize the yellowing index. DIN 6167 gives a detailed description of the test method, and is incorporated herein by way of reference. Another preferred feature of the optical element of the invention is a low yellowness index, smaller than 10, preferably smaller than 5, and particularly preferably smaller than 2, in each case measured on an essentially planar pane composed of one of the plastics mentioned with a thickness of 4 mm.
[0046] The mainly yellowish or brownish intrinsic colour described for the abovementioned plastics in relation to the colour rendering index R a is also noticeable in a transmittance spectrum through reduced transmittance in the violet region of the spectrum. At a wavelength of 380 nm, the optical elements of the invention therefore have a spectral transmittance T of at least 85%, measured on an essentially planar pane with a thickness of 2 mm, produced from the selected plastics. Because no reference specimen is used during the measurement, the reflection at the boundaries of the test specimen has a transmittance-reducing effect. However, this reflection is not significant for the intrinsic colour of the optical element.
[0047] The transmittance T indicates the proportion of radiation transmitted through an object. Passage through a material always causes an attenuation, which is generally composed of absorption, scattering, diffraction and reflection, and is wavelength-dependent. Transmittance T is usually determined with the aid of a spectrophotometer. For the purposes of this invention, no reference specimen is used in the reference beam path when determining T, and transmittance is measured at the desired wavelength.
[0048] It is advantageous for an optical element of the invention to have maximum uniformity of transmittance profile in the visible region of the spectrum, the region within approximately the wavelength range from 380 nm to 750 nm. This means that at these wavelengths the value assumed by the spectral transmittance T is as far as possible of identical magnitude. However, yellowish intrinsic colours can also in particular cause reduced transmittance values in the blue region of the spectrum. It is therefore particularly preferable that in the blue region of the spectrum at a wavelength of 450 nm an optical element of the invention has transmittance T of at least 88%, again measured as described above.
[0049] The plastic present in an optical element of the invention moreover preferably has a refractive index n D which is in essence 1.65 at a wavelength of 550 nm. The definition of refractive index is known to the person skilled in the art of optical elements, and no further information on this is therefore given. The higher the refractive index, the higher the refractive power of the element. This means that an application where refraction of light is important requires less material, and the installed thickness of the optical element and/or its weight can be smaller when comparison is made with optical elements composed of materials with lower refractive indices. By way of example, Plexiglas (PMMA) has a refractive index of 1.49 and cycloolefin copolymers (COCs) have a refractive index of 1.533. If the optical element of the invention is, for example, shaped as a lens, by virtue of the higher refractive index of the element of the invention the curvature of the lens required to obtain a given focal length is less than, for example, that of a lens composed of PMMA. This makes the lens more compact and allows the structure of the final equipment comprising the lens to be compacter and therefore also less heavy. This is a considerable advantage particularly for aircraft applications.
[0050] It is also advantageous to minimize the coefficient of thermal expansion of the optical element of the invention. The coefficient of thermal expansion is a parameter which describes the percentage dimensional change, or more precisely the change in length, as a function of the change in the temperature. The larger the coefficient of thermal expansion, the greater the change in length that occurs. This is particularly problematic for components exposed to severe temperature fluctuations. Particular components of this type are aircraft windows. Every change in the length of the material has to be taken into account in the structure of the frame, so that the window has the necessary pressure resistance. An optical element of the invention therefore has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is in essence 50·10 −6 K −1 . For comparison, the coefficient of thermal expansion of Plexiglas (PMMA) is 85·10 −6 K −1 . This means that an optical element of the invention undergoes significantly less temperature-related change in length, and this makes it particularly advantageous to use the optical element of the invention as aircraft window.
[0051] Particularly in aircraft, there are special requirements in relation to vibrational safety of the components used. The requirements are also set out in the regulations for testing applied at aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, and particularly in section 8, and also sections 7.2 and 7.3, of RTCA DO-160 E, which is a standard for Operational Shock and Crash Safety, valid worldwide. The regulations for testing prescribe all of the materials and components approved for use in these manufacturers' aircraft, and are subject to monitoring by the authorities entrusted with air travel safety. A significant feature of these regulations is that the components used have to be designed in such a way that when they are exposed to the severe vibrations resulting from turbine damage, for example as a consequence of damage to turbine blades or loss of turbine blades, damage to the components is minimized, and the components do not lose their structural integrity. However, the vibrational safety demanded in aircraft can also serve as a useful property for shipbuilding, because considerable vibration can be caused, even if sometimes only for a short period, by damage to the ship's propeller or by a collision, and even in these instances the components used have to be safe. It is therefore particularly preferable that an optical element of the invention complies with the abovementioned test standards.
[0052] For the test, the appropriate applications are fixed to what are known as shakers. As a function of the installed situation, the least favourable position is selected, and the equipment is tested for stability using each of the frequency curves defined by the standards. Another particular factor checked is whether, during traversal of the frequency curves, any resonance oscillations occur which cause damage to the equipment or to its fixture.
[0053] To obtain the desired properties, it can be advantageous for fillers, reinforcing materials or substances providing special effects to be admixed to the optical elements of the invention. An amount of up to 30 per cent by weight of these may be admixed with the plastic. It is preferable to use a filler and/or a filler mixture which respectively comprises TiO 2 . Fillers and/or reinforcing materials can in particular improve the mechanical properties of the plastic. Elastomers as fillers can, for example, improve the vibrational strength of the plastic and thus of the optical element. Addition of transparent particles as substances providing special effects, preferably with a refractive index differing from that of the matrix, can by way of example have a controlled effect on the toughness of the plastic and/or on its optically conductive and light-scattering properties. Coloured substances providing special effects can be used to adjust the overall appearance of the optical element and/or its transmittance and/or backscattering behaviour, for example in order to increase perceived colour contrasts. However, the optical properties mentioned in the claims for the optical element always relate to an optical element without any fillers, reinforcing materials, and/or substances with special effect added to its plastic.
[0054] Plastics can be damaged by irradiation with light in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum (UV), approximately covering the wavelength range from 100 nm to 400 nm. The conjugated double bonds of the aromatic system often present in particular absorb UV light, and the resulting energy input can lead to fractures in the structure of the plastic. This can be discernible by way of example in cracking, or haze and discoloration of the material. In order to render the optical elements more resistant to the effects of UV light, UV-absorbent fillers can be added to the plastic. However, particular preference is given to an optical element of the invention with a UV-resistant layer. The UV-resistant layer either reflects the incident UV light or absorbs it to maximum extent within the layer, thus preventing, or minimizing the amount of, the damaging UV radiation that reaches the plastic.
[0055] The coating can have been produced by the usual processes, for example by dip-coating, spraying, lamination, electroplating, sputtering, physical vapour deposition, or any of the other processes known to the person skilled in the art. If an optical element of the invention is used as aircraft window, it is particularly preferable that the outer side of the outer window has been provided with this type of UV-resistant layer.
[0056] The particular properties of the optical elements of the invention permit their use in a variety of applications. However, they are preferably used within aircraft cabins or in the interiors of ships, for example in the lobby, in the restaurants, and in the passenger cabins and crew cabins, or else in architectural applications. In the latter, they are used in particular wherever there are stringent flame resistance requirements. Examples of these areas can be laboratories and workrooms, or else hotels, business premises and shopping centres, and also private dwellings.
[0057] One preferred use is the use as window in vehicles of any type, but in particular of aircraft or of ships. However, another advantageous use, if the weight of the vehicle can be reduced, is the use in the automobile industry as side window or as roof element and thus as sunroof. High-performance sports cars produced by many manufacturers already have side windows or roofs composed of plastics, in order to use the saving in weight to improve performance figures. However, lower vehicle weights are also advantageous for large numbers of motor vehicles, for reasons of fuel saving, which is desirable on economic grounds and also on environmental grounds. The optical elements of the invention are therefore also highly advantageous for these applications.
[0058] The optical elements of the invention can also be used as partitions. By virtue of their increased flame resistance, these partitions can preferably be used in vehicles, and in particular in aircraft interiors, in ship interiors and in trains, but can, of course, also be used in architecture, for example in interior architecture. In these application sectors it can be particularly advantageous for the optical element to have been coloured and/or to have admixed particles, which make the partition appear semi-transparent. Non-transparent partitions are, of course, also included in the inventive concept.
[0059] It is particularly preferable to use the optical element of the invention as project area. Here, moving and/or still images, or else merely light of various colours and/or non-moving or moving changes of colour, are projected onto the optical element, for example by means of a projector. Any desired illumination sources can also be used for this, examples being LEDs and/or spotlights. This type of projection surface on which various colours and/or changes of colour are projected can be used particularly advantageously to generate a variety of colour-related moods in aircraft interiors. These can be helpful in easing the transition of the passengers between various time zones and/or promoting sleep rhythms. Because the material of the optical element of the invention has high refractive index, there is not even any need to introduce light-scattering and/or reflective means into the material or to apply coatings onto the material. This means that the optical element can be transparent in the condition not irradiated with light or with images, but appears to lose its transparency when irradiated to provide the image and/or the light. This property is likewise of interest for the use as partition, since the partition can readily produce another effect. This application is particularly advantageous in aircraft interiors, where the general procedure is to provide visibility of the entire passenger compartment during take-off and landing. However, partition is desired during the flight, for example in order to separate economy class visually from business class. The use of the optical element of the invention is also relevant in this application, because, unlike in electrochromic materials, no electrical current is needed to produce transparency; the usual procedure is to switch off as much electrical equipment as possible during take-off and landing. In contrast, supply of electrical current to projectors and/or light sources during flight is not problematic. However, the invention does also include admixture of suitable substances and/or substance mixtures for this application.
[0060] Another preferred application of the optical elements of the invention is a light distributor. A light distributor is generally a means for conducting light from one site within the light distributor, in which the light beam is input, to at least one other site in the light distributor. A light distributor can by way of example be a linear optical conductor, which can be either rigid or flexible, or an optical fibre bundle and/or a light mixer.
[0061] In a linear optical conductor, the light is generally input into the light-input end and emitted from the light-output end. This method can by way of example be used to supply a plurality of components from one light source, the linear optical conductors being used to connect the components. The light is conducted by being totally reflected at the boundary between the linear optical conductor and the atmosphere. It is generally true that the only necessary condition for total reflection is known to be that the boundary of the linear optical conductor must be a boundary with a medium of lower refractive index. It is therefore also conceivable that the linear optical conductor specifically or else the light distributor generally has at least one further sheathing layer whose refractive index is preferably smaller than that of the material of the light distributor itself.
[0062] An optical fibre bundle is obtained by way of example by using the plastics mentioned to extrude fibres. It is likewise possible that preforms are produced from the plastics mentioned and are then drawn to give fibres. The thickness of these fibres is usually a few micrometres to millimetres. If a plurality of these fibres are combined, the term used is fibre bundle. It is preferable that each individual fibre of the fibre bundle has a surrounding fibre sheath whose refractive index is smaller than that of the material of the individual fibre. The result of this can be relatively little cross-over of light from one individual fibre to the adjacent individual fibre of the fibre bundle, so that attenuation of light conducted within the fibre bundle remains small and the individual fibres can conduct light independently of one another. Optical fibre bundles often have a surrounding outer plastics sheath for protection of the individual fibres.
[0063] However, another possible intention is that the light of various light sources becomes mixed in a light distributor. The light distributor is then a light mixer. A light mixer can by way of example serve to mix the light from differently coloured light sources, so that mixing of the colours produces homogeneous light of the mixed colour. The light mixer itself can in turn have connection to further light distributors, and functional light networks can therefore be realised with the aid of the optical elements of the invention.
[0064] In the case of the light mixer, it is also possible that the light distributor has at least to some extent a further surrounding layer, whose refractive index is lower than that of the material of the light distributor. However, all of the light distributors can also have at least to some extent an exterior mirror finish to make them better light conductors for certain applications.
[0065] The light distributor can generally conduct light for illumination purposes or for data transmission purposes. In the case of data transmission, light is usually conducted in the form of pulses, and the pulse sequence here represents the coded data set. However, there are also other possible coding methods, an example being amplitude modulation.
[0066] Another preferred use of the optical element of the invention is its use as light emitter. For the purposes of the invention, light from a light emitter is emitted from the optical elements of the invention into other components or else merely into the environment. In a simple case, a light emitter can be an element which concludes with attachment to an optical fibre bundle and which is used by way of example to illuminate the interior of an aircraft. The light emitter can have been shaped appropriately in order to shape the beam profile of the emitted light, for example to broaden it or to focus it.
[0067] However, another light emitter for the purposes of the invention is a linear optical conductor which in at least some regions of its outer surface has means for output of light from its interior. These means can be a roughened surface, as can be produced by sand-blasting or etching. The roughened surface comprises a large number of regions which serve as centres of scattering. To an observer, the surface of this type of linear optical conductor appears to shine. This method can be used to achieve decorative lighting effects which can be advantageous for the design of aircraft interiors, or presentation of safety information, an example being the marking of escape routes, or else for general design purposes.
[0068] One particularly preferred use of the optical element of the invention as light emitter is an illuminated panel. In an illuminated panel, the optical element of the invention in essence takes the form of a panel, which, however, can have been deformed in all planes, where light can be input into the edge areas of the panel. The panel here acts not only as an optical conductor but also as a light mixer. The light can be input by means of one, or a plurality of, fibre bundle(s), or else via LEDs attached at least in the immediate vicinity of the edge areas. The input light can be output at any desired site on the surface of the panel by applying centres of scattering. The centres of scattering are preferably produced by the roughening methods described above. A structured application of the centres of scattering is also possible here, for example via masking techniques, and it is thus possible to apply static image information on the illuminated panel, examples being logos and/or alphanumeric symbols, e.g. information and/or descriptions.
[0069] For the purposes of the invention it is possible to use not only the roughening process but also any of the other methods for achieving light output from the optical element. By way of example, structures can have been introduced into the surface of the optical element which can protrude into the surface and/or can protrude out from the surface. These structures are preferably prism-shaped. These structures can be produced easily by embossing techniques, or by other production methods, such as etching or any of the other methods.
[0070] An advantage of illuminated panels is that by virtue of input at the edge they can have very low installed thickness and they can have any desired curved surfaces. It is therefore very particularly preferable to use illuminated panels as elements of interior cladding of aircraft cabins. These can easily be used with input from multicoloured light sources to obtain ambience lighting in which colour effects do not merely have aesthetic functions but also increase the feeling of wellbeing of the passengers by promoting their sleeping-and-waking rhythm, by means of appropriately adjusted colour changes.
[0071] Light guide plates are one particular usage type of illuminated panels, and are installed in flat display screens. These are an important component of these display screen systems where these require background illumination. LCD display screens and TFT display screens are examples here. Light from at least one light source is input into the light guide plates, and is distributed over a large area. The surface of the light guide plate usually has means of light output, examples being centres of scattering, or structures in the form of microprisms. The light guide plates of flat display screens installed in aircraft, for example in the backrests of passenger seats, have hitherto been composed of PMMA, which is relatively combustible. This has hitherto been accepted by aircraft manufacturers and airlines, in order to offer passengers an ever-broader range of entertainment. However, use according to the invention of the optical elements as light guide plate for flat display screens means that even these components can be designed to meet more stringent fire safety regulations. The invention can make a substantial contribution to passenger safety specifically with regard to display screens, which are becoming ever larger, and to passenger aircraft in which a considerable amount of PMMA has hitherto been installed.
[0072] Similar considerations apply when the optical element of the invention is used as protective covering for display screens, where it acts as light emitter.
[0073] Another preferred use of the optical element is the protective covering of light sources, for example lamps, but in particular LEDs. Here too, the optical element is in principle a light emitter. The optical element here can have been shaped as desired for beam-shaping purposes, for example in the shape of a lens. Because it is composed of plastic, the production of such shapes can be achieved particularly simply and at particularly low cost. It is also possible to control the emitted light spectrum as desired via selection of appropriate substances providing special effects. By way of example, fluorescent and/or phosphorescent substances providing special effects can be utilised to make the optical element act as a convertor for white light LEDs.
[0074] Another preferred use of the optical element of the invention is as illuminable woven fabric. For this, fibres composed of the plastics mentioned are woven together, and specific weaving methods can be used here. If light is input into the fibres of the woven material, the fibres serve as optical conductors. The light can be output at the fibre ends. If fibre ends are present on the surface of the woven material, individual points of light are discernible on and/or in the woven material. However, it is also possible to create light output sites as desired in and/or on the surface of the woven material, for example by roughening and/or abrasion of the fibres. This method can be used to make the entire surface appear luminous. These woven materials can by way of example serve as seat coverings or else intrinsically luminous curtains and/or wallcoverings.
[0075] Given a suitable choice from the possible uses described, another advantageous possibility can use the optical elements of the invention to set up functional light networks in particular for illumination purposes, and these can fulfil aesthetic, psychological and physiological functions.
[0076] If the optical elements of the invention are used as mirror carriers, they can replace the polished aluminium sheets used in aircraft. For this, a reflective surface is applied on that side of the optical element facing away from the user, so that the light reflected from the user by the reflective surface passes through the optical element. The reflective surface can be applied by any suitable process. The most familiar processes are vapour deposition, liquid coating or adhesive bonding using a reflective foil.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0077] The objects, features and advantages of the invention will now be illustrated in more detail with the aid of the following description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
[0078] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of an aircraft showing an example of a window according to the invention;
[0079] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a luminous panel according to the invention showing its structure;
[0080] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical element according to the invention acting as a projection surface;
[0081] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a flat LCD display screen according to the invention showing its structure; and
[0082] FIG. 5 is a graphical illustration of the dependence of the transmittance of plastic planar sheets on wavelength.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0083] FIG. 1 shows the interior of an aircraft. The window ( 1 ) represents one preferred use of the optical element of the invention. It can include an inner and an outer transparent pane, held together by a suitable frame. The partition ( 2 ) can be used for design purposes to divide the interior space. However, it can in particular serve to separate the different air travel classes from one another. The partition ( 2 ) is preferably transparent. On the ceiling of the aircraft interior, there are light emitters ( 3 ) provided, which illuminate the gangway. These can have been designed in the form of lenses, in order to provide controlled illumination of the floor of the gangway without dazzling the passengers. The design of the optical-effect seat covering ( 4 ) can be such as to illuminate either the contours of the seat or the sitting area, armrest area and/or backrest area of the seat. For this, it is preferable to use a woven fabric which is composed of individual optically conductive fibres and which can have been provided with a protective foil or else can have other substances included in the weave. Within the ceiling element ( 5 ), there can be a large number of light emitters attached, taking the form of end sections for output of the light from optical fibres. This type of illumination is also known in the form of a star-studded-sky effect in architectural applications. The diameter of the light emitters is generally about 1 mm, and about 100 light emitters are attached per square metre of surface, in order to achieve an aesthetically attractive star-studded sky effect. The luminous panel ( 6 ) has been attached in the wall. If the light input power rating is sufficient, this luminous panel ( 6 ) can serve for illumination of the cabin, but if the power rating of the light sources is reduced it can also have decorative functions. Integrated into the luminous panel ( 6 ) there can also be a display screen ( 66 ), in which the optical element serves as protective covering and/or as light guide plate. The display screen ( 66 ) can also have been attached at any desired suitable site in the aircraft interior. In this example, the information panel ( 7 ) indicates an emergency exit, and it too, is formed by a luminous panel. The design can have luminous characters, where the surface of the luminous panel has been structured in the shape of the characters, or else it can have non-luminous characters, where the entire surface of the luminous panel is luminous and the characters have been applied by printing or by using a foil. Luminous strips ( 8 ) have been installed in the floor, and indicate the route to the emergency exit. These escape route markings are compulsory in aircraft interiors, and have to retain their visibility even in dense smoke. The ceiling element ( 9 ) has been designed as a curved luminous panel. It can preferably be used to provide ambience lighting and to produce changes of colour in the aircraft interior.
[0084] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the structure of a luminous panel ( 10 ). Light from LEDs ( 12 ) is input into the edges ( 11 ), and the LEDs ( 13 ) have preferably been fixed on a printed circuit board ( 14 ). The printed circuit board ( 14 ) provides a simple method of supplying current to the LEDs.
[0085] This in particular permits cost-effective reallsation of the complicated circuits required for control of coloured LEDs to produce the mixed colours desired. The printed circuit board ( 14 ) can have connection to a source of electrical current by means of normal cable connections or wire connections ( 15 ). The luminous panel ( 10 ) can have a region ( 12 ) on which static image information is visible, examples being logos and/or alphanumeric symbols. These effects are produced via structuring of the region ( 12 ) and are then luminous effects, or, for a uniformly luminous surface ( 16 ), they are produced via at least one layer of a material which is non-translucent or at least less translucent, the information provided in this instance being itself non-luminous.
[0086] FIG. 3 shows the use of the optical element as projection surface ( 20 ). A projector ( 23 ) irradiates at least one region ( 22 ) of the projection surface ( 20 ). The region ( 22 ) can also have light-scattering particles or can have been roughened, in order to improve reflection or scattering of the projected light and thus improve its visibility. There can also be structures introduced into the projection surface ( 20 ), and these can by way of example take the form of microprisms. Static or moving images and/or alphanumeric symbols can be presented. Since the available prior art can provide projectors ( 23 ) controlled by means of computers, the information presented can be of almost unlimited variability and scope. However, it is also possible simply to project light and/or changes of colour, and the projection surface ( 20 ) can thus also serve for ambience lighting applications. It is also possible to combine the projection surface ( 20 ) with the illuminated panel ( 10 ) from FIG. 2 , by also inputting light from LEDs into at least one edge ( 21 ) of the projection surface ( 20 ).
[0087] FIG. 4 is a diagram of the structure of a flat LCD display screen. Light from the light source ( 31 ) is input into at least one lateral edge of the light guide plate ( 30 ). The light source ( 31 ) can by way of example be realised via a gas discharge lamp and/or one or more LEDs, or else via any other suitable light source. The light guide plate ( 30 ) has a reflective element ( 32 ) on its reverse side. This can be a separate mirror, or else a coating and/or foil. The input light is output on the frontal side, i.e. on that side of the light guide plate ( 30 ) facing towards the user ( 37 ) of the flat display screen. To this end, the light guide plate ( 30 ) can have a structure as shown in the drawing, for example in the form of microprisms. The possible methods of producing the structures have been described above. It is also possible to use any of the other measures for achieving light output from the surface. To give the impression of a surface of uniform brightness, there can be a diffuser plate ( 33 ) in front of the light guide plate ( 30 ). However, it is also possible that the design of the luminous plate ( 30 ) and/or the manner of light input is/are such as to ensure that the luminous surface is uniform, in which case the diffuser plate ( 33 ) can be omitted. The elements ( 34 ) to ( 36 ) are the LCD unit of a flat display screen. LCD is known to stand for liquid crystal display. The elements ( 34 ) and ( 36 ) are the polarization filters, here taking the form of plates, with the liquid crystal display element ( 35 ) between these. The structure of flat display screens is known per se from the prior art and is not provided by the invention. The invention provides an optical element which can be used as light guide plate ( 30 ) and/or as protective covering in flat display screens. The use of the optical element of the invention for flat display screens has the advantage that they can be substantially more fire-resistant than hitherto, and they can therefore contribute to user safety in conveyances, or else in offices, factories, laboratories or in households.
[0088] FIG. 5 shows the transmittance of substantially planar sheets composed of a plastic mainly composed of polyether sulphone, as a function of wavelength. A spectrophotometer was used to make the measurement, using air as reference. The curve ( 50 ) shows the transmittance of a sheet with thickness 2 mm, and curve ( 51 ) shows the transmittance of a sheet with thickness 4 mm, both composed of high-purity polyether sulphone. Both sheets can be used to produce the optical elements of the invention. Curve ( 52 ) represents the prior art, namely being the transmittance curve for a plastics sheet of thickness 4 mm composed of commercially available polyether sulphone. It should be noted that the transmittance of the sheet of the prior art is markedly below that of the sheets from which the optical elements of the invention can be produced. The fact that the maximum transmittance reached by curves ( 50 ) and ( 51 ) is only about 0.90 derives from the reflection losses of the analytical light within the plastics sheets, and also from intrinsic absorption within the plastic. However, the intrinsic absorption of pure plastics appears to be small, as can be seen from the small difference between the transmittances of the specimens of thickness of 2 mm and 4 mm. If intrinsic absorption were high, the difference between the maximum transmittances in curves ( 50 ) and ( 51 ) would be greater.
[0089] However, the specimen from the prior art, depicted as curve ( 52 ), exhibits much greater intrinsic absorption. The poorer transmittance is very probably attributable to impurities in the plastic. The transmittance curves for all of the specimens rise from the initial value shown at a wavelength of 350 nm to maximum transmittance values at a relatively distant point in the red region of the spectrum. In the case of the specimens from which curves ( 50 ) and ( 51 ) are derived, a plateau is reached with almost constant transmittance, beginning at a wavelength of about 450 nm. The initial value for curve ( 52 ) is significantly below that of the other curves, and it is not possible to identify a plateau with constant transmittance. This characteristic of the comparative specimen from the prior art (curve ( 52 )) is also discernible from the yellowish-brown colour of this specimen, clearly caused by the poorer transmittance specifically in the blue region of the spectrum. Its R a value is 96.2, whereas the R a values of both of the specimens composed of the purer plastic of thickness 2 mm and 4 mm (curves ( 50 ) and ( 51 )) are 99.6. Good R a values begin from 97, particularly preferably from 98 and very particularly preferably from 99, irrespective of the plastics present. The yellowness index of the comparative specimen (curve ( 52 )) is 13.0, indicating marked yellowing, and that of the specimens composed of the pure plastic of thickness 2 mm (curve ( 50 )) is only 0.8 mm, and at thickness of 4 mm (curve ( 51 )) still only 1.1. These low yellowness indexes for the specimens composed of the pure plastic are surprising and serve to emphasize that these materials have good suitability for the production of the optical elements of the invention.
[0090] Table 1 lists the transmittance values measured for the abovementioned specimens at a wavelength interval of 10 nm. Specimen 1 indicates the specimen of thickness 2 mm mainly composed of polyether sulphone and shown as curve ( 50 ) in FIG. 5 , specimen 2 indicates the specimen of thickness 4 mm composed of the same material and shown as curve ( 51 ) in FIG. 5 , and the comparative specimen indicates the specimen of thickness 4 mm shown as curve ( 52 ) in FIG. 5 . It is composed, as has been described, of the distinctly coloured plastic of the prior art.
[0000]
TABLE 1
Transmittance
Wavelength
Comparative
in nm
Specimen 1
Specimen 2
Specimen
350.0
0.75
0.63
0.03
360.0
0.81
0.74
0.12
370.0
0.85
0.81
0.28
380.0
0.87
0.85
0.41
390.0
0.89
0.87
0.51
400.0
0.89
0.88
0.58
410.0
0.89
0.89
0.63
420.0
0.90
0.89
0.67
430.0
0.90
0.89
0.70
440.0
0.90
0.89
0.72
450.0
0.90
0.90
0.74
460.0
0.90
0.90
0.75
470.0
0.90
0.90
0.76
480.0
0.90
0.90
0.78
490.0
0.90
0.90
0.79
500.0
0.90
0.90
0.80
510.0
0.90
0.90
0.81
520.0
0.90
0.90
0.81
530.0
0.90
0.90
0.82
540.0
0.90
0.90
0.82
550.0
0.90
0.90
0.83
560.0
0.90
0.90
0.83
570.0
0.90
0.90
0.84
580.0
0.91
0.90
0.84
590.0
0.91
0.90
0.84
600.0
0.91
0.90
0.85
610.0
0.91
0.90
0.85
620.0
0.91
0.90
0.85
630.0
0.91
0.90
0.86
640.0
0.91
0.90
0.86
650.0
0.91
0.90
0.86
660.0
0.91
0.90
0.86
[0091] An advantage of the optical elements of the invention over optical elements available hitherto with good transmittance properties and good colour rendering properties, for example those composed of glass, is that they are composed of plastic and thus have low intrinsic weight, and that they are easily moulded, and can therefore be produced at low cost. In contrast to optical components composed of glass, they are intrinsically safe in preventing injuries caused by glass splinters, and are vibration-resistant to the specifications of the leading manufacturers of passenger aircraft. Unlike known optical elements composed of plastic, they can comply with fire-resistance approval regulations applicable to air travel, and have very good values for colour rendering index and yellowness index, these being essential features for their suitability as optical elements. They thus combine the advantages of glass and of traditional plastics. This provides access to a wide variety of application sectors where the optical elements of the invention contribute to the safety of their users.
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The invention includes optical elements for applications in regions with stringent fire safety regulations, whose colour rendering index R a is at least 97 at a thickness of 4 mm, and which are flame-retardant according to DIN 60332 and are mainly composed of a plastic having at least one structural element selected from the group consisting of sulphones, sulphides, ethers, esters, ketones and imides.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ophthalmologic devices, and more particularly to an apparatus which aligns a measuring system of an ophthalmologic device with high accurately with a respective one of eyes to be examined such that the measuring system is in a predetermined positional relationship to the eye.
An ophthalmologic device such as a non-contact tonometer or an objective eye refractivity measuring device, and more particularly its measuring system are required to be aligned vertically and horizontally and in distance with a respective one of the eyes to be examined, for measuring purposes, such that the device is put finally in a predetermined positional relationship to the respective one of the eyes.
Conventionally, an alignment mechanism for an ophthalmologic device is known which projects an alignment index image to a respective one of the eyes to be examined, receives a reflected image of a vetex cornea of the eye along with a frontal eye image in an observation unit, and drives a sliding mechanism, for example with a joystick, while viewing a television monitor, such that an optical system of the observation unit is placed in a predetermined positional relationship to the eye. U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,821, U.S. Ser. No. 08/076,745, and U.S. Ser. No. 08/052,916, have been known as prior arts.
The user is required to manipulate the joystick while viewing the TV monitor in the alignment. Thus, when the user is not used to align an ophthalmologic device such as a non-contact tonometer which requires an especially high accuracy of alignment, however, it would take much time for the user to perform the alignment and its accuracy would not be sufficiently high.
In order to handle a device which requires high accuracy of alignment, the user is required to be skilful in the manipulation of the device, and hence to be trained sufficiently to achieve satisfactorily complete manipulation of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ophthalmologic alignment device which is capable of easily and with high accuracy achieving the alignment between the device and a respective one of the eyes to be examined irrespective of the degree of user's skillfulness in handling the device.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ophthalmologic alignment device for aligning a measuring system at a predetermined position for an eye to be examined, including:
observation means for observing the front of the eye;
first moving means for moving the measuring system with a joystick for aligning purposes while observing the eye with the observation means;
second moving means for further moving the measuring system moved by the first moving means;
index projection/detection means for projecting an index onto the eye and detecting the projected index;
drive/control means for driving/controlling the second moving means on the basis of the result of the detection of the index projection/detection means; and
mode switching means for switching an alignment mode in which the measuring system is moved from an alignment mode in which the measuring system is moved by the first moving means to an alignment mode in which the measuring system is moved by the second moving means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an ophthalmologic alignment device of an embodiment as viewed from the side of the user;
FIG. 2 is a left-hand side view of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a mechanism which moves an optical system of the device vertically;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a joystick preferred for use with the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an optical alignment system of the embodiment;
is a block digram of an essential portion of a control system of the embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an essential portion of a control system of the embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart indicative of the operation of the embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart indicative of the operation of the embodiment performed when same has an allowable range of low accuracy; and
FIG. 9 is a flowchart to be combined with the flowchart of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment of an non-contact tonometer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Whole Structure]
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a base 1 has a jaw base 2 which fixes patent's eyes. A device body 3 is slidable horizontally right and left, and back and forth on the base 1. The device body 3 is moved on the base 1 by the manipulation of a joystick 4. A measurement unit 5 receives a measuring system 5a (FIG. 6) and an optical system to be described later and further is moved vertically relative to the device body 3 by the user's manipulation of a rotary knob 4a provided on the joy stick 4.
Referring to FIG. 3, a vertical movement mechanism 90 for the optical system will be described. A male feed screw 91 is threadedly received in a female screw 92 held between a support 93 and a screw receiver 94, which is fixed to a support plate 95. The male screw 91 is also supported at a non-threaded portion thereof by ball bearings 96, a bearing receiver 97 and a bearing holder 98 which, in turn, are supported on a rotary shaft 100 with a compressed spring 99 being provided coaxially with the rotary male screw 91 between the plate 95 and the bearing receiver 97 to support the weight of the optical system, etc., and to ensure its smooth vertical movement. The female screw support 93 also functions as a guide for the compressed spring 99.
The rotation of gear 125 to be described later in more detail is transmitted to a gear 100a through a gear 102 to thereby rotate the rotary shaft and hence the male feed screw 91 and hence move the female screw 92 along with the female screw support 93, screw receiver 94 and plate 95 as a unit vertically along the grooves of the male screw 91. Reference numeral 101 denotes a vertical movement guide shaft.
The structure of the joystick 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The joystick 4 is used to move the measuring unit 5 to preform rough alignment. A base 112 is movable horizontally through a slider 113 on a frictional plate 114 supported on a fixed base 111. The base 112 supports the measuring unit 5 through the vertical movement mechanism 90. Provided through a ball bearing 115 on the base 112 is a housing 116 within which a lower spherical body 117a of stem 117 is engaged with a key 24. When a rotary knob 119 of the joystick 4 is rotated, the stem 117 is rotated through a ball bearing 120 with spherical body 117a as a fulcrum within the housing 116. Thus, the stem 117 swings the slider 113 at the lower end thereof. The frictional force between the sliding portion 113 and the frictional plate 114 is selected so as to be higher than that between a plate 121 fixed to the base 112 and a sliding plate 122 embedded in the slider 113. Thus, when the stem 117 swings the sliding plate 122 at the lower end thereof, the slider 113 does not move, but the base 112 slides on the sliding plate 122 horizontally slightly through the plate 121.
By rotating a rotary knob 123 fixed to an upper end of the stem 117, the stem 117 is rotated to thereby rotate the housing 116 through the key 124. A gear 125 fixed to the housing 116 transmits its torque to the vertical movement mechanism 90 which vertically moves the optical system. In the knob 119, a horizontal pin 126 is fixed to an upper cover 127 which, in turn, is fixed to the base 112 so as to extend toward the center of the spherical body 117a into a slot 119a provided in a lower end portion of the knob 119 to thereby free the knob 119 from rotation.
The measuring unit 5 is movable by about 5 mm right and left and back and forth relative to the device body 3 for automatic alignment. Reference numeral 6 denotes a TV monitor which displays information on the frontal eye image to be reported to the user.
[Structures of the Main Elements]
The main elements of the inventive device will be described next. The non-contact tonometer operates to inject a compressed air against the cornea of a respective one of the eyes to be examined to deform same so as to assume a predetermined state, to measure the air pressure directly or indirectly at that time, and to measure the intraocular pressure on the basis of the measured air pressure. The measuring mechanism of the non-contact tonometer itself has no important relationship to the present invention and further description thereof will be omitted.
Optical Alignment System
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an optical alignment system of the alignment device of the embodiment, which is composed of an optical observation unit 10, an optical reticle projection unit 20, an optical front index projection unit 30, an optical index detection unit 35, an optical distance projection unit 40, and an optical distance index detection unit 50, which will be described below.
(Optical Observation Unit 10)
A nozzle 11 which injects a gas which deforms a cornea is disposed on an optical path of the observation unit 10 such that the axis of the nozzle 11 aligns with an optical axis L of the observation unit 10. Disposed on the optical axis L are a half mirror 12, an objective 13, a filter 14, a half mirror 15 and a TV camera 16. The filter 14 has a characteristic which allows the wavelength of a luminous flux from the front index projection unit 30 to transmit therethrough, but does not allow the wavelength of a luminous flux from the distance index projection unit 40 to transmit therethrough and which prevents unnecessary luminous noise from reaching the TV camera 16 and a detector 37 of the optical index detection unit 35.
The frontal image of a respective one E of the eyes illuminated by near infrared radiations emitted from a turned-on eye observation illumination source 17 is imaged onto an image pickup plane 16A of the TV camera 16 through the half mirror 12, objective 13, filter 14, and half mirror 15 to appear on the TV monitor 6.
(Optical Reticle Projection Unit 20)
The optical reticle projection unit 20 is composed of a light source 21, a reticle disc 22 on which a ring-like mark is formed, and a projection lens 23. The reticle on the reticle disc 22 illuminated by the light source 21 is imaged onto the image pickup plane 16A of the TV camera 16 through the half mirror 15 and the projection lens 23 to appear overlapping with the frontal eye image on the TV monitor 6.
(Optical Front Index Projection Unit 30)
The front index projection unit 30 is composed of a projection lens 32 and a light source 31 which emits through the projection lens 32 an luminous flux, for example, close in wavelength to the near infrared radiations from the illumination light source 17.
The output of the light source 31 is modulated with a predetermined frequency to prevent the luminous flux from the illumination source 17 from acting as noise on the front index detection unit 35.
The radiations from the light source 31 are collimated, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 5, by the projection lens 32 and reflected by the half mirror 12 to pass through the nozzle 11 along the light axis L to be illuminated onto the cornea Ec. The luminous flux is then reflected by the cornea Ec to form on the eye E an index il as a virtual image of the light source 31. The luminous flux representing the index il forms an image of the index il on the image pickup plane 16A of the TV camera 16.
(Optical Front Index Detection Unit 35)
The optical front index detection unit 35 is composed of a field stop 36, a two-dimensional position detector 37 and the objective lens 13, filter 14 and half mirror 15, those last three elements being shared with the observation unit 10. The aperture diameter of the field stop 36 is selected such that no useless light impinges on the detector 37, but the luminous flux representing the index il at a substantially appropriate position relative to the position of the reticle image on the TV camera 16 enters the detector 37. The two-dimensional position detector 37 may include any one of various sensors such as a CCD and a PSD. Alternatively, a two- or four-division photodetector may be used in place of the two-dimensional position detector 37.
The luminous flux representing the front index reflected on the cornea Ec is guided by the half mirror 15 to the front index detection unit 35 and thence through the field stop 36 to the photodetector 37, which detects the position of the eye in the x, y and z directions relative to the optical measurement or observation axis L on the basis of the two-dimensional position of the luminous flux representing the index il and entering the photodetection surface of the photodetector 37.
As described above, the optical front index projection unit 30 and the front index detection unit 35 achieve alignment of the eye examination device with the eye E in the x and y directions, using the index il.
(Optical Distance Index Projection Unit 40)
In the distance index projection unit 40, an optical axis M is slanted relative to the optical axis L. The optical axis M intersects with the optical axis L at a position remote by a predetermined distance from the nozzle 11. Preferably, the optical axis M intersects with the optical axis L at an angle of 20-40 degrees. Provided on the optical axis M are a projection lens 42 and a light source 41 which emits through the projection lens 42 a luminous flux different in wavelength from that from the light source 31.
The luminous flux from the light source 41 is collimated by the projection lens 42, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 5, and illuminated along the optical axis M onto the cornea Ec. The luminous flux reflected by the cornea Ec forms on the eye an index i2 as an vertual image of the light source 41.
(Optical Distance Index Detection Unit 50)
In the distance index detection unit 50, an optical axis N is symmetrical with the optical axis M around the optical axis L. That is, the optical axis N intersects with the optical axis M on the optical axis L. Provided on the optical axis N are a photodection lens 51, filter 52, and one-dimensional detector 53. The filter 52 has a characteristic which allows luminous flux from the light source 41 of the distance index projection unit 40 to transmit therethrough, and which does not allow the luminous flux from the illumination source 17 and the light source 31 of the front index projection unit 30 to transmit therethrough and which prevents the luminous flux representing the index il and the luminous flux from the illumination source 17 from entering the one-dimensional detector 53 to become noise.
The luminous flux from the light source 41 reflected by the cornea and forming the index i2 impinges on the one-dimensional detector 53 through the lens 51 and the filter 52. When the eye to be examined moves in the direction of extension of the optical axis L, the image of the index i2 formed by the photodetection lens 51 also moves in the direction of detection of the one-dimensional detector 53. The position of the eye in the z (or back-fourth) direction is detected on the basis of a deviation of the index image on the one-dimensional detector 53.
A cylindrical lens whose generator which extends in the direction of detection of the one-dimensional detector 53 may be disposed before the one-dimensional detector 53.
As described above, the optical distance index projection unit 40 and the optical distance index detection unit 50 achieve alignment of the eye examination device with the eye in the z direction, using the index i2.
Control System
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the essential portion of a control system according to the present invention. Signals output from the two- and one-dimensional position detectors 37 and 53 are subjected to predetermined processing by corresponding detection processors 60 and 61, and then input to a controller 62, which processes those signals in a well-known manner to provide a signal indicative of deviations (in the x, y and z directions in FIG. 5) of the eye to be examined E from a reference position.
As shown in FIG. 6, an x driver 63 moves the measuring unit 5 vertically relative to the observation axis L (or in the x direction). A y driver 64 moves the measuring unit 5 horizontally relative to the observation axis L (or in the y direction). A z driver 65 moves the measuring unit 5 along the observation axis L (or in the z direction). Those drivers each are composed of a motor and a motor drive unit which operates on the basis of a signal obtained by the controller 62 indicative of a deviation from the corresponding direction. An automatic/manual alignment switch 66 is used to switch between automatic and manual alignment operations.
A character display 67 generates a signal indicative of a figure/character for aligning purposes. A synthesizer 68 synthesizes a video signal from the TV camera 16 and a signal from the character display 67.
A signal indicative of a deviation of the eye in the z direction from the controller 62 is delivered to the character display 67, which generates a predetermined figure signal and a position signal on the TV monitor 6 on the basis of the delivered signal. The synthesizer 68 synthesizes the signals from the character display 67 and the video signal from the TV camera 16 into a synthetic signal, which is then input to the TV monitor 6. Reference numerals 70, 71, 72 and 73 denote a frontal image of the eye, a reticle image, a front index image and a distance mark composed of signals from the character display 67, respectively, on the TV monitor 6. The distance mark 73 moves the reticle image 71 vertically on the TV monitor 6 on a real time basis in correspondence to the distance from the nozzle 12 to the cornea Ec. When the cornea Ec is at an appropriate working distance, the distance mark 73 aligns with the reticle image 71.
Reference numerals 80, 81 and 82 denote a timer, a buzzer, and a driver for the buzzer, respectively.
The operation of the alignment device will be described next with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 7.
The user positions the eye to be examined E at a predetermined position relative to the jaw base 2 and turns on the power supply switch (not shown) to thereby light up the respective light sources. A frontal image of the eye to be examined E illuminated by the turned-on illumination light source 17 is received by the TV camera 16 through the observation unit 10 along with a reticle image produced by the reticle projection unit 20 to appear on the TV monitor 6.
The alignment switch 66 is operated to select one of automatic and manual alignment modes.
When the automatic alignment mode is selected, the user manipulates the joystick 4 and the rotary knob 4a to align the ring-like reticle image 71 roughly with the iris or pupil of the eye to make a focusing adjustment such that the index il is minimized in size, while viewing the frontal eye image 70 and the reticle image 71 on the TV monitor 6.
When a luminous flux representing the index il enters the two-dimensional detector 37 of the optical detection unit 35 and the image pickup plane of the TV camera 16, so that the TV camera catches the index il image, a front index image 72 appears on the TV monitor 6. When a luminous flux representing the index i2 enters the one-dimensional detector 53 of the optical detection unit 50, a distance mark 73 appears on the TV monitor 6. The user views those the displayed images to find the completion of rough alignment. In this case, the completion of rough alignment may be indicated in a separate manner on the basis of the signals from the two- and one-dimensional detectors 37 and 53.
When the rough alignment is thus completed, the manipulation of the joystick 4 ends, and automatic alignment is performed. In the automatic alignment, the controller 62 obtains deviations (in the x, y and y directions) of the eye E from its reference position on the basis of the output signals from the two- and one-dimensional detectors 37 and 53, and operates the x, y and z drivers 63, 64 and 65 on the basis of the corresponding signals indicative of those deviations. When the measuring unit 5 moves relative to the device body 3 in response to those operations of the drivers, the index images of the two- and one-dimensional detectors 37 and 53 move accordingly, and the controller 62 determines whether the respective index images are in the allowable range of alignment completion.
When the controller 62 performs the automatic alignment, it reads the time when its operation started from the timer 80 and performs a timekeeping operation. Then, when the controller 62 determines that the results of the detection of the detectors 37 and 53 are in the predetermined allowable range in a predetermined time after the start of the automatic alignment, the controller 62 generates a signal to stop the respective drivers and to automatically operate the measuring system 5a to perform the measurement (or the user depresses a measurement starting switch (not shown) to start the measurement after the user receives a message or the like indicative of the completion of the alignment).
If the movement of the device cannot follow up the movement of the eye, for example, owing to flicks of the eye even when the automatic alignment has been is performed, and if no alignment is performed in the predetermined range in the predetermined time after the start of the automatic alignment, the controller 62 relieves control over the respective drivers and causes the buzzer 81 to generate an alarm sound through the drive unit 82 to thereby inform the user that the alignment mode has been switched from the automatic one to the manual one.
When the user knows this switching of the alignment mode, he performs the manual alignment operation as follows:
When the user completes rough alignment, the frontal eye image 70, the reticle image 71, the front index image 72 and the distance mark 73 appear on the TV monitor 6. For vertical and horizontal position adjustment of the front index image, the user manipulates the joystick 4 and the rotary knob 4a to put the front index image 72 into the ring-like reticle image 71. For back and forth position adjustment of the front index image, the user slants the joystick 4 back and forth to align the distance mark 73 with the reticle image 71.
When the controller 62 determines that the results of the detection of the detectors 37 and 53 are in the predetermined allowable range owing to the manual alignment, the controller 62 generates a signal which operates the measuring system 5a to cause same to perform its measurement. In this case, the measuring system 5a may start its measurement in response to the user's operation of a measurement starting switch (not shown).
While the embodiment has illustrated the automatic switching of the automatic alignment to the manual alignment when the results of the detection are not in the predetermined range even after the lapse of the predetermined time since the start of the automatic alignment, the automatic alignment may continue by resetting the allowable range of alignment at a one with a lower accuracy when the results of the detection are not in the predetermined range even after the lapse of the predetermined time.
The operation of the alignment device performed when allowable ranges with a higher and a lower accuracy are provided will be described with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9.
When the user has completed lower-accuracy alignment in the manner described above, the device drives the respective drivers to perform an automatic alignment operation with a higher accuracy. Therefore, if the alignment is not completed in the predetermined time after the automatic alignment started, the controller 62 determines whether the alignment accuracy selection switch has selected automatic alignment with a lower accuracy. If not, the controller 62 causes the buzzer 81 to generate an alarm sound and switches the alignment operation from the automatic one to the manual one.
When the automatic alignment with a lower accuracy has been selected, the controller 62 determines whether the alignment with a lower accuracy has been completed in the allowable range with the preset lower accuracy. If so, the controller 62 stops control over the respective drers involved in the automatic alignment and performs the measurements with a lower accuracy. The results of the measurements are displayed as ones with a lower accuracy on the TV monitor 6.
The controller 62 reads from the timer 80 the time elapsed since the allowable range with a lower accuracy has been selected, and continues the measurement. When the automatic alignment with a lower accuracy is not completed in the predetermined time, the controller 62 causes the buzzer 81 to generate an alarm sound and selects the manual alignment, as mentioned above.
While in the embodiment the alignment accuracy selection switch has been illustrated as selecting the automatic alignment with a lower accuracy, the switch is not necessarily required to be provided. When alignment with a higher accuracy cannot be achieved, lower accuracy alignment may instead be selected automatically.
While the alignment accuracy has been illustrated as including two higher and lower ones, it may include more accuracies as required.
While in the embodiment whether the alignment state is in the predetermined allowable range is determined on the basis of the position detection of the detectors 37 and 57, it may be determined in dependence on the luminous amounts of the index images present when the detectors 37 and 53 detect the index images.
As described above, according to the present invention, the alignment operation is switchable between the automatic and manual ones in dependence on the state of the eye to be examined. Thus, the measurement is facilitated.
When the automatic alignment is difficult, the manual alignment is selected automatically. Thus, the user is able to perform an optimal measurement without spending any unnecessary time and imposing any excess load on the eye.
In the present invention, by preparing a plurality of different allowable ranges of alignment, the automatic alignment with a lower accuracy is performed automatically on the eye on which automatic alignemnt is difficult to preform. Thus, measurement is achieved by further making the most of the function of the automatic alignment.
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An ophthalmologic alignment device for aligning a measuring system at a predetermined position for an eye to be examined. The user moves the measuring system with a joystick for aligning purposes while observing a frontal eye image with an observation unit. A second moving unit further moves the measuring system moved by the user. An index projection/detection system projects an index onto the eye and detects the reflected index. The controller causes drivers to drive the second moving unit on the basis of the result of the detection of the index projection/detection system. A mode switch switches the movement of the measuring system from a mode in which the observation unit is moved by the first moving unit to a mode in which the observation unit is moved by the second moving unit, whereby the alignment of the eye and the measuring system is achieved easily and with high accuracy, irrespective of the degree of the user's skillfulness in handling the alignment device.
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