text stringlengths 1.55k 332k | label int64 0 8 |
|---|---|
the method for jump reproducing video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by an mpeg method or the like according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings . the reproduction system shown in fig3 is composed of a coded signal source 1 , an interface 2 , a buffer manager 3 , a central arithmetic processing unit 4 , a buffer memory 5 , a video decoder 6 , and an audio decoder 7 and a memory 13 . in the reproduction system shown in fig3 the coded signal source 1 has a configuration capable of delivering a data column read from a data recording medium , for example , such as an optical disk , a photomagnetic disk and other recording media in which is recorded the data column to be reproduced in a state where a predetermined header composed to include at least data indicating that coded data are video data or audio data and time data ( time stamp ) per coded data is added to a time series data column ( bit stream ) including video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method or the like and audio data in which a picture frame ( i frame ) to which intraframe predictive method is applied to compress video data in the least amount and picture frames ( p frame and b frame ) to which an interframe prediction is applied to compress video data are at least present in a mixed form . alternatively , the coded signal source 1 can be of a configuration capable of delivering a compressed data column supplied through communication lines . in the ensuing description , the aforesaid coded signal source 1 is constructed which can output data read from an optical disk in accordance with a cd ( compact disk ) standard in which audio data compressed with high efficiency and video data of a moving picture compressed with high efficiency by the mpeg method are recorded . in the data column to be reproduced in a state where a predetermined header ( as will be described later ) including at least data which indicates a sort of the compressed data and time data per compressed data is added to a time series bit stream including video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method or the like in which the i frame , p frame and b frame are present in a mixed form and audio data , the header portion includes data indicative of the sort of data such as audio data , video data and other data , time data per data , and various data such as sector no . the aforementioned audio data , video data and various data constitute a bit stream . the coded signal source 1 delivers to a transmission line 9 a data column ( a reproduction data column ) to be reproduced in a state where a header including at least data which is of the sort of the various data and time data per data is added to a bit stream including a data column reproduced from an optical disk , for example , i . e . at least audio data and video data , under the control of a control signal supplied through a transmission line 8 and the interface 2 from the central arithmetic processing unit 4 . the reproduction data column delivered to the transmission line 9 as described above is stored into the buffer memory 5 through the interface 2 and the buffer manager 3 . the buffer manager 3 has the function to perform the operation substantially at real time , which under the control of a control signal supplied through the bus 10 from the central arithmetic processing unit 4 , sequentially writes the data transmitted through the transmission line 9 and the interface 2 from the coded signal source 1 into the buffer memory 5 or reads the audio data in the data column stored in the buffer memory 5 to supply it to the audio decoder 7 through the bus 11 , and reads the video data in the data column stored in the buffer memory 5 to supply it to the video decoder 7 through the bus 12 . in the case where the reproduction system is operated in a normal reproduction mode , the central arithmetic processing unit 4 is operated in accordance with the program stored in the memory 13 to see data which indicates the sort of data and time data per data included in the header portion in the data column stored in the buffer memory 5 through the buffer manager 3 , that is , to judge whether the data is the audio data or video data and to know a moment to reproduce the audio data and video data . data according the sort of picture or sound in the data stored in the buffer memory 5 are transferred through the buffer manager 3 in response to the demand from each mpeg decoder 6 and 7 . the demand from each of decoders 6 and 7 is issued at timing such that the reproduction state is continuous , and the data is transferred accordingly whereby the continuity of the signal to be reproduced on the time base is assured . it is to be noted that at the start of reproduction , a discontinuous state with the reproduction from the unreproduction time assumes . therefore , the decoders 6 and 7 are provided with the function capable of starting the reproduction at a predetermined time . the aforementioned function capable of starting the reproduction at a predetermined time is possible to give a command to the decoders 6 and 7 through the bus 10 from the central arithmetic processing unit 4 , or to supply data containing the time stamp to the decoder 6 or 7 by the bus 11 or bus 12 so that the reproduction can be started at a predetermined time on the basis of the data containing the time stamp by the decoder 6 or 7 . as previously mentioned , when the audio data is transferred to the audio decoder 7 through the buffer manager 3 and the bus 11 from the buffer memory 5 under the control of the buffer manager 3 , the audio decoder 7 outputs a reproduced audio signal obtained by expanding audio data which is obtained by compressing an audio signal supplied thereto . also , when the video data is transferred to the video decoder 6 through the buffer manager 3 and the bus 12 from the buffer memory 5 under the control of the buffer manager 3 , the video decoder 6 outputs a reproduced video signal obtained by decoding video data which is obtained by compressing a video signal supplied thereto . from the audio decoder 7 , the reproduced audio signal is outputted in a state continuous on the time base , whereas from the video decoder 6 , the video signal is outputted in a state continuous on the time base . next , when an operator gives a command to an operating section ( not shown ) to cause the reproduction system to be operated in a jump reproduction mode , the reproduction system is operated in the jump reproduction mode so that only the sequential video data corresponding to i frame to which the intraframe predictive method is applied to compress the video data is outputted from the video decoder 6 in the reproduction system . the jump reproduction method according to the present invention can be applied also to video data of a moving picture compressed by methods other than the mpeg method . however , in the ensuing description , the method for jump reproducing video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method will be described . fig4 a to 4f are views for explaining the arrangement of data relating to video data of a moving picture compressed with high efficiency in the case where video data of a moving picture compressed with high efficiency by the mpeg method is recorded in an optical disk in accordance with a cd ( compact disk ) standard . fig4 b shows the arrangement of recorded data in successive sector portions in which data relating to the video data of a moving picture compressed with high efficiency are recorded in the optical disk in accordance with the cd standard . fig4 a illustrates contents ( data fields i , ii ) of mpeg video data to be recorded sequentially in connection with one gop ( group of pictures ) next to a portion of mpeg system header which is a first data to indicate a compression method in each sector shown in fig4 b described above . the aforesaid gop is constructed such that a sequence header ( seq h ) which is a second data to indicate the presence of the gop is located at the head of the gop , a gop neader is located continuous to the sequence header , and successive picture frames are arranged continuous to the gop header . the sequence header is composed , in addition to a sequence header code , of horizontal and vertical sizes of a picture , data of an aspect ratio , and other various data . the gop header is composed of data indicative whether or not those arranged preceding to a leading portion of gop are a group start code , a time code and a closed gop , a broken link ( which when it is 1 , has a function not to allow the mpeg video decoder effect a decoding operation with respect to b frame which is present between i frame and p frame constituting a gop to which gop header is attached ), and other various data . the aforesaid gop is composed of a group of video data of i frame , video data of p frame and video data of b frame . the video data of i frame ad necessarily located immediately after the gop header . the closed gop ( in which all i , p and b frames necessary for reproducing video data expressed by this gop are included ) is a gop having an arrangement of video data like gop header → video data of i frame → video data of p frame → . . . a gop having an arrangement of video data like gop header → video data of i frame → video data of b frame → . . . is to be expressed as an expression of gop which is not the closed gop in the present specification . the present invention employs the data format such that as indicated by arrows from fig4 a toward fig4 b , a sequence header , a gop header and a leading portion of i frame continuous to the gop header in fig4 a are arranged in data field i in fig4 b , a central portion of i frame is arranged in data field ii , and finally , the end of the least i frame of gop in fig4 a coincides with the end of the data field continuous to the mpeg header in fig4 a , that is , the end of 1 sector . conventionally , the leading portion of i frame continuous co the gop header is not necessarily located in the data field i shown in fig4 b . on the other hand , in the present invention , since the data format as described above was employed , the jump reproduction capable of easily detecting i frame ( as will be described later ) can be realized . fig4 c to 4f show the specific contents of the mpeg system header shown n fig4 b . in these figures , pts and dts indicate time stamps . one time stamp pts ( presentation time stamp ) is ( a third ) data representative of the time for actually displaying the picture while the other time stamp ( decoding time stamp ) is time data representative of the time for delivering data to the mpeg video decoder . there are provided many kinds of specific contents of the mpeg system header as shown in fig4 c to 4f because the contents of video data recorded in the sectors in which the mpeg system header is present and the modes of recording can be indicated according to the presence or absence of the time stamp contained in the mpeg system header and the discrimination of kinds of time stamps . in the case where as the specific content of the mpeg system header , both two kinds of time stamps pts and dts are present in the mpeg system header as shown in fig4 c and 4d , it means that coded i frame or p frame started within the sector in which the mpeg system header is located . particularly , in the mpeg system header having the content as shown in fig4 c , this mpeg system header is located in the first sector in each video sequence in which a plurality of gops as illustrated in fig4 a are continuously provided . further , in the case where only the time stamp pts is present in the mpeg system header as shown in fig4 e , it means that coded b frame started within the sector in which the mpeg system header is located . in addition , in the case where neither time stamp pts nor dts is present in the mpeg system header as shown in fig4 f , it means that a starting boundary ( as indicated by the dotted arrows in fig4 a ) of video frame of any of i frame , p frame and b frame is not included in the sector in which the mpeg system header is located . it is to be noted that pack header , packet start , pkt len , buf size , stuff byte and of &# 39 ; shown in fig4 c to 4f are defined in the mpeg standard . conventionally , it is permitted that the state where i frame starts in the midst of the sector occurs . therefore , in the case where an optical disk having video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method recorded therein is reproduced in a jump reproduction mode to obtain successively thinned - out reproduced pictures from the video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method , i frame is detected by an mpeg video decoder , the video data of the i frame is then subjected to decoding operation , and after completion of the decoding operation , the succeeding seeking operation is carried out . this requires much time , and it takes long time to obtain successive pictures of i frame . as a result , the number of pictures per unit time at the time of jump reproduction is reduced , and the smoothness of movement of the reproduced pictures was insufficient . in view of the foregoing according to the method for jump reproducing video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency according to the present embodiment , in the case where only the pictures of video frames to which an interframe predictive method is applied to compress video data are sequentially reproduced from video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency in which a video frame to which an intraframe predictive method to compress video data and a video frame to which an interframe prediction is applied to compress video data are present in a mixed form , a leading portion of a sequence header previously added to video data of a moving picture of i frame is located at the head of a sector . alternatively , in the case where , after i frame has appeared , at least a sector provided with time stamp pts which indicates the moment to reproduce the i frame appears after i frame has appeared , video data to the end of at least a sector provided with time stamp pts are supplied to the mpeg decoder whereby the detection time of successive i frames is shortened to increase the number of pictures per unit time at the time of jump reproduction so as to easily obtain smooth - movement reproduced pictures . fig5 is a view of the arrangement of data showing the state where in order that i frame may be easily detected from a bit stream in which i frame to which an intraframe predictive method is applied to compress video data , and p frame and b frame to which an interframe prediction is applied to compress video data are present in a mixed form . as shown , i frame to be used when the reproduction system is in a jump reproduction mode out of video data of a moving picture previously coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method comprises only one in connection with successive gops . as will be apparent from the description with respect to the mpeg method previously made with reference to fig4 a leading portion of a sequence header added immediately before each gop is always located at a leading portion of a sector ( a portion continuous to a cd header and an mpeg system header arranged at the foremost portion of the sector ). the mpeg system header located at the first sector in each video sequence to which a plurality of gops are continuous as illustrated in fig4 a has the content as shown in fig4 c . the video frame succeeding to the gop header is necessarily i frame . therefore , if i frame to be used when the reproduction system is in a jump reproduction mode as described above comprises only one in connection with the successive gops , a leading portion of a sequence header previously added to video data of a moving picture of i frame is to be located at the head of a sector . in the detection of i frame to be used when the reproduction system is in a jump reproduction mode as described above , it will suffice to see whether or not the mpeg system header in the successive sectors is present . the detection of i frame can be easily carried out in a short period of time . when the reproduction system is in a jump reproduction mode , successive i frames are present . the decoding operation of video data in the mpeg video decoder is merely applied to video data of i frame . therefore , assume now that a gop containing video data to be reproduced comprises a closed gop , since the data arrangement is such as i frame → p frame → b frame , time stamps present in the mpeg system header are pts and dts in a sector in which i frame appears , and are pts and dts also in a sector containing an end portion of i frame and a start portion of p frame . accordingly , when the state where the time stamps pts and dts appear as described above appears in the second time , video data to the end of the sector where the time stamps pts and dts appear in the second time are supplied to the mpeg decoder . then , the video data of the detected i frame can be supplied at least to the mpeg decoder . further , in the case where a gop containing video data to be reproduced is a gop which is not a closed gop , the data arrangement is normally such as i frame → b frame . . . therefore , time stamps present in the mpeg system header are pts and dts in a sector in which i frame appears , and the time stamp in a sector containing an end portion of i frame and a start portion of b frame is only pts . accordingly , in the case where the time stamp pts appears next to the state where the time stamps pts and dts appear as described above , if the video data to the end of the sector in which the time stamp pts appears is supplied to the mpeg decoder , the video data of i frame detected can be supplied at least to the mpeg decoder . that is , in the jump reproduction of video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg system in which i frame , p frame and b frame are present in a mixed form , at least a sector provided with a time stamp pts appears after the appearance of i frame . in this case , video data to the end of at least the sector provided with the time stamp pts is supplied to the mpeg decoder to enable the supply of all the video data of i frame to the mpeg decoder . as will be apparent from the above detailed description , according to the method for jump reproducing video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency of the present embodiment , a leading portion of a sequence header added to video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency in which a video frame to which an intraframe prediction method is applied to compress video data and a video frame to which an interframe prediction is applied to compress video data are present in a mixed form is located in advance at the head of a sector , whereby the detection of i frame can be carried out in a short period of time . further , in the case where at least a sector provided with a time stamp pts appears after the appearance of i frame , video data to the end of at least a sector provided with the time stamp pts are supplied to a decoder so that the seeking operation of an optical disk can be carried out within the time when the decoder carries out the decoding operation . therefore , the time required for the successive detections of i frame can be shortened to facilitate increasing the number of pictures capable of being reproduced per unit time and to render smooth the movement of a moving picture reproduced in the jump reproduction mode . in the following , a reproduction method for reproducing pictures by quick traverse and quick reverse , which is the method for jump reproducing video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method or the like according to the present invention , will be described . also in the quick traverse and quick reverse video reproduction method according to the present invention , the reproduction system shown in fig3 is used . further , the quick traverse and quick reverse reproduction method according to the present invention can be applied also to video data of a moving picture compressed by methods other than the mpeg method . however , in the following description , the method for reproducing by quick traverse and quick reverse for video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method will be explained . the method for reproducing by quick traverse and quick reverse according to the present invention effectively utilizes , in a bit stream in which i frame , p frame and b frame comprising video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method are present in a mixed form , the fact that the coding has been heretofore carried out in consideration so that i frames are arranged at approximately equal intervals on the average on the bit stream , that is , the fact that the i frames are arranged in advance in the bit stream so that the average spacing between the i frames is a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures . in the reproduction of quick traverse , the search of i frame to be reproduced next to the reproduced i frame starts at a position set by subtracting a constant value k from an integerfold of the predetermined spacing . on the other hand , in the reproduction of quick reverse , the search of i frame to be reproduced next to the reproduced i frame starts at a position set by adding a constant value m to an integerfold of the predetermined spacing . with this , the following times ( 1 ) to ( 3 ), which are required every reproduction of video data of successive i frames in the case where the quick - traversed or quick - reversed pictures are reproduced from the bit stream in which i frame , p frame and b frame comprising video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method are present in a mixed form as described above , can be shortened : ( 1 ) the time till skipping to a position of a bit stream to start next reproduction , ( 2 ) the time till the detection of i frame after the start of reproduction of the bit stream from the skipped position , and ( 3 ) the time for reproducing all the i frames detected . particularly , the time described in ( 2 ) can be considerably shortened . fig6 illustrates the times of appearance of a spacing value ( a unit of spacing is 1 sector length = 2296 bytes ) between i frames in a bit stream , as one actual example in which the i frames are arranged in advance in the bit stream so that an average spacing between the i frames is a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures . in the case of the above - described actual example , there is a slight unevenness between a spacing value corresponding to a 36 sector length and a spacing value corresponding to a 43 sector length . an average spacing corresponds to a 39 . 86 sector length . since a storage volume of a buffer memory in an mpeg decoder is 40 kilobytes as prescribed in the mpeg standard , a variable amount of the data amount caused by the unevenness of the spacing between i sectors in the bit stream may be within ± 20 kilobytes . the variable amount of the data amount caused by the spacing between i sectors in the bit stream shown in fig6 is within ± 9 kilobytes . for example , in the case where the spacing between i frames in the bit stream is such that the minimum value of the spacing is a value corresponding to a 36 sector length and the maximum value of the spacing is a value corresponding to a 43 sector length , if a position distanced by the 36 sector length from a position of a head of i frame being reproduced at present is accessed in order to select a next i frame , the next i frame as intended appears within a 7 sector length from the 36 sector length to the 43 sector length even in the case of the worst . in the production method for reproducing bad quick traverse and quick reverse from video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency according to the present invention , in the case where an average spacing between i frames in which the i frames are arranged in advance in the bit stream so that the average spacing between i frames is a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures corresponds to a 39 . 86 sector length , for example , as shown in fig6 and in order to select a next i frame when a certain i frame is reproduced at the time of the quick traverse reproduction , if a position distanced by ( n - 1 )× 39 . 86 + 36 sector length ( wherein n is a number indicative of a numerical value which becomes larger as the magnification of the quick traverse increases , n = 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 . . . ) is accessed , a next i frame as intended appears within a 7 sector length even in the case of the worst . further , in the case where an average spacing between i frames in which the i frames are arranged in advance in the bit stream so that the average spacing between i frames is a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures corresponds to a 39 . 86 sector length , for example , as shown in fig6 and in order to select a next i frame when a certain i frame is reproduced at the time of the quick reverse reproduction , if a position distanced by ( n - 1 )× 39 . 86 + 43 sector length ( wherein n is a number indicative of a numerical value which becomes larger as the magnification of the quick reverse increases , n = 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 . . . ) is accessed , a next i frame as intended appears within a 7 sector length even in the case of the worst . here , the magnification is obtained by dividing an average time normally required to reproduce between the present i frame and the next i frame by an average time required to reproduce the next i frame . that is , in the quick traverse reproduction in the case where the average spacing between i frames arranged in advance in the bit stream corresponds to the 39 . 86 sector length as shown in fig6 it is ( wherein f { n } is the maximum natural number smaller than n ) from the position of the head of the i frame being reproduced at present . ( wherein g { n } is the minimum natural number larger than n ) from the position of the head of the i frame being reproduced at present . n in the above - described formulae ( ff ) and ( fb ) is a number indicative of a numerical value which becomes larger as the magnification of the quick traverse and quick reverse increases . n = 1 , 2 , 3 . . . accordingly , if a position distanced by the spacing indicated in the above - described formulae ( ff ) and ( fb ) is accessed , i frame as intended can be immediately searched . when the above - described formulae ( ff ) and ( fb ) are written in the form of a general formula , the general formula at the time of the quick traverse reproduction and that at the time of the quick reverse reproduction can be expressed by the formulae ( ff1 ) and ( fb1 ) below , respectively : f { n ×( an average spacing value between i frames determined corresponding to a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures )- k } ( ff1 ) g { n ×( an average spacing value between i frames determined corresponding to a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures ) + m } ( fb1 ) in the above - described formulae ( ff1 ) and ( fb1 ), n is a number indicative of a numerical value which becomes larger as the magnification of the quick traverse and quick reverse increases , n = 1 , 2 , 3 . . . k is k =( an average spacing value between i frames determined corresponding to a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures )-( the minimum value out of the spacing value between i frames ). m is m =( the maximum value out of the spacing value between i frames )-( an average spacing value between i frames determined corresponding to a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures ). in the reproduction system shown in fig3 when a foldspeed number n is inputted by a device such as a remote control device not shown , cpu 4 calculates the number of sectors to be accessed next in accordance with the formulae ( ff ) and ( fb ) to issue a command so as to access to a predetermined position of a recording medium or the like to the coded signal source 1 through the interface 2 . as will be apparent from the detailed description as described above , the reproduction method for reproducing by quick traverse and quick reverse from video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency according to the present invention utilizes the fact that in the case where only the picture of i frame is selected and reproduced from video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency in which i frame , p frame and b frame are present in a mixed form to reproduce pictures by quick traverse and quick reverse , an average spacing between i frames arranged in a bit stream is a predetermined spacing so as to have a constant spacing between displayed pictures . thereby , in the reproduction of a picture by quick traverse , the search for i frame to be reproduced next to the reproduced i frame starts at a position set by subtracting a constant value k from an integerfold of the predetermined spacing . on the other hand , in the reproduction by the quick reverse , the search for i frame to be reproduced next to the reproduced i frame starts at a position set by adding a constant value m to an integerfold of the predetermined spacing . thereby , the time till the detection of i frame after the start of reproduction of a bit stream from the skipped position can be shortened , and the number of reproduced pictures per unit time can be increased . it is possible to easily obtain a reproduced picture which is excellent in smoothness of movement . in the following , the special reproduction such as a reversed foldspeed reproduction , and a slow motion reproduction , which is the jump reproduction method for video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by an mpeg method or the like will be described . this special reproduction can be applied also to video data of a moving picture compressed by systems other than the mpeg method . however , in the ensuing explanation , the special reproduction for video data of a moving picture coded with high efficiency by the mpeg method will be described . in the special reproduction according to the present invention , independent frame access data indicative of an address of a leading sector in a field in which i frame before or after the present i frame is recorded , as relative position data or absolute position data from the present sector , in an independent subcode field in order to positively access to a leading sector of gop to be accessed . the independent frame access data recorded in the independent subcode field is not interleaved between data of other recording field and can be read easily and at hiqh speeds without necessity of complicated processing such as correction of error , deinterleave and the like . when the special reproduction takes place , access is effected with reference to the independent frame access data , and the efficient special reproduction for a video of a compressed moving picture is realized . fig7 a to 7e show the recording modes of a recording medium according to the present invention . fig7 a shows mth to ( m + 5 ) th gops of video data recorded in the recording medium . in the case of a fixed transfer rate , the amount of codes of each gop is substantially constant , but in the case of a variable transfer rate , it sometimes greatly differs . it is to be noted that the mth gop is an ( early ) gop earlier in time than the ( m + 1 ) th gop . in the description made herein , however , one which is early ( past side ) in time is referred to as before , and one which is late ( future side ) in time is referred to as after . fig7 b shows the mth gop shown in fig7 a , in which 15 frames beginning t frame are recorded . other gops are also the same . fig7 c shows a state where the i frame shown in fig7 b is recorded in a plurality of sectors . fig7 d shows the first sector of the i frame shown in fig7 c . the second and thereafter sectors are also the same . each of these sectors comprises a subcode field in which management data and control data are recorded and a data field in which video data and the like are recorded . the subcode field consists of an independent subcode field ( a first recording field ) and a dependent subcode field ( a second recording field ). the data recorded in the independent subcode field is not applied with an interleave between data recorded in other fields . on the other hand , data recorded in the dependent subcode field is applied with an interleave between data recorded in a data field ( a third recording field ). the data recorded in the independent subcode field are control data x , absolute sector no . y indicative of an absolute address of the sector , and i frame access data indicative of the first sector in which each i frame of other gops in the vicinity of the present gop no . n is recorded , and so on . recorded in all the sectors in which nth gop is recorded as the i frame access data is the first sector no . in which for example , each i frame of the n + 1th , n + 3th , n + 5th , n - 5th , n - 3th and n - 1th gop is recorded . a wide range of special reproduction as described later can be carried out using iess data as described . in the case where the aforesaid sector no . is expressed as an absolute address , one and the same data is recorded in all the sectors within 1 gop . on the other hand , in the case where the aforesaid sector no . is expressed by a relative address from the present sector , data which are different every sectors are recorded even the sectors within 1 gop . however , the absolute address calculated therefrom is the same . in the case of the relative address , the data amount is so small that they can be read quickly to provide a good efficiency . one example of data recorded in the independent subcode field will be described with reference to fig8 . fig8 a and 8b show one example of the recording mode in a video data recording medium according to the present invention . fig8 a shows no . of a leading sector of i frame of each gop recorded in the recording medium , showing the 1st to 11th gop , that is , gop 1 to gop 12 . nos . of leading sectors of i frame of respective 1st to 11th gops are 1 , 30 , 53 , 81 , 100 , 119 , 150 , 183 , 202 , 225 and 253 , respectively . fig8 b shows data recorded in an independent subcode field in a leading sector 119 in a field in which i frame of the 6th gop , i . e . gop 6 is recorded . control data x and 119 which is an absolute no . of the present sector are recorded . nos . of leading sectors of i frames of gop 7 , gop 9 , gop 11 , gop 5 , gop 3 and gop 1 are shown in the offset amount from the sector 119 . the data shown in fig8 b are similarly recorded in all the sectors in which gop 6 is recorded . however , when the sector no , is expressed as a relative value , a value deviated by one address per 1 sector is recorded . one and the same access address is recorded in all the sectors belonging to 1 gop as described previously in order that the special reproduction can be easily carried out in the reproduction of the video recording medium according to the present invention . next , the reproduction method for a video recording medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig9 . fig9 shows one example of a reproduction system for a video recording medium according to the present invention . further , fig9 is a block diaaram showing one example of the reproduction system for a video recording medium according to the present invention . first , a description will be made of carrying out normal reproduction for a video recording medium according to the present invention using the reproduction system shown in fig9 . the normal reproduction herein termed indicates a mode reproduced forward at real time . a read controller 90 is instructed by a reproduction mode signal ss so as to effect reproduction at 1 foldspeed . in fig9 the reproduction in the case where video data resulting from coding of a fixed transfer rate is recorded in the video recording medium is of the general type . therefore , in this specification , a description is made of data recorded at a variable transfer rate . codes from a coded signal source 30 such as video recording media are intermittently read by a data reader 40 , and then inputted into a buffer 50 . it is to be noted that the coded signal source 30 can be of a configuration capable of delivering compressed data supplied through a communication line . in the buffer 57 , data intermittently outputted from the data reader 40 are read , and the data are outputted towards a multiple data separator 60 at the timing necessary for decoding data . in the multiple data separator 60 , audio data is separated from video data . the audio data and the video data are inputted into an audio decoder 20 for decoding sounds and a video decoder 70 decoding pictures , respectively . in the audio decoder 20 and the video decoder 70 , the audio data and the video data are respectively decoded and accumulated in a buffer of the decoder , and the reproduced audio and the reproduced video are respectively outputted . on the other hand , data outputted from the buffer 50 are supplied to the read controller 90 . at this time , the buffer 50 becomes close to empty when a data amount to be written is less than a data amount to be used for decoding , whereas the buffer becomes close to full when the data amount to be written is more than the data amount to be used for decoding . a read control command is outputted from the read controller 90 to the data reader 40 according to the status of the buffer 50 . that is , when a buffer of the buffer 50 is close to empty , a read control command is outputted so as to start reading or to continue reading . when the buffer 50 is close to full , a read control command is outputted so as to standby reading . the reading of data from the recording medium by the data reader 40 is carried out in unit , for example , such as one rotation of a disk . even if the reading of data from the medium by the data reader 40 is not carried out at the present time whereas data is read from the buffer 50 at the maximum rate for the purpose of decoding , the reading by the data reader 40 is controlled so that a buffer of the buffer 50 will not be empty till next reading starts . next , a description will be made of the case where a command for execution of the special reproduction by the reproduction mode signal ss was issued to the read controller 90 , the i frame access data detector 80 , and the multiple data separator 60 , in the case of video data coded at the fixed transfer rate . the special reproduction indicates reproductions other than the normal reproduction as previously described , indicates , for example , such as 2 foldspeed , - 2 foldspeed ( 2 foldspeed in the reverse direction ), - 1 foldspeed , 5 foldspeed , - 5 foldspeed , etc . in this specification , an example in which the special reproduction of 5 foldspeed is instructed by the reproduction mode signal ss will be described with reference to fig8 and 9 . in fig9 output of the data reader 40 is applied to the buffer 50 as well as the i frame access data detector 80 . in the i frame access data detector 80 , the i frame access data is detected and then applied to the read controller 90 . in the data reader 40 , i frames of the gops are read under the control of the read controller 90 . in the video decoder 70 , only the i frame is decoded , and one and the same reproduced picture is outputted for a predetermined period of time . for example , if a picture is of 30 frame / sec , one i frame is displayed on a display unit ( not shown ) for a period of time corresponding to 15 frames ( for approximately 0 . 5 sec ). the control of the display time is carried out by controlling read - out of the buffer of the video decoder 70 on the basis of the reproduction mode signal ss . it is not necessary to read video data other than the i frame but when read , it is disposed without using . in the read controller 90 , a sector to be accessed next is calculated , according to the i frame access data or each gop and the reproduction mode signal ss , and then sent to the data reader 40 . this will be described by way of an example shown in fig8 . in case of forward 5 foldspeed , i frames are read and decoded , for example , in order of gop 1 , gop 6 , gop 11 , gop 16 . . . for example , the i frame access data recorded in sector 119 is detected by the i frame access data detector 80 before video data of gop 6 is read , and the first sector 253 in which i frame of gop 11 to be reproduced next to gop 6 is recorded is calculated by the read controller 90 and sent to the data reader 40 . in the data reader 40 , when reading of i frame of gop 6 is completed , the sector 253 is accessed and i frame of gop 11 is read . generally , in the case where data is read from a recording medium by a pickup such as an optical head , the pickup cannot be moved at high speeds . even if a part of the pickup , for example , only an objective lens can be moved at high speeds , the function of the special reproduction is still limited since there is a limit in the moving range . the access operation in the reproduction system shown in fig9 will now be described . assume now that the number of frames included in one gop is 15 ( 1 for i frame , 4 for p frame and 10 for b frame ) as in the example shown in fig7 b , and the ratio of the data amount among the three kinds of compressed frames ( i , p and b ) is , for example , i : b : p = 7 : 1 : 3 , the data read time of i frame : the read time of 1 gop ( the read time of i frame + the read time of b frame + the read time of p frame ) is 1 × 7 : ( 1 × 7 + 10 × 1 + 4 × 3 )= 7 / 29 . accordingly , the data read time for i frame is 7 / 29 of the data read time for 1 gop , and other time of about 22 / 29 can be used for the access to next i frame . more specifically , in case of the picture of 30 frames / sec , the gop length is approximately 500 ms for 15 frames , and the data read time for i frame is approximately 120 ms (= 500 ms × 7 / 29 ). in the reproduction system shown in fig9 the time required for one access is 380 ms (= 500 ms - 120 ms ). in the example shown in fig8 the access of data recorded distanced each other , for example , for 5 gops , can be made . therefore , in this case , ( 500 ms × 5 )/( 120 ms + 380 ms )= 5 ( foldspeed ) results . thereby , reading is effected in order of gop 1 , gop 6 , gop 11 and gop 16 . as one example , the special reproduction of 4 foldspeed will now be described . in the 4 foldspeed reproduction , reading is effected in order of gop 1 , gop 5 , gop 9 , gop 13 . . . but , gop 5 is not directly accessed next to gop 1 but gop 4 is first accessed and gop 5 is then accessed . that is , substantially one access is carried out by two accesses . in the case where gop 4 is accessed after reading i frame in gop 1 , a sector 81 is not necessarily accessed , and any sector in which gop 4 is recorded can be accessed . the reason why is that i frame access data indicative of one and the same access is recorded in any sector in which gop 4 is recorded . as a result , the access time can be shortened . it is to be noted that one i frame read is displayed for about 0 . 5 sec . in the reproduction system 20 in the embodiment , the special reproduction of a maximum 15 foldspeed is carried out . in this case , substantially one access is carried out by three accesses . as shown in fig1 , in the 13 foldspeed reproduction , i frames are reproduced , for example , in order of gop 1 , gop 14 , gop 27 , gop 40 , gop 53 . . . however , gop 14 is not directly accessed after i frame of gop , 1 inas been read but access is performed in order of gop 6 , gop 11 and gop 14 . the access from gop 1 to gop 6 is carried out on the basis of i frame access data recorded in a field in which gop 1 is recorded . gop 14 is accessed on the basis of i frame access data recorded in a field in which gop 6 is recorded . the access to gop 6 and gop 11 need not be accurate . that is , i frame access data indicative of one and the same access is recorded in any sector of a field in which these gops are recorded , and sector no . to be accessed next is calculated from the sector no . read and the i frame access data . in the reverse 13 foldspeed reproduction , each i frame is read , for example , in order of gop 53 , gop 40 , gop 27 , gop 14 . . . and recorded . the reproduced picture is displayed on the display unit every about 0 . 5 sec . while in the description so far made , an address of a leading sector in a field in which each i frame is ecorded has been recorded as i frame access data , it is to be noted of course that an address of a sector before or after several sectors from the leading sector can be recorded , and thereafter , an address of the leading sector can be calculated . according to the video recording medium and the reproduction method of the present invention , in the special reproduction of a video coded with high efficiency , an access portion can be detected easily and at high speeds , and therefore , a wide range of special reproduction can be made . further , it is also possible to perform a special reproduction of a picture coded at a variable transfer rate . | 6 |
referring first to fig3 , a frame according to the present invention is provided with top and bottom metal strips 35 a , left and right side metal strips 35 b and mounting holes 36 . the left and right side metal strips 35 b contain a supporting border 38 and two tracks 40 running parallel to the longitudinal axis ( shown as dotted line 42 ) of the metal strip . in this embodiment , the two tracks 40 define a longitudinal space 41 therebetween with the inner edges of the tracks 40 a provided with a beveled shape . in fig3 , four clamping units 45 are shown attached to the frame with two on either side of the frame . in this embodiment , the clamping units are fixed onto the frame by sliding the base of each unit ( see fig5 a and 5b ) into the space 41 between the tracks 40 . turning now to fig4 a to 4c , a sign strip 43 according to the present invention is provided with a front illustration surface 44 on which the content of the sign , such as the name of the company , can be fixed . in this embodiment , the two longitudinal edges 44 a of the front side of the sign are raised such that a display sheet may be embedded into the front surface of the sign without the edges of the display sheet showing or being exposed . the back of the sign is formed into a ridge that spans across the entire length of the sign along the center and longitudinally . in the embodiment shown in fig4 c , the ridge 46 is of a general shape of a diamond , with the proximal end of the diamond shape pointing towards the sign strip and formed into a neck 46 a . the distal end of the ridge 46 b is provided for interaction with the clamping unit as shall be shown below . the ridge is preferably formed as an integral part of the sign strip using , for example , extrusion of aluminum strips . referring to fig5 a and 5b , a series of clamping units may be fixed onto the frame contiguously ( only the units are shown in fig5 a and b for ease of description ). the clamping units of the preferred embodiment each contain a pair of clamps 48 within a pair of struts 50 . the clamps protrude from the base 53 at an inclined angle and tilting towards each other to create a narrow entrance 52 with an expanding space 54 therebetween . also in the preferred embodiment , the distal ends of the clamps are formed into a barrel shape 56 . the struts in this embodiment point perpendicularly from the base . during the attachment process , the ridge 57 of the sign strip 58 is fitted into the space 54 of the clamping unit through entrance 52 as shown in fig5 a , 5 b and 6 c . in this embodiment , the sign strip contains two ridges running in parallel along the entire length of the strip and at a distance from the edge of the strip . due to the barrel shape of the distal end of the clamp , the neck of the ridge is firmly gripped by the clamp , while the enlarged space 54 created by the inclined angle accommodates the diamond - shaped head with ease without creating outward pressure to the clamping pair once the corresponding section of the ridge is inserted . the inclined angle of the clamps also creates a resilience force on opposing sides of the neck to ensure exceptional security once the sign is fixed . also shown in fig6 a are two other sign strips 60 and 62 juxtapose strip 58 . in this preferred embodiment , a narrow gap 64 of 0 . 5 mm is provided between each sign strip . when a user wishes to disengage the sign strip from the frame , for example for changing or cleaning , a thin rigid sheet may be inserted into gap 64 in between two strips to pry away the strip . in the preferred embodiment , the prying force is applied toward the frame and in a rotational manner ( shown by arrow 66 in fig6 c ) resulting in strip 58 being pried out of the clamps in a rotational movement as shown in arrow 68 . since the gripping force of the clamps ( on opposing directions along line a - a ) is along the same direction as the prying force shown by arrow 66 , the prying force directly reduces the clamping force of the clamps , thereby reducing the force required to pull the sign from the frame . also in the preferred embodiment , the thin rigid sheet has a working thickness equal to the width of the gap for example , 0 . 5 mm following the example of the preferred gap described above . most preferably , at least one edge of the rigid sheet is beveled with the thinner side having a thickness of , for example , 0 . 3 mm , such that it can be easily inserted into the gap 64 between two strips . the preferred embodiments of the present invention are thus fully described . although the description and drawings referred to particular embodiments , it will be clear to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with variation of these specific details . hence this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein . for example , the frame is described to have metal strips but any other materials may be used according to the preference of the user , such as wood or plastic . the signs shown and described are strips but the signs may clearly be of many other shapes . furthermore , the strips may be fixed to the frame vertically . the sign strips are described to contain raised edges 44 a that act as margins to assist a user in aligning the display sheets ( such as company name ) flush against the edge of the strip during the in - laying process before it is fixed or glued thereon . the raised edges may also protect the edges of the display sheet pasted onto the front surface 44 of the strip from being inadvertently lifted . however , the raised edges are only a preferred embodiment , and the same invention may be practiced without these raised edges . furthermore , other shapes of the sign strip may also be used , two examples of which are illustrated in fig4 d and 4e . for ease of illustration , the same corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals . the display sheets are described as being metallic . some examples of metallic sheets are aluminum plates , aluma jet or metalphoto plates . however , it is clear that they can be made from any material , including but not limited to non - metallic material such as silk screen panels , plastic sheets , etching panel etc . these sheets or panels are not necessarily flat , and may even be raised or embossed , according to the user &# 39 ; s requirements . the gap in between strips is described as preferably 0 . 5 mm . this dimension is for illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the claims . a narrow gap of 0 . 5 mm or less provides a desirable appearance for some , but if another user prefers a much larger gap , the present invention can also be practiced accordingly . the ridge is described as having a “ diamond shape ” in the preferred embodiment simply for ease of description . it would be understood that any other shape with a restriction at the attachment site to the sign may act as the neck to receive the distal edge of the clamp . the distal edges of the clamps are described as being barrel or cylindrical in shape . again , it is clear that this is only one embodiment of the present invention , and that any other shapes providing an enlarged edge would fall within the scope of the present invention . clamping units are described to have struts but the clamps can function without them . the struts are provided to ensure that the signs do not tilt or rotate according to the direction shown in arrow 68 or 66 . using the struts , all the sign strips lying across the front of the frame will run on the same plane , giving a very neat appearance . each clamping unit is described as containing one pair of clamps and one pair of struts , but it is clear that a plurality of pairs of clamps and struts may be formed into one strip as a clamping unit , depending on the size of the frame and sign , and the requirements of the users . | 6 |
a first preferred embodiment of an euv optical projection system according to the present invention is shown in fig5 . to provide a high numerical aperture on the order of 0 . 25 , a six mirror system addresses the aforementioned problems of the systems that define the current state of the art . linewidths on the order of 30 nm are resolvable with this six mirror design . for example , 32 nm resolution is achieved by a system having a 13 . 4 nm source , a k 1 value of 0 . 6 and a numerical aperture of 0 . 25 ( using r = k 1 λ / na ). a linewidth of 27 nm is achieved using an 11 . 3 nm source . the radii , aspheric prescription , and the axial separation of the mirrors of the system of fig5 are shown in table 1 . specification data as defined at the plane of the mask are also included in table 1 . in the first embodiment of the projection system of the present invention , as shown in fig5 from long conjugate to short conjugate , the first mirror is convex , the second concave , the third convex , the fourth concave , the fifth convex , and the sixth concave . denoting a concave mirror with a ‘ p ’ ( positive optical power ) and a convex mirror with an ‘ n ’ ( negative optical power ), the configuration of the first embodiment may be described as “ npnpnp ”. the convex third mirror is advantageous because it allows the system to achieve lower chief ray angles of incidence . these angles of incidence are lower by up to 4 ° per surface . as discussed , lower incidence angles are advantageous , particularly in euv systems , because they result in higher reflectivities and reduced phase errors and amplitude . the absolute values of the mirror radii are , from the object to the image as a fraction of the system focal length , 9 . 7503 , 3 . 1750 , 1 . 3433 , 2 . 9847 , 4 . 0030 , and 2 . 1911 all to within around 10 %. the axial separations of the mirrors , as a fraction of the system focal length , are 1 . 8240 ( first convex to second concave mirror ), 1 . 8245 ( concave secondary to convex tertiary mirror ), 1 . 6613 ( convex tertiary to concave quaternary mirror ), 4 . 3842 ( concave quaternary to convex quintanary ), 1 . 7181 ( convex quintanary to concave sextanary ) and 1 . 8590 ( convex sextanary to wafer ), all to within around 10 %. all the mirrors are aspheric surfaces with 4th , 6th , 8th , 10th , and 12th order polynomial deformations . mirror m 1 images the virtual entrance pupil located behind the mirror to the surface of mirror m 2 . a physical aperture stop is located at mirror m 2 ensuring that each imaging bundle is defined in a like manner so that the imagery is stationary . in other words , the image quality ( ignoring the effect of aberrations ) is independent of field position . mirrors m 2 - m 4 work in conjunction with mirror m 1 and can be considered imaging group g 1 . group g 1 forms a minified image of the mask after mirror m 4 . imaging group g 2 consists of mirror m 5 and mirror m 6 . group g 2 relays an intermediate image ( i ) formed by group g 1 to the wafer at the proper reduction , which in this embodiment is 4x . the intermediate image i is preferably formed near the sixth mirror a substantial distance from each of the third mirror and the fourth mirror , to the short conjugate side thereof . by substantial , it is meant that the third and fourth mirrors do not represent a field mirror pair . advantages of this intermediate image i location include lowered chief ray incidence angles and facilitated clearance of mirrors m 5 and m 6 . group g 2 also forms an image of the virtual pupil plane location behind mirror m 5 at infinity , making the imaging bundles telecentric at the wafer plane . in this embodiment , group g 1 works a magnification of around − 0 . 68x while group g 2 works at a magnification of around − 0 . 37x , providing a magnification from mask to wafer of around 0 . 25x , or a reduction of 4x . in a system with an even number of bounces , it is possible to locate the mask and wafer on opposing sides of the imaging system to allow for unrestricted travel of the synchronous scanning stages . to enable unrestricted travel , the projection system has sufficient clearance at each conjugate . clearance can be a problem at the wafer since solid angle of the imaging bundles is a maximum at this location . this problem is exacerbated for all - reflective systems since the rays must pass freely around the mirrors to avoid clipping or vignetting ( this is not true for dioptric or catadioptric systems where the light passes through lens elements ). a measure of the clearance is the working distance at the wafer , and the back working distance is defined here to be the distance from the vertex of mirror m 5 to the wafer ( thus ignoring the finite thickness of mirror m 5 ). in this preferred embodiment the back working distance is around 30 mm . complete data for reconstructing the system of fig5 are contained in table 1 . for convenience , the prescription of the first embodiment of fig5 has been listed in code v ™ format in table 1 . the mirrored surfaces are numbered 1 - 6 with surface s 1 corresponding to mirror m 1 , s 2 corresponding to mirror m 2 , and so on . two additional surfaces complete the description with so and img representing the mask ( object ) and wafer ( image ) planes , respectively . after the surface number , there are two additional entries that list the radius of curvature ( r ) and the vertex to vertex spacing between the optical surfaces . the asp entry after each surface denotes a rotationally symmetric conic surface with higher - order polynomial deformations . the aspheric profile is uniquely determined by its k , a , b , c , d , and e values . each mirror uses 4th , 6th , 8th , 10th , and 12th order polynomial deformations . the sag of the aspheric surface ( through 12th order ) in the direction of the z - axis ( z ) is given by : z = ch 2 1 + 1 - ( 1 + k ) c 2 h 2 + a h 4 + b h 6 + c h 8 + d h 10 + e h 12 where h is the radial coordinate ; c is the curvature of the surface ( 1 / r ); and a , b , c , d , and e are the 4th , 6th , 8th , 10th , and 12th order deformation coefficients , respectively . the specification data has also been included in table 1 for the preferred embodiment . the numerical aperture at the object ( nao ) is 0 . 0625 radians ; this specification sets the angular divergence of the imaging bundles at the mask . the yob designation defines the extent of the ring field in the scan dimension . the ring field is centered at 120 mm above the optical axis ( oa ) which contains the parent vertex of each of the mirrors . this field extends from 116 mm to 124 mm giving a ring that is 8 mm wide at the mask . at 4x reduction , the ring field becomes 2 . 0 mm wide at the wafer plane . table 2 summarizes the performance of the npnpnp configuration of fig5 with the detailed distortion analysis being shown in fig6 and table 3 . as discussed above , the optical system of fig5 has very low incidence angles . the system preferably does not include a field group near the intermediate image . the intermediate image is located between mirrors m 4 and m 5 to maximize ray clearance in the aft end of the system . the na is 0 . 25 and the ring field width is 2 mm ( centered on a radius of 30 mm ) at the wafer . the composite rms wavefront error is 0 . 023λ ( 0 . 31 nm ), and the static distortion is corrected to better than 2 . 1 nm . this optical reduction system has a very short overall length or total track from mask to wafer of 1181 mm . chief ray cr incidence angles range from 3 . 7 ° to 13 . 8 ° for the chief ray from the central field point . due to the variation in ray angles across mirrors m 1 , m 3 and m 5 , these mirrors are candidates for graded multilayers . the chief ray incidence angles from the central field point are : mask : 8 . 0 °; m 1 : 6 . 9 °; m 2 : 5 . 8 °; m 3 : 13 . 8 °; m 4 : 6 . 0 °; m 5 : 8 . 8 °; and m 6 : 3 . 3 °. this design uses a low incidence angle at the mask to minimize image placement errors that might otherwise result from errors in the longitudinal position of the mask . in addition to the low incidence angles , the system utilizes low peak aspheric departure , where possible . the maximum peak departure , contained on mirror m 5 , is 17 . 0 μm . the other mirrors have low - risk aspheres with departures that range from 1 . 1 μm to 14 μm , consistent with the current alpha tool experience . as discussed above , low aspheric departures of the mirror surfaces facilitate visible light metrology testing without a null lens or cgh , resulting in a high degree of absolute accuracy . a second embodiment of an euv optical projection system according to the present invention is shown in fig7 . the radii , aspheric prescription , and the axial separation of the mirrors can be found in table 4 . specification data as defined at the plane of the mask are also included in table 4 . in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in fig7 from long conjugate to short conjugate , the first mirror is convex , the second concave , the third convex , the fourth concave , the fifth convex , and the sixth concave . denoting a concave mirror with a ‘ p ’ ( positive optical power ) and a convex mirror with an ‘ n ’ ( negative optical power , the configuration may alternately be described as npnpnp . in this respect , the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment . the absolute values of the mirror radii are different , however , and are , from the object to the image as a fraction of the system focal length , 11 . 1414 , 3 . 9329 , 1 . 7692 , 2 . 4567 , 2 . 4170 , and 2 . 3970 all to within around 10 %. the axial separations of the mirrors , as a fraction of the system focal length , are 2 . 0255 ( first convex to second concave mirror ), 2 . 9486 ( concave secondary to convex tertiary mirror ), 1 . 0731 ( convex tertiary to concave quaternary mirror ), 3 . 6233 ( concave quaternary to convex quintanary ), 1 . 9569 ( convex quintanary to concave sextenary ), all to within around 10 %. as with the first embodiment , all the mirrors are aspheric surfaces with 4th , 6th , 8th , 10th , and 12th order polynomial deformations . a physical aperture stop is again preferably located at or near mirror m 2 . the back working distance of the second embodiment is around 44 mm , which is at least a factor of 1 . 5x larger than systems that represent the state of the art . mirrors m 3 and m 4 are located farther from m 2 and closer to the intermediate image promoting a balance between the different orders of distortion , allowing the magnitude of the distortion to be reduced . the intermediate image is still preferably far enough from mirrors m 3 and m 4 , such that mirrors m 3 and m 4 do not represent a field mirror pair . another advantage of this second embodiment is that the dimension of mirror m 3 and m 4 in the cross - scan dimension is reduced . complete data needed to reconstruct the optical reduction system is contained in table 4 . the numerical aperture at the object ( nao ) is 0 . 0625 radians ; this specification sets the angular divergence of the imaging bundles at the mask . the yob designation defines the extent of the ring field in the scan dimension . the ring field is centered at 120 mm above the optical axis ( oa ) which contains the parent vertex of each of the mirrors . this field extends from 116 mm to 124 mm giving a ring that is 8 mm wide at the mask . at 4x reduction , the ring field becomes 2 . 0 mm wide at the wafer plane . table 5 , in conjunction with the distortion analysis shown in fig8 and table 6 , summarizes the performance of the second preferred embodiment shown in fig7 . the npnpnp configuration of fig7 achieves a high level of low - order aberration correction using the base spheres . by aspherizing the mirrors , lithographic levels of performance are obtained . at a numerical aperture of 0 . 25 , the design has a composite rms wavefront error of 0 . 022λ ( 0 . 30 nm ) and less than 1 . 20 nm of static chief ray distortion across its 2 mm ring field . the design has a total track length of 1388 mm , making this length 6 . 2x the focal length of the system . the peak aspheric departure is 15 . 2 μm and is located on mirror m 5 , the other mirrors have peak departures that range from 1 . 0 μm to 11 . 0 μm . this is significant since these low departures substantially reduce mirror fabrication and metrology risk . as a result of the novel distribution of optical power and spacing between the mirrors , the incidence angles are well controlled so that the design is compatible with euv multilayer coatings . for reference , the chief ray incidence angles from the central field point are as follows : mask 7 . 6 °; m 1 : 6 . 6 °; m 2 : 5 . 6 °; m 3 : 15 . 0 °; m 4 : 7 . 0 °; m 5 : 8 . 5 °; and m 6 : 3 . 2 °. in a third embodiment , we begin with the six mirror design of fig3 b and make the fourth mirror after the mask spherical . the other mirrors are then reoptimized in accord with the present invention . while the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments above , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that numerous modifications , substitutions , and additions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention . | 6 |
referring now to fig1 an illustration of the apparatus &# 39 ; appearance , the preferred embodiment of the present invention 1 is depicted as a single self contained unit which allows for easy installation into any existing or future land or motor vehicle . the hand held user interface unit 2 is stored in the main assembly 3 . the navigation antenna 4 is shown coming from the rear of the main assembly 3 , where other antennas , bus connections , i / o discretes , power connections , and auxiliary outlets originate . referring now to fig2 an illustration of the faceplate of the apparatus &# 39 ; main assembly , the present invention &# 39 ; s 1 main assembly faceplate 5 is shown with several component features . function selection controls 6 are located on the faceplate to facilitate user interface with the present invention &# 39 ; s am / fm stereo radio and cd - rom player . function selection controls 6 are also available for other additional uses . basic radio and cd - rom output information is presented to the user via the liquid crystal display ( lcd ) 7 . access to the cd - rom is achieved through the cd - rom tray access 8 and access to the hand held user interface unit 2 is available via the user interface storage slot 9 . referring now to fig3 an illustration of the apparatus &# 39 ; hand held user interface , the hand held user interface unit 2 is shown in an open position . the hand held interface unit upper casing 11 and the hand held interface unit lower casing 15 can be closed together by motion about the swivel mount 14 . by securing the hand held interface unit 2 in a closed position , it is possible to then store the unit in the user interface storage slot 9 within the main assembly 3 . interface unit user selection controls 12 , located on the unit casing , allow the mobile user to communicate with the computer system located within the main assembly 3 . information output from the computer system is displayed on the hand unit &# 39 ; s display screen 10 , which could be , but is not limited to , a touch sensitive lcd or active matrix thin film transistor ( tft ) display . referring again to fig3 the hand held user interface unit 2 has additional user input capabilities from either a keyboard entry system 16 or a voice command microphone system 17 . the keyboard input can include , but is not limited to , standard alphanumeric keys found on a qwerty style computer keyboard , function keys , hex numeric keys , and mouse cursor and data entry techniques . the voice input can provide , but is not limited to , a microphone and the associated equipment needed for speech recognition . data exchange between the hand held unit 2 and the mobile computer system housed within the main assembly 3 , as well as the power supply , is provided through the power and data chord 13 . data exchange is not limited to this method as alternative embodiments could employ other means such as an infra red data port . similarly , power could be provided by rechargeable or non - rechargeable battery systems . referring now to fig4 a block diagram illustrating the mobile computer architecture of the present invention , it can be seen that the mobile computer architecture is enclosed within the main assembly 3 . the mobile user is able to access the function selection controls 6 , located on the main assembly faceplate 5 , to input data to the radio and cd - rom components of the mobile architecture . this input is read by the faceplate input interface 21 , and distributed to the appropriate system component over the faceplate data bus network 48 . data output to the user is sent from the faceplate interface 21 over the bus network 48 to the faceplate lcd 7 . referring again to fig4 the am / fm stereo radio component of the architecture receives its radio frequency ( rf ) signals from the radio antenna 20 . these signals are sent to the rf filter and down converter digital signal processor ( dsp ) 22 which processes the radio signals so that conditioned signals can be sent to the amplifier 24 . the amplifier 24 then sends the strengthened signals to auxiliary outputs 25 and multiple speaker outputs 26 . the cd - rom system component 23 is accessed through the faceplate input interface 21 by using the proper function selection controls 6 . when an audio cd - rom is placed in the cd - rom system , the music output is sent from the cd - rom 23 to the amplifier for signal boosting and eventual output to the speakers 26 or the auxiliary components 25 . a physical rf and electromagnetic interference ( emi ) partition 27 separates the various components within the mobile computer architecture . this is done to ensure system integrity and the partitions may take various forms and be comprised of various materials . referring again to fig4 the computer system associated with this mobile architecture centers around the microprocessor 32 , which performs all standard central processing unit ( cpu ) functions and is interfaced with other components through the address and data bus network 38 . this network 38 is composed of a combination of address , control , and data busses and / or individual input / output ( i / o ) discrete lines . the read only memory ( rom ) 30 may contain coded instructions which may be fixed in medium by a variety of means such as , but not limited to , programmable rom ( prom , eprom , eeprom ) or any form of programmable logic device ( pld ). the application specific integrated circuit ( asic ) 28 also may be designed for useful , specific mobile user applications . these two components together , or in separate modes , will provide the mobile user with an operating system by which the user can operate the computer apparatus . the operating system may have several levels of complexity and be proprietary in nature or of a commercial standard such as , but not limited to , a basic input output system ( bios ), disk operating system ( dos ), microsoft windows 3 . 1 , windows 95 , windows ce , or qnx . again referring to fig4 the random access memory ( ram ) module 29 may be composed of dynamic ram ( dram ) or static ram ( sram ). the flash memory 31 should be composed of a non - volatile memory component . both the ram 29 and the flash 31 are designed to accommodate temporary and long term data storage needs and are designed for future expansion and / or upgrades . the microprocessor 32 also connects to the cd - rom system component 23 so that data from a user supplied data cd - rom can be read by the mobile computer architecture . the data may be continually accessed from the cd - rom or loaded into system memory for later use and / or execution . the microprocessor 32 also connects to the amplifier 24 such that any desired microprocessor signal can be output to the speakers 26 or any auxiliary systems 25 . a direct speaker interface 40 also is connected to the microprocessor 32 . additionally , auxiliary inputs 39 are interfaced to the microprocessor 32 and the faceplate input interface 21 . these inputs allow for data input such as , but not limited to , external cd - rom signals and vehicle diagnostic capabilities such as engine controller and environment control connections . referring again to fig4 the microprocessor 32 can interface with expansion slots 33 and 34 which allow for additional integrated circuits or future upgrades . additionally , the present invention has the microprocessor 32 connected to a display controller 41 which in turn connects to multiple user displays and multiple backlight and contrast controls 44 . the display controller 41 is also interfaced with a buffer memory module 42 . the mobile computer architecture microprocessor 32 is most importantly interfaced with an input / output ( i / o ) processor 35 uniquely optimized for mobile user line replaceable unit ( lru ) applications . the i / o processor 35 interfaces with internal lrus 36 and external lrus 37 as well as connecting to non - main assembly input components such as keyboards 16 and voice recognition commands 17 . the i / o processor 35 and related bus structure is outlined in greater detail below . referring to fig4 again , other necessary system components of the mobile architecture are depicted , such as power supplies and regulators 47 , a battery backup 46 , and oscillators 45 . power supplies could consist of various potential sources such as a 12v dc automobile battery 49 or automobile alternator source ; voltage regulation could be stepped down to various levels including , but not limited to , 5v or 3 . 3v . a battery backup 46 could consist of an internally stored dry cell battery or a “ keep alive ” wire lead to an automobile battery . oscillators 45 could take various forms including that of the temperature controlled crystal oscillator ( tcxo ). finally , it is contemplated that the mobile computer architecture described herein may in fact have various forms , such as being a single chip or chipset , or being incorporated onto a larger chip or board as one of multiple functions on the chip or board . it is usually desired in field operations to have a user friendly i / o management structure which allows the use of line replaceable units ( lrus ). the lru architecture described herein promotes flexibility and possesses easy reconfiguration capabilities while in a mobile vehicle environment . the preferred embodiment provides a data bus and i / o discrete line network ( address , control , and data connections ) which connect the i / o processor with an lru . this network may contain a plurality of means such as , but not limited to , parallel and serial ports , isa , eisa , pci , and / or vme busses , pcmcia card slots , or other types of standard busses or specially designed proprietary bus structures . additional features of this optimized i / o management system are improved safety standards and theft deterrence . referring now to fig5 a block diagram of the external i / o management system , the main assembly 3 is shown in partial representation with the i / o processor 35 and the display controller 41 . the i / o data bus 51 is shown interfacing , among other components , the i / o processor 35 with internal lrus 36 and external lrus 37 . the i / o data bus 51 is a combination of an address , control , and data bus structure consisting of , but not limited to , an eight ( 8 ), sixteen ( 16 ), thirty - two ( 32 ), or sixty - four ( 64 ) bit architecture . in possible conjunction with this bus structure is a complementing network of i / o discrete lines 52 , which may cycle between , but is not necessarily limited to , ± 5v or ± 3 . 3v . the i / o data bus 51 and i / o discrete lines 52 also connect the i / o processor 35 with the first hand held user interface unit 2 as well as other hand held units 50 or additional user interfaces 43 . the display controller 41 also interfaces with the hand held units 2 and 50 as well as additional user interfaces 43 using the display data bus 53 and the display i / o discrete lines 54 . the display data bus 53 is a combination of an address , control , and data bus structure consisting of , but not limited to , an eight ( 8 ), sixteen ( 16 ), thirty - two ( 32 ), or sixty - four ( 64 ) bit architecture . in possible conjunction with this bus structure , the network is complemented with the display discrete lines 54 , which may cycle between , but not necessarily only , ± 5v or ± 3 . 3v . the display data bus 53 and display discrete lines 54 connect the display controller 41 to the appropriate display drivers in the first 58 and second 59 hand held units . the display drivers 58 and 59 provide means , but are not limited to , generating characters , displaying layered text , and presenting graphics on the hand held unit displays 10 and 60 , the i / o data bus 51 and i / o discrete line 52 connects the i / o processor 35 with the appropriate i / o registers in the first 56 and second 57 hand units . hand held keyboard units 16 and 61 , as well as hand held unit function keys 12 and 62 , interface with the appropriate hand held unit i / o registers 56 and 57 . again referring to fig5 an example is shown to demonstrate the uniqueness of this lru i / o management system . appearing to the right of the depictions of hand held units 2 and 50 , there appears a combination of addresses , represented as a hex word and two discrete lines . in order to promote accurate data dissemination and collection , each hand held interface unit has a unique address from which to communicate with the mobile computer architecture . if the proper address signature is not provided to the mobile computer system in the main assembly 3 , data access can be restricted . this can be done via user selected passwords or by hardware unit code and pin configuration . this feature promotes safety and data security for the system as well as providing substantial theft deterrence since the entire system can only be accessed by authorized users . this i / o management network also allows for quick field replacement of secured and authorized lrus . in final consideration , it is also contemplated that the i / o management system described herein may in fact have various forms and embodiments , such as being a single chip or chipset , or being incorporated onto a larger chip or board as one of multiple functions on the chip or board . an alternative embodiment of the main assembly faceplate 5 involves an easily replaced front panel which can slide into place over the front of the main assembly 3 . the replaceable faceplate would be standardized and the composition material flexible enough such that the faceplate could be physically touched to depress and activate an underlying function selection control . this feature provides for additional anti - theft deterrence and possible upgrade of the present invention &# 39 ; s 1 appearance . to deter the system from being stolen , a blank boilerplate panel could be placed over the system to make it appear to outside onlookers that no mobile computer architecture exists in the vehicle . custom designed replaceable faceplates could provide options on visually appealing user interface designs . referring now to fig6 a , an illustration of additional faceplate anti - theft and design features , an exploded view of the main assembly 3 is depicted with the replaceable faceplate 65 located above the front of the assembly . the replaceable faceplate 65 would fit down into the front panel retainer 66 . at the top of the retainer is attached a hinge 67 which is also attached to the front panel retainer cover 68 . the front panel retainer cover is closed down over the replaceable faceplate 65 , once it has been slid into the front panel retainer 66 . fig6 b shows a possible configuration for the function selection control 6 components . switch component a 70 is situated next to and almost interlocks with switch component b 71 . switch component c 72 is crafted such that upon being depressed , it makes contact with both switch components a 70 and b 71 . this allows an electric current to flow through the switch , thus activating the control . the replaceable faceplate 65 is pliant enough so that when it is secured in the front panel retainer 66 , finger pressure upon its surface is sufficient to depress the underlying switch component c 72 . it is also contemplated that these additional features may in fact have various forms , such as being on a single chip or chipset , or being incorporated onto a larger chip or board as one of multiple functions on the chip or board . the preferred embodiment allows for the flexibility to add and configure the line replaceable units as required for the mobile user &# 39 ; s needs . an additional feature of the present invention is a radio navigation lru i / o device specifically designed to fully utilize the optimized i / o management of the mobile computer architecture . fig7 illustrates a preferred embodiment for this lru . satellite radio navigation signals can be used to compute a receiver &# 39 ; s position anywhere on the earth . examples of such satellite radio navigation systems are the united states &# 39 ; global positioning system ( gps ) and the russian glonass navigation system . the determination of location based on radio navigation signals is well known in the art , therefore only a brief overview is outlined herein . the cartesian ( x , y , z ) coordinates of the satellites are determined by interpreting the ephemeris data provided by the satellites . pseudoranges between the receiver and the satellites are than calculated based on transmission time delays . given information from four satellites , the location of the receiver can be determined from the four distance equations : ( x 1 - u x ) 2 +( y 1 - u y ) 2 +( z 1 - u z ) 2 =( r 1 - c b ) 2 ( x 2 - u x ) 2 +( y 2 - u y ) 2 +( z 2 - u z ) 2 =( r 2 - c b ) 2 ( x 3 - u x ) 2 +( y 3 - u y ) 2 +( z 3 - u z ) 2 =( r 2 - c b ) 2 ( x 4 - u x ) 2 +( y 4 - u y ) 2 +( z 4 - u z ) 2 =( r 4 - c b ) 2 where x 1 - 4 , y 1 - 4 , and z 1 - 4 , are the x , y , and z coordinates of the four satellites , u x , y , z is the position of the user &# 39 ; s receiver , and c b is the clock bias error . there are four equations and four unknowns in this outlined system ; therefore the equations can be solved for the clock bias and the position of the receiver . the preferred embodiment of the present invention couples this basic approach with statistical analysis techniques and the i / o management method outlined previously to produce a unique system which enhances the user &# 39 ; s calculated location . referring now to fig7 an illustration of an independent radio navigation lru i / o device , it can be seen that the whole line replaceable unit is defined as component 75 . a data bus 51 , defined previously in fig4 provides data to and from the i / o processor 35 and the navigation i / o register 76 . additionally , discrete lines 52 , also defined previously in fig4 relay discrete information between the i / o processor 35 and the navigation i / o register 76 . the navigation i / o register 76 can forward data to the radio frequency ( rf ) correlator / digital signal processor ( dsp ) 77 and / or the navigation microprocessor 82 . this information transfer occurs over the navigation data bus 86 and is coordinated through the use of a navigation address bus 85 . the preferred embodiment of the navigation lru 75 is to receive radio navigation signals and then determine the receiver &# 39 ; s position . this is done by receiving signals through the navigation antenna 4 and directing these signals to a radio frequency ( rf ) filter 80 . the filtered signal is then passed to a low noise amplifier ( lna ) 79 to boost signal strength and then forwarded to the rf front end down converter 78 . subsequent image filtering occurs in the if filter ( s ) 81 to protect against out - of - band interfering signals . the signal is then passed from the rf down converter 78 to the rf correlator / dsp 77 for digital signal processing . this process includes , but is not limited to , acquisition and tracking of multiple channels of spread spectrum signals . automatic gain control ( agc ) functions may also be relayed between the rf dsp 77 and the rf down converter 78 . the navigation microprocessor 82 performs standard central processing unit ( cpu ) functions and is interfaced to memory through the navigation address bus 85 and data bus 86 . the random access memory ( ram ) modules 84 may be composed of dynamic ram ( dram ) or static ram ( sram ). the read only memory ( rom ) 83 may contain coded instructions which may be fixed in medium by a variety of means such as , but not limited to , programmable roms ( prom , eprom , eeprom ), application specific integrated circuits ( asics ), or programmable logic devices ( plds ). also found within the navigation lru 75 are other necessary system components such as power supplies and regulators 88 and oscillators 87 . power supplies could consist of various potential sources such as 12v dc and voltage regulation could be stepped down to various levels including , but not limited to , 5v or 3 . 3v . oscillators could take various froms including one of the most popular , the temperature controlled crystal oscillator ( tcxo ). encoded in the rom 83 of the preferred embodiment navigation lru i / o device 75 , will be various methods to statistically optimize the position calculated from the radio navigation signals . numerous means can be used to filter out signal noise and potential error sources . examples include , but are not limited to , batch filters and recursive sequential filters of which kalman filtering is one technique . a method to reduce positional uncertainty involves the incorporation of correction terms to counter possible error sources such as selective availability or atmospheric propagation delays . if a known survey location is compared to a receiver &# 39 ; s collocated calculated position , correction terms can be determined to match the true known location with the calculated position . fig8 and 9 are flow chart representations of one of the methods employed in the rom 83 of the present invention to reconcile a calculated position with that of a consistently used , “ virtually known ” base station point or position . referring now to fig8 a flow chart for correction term data collection and determination , step 101 is first performed to calculate the position and velocity of the user receiver from raw radio navigation data . step 102 determines if this raw calculated position is within a certain predetermined distance from a base station point stored in archival memory . an answer of no leads to step 103 which states there are no special correction terms to modify the raw data with and to use the position calculated from raw data as the navigation solution provided to the user . an answer of yes to step 102 leads to step 104 which defines the base station point as the actual current position used in the user provided navigation solution for that particular cycle . step 105 than calculates correction terms for immediate use of future navigation solutions . this is accomplished by using the base station point as the “ truth ” and calculating positional errors from the difference between the “ true position ” and the raw data position . step 106 applies the correction terms to the user supplied navigation solution for a predetermined period of time or while the user receiver remains within a predefined geographical distance of the base station point location . referring now to fig9 a flow chart for base station point determination , step 101 is called and the position and velocity of the user receiver is calculated from raw radio navigation data . step 111 then determines if the user &# 39 ; s velocity components are less then some predetermined value . this is a check to ensure that the vehicle is not moving . if the answer is no to this step , no further base station point determination is attempted . if the answer to step 111 is yes , step 112 then determines if the number of raw radio position calculations , taken while the vehicle is not in motion , exceeds some predetermined value . this step ensures that base station points are not set for random vehicle stopping locations such as stop lights . if the answer to step 112 is negative , no further base station point determination is attempted . if the answer to step 112 is affirmative , step 113 stores the calculated position in memory for future use . step 114 is then executed , in which a check is done to ensure that a predetermined number of continuously collected raw position calculations have been stored in memory . this is done to ensure that there exists enough position data to perform acceptable statistical analysis . if step 114 is executed and enough data does not exist , then no further base station point determination is attempted . if enough data does exist in the stored memory register , then step 115 is executed . step 115 performs the coded statistical analysis ; an example of which could be , but not necessarily limited to , gaussian least squares . upon completion of step 115 , step 116 places the best position estimate into a separate storage register reserved exclusively for the best position estimates of the same location class , i . e . estimates that are within a predetermined distance from each other . step 117 is then executed , which determines if there are more then some predetermined number of best position estimates within any given location class register . if the answer is negative , no further base station point determination is attempted . step 118 is then executed to reset the continuous cycle counter to zero . this ensures that multiple best position estimates are not generated from any given vehicle stoppage . if the answer to step 117 is affirmative , step 119 is then performed which performs an additional round of statistical analysis on all best position estimates within a given location class register . an example of a technique for this analysis could be , but is not necessarily limited to , gaussian least squares . step 119 will produce an overall an overall best position estimate which is then defined as a valid base station point in step 120 . execution of step 120 completes the routine for base station point determination . fig7 , and 9 illustrate a unique embodiment of a radio navigation lru i / o device . alternative embodiments could have other features or configurations including , but not limited to , multiple same signal radio navigation reception , multiple signal radio navigation reception , and mixed navigation systems . it is also contemplated that the radio navigation lru i / o device may in fact have various forms , such as being a single chip or chipset , or being incorporated onto a larger chip or board as one of multiple functions on the chip or board . an additional embodiment of the present invention is a crash detection lru i / o device specifically designed to fully utilize the optimized i / o management of the mobile computer architecture . fig1 , an illustration of the crash detection lru i / o device , contains two depictions ; one displays a preferred embodiment for a board layout and the second depicts sensor orientation information . as discussed in the background of related art , this lru i / o device does not use a vehicle &# 39 ; s air bag system and is fully self - contained to interface with the present invention . referring now to fig1 a , an illustration of an independent crash detection lru i / o device , it can be seen that the whole line replaceable unit is defined as component 125 . a data bus 51 , defined previously in fig4 provides data to and from the i / o processor 35 and the crash detection i / o register 126 . additionally , discrete lines 52 , also defined previously in fig4 relay discrete information between the i / o processor 35 and the crash detection i / o register 126 . the crash detection i / o register 126 forwards information to the crash detection microprocessor 127 . this information transfer is coordinated and passed over the crash detection data bus network 137 . the preferred embodiment of the crash detection lru 125 will accurately determine if a vehicle accident , or crash , has occurred . the i / o device 125 accomplishes this task by sensing if a deceleration of the lru unit is above some predetermined threshold value . deceleration is calculated from information provided by accelerometers located on microelectro - mechanical sensors ( mems ) or from strain gauges . the present invention can employ both or either component and can also verify the direction and magnitude of the impacting force through the employment of at least two sensing units that are purposely skewed in relation to each other . the resulting crash detection data can than be forwarded onto emergency service providers to help the mobile user . referring again to fig1 a , the crash detection microprocessor 127 performs all the standard cpu functions . the crash detection microprocessor 127 is connected to the microelectro - mechanical sensor ( mems ) integrated circuits ( ics ) 132 and 136 via the crash detection data bus network 137 . also connected to the network 137 is the analog to digital ( a / d ) converter 133 , which in turn is connected to the first 134 and second 135 strain gauge instruments . the crash detection network 137 also allows the microprocessor 127 to interface with the crash memory modules . the random access memory ( ram ) module 131 may be composed of dynamic ram ( dram ) or static ram ( sram ). the read only memory ( rom ) 130 contains coded instructions which may be fixed in medium by a variety of means such as , but not limited to , programmable roms ( prom , eprom , eeprom ), application specific integrated circuits ( asics ), or programmable logic devices ( plds ). also found within the crash detection lru 125 are other necessary system components such as power supplies and regulators 128 and oscillators 129 . power supplies could consist of various potential sources such as 12v dc and voltage regulation could be stepped down to various levels including , but not limited to , 5v or 3 . 3v . oscillators could take various forms including , but not limited to , the temperature controlled crystal oscillator ( tcxo ). referring now to fig1 b , it can be seen that either the two mems ics 132 and 136 , or the two strain gauges 134 and 135 , or a combination of the two can be oriented such that there is some known skew angle , β , between the two components . furthermore , the angle between the two units and the main assembly 3 can be set such that the orientation of an impacting force with respect to a vehicle &# 39 ; s reference frame may be known . fig1 b denotes a reference frame for the first mems ic 132 as x r1 and y r1 and a second reference frame for the second mems ic 136 as x r2 and y r2 . a sample impact force is depicted by an arrow ; the angle between the impact vector and the first reference frame is defined as γ , and the angle between the impact vector and the second reference frame is defined as φ . it is therefore possible to resolve the impact force vector into components in each reference frame as follows : since the relationship between the angle γ and the angle φ is known in terms of angle β , it is possible to compare the impact force components sensed in one reference frame with that which was sensed in the second reference frame . this allows for redundant sensing abilities and a capability for sensor fault detection and identification . this in turn provides a safer and more robust system for the mobile user . fig1 illustrates a unique embodiment of a crash detection lru i / o device . other alternative embodiments could possess features or configurations including , but not limited to , three dimensional accelerometers and strain gauge set - ups and mixed crash detection systems . it is also contemplated that the crash detection lru i / o device may in fact have various forms , such as being on a single chip or chipset , or being incorporated onto a larger chip or board as one of multiple functions on the chip or board . | 6 |
the most preferable embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawing . note that the same reference numerals in the embodiments denote the same parts as in fig1 throughout the drawings . the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig2 to 5 . fig2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a control apparatus according to the first embodiment . that is , according to the first embodiment , a control apparatus 1 is different from a control apparatus 40 in the prior art shown in fig1 in that a common memory 21 is added , and a control program execution circuit 14 , control program memory 15 , and control data memory 16 are connected to each other through a dedicated bus 27 . this common memory 21 is connected to an i / o interface 17 , data transmission circuit 20 , and system bus 19 . additionally , the control program execution circuit 14 includes an arithmetic circuit , bus control circuit , and work register . fig3 is a block diagram showing a modified arrangement of the control apparatus 1 in fig2 with attention to i / o data transfer . in fig3 , the common memory 21 is directly connected to the i / o interface 17 and the data transmission circuit 20 . the common memory 21 is used as a common resource such as an i / o data buffer or transmission data buffer for each unit in the control apparatus 1 . the i / o interface 17 and the data transmission circuit 20 can operate independently of the cpu 11 and the control program execution circuit 14 . the i / o interface 17 reads data of a control target 30 from the i / o 2 , and outputs the control data to the control target 30 . the control program execution circuit 14 and the cpu 11 read the i / o data from the common memory 21 , and write the control data to the common memory 21 , thereby executing the control operation . similarly , the data transmission circuit 20 exchanges the transmission data between the common memory 21 and an off - system control apparatus 23 or the like to carry out the function as a network apparatus . the data transmission circuit 20 is also used for scan transmission ( cyclic transmission ) performed between the off - system control apparatus 23 and the control apparatus 1 . hence , in the common memory 21 , transmission and reception data areas respectively allocated to the control apparatus 1 and the off - system control apparatus 23 are arranged . in this arrangement , the data in the transmission data area of the control apparatus 1 is transferred , by one data transmission , to all of the common memories 21 in the off - system control apparatuses connected through a single transmission path . the concept of the above - described scan transmission will be described with reference to fig4 . in fig4 , control apparatuses 1 (# 1 ), 1 (# 2 ), (# 3 ), . . . , 1 (# n ) are connected to each other through the single transmission path . as shown in a line c 1 , the data in the transmission data area of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) is transferred , by one data transmission , to the common memories 21 of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) and control apparatuses 1 (# 3 ) to 1 (# n ) all of which are connected to the single transmission path . similarly , as shown in a line c 2 , the data in the transmission data area of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) is also transferred to the common memories 21 of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) and control apparatuses 1 (# 3 ) to 1 (# n ). similarly , as shown in a line c 3 , the data in the transmission data area of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) is also transferred to the common memories 21 of the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 ) and 1 (# 2 ), and control apparatuses 1 (# 4 ) to 1 (# n ). similarly , as shown in a line cn , the data in the transmission data area of the control apparatus 1 (# n ) is also transferred to the common memories 21 of the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 ) to 1 (#( n - 1 )). fig5 shows the concept of an example of the allocation of a transmission data area in the common memory 21 . for example , when the data input / output to / from an i / o 2 is to be also used in the off - system control apparatus 23 via the control apparatus 1 , allocation is a made such that transmission data area 21 a allocated to the common memory 21 in the control apparatus 1 receives the data from the i / o 2 . hence , the data from the i / o 2 included in the control apparatus 1 can also be used in the off - system control apparatus 23 . in this arrangement , when the data from the i / o 2 is to be transmitted to the off - system control apparatus 23 , after reading the data from the i / o 2 , the data need not be copied from the i / o data buffer to the control data memory 16 used by the data transmission circuit 20 . hence , the overhead of a cpu 11 and the control program execution circuit 14 in the control apparatus 1 can be reduced to execute the control within a short control period . next , the operation of the above - described control apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described . in fig3 , the control apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes the common memory 21 directly connected to the i / o interface 17 and the data transmission circuit 20 . the common memory 21 is used as a common resource such as the i / o data buffer or transmission data buffer for each unit in the control apparatus 1 . the i / o interface 17 and the data transmission circuit 20 can operate independently of the cpu 11 and the control program execution circuit 14 . the i / o interface 17 reads data of a control target 30 from the i / o 2 , and outputs the control data to the control target 30 . the control program execution circuit 14 and the cpu 11 read the i / o data from the common memory 21 , and write the control data to the common memory 21 , thereby executing the control operation . similarly , the data transmission circuit 20 exchanges the transmission data between the common memory 21 and an off - system control apparatus 23 or the like to serve as a network apparatus . the data transmission circuit 20 is also used for scan transmission ( cyclic transmission ) performed between the off - system control apparatus 23 and the control apparatus 1 . in order to implement this scan transmission , in the common memory 21 , as shown in fig5 , the transmission data area 21 a and a reception data area 21 b respectively allocated to the control apparatus 1 and the off - system control apparatus 23 are arranged . in this arrangement , as shown in fig4 , the data in the transmission data area 21 a of the control apparatus 1 is transferred , by one data transmission , to all of the reception data areas 21 b of the common memories 21 in the off - system control apparatuses 1 (# 2 to # n ) connected through a single transmission path . with this operation , the data of the i / o 2 included in the control apparatus 1 can also be used in the off - system control apparatus 23 . alternatively , by using a data flow in the opposite direction , as shown in fig5 , the data transmitted from the off - system control apparatus 23 can be output to the i / o 2 included in the control apparatus 1 . as described above , in the control apparatus according to the first embodiment , when the data from the i / o 2 is to be transmitted to the off - system control apparatus 23 , after reading the data from the i / o 2 , the data need not be copied from the i / o data buffer to the control data memory 16 used by the data transmission circuit 20 . hence , the overhead of a cpu 11 and the control program execution circuit 14 in the control apparatus 1 can be reduced to execute the control within a short control period . the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig6 and 7 . the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment denote the same parts in fig6 , and a repetitive description will be omitted . in a control apparatus according to the second embodiment , data is autonomously input / output between an i / o interface 17 and a common memory 21 . that is , as shown in fig6 , the i / o interface 17 writes i / o input data ( e . g ., i / o input data 1 21 d ) obtained from an i / o 2 , to the common memory 21 . the i / o interface 17 also obtains i / o output data ( e . g ., i / o output data 21 h ) from the common memory 21 , and then writes the obtained data to the i / o 2 . batch input / output operation performed by the i / o interface 17 is concurrently executed with the operation of the control program execution circuit 14 , as shown in the timing chart of the operations of the control program execution circuit 14 and the i / o interface 17 in fig7 . before starting scanning the control program , the control program execution circuit 14 prepares the i / o input data from the i / o 2 , in the common memory 21 . the flag or the like in fig6 notifies the control program that the i / o input data can be used . in the i / o input data from the i / o 2 , the data is not used in the writing operation to the common memory 21 , and a plurality of buffer areas and transfer completion flags ( e . g ., data transfer completion flag 1 21 c and data transfer completion flag 2 21 e ) are provided such that a completely transferred data group can be used . through the common memory 21 the i / o interface 17 is notified of information representing that the scan process of the control program execution circuit 14 ends and the i / o output data 21 h is written in the common memory 21 . after that , the i / o interface 17 outputs the i / o output data 21 h to the i / o 2 . as described above , the i / o interface 17 performs a batch input / output process of the i / o data while handshaking with the control program execution circuit 14 . generally , the time required for inputting / outputting the data to / from the common memory 21 is shorter than that for inputting / outputting the i / o data , thereby shortening the effective scan time of the control program . next , the operation of the above - described control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described . in a control apparatus according to the second embodiment , data is autonomously input / output between an i / o interface 17 and a common memory 21 . accordingly , as shown in fig6 , the i / o interface 17 writes i / o input data ( e . g ., i / o input data 1 21 d ) obtained from an i / o 2 , to the common memory 21 . the i / o interface 17 also writes the i / o output data ( e . g ., i / o output data 21 h ) from the common memory 21 to the i / o 2 . batch input / output operation performed by the i / o interface 17 is concurrently executed with the operation of the control program execution circuit 14 , as shown in the timing chart in fig7 . before starting scanning the control program , the control program execution circuit 14 prepares the i / o input data from the i / o 2 , in the common memory 21 . the flag or the like in fig6 notifies the control program that the i / o input data can be used . in the i / o input data from the i / o 2 , the data is not used in the writing operation to the common memory 21 , and a plurality of buffer areas and transfer completion flags ( e . g ., data transfer completion flag 1 21 c and data transfer completion flag 2 21 e ) are provided such that the completely transferred data group can be used . through the common memory 21 the i / o interface 17 is notified of information representing that the scan process of the control program execution circuit 14 ends and the i / o output data 21 h is written in the common memory 21 . after that , the i / o interface 17 outputs the i / o output data 21 h to the i / o 2 . as described above , in the control apparatus according to the second embodiment , the i / o interface 17 performs a batch input / output process of the i / o data while handshaking with the control program execution circuit 14 . generally , the time required for inputting / outputting the data to / from the common memory 21 is shorter than that for inputting / outputting the i / o data , thereby shortening the effective scan time of the control program . the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig3 , and 9 . in the third embodiment , as shown in fig8 , assume that a control apparatus 1 described in the first or second embodiment is mounted in a single unit 32 together with a control module 33 and a transmission module 34 . since the arrangement of the control apparatus 1 is the same as in the first and second embodiments , a repetitive description will be omitted . each of the control apparatus 1 , control module 33 , and transmission module 34 which are mounted in the unit 32 is connected to a inter - module bus 35 so that data transfer can be performed through the inter - module bus 35 . therefore , in the control apparatus 1 , a cpu 11 uses an inter - module interface 24 to read data such as a global variable from the control module 33 or the transmission module 34 through the inter - module bus 35 . the read data are written in a common memory 21 . as shown in fig9 , these data are written in a transmission data area 21 a in the common memory 21 . as described in the first embodiment , the contents of the common memory 21 are equalized with those of the common memory 21 in an off - system control apparatus 23 through a data transmission circuit 20 . therefore , in this arrangement , the control apparatus 1 can access the data in the control module 33 and the transmission module 34 serving as the off - system modules mounted in the same single unit 32 as in the control apparatus 1 . similarly , the control module 33 and the transmission module 34 can also access the data ( e . g ., the global variables of the control module 33 and the transmission module 34 , and the setting data of the transmission module 34 ) written in a reception data area 21 b in the common memory 21 . next , the operation of the above - described control apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described . each of the control apparatus 1 , control module 33 , and transmission module 34 which are mounted in the unit 32 is connected to a inter - module bus 35 so that data transfer can be performed through the inter - module bus 35 . therefore , the inter - module interface 24 of the control apparatus 1 reads data such as a global variable from the control module 33 or the transmission module 34 , and the read data is written in the transmission data area 21 a in the common memory 21 , as shown in fig9 . as described above , in the control apparatus according to the third embodiment , the control apparatus 1 can access the data in the control module 33 and the transmission module 34 serving as the off - system modules mounted in the same single unit 32 as in the control apparatus 1 . similarly , the control module 33 and the transmission module 34 can also access the data ( e . g ., the global variables of the control module 33 and the transmission module 34 , and the setting data of the transmission module 34 ) written in a reception data area 21 b in the common memory 21 . the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig8 and 9 . in a control apparatus according to the fourth embodiment , as shown in fig8 , assume that a control apparatus 1 as in the first or second embodiment is also mounted in a single unit 32 together with a control module 33 and a transmission module 34 , as in a control apparatus according to the third embodiment . therefore , in the fourth embodiment , the points different from the third embodiment will be described , and a repetitive description will be omitted . that is , the fourth embodiment shows a more practical example of the third embodiment . as shown in fig8 , assume that the transmission module 34 mounted in the single unit 32 includes a transmission common memory ( not shown ), like a profibus ( trademark ) module and devicenet ( trademark ) module . when all the contents of this transmission common memory ( not shown ) are copied into a common memory 21 in a control apparatus 1 , data from a module arranged downstream of the control apparatus 1 can be used through an off - system control apparatus 23 . in an example shown in fig8 , the transmission module 34 is also connected to a remote i / o 36 (# 1 ) through a transmission path 37 (# 1 ). the remote i / o 36 (# 1 ) is connected to the remote i / o 36 (# 2 ) through the transmission path 37 (# 2 ), and then connected to the remote i / o 36 (# 3 ) through the transmission path 37 (# 3 ). in this case , as shown in fig9 , all input data from the remote i / os 36 (# 1 to # 3 ) connected to the transmission module 34 are allocated to a transmission data area 21 a of the common memory 21 in the control apparatus 1 . therefore , the off - system control apparatus 23 connected to a data transmission circuit 20 in the control apparatus 1 can access the data of all the modules ( e . g ., the control module 33 and transmission module 34 ) and the apparatuses ( e . g ., the remote i / os 36 (# 1 to # 3 )) connected downstream of the control apparatus 1 , in addition to the input data from the remote i / os 36 (# 1 to # 3 ). this operation is particularly useful when the data transmission circuit 20 is connected to a monitor apparatus and a surveillance apparatus . next , the operation of the above - described control apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be described . that is , as shown in fig8 , assume that the transmission module 34 mounted in the single unit 32 together with the control apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment includes the transmission common memory ( not shown ), like the profibus ( trademark ) module and devicenet ( trademark ) module . when all the contents of this transmission common memory ( not shown ) are copied into the common memory 21 in the control apparatus 1 , data from the module arranged downstream of the control apparatus 1 can be used through the off - system control apparatus 23 . more specifically , when the remote i / os 36 (# 1 to # 3 ) are sequentially connected downstream of the transmission module 34 , as shown in fig8 , the input data from the remote i / os 36 (# 1 to # 3 ) are allocated to the transmission data area 21 a of the common memory 21 in the control apparatus 1 as shown in fig9 . therefore , the off - system control apparatus 23 connected to the data transmission circuit 20 in the control apparatus 1 can access the data of all the modules ( e . g ., the control module 33 and transmission th module 34 ) and the apparatuses ( e . g ., the remote i / os 36 (# 1 to # 3 )) connected downstream of the control apparatus 1 , in addition to the input data from the remote i / os 36 (# 1 to # 3 ). this operation is particularly useful when the data transmission circuit 20 is connected to a monitor apparatus and a surveillance apparatus . the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to fig1 and 11 . in the fifth embodiment , as shown in fig1 , a plurality of control apparatuses 1 ( e . g ., control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 4 )) described in the first or second embodiment are connected to each other through a transmission path 38 so that data can be transmitted / received to / from each other . the arrangement of the control apparatus 1 is the same as in the first and second embodiments , a repetitive description will be omitted . note that , as shown in fig1 , the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ) are respectively connected to dedicated i / os 2 (# 1 to # 3 ) through i / o interfaces 17 ( see fig2 ). hence , as described in the first and second embodiments , since each of the control apparatuses 1 has an i / o data area in a common memory 21 , data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 and the corresponding i / o 2 . that is , since the common memory 21 (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) has an i / o data area 21 d (# 1 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o 2 (# 1 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) and the i / o 2 (# 1 ). also , since the common memory 21 (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) has an i / o data area 21 f (# 2 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o 2 (# 2 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) and the i / o 2 (# 2 ). also , since the common memory 21 (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) has an i / o data area 21 i (# 3 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o 2 (# 3 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) and the i / o 2 (# 3 ). note that since the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 4 ) are connected to each other through the transmission path 38 in the state wherein the data can be transmitted / received to / from each other , a given control apparatus 1 can obtain the i / o data in the i / o data area of the common memory 21 in an off - system control apparatus 1 . therefore , since the common memory 21 (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) has the i / o data area 21 f (# 1 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 f (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ). also , since the common memory 21 (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) has the i / o data area 21 i (# 1 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 i (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ). in this arrangement , the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) can transfer the i / o data not only between the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) and the i / o 2 (# 1 ) directly connected to the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) itself , but also between the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) and the i / os 2 (# 2 and # 3 ) respectively connected to the off - system control apparatuses 1 (# 2 and # 3 ). similarly , since the common memory 21 (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) has the i / o data area 21 d (# 2 ). for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 d (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ). also , since the common memory 21 (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) has the i / o data area 21 i (# 2 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 i (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ). in this arrangement , the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) can transfer the i / o data not only between the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) and the i / o 2 (# 2 ) directly connected to the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) itself , but also between the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) and the i / os 2 (# 1 and # 3 ) respectively connected to the off - system control apparatuses 1 (# 1 and # 3 ). similarly , since the common memory 21 (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) has the i / o data area 21 d (# 3 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 d (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ). also , since the common memory 21 (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) has the i / o data area 21 f (# 3 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 f (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ). in this arrangement , the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) can transfer the i / o data not only between the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) and the i / o 2 (# 3 ) directly connected to the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) itself , but also between the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) and the i / os 2 (# 1 and # 2 ) respectively connected to the off - system control apparatuses 1 (# 1 and # 2 ). furthermore , since the common memory 21 (# 4 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ) has the i / o data area 21 d (# 4 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 d (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ). also , since the common memory 21 (# 4 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ) has the i / o data area 21 f (# 4 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 f (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ). since the common memory 21 (# 4 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ) has the i / o data area 21 i (# 4 ) for storing the i / o data from the i / o data area 21 i (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ), i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) and the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ). in this arrangement , the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ) can transfer the i / o data to / from the i / os 2 (# 1 , # 2 , and # 3 ) respectively connected to the off - system control apparatuses 1 (# 1 , # 2 , and # 3 ), although the i / o 2 (# 1 ) is not directly connected to the control apparatus 1 (# 4 ) itself . note that although a detailed description will be omitted , when the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) includes a transmission module 34 connected to a remote i / o 36 through a transmission path 37 , the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) can obtain i / o data from the remote i / o 36 by using the transmission module 34 . hence , when the common memory 21 of each of the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 4 ) has the data area for storing the i / o data from the remote i / o 36 , i / o data transfer can be performed between the control apparatus 1 (# 1 , # 2 , or # 4 ) and the remote i / o 36 connected to the transmission module 34 of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ), even when the control apparatus 1 (# 1 , # 2 , or # 4 ) has no transmission module 34 . as described above , since the control apparatuses 1 according to the first or second embodiment are connected to each other through the transmission path 38 in the state wherein the data can be transmitted / received to / from each other , an arbitrary control apparatus 1 connected to the transmission path 38 can access the data of the dedicated i / o 2 or remote i / o 36 of the off - system control apparatus 1 . more particularly , this characteristic is useful when one of the plurality of control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 4 ) connected to the transmission path 38 is applied as a surveillance apparatus . that is , when one control apparatus 1 having the above - described function serves as a surveillance apparatus , this surveillance apparatus can access the i / o data of all the control apparatuses 1 . accordingly , the data can be monitored without using any special software for collecting monitoring i / o data . by using this function , the i / o data can be not only monitored , but also written from one control apparatus 1 to the common memory 21 in an off - system control apparatus 1 . this operation will be described with reference to fig1 . that is , in order to write the data from one control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) to the common memory 21 of each of the alien control apparatuses 1 (# 2 to # 4 ), as shown in fig1 , a data overwrite area 21 g (# 1 ) may be provided in a reception data area 21 b (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ). after writing the data in this area , the written data may be output to the i / o 2 (# 1 ) through the i / o interface 17 (# 1 ). with this operation , when the written data is obtained in the i / o 2 (# 1 ), as described above , the data from the i / o 2 (# 1 ) is obtained in the common memories 21 (# 2 to # 4 ) of the off - system control apparatuses 1 (# 2 to # 4 ). the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig1 and 13 . in the sixth embodiment , as shown in fig1 , a plurality of control apparatuses 1 ( e . g ., control apparatuses 1 . (# 1 to # 3 )) described in the first or second embodiment are connected to each other in series through transmission paths 39 . that is , the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) is connected to the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) to connect i / o interfaces 17 (# 1 and # 2 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 1 ) such that the data can be transmitted / received to / from each other . also , the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) is connected to the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) to connect i / o interfaces (# 2 and # 3 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 2 ) such that the data can be transmitted / received to / from each other . the i / o interface 17 (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) is also connected to an i / o 2 (# 2 ) such that the data can be transmitted / received to / from each other . note that the arrangement of the control apparatus 1 is the same as in the first and second embodiments , and a repetitive description will be omitted . that is , in the sixth embodiment , since the plurality of control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ) are connected in series as described above , the i / o data can be simply transferred between the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ). the arrangement of common memories 21 (# 1 to # 3 ) of the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ) for performing this i / o data transfer is shown in fig1 . in the arrangement shown in fig1 , only the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) includes the i / o 2 (# 1 ). therefore , the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) obtains i / o input / output data id 1 from the i / o 2 (# 1 ) through the i / o interface 17 (# 1 ), and stores the obtained data in a transmission data area 21 a (# 1 ) of the common memory 21 (# 1 ). the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) stores its own global data gd 1 in the transmission data area 21 a (# 1 ) of the common memory 21 (# 1 ). as described above , the i / o input / output data id 1 and global data gd 1 stored in the transmission data area 21 a (# 1 ) of the common memory 21 (# 1 ) are transmitted from the i / o interface 17 (# 1 ) to the i / o interface 17 (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 1 ), and stored in a reception data area 21 b (# 2 ) of the common memory 21 (# 2 ) in the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ). accordingly , the i / o input / output data id 1 and global data gd 1 stored in the reception data area 21 b (# 2 ) of the common memory 21 (# 2 ) are transmitted from the i / o interface 17 (# 2 ) to the i / o interface 17 (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 2 ), and also stored in the reception data area 21 b (# 3 ) of the common memory 21 (# 3 ) in the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ). also , the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) stores its own global data gd 2 in the transmission data area 21 a (# 2 ) of the common memory 21 (# 2 ). as described above , the global data gd 2 stored in the transmission data area 21 a (# 2 ) is transmitted from the i / o interface 17 (# 2 ) to the i / o interface 17 (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 1 ), and stored in a reception data area 21 b (# 1 ) of the common memory 21 (# 1 ) in the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ). accordingly , the global data gd 2 is transmitted from the i / o interface 17 (# 2 ) to the i / o interface 17 (# 3 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 2 ), and also stored in the reception data area 21 b (# 3 ) of the common memory 21 (# 3 ) in the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ). also , the control apparatus 1 (# 3 ) stores its own global data gd 3 in the transmission data area 21 a (# 3 ) of the common memory 21 (# 3 ). as described above , the global data gd 3 stored in the transmission data area 21 a (# 3 ) is transmitted from the i / o interface 17 (# 3 ) to the i / o interface 17 (# 2 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 2 ), and stored in a reception data area 21 b (# 2 ) of the common memory 21 (# 2 ) in the control apparatus 1 (# 2 ). accordingly , the global data gd 3 stored in the reception data area 21 b (# 2 ) of the common memory 21 (# 2 ) is transmitted from the i / o interface 17 (# 2 ) to the i / o interface 17 (# 1 ) of the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ) through the transmission path 39 (# 1 ), and also stored in the reception data area 21 b (# 1 ) of the common memory 21 (# 1 ) in the control apparatus 1 (# 1 ). as described above , when the plurality of control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ) according to the first or second embodiment are connected in series through the transmission paths 39 such that the data can be transmitted / received to / from each other , the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ) use the common memories 21 (# 1 to # 3 ) as batch input / output data areas for storing the i / o input / output data . in addition to this , the common memories 21 (# 1 to # 3 ) can be used as data transmission memory areas for executing data transmission between the control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ). as described above , the general overhead of data transmission between the data transmission memory and the i / o input / output data memory can be reduced in the control apparatus 1 to perform the data transmission at high speed . in addition to this , since the plurality of control apparatuses 1 (# 1 to # 3 ) are connected in series through the transmission paths 39 (# 1 and # 2 ), data transmission can be performed between the control apparatuses in a control system which is so small that the transmission circuit cannot be used in the system . additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art . therefore , the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein . accordingly , various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents . | 6 |
the presentation of fig1 is schematic and not in proper proportions . a press skin 2a disposed on the particle board 1 is roughened by diamond crystals 3 which are attached to a stainless steel carrier 5 , by means of galvanically or chemically deposited nickel 4 . the carrier 5 is pressed toward the particle board by means of air 6 under pressure with the compressed air being released via passages 7 . the compressed air discharged through the passages 7 carries away the grinding dust and dirt particles 10 which are then sucked away from under the hood 12 as indicated by arrow 9 . brushes 11 mounted on the hood 12 so as to be in contact with the particle board surface reinforce the cleaning action of the compressed air by dislodging particles attached to the board surface . since the thin carrier 5 is pressed onto the particle board by the pressurized air , it fully adapts to the surface of the particle board . anyprotruding particles are engaged and embedded since they are substantially softer than the tool . because of the thin coating of the nickel layer and the grinding surface with extremely hard diamond or boron or titanium nitride crystals 13 , the hard grinding particles are not broken from the nickel layer during grinding operation . preferably the carrier 5 has path areas free of grinding crystals to facilitate removal of grinding dust from the grinding areas . for this purpose the carrier sheet is provided with openings in the center of the areas with grinding crystals for the discharge of pressurized air and the removal of grinding dust . for in creased life of the grinding carrier sheets , embedment of the crystals is reinforced by a protective layer applied to the carrier sheet over the grinding crystals to prevent dislodging of the crystals . the protective layer may be applied by chemical vapor deposition from a gas phase , by physical vapor deposition from a gas phase or by plasma enhancedchemical vapor deposition . adaption of the finishing tool to the shape of the particle board by means of the pressurized air makes it possible to roughen the surface without removing essential amounts of material . as a result only a relatively small amount of grinding dust is generated which can easily be sucked awayand which therefore will not become entrapped under the decorative cover foil or paper where it would show through the cover foil or detrimentally affect adhesion thereof to the particle board when finished . the economical advantage offered by the continuous manufacturing process developed for the particle board was partly lost , so far , since further manufacturing steps occurred in a non - continuous manner . in order to applysurface layers directly to the continuously manufactured particle boards , short cycle presses are utilized which have an operating cycle of 45 - 90 seconds . the particle boards are first cut to the desired sizes and then stored to mature . the decorative foils , that is , the decorative paper , is normally precut before application . the decorative foil or paper is accurately cut to fit the particle boards onto which it is then placed . unrolling of the foil from a roll as it is needed for application to the particle board over the length of a press cycle has not been realized so far because of the fragility of the foils , particularly of the melamine resin decorative foils . in order to take the foils from rolls when operating with short cycle presses the rolls would have to be accelerated and slowed down with the press cycle since their movement cannot be achieved solely by pulling since the foil material is much too fragile for the forces that would be involved . the major problem with short cycle presses however resides in the speed of operation which is much slower than that of the double band presses for the manufacture of the particle boards . double band presses for the manufacture of particle boards operate at a speed of 8 - 10 m / min which would require short cycle presses with a 60 sec . cycle to have an 8 - 10 m reaction zone in order to handle all the raw particle boards produced by adouble band press . that means that several short cycle presses would be required for each double band press and in addition a substantial amount of equipment for the preparing of the cover foils and for the transport of all the materials is required . it all adds up to excessive requirements for building space and volume . the method according to the invention makes it possible to use continuous processes for the manufacture of the particle board and the application ofdecorative foils thereto up to the cutting of the finished boards . if , for the application of the foil to the surface of the particle board , another double band press is used , both presses , that is , the double band press for manufacturing the particle board and that for the application ofthe decorative foil , can be synchronized with one another so that they operate at the same production rate . fig2 shows schematically such a manufacturing arrangement . the particle boards are manufactured in an isochoric double band press 20 . the surface toughening tool 21 described earlier is disposed adjacent the double band press 20 and treats the continuous particle board as it leaves the double band press 20 . the decorative foils or papers are taken from a roll support station 22 which may also include automatic means for changing thefoil material . they are placed onto the surface or surfaces of the particleboard as it enters an isobaric double band press 23 in which the foils or paper sheets are pressed and glued onto the particle board surface in a continuous manner . such an arrangement is novel and advantageous : no such arrangement has beenin existence since there was no tool capable of preparing the still hot particle boards for the application of decorative surface layers so that awaiting period for the cooling of the particle boards was heretofore necessary . the tool 21 eliminates the requirement for such a waiting period and allows for immediate application of the decorative foil as the particle board comes from the double band press 20 . also , the wood processing industry generally utilizes isochoric double bandpresses as they are used also for the manufacture of the particle boards . these presses are designed to provide for a predefined geometric shape of the reaction zone which , for the manufacture of the particle boards , is well within the manufacturing tolerances and therefore presents no problems . however such a given shape is not appropriate for the application of foils since the surface shape of the particle board and that of the isochoric press band surfaces may not coincide so that the pressure applied to the packet of particle board and decorative surface layer is not even . this may provide for strips in which insufficient pressure is applied to provide for reliable attachment of the cover sheet to the particle board . the use of an isobaric double band press in which the reaction pressure is provided by a pressurized fluid which engages the press band and presses it against the surface of the particle board so that it can adjust to the surface shape of the board provides for even surface pressure and preventstherefore the formation of areas with insufficient attachment of the cover foils . since a double band press is operating continuously there are no problems with the handling of the cover foil or paper which is continuously rolled off the rolls . such handling is known in principle from the manufacture ofdecorative laminates and therefore does not need any particular explanation . the combination of the grinding tool according to the invention , a continuous foil unrolling station and an isobar double band press for the application of the foils to the surface of the particle board while movingthrough the isobar double band press permits the utilization of the economical advantages offered by a continuous manufacturing process from the manufacture of the particle board to the cutting of the final decorative surface coated boards . | 1 |
as shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration , the present invention for a cannula support is referred to generally by the reference number 10 in fig2 - 7 . in this respect , the support 10 may be used in association with a cannula that consists of a somewhat slender and elongated tube 12 ( fig1 ) that extends from a device such as an oxygen tank , a portable oxygen generator , or a wall connection in a hospital that delivers oxygen via a flow meter ( not shown ) at one end to one or more open ended branches or ports 14 at the other end designed to be inserted into , for example , a nostril 16 to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient in need of respiratory help . oxygen flows from the source , through the flexible tube 12 and out through one or more of the open - ended branches or ports 14 as a means to supplement breathing . the open - ended branches or ports 14 may vary in size depending on the desired flow rate . as generally shown in fig1 , the branches or ports 14 of the cannula flexible tube 12 are positioned near the nostrils 16 to provide oxygen thereto . from here , the cannula flexible tube 12 wraps around the cheeks of the wearer 22 toward the ears 18 . as such , the flexible plastic tube 12 may extend into a space or channel 24 formed between the head 20 and a portion of the outwardly extending ear 18 . the cannula flexible tube 12 then wraps around the ear 18 , comes back toward the front of the neck by the chin and travels back to the oxygen source . the tube 12 is typically made from a somewhat flexible plastic material that can be manipulated in a manner that allows conformity around the wearer &# 39 ; s facial features , for example the exterior curvature of the face and around the ear 18 , to streamline the fit of the cannula to the wearer 22 as shown in fig1 . the support 10 disclosed herein is a supplemental attachment for the cannula flexible tube 12 as it is designed to reduce or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with skin - to - plastic contact with the flexible tube 12 . that is , the support 10 helps reduce indentations that may form in and around the skin from constant contact with the flexible tube 12 , reduce redness , sores or other skin irritations , and reduce or eliminate tearing of the skin resultant from the flexible tube 12 sticking to the skin . fig2 illustrates one embodiment of the support 10 in the form of a curled or coiled cord that may be formed by winding strips of material around a cylinder to create the shown helical shape . preferably , the support 10 comprises a form of elastic material ( e . g ., polyester ) that permits stretching or uncoiling when loaded ( fig3 ), while also returning to its natural length ( fig2 ) when unloaded . the helical shape of the support 10 shown in fig2 - 7 produces a smooth three - dimensional curve with each coil initially aligned along a common central axis 30 ( fig3 ). while the support 10 in fig2 - 7 is substantially cylindrical in shape , it could be made into a conical shape by winding it around a cone , for example . in this respect , the ends 26 , 28 of the support 10 may taper inwardly toward the exterior circumference of the flexible tube 12 to provide a tighter fit thereto at each of the ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may prevent the support 10 from sliding along the length of the flexible tube 12 , as is problematic with the e - z wraps . the shape , structure and materials of the support 10 are , in one embodiment , comparable to or the same as the outer polyester material of curly or spiral shoelaces . in this respect , the support 10 may similarly include a tight inner core that helps maintain or form the outer polyester material into the spiral or helical shape of the support 10 . the outer layer preferably includes the aforementioned polyester material , but a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the outer layer of the support 10 may be made from various types of materials , such as cotton , nylon , polyester , spandex , etc . of course , the support 10 may include only the outer polyester material or both the outer polyester material with the harder inner core . in this respect , the outer polyester material may be configured to naturally coil itself , as disclosed herein . the elasticity of the support 10 allows it to be bent , curved , extended , retracted , etc . as generally shown in fig3 - 7 . in this respect , material selection is important so that the support 10 can adequately conform to the outer curved surface of the ear ( fig6 and 7 ) to bias the plastic tube 12 away from contacting the skin . the support 10 may also enhance the positional stability of the cannula in and around the ear 18 by increasing the traction therewith while comfortably contacting the skin without causing irritation thereto . the substantially spiral or helical shape of the support 10 made from polyester ( or a comparable material ) accomplishes these objectives . for instance , fig4 illustrates the support 10 being bent and turned around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in this embodiment , the inner diameter formed by the helical structure of the support 10 is approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 . this allows the wearer 22 to comfortably slide or spiral bind the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 to properly locate and place the support 10 to attain a comfortable fit behind the ear 18 , as shown in fig7 . the inner diameter of the support 10 may , alternatively , be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 12 to enhance frictional contact therebetween during use . this , of course , will tend to inhibit movement of the support 10 along the length of the flexible tube 12 relative to a support 10 with a larger diameter . in another alternative embodiment , the support 10 may have a somewhat larger inner diameter at or near its mid - section 32 ( generally shown in fig2 ) that terminates at respective conically shaped ends 26 , 28 . this embodiment may provide enhanced contact at each end 26 , 28 , while allowing greater adjustability in the larger diameter mid - section 32 . as shown in fig5 relative to fig4 , the support 10 is flexible enough to be wound around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 . in one embodiment , the support 10 attached to the flexible tube 12 , as shown in fig5 , may be a two inch piece of curled shoelace with the harder interior cord removed . once attached , the wearer may manipulate the shape and placement of the flexible tube 12 with the support 10 mounted thereto . in this regard , fig5 illustrates the support 10 partially curved and shaped to conform to the curved exterior surface of the ear 18 . placement behind the ear 18 in this manner , and as shown in fig7 , permits the support 10 to bias the inner plastic flexible tube 12 away from contacting the skin in and around the ear 18 to prevent or stop the aforementioned skin irritations . since the support 10 is curled around the exterior of the flexible tube 12 , it does not fall off when bent around the ear 18 . in this respect , the curled helical shape not only grips to portions of the flexible tube 12 to prevent slippage , as described above , but it also provides enhanced traction against the skin in the area in and around the ear 18 . additionally , the polyester clothing - type material made from a series of interwoven spiral - bound fibers allows the skin to breath underneath ( similar to clothing ) and does not have the same abrasive surface interaction with the skin as does the plastic material of the flexible tube 12 . accordingly , the support 10 stays on the flexible tube 12 until purposefully unwrapped , provides adequate stability , and causes virtually no skin irritation . moreover , the spiral or helical shape of the interwoven fibers of the support 10 provides the flexibility necessary to conform to the outer curvature in and around the ear 18 while providing sufficient traction against the skin without irritation . in this respect , each of the coils of the support 10 may expand ( fig2 ) or contract ( fig3 ) and bend along the central axis 30 thereof ( fig3 relative to fig6 - 7 ). a solid foam material , such as the e - z wrap design , is unable to flex in this manner because the solid material bunches and prevents interior curving , and otherwise does not permit exterior stretching in the same manner that a series of spaced apart and flexible / bendable helical coils provide . this shape and structure of the support 10 further enhances gripping action in and around the ear 18 so that the support 10 and the flexible tube 12 do not slip or slide out from this space or channel 24 when worn by the wearer 22 . that is , the coils are able to bend with the flexible tube 12 so as to remain in some constant frictional contact therewith such that each of the individual coils are no longer necessarily aligned with the central axis 30 . several individuals using a nasal - cannula have used the support 10 disclosed herein as an alternative to using bandages to cover areas around the ears that were torn and bleeding from the irritation of the cannula flexible tube 12 . in each case , the individual was able to use the support 10 for at least six months without having any of the aforementioned problems associated with skin irritation in and around the ears . of course , the support 10 would be beneficial to those who use oxygen , and especially those who must be on oxygen all day and all night . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims . | 0 |
it is important to note that the embodiments disclosed by the invention are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein . in general , statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions . moreover , some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others . in general , unless otherwise indicated , singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality . in the drawings , like numerals refer to like parts through several views . in one embodiment of the invention a toolbar enabled to host and run a plurality of widgets is disclosed . the widgets may be an application or a control executed from a toolbar . a toolbar can be pre - installed with a list of widgets or such widgets may be added to the toolbar by dragging a widget from a central repository and dropping the widget to the toolbar . widgets may include , but are not limited to , a media player , an online game , an online interactive program , visual animations , and so on . in addition , widgets may extend the functionality of a toolbar by adding buttons , menus , and so on . fig1 shows a schematic diagram of a system 100 useful in describing the principles of the present invention . a client 110 runs a widget enabled toolbar 120 on a web browser 130 which may be , for example , microsoft ® internet explorer ®, mozilla firefox ®, opera , safari , a wireless application protocol ( wap ) type browser , and the like . the client 110 may be a computing device , such as a personal computer , a laptop computer , a personal digital assistant ( pda ), a mobile phone , a smart phone , and the like . a storage device 140 is a secured repository that includes a plurality of certified widgets , i . e ., widgets that cannot execute harmful code . a storage device 150 is an unsecured repository that includes widgets uploaded by the widget providers . a widget is transferred from the unsecured repository ( storage device 150 ) to the secured repository ( storage device 140 ) once the widget is certified . no access is provided to storage device 140 other than the organizations and / or users who are authorized to certify that the widget &# 39 ; s source code does not include harmful instructions . a widget contributor may be any user or a business entity that develops a widget and desires to share the widget with other users , i . e ., to allow users to install the widget on their web - browser . the widget contributor can charge users for installing and using its widgets or offer the widget for free . in accordance with an embodiment of the invention a monetary method for trading widgets is provided and will be described in detail below . the widget - enabled toolbar 120 is constructed to enable the execution of widgets as well as to add and remove widgets from the toolbar . the toolbar 120 is further described in u . s . patent application ser . no . 12 / 270 , 421 , now pending , assigned to the common assignee and it is hereby incorporated by reference for all that it contains . as mentioned above the toolbar 120 may be pre - installed with a set of widgets . in order to add a new widget the user has to access a web server 160 which hosts available widgets for installation , once the desired widget is selected the user merely needs to drag the widget ( typically represented by an icon ) to the toolbar 120 . thereafter , the selected widget is automatically installed on the toolbar 120 . it should be noted that many web sites may publish available widgets , but all the widgets must be stored in a secured and trusted repository and order to be installed in the toolbar 120 . an exemplary screenshot of a widget - enabled toolbar 200 constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention is shown in fig2 . the toolbar 200 hosts the following widgets fandango ® 210 , plaxo 220 which both provide links to their respective websites , and pandora ® 230 which connects to a pandora service to retrieve a list of favorite radio stations of a user . a button 240 allows a user to add widgets by connecting the client 110 to one or more web servers that host widgets that can be downloaded by the users . fig3 shows a non - limiting and exemplary flowchart 300 describing the process for customizing a widget - enabled toolbar as implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention . the toolbar is an enabled widget toolbar constructed , for example , using the teachings disclosed in the ser . no . 12 / 270 , 421 application referenced - above . the user may add and / or remove widgets from the toolbar . a user needs to select a widget that he / she wants to add to the toolbar . the selection maybe from one or more web - sites that host the widgets . once a widget is selected the user has to drag an icon of the widget to the toolbar . the user can access these websites through a shortcut button on his toolbar . upon dragging a selected widget &# 39 ; s icon to the toolbar the process to install the widget starts at s 310 , where a manifest file associated with the widget is retrieved from a web server that hosts the selected widget . the manifest file includes at least an address to a secure repository that maintains the widget &# 39 ; s source files . the manifest file may also include a widget &# 39 ; s attributes , such as widget provider , date of creation , type of usage ( e . g ., free , license fee based , usage - based , transaction - based , etc . ), price per type of usage , and so on . techniques for generating monetary information based on the different usage types are disclosed below . at s 320 the address of the widget &# 39 ; s source files is extracted from the manifest file , and thereafter , at s 330 , the widget &# 39 ; s files retrieved from the secured repository . the widget &# 39 ; s files typically include script and binary files that form executable code of the widget . at s 340 the widget &# 39 ; s files are loaded to the toolbar &# 39 ; s execution engine , causing the toolbar to display the widget icon and to execute any functionality of the widget . specifically , one of the widget files includes a widget constructor . the code of the widget constructor when loaded into the toolbar &# 39 ; s execution engine causing the memory instance of the widget to be created . the memory instance is active in the runtime environment of the web browser . it should be noted that if the user wishes to uninstall the widget , then all the widget &# 39 ; s files are deleted from the local computer executing the toolbar . it should be appreciated that the process described herein allows users to easily customize their toolbars by adding or removing widgets . as the widgets are not limited only to website shortcuts ( or bookmarks ), but rather provides additional features the user experience is greatly improved . in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention techniques for generating monetary information based on usage information are provided . these techniques would allow widget providers to be compensated on widgets that they developed and contributed . accordingly , a widget owner uploads a widget and manifests the widget &# 39 ; s usage type . for example , the usage type may be based on a one - time license fee , a renewal based license fee , usage - based , transaction - based , and so on . when a license fee usage type is applied , before installation of the widget in the toolbar or when a renewal is due , the user is prompted to pay the license fee . for usage - based widgets the toolbar monitors and registers the number of times that a user activates the widgets . this parameter is used to compute the compensation that the widget owner and / or any other party are entitled for . when a transaction - based compensation is applied , monetary transactions accomplished through the widget are monitored and registered and can be later used for calculating the compensation that the widget provider and / or any other party are entitled for . for example , if a widget enables the ordering of movie tickets online , then for every transaction ( i . e ., a ticket order ) the widget provider is entitled for a certain percentage of the ticket price . the principles of the invention may be implemented in hardware , software , firmware or any combinations thereof . the software may be implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit or computer readable medium . the application program may be uploaded to , and executed by , a machine comprising any suitable architecture , for example a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units (“ cpus ”), a random access memory (“ ram ”), and input / output (“ i / o ”) interfaces . the computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code . the various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program , or any combination thereof , which may be executed by a cpu , whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown . it is to be further understood that , because some of the constituent system components and methods depicted in the accompanying drawings are preferably implemented in software , the actual connections between the system components or the process function blocks may differ depending upon the manner in which the present invention is programmed . given the teachings herein , one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present invention . all examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art , and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions . all statements herein reciting principles , aspects , and embodiments of the invention , as well as specific examples thereof , are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof . it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future , i . e ., any elements developed that perform the same function , regardless of structure . other hardware , conventional and / or custom , may also be included . | 6 |
referring now to the drawings , fig1 and 2 depict a spin chuck 1 that holds a wafer thereon in a predetermined orientation , which is preferably such that the major surfaces of disposed horizontally or within ± 20 ° of horizontal . spin chuck 1 may for example be a chuck that operates according to the bernoulli principle , as described for example in u . s . pat . no . 4 , 903 , 717 . in the present embodiment , however , chuck 1 supports a wafer w via a series of gripping pins , which in this embodiment are six in number , designated 10 - 1 through 10 - 6 . gripping pins 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 prevent the wafer from sliding laterally off the chuck . in this embodiment , the upper portions of gripping pins 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 also provide subjacent support for wafer w , and thus the chuck need not operate according to the bernoulli principle and need not be adapted to supply a gas cushion beneath wafer . although not shown in the figures , the spin chuck may be surrounded by a process chamber , which may be a multi - level process chamber as described in commonly - owned u . s . pat . no . 7 , 837 , 803 ( corresponding to wo 2004 / 084278 ). the spin chuck can be positioned at the selected level by moving the chuck axially relative to the stationary surrounding chamber , or by moving the surrounding chamber axially relative to the axially - stationary chuck , as described in connection with fig4 of u . s . pat . no . 6 , 536 , 454 . chuck 1 furthermore comprises a heating assembly 2 for heating the underside of a wafer mounted on the chuck . heating assembly 2 is integrated with a stationary nozzle head 20 ( see fig3 ) that in this embodiment also supplies other fluids to the downwardly - facing side of the wafer w , for example through the nozzles 22 , 24 shown in fig2 . heating assembly 2 is secured to the upper end of stationary nozzle head 20 for example by four bolts 21 , as shown in fig2 . heating assembly 2 comprises a large number of discharge openings 25 , which open facing the underside of a wafer w when one is positioned on the chuck 1 . as shown in greater detail in fig3 , the heating assembly 2 comprises a main body 29 that is secured to the non - rotating ( stationary ) nozzle head 20 . the main body 29 is spaced a small distance from the upper base body 11 of the spin chuck . the gripping pins 10 - 1 through 10 - 6 are mounted such that they rest on the lower base body 12 of the spin chuck 1 , and extends upwardly through openings formed in the upper base body 11 . the gripping pins 10 - 1 through 10 - 6 are positioned radially outwardly of the heating assembly 2 . thus , as the upper and lower base bodies 11 , 12 , gripping pins 10 - 1 through 10 - 6 and wafer w are driven in rotation during operation of the spin chuck 1 , the heating assembly 2 remains stationary . heating assembly 2 may thus be considered as being mounted in a cantilever fashion , wherein it is secured centrally and is spaced from both the overlying wafer w as well as from the rotating upper surface of chuck 1 , while not being secured at its periphery . main body 29 is therefore rigid enough that it does not contact either the rotating surfaces of the chuck or the wafer . spin chuck 1 is mounted to the rotor of a hollow - shaft motor 40 ( schematically shown in fig3 ), and the stationary nozzle head 20 penetrates through a central opening of the lower base body 12 of the spin chuck 1 . the stator of the hollow - shaft motor 40 is mounted to the mounting plate 42 ( schematically shown in fig3 ). nozzle head 20 and mounting plate 42 are mounted to the same stationary frame 44 ( schematically shown in fig3 ). gripping elements 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 are provided with eccentrically mounted grippers . the gripping elements are conjointly rotated about their cylindrical axes by a tooth gear 16 that is in meshing engaging with all of the gripping elements . the eccentric grippers are thus moved in concert between a radially inner closed position in which a wafer w is secured , to a radially outer open position in which the wafer w is released . gripping elements 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 can be made as described in commonly - owned u . s . application ser . no . 12 / 668 , 940 ( corresponding to wo 2009 / 010394 , or as described in commonly - owned u . s . application ser . no . 12 / 642 , 117 , filed dec . 18 , 2009 ). gripping elements 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 thus comprise an eccentric uppermost portion that contacts wafer w , projecting from a base that is mounted for pivotal movement about its central axis . in particular , a ring gear 16 is centered on the underside of the upper body 11 , and simultaneously engages via its peripheral gear teeth with gear teeth formed on the base of each of the pins 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 . pins 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 are evenly distributed about the periphery of spin chuck 1 , with at least three and preferably six such pins 10 being provided . an upper liquid dispenser 50 supplies treatment liquid from above , and can incorporate a plurality of different liquid dispensing nozzles for dispensing a variety of different treatment liquids , as described for example in commonly - owned u . s . pat . no . 7 , 891 , 314 ( corresponding to wo 2006 / 008236 ). upper liquid dispenser 50 is preferably displaceable radially of the wafer w , to aid in spreading treatment liquid over the entire upwardly facing surface of wafer w as it is rotated on the spin chuck . in the detail of fig4 , it can be seen that the heating assembly 2 comprises a heating element 23 incorporated within the main body 29 of the heating assembly . heating element 23 is preferably an electrical resistance heating element , and in practice a plurality of such heating elements 23 are preferably provided . heating element 23 is switched on and off by a controller 30 , which is operated in accordance with the processing being carried out on the spin chuck 1 . the heating assembly 2 furthermore comprises at least one supply conduit 28 , which is a continuation of the supply conduit that is shown in fig3 passing through the stationary nozzle 20 . conduit 28 supplies a gas to be heated to the heating assembly 2 , and more specifically to an internal chamber 27 beneath which the heating element 23 is positioned , and above which a plate 26 is positioned , which plate 26 has formed therein the discharge orifices or nozzles 25 . the apparatus as described herein is configured to heat a wafer w principally by convective heat transfer . to that end , heating assembly 2 is configured such that the heated gas discharged through the discharge nozzles 25 is caused to impinge on the downwardly - facing surface of a wafer w mounted on chuck 1 . thus , the orientation of nozzles 25 is preferably perpendicular to the lower major surface of wafer w , and preferably the axes of nozzles 25 do not deviate from perpendicular by more than +/− 10 °. furthermore , there is preferably a large number of the nozzles 25 , for example , from 50 to 5000 nozzles , preferably from 500 to 3000 nozzles , and still more preferably from 1000 to 2500 nozzles . the spacing between the openings of nozzles 25 and the plane that will be occupied by a wafer w when mounted on the chuck is illustrated by the gap “ d ” shown in fig4 . that spacing is preferably 0 . 5 - 10 mm , and more preferably 1 - 5 mm . the diameter of nozzles 25 is preferably from 0 . 1 mm to 1 . 5 mm , and more preferably from 0 . 5 to 1 . 0 mm . the supply of gas through conduit 28 and into chamber 27 is preferably effected at a flow rate that serves to maintain an internal operating gas pressure within chamber 27 at an overpressure of 1 to 5 bar relative to atmospheric pressure . the heated gas is preferably discharged through the nozzles 25 at a gas velocity in a range from 2 m / s to 30 m / s . plate 26 is preferably formed of a material that is opaque to the radiation emitted by heating element 23 , which in this embodiment contributes to the wafer w being heated principally by convective heat transfer from the heated gas impinging on the underside of the wafer w . nitrogen is preferred for use as the heated gas . as can be seen in fig1 and 2 , nozzles 25 are in this embodiment arranged in a two - dimensional array that , in its principal direction underlies greater than 90 % of the diameter of wafer w . on the other hand , in the perpendicular direction of the array , its maximum extent is less than 50 % of the diameter wafer w . furthermore , the array as shown in fig1 and 2 is of a dogbone shape , with a majority of the nozzles 25 being in the wider opposite peripheral regions of the array , and a minority of the nozzles 25 being in the narrower central region of the array . another advantage of the apparatus described herein is that the controller 30 may be configured to activate the heating element 23 to heat nitrogen gas supplied to heating assembly 2 during a heating cycle , and to deactivate the heating element ( while nitrogen gas is still supplied to the heating assembly 2 ), so as not to heat gas supplied to the heating assembly 2 during a cooling cycle . in operation , the wafer w is heated by gas which is blown onto the wafer from an array of impinging jet flows issuing from nozzles 25 . the effectiveness of the impinging is mainly a function of the physical design of the array and the properties of the gas . the array design and gas properties can thus be modified to achieve any particular wafer temperature profile even considering competing wafer heating and cooling loads . impinging is a form of convective heat transfer that is relatively insensitive to the material of the wafer to be processed . therefore , the process gas can be the same as typically used in semiconductor fabs . moreover , the effective heat transfer from impinging is very high , and the gas temperatures therefore need be only slightly higher than the desired wafer temperature . this consequently minimizes safety concerns and maximizes compatible material choice . still further , since the process gas may be supplied to the heating assembly 2 at room temperature , the same equipment may be used to cool a wafer w simply by switching off the heating element 23 . while the present invention has been described in connection with various preferred embodiments thereof , it is to be understood that those embodiments are provided merely to illustrate the invention , and should not be used as a pretext to limit the scope of protection conferred by the true scope and spirit of the appended claims . | 7 |
the reference numeral 1 in fig2 denotes a diagrammatically shown main field magnet which generates a steady , essentially uniform magnetic field of a strength of , for example 1 . 5 tesla which extends in the z - direction in an examination zone ( not shown ). also provided is a gradient coil system 2 which is capable of generating magnetic gradient fields g x , g y and g z which extend in the z - direction in the examination zone and have a gradient in the x , the y , or the z direction . the gradient coil system 2 is fed by a gradient amplifier 3 device . the variation in time of the magnetic gradient fields is predetermined by a waveform generator device 4 which is controlled by the control unit 5 and which drives gradient amplifier device 3 . the control unit 5 cooperates with a workstation 6 . the workstation includes a monitor 7 for the display of mr images . entries can be made via a keyboard 8 or via an interactive input unit 9 , for example a light pen . the nuclear magnetization in the examination zone can be excited by rf pulses from an rf transmitting coil 10 which is connected to an rf amplifier 11 which amplifies the output signals of an rf transmitter 12 . in the rf transmitter , the envelopes of an rf pulse are modulated with the carrier oscillations supplied by an rf oscillator 13 whose frequency corresponds to the larmor frequency ( approximately 63 mhz in the case of a main field of 1 . 5 tesla ). the control unit 5 loads the envelope into a waveform generator 14 which is coupled to the transmitter 12 . the mr signals generated in the examination zone are picked up by a rf receiving coil 20 and amplified by an rf amplifier 21 . the amplified mr signal is demodulated in a quadrature demodulator 22 by two 90 ° offset carrier oscillations of the oscillator , so that in each frequency range two signals are generated which may be considered as the real part and the imaginary part of a complex mr signal . these signals are applied to an analog - to - digital converter 23 which forms mr data therefrom , provided that it is not inhibited by the control unit 5 . the mr data is stored in a reconstruction unit 24 which reconstructs , in cooperation with the workstation 6 , mr images representing the nuclear magnetization in the examination zone from the mr data derived from a plurality of mr signals . as will be described in detail hereinafter , the control unit 5 can control the generator device 4 in dependence on the measured movement or displacement of a patient present in the examination zone . if the movement is detected by means of a separate sensor , the sensor must be connected to the control unit ; if the movement is determined by way of an mr measurement , the control unit is controlled by the unit 24 which evaluates the mr signals generated during said mr measurement . fig3 shows an mr sequence whereby on the one hand the displacement , i . e . the movement of the patient , can be measured and on the other hand mr data can be acquired from a given region of the patient . the sequence includes first of all a two - dimensional rf pulse β ( first line ) which excites the nuclear magnetization along a line in temporal cooperation with two oscillating magnetic gradient fields ( in this case g z , and g x , second and third lines ). this line is chosen so that on the one hand it extends as far as possible outside the area of the patient , which is imaged by the actual mr examination and that on the other hand it intersects , for example the diaphragm of the patient as perpendicularly as possible . thus , in the excited linear region there is generated an mr signal which is read ( fifth line ) in conjunction with a read gradient , being g y in this case ( fourth line ). the nuclear magnetization along the excited line is reconstructed from this mr signal . because the nuclear magnetization changes comparatively strongly if the line intersects the diaphragm , the movement w of the diaphragm can be deduced therefrom . instead of the operation using a two - dimensional rf pulse , the movement can also be measured by excitation of a slice extending perpendicularly to the principal direction of movement of the diaphragm and by derivation of the relevant state of movement from the mr signal acquired therefrom . such an excitation of a plane slice is simpler than the excitation of pencil beam area by means of a two - dimensional rf pulse , but it cannot always be ensured that this slice does not pass through the area to be imaged during the mr examination , and hence causes artefacts . it is also possible to arrange so - called micro - coils on the surface of the patient &# 39 ; s body and to use the mr signals induced therein for the measurement of the relevant phase of movement . the state of movement of the patient can also be detected by means of other sensors which are not dependent on the magnetic resonance . for example , a respiratory belt can be arranged around the patient &# 39 ; s chest , the information concerning the movement being derived from the relative variation of the length of the belt . the advantage of these sensors resides in the fact that the measurement of the movement can be decoupled completely from the actual mr examination . in this case the part of the sequence of fig3 as described thus far could be dispensed with . subsequent to the measurement of the state of movement , a slice - selective rf pulse α is generated which rotates the nuclear magnetization through an angle α in a slice extending perpendicularly to the z - direction . the angle α is chosen so that in the steady state an optimum mr signal occurs for the predetermined duration of this sequence ( for example , 15 ms ). prior to the acquisition of the mr signal , a magnetic gradient field ( in this case g y ) is applied during a period of time which is the same for all sequences , its magnitude being varied from one sequence to another so that a given phase encoding , or a given value k y , occurs in the y - direction . the mr signal thus produced is acquired ( fifth line ) in cooperation with a read gradient ( g x , third line ), provided that the respiration - imposed displacement , previously measured by means of the navigator pulse β , is sufficiently small . after reading the phase encoding gradient is applied for the same period of time and with the same strength as before , be it with the opposite polarity , so that the phase encoding does not influence the steady state . subsequently , the sub - sequence including the mr pulse α is repeated l times , l ( for example , 3 or 4 ) being chosen so that after the l repeats the movement phase will have changed insignificantly only . during these repeats the strength of the phase encoding gradient g y is changed . after the l repeats of the sub - sequence , the overall sequence shown in fig3 is repeated , i . e . the displacement is measured again , after which four sub - sequences again act on the examination zone . if the movement of the patient is not determined by means of the navigator pulses β ( for example , by means of a respiratory belt ), the overall sequence consists only of the part commencing with the rf pulse α and is continuously repeated until enough mr data has been obtained . in accordance with the invention , the threshold value of the displacement of the object with respect to a reference position , at which or below which the mr signal is utilized for the reconstruction of an mr image , is rendered dependent on the phase encoding associated with the relevant mr signal . fig4 shows the dependency of the threshold value v s as a function of the phase encoding k y . for small values of k y , the threshold value is very small because the mr signals acquired at low values of k y have an information content which is higher than that of mr signals relating to larger values of k y . from the minimum value k y = 0 the threshold value increases to a maximum value v smax for the largest possible phase coding k max , preferably as a cubic function . fig5 illustrates the effects of such acquisition of the mr signals which has been adapted to the movement , the same mode of representation being chosen as in fig1 and it also being assumed that the mr signals are acquired with an increasing magnitude of the phase encoding gradient . because of the small threshold value for small values of k y , in given circumstances the method according to the invention will require even more time than the method of fig1 until the mr signals associated with small values of k y have been acquired and stored . as the value of k y increases , however , the threshold value for the acquisition of the mr signals increases according to fig4 and hence also the period of time within a breathing period in which the mr signals can be acquired and stored , so that the mr signals associated with larger k y values can be acquired more rapidly than in the known method . therefore , the overall time required for the acquisition of the mr data required for the same image quality is reduced . a preferred version of the method of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the fig6 to 8 . fig6 shows a flow chart which represents the execution of this preferred version . the start ( block 100 ) is succeeded by a preparation phase in which the respiratory movement w is continuously measured ( block 101 ), so that its variation in time is obtained as shown in the fig1 and 5 , be it that therein the acquisition of mr signals is concerned . on the basis of the movement thus measured the probability p of occurrence of the individual movement phases w during this preparation time is determined ( block 102 ). fig7 shows a typical variation for a respiratory movement with two probability maxima which occur in the inhaled and the exhaled state , respectively . generally speaking , after inhalation slightly different values may occur ( which is why the associated maximum is wider and lower ), whereas after exhalation usually the same value w is reached ( which is why the associated maximum is narrower but more pronounced than in the inhalation phase ). the value w o associated with this maximum will be used hereinafter as the reference position ( block 103 ). in principle , however , another value w could also be chosen . however , this value occurs with a lower probability during the respiratory movement , so that the overall measuring times then required would be longer . the preparation phase has been completed after the steps 101 to 103 . generally speaking , this preparation phase can be interleaved with the other preparation procedures for the mr measurement in such a manner that the overall examination time is not significantly prolonged thereby . after the fixation of the reference position w o , the instantaneous position w is measured , for example by means of the navigator pulse β shown in fig3 ( block 104 ). subsequently , the displacement v is calculated ( block 105 ) from the absolute value of the difference between the reference position w o and the actual position w . it is then checked whether the calculated value v is larger than the maximum threshold value v smax ( block 106 ). if this is not the case , in block 107 a phase coding not generated thus far is determined which is still permissible for this displacement according to fig4 said phase coding being given for the subsequent sub - sequence ( right half of fig3 ). the mr signal generated is detected and stored and is available for the reconstruction of an mr image . the steps 107 and 108 are repeated l times , for example three or four times , as denoted by dashed lines . subsequently , a further interrogation takes place ( block 109 ) in order to check whether all values of k y have been measured . if this is the case , the acquisition of the mr signals is terminated ( block 110 ). if it appears in block 106 that the displacement v exceeds the maximum threshold value v smax , the sub - sequence shown in the right half of fig3 can be generated , ( block 111 ), however , without digitization and storage of the mr signal occurring . by generating such a &# 34 ; dummy &# 34 ; sequence , the steady state of the nuclear magnetization as mentioned in conjunction with fig3 is sustained . however , if the value v is substantially larger than v smax , generation of this dummy sequence could also be omitted ; the generating of the dummy sequences should then be started again only when the value v approaches the maximum threshold value v smax . if it is established in the block 106 that the displacement is below the maximum threshold value and that mr signals have already been acquired for all values k y still permissible for the relevant displacement , two possibilities exist : a ) an mr signal is acquired and stored again for one k y value . during the subsequent reconstruction that one of the mr signals stored for this k y value is used which is associated with a smaller displacement v . this implies that not only the mr signal is stored but also the associated displacement v . b ) a dummy sequence is generated . if it is determined in the block 109 that not yet all required mr signals have been acquired , or a dummy sequence has been generated , the loop consisting of the blocks 104 . . . 111 is completed again until all necessary mr signals have been acquired and stored . if the steps 107 and 109 cannot be performed sufficiently rapidly in an mr system , it is also possible to calculate in advance the displacement v , reached after a given delay of , for example 100 ms , on the basis of the displacement measured and the movement determined during the preparation phase . the steps 106 . . . 111 are then performed in dependence on the precalculated displacement v after the given delay . fig8 illustrates , in the same way as the fig1 and 5 , the possibilities of the mr method described with reference to fig6 . it can be seen that mr signals with a large k y value are acquired already in the case of comparatively large displacements . it is only in a comparatively small period of time in which the displacement becomes very large that no mr signals are further processed . the smaller the displacement v becomes during the further process , the lower the value k y will be at which the mr signals are acquired . during the next respiratory period the interval during which no mr signals are acquired for further processing is already somewhat larger , because most mr signals for high k y values have already been acquired during the preceding sequence . if desired , however , these sequences can also be repeated as explained in conjunction with fig6 . a complete data set will then have been acquired already after a comparatively small number of respiratory periods . for the sake of simplicity of illustration the invention has been described in conjunction with an mr method for generating an mr image of a two - dimensional area , being the slice excited by the rf pulse α ( fig3 ). the patients can hold their breath for a few seconds in most cases ; this period of time suffices to acquire 128 or even 256 mr signals with different phase coding in the case of a two - dimensional mr method with a repetition time of , for example 15 ms . in the case of three - dimensional methods it is not possible to hold the breath for such a long time and , therefore , the invention is especially advantageous for such methods . a suitable three - dimensional method is , for example the so - called 3dft method in which the phase is encoded not only in the y - direction but also in one further direction . the invention , however , can also be used for three - dimensional methods where the phase coding described with reference to fig3 takes place in one direction only , whereas the mr information for the plane extending perpendicularly thereto can be acquired by means of a different method , for example turbo spin echo ( tse ), grase or segmented epi . according to these methods information which is uniformly distributed across the k space is acquired after each excitation , so that it does not make sense to assign a different threshold value of the movement to each excitation . however , if the phase encoding can take place in the described manner in the direction perpendicular thereto , the method according to the invention can be readily carried out . the invention can also be used in conjunction with multi - slice methods in which a plurality of slices are successively excited . in that case it may be useful to preset , in dependence on the relevant displacement measured , the next slice to be excited , i . e . the slice selection gradient , instead of the next phase encoding gradient . in that case mr signals are always acquired in the same movement phase for each slice , the movement phases for two different slices then deviating from one another . within the individual slices , however , only slight displacements occur and hence only insignificant motion artefacts . | 6 |
referring to fig1 a dual chamber juice collection manifold 10 for separating juice into two separate grades is shown as being incorporated in a citrus fruit juice extractor 12 of the interdigitating cup type that is described in the aforementioned u . s . pat . nos . 2 , 649 , 730 and 2 , 780 , 988 . complete details of the construction of the juice extractor and the manner in which the various parts cooperate may be found in these patents , and the disclosures thereof are specifically incorporated herein by reference . with reference to fig1 the general structure of the juice extractor which encompasses the present invention will be described . the extractor includes a base section , an intermediate section , and a top powerhead section , with only a portion of the intermediate section being shown in the figure . the intermediate section includes a bedplate 20 that extends transversely of the extractor . a series of spaced fruit - receiving lower cups 22 ( only one being shown ) are rigidly secured on a flat support surface 24 of the bedplate 20 by a number of stud bolts 25 . an upper cup assembly 26 is mounted on the lower end of a drive rod 28 above each lower cup 22 so that an upper cup may be moved directly downwardly to engage a fruit disposed in the lower cup . each cup - supporting drive rod 28 is secured at its upper end to a crosshead member ( not shown ) which is , in turn , mounted for vertical reciprocal movement . the crosshead member is reciprocated by drive means which is fully described in the aforementioned belk et al and hait patents . in the base section of the machine , tubular plungers or orifice tubes 30 are secured in transversely spaced upright relationships on a vertically reciprocatable crossbeam ( not shown ). the lower crossbeam is reciprocated in timed relation to the upper crosshead member by drive means which are again fully described in the aforementioned belk et al and hait patents . the tubular plungers 30 slide within perforated strainer tubes 32 . the upper end of each strainer tube is rigidly mounted to an annular cutter 52 which , in turn , is fixed to the bedplate 20 so that the strainer tube extends vertically downwardly from the center of each cup . as the lower crossbeam is reciprocated , the tubular plungers 30 slide up and down within the associated strainer tubes 32 . after a fruit is deposited in each of the lower cups 22 , the associated upper cup in assembly 26 is moved downwardly to engage the fruit . at the same time , the plunger 30 below the lower cup is raised within the strainer tube 32 in timed relationship with the lowering of the upper cup assembly . the bedplate 20 has a continuous top wall 35 that extends entirely across the extractor under all of the lower cups 22 and slants downwardly to provide a drain for peel oil extracted from the peel during the processing of the fruit . a series of posts 36 are integrally formed on the top wall 35 ( one only shown in fig1 ), and each post 36 is tapped to receive one of the stud bolts 25 which , in turn , anchors a tab 40 extending outwardly from the associated lower cup 22 . a diametrically opposing tab 42 of each lower cup is anchored on the flattened surface 24 of the top wall by another stud bolt . a support portion 48 having a generally conical exterior surface extends upwardly from the bedplate wall 35 below each lower cup 22 . the support portion 48 has an aperture in its upper end into which the annular cutter 52 is pressed ( fig2 ). this cutter has a circular cutting edge adapted to cut a plug from the underside of the skin of the citrus fruit when the fruit is pressed downwardly against the cutting edge by the upper cup assembly 26 . the support portion 48 is hollowed to form a flared juice passage 56 terminating in an annular projection 58 . the entire base portion of the bedplate 20 is open to provide a space in which the upper end of the dual chamber juice - collecting manifold 10 is mounted . the manifold has several annular openings 66 ( one only shown in fig1 and 2 ) formed in the top wall 67 thereof and the manifold is secured to the bedplate so that the annular projections 58 fit snugly in the openings 66 . the manifold is provided with a series of openings in its bottom wall 34 for receiving the respective strainer tubes 32 and the strainer tubes have enlarged threaded ends 76 that extend through such openings with annular flanges 78 that bear against the interior surface of the bottom wall of the manifold . nuts 33 are threaded on the end of each strainer tube to secure it in an upright position to the bottom wall of the manifold . the strainer tubes extend upwardly through the manifold and coaxially through the juice passages 56 , and the upper ends thereof are tightly engaged in recesses 84 in the annular cutters 52 ( fig2 ). each strainer tube is identical and is provided with small perforations 86 extending radially through the wall thereof from the upper end of the tube to the height of the annular projection 58 at the bottom end of the juice passage 56 . each lower cup 22 comprises a plurality of equiangularly spaced , upstanding fingers 88 that extend upwardly from a hub portion 90 . the upper cup in the associated upper cup assembly 26 is comprised of similar equiangularly spaced downwardly depending fingers 92 . the fingers 92 of each upper cup are arranged in an interdigitating relationship with the fingers 88 of the associated lower cup so that when the cup assemblies are brought together , the lower ends of the upper fingers and the upper ends of the lower fingers are received in the spaces between the fingers to form a generally spherical pocket in the center of the cup assemblies to receive the fruit f . this pocket is then progressively contracted as the cup assemblies are moved together . generally , the contracting of the cavity between a pair of upper and lower cups first causes a plug pl ( fig1 ) to be cut from the underside of the fruit , and thereafter the cavity is reduced to the point where all of the juice and the other solid internal portions ip of the fruit are forced into the strainer tube 30 . such solid internal portions ip includes membranes , juice sacs , seeds , embryonic seeds , etc . simultaneously therewith , the plunger tube 30 is moved upwardly . a series of plugs pl and fruit internal portions ip removed from previously processed fruits are engaged in the bore of the plunger , such plugs and material preventing the juice within the strainer tube 32 from egressing through the passage in the tubular plunger . as the plunger moves upwardly , juice and internal portions that are forced into the strainer tube by the compressing force of the cups upon the fruit will be placed under increasing pressure to force the juice and some minute particulate solid material , such as juice sacs or pieces of membranes , outwardly through the apertures 86 in the strainer tube . the thus - discharged juice and minute solid material is collected within the manifold 10 . as previously stated , the dual chamber manifold 10 enables two juices grades to be separately extracted from the citrus fruits . as seen in fig2 the manifold has an upper chamber 14 adapted to collect an extracted juice that is expected to have a high particulate solids contents and a lower chamber 16 adapted to collect juice expected to have a low solids content . the two types of juice collected in the chamber 14 and 16 are fed through separate conduits 96 and 98 , respectively , so that two types of juice can be handled separately by further processing equipment ( not shown ) to provide grade - differentiated citrus juice products . referring to fig2 and 3 , the dual chamber manifold 10 will be seen to include a main housing 104 which extends transversely of the extractor . the housing 104 , as previously indicated , includes the bottom wall 34 to which the strainer tubes 32 are attached and a top wall 67 having the openings 66 formed therein for the bedplate mountings . the housing further comprises vertical side walls 112 and 114 and semi - cylindrical end walls 116 and 118 . a cross wall or partition 120 is welded between the side and end walls of the housing to extend horizontally midway between the top and bottom walls and partition the housing into the upper and lower chambers 14 and 16 . the partition 120 has a series of uniformly spaced circular openings 122 formed therein that are much larger than the strainer tubes 32 and through which the tubes project . the upper chamber 14 is further divided from the lower chamber 16 by a plurality of outer cylindrical tubes 124 having outwardly flanged bottom ends which are rigidly secured by bolts 126 to the partition 120 in coaxial relation with the strainer tubes 32 . a gasket 128 is provided between the flange of the tube 124 and the partition to form a fluid - tight seal . the final elements that divide the upper and lower chambers are inner cylindrical tubes 130 that are mounted within and spaced radially inwardly from the outer tubes 124 . as shown most clearly in fig2 an annular seal 132 is attached to the outer tube 124 and engaged between the inner and outer tubes 130 , 124 adjacent the upper end of the outer tube . also , a sealing ring 134 is mounted at the upper end of the inner tube 130 and engaged between the top ends of the inner tube and the associated strainer tube 32 to form a fluid - tight seal at the juncture line l ( within the strainer tube ) between the upper and lower chambers . that is to say , seals 134 form the dividing lines l within the strainer tubes above which juice flows into the upper chamber 14 and below which juice flows into the lower chamber 16 . as shown in fig2 and 3 , the inner tubes 130 are adjustably secured by clamping bands 140 to the upper ends of the outer tubes 124 . such clamping bands are attached to flat annular walls 142 that are affixed to the top ends of the outer tubes . the clamping bands may be released by loosening the bolts 144 attached thereto , and the inner tubes may be freely moved downwardly or upwardly within the outer tubes to control the relative volumes of juice collected in the separate chambers 14 and 16 . in the operation of the juice extractor 12 , after the beginning of the extraction cycle of an upper cup assembly 26 and an associated plunger tube 30 with a fruit f in the lower cup 22 , the plug p is cut from the underside of the fruit to permit the juice - bearing internal portions of the fruit to be expressed from the interior of the fruit into the strainer tube 32 . as the upper and lower cups continue to be pressed together , the plug is forced further into the strainer tube and the juice and internal material follows the plug into the strainer tube . simultaneously therewith , the plunger tube is driven further upwardly within the strainer tube to exert pressure on the material within the strainer tube . such pressure forces juice simultaneously through the perforations in the strainer tube into both the upper and lower chambers 14 and 16 . since the juice - bearing material within the strainer tube at the beginning of the cycle is under a lower pressure than it will be under later during the extraction cycle , there is little tendency for much minute material ( such as broken membranes and embryonic seeds ) to be forced through the perforations in the strainer tube . as the upper cup assembly 26 is further lowered to further compress the citrus fruit f and the plunger tube 30 is driven further upwardly , the plunger will be elevated to the extent that its upper end is above with the dividing line l on the strainer tube that marks the division for entry into the upper and lower chambers 14 and 16 of the manifold . at this point , the juice and internal material will be under a considerably higher pressure than previously which will thereafter increase to a very high pressure . such high pressure will tend to force a greater amount of minute citrus material with the juice into the upper chamber through the perforations in the upper portion of the strainer tube . however , since the upper chamber is sealed from the lower chamber , such juice component is collected only in the upper chamber . as previously described , such juice component having a higher minute solids content subsequently flows through the outlet conduit 96 and is processed separately from the juice component withdrawn through the outlet conduit 98 from the lower chamber . it will be appreciated from the foregoing that the dual chamber manifold 10 enables juice types of differing minute solids content to be separated by an interdigitating cup type of citrus juice extractor without adversely affecting the basic operation of the extractor . one benefit of such capability is that the need for further finishing or processing equipment for the extracted juice collected in the lower chamber 16 will be minimized . although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described , it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention . | 0 |
in a following description , reference is made to the accompanying drawings , which form a part hereof , and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific example in which the invention may be practiced . it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention . it should be noted that the descriptions that follow , for example , in terms of an antibacterial dental floss device is described for illustrative purposes and the underlying method can apply to any number and multiple types of antibacterial dental floss devices . in one embodiment of the present invention , the antibacterial dental floss device is configured to coat the floss with an oral antibacterial compound . in another embodiment the antibacterial dental floss device is configured to provide ultraviolet violet light as an antibacterial treatment powered by batteries and antibacterial dental floss devices can be configured using other forms of treatment coatings and types of light source treatments to provide multiple types of treatment for oral fungal infections , plaque removal and gingivitis and fabricated using various plastics and components or created in other forms , colors , shapes , sizes and depictions using the present invention . fig1 shows a block diagram of an overview of an antibacterial dental floss device of one embodiment of the present invention . fig1 shows an antibacterial dental floss device 100 that can be assembled in a compact case 110 . the antibacterial dental floss device 100 can be configured with a bobbin 120 which is used to hold a length of a dental floss 125 . when a user pulls out a short length of the dental floss 125 from the bobbin 120 it passes over a series of curved guide pins and pulleys . the dental floss 125 is routed through a dental floss fraying processor 130 which cuts and frays short sections of a portion of the fibers from which the dental floss 125 is manufactured of one embodiment of the present invention . the dental floss fraying processor 130 uses electrical power supplied from a battery pack 180 to heat thermal devices to fuse the fibers being cut at a short distance on both sides of the point where the cut is made . dental floss threads are manufactured in various thicknesses from materials such as polyester , nylon , ptfe and polymer . these materials can be heated to allow thermal bonding of the fibers to one another . this prevents the cut fibers from being pulled from the floss thread while flossing . the dental floss fraying processor 130 then brushes the cut fibers to create bristles of one embodiment of the present invention . the bristled dental floss 125 is passed through a oral antibacterial compound reservoir 140 and coated with an oral antibacterial compound , for example antibacterial tooth paste , an all natural ingredient oral antibacterial compound , plaque inhibiting antibacterial compound and antibacterial compounds that contain vitamins . the oral antibacterial compound reservoir 140 can be filled or refilled using a fill tube 145 . the user can use a cut off 160 to cut the desired length of bristled dental floss coated with an oral antibacterial compound pulled from the antibacterial dental floss device 100 . the user can then apply the antibacterial compound to the teeth and gums while using the bristled floss to remove food particles and brush the tooth surfaces between the narrow spaces that would be difficult to reach with a toothbrush . this will facilitate the removal of plaque and other build up of one embodiment of the present invention . once completed with flossing the user can switch on an ultraviolet light lamp 170 built into the antibacterial dental floss device 100 and powered by a battery pack 180 . the user will direct the ultraviolet light radiating through the exterior lens 175 of the antibacterial dental floss device 100 to areas inside the mouth including the gums and palate . the germicidal benefits of ultraviolet light will further reduce oral infections . gum disease can result from bacterial plaque building up between teeth , under the gum line and around dental appliances . the antibacterial dental floss device 100 provides enhanced bristled flossing to better clean the space between teeth , applies an antibacterial compound to the area between teeth , under the gum line and around dental appliances combined with ultraviolet light as an additional germicidal treatment . the antibacterial dental floss device 100 helps fight gum diseases , helps reduce plaque buildup and provides the user with access to advanced oral hygiene treatments in a compact portable device of one embodiment of the present invention . the foregoing has described the principles , embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention . however , the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed . the above described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive , and it should be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by workers skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims . fig2 shows a block diagram of an overview flow chart of an antibacterial dental floss device of one embodiment of the present invention . fig2 shows the antibacterial dental floss device 100 in the case 110 that can be manufactured from materials for example plastic . the bobbin 120 is installed on a spindle 210 to allow spooled dental floss 200 to play off the bobbin 120 when pulled by the user . the unwinding dental floss 125 enters the dental floss fraying processor 130 . the dental floss fraying processor 130 can be configured with one or more fraying cutter module 230 to cut the outer layers of fibers of the floss thread . the cutting blades of the fraying cutter module 230 can be configured to be attached in the inner curved area of a pulley channel as a crescent shaped blade to allow radial cuts of one embodiment of the present invention . the dental floss fraying processor 130 can be configured with one or more thermal bonding module 240 to fuse fibers a short distance on both sides of the cut . the thermal bonding module 240 is heated by a thermal bonding electrical circuit 250 passing through the thermal bonding module 240 components that are sized to produce resistance to the electrical current and heat sufficiently to fuse the fiber material . the heated - elements of the thermal bonding module can be configured to be attached in the inner curved area of a pulley channel in a crescent shape to allow radial fusing . the thermal bonding electrical circuit 250 draws electricity from one or more battery 260 installed in the battery pack 180 of one embodiment of the present invention . the fused cuts produce a frayed dental floss 270 that is routed through a bristle brush module 272 . the bristle brush module 272 combs the cut fibers away for the main floss thread to produce a bristled dental floss 274 . the bristled dental floss 274 enters the oral antibacterial compound reservoir 140 and bathes the bristled dental floss 274 in an antibacterial compound 275 of one embodiment of the present invention . the antibacterial compound 275 is placed in the oral antibacterial compound reservoir 140 using the fill tube 145 . the antibacterial compound 275 can be configured for example as a liquid , gel or paste and can be an over the counter product or prescription medication . the bristled dental floss 274 becomes coated or soaked in the antibacterial compound 275 before being separated using the cut off 160 . the antibacterial coated bristled dental floss 280 is now available for the user to floss their teeth using the bristled dental floss 274 to brush in between teeth and reach the area of the teeth and gums not accessible with a tooth brush . this allows the user to remove plaque and other build up not just food particles while flossing . the antibacterial compound 275 will be applied to those same hard to reach areas where bacteria and other materials or organisms generally start gum diseases and plaque buildup of one embodiment of the present invention . the user can treat the oral cavity in its entirety using the ultraviolet light lamp 170 built into the antibacterial dental floss device 100 . the user can push a switch button to open an ultraviolet light switched electrical circuit 248 to conduct electricity from one or more battery 260 in the battery pack 180 . the electricity through the ultraviolet light switched electrical circuit 248 will power up the ultraviolet light lamp 170 . the ultraviolet light lamp 170 will radiate ultraviolet light through the lens 175 into the oral cavity as directed by the user . the benefits of the germicidal ultraviolet light illumination will aid in combating bacteria and other organisms in areas not normally contacted in brushing or flossing for example the roof of the mouth , rear inner cheek tissues and under the tongue . the antibacterial dental floss device 100 can be configured to include an ac current adapter plug - in to allow rechargeable batteries to be installed in the battery pack 180 of one embodiment of the present invention . the ability of the antibacterial dental floss device 100 to fill prescribed medication into the oral antibacterial compound reservoir 140 provides dentist and other oral specialist the opportunity to effectively treat patients in an outpatient mode . the outpatient can effectively administer those prescribed medications using the same familiar techniques of flossing and save expensive treatment visits to the dental office . the compact portable antibacterial dental floss device 100 can enable a user to easily enhance their preventative oral hygiene to reduce gum disease and bacterial plaque build - up of one embodiment of the present invention . fig3 shows for illustrative purposes only an example of an antibacterial dental floss device in a prospective view of one embodiment of the present invention . fig3 shows the antibacterial dental floss device 100 which is a compact advanced dental hygiene device . the portable case 110 of fig1 contains the spooled dental floss 200 of fig2 , dental floss fraying processor 130 of fig1 , oral antibacterial compound reservoir 140 of fig1 and antibacterial compound 275 of fig2 used to supply the user with antibacterial coated bristled dental floss 280 . the user can close a case cover 300 to maintain a clean supply after pulling out and cutting the desired length of the antibacterial coated bristled dental floss 280 using the cut off 160 . the fill tube 145 can be configured to include a removable plug or a permanent sealed cap after filling of one embodiment of the present invention . the antibacterial dental floss device 100 can be configured to include a switch 310 for example on the side or top to open the ultraviolet light switched electrical circuit 248 of fig2 to operate the ultraviolet light lamp 170 of fig1 which radiates ultraviolet light through the lens 175 . the antibacterial dental floss device 100 illustrated in fig3 shows an unobtrusive compact and portable configuration of one embodiment of the present invention . fig4 a shows for illustrative purposes only an example of an antibacterial dental floss device floss fraying process of one embodiment of the present invention . the antibacterial dental floss device 100 of fig1 includes the dental floss fraying processor 130 of fig1 to produce the bristled dental floss 274 of fig2 . this process starts with the dental floss 125 of fig1 entering the dental floss fraying processor 130 of fig1 from the bobbin 120 of fig1 . the floss thread is made up of dental floss fibers 400 . the fraying process uses a thermal bonding module 240 of fig2 configured with a thermal bonder 430 which is the heated element to fuse the dental floss fibers 400 creating a section of bonded fibers 440 . the fraying cutter module 230 of fig2 is configured with a fraying cutter 410 to cut fibers 420 between two sections of bonded fibers 440 to produce the frayed dental floss 270 of fig2 . the frayed dental floss 270 of fig2 then travels to the bristle brush module 272 of fig2 of one embodiment of the present invention . fig4 b shows for illustrative purposes only an example of an antibacterial dental floss device bristled dental floss of one embodiment of the present invention . fig4 b shows the frayed dental floss 270 of fig2 after it travels through the bristle brush module 272 of fig2 . the dental floss fraying processor 130 of fig1 uses the bristle brush module 272 of fig2 to further process the frayed dental floss 270 of fig2 made of dental floss fibers 400 . the cut fibers 420 of fig4 a between the two sections of bonded fibers 440 are brushed back against the section of bonded fibers 440 to which they are still connected . the bristle brush module 272 of fig2 is configured for example to exert sufficient force to bend the cut fibers 420 of fig4 a . the bent cut fibers 420 of fig4 a form brushed cut fibers 450 to maintain an outward pointing position to form a bristle . the brushed cut fibers 450 positioned along the floss thread create the bristled dental floss 274 of fig2 of one embodiment of the present invention . fig5 shows for illustrative purposes only an example of an antibacterial dental floss device floss fiber thermal bonding process of one embodiment of the present invention . fig5 shows a section of the dental floss fibers 400 . the dental floss fibers 400 of the dental floss 125 of fig1 are traveling through the thermal bonding module 240 of fig2 of the dental floss fraying processor 130 of fig1 . the thermal bonder 430 of the thermal bonding module 240 of fig2 has been heated by the resistance to the battery 260 of fig2 current flow in the thermal bonding electrical circuit 250 of fig2 . the dental floss fibers 400 in contact with the thermal bonder 430 and those dental floss fibers 400 in close proximity are heated sufficiently to cause the fiber materials to soften and fuse to one another to form bonded fibers 440 . the thermal bonder 430 can be configured of conductive materials for example stainless steel , aluminum or copper coated with a non - stick material such as teflon to prevent the dental floss fibers 400 from adhering during the fusing process . the thermal bonder 430 conductive materials can be configured of a size and shape to create an electrically resistive capacity to produce the desired heating temperature to cause the desired fusing of the dental floss fibers 400 materials of one embodiment of the present invention . the foregoing has described the principles , embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention . however , the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed . the above described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive , and it should be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by workers skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims . | 0 |
a high intensity preparation , physical exercise and recovery system will now be described . in the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention . it will be apparent , however , to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein . in other instances , specific features , quantities , or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention . readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein , the claims , and the full scope of any equivalents , are what define the metes and bounds of the invention . fig1 illustrates an architectural view of at least one embodiment of the high intensity preparation , physical exercise and recovery system 100 . embodiments of the system may include a first vibration component 102 configured to vibrate a body of a user at a frequency greater than 0 . 5 hz to prepare muscles of the body for a high intensity workout , a workout component 103 configured to accept physical activity from the muscles of the user and a second vibration component 104 configured to vibrate the body of the user between 0 . 5 and 50 hz to recover the muscles after acceptance of the physical activity for example . the first and second vibration components may be located within the workout component , or separate components . for example in one or more embodiments , the vibration components may be integrated into the workout component , for example in the seat , pedals , or back support or any combination thereof . in this or other embodiments , the first and second vibration components may part of one apparatus or may be the same component that is asserted before and after the physical activity in keeping with the spirit of the invention . in one or more embodiments , the first vibration component 102 is configured to vibrate the body of the user for at least 3 minutes before the high intensity workout . other embodiments may utilize more or less vibration time before the high intensity workout as long as the total time of the workout is kept under a predefined time limit , for example 15 minutes . in at least one embodiment , the first vibration component is configured to vibrate feet of the user while the user is standing to activate the muscles of the user before the high intensity workout . in one or more embodiments , the vibration is utilized by the system to lower cortisol and lactic acid in the body , accelerate blood circulation and lymph drainage and increases oxygen uptake by the cells . the vibration creates a stretch reflex in the tendons and stimulates repeated contractions to prepare the body for the high intensity workout phase . the vibrations are also believed to increase balance , coordination , bone density , and lower joint pain and reduce stress in the ligaments and tendons as well . it is also believed that the vibration increases human growth hormone output , serotonin , neurotrophine , testosterone and igf - 1 growth hormones . vibration in different frequency ranges may be utilized to stimulate different portions of the body . for example , vibration of between 6 - 7 hz mainly stimulates the thighs , hamstrings , shoulders and arms , vibration in the range of 8 - 11 hz mainly stimulates the thighs , hamstrings mid - section , pectoral muscles , back muscles and shoulders , vibration in the range of 12 - 16 hz mainly stimulates the thighs , hamstrings and shoulders , vibration in the range of 17 - 20 hz mainly stimulates the thighs , hamstrings and calf muscles , vibration in the range of 21 - 25 hz mainly stimulates the hamstrings and stomach muscles , while vibration in the range of 30 - 35 hz lightly stimulates the calf muscles , back muscles , shoulders and arms . although some exercise may be performed while vibration is output , embodiments of the system generally utilize the vibration element to prepare the body for a high intensity workout as opposed to basic exercise during vibration . the system may utilize any type of physical exercise apparatus 103 capable of accepting high intensity physical activity . in one or more embodiments , the workout component is configured to accept physical activity from the muscles of the user for at least 4 minutes and less than 9 minutes during the high intensity workout . in other embodiments , the workout component may accept more or less time such that the total time including the first and second vibration periods combined with the workout time total a predefined amount , for example 15 minutes . other time periods that are shorter than static exercise durations associated with sequential time ordered physical activities on differing apparatus is in keeping with the spirit of the invention . in one or more embodiments , the apparatus may utilize any electronic or non - electronic exercise machine , for example a range of motion ® or “ rom ” machine or any other type of apparatus . embodiments of the physical exercise apparatus 103 are generally configured to overload the muscles , generally in a high oxygen consumption and / or anaerobic manner . generally , the amount of time required to overload the cardiovascular system is exponentially reduced with respect to the linear increase in oxygen consumption per unit time . for example , walking for approximately an hour and a half at a relatively low consumption of oxygen per unit time provides approximately the same cardiovascular benefits as sprinting for a few minutes at 7 - 8 times the consumption of oxygen per unit time . walking is extremely time consuming , and only a very small percentage of the muscles of the body are utilized at a low range of motion . high intensity exercises , for example that utilize more muscles through a greater range of motion result in an order of magnitude or more of utilization of the muscle cells in the body with respect to walking . in addition , although a very short exercise period is utilized by the system , which consumes few calories , the metabolism of the user is stimulated for hours after the acceptance of the high intensity physical activity by the system . in this manner , a 4 minute workout on a rom machine for example results in more calories burned by the user that an hour - long walk on a treadmill . embodiments of the invention may also utilize any other exercise element that may accept high intensity physical activity such as rowing machines with increased time to account for less muscle utilization than a rom machine . alternatively or in combination , exercise machines with less range of motion than a rowing machine may be utilized for an equivalent amount of time , if the number of muscles for example is higher , for example a squat machine . the advantage of a machine that works more muscles through a higher range of motion is that the total time to achieve a particular calorie workout is lowered . for example , 4 minutes of cross training on a rom machine is equivalent to 20 - 45 minutes of aerobic exercise for the cardiovascular system and an additional 20 - 45 minutes of resistance training and an addition 20 - 45 minutes of stretching . in addition , walking , jogging and running on the other hand may actually damage joints and connective tissue through excessive repetitive motion and impact and is not time efficient while also resulting in loss of upper body mass . weight training by itself may result in a lowering of flexibility , and provides only limited aerobic results . yoga and pilates on the other hand are good for flexibility and toning , but are costly and time consuming with only moderate cardiovascular benefits . swimming is a good overall exercise for the body , but again is time intensive as is bicycling . hence , in one or more embodiments a rom machine is utilized to minimize total time of accepting high intensity physical activity by the system . in one or more embodiments , the second vibration component 104 is configured to vibrate the body of the user for at least 5 minutes to recover the muscles after acceptance of the physical activity . the vibration period for recovery may be varied as long as the total time of the workout is kept under a predefined time limit , for example 15 minutes . in at least one embodiment , the second vibration component is configured to vibrate a back portion of the body of the user to lower lactic acid to recover the muscles after acceptance of the physical activity . in one or more embodiments , the type of vibration machine may be an turbosonic ® machine , which may be utilized as the first vibration component as well or may be a different machine or type of machine . one or more embodiments may include a measurement component 101 configured to measure muscle mass and fat mass in the body of the user and in extremities of the user . this enables precise targeting of high intensity training to achieve target goals of the user . this is possible by providing the measurement component and measuring the body muscle and fat mass of the user and the user &# 39 ; s extremities over time for example . in one or more embodiments of the system , an inbody ® measurement machine may be utilized or any other type of measurement system configured to measure body and / or extremity muscle and fat mass for example . embodiments of the measurement component may be utilized once for a given user , or at the start of each session with the system or in any other time period . one or more embodiments of the measurement component may also obtain measurements for intracellular and extracellular water , total body water , dry lean mass or any other physiological measurement desired for the particular implementation . one or more embodiments of the invention may include a computer 105 configured to accept data associated with the physical activity obtained from the workout component . for example , embodiments of the system may store , e . g ., via the computer , the time of the physical activity and / or the level of work performed during the physical activity or both , and may further store the specific body parts or extremities associated with , e . g ., that perform the physical activity as accepted by the system . in one or more embodiments a passive or active rfid , for example on a key chain may be read by each of the machines as the system vibrates or accepts physical input in order to identify the particular user . in one or more embodiments each of the machines , or elements coupled to the machines may set and or communicate the vibration settings and or workout measurements accepted by the system to computer 105 . alternatively or in combination an assistant may obtain and / or input the vibration settings and input the workout measurements into computer 105 for analysis . fig2 illustrates an embodiment of the functionality of the system in flowchart form . embodiments of the computer 105 may accept measurements of the body and / or extremities and / or goals and / or thresholds at 201 . the system vibrates the body via vibration component 102 to prepare the muscles for the high intensity workout at 202 . the workout component 103 accepts physical activity at 203 . the data associated with the workout is accepted by the computer 105 at 204 . this may be performed during or after the workout . based on the workout , a score for work output per extremity or overall body work output may be calculated and utilized to tune the workout in real - time or during the subsequent workout , alone or in combination with any measurement numbers . for example , the computer may provide a suggestion of the alteration of physical activity based on the current or previous physical activity data , data associated with the user &# 39 ; s body and / or extremities or trend of metrics of the user over time or in comparison with other users and / or suggest alterations or actually alter the difficulty level for example during the workout at 205 . the vibration component 104 vibrates the body of the user to recover the muscles at 206 , for example in one embodiment between 6 and 20 hz although any other previously described frequency range may be utilized for example to reduce cortisol and lactic acid and otherwise reduce soreness for example . the computer may also provide suggested food to consume to achieve goals based on the physical data activity and / or trend of the user &# 39 ; s metrics whether physical activity performance level or body or extremity metrics and / or in comparison with other user &# 39 ; s trends at 207 . fig3 illustrates an output 301 showing the suggested training changes 303 along with a trend for the user 302 and a comparison thereof between the trend of the user and other users . for example , one or more embodiments of the computer may provide a suggestion of an alteration of the physical activity based numerous factors , for example based on the data associated with the physical activity , e . g ., the wattage of the current physical activity shown at area 305 . for example , embodiments may determine that the level of physical activity currently being performed is below the desired level and display or otherwise inform the user that the level of physical activity should be increased . alternatively , if the level of physical activity currently being performed is above a desired level , the system may inform the user in a congratulatory manner , or may display or otherwise inform the user that the level of physical activity should be decreased , for example for safety reasons . any other trends of any other physiology parameters whether measured by measurement component 101 or calculated in any other manner for a particular user or group of users may also be plotted or otherwise displayed in keeping with the spirit of the invention . one or more embodiments of the computer may accept data associated with the body of the user from the measurement component and display the metrics at 304 for example . embodiments so configured may also provide a suggestion of an alteration of the physical activity based on the data associated with the body of the user , or extremities as well . for example , if the general body fat mass of the user is of a certain level , the computer may provide a suggestion to perform lower intensity physical activity for a longer time , or alternatively provide a suggestion to perform higher intensity physical activity for a shorter time . other factors may be taken into consideration such as the user &# 39 ; s age or trends of performance , or in comparison with other user &# 39 ; s trends as discussed below . fig4 illustrates an output showing the suggest diet 403 to achieve the target results . embodiments of the computer may also provide a suggestion of a food to consume by the user based on the data associated with the body of the user . for example , if the user has a low muscle mass and high fat mass , the computer may suggest more protein and less fat in the user &# 39 ; s diet . in one or more embodiments the computer may also accept data associated with the physical activity and provide the suggestion of the food to consume by the user based on the data associated with the body of the user and with the data associated with the physical activity . for example , if the user is losing fat mass over time at a rate which may be deemed unhealthy , the system may provide a suggestion for the user to consume slightly more healthy fat to slow the process down to a safe level , for example in conjunction with review by medical professionals . in one or more embodiments , the computer may accept a first target threshold for the muscle mass and the fat mass in the body of the user and alter an amount of time for the physical activity based on a difference between the first target threshold and the actual muscle mass and the fat mass in the body of the user . in these or other embodiments , the computer may also accept a second target threshold for the muscle mass and the fat mass in the extremities of the user and alter an amount of time of physical activity that is specific to extremities based on a difference between the second target threshold and the actual muscle mass and the fat mass in the extremities of the user . this capability provides a high degree of specificity for muscle mass to ensure for example an overall healthy body including extremities and for example in comparison to the average person of a particular sex and age , or in comparison to an athlete of a particular sex and age or any other data set . one or more embodiments of the computer may also calculate a trend of muscle mass and fat mass in the body of the user and / or in the extremities of the user over time . the system may also calculate a comparison based on a difference between the trend and with a second trend associated with a second user , alter an amount of time for the physical activity based on the comparison and / or alter an amount of time of physical activity that is specific to extremities based on the comparison . embodiments of the invention may utilize all components and functionality detailed herein in combination in keeping with the spirit of the invention . while the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof , numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims . | 0 |
preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings . it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being on another layer or substrate , it can be directly on the other layer or substrate , or intervening layers may also be present . fig2 is a sectional diagram illustrating an interconnection structure of a semiconductor device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention . referring to fig2 , a lower interconnection layer is formed in a substrate 100 in which a pad region a , a capacitor region b , and a fuse region c are defined . the lower interconnection layer includes a first lower interconnection 102 a formed in the pad region a , a lower capacitor electrode 102 b formed in the capacitor region b , and a second lower interconnection 102 c formed in the fuse region c . the first and second lower interconnections , 102 a and 102 c , and the lower capacitor electrode 102 b may be designed to be interconnected with each other . the lower interconnection layer may be made of copper ( cu ) having excellent conductivity . on the lower capacitor electrode 102 b , a capacitor dielectric film 104 d and an upper capacitor electrode 106 p are stacked in sequence . on the second lower interconnections 102 c formed apart from each other in the fuse region c , a fuse pattern 106 f is formed of the upper capacitor electrode layer . the upper capacitor electrode 106 p and the fuse pattern 106 f may be formed of a metallic compound used as a barrier metal in constructing a metal interconnection of a semiconductor device , e . g ., titanium nitride ( tin ), tantalum nitride ( tan ), or titanium tungsten ( tiw ). a material 104 forming the capacitor dielectric film 104 d may partially remain at the edges of the fuse pattern 106 f . a conformal capping film 108 covers the overall structure of the substrate 100 in which the upper capacitor electrode 106 p and the fuse pattern 106 f are formed . on the capping film 108 , interlevel insulation films 110 , 114 , and 122 are deposited . etch stopping layers 112 and 120 may be interposed among the interlevel insulation films 110 , 114 , and 122 . an upper interconnection layer is formed through the first interlevel insulation film composed of the lower and upper interlevel insulation films 110 and 114 . the upper interconnection layer may be formed by means of a copper damascene process . although not shown , the upper interconnection layer may be connected to the upper capacitor electrode 106 p and electrically connected to the second lower interconnection 102 c in a predetermined region . in the pad region a , a pad electrode 118 formed of the upper interconnection layer is connected to the first lower interconnection 102 a through the first interlevel insulation film . a second interlevel insulation film 122 is formed on the first interlevel insulation film and a bonding pad 126 connected to the pad electrode 118 through the second interlevel insulation film 122 is formed in the pad region a . the bonding pad 126 may be made of aluminum . over the fuse pattern 106 f , a fuse opening 128 is formed by removing the interlevel insulation films thereon . the fuse opening 128 may be formed with an insulation film remaining in a predetermined thickness on the fuse pattern 106 f . for instance , the capping film 108 on the fuse pattern 106 f can be exposed by the fuse opening 128 . fig3 through 8 are sectional diagrams illustrating the process of forming an interconnection structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention . first , referring to fig3 , the pad region a , the capacitor region b , and the fuse region c are defined in the substrate 100 . the substrate 100 may be one in which passive and active components are formed and an insulation film is deposited on the components . a lower interconnection layer is formed on the substrate 100 . the lower interconnection layer may be formed by means of a copper damascene process . the first lower interconnection 102 a is formed in the pad region a , the lower capacitor electrode 102 b is formed in the capacitor region b , and the second lower interconnection 102 c is formed in the fuse region c . the first and second lower interconnections , 102 a and 102 c , are designed to be electrically connectible with each other . then , the dielectric film 104 is deposited on the overall structure of the substrate 100 having the lower interconnection layer that is composed of the first lower interconnection 102 a , the lower capacitor electrode 102 b , and the second lower electrode 102 c . next , referring to fig4 , the dielectric film 104 is patterned to expose the second lower interconnections 102 c in the fuse region c . then , the upper capacitor electrode layer 106 is formed on the overall structure of the substrate 100 in which the fuse region c is completely formed . the upper capacitor electrode layer 106 may be formed of a metallic compound such as titanium nitride ( tin ), tantalum nitride ( tan ), or titanium tungsten ( tiw ). next , referring to fig5 , the upper capacitor electrode layer 106 and the dielectric film 104 are patterned in sequence to form the capacitor dielectric film 104 d and the upper capacitor electrode 106 p which are stacked on the lower capacitor electrode 102 b in order . simultaneously , the fuse pattern 106 f is formed connecting the second lower interconnections 102 c therein . according to the patterning position , portions of the dielectric film 104 may remain under the edges of the fuse pattern 106 f . referring to fig6 , the capping film 108 is deposited on the overall structure of the substrate 100 having the upper capacitor electrode 106 p and the fuse pattern 106 f . the capping film 108 may be formed of silicon nitride , silicon oxynitride , or silicon carbide . the first interlevel insulation film , which is composed of the lower and upper interlevel insulation films 110 and 114 , is formed on the overall structure of the substrate 100 having the capping film 108 . the etch stopping layer 112 may be formed between the upper interlevel insulation film 114 and the lower interlevel insulation film 110 . next , referring to fig7 , employing the copper damascene processing technique , via holes and interconnection grooves 116 are formed partially exposing the first lower interconnection 102 a , the upper capacitor electrode 106 p , and the second lower interconnection 102 c through the lower interlevel insulation film 110 . the via holes and interconnection grooves 116 are patterned and formed in the upper interlevel insulation film 114 . an upper electrode layer is formed of copper filling the via holes and the interconnection grooves 116 . the upper electrode layer includes the pad electrode 118 connected to the first lower interconnection 102 a , and an upper interconnection layer ( not shown ) positionally connected to the upper capacitor electrode 106 p and the second lower interconnection 102 c . the upper interconnection layer may be designed in a predetermined layout pattern . finally , referring to fig8 , the etch stopping layer 120 is formed on the overall structure of the substrate 100 having the upper interconnection layer and the second interlevel insulation film 122 is formed on the etch stopping layer 120 . the second interlevel insulation film 122 may be formed by stacking materials of series of silicon oxides and silicon nitrides in order to protect the device from the external environment . further in fig8 , the second interlevel insulation film 122 is patterned to form the pad opening 124 exposing the pad electrode 118 . after an aluminum film is formed on the overall structure of the substrate 100 having the pad opening 124 , the aluminum film is patterned to form the bonding pad that fills the pad opening 124 and is connected to the pad electrode 118 . the fuse opening 128 shown in fig2 is formed by partially removing the first and second interlevel insulation films over the fuse region c . the fuse opening 128 may be formed leaving the first interlevel insulation film on the fuse pattern 106 f by removing the second interlevel insulation film 122 , or to expose the capping film on the fuse pattern 106 f by entirely patterning the first and second interlevel insulation films . although the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings , it is not limited thereto . it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various substitution , modifications and changes may be thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . according to the invention , a thinner fuse pattern is formed while increasing thickness of interconnections , by patterning a fuse layer using the relatively thin upper capacitor electrode film , without using any relatively thicker interconnection layer involved in propagation speed of signals in the semiconductor device . the invention provides a semiconductor device with improved operation characteristics increasing the thickness and sheet resistance of interconnections without defects in opening fuses . | 7 |
the following description is of the best mode currently contemplated for practicing the invention . the basic concept of the invention relating to forming an efficient defibrillation waveform can be practiced with two or more capacitors within the icd . a preferred number of capacitors is three . however , the basic concept will first be explained in the context of a two - capacitor icd . in accordance with one aspect of the invention , then a biphasic pulse or waveform is generated by an icd device having two capacitors that includes a positive phase of duration t 1 ms and a negative phase of duration t 2 ms , as shown in fig1 . first and second capacitors , c a and c b , within the icd device are initially charged to a voltage v 1 and are connected in parallel . the biphasic defibrillation pulse begins by discharging the charged parallel capacitors through the cardiac tissue by way of defibrillation electrodes in contact with the cardiac tissue . thus , a leading edge of the biphasic pulse starts at a first peak voltage of approximately v 1 volts ( the charge on the first and second capacitors when first connected to the electrodes ). during a first portion of the positive phase of the biphasic pulse , the amplitude of the biphasic pulse decays from the first peak voltage v 1 to a voltage v 2 in accordance with a first time constant τ 1 . the first time constant τ 1 varies as a function of ( c a + c b ) r , where c a is the value of the first capacitor , c b is the value of the second capacitor , and r is an effective resistance associated with the discharge through the first and second electrodes . a second portion of the positive phase begins by connecting the first and second capacitors in series . this sudden series connection increases the defibrillation pulse to a second peak voltage of approximately 2 ( v 2 ) volts ( the sum of the voltages on each of the first and second capacitors at the time the series connection is made ), as illustrated in fig1 . the amplitude of the biphasic pulse decays during the second portion of the positive phase from the second peak voltage 2 ( v 2 ) to a voltage v 3 in accordance with a second time constant τ 2 . the second time constant τ 2 varies as a function of ( c a c b / c a c b ) ) r . advantageously , the voltage at the trailing edge of the positive phase , v 3 , occurs at a time that is near the maximum cell membrane response . the negative phase of the biphasic waveform begins by inverting the polarity of the series - connected first and second capacitors . such negative phase thus commences at a third peak voltage of approximately − v3 volts , and decays thereafter towards zero in accordance with the second time constant τ 2 . after a prescribed time period t 2 , the negative phase ends . the biphasic waveform produced in accordance with the two - capacitor icd is illustrated in fig1 . the first portion of the positive phase may terminate when either : ( 1 ) the voltage decreases below a threshold voltage v 3 ; or ( 2 ) a prescribed time period t a has elapsed . the tissue membrane voltage that results when the waveform of fig1 is applied to excitable cardiac tissue membranes is as shown in fig2 . this membrane voltage is obtained by modeling the tissue membranes as taught in the blair reference , previously cited . as shown in fig1 - 20 , the optimum duration for t a will be described in more detail . a functional block diagram of the pulse generation circuitry used to generate the biphasic waveform of the two - capacitor icd is shown in fig3 . as seen in fig3 a cardiac tissue - stimulating device 10 includes a power source 12 , e . g ., at least one battery , a timing and control circuit 14 , a charging circuit 16 , an isolation switch network sw 1 , a series parallel switch network sw 2 , at least two capacitors c a and c b , an output switch network sw 3 , and at least two electrodes 20 and 22 . the electrodes 20 and 22 are adapted to be positioned within or on the heart . the electrodes 20 and 22 are connected to the output switch sw 3 through conventional leads 21 and 23 , respectively . a voltage sense amplifier 24 senses the voltage held on the capacitor c b ( which will be the same voltage as capacitor c a when c a and c b are connected in parallel ). in some embodiments of the invention , a current sense amplifier 26 may also be used to sense the current flowing to or returning from one of the electrodes 20 or 22 . in fig3 such current is sensed by differentially measuring the voltage across a small current - sense resistor r s connected in series with electrode 22 . the outputs of the voltage sense amplifier 24 and the current sense amplifier 26 are directed to the timing and control circuit 14 . a suitable cardiac activity sensor 28 is also employed within the device 10 in order to detect cardiac activity . the function of the sensor 28 is to sense cardiac activity so that an assessment can be made by the timing and control circuitry whether a defibrillation pulse needs to be generated and delivered to the cardiac tissue . such sensor 28 may take many forms , e . g , a simple r - wave sense amplifier of the type commonly employed in implantable pacemakers . the details of the sensor 28 are not important for purposes of the present invention . the power source 12 is connected to provide operating power to all components and circuitry within the device 10 . the power source 12 also provides the energy needed to generate the biphasic defibrillation pulse . that is , energy stored within the power source 12 is used to charge capacitors c a and c b , through the charging circuit 18 , up to the desired initial defibrillation starting pulse voltage v 1 . such charging is carried out under control of the timing and control circuit 14 . typically , v 1 may be a relatively high voltage , e . g ., 350 volts , even though the power source 12 may only be able to provide a relatively low voltage , e . g ., 3 - 6 volts . the charging circuit 16 takes the relatively low voltage from the power source 12 and steps it up to the desired high voltage v 1 , using conventional voltage step - up techniques as are known in the art . this stepped - up voltage v 1 is then applied through the isolation switch sw 1 to both capacitors c a and c b at a time when c a and c b are connected in parallel , i . e ., when sw 2 is in its “ p ” position , and at a time when the output switch is in its open , or off , position . as the capacitors c a and c b are being charged , the voltage sense amplifier 24 monitors the voltage level on the capacitors . when the desired voltage v 1 has been reached , the timing and control circuitry 14 turns off the charging circuit 16 and opens the isolation switch sw 1 , thereby holding the voltage v 1 on capacitors c a and c b until such time as a defibrillation pulse is needed . when a defibrillation pulse is called for by the timing and control circuit 14 , the output switch sw 3 is placed in its positive phase position , pos , thereby connecting the parallel connected capacitors c a and c b ( on which the starting voltage v 1 resides ) to the cardiac tissue through the electrodes 20 and 22 . such connection starts the discharge of capacitors c a and c b through the cardiac tissue in accordance with the first time constant τ 1 as described above in connection in fig1 . after a period of time t a , or as soon as the voltage across the parallel - connected capacitors c a and c b has decreased to the threshold value v 2 ( as sensed by the voltage sense amplifier 24 ), the timing and control circuit switches sw 2 to its series - connected or “ s ” position , thereby connecting the capacitors c a and c b in series across the electrodes 20 and 22 . such series connection doubles the voltage across the electrodes 20 and 22 to a value of 2 ( v 2 ) thereafter , the discharge of the series - connected capacitors c a and c b continues through the cardiac tissue in accordance with the second time constant τ 2 as described above . this discharge continues until the end of the positive phase . the positive or first phase ends at a time t 1 from the beginning of the positive phase ( as measured by timing circuits within the timing and control circuit 14 ), or when the voltage has decayed to a value v 3 ( as sensed by voltage sense amplifier 24 ). alternatively , the positive phase may end as a function of the sensed current ( as sensed by the current sense amplifier 26 ), e . g ., at a time when the sensed current has decreased from a peak value by a prescribed amount or percentage . as soon as the positive phase ends , the timing and control circuit 14 switches the output switch sw 3 to the negative phase position , neg , thereby reversing the polarity of the discharge of the series - connected capacitors c a and c b through the cardiac tissue . the negative phase lasts thereafter for a time period t 2 determined by the timing and control circuitry . the functions represented by the functional block diagram of fig3 may be implemented by those of skill in the art using a wide variety of circuit elements and components . it is not intended that the present invention be directed to a specific circuit , device or method ; but rather that any circuit , device or method which implements the functions described above in connection with fig3 to produce a defibrillation waveform of the general type shown in fig1 be covered by the invention . turning next to fig4 there is shown a simplified schematic diagram of an icd having three 120 μf capacitors c 1 , c 2 and c 3 . the manner of charging the capacitors while they are connected in parallel is the same or similar to that shown in fig3 . when the capacitors c 1 , c 2 and c 3 have been charged to a high voltage , e . g ., 370 v , a stored energy of approximately 25 joules is realized . once the capacitors have been charged by the icd , the capacitors are configured for a parallel discharge . this is accomplished by closing switches s 1 , s 2 , s 3 and s 4 , while maintaining switches s 5 and s 6 open . the parallel discharge takes place from time t = 0 until a time d 1 . once d 1 elapses , one of two options may be used to discharge the remaining charge . in accordance with a first option , or option 1 , after d 1 has elapsed ( i . e ., after the capacitors are discharged in parallel until time d 1 ), all of the capacitors are discharged in series for the remainder of the pulse . this is accomplished by opening s 1 , s 2 , s 3 and s 4 and closing s 5 and s 6 . at a later time , d 2 , the “ h bridge ” circuit 40 ( fig4 ) is used to reverse the polarity of the output . at yet a later time , d , the output pulse is truncated . the waveform generated in accordance with option 1 is illustrated in fig5 . the tissue membrane voltage associated with the waveform of fig5 is modeled and computed , using the blair model , as shown in fig6 . for the example shown in fig5 and 6 , the optimum value of d 1 is nominally about 3 . 5 ms . the optimum choice of d 2 is when the elapsed time at d 2 is about 1 . 5 times the elapsed time at d 1 , or when the elapsed time at d 2 ( from t = 0 ) is about 5 . 25 ms . in accordance with a second option , or option 2 , the capacitors c 1 and c 2 remain in parallel and are in series with c 3 until time d 2 . this is accomplished by opening s 3 and s 4 and closing s 6 . after d 2 all the capacitors are in series ( s 1 and s 2 also open , s 5 closed ) until c 3 runs out of charge at a time d 4 . after d 4 , the diode d 1 bypasses the depleted capacitor and the time constant of discharge is of c 1 and c 2 in series . at a time d 3 , where d 2 & lt ; d 3 & lt ; d 4 , the polarity of the output is reversed using the h bridge 40 . the pulse is truncated at time d . the resulting waveform is shown in fig7 . the resulting membrane voltage is modeled and computed and shown in fig8 . for the example shown in fig7 and 8 , the optimum values of d 1 is 2 . 7 ms , d 2 is 1 . 5 times d 1 ( or about 4 ms ) , d 3 is d 2 + 1 . 25 ms . the value of d 4 is computed to be about 7 . 6 ms . the choice of d can be in the range of 1 . 5 to 2 . 0 times that of d 3 . with either option 1 or option 2 , the choice of the values d 1 , d 2 and d 3 are primarily functions of the icd &# 39 ; s capacitance value , the discharge pathway impedance , and the tissue time constant ( τ m ). the advantage of option 2 is that the peak waveform voltage is lower than option 1 yet a minute increase in membrane voltage over option 1 is achieved . however , option 1 is simpler to implement and diode d 1 is not needed since all the capacitors are discharged equally . the advantages of either option 1 or option 2 are better appreciated by comparing the results of such discharge , as presented in fig5 , 7 and 8 , with the corresponding discharge achieved with a two - capacitor icd series discharge , as is commonly used in a conventional icd of the prior art . the discharge waveform achieved with a conventional two - capacitor icd using series discharge , and the resulting membrane voltage , is shown in fig9 and 10 , respectively . note , that to store equal energy to the three capacitor icd , each capacitor of the two - capacitor icd must have 1 . 5 times the capacitance value , or two capacitors each with c = 180 μf . as can be seen from a comparison of fig9 and 10 with fig5 and 6 ( option 1 ), and 5 a and 5 b ( option 2 ), for equal stored energy , the value of the peak membrane voltage for option 2 is 1 . 18 times higher than the membrane voltage realized using the conventional waveform . similarly , option 1 yields a membrane voltage that is 1 . 17 times higher than is realized using the conventional waveform . in other words , a 25 joule icd with three 120μf capacitors and a switching network as in option 2 performs equally to a 34 . 4 joule conventional icd with two 180μf capacitors . this represents a remarkable improvement in performance . as shown in fig1 , the two - step waveform has been reproduced . although identical in nature to that shown in fig1 the designators have been changed slightly for purposes of the in depth analysis that will follow . as described above in conjunction with fig3 two capacitors , c a & amp ; c b , have been charged to the same initial voltage , v 01 . the system resistance ( as seen by device ) is given by r s . for purposes of this discussion , the myocardium has been modeled as a parallel - rc circuit with myocardial tissue time constant , τ m . the amplitude of each step of the positive portion of the defibrillation waveform , shown in fig1 , can be characterized with the following basic equations : v s1 ( t 1 )= v 01 · exp [− t 1 / τ s1 ] 0 ≦ t 1 ≦ d 1 v s2 ( t 2 )= v 02 · exp [− t 2 / τ s2 ] 0 ≦ t 2 ≦ d 2 v s1 is the exponential decay during the first period , t 1 , ( i . e ., step 1 ); v s2 is the exponential decay during the second period , t 2 , ( i . e ., step 2 ); τ s1 is the time constant of c a and c b in parallel ; τ s2 is the time constant of c a and c b in series ; v 01 is the initial voltage during step 1 on the capacitors c a and c b once fully charged to the source voltage , v 01 ; and v 02 is the initial voltage during step 2 remaining on the capacitors c a and c b now configured in series . the analysis that follows directly will explain how to determine the absolute and approximate solutions for the optimal durations , d 1 and d 2 , to maximize induced myocardial potential , v m ( t ), when the two capacitors are arranged in a parallel - series , two - step arrangement . consider the myocardial responses to v s1 ( t 1 ) [ step 1 ] and v s2 ( t 2 ) [ step 2 ] separately . note that the following derivations ( equations 1 - 4 ) make absolutely no assumptions regarding any specific relationships between the characteristics of step 1 and step 2 . the “ step 1 ” myocardial response , v m1 , to the step 1 waveform , v s1 , is described by : v m1 ( t 1 ) t 1 + v m1 ( t 1 ) τ m ∝ v s1 ( t 1 ) τ m ( eq . 1 ) the solution to this differential equation is : v m1 ( t 1 ) = { v 01 α 1 · ( exp [ - t 1 τ s1 ] - exp [ - t 1 τ m ] ) τ s1 ≠ τ m v 01 τ s1 · ( t 1 · exp [ - t 1 τ s1 ] ) τ s1 = τ m where α 1 = 1 - ( τ m / τ s1 ) . ( eq . 2 ) the “ step 2 ” myocardial response , v m2 , to the step 2 waveform , v s2 , is governed by : v m2 ( d 1 , t 2 ) t 2 + v m2 ( d 1 , t 2 ) τ m ∝ v s2 ( t 2 ) τ m ( eq . 3 ) with the initial condition : v m2 ( d 1 , 0 )= v m1 ( d 1 ), where d 1 represents the final duration of step 1 . this initial condition ensures that there is a continuity of myocardial voltage when transitioning from the end of step 1 into the start of step 2 . the solution to this differential equation is : v m2 ( d 1 , t 2 ) = v m1 ( d 1 ) · exp [ - t 2 τ m ] + { v 02 ( d 1 ) α 2 · ( exp [ - t 2 τ s2 ] - exp [ - t 2 τ m ] ) τ s2 ≠ τ m v 02 ( d 1 ) τ s2 · ( t 1 · exp [ - t 2 τ s2 ] ) τ s2 = τ m ( eq . 4 ) where α 2 = 1 −( τ m / τ s2 ), and v 02 is proportional to v s2 ( 0 ) equation ( 4 ) describes a curve with a single maximum value . the step durations , d 1 = d 1 opt and d 2 = d 2 opt , that maximize this shock - induced myocardial voltage , v m2 ( t 1 , t 2 ) can be determined by solving the simultaneous equations given by : ∂ v m2 ( d 1 opt , d 2 opt ) ∂ d 1 opt = 0 ∂ v m2 ( d 1 opt , d 2 opt ) ∂ d 2 opt = 0 ( eq . 5 ) from equation ( 5 ), two equations that describe d 2 opt as a function of d 1 opt can be found ( the following derivations assume τ s1 ≢ τ m and τ s2 ≢ τ m ): d 2 opt = τ m α 2 · ln { 1 + ( α 2 α 1 · v 01 ∂ v 02 / ∂ d 1 opt ) · ( 1 τ s1 exp [ - d 1 opt τ s1 ] - 1 τ m exp [ - d 1 opt τ m ] ) } ( eq . 6 ) d 2 opt = τ m α 2 · ln { τ s2 τ m [ 1 - ( α 2 α 1 · v 01 v 02 ( d 1 opt ) ) · ( exp [ - d 1 opt τ s1 ] - exp [ - d 1 opt τ m ] ) ] } ( eq . 7 ) setting equations ( 6 ) and ( 7 ) equal to each other and simplifying produces the following implicit equation for d 1 opt : ( τ m τ s2 · α 1 v 01 ) = ( 1 / τ s1 ∂ v 02 / ∂ d 1 opt + τ s2 / τ m v 02 ( d 1 opt ) ) exp [ - d 1 opt τ s1 ] - ( 1 / τ m ∂ v 02 / ∂ d 1 opt + τ s2 / τ m v 02 ( d 1 opt ) ) exp [ - d 1 opt τ m ] ( eq . 8 ) further simplifications of equation ( 8 ) require that v 02 ( d 1 ) be explicitly defined . when the two system capacitors ( c a & amp ; c b ) are configured into a parallel arrangement during step 1 and then reconfigured into a series arrangement during step 2 , the system time constants can be explicitly defined as : τ s1 = r s ·( c a + c b ) τ s2 = r s ·( c a c b )/( c a + c b ) ( eq . 9 ) v 02 ( d 1 )= 2 · v s1 ( d 1 ) = 2 · v 01 · exp [− d 1 / τ s1 ] ( eq . 10 ) where equation ( 10 ) codifies the notion that , in a parallel - series arrangement , the leading edge voltage of step 2 equals twice the trailing edge voltage of step 1 . substituting equation ( 10 ) into equation ( 8 ) and solving explicitly for d 1 opt and subsequently d 2 opt [ via equation ( 6 ) or ( 7 )] yields : d 1 opt = - τ m α 1 · ln { ( τ m τ s1 ) ( 2 α 1 - α 2 α 1 - α 2 ) } ( eq . 11 ) d 2 opt = + τ m α 1 · ln { ( 1 2 ) ( 2 α 1 - α 2 α 1 - α 2 ) } ( eq . 12 ) the maximum myocardial voltage attained using these optimal parallel - series step durations can then be determined by substituting equations ( 10 )-( 12 ) into equation ( 4 ) and simplifying : v m2 ( d 1 opt , d 2 opt ) = v 01 ( 1 2 ) - 1 α 2 ( τ m τ s1 ) 1 α 1 - 1 ( 2 α 1 - α 2 α 1 - α 2 ) 1 α 1 - 1 α 2 ( eq . 13 ) note that equations ( 11 )-( 13 ) are valid for any independent values of c a and c b . according to this simple rc model of defibrillation , successful defibrillation is achieved when the myocardial voltage ( as embodied herein by v m1 and v m2 ) is “ depolarized ” to its threshold value , v th . an equation that describes the minimum relative magnitude for v 0 ( i . e ., the voltage to which each of the capacitors is charged in preparation for the defibrillation shock ) that successfully drives v m2 to v th can be obtained from equation ( 13 ) by setting v m2 = v th and solving for v 01 ( which , for these parallel - series shocks , is equivalent to v 0 ). since the total stored energy in capacitors c a and c b is given by : e stored = 1 2 ( c a + c b ) · v 0 2 ( eq . 14 ) then the optimal relationship between c a and c b that maximizes myocardial voltage for a given total stored energy can be found by substituting c a = k · c b into equation ( 14 ) and then solving for k in ∂ e stored /∂ k = 0 . the result is : the above result implies that c a should equal c b in order to achieve maximum myocardial impact for any given total energy . the relationship c a = c b is equivalent to τ s1 = 4 · τ s2 [ see equation ( 9 )], from which simplified versions of equations ( 1l )-( 13 ) can be derived : d 1 opt = - τ m α 1 · ln { ( 1 3 ) ( 1 + τ m 2 τ s2 ) } ( eq . 16 ) d 2 opt = + τ m α 2 · ln { ( 1 3 ) ( 1 + 2 τ s2 τ m ) } ( eq . 17 ) v m2 ( d 1 opt , d 2 opt ) = 2 ( v 01 ( τ m 2 τ s2 ) ) 1 α 2 - 1 [ ( 1 3 ) ( 1 + τ m 2 τ s2 ) ] 1 α 1 - 1 α 2 ( eq . 18 ) finally , the optimal capacitance for a given r s and τ m is determined by finding the value of c a that minimizes e stored , that is , solving for c a in ∂ e stored /∂ c a = 0 ( with k = 1 ). the result is : c a = c b = τ m r s ( eq . 19 ) or equivalently , the optimal capacitance ( for a given r s and τ m ) is that which satisfies : 1 2 τ s1 = 2 τ s2 = τ m ( eq . 20 ) d 1 opt =+ 2τ m · 1 n [ 3 / 2 ]≈ 0 . 811 · τ m ( eq . 21 ) d 2 opt =+ τ m · 1 n [ 3 / 2 ]≈ 0 . 405 · τ m ( eq . 22 ) further insights into the preceding theoretical calculations can be gleaned from corresponding graphical analyses . the relative stored energy required for defibrillation ( e stored ) for all possible parallel - series two - step waveforms is graphically illustrated in the contour plot of fig1 . in this plot , the x - axis is indexed by the total capacitance ( c a + c b , scaled by τ m / r s ) while the y - axis is indexed by the ratio of the two capacitances ( k = c a / c b ). although perhaps seemingly non - intuitive axis definitions , they efficiently provide complete coverage of the entire parameter space of all possible capacitor combinations for two - step waveforms . as indicated by the horizontal line 100 and the vertical line 102 overlaid on this plot ( and as consistent with the conclusions of equations ( 15 ) and ( 19 )), the most efficient two - step positive portion for the biphasic shock is delivered when : the contours then step out from this optimal point in 1 % increments , thus providing an indication as to the relative sensitivity of the energy efficiency to deviations in either total capacitance or capacitance ratio . in fact , energy efficiency remains quite robust : for example , energy efficiency remains within 1 % of optimal for : ˜ 1 . 5 · τ m / r s & lt ;( c a + c b )& lt ;˜ 2 . 7 · τ m / r s ; and two - dimensional contour plots of optimal step 1 and step 2 durations ( normalized by τ m , i . e ., d 1 opt / τ m and d 2 opt / τ m ) as given by equations ( 11 ) and ( 12 ) are presented in fig1 and 14 , respectively . similar to fig1 , fig1 and 14 have respective horizontal lines 110 , 120 and vertical lines 112 , 122 from have been overlaid on these contour maps as well . their respective intersections 114 , 124 appropriately correspond to the “ 0 . 811 ” and “ 0 . 405 ” coefficients found in equations ( 21 ) and ( 22 ), respectively . since r s and τ m represent patient - specific variables that directly impact the choice of durations used for these stepped waveforms , it is perhaps useful to present example values for d 1 opt and d 2 opt for a representative range of values for r s ( 30 - 90 ω ), τ m ( 2 - 4 ms ), and c a ( 30 - 90 μf ). the tables shown in fig1 - 17 provide such a set of example values , wherein values for d 1 opt and d 2 opt are computed from equations ( 16 ) and ( 17 ), respectively . given the limits of the ranges used for r s , τ m , and c a in the tables shown in fig1 - 17 , d 1 opt and d 2 opt range from lows of 1 . 286 and 0 . 422 ms ( when τ m = 2 ms , c a = 30 μf , and r s = 30 ω ) to highs of 3 . 704 and 2 . 689 ms ( when τ m = 4 ms , c a = 90 μf , and r s = 90 ω ), respectively . of course , d 1 opt and / or d 2 opt could move outside of these ranges if any one or more of r s , τ m , and c a exceed the limits used for these tables . in those cases , equations ( 16 ) and ( 17 ) could be used to compute exactly the optimal step durations for any combination of r s , τ m , and c a . in another embodiment , the device could also determine d 1 opt and d 2 opt based on measured values for r s , and / or a programmed value for τ m , based on a particular value for c a and c b . by way of example , if the capacitance value for c a and c b is set to 60 μf , so that equation 19 is satisfied for a tissue resistance , r s equal to nominally 50 ohms and a tissue time constant , τ m , then for a range for τ m , of 2 ms to 4 ms , and a range for r s of 30 - 90 ohms , then : ( c a + c b )* r s / τ m = 0 . 9 to further assist with interpreting the results embodied in fig1 and 14 and the table shown in fig1 - 17 , fig1 graphs a subset of those data as simple functions of r s and τ m . in particular , fig1 presents a pair of graphs : the left and right halves plot d 1 opt and d 2 opt , respectively , as functions of r s for three representative values of τ m ( 2 , 3 , and 4 ms ). for these graphs , c a = c b = 60 μf ( thus k = 1 . 0 ). consistent with the data in the tables shown in fig1 - 17 both d 1 opt and d 2 opt increase in value with increasing r s or τ m . moreover , this figure helps illustrate how d 1 opt appears significantly more sensitive to relative changes in τ m than in r s , while d 2 opt appears to have the opposite sensitivity . while fig1 - 17 provide a comprehensive overview of all possible parallel - series two - step waveforms , it is also useful to consider some specific examples that can aid in illustrating the relative improvements gained by using such a parallel - series two - step capacitor arrangement over the traditional one - step arrangement . fig1 graphically compares the positive portion of the biphasic shock waveform shapes ( v s , top two waveforms , 150 and 160 ) and associated tissue responses ( v m , bottom two waveforms , 152 and 162 ) for one - step , 150 , and parallel - series two - step , 160 , shocks having equal stored energies and leading - edge voltages . τ m = 3 ms , r s = 50 ω , c a = c b = 60 μf the one - step shock is generated by essentially keeping c a and c b in a parallel arrangement for its entire shock duration , for a constant effective capacitance of 120 μf . as is evident from the tissue responses ( i . e ., comparing the one - step response 152 to the two - step response 162 ), two - step the myocardial voltage ( 162 ) reaches a higher higher final cell membrane potential (+ 18 . 6 %) in a shorter total duration ( 3 . 65 vs . 4 . 16 ms 12 . 3 %) as compared to the final cell membrane potential ( 152 ) using the one - step shock . a consequence of this improved tissue response is that this two - step waveform requires a lower effective leading - edge voltage ( and hence a lower stored energy ) to achieve the same defibrillation efficacy as its equivalent one - step waveform . fig2 illustrates this scenario by resealing the results presented in fig1 such that the strength of each shock is sufficient to produce tissue responses of equal amplitudes . consistent with the results presented in fig1 , this two - step positive portion of the biphasic shock waveform 164 theoretically requires a 15 . 6 % lower leading - edge voltage than its one - step counterpart 154 , which translates into a 28 . 8 % reduction in required stored energy , and a potentially lower pain waveform for the patient since the leading edge of the shocking pulse is reduced . fig2 and 22 illustrate analogous results to those depicted in fig2 , but for relatively extreme combinations of r s and c a . in fig2 , r s = 30 ω and c a = c b = 30 μf , while in fig2 , r s = 90 ω and c a = c b = 90 μf . as is evident in fig2 and 22 , the shape of the optimal parallel - series two - step waveform depends strongly on the magnitudes of r s and c a . furthermore , the relative improvement in energy efficiency also strongly depends on these values . for example , in fig2 , the two - step waveform 166 induced an equivalent final tissue response as its one - step waveform 156 , but with an 8 . 8 % shorter duration ( 2 . 1 vs . 2 . 3 ms ), a 6 . 5 % lower leading - edge voltage , and a 12 . 6 % reduction in required stored energy . in fig2 , the relative improvements were a 14 . 3 % shorter duration ( 5 . 3 vs . 6 . 3 ms ), a 25 . 9 % lower leading - edge voltage , and a 45 . 0 % reduction in required stored energy . thus , these comparisons suggest that there would be especially great incentive for utilizing two - step waveforms instead of traditional one - step waveforms when the magnitudes of r s and c a are large , while the incentive is relatively minimal when the magnitudes of r s and c a are small . unfortunately , because of the inherent limitations of this theoretical model , it is not possible to directly compare amplitude - based results ( e . g ., leading - edge voltage , required stored energy ) derived for differing r s or τ m . for this reason , the results of fig2 - 22 are all self - normalized ( that is , there is no relationship between the amplitudes in these graphs ). finally , while equations ( 16 ) and ( 17 ) provide exact formulas for determining d 1 opt and d 2 opt when k = 1 ( i . e . , c a = c b ) , it is sometimes helpful and / or practical to also identify various approximations to such solutions . consider the following infinite series expansion of the natural logarithm : ln [ x ] = 2 · [ ( x - 1 x + 1 ) + 1 3 · ( x - 1 x + 1 ) 3 + 1 5 · ( x - 1 x + 1 ) 5 + … ] ( 23 ) utilizing just the first term of this expansion , equations ( 16 ) and ( 17 ) can be simplified to : d 1 opt ≈ 2 τ m 3 - α 1 = 2 τ s1 · τ m 2 τ s1 + τ m ⇒ 1 d 1 opt ≈ 1 2 τ s1 + 1 τ m = 1 4 r s c a + 1 τ m ( 24 ) d 2 opt ≈ 2 τ m 3 - 2 α 2 = τ s2 · 2 τ m τ s2 + 2 τ m ⇒ 1 d 2 opt ≈ 1 τ s2 + 1 2 τ m = 1 2 · ( 4 r s c a + 1 τ m ) ( 25 ) in words , these relationships suggest that the optimal step durations can be well approximated by computing variously weighted parallel combinations of system and myocardial time constants . and despite using only one term of equation ( 23 ), these approximations are relatively quite accurate over a broad range of τ s1 / τ m and τ s2 / τ m ratios ( only their ratios , not their absolute values , impact their accuracy ). for example , the relative error for d 1 opt is less than 5 % for 0 . 4 & lt ; τ s1 / τ m & lt ; 5 , while the relative error for d 2 opt is less than 5 % for 0 . 2 & lt ; τ s2 / τ m & lt ; 3 . when equation ( 20 ) is also satisfied ( that is , when system and myocardial time constants are ideally matched ), these relative errors are each only 1 . 35 %. in all cases , these approximation calculations underestimate the true values by these respective relative errors . while the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof , numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims . | 0 |
reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention , examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings . the method and corresponding steps of the invention will be described in conjunction with the detailed description of the system . the devices and methods presented herein may be used for generating medical images . particularly , the present invention is directed to a method and system for generating magnetic resonance (“ mr ”) images of a patient . embodiments of the invention depicted herein include a combination of magnet and articulated patient table that allow the hip , shoulder , foot , ankle , knee , hand , wrist and elbow joints to be positioned and imaged in a smaller cylindrical mri magnet . particular embodiments described herein allow all of the joints of interest of the human body to be centered in the magnet , yet permit use of a magnet with an associated homogenous volume that is substantially smaller than typical systems known in the art . this results in a smaller , lighter , more compact and less costly system that is conveniently more open for the patient . for purpose of explanation and illustration , and not limitation , views of an exemplary embodiment of an imaging system made in accordance with the invention are shown in fig1 - 8 and is designated generally by reference character 100 . as depicted , in fig1 - 7 , system 100 includes a table 110 operably coupled to a magnet assembly 150 defining a bore 152 therethrough . the magnet assembly 150 can be a conventional design with a cylindrical gradient coil and rf body coil or may be open on the sides as permitted by the teachings of the embodiment illustrated and described herein in further detail below with reference to fig8 . as depicted in fig1 - 7 , patient table 110 includes a stationary base portion 112 upon which is mounted an articulated portion 120 upon which a patient 300 rests . articulated portion 120 of table 110 includes a first linear displaceable segment 122 , a second generally round pivoting segment 124 and a third angularly displaceable segment 126 . the three components of articulated portion 120 of table 110 may be displaced along an axial direction “ z ” of the device 100 along a track 114 formed on base portion 112 through bore 152 . angularly displaceable segment 126 may be angularly displaced , for example , about a pivot point 128 defined in the center of second segment 124 . if desired , second segment 124 and third segment 126 may rotate together about pivot point 128 . as depicted , second and third segments 124 , 126 are preferably upholstered for the comfort of patient 300 . in addition , table 110 is further provided with pads 130 that may be used for supporting various portions of a patient &# 39 ; s anatomy while being imaged . similarly , as depicted , a displaceable rf coil 132 for imaging the elbow or hand is also provided that is adapted and configured to slide along axis “ z ” in a track 134 . for purposes of illustration , the device 100 may be used to examine the shoulder joint . the shoulder joint is furthest from the center of the body in the left / right (“ x ”) direction and is the most difficult joint to place in the center in the magnet . in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention , it is desired to place the shoulder of a patient at or near the center of a significantly smaller imaging volume than is typical of a conventional whole body magnet . this allows for a much smaller and lower cost magnet . using conventional technology as a starting point , if one starts with a conventional whole body magnet design of 2 . 5 meters long and 0 . 9 m inside diameter ( not including the gradient and rf body coil ) the resultant useful imaging volume is about a 450 mm diameter sphere . if the magnet is reduced in length to & lt ; 1 meter , the resultant volume is reduced to about 200 mm in diameter . further shortening the magnet will reduce the useful volume further . such a shorter magnet is depicted in the embodiments of fig1 - 7 . fig1 depicts a top view of a 1 meter long ( along the axis z ) magnet with a 200 mm diameter imaging volume 200 and a 700 mm wide patient bore 152 . it will be appreciated that the length of the magnet may be modified somewhat without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention . preferably , the length of the magnet is between about 0 . 75 meters and about 1 . 25 meters . more preferably , the magnet is about one meter long . in accordance with another embodiment , the magnet may be less than one meter long . the patient is a male with height of 172 cm ( 68 ″) ( average is 175 cm ) and distance of 154 mm from body center to the center of the shoulder joint . as clearly depicted in fig1 , off center imaging of the shoulder is no longer possible because the magnet is too small . even with a patient bore as large as 700 mm , and an imaging volume of 200 mm diameter , it is not possible to place the shoulder of a person of average size in the magnet center while still laying flat and parallel to the bore axis (“ z ” direction ). however , by angling portion 126 of the patient table 110 as shown in fig2 , the shoulder of patient 300 can now be placed into the center of the imaging volume 200 . angling the patient table is actually facilitated by virtue of the shorter magnet assembly 150 . shorter magnet assembly 150 in turn provides a reduced imaging volume 200 . the angled patient table 110 and a relatively short magnet assembly 150 work together to allow the shoulder to be imaged in a smaller , less expensive magnet . angling the patient table 110 also improves imaging the elbow . as depicted in fig3 , the elbow of patient 300 is positioned in the center of the imaging volume 200 and the center of radio frequency coil 132 . the patient &# 39 ; s arm is not completely extended above the head , which would cause patient discomfort and motion , and the torso is not adjacent to the imaging volume 200 , which would otherwise possibly interfere with the image obtained as in the case of a conventional whole body mri system . angling the head slightly allows further rotation of portion 126 , thereby lowering arm extension resulting in increased patient comfort . for imaging the hand of patient 300 , the angling of the table 110 is possible with greater patient comfort . as shown in fig4 , the hand of patient 300 is in the center of the imaging volume 200 , resulting in the highest possible image quality . similarly , the hip is easily centered in the magnet 150 in a manner that would be similar to a whole body system in fig5 . likewise , the knee joint is easily centered in the magnet 150 in a manner that would be similar to a whole body system in fig6 . furthermore , the ankle joint is easily centered in the magnet assembly 150 in a manner that would be similar to a whole body system in fig7 . the same rf coil 132 has been depicted for imaging the hand , foot , elbow and knee for illustrative purposes only , and not limitation . as known in the art , in practice , different size coils optimized for each anatomical position may be used . the invention described herein is intended to encompass all such embodiments . fig8 presents a schematic end view of the magnet assembly 150 including a main superconducting magnet , 154 . as depicted , the imaging volume 200 is about 200 mm in diameter , while the patient bore 152 is about 500 mm in height and about 700 mm in width . as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art , the size of the imaging volume 200 can be varied in accordance with the size of the magnet assembly 150 . for example , the size of the imaging volume can range anywhere from about 50 mm in diameter to about 500 mm in diameter , more preferably from about 100 mm in diameter to about 300 mm in diameter , and most preferably about 200 mm in diameter . similarly , the dimensions of the bore can be varied in accordance with the size of the magnet assembly . for example , the width of the bore can vary from about 500 mm to about 1000 mm or larger , more preferably from about 600 mm to about 800 , 850 or 900 mm , and most preferably about 700 mm . by way of further example , the height of the bore can vary from about 300 mm to about 1000 mm or larger , more preferably from about 400 mm to about 700 mm , and most preferably about 500 mm . as depicted in fig8 , it is possible to use a smaller rf coil 160 and gradient coil 170 placed above and below the patient instead of a larger set of cylindrical coils surrounding the patient as in a conventional whole body system . this is feasible because of the reduced imaging volume 200 that is needed to perform imaging . any suitable gradient coil 170 design may be used , as known in the art . the rf coils may include one or more transmit elements that are adapted and configured to transmit signals to a region of interest such as in the imaging volume and receive mr signals from tissue in the region of interest . the embodiments disclosed herein thus present certain advantages that are heretofore not present in the art . for example , the patient opening can be provided with a larger width by virtue of placement of the rf and gradient coils above and below the patient , instead of surrounding the patient . this , for example , allows for improved access for the shoulder . moreover , with the rf and gradient coil above and below the patient , the rf transmit uniformity and gradient linearity is feasible for a smaller volume . the gradient amplifier power and rf power required is reduced by virtue of the smaller imaging volume . this allows reduced sar and db / dt , which are highly desirable . perhaps more importantly , the magnet inside diameter can be reduced lowering the cost of the magnet and / or improving homogeneity of the magnetic field while still maintaining access for the shoulder of a patient . a reduced inside diameter of the magnet also permits use a shorter magnet for the same homogeneous volume . generally , as the length l of magnet assembly 150 is reduced in length , the homogeneous volume of the magnetic field is necessarily made smaller . the physics of magnetic field generation dictate that the size of the homogeneous volume is reduced in all dimensions even if the magnet is made shorter in just one dimension . however , some limited asymmetric shaping of the homogeneous volume can take place . one example is the oblate spheroid where the equatorial dimension is larger than the polar dimension . in other words , instead of a spherical imaging volume 200 , the imaging volume can resemble an ellipsoid that has been compressed along the “ z ” dimension in the embodiments depicted in fig1 - 7 . such an imaging volume would appear oval from a top view as depicted in fig1 - 7 , but round in fig8 with the height dimension of the imaging volume in fig1 - 7 along the “ z ” axis being less than the transverse dimension along the “ x ” axis and “ y ” axis . it should also be apparent that imaging the head , sections of the spine or any other portion of a patient &# 39 ; s anatomy that may be placed in the imaging volume 200 is also possible and straightforward . for example , the spine is near the center of the body which is readily imaged . it will be further appreciated that , while dimensions of magnets and the like are depicted herein , these dimensions are intended to be exemplary and not limiting . it will be further appreciated that system may be operated at any suitable background field produced by main magnet 154 . for example , main magnet may adapted to produce a field at 1 . 0 t , 1 . 5 t , 2 . 0 t , 2 . 5 t , 3 . 0 t , 4 . 0 t , 5 . 0 t , 6 . 0 t , 7 . 0 t and the like , as desired . the other portions of system 100 ( e . g ., coils 160 , 170 ) are accordingly adjusted to accommodate the difference in main field strength . as can be seen , the methods and systems of the present invention , as described above and shown in the drawings , provide for an imaging system with superior qualities as compared to prior art systems . it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the device and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention . thus , it is intended that the present invention include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the subject disclosure and equivalents . | 6 |
the present invention addresses the problem of wrinkles in the covers in stent - grafts . the covers of self - expanding stent - grafts heretofore exhibited wrinkles when deployed to diameters smaller than the diameter at which the cover was applied to the stent , which is typically the fully deployed diameter . in as much as body conduits are rarely the exact diameter of the stent - graft , rarely uniformly circular in cross - section , and rarely non - tapered , sections or entire lengths of self - expanding stent - grafts frequently are not fully deployed and hence present wrinkled surfaces to flowing blood or other body fluids . furthermore , covered stents are often intentionally implanted at less than their fully deployed diameters in order to utilize their inherent radial expansion force to better anchor the devices against the host tissue , thereby preventing device migration in response to blood flow . such practices come at the expense of having to tolerate devices with at least partially wrinkled covers . the present invention involves the use of a unique stent cover material , one that combines two seemingly mutually exclusive properties - being both strong enough to withstand the forces exerted by constant , cyclic blood pressure and also distensible enough to expand in response to the expansion forces exerted by a self - expanding stent . in addition , a unique manufacturing method had to be devised in order to utilize this material to construct a self - expanding stent - graft . the temperature - constrained shape - memory properties of self - expanding stents introduce significant processing challenges . ultimately , a process was developed which entailed applying the cover to the stent in a refrigerated environment . referring to fig1 a and 1 b , the present invention is directed to implantable device 60 having a self - expanding stent component 63 with a cover 62 ( or both ), that is wrinkle - free over an operating diametric range of the device . the cover 62 has wrinkles 65 in the constrained state as shown in fig1 a . the wrinkles disappear once the device self - expands to a pre - determined diameter at which the cover was formed on the stent . the cover 62 remains wrinkle - free as the device 60 self - expands even further as shown in fig1 b , up to and including the fully deployed diameter . the invention addresses the clinical problems associated with wrinkles in self - expanding stent covers while providing the minimum amount of covering material . wrinkles are known to disrupt blood flow and can become sites for clot deposition which may ultimately lead to graft thrombosis and embolus shedding . these sequelae may create serious clinical consequences , especially in organs such as the brain . the incorporation of a single , very thin cover enables a stent - graft device with a profile dictated primarily by the stent strut dimensions , not by the mass or volume of the cover . the present invention , therefore , provides a heretofore unavailable combination of deployment diameter for a given size stent - graft and a wrinkle - free cover surface over a wide range of deployed diameters . for use in the present invention , nitinol ( nickel - titanium shape memory alloy ) and stainless steel are preferred stent materials . nitinol is preferred for its shape memory properties . the memory characteristics can be tailored for the requirements of the stenting application during the fabrication of the alloy . furthermore , nitinol used to make the stent can be in the form of wire that can be braided or welded , for example , or it can be tubing stock from which a stent is cut . while nitinol offers a wide variety of stent design options , it should be appreciated that stainless steel and other materials may also be formed into many different shapes and constructs . stent covers of the present invention are preferably durable and biocompatible . the stent covering of the present invention has a low tensile elastic modulus , which enables it to be distended with the minimal force that is exerted by a self - expanding stent . furthermore , the covering is provided with a minimal ( or non - existent ) elastic recoil force so that after stent expansion the covering does not cause the stent - graft to decrease in diameter over time . the cover is also preferably thin . thinness has the multiple benefits of reducing the introduction size of the device , maximizing the blood flow cross - section , providing less resistance to radial expansion , and introducing less elastic recoil . preferred cover materials include , but are not limited to , thin elastomeric biomaterials . more specifically , the elastomeric materials include such candidates as polyurethanes , silicone materials , perfluoroethylvinylether - tetrafluoroethylene ( peve - tfe ), perfluoropropylvinylether - tetrafluoroethylene ( ppve - tfe ), and the like . terpolymers containing at least two of the following monomers are also preferred : peve , ppve , perfluoromethylvinylether ( pmve ), and tfe . most preferably , perfluoromethylvinylether - tetrafluoroethylene ( pmve - tfe ) is used . these materials are can be applied in various manners such as adhering tubes of the materials to the inner and / or outer surfaces of the stent . these elastomeric materials are preferably applied by dip coating self - expanding stents into liquid solutions of the covering materials . in order to minimize the stent - graft profile , the stent is coated in such a way that the minimal amount of covering results . preferably , the cover material that spans the stent openings is thinner than the stent element thickness . in some cases , it may be preferred to have stent cover that is thicker than thickness of the stent element . such a cover can be created by applying more elastomer by means such as , but not limited to , multiple dip coatings or utilizing a more viscous coating solution . therapeutic agents , fillers , or the like can be added to the stent cover . the elastomer can also be rendered porous by such means as those known in the art . porosity in the cover material can , among other benefits , facilitate the attachment of other materials to the cover . in a preferred embodiment , a nitinol stent is chilled and crushed to a diameter less than the fully deployed outer diameter . the chilling is desirable to help maintain the stent in the crushed state . the covering is then applied without creating wrinkles . the constrained diameter is selected according to the intended operating parameters of the device , such as about 90 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , about 80 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , about 70 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , about 60 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , and for most applications most preferably about 50 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less . while maintaining the device in the chilled state , the stent - graft is allowed to dry and then further crimped with a chilled crimping tool and transferred into a delivery catheter . in an alternative preferred embodiment , a nitinol stent is first coated at its fully deployed diameter by dipping it into a liquid solution of the covering material and allowing the cover to dry . the cover is inspected to ensure that it is wrinkle - free . the covered stent is next chilled , and crushed . crushing a covered stent made in this manner introduces wrinkles into the cover material . again the crushed diameter may be formed at any desired pre - determined constraint , including about 90 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , about 80 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , about 70 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , about 60 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less , or about 50 % of the fully deployed outer diameter or less . next , the crushed cover stent is dipped into a chilled solvent solution that will enable the elastomer cover material to re - flow . the re - flowing of the cover material eliminates the wrinkles created during crushing . while maintaining the device in the chilled state , the stent - graft is allowed to dry and then further crimped with a chilled crimping tool and transferred into a delivery catheter . stent - grafts made in either of these inventive manners exhibit wrinkle - free coverings over the device diameter range extending from the reduced diameter at which the covering was applied or remodeled ( collectively referred to as “ formed ”) up to and including the fully deployed diameter . fig2 a depicts a cross - section of the covered stent of the present invention that was constructed wrinkle - free at 50 % of the fully deployed outer diameter , crimped and transferred inside a delivery catheter , and then deployed to 30 % of the fully deployed outer diameter of the device . fig2 b illustrates the wrinkle - free stent cover 62 at the diameter at which it was initially bonded to the stent struts 68 of the stent 63 , thereby forming the covered stent 60 . fig2 b also represents the wrinkle - free properties of the cover of a stent - graft in which the cover is applied at the stent fully deployed diameter , then the cover is remodeled at a smaller diameter . inner or outer elastomeric covers or both can be attached to the stent 63 at this reduced diameter . they can be attached by any conventional means including , but not limited to , using an adhesive , solvent bonding , or heat bonding . when both inner and outer covers are attached to the stent , they can be applied so as to encase the stent struts 68 as depicted in fig2 b . the thin elastomer cover 62 stretches and remains wrinkle free up to and including the fully deployed diameter as shown in fig2 c . in order to achieve this characteristic , the covering must be substantially wrinkle - free at a stent diameter smaller than the fully deployed diameter . this diameter should be no larger than the smallest intended diameter of the implanted device . crushing the device below the diameter at which the cover was formed induces wrinkles in the stent cover 62 as indicated in fig4 in which the covered stent of fig2 b was crushed to enable the device to be transferred to inside a delivery catheter . forming the covering at an intermediate stent size means less crushing is necessary to decrease the stent - graft diameter for insertion into the delivery catheter . additionally , the likelihood of perforating the cover during the crushing process is reduced when less crushing is needed . the wrinkle - free feature of articles of the present invention can benefit the performance of tapered stent - grafts . tapered grafts are widely used in the treatment of aortoiliac disease . the present invention , which can include or not include a tapered stent and / or cover , can be implanted inside a tapered vessel without exhibiting wrinkles in the cover . that is , regardless of the shape of the starting materials , the device of the present invention can conform to become a tapered self - expanding stent - graft when deployed within a tapered body conduit . this allows tapered body conduits to be treated with non - tapered devices that are easier and less expensive to construct , without deploying an improperly sized stent - grafts . this also allows for a wider range of effective deployable sizes and shapes without the need to increase the number of different configurations of products . the present invention has particular value in very demanding , small caliber stenting applications . these are applications in which a cover is needed to either protect against plaque or other debris from entering the blood stream after balloon angioplasty or to seal an aneurysm . perhaps the most demanding applications are those involving the treatment of carotid and neural vessels where even small wrinkles in the stent cover may create a nidus for thrombosis . given the sensitivity of the brain , the consequences of such thrombus accumulation and possible embolization can be dire . not only does the present invention overcome the challenging problem of providing a wrinkle - free cover in a viable stent - graft , it accomplishes this with a surprisingly minimal amount of covering material . it was unanticipated that such a distensible , thin , and low mass material could satisfactorily perform as a stent covering . the following examples are intended to illustrate how the present invention may be made and used , but not to limit it to such examples . the full scope of the present invention is defined in the appended claims . stent - graft device covers were visually examined without the aid of magnification at ambient temperatures . the ends of devices were secured within a hollow delrin ® resin block in order fix the longitudinal axis of the device at an angle of about 45 ° above horizontal which enabled viewing the inner surface of the stent - grafts . the devices were positioned to allow examination of free edge of the device and stent openings nearest the ends of the device . stent - grafts that were not fully deployed were restrained inside rigid tubes during examination . fully deployed devices were submerged in an about 37 ° c . water bath prior to examination . alternatively , optical or scanning electron microscopy could be used to look for the presence or absence of wrinkles . stent and covered stent outer diameters were measured with the aid of a tapered mandrel . the end of a device was slipped over the mandrel until the end fit snuggly onto the mandrel . the outer diameter of the device was then measured with a set of calipers . optionally , a profile projector could be used to measure the outer diameter of the device while so placed on the mandrel . the fully deployed outer diameter was measured after allowing the self - expanding device to fully deploy in a 37 ° c . water bath , then measuring the device diameter in the water bath in the manner previously described . for devices restrained inside restraining means having a round cross - section , the device outer diameter in the restrained state was taken to be the inner diameter of the restraining means . in order to examine a device at some percentage of the fully deployed diameter of the device , the fully deployed diameter must first be known . a length of a device can be severed from the entire device and its fully deployed diameter can be measured . for example , a length of the device can be released from the delivery catheter and its diameter measured after being fully deployed in a 37 ° c . water bath . a tubular , self - expanding nitinol stent constructed using the pattern as described in fig4 of u . s . pat . no . 6 , 709 , 453 was obtained . the stent had an outer diameter of approximately 8 mm and a length of about 30 mm . the stent was processed in the following manner . a liquid solution of pmve - tfe , a liquefied thermoplastic fluoropolymer as described in example 5 of us patent application 2004 / 0024448 of chang , et al . was also obtained . pmve - tfe is an elastomeric material . a relatively dilute solution , 3 % by weight , of the polymer was utilized . the stent was dipped into the elastomer solution . the dipped , now covered , stent was removed from the solution , examined to ensure that the elastomer bridged all of the stent openings , and allowed to dry for four hours . the elastomer covered stent - graft , a polymer diluting solution fc - 77 ( 3m fluroinert , 3m specialty chemicals division , st paul , minn ., tweezers , and a crimping device ( such at taught in us 2002 / 0138966 a1 to motsenbocker ) were chilled together in a conventional freezer compartment set to − 15 ° c . the chilled crimping device was used to uniformly reduce the diameter of the stent along its length to about 4 mm . using chilled tweezers , the following procedure was performed inside the freezer compartment . this step introduced wrinkles in the elastomeric stent cover . the stent was dipped into the chilled fc - 77 solution for approximately 3 seconds . this allowed the elastomer to slightly re - flow , which eliminated the wrinkles in the stent cover . performing these process steps at cold temperatures ( in the freezer ) enabled handling of the compacted , unrestrained nitinol stent without warming it enough to induce the device to self - expand . the dipped and re - flowed covered stent was removed from the solution and examined while still inside the freezer to confirm that the elastomer bridged all of the stent openings and that the cover was wrinkle - free . the wrinkle - free device was allowed to dry for four hours inside the freezer . next , the crimping device was again used , to crush the elastomer - covered stent to a delivery diameter of approximately 2 mm . the resultant stent - graft had a delivery profile of about 2 mm . next , the device was transferred from its 2 mm delivery profile constraining sheath into a hollowed delrin ® resin block with an inner diameter corresponding to about 50 % of the fully deployed outer diameter of the device , which corresponds to the size at which the device was made . microscopic examination verified the absence of wrinkles in the cover at this diameter . the device was then released from the constraining block and allowed to fully self - expand in a 37 ° c . water bath . the device expanded to the starting outer diameter of 8 mm . the cover exhibited no wrinkles during expansion or at this fully - deployed state . the advantage of making the stent - graft of the present invention in the above - described manner is apparent upon comparing the device of example 1 with a device made in accordance with the teachings of the prior art . another covered stent was made in the exact manner as described above but without including the inventive step of the crushing the stent and re - flowing the elastomer at a diameter in between the fully deployed and delivery diameters . that is , the comparative covered stent was never chilled and crushed to 50 % of the outer diameter , nor dipped in a solvent solution in order to allow the elastomeric covering to re - flow . instead , under ambient conditions , the 8 mm covered stent was crushed to 50 % of the outer diameter and then transferred into the hollowed constraining block . the comparative ( prior art ) device , unlike the inventive device , exhibited wrinkles at 50 % of the fully deployed outer diameter . a tubular , self - expanding stent - graft was made in accordance with the teachings of example 1 except for the following differences . in this case , a different inventive step was applied to create the wrinkle - free cover . silicone material ( med - 1137 silicone adhesive , nusil silicone technology , carpinteria , calif .) was used to create the elastomeric covering . a liquid elastomer solution of silicone and heptane was also obtained . a relatively dilute solution , 1 % by weight , of the elastomer was created . the stent , elastomer solution , tweezers , and a crimping device were chilled together inside a conventional freezer compartment set to − 15 ° c . the chilled crimping device was used to uniformly reduce the diameter of the stent along its entire length . the outer diameter of the stent was reduced to about 4 mm . the following procedure was performed inside the freezer compartment using the chilled tweezers . the stent was dipped into the chilled elastomer solution . the dipped , now covered , stent was removed from the solution , examined to ensure that the elastomer bridged all of the stent openings , and allowed to dry for four hours inside the freezer . next , the crimping device was used again to further crush the elastomer - covered stents to a delivery diameter of approximately 2 mm . the resultant stent - graft had a delivery profile of about 2 mm . the device was transferred from its 2 mm delivery profile constraining sheath into a hollowed delrin ® resin block with an inner diameter corresponding to about 50 % of the fully deployed outer diameter of the device . this 50 % of the fully deployed outer diameter corresponded to the outer diameter at which the device was made . microscopic examination verified the absence of wrinkles in the cover at this diameter . the device was then released from the constraining block and allowed to fully self - expand in a 37 ° c . water bath . the device expanded to the starting outer diameter of 8 mm . the cover exhibited no wrinkles at this fully - deployed state . while particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein , the present invention should not be limited to such illustrations and descriptions . it should be apparent that changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied as part of the present invention within the scope of the following claims . | 0 |
the following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention . furthermore , there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description . broadly , exemplary embodiments described herein include a robot with simulation and mission , software operating partitions . the simulation partition enables a simulation of a mission task concurrent to or prior to the determination of the real - time action by the mission partition . as such , this solution provides improved robots and robotics systems that can be provided with lower costs , faster mission operations , and increased autonomy . fig1 is a schematic representation of a robotic system 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment . the robotic system 100 can include one or more robots 101 , 102 , 103 . the robots 101 - 103 can include one or more effectors 111 , 112 , 113 and one or more sensors 121 , 122 , 123 housed in a body 141 , 142 , 143 . the effectors 111 - 113 can include , but are not limited to , actuators for controlling the robots 101 - 103 , such as wheel drives , and actuators for performing designated mission functions , such as arms . other types of effectors 111 - 113 can include sensor actuators , grappling devices , docking mechanisms , soil and environment manipulators , astronaut assistance devices , antenna pointing systems , motor drives , thrusters , momentum control devices such as reaction wheels and control moment gyroscopes , solenoids , power control , and / or similar components . the types of sensors 121 - 123 can include guidance , navigation and control sensors and / or mission specific sensors . other exemplary types of sensors 121 - 123 may include cameras , sonar , radar , lidar , pressure , temperature , accelerometers , inertial measurement units , ring laser gyroscopes , strain gages , chemical composition detectors , spectrographs , imaging , radiation detectors , proximity detectors , soil analyzers , and / or similar sensors . the robots 101 - 103 can be coupled together wirelessly with a virtual backplane 130 , which is discussed in greater detail below . the effectors 111 - 113 , sensors 121 - 123 , and body 141 - 143 are typically adapted for earth - based and / or extraterrestrial missions . each robot 101 - 103 can additionally include one or more hardware components , such as processing components , i / o components , and physical backplanes for receiving and providing inputs to and from sensors 111 - 113 and effectors 121 - 123 and otherwise accomplishing a mission function , either as individual robots or as a system . as noted above , each robot 101 - 103 can be coupled to the other robots 101 - 103 by the virtual backplane 130 . the virtual backplane 130 represents the virtual communications interface between the robots 101 - 103 . the virtual backplane 130 can include a high - speed data bus or wireless data bus and enable all the data of the system 100 to be available to each of the robots 101 - 103 , regardless of the origin or physical location of the data . this allows the robots 101 - 103 to be independent of the software applications of the entire robotic system 100 , thus allowing a more simplistic implementation . the virtual backplane 130 additionally enables the system 100 to implement the modular architecture across many robots 101 - 103 . the virtual backplane 130 and the resulting accessibility of all data to all robots 101 - 103 enables the robots 101 - 103 to be optimally sized to reduce weight and to allow local thermal issues to be considered in the architectural implementation . additional robots can be added for extended availability , increased redundancy , and / or increased processing and i / o capabilities . the virtual backplane 130 can be a deterministic wireless virtual backplane and include a deterministic wireless communication scheme , such as a time division multiple access ( tdma ) at the media access control layer of wireless protocols , such as the zigbee ( 802 . 15 . 4 ) protocol and wifi ( 802 . 11 ) protocols . as noted above , an interface for the respective robot 101 - 103 can access any data within the system 100 . any data that is transferred within the system 100 , either within a robot 101 - 103 or between robots 101 - 103 , is placed on the virtual backplane 130 . the interfaces can determine whether the data is applicable to the respective robot 101 - 103 , and read and store only that data on the robot 101 - 103 . in an alternate embodiment , the virtual backplane 130 can place all data in all robots 101 - 103 . fig2 is a schematic representation of an exemplary software infrastructure of a robot 101 . the robot 101 can be , as an example , one of the robots of the robotic system 100 of fig1 . the robot 101 includes an operating system 202 partitioned into a number of partitions 204 - 208 . although the individual partitions 204 - 208 are discussed in greater detail below , generally , the partitions 204 - 208 can appear to the overall robotic system 100 to be separate computing elements , such as individual virtual computers . each partition 204 - 208 can execute programs to provide different functionalities within the system . each partition 204 - 208 can include memory , processing , and i / o subcomponents , and each processing subcomponent is operable to indicate what data the i / o subcomponent should place on the virtual backplane 130 , when to place the data on to the virtual backplane 130 , and the rate to place the data on the virtual backplane 130 . in addition , each processing subcomponent is operable to instruct the i / o subcomponents when to retrieve data from the virtual backplane and what data to retrieve . the operating system 202 can include an os application programming interface ( api ), memory management , application fault response protocols , and time management features . in one embodiment , the operating system 404 can adhere to the time and space partitioning protocol defined in arinc - 653 ( avionics application standard software interface ) or other partitioned operating systems such as the honeywell deos ®. the operating system 202 can allocate a pre - defined set of memory resources for each partition 204 - 208 . a hardware - based memory management unit ( mmu ) can enforce access rights to the memory resources to ensure that the memory resources of the partitions 204 - 208 , including stack and scratch areas , are protected from access by other partitions 204 - 208 , and that software and / or memory failures do not propagate to other partitions running on the same robot 101 . temporary storage locations such as program registers can be automatically stored by the software infrastructure when a context switch occurs . each partition 204 - 208 can perform the typical functions associated with complex applications , such as interaction between multiple processes , threading , and executing processes at differing cyclic rates . generally , the partitions 204 - 208 include an i / o partition 204 , a safety partition 205 , a mission partition 206 , a simulation partition 207 , and any other necessary or desired partition 208 . the simulation partition 207 receives inputs and simulates a mission function in a simulation that mirrors the physical environment of the robot 101 . the mission partition 206 then receives the simulated results from the simulation partition 207 , and determines the proper real - world actions to accomplish the mission . these actions are then provided to the effectors ( e . g ., effectors 121 - 123 ; fig1 ) to carry out the mission function . the results of simulated and / or real - world actions can be evaluated by the safety partition 203 to ensure that the actions comply with safety parameters . the safety , mission , and simulation partitions 205 , 206 , 207 are discussed in further detail below with reference to fig3 . the simulation partition 207 is a complete simulated representation of the environment and the physical “ world ” that the robot ( s ) 101 - 103 exist within as an aviator . as one example , within the simulated world it is possible to embed simulated keep out zones representation possible craters on the physical surface . it is also possible to embed a real time avatar astronaut whose position could be fed through rfid of other techniques . the simulation partition 207 allows these simulated environments to be rules for the robot 101 - 103 to act upon . all activity of the robot 101 - 103 may be accomplished in the simulation partition 207 . such a partition contains the guidance , navigation , and control algorithm for the robot 101 - 103 . the mission partition 206 calculates the operation of the effectors 111 - 113 based upon information passed to it from the simulation partition 207 . the mission partition 206 may include software designed for a number of different missions such as mining , maintenance , astronaut follower , or other useful mission operation . the safety partition 205 can include built - in test equipment ( bite ) component 410 that functions for continuous bite , status generation , maintenance interface , and fault server , as well as an os api to interact with the operating system 202 . the i / o partition 204 can include an ieee 1394 interface , an mil - std 1553 interface , an ethernet interface , analog i / o , discrete i / o , and / or a rs - 422 interfaces well as an os api to interact with the operating system 202 . the i / o partition 204 may house all of the i / o drivers and assures that the i / o data is moved to and from partitions according to pre - defined table entries . alternately , i / o partition 204 may be implemented by a plurality of partitions . other infrastructure components of the robot 101 can include a non - resident boot component 210 , a resident boot component 212 , a common monitor component 214 , and a tools interface component 216 . the non - resident boot component 414 can include a hardware abstraction layer ( hal - 2 ), non - resident boot initialization , power - up boot ( post ), phantom fault response , software loader , platform load verification , module load verification , and cabinet initialization . the resident boot component 212 can include boot initialization , and a hardware abstraction layer ( hal - 1 ). the common monitor component 214 can include a system monitor and / or a debug interface . the tools interface component 216 can include a partition monitor and / or a debug interface . as noted above , the partitions 204 - 208 within the robot 101 can be seamless . in highly reliable systems , no partition 204 - 208 can contaminate the code , i / o , or data storage areas of another partition ; consume the shared processor resources to the exclusion of any other application ; consume i / o resources to the exclusion of any other application ; or cause adverse affects to any other application as a result of a hardware or software failure unique to that partition . the architecture of the robot 101 can enhance the overall processing platform reliability . a fault in an individual hardware element affects only the partition 204 - 208 associated with that element . a partition 204 - 208 running on a single processor can be modified without requiring re - certification of other partitions 204 - 208 running on the same processor . thus , partitions 204 - 208 that are subject to frequent modifications may be co - resident with relatively stable partitions without requiring superfluous reverifications . likewise , partitions 204 - 208 with mixed criticality levels may be co - resident without requiring all partitions to be certified to the highest criticality level . associated with the modular nature of the architecture , a layered approach to the hardware and software of system 100 can minimize the effect of system changes on user applications to provide a continuous spectrum of support ranging from direct interfaces between hardware components to application program interfaces accessed directly by user applications . layering the architecture can simplify the impact of the future modifications or upgrades inevitably associated with human space applications and long life systems . the impacts of hardware changes due to obsolescence are typically dealt with at the hardware interface or middleware layers , while applications are often unaffected by these changes . although fig2 depicts the partitions 204 - 208 on a single robot 101 , in an alternate embodiment , all or a portion of the partitions 204 - 208 can be located on other robots 102 , 103 of the robotic system 100 or even outside of the robotic system 100 and coupled together with the virtual backplane 130 . any of the elements required for processing the data from any sensor 111 - 113 and providing the commands to any effector 121 - 123 can be provided by any partition within the system 100 . fig3 is a flow chart depicting one exemplary method 300 of operating a robot such as robot 101 and is described with reference to fig1 and 2 . in a first step 310 , the robot 101 receives a mission to perform in a physical environment . the mission can be a task of a larger mission or a number of related tasks . furthermore , the mission can only involve the single robot 101 or a number of robots 101 - 103 in the larger robotic system 100 . the mission can include real - time commands from human operators , planned and scheduled mission tasks , real - time response to environmental conditions while achieving mission goals , and the like . as one example , the mission can be to travel from one position to another . in step 320 , a sensor 111 can collect data related to the physical environment . the sensor data can indicate , for example , an obstacle in an intended path of the robot 101 . in step 330 , the simulation partition 207 receives the sensor data and simulates the mission in a virtual world . the “ world ” of the simulation partition 207 mirrors the physical environment and can be , for example , a local area , a room , a planet , or an otherwise defined physical parameter . in the virtual world , the robot 101 is represented by an avatar and performs the mission based on the mission commands and the sensor data . in the previously discussed example , the simulation partition 207 determines an acceptable path around the obstacle indicated by the sensor data based known and simulated aspects of the physical environment . in step 340 , the mission partition 206 receives the results of simulated mission and determines the appropriate real - world commands for the effectors to implement the mission . in step 350 , the safety partition 205 receives these commands and evaluates the commands against safety parameters . the safety parameters can be related to government or industry regulations or aspects of equipment or human safety . any command that does not comply with the safety parameters may be subsumed or suppressed . in this case , the system 100 may wait for further instructions or autonomously determine an alternate course of action . in the previously discussed example , the safety partition 205 will review the command to ensure that the path will not damage the robot 101 or an astronaut . in step 350 , if the commands comply with the safety parameters , the commands are sent to the effectors to carry out the mission , and the mission is completed . in this example , the commands will be sent to the effector 121 , such as a wheel drive , to execute the mission . the robots 101 - 103 and robotic system 100 according to exemplary embodiments can realize the improved safety requirements while additionally lowering their cost of operation for the nasa space exploration vision . particularly , the exemplary embodiments can autonomously accomplish mission functions without requiring the delay and costs of command center simulations . while at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention , it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist . it should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples , and are not intended to limit the scope , applicability , or configuration of the invention in any way . rather , the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention . it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims . | 6 |
a new type of gelling agent has been discovered which will improve the fracturing ( frac ) fluid performance through the use of a polymer - free system . this system offers improved viscosity breaking , higher sand transport capability , is more easily recovered after treatment , and is relatively non - damaging to the reservoir . the system is also more easily mixed “ on the fly ” in field operations and does not require numerous co - additives in the fluid system , as do some prior systems . the new inventive system is non - ionic , while other fluids of this type are either cationic or anionic , which is an advantage over prior systems . non - ionic fluids are inherently less damaging to the producing formations than cationic fluid types , and are more efficacious per pound than anionic gelling agents . the amine oxide technology of this invention has the potential to offer more gelling power per pound , making it less expensive than other fluids of this type . the amine oxide gelling agents of the invention have the following structure ( i ): where r is an alkyl or alkylamido group averaging from about 8 to 27 carbon atoms and each r ′ is independently h , or an alkyl group averaging from about 1 to 6 carbon atoms . preferably , r is an alkyl or alkylamido group averaging from about 8 to 16 carbon atoms and r ′ are independently alkyl groups averaging from about 2 to 3 carbon atoms . a particularly preferred amine oxide gelling agent is tallow amido propylamine oxide ( tapao ), which should be understood as a dipropylamine oxide since both r ′ groups are propyl . the amine oxide gelling agents of the invention may be used in any aqueous treatment fluids , particularly brines . the brine base fluid may be any brine , conventional or to be developed which serves as a suitable media for the various concentrate components . as a matter of convenience , the brine base fluid may be the brine available at the site used in the completion fluid , for a non - limiting example . while the amine oxide gelling agents of the invention are described most specifically herein as having use in fracturing fluids , it is expected that they will find utility in acidizing fluids , gravel pack fluids , stimulation fluids and the like . of course , when the treatment fluid is a fracturing fluid , the fluid also contains at least an effective amount of a proppant to prop open the fractures , and the fluid is injected into the formation under sufficient and effective hydraulic pressure and pump rate to fracture the formation . when the treatment fluid is an acidizing fluid , it further contains an effective amount of an acid , either inorganic or organic , of sufficient strength to acidize the formation . when the amine oxide gelling agents are used in gravel packing fluid , the gelling agent helps contain an effective amount of the gravel within the fluid . if the amine oxide gelling agents are used in another well stimulation fluid , an effective amount of any additional stimulating agent is employed . when the amine oxide gelling agents are used in a fluid loss control application , an effective amount of a salt or easily removed solid is employed , and the amine oxide gelling agents help suspend the salts or solids in the fluid . these other components of the treatment fluids are well known in the art . the effective proportion of the amine oxide gelling agents in the treatment fluids of this invention range from about 0 . 5 to about 25 vol . %, preferably from about 1 to about 10 vol . %, and most preferably about 6 vol . %. in a non - limiting example , a 6 vol . % solution of the gelling agent is mixed with brine , which is then blended with sand or other particulate , and pumped into a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir . in one non - limiting embodiment of the invention , the non - ionic amine oxide gelling agents are the only gelling agents employed , although more than one may be used . in another non - limiting embodiment of the invention , the non - ionic amine oxide gelling agents are employed in the absence of polymeric gelling agents . in still another non - limiting embodiment of the invention , the non - ionic amine oxide gelling agents are employed in the absence of either cationic or anionic gelling agents . in the method of this invention , breaking the gel of the aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid made using the amine oxides of this invention may be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms . these may include , but are not necessarily limited to , contacting the fluid with a hydrocarbon , contacting the fluid with alkoxylated alcohol solvents , dilution , such as with larger quantities of brine or water , or the addition of a reactive agent . the hydrocarbon may be the hydrocarbon produced nom the formation or other hydrocarbon . in another embodiment of the invention , the treatment fluid may contain viscosifying agents ; other surfactants , clay stabilization additives , scale dissolvers , biopolymer degradation additives , and other common components . the proppant , solid particle or gravel may be any solid particulate matter suitable for its intended purpose , for example as a screen or proppant , etc . suitable materials include , but are not necessarily limited to sand , sintered bauxite , sized calcium carbonate , sized salts , ceramic beads , and the like , and combinations thereof . these solids may also be used in a fluid loss control application . a basic method is to inject the proppant into a carrier fluid or treatment brine downstream from the conventional pumps which are delivering the gravel packing fluid , e . g . to do this , the proppant is suspended in the viscosified brine . the proppant may thus be delivered by a small injection pump to the carrier fluid at an injection point downstream from the pumps used to transport the gravel packing fluid or other treatment fluid . the invention will be further described with respect to the following examples which are not meant to limit the invention , but rather to further illustrate it . the following fluid was prepared in 3 % kcl brine : 6 vol . % tapao . the surfactant gel viscosity of the fluids were measured on a brookfield pvs viscometer at 100 sec - i . the results are plotted on the chart of fig1 . it was surprisingly discovered that the viscosity of the fluids using the inventive gelling agents herein remains generally stable over the tested temperature range . it was also surprisingly discovered that the viscosity of the fluids using the inventive gelling agents herein remains generally , stable over time as well . five ( 5 ) hours was a typical test period for these tests . the aromox materials are polymeric quaternary ammonium halide salt gelling agents commercially available from akzo - nobel , inc . aromox dm16 is a polymeric quaternary ammonium halide salt gelling agent have a c 16 substituent and two c 1 substituents on the nitrogen . aromox c / 12 is a polymeric quaternary ammonium halide salt gelling agent have a c 12 substituent and two c 1 substituents on the nitrogen . the surfactant gel viscosity of the fluids was measured on a fann 35 viscometer at 170 sec − 1 . the results are plotted on the chart of fig2 . it can be seen again that the fluid of comparative example 2 using ethoquad b112 loses viscosity as the temperature increases . it was again shown that the viscosity of the fluids using the inventive gelling agents herein remains generally stable over the tested temperature range . the viscosity of tile fluids using the inventive gelling agents herein ( examples 3 and 4 ) was also higher and more stable than the comparative examples 5 - 8 using commercially available aromox materials . aromox e / 12 and so / 50 mixtures of aromox c / 12 with aromox e / 12 at both 3 vol .% and 6 vol .% were also tested , but gave generally lower viscosities than aromox 16 at 3 vol . %. the inventive non - ionic , non - polymeric amine oxide gelling agents of this invention provide gelling stability over a wide temperature range and at relatively high temperatures . they are also expected to be relatively non - damaging to the formation since they are non - ionic . in the foregoing specification , the invention has been described with reference to specific ′ embodiments thereof , and has been demonstrated as effective in providing a treatment fluid with stable surfactant gel viscosity . however , it will be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims . accordingly , the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense . for example , specific combinations of brines , amine oxides and other components falling within the claimed parameters , but not specifically identified or tried in a particular composition , are anticipated to be within the scope of this invention . | 2 |
in order to achieve the unique film structure of the present invention , it is important that a particular thickness relationship exist between the thickness dimension of the core and the thickness of the skin layers . it is preferred that the core thickness be from about 60 to about 95 % of the overall structure with about 65 - 90 % preferred . this in combination with the population and configuration of the voids in a total structure at least about 1 . 0 mil thick , will materially contribute to the overall degree of opacity of the structure . likewise , by maintaining the thickness of the skin layers within particular ranges in relation to the overall structure and to the thickness of the core layer , the overall combination results in unique advantages . first skin layer ( b ), adhering to the first surface of core layer ( a ) and second skin layer ( c ) adhering to the second surface of core layer ( a ) each have a thickness of from about 5 to about 30 % of the overall structure , with a thickness of about 5 to about 15 % preferred . these layers also serve a important function in reducing water vapor transmission rate ( wvtr ). the core is a thermoplastic polymer matrix material within which is located strata of voids . from this it is to be understood that the voids create the matrix configuration . the films of the present invention provide high opacity and low light transmission . a distinction should be made between opacity and light transmission . opacity is the opposite of transparency and is a function of the scattering and reflection of light transmitted through the film . opacity is the ability , for example , to block out writing below it . light transmission is a function of light passing more directly through the film . referring now to fig1 the percent light transmission through a film is determined by using light source 2 to transmit light rays 3 directly through film 4 and measuring at light sensor 5 , value t 2 which is the amount of light which is transmitted through film 4 . the amount of light rays 3 which can be directly transmitted , value t 1 , is determined by measuring the light 3 directly transmitted by light source 2 with no intervening film . the percent light transmission through the film can then be determined using the formula : ## equ1 ## where : t 2 = light transmitted through a film ; and t 1 = light directly transmitted . referring now to fig2 for a measure of percent opacity of a film , light source 2 transmits light through film 4 onto a white surface 9 and the same procedure used to project light onto a black surface 10 . with both white and black surfaces , measurement at light sensor 5 is of all of the following : light reflected off the upper surface of the film 6 ; light transmitted through the film and reflected by the white or black surfaces 7 on the side of the film opposite from the light source ; and , light scattered by the film 8 . the percent opacity of the film can then be determined using the formula : ## equ2 ## where : r w = reflected light + scattered light + light transmitted through the film and reflected off a white surface ; and r b = reflected light + scattered light + light transmitted through the film and reflected off a black surface . accordingly , a highly reflective film may provide high opacity while allowing light transmission . this is because percent light transmission is not the equivalent of percent opacity . light transmission is the amount of light passing directly through the film . to prevent food spoilage decreased light transmission is desirable . in forming the core layer , as in u . s . pat . no . 4 , 377 , 616 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety , a master batch technique can be employed by either in the case of forming the void initiating particles in situ or in adding preformed spheres to a molten thermoplastic matrix material . after the formation of a master batch , appropriate dilution of the system can be made by adding additional thermoplastic matrix material until the desired proportions are obtained . however , the components may also be directly mixed and extruded instead of utilizing a master batch method . the void - initiating particles which are added as filler to the polymer matrix material of the core layer can be any suitable organic or inorganic material which is incompatible with the core material at the temperature of biaxial orientation such as polybutylene terephthalate , nylon , solid or hollow preformed glass spheres , metal beads or spheres , ceramic spheres , calcium carbonate , etc . the polyolefin contemplated as the core material includes polypropylene , polyethylene , polybutene and copolymers and blends thereof . particularly preferred is an isotactic polypropylene containing at least about 80 % by weight of isotactic polypropylene . it is also preferred that the polypropylene have a melt flow index of from about 2 to 10 g / 10 min . it is preferred that the average diameter of the void - initiating particles be from about 0 . 1 to about 10 microns . these particles may be of any desired shape although it is preferred that they be substantially spherical in shape . this does not mean that every void is the same size . it means that , generally speaking , each void tends to be of like shape when like particles are used even though they vary in dimensions . these voids may assume a shape defined by two opposed and edge contacting concave disks . experience has shown that optimum characteristics of opacity and appearance are obtained when the two average major void dimensions are greater than about 30 microns . the void - initiating particle material , as indicated above , should be incompatible with the core material , at least at the temperature of biaxial orientation . the core has been described above as being a thermoplastic polymer matrix material within which is located a strata of voids . from this it is to be understood that the voids create the matrix configuration . the term &# 34 ; strata &# 34 ; is intended to convey the understanding that there are many voids creating the matrix and the voids themselves are oriented so that the two major dimensions are aligned in correspondence with the direction of orientation of the polymeric film structure . after each void has been formed through the initiation of the described particle , the particle generally contributes little else to the system . this is because its refractive index can be close enough to the matrix material that it makes no contribution to opacity . when this is the case , the opacity is principally a function of the light scattering effect which occurs because of the existence of the voids in the system . a typical void of the core is defined as having major dimensions x and y and minor dimension z , where dimension x is aligned with machine direction orientation , dimension y is aligned with transverse direction orientation and dimension z approximately corresponds to the cross - sectional dimension of the spherical particle which initiated the void . it is a necessary part of the present invention that orientation conditions be such that the x and y dimensions of the voids of the core be major dimensions in comparison to the z dimension . thus , while the z dimension generally approximates the cross - sectional dimension of the spherical particle initiating the void , x and y dimensions must be significantly greater . by way of illustration , room temperature biaxial orientation of a polypropylene matrix containing polybutylene terephthalate ( pbt ) spheres of the size and amount contemplated herein , could not produce the claimed structure . either void splitting will occur , or voids of insignificant size would result . polypropylene must be oriented at a temperature significantly higher than its glass transition temperature . the temperature conditions must permit x and y to be at least several multiples of the z dimension without void splitting at least to any significant degree . if this is accomplished , optimum physical characteristics , including low water vapor transmission rates and a high degree of light scattering are obtained without void splitting or film fibrillating . as indicated above , the matrix polymer and the void initiating particle must be incompatible and this term is used in the sense that the materials are two distinct phases . the spherical void initiating particles constitute a dispersed phase throughout the lower melting polymer which polymer will , ultimately , upon orientation , become a void - filled matrix with the spherical particles positioned somewhere in the voids . as a result of the biaxial orientation of the film structure herein , in addition to opacifying the core layer of the structure , the orientation improves other physical properties of the composite layers such as flex - crack resistance , elmendorff tear strength , elongation , tensile strength , impact strength and cold strength properties . the resulting film can have , in addition to a rich high quality appearance and excellent opacifying characteristics , low water vapor transmission rate characteristics and low oxygen transmission rate characteristics . this makes the film ideally suited for packaging food products including liquids . the film also has attractive utility as a decorative wrap material . it is believed that because of comparative sphericity of the void - initiating particles , the voids are closed cells . this means that there is virtually no path open from one side of the core the other throughout which liquid or gas can transverse . the opacity and low light transmission of the film is further enhanced by the addition to the core layer of from about 1 % by weight and up to about 10 % by weight of opacifying compounds , which are added to the melt mixture of the core layer before extrusion . opacifying compounds which may be used include iron oxides , carbon black , aluminum , tio 2 , and talc . the opacifying compounds do not contribute to void formation . the polyolefin contemplated as the material for use in forming skin layers ( b ) and ( c ) includes polypropylene , polyethylene , including high density polyethylene , linear low density polyethylene , polybutene and copolymers , including block copolymers of ethylene and propylene , random copolymer of ethylene and propylene , other ethylene homopolymer , copolymer , terpolymer ; or blends thereof . the homopolymer contemplated herein is formed by polymerizing the respective monomer . this can be accomplished by bulk or solution polymerization , as those skilled in the art would plainly understand . the copolymer contemplated herein for skin layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) can be selected from those copolymers typically employed in the manufacture of multi - layered films . for example , a block copolymer of ethylene and propylene is formed by sequential polymerization of the respective monomers . the feeding of the monomers in forming a block copolymer is controlled so that the monomer employed in one stage of the sequential polymerization is not added until the monomer employed in the preceding stage has been at least substantially consumed thereby insuring that the concentration of the monomer remaining from the preceding stage is sufficiently low to prevent formation of an excessive proportion of random copolymer . also , as indicated above , a random copolymer of ethylene and propylene can be advantageously employed to form skin layers ( b ) and / or ( c ). the contemplated terpolymers which may be used for skin layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) are comparatively low stereoregular polymers . the terpolymers can have a melt flow rate at 446 ° f . ranging from about 2 to about 10 grams per 10 minutes and preferably from about 4 to about 6 grams per 10 minutes . the crystalline melting point can range from about less than 250 ° f . to somewhat greater than 371 ° f . the terpolymers will predominate in propylene , and the ethylene and 1 - butene monomers can be present in approximately from 0 . 3 : 1 - 1 : 1 mole percentage in relation to each other . as was the case for the core layer , particularly preferred is an isotactic polypropylene containing at least about 80 % by weight of isotactic polypropylene . it is also preferred that the polypropylene have a melt flow index of from about 2 to 10 g / 10 m the opacity , whiteness and low light transmission of the film is further enhanced by the addition to the first skin layer ( b ) of tio 2 in amount of from about 1 % by weight and up to about 12 % by weight , which is added to the melt mixture of the intermediate layer before extrusion . preferably , the first skin layer ( b ) contains from about 2 % by weight to 6 % by weight of tio 2 . additionally , this layer may also contain talc . the whiteness resulting from the inclusion of tio 2 provides an excellent surface for graphics . furthermore , the whiteness allows printing of laminated or unlaminated structures without requiring white ink . the processability and machinability of the film is enhanced by the inclusion of a small percentage of finely subdivided inorganic material in the polyolefin material used to form skin layer ( c ). such inorganic material not only can impart antiblock characteristics to the multi - layer film structure of the present invention , but also can reduce the coefficient of friction of the resultant film without imparting objectionable haze to the structure . contemplated finely divided inorganic materials , referred to above , include , syloid , a synthetic amorphous silica gel , having a composition of 99 . 7 % sio 2 , diatomaceous earth having a composition of , for example , sio 2 92 %, al 2 o 3 3 . 3 %, fe 2 o 3 1 . 2 %, which has an average particle size of about 5 . 5 microns , which particles are porous and irregularly shaped ; dehydrated kaolonite ( kaopolite sf ) having the composition sio 2 55 %, al 2 o 3 44 %, fe 2 o 3 0 . 4 % which has an average particle size of about 0 . 7 microns which particles are thin flat platelets ; and synthetic precipitated silicates ( sipernat 44 ), for example , having a composition of sio 2 42 %, al 2 o 3 36 %, na 2 o 22 %, which has an average particle size of about 3 - 4 microns which the particles are porous and irregularly shaped . the polyolefin blends used to coextrude the multi - layer high opacity film structures contemplated herein ar formed by employing a commercially available intensive mixer , such as those of the bolling - or banbury - type . mixers of this type are to be employed in mixing a concentrate of the finely divided inorganic material and the selected polymer until there is a uniform dispersion of the inorganic material in the polymer . if desired , the exposed surface of skin layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) can be treated in a known and conventional manner , e . g ., by corona discharge to improve its receptivity to printing inks and / or its suitability for such subsequent manufacturing operations as lamination . the exposed treated or untreated surface of layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) may have applied to it , coating compositions or substrates such as another polymer film or laminate ; a metal foil such as aluminum foil ; cellulosic webs , e . g . numerous varieties of paper such as corrugated paperboard , craft paper , glassine , cartonboard ; nonwoven tissue , e . g ., spunbonded polyolefin fiber , melt - blown microfibers , etc . the application may employ a suitable adhesive , e . g ., a hot melt adhesive such as low density polyethylene , ethylene - methacrylate copolymer , water - based adhesive such as polyvinylidene chloride latex , and the like . skin layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) can also be fabricated from any of the heat sealable copolymers , blends of homopolymers and blends of copolymer ( s ) and homopolymer ( s ) heretofore employed for this purpose . illustrative of heat sealable copolymers which can be used in the present invention are ethylene - propylene copolymers containing from about 1 . 5 to about 10 , and preferably from about 3 to about 5 weight percent ethylene and ethylene - propylene - butene terpolymers containing from about 1 to about 10 , and preferably from about 2 to about 6 weight percent ethylene and from about 80 to about 97 , and preferably from about 88 to about 95 weight percent propylene . heat sealable blends of homopolymer which can be utilized in providing layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) include from about 1 to about 99 weight percent polypropylene homopolymer , e . g ., one which is the same as , or different from , the polypropylene homopolymer constituting core layer ( a ) blended with from about 99 to about 1 weight percent mf a linear low density polyethylene ( lldpe ). if layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) are heat - sealable , corona or flame treatment of layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) is not required . heat sealable blends of copolymer ( s ) and homopolymer ( s ) suitable for providing layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) include : a blend of from about 5 to about 19 weight percent of polybutylene and from about 95 to about 81 weight percent of a copolymer of propylene ( 80 to about 95 mole percent ) and butylene ( 20 to about 5 mole percent ); a blend of from about 10 to about 90 weight percent of polybutylene and from about 90 to about 10 weight percent of a copolymer of ethylene ( 2 to about 49 mole percent ) and a higher olefin having 4 or more carbon atoms ( 98 to about 51 mole percent ); a blend of from about 10 to about 90 weight percent polybutylene and from about 90 to about 10 weight percent of a copolymer of ethylene ( 10 to about 97 mole percent ) and propylene ( 90 to about 3 mole percent ); and , a blend of from about 90 to about 10 weight percent of polybutylene , and from about 10 to about 90 weight percent of a copolymer of propylene ( 2 to about 79 mole percent ) and butylene ( 98 to about 21 mole percent ). if skin layers ( b ) and / or ( c ) are not heat sealable , and that property is desired on one or both of those surfaces , then a heat sealable layer ( d ) may be applied to one or both of those surfaces . heat sealable layer ( d ) may be , for example , vinylidene chloride polymer or an acrylic polymer ; or it may be coextruded from any of the heat sealable materials described herein . vinylidene chloride polymer or acrylic polymer coatings are preferred materials which may be applied to the exposed exterior surfaces of the skin layers . it is preferred that all layers of the multi - layer film structures of the present invention be coextruded . thereafter , the film is biaxially oriented . for example , when employing polypropylene for the core matrix and the skin layers and employing pbt as the void initiating particles , a machine direction orientation may be from about 4 to about 8 and a transverse orientation may be from 4 to about 10 times at a drawing temperature of about 100 ° c . to 170 ° c . to yield a biaxially oriented film . a preferred film thickness is from about 0 . 5 mil to about 3 . 5 mils . the following specific examples are presented herein to illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention and hence are illustrative of this invention and not to be construed in a limiting sense . coefficient of friction values referred to herein are determined according to the procedure of astm d 1894 - 78 , modified as follows : the film to film area of contact is 2 inches × 1 inch , instead of 21 / 2 inches × 21 / 2 inches . the mass of the sled is 100 grams rather than 200 grams and the sled speed is 6 inches per minute , the same as astm d 1894 - 78 . thus , the modified test is run at the condition of 50 grams / in . 2 rather than 32 grams / in . 2 . haze and gloss values referred to herein are determined according to the procedures of astm d 1003 - 61 and d 2457 - 70 respectively . the film of this example was produced for comparison with the films produced in accordance with the present invention . a mixture of 92 percent , by weight , isotactic polypropylene ( mp = 320 ° f ., melt index = 3 ), containing 8 weight percent pbt ( mp = 440 ° f .) as the co re layer void - initiating material , is melted in an extruder with a screw of l / d ratio of 20 / 1 to provide the core layer mixture . a second extruder , in association with the first extruder , is supplied with the same isotactic polypropylene as the first extruder ( without pbt ), this extruder used to provide the skin layer mixture . a melt coextrusion is carried out while maintaining the cylinder of the core polymer material at a temperature sufficient to melt the polymer mixture , i . e ., from about 450 ° f . to about 550 ° f . or higher . the polypropylene mixture of the second extruder to be used to form the skin layers is maintained at about the same temperature as the polypropylene used in fabricating the core layer . the mixture of the second extruder is split into two streams to enable the formation of skin layers on each surface of the core layer . as may be appreciated by those skilled in the art , rather than splitting the output of the second extruder into two streams , a third extruder could be used to supply the second skin layer mixture . such an arrangement would be desired when the material used to form the second skin layer is varied from that of the first skin layer , when the thickness of the second skin layer is varied from that of the first skin layer , etc . a three - layer film laminate was coextruded with a core thickness representing about 80 percent of the overall extruded thickness , with the thicknesses of the skin layers representing about 20 percent of the film thickness . the resultant film sheet was subsequently oriented eight by about five and one - half times using a commercially available sequential biaxially orienting apparatus to provide a multi - layer film structure . the machine direction ( md ) orientation is conducted at about 285 ° f . and the transverse direction ( td ) orientation is conducted at about 300 ° f . the resultant multi - layer film exhibits a lustrous , white appearance and the following properties . the film of this example was also produced for comparison with the films produced in accordance with the present invention . as in example 1 , a mixture of 92 percent , by weight , isotactic polypropylene ( mp = 320 ° f ., melt index = 3 ), containing 8 weight percent pbt ( mp = 440 ° f . ), as the core layer void - initiating material , is melted in an extruder with a screw of l / d ratio of 20 / 1 to provide the core layer mixture . a second extruder , in association with the first extruder , is supplied with the same isotactic polypropylene as the first extruder , to which is added 4 percent tio 2 , this extruder used to provide the skin layer mixture . a melt coextrusion is carried out under the same conditions as used in example 1 . again , the mixture of the second extruder is split into two streams to enable the formation of skin layers on each surface of the core layer . a three - layer film laminate was coextruded with a core thickness again representing about 80 percent of the overall extruded thickness , with the thicknesses of the skin layers representing about 20 percent of the film thickness . the resultant film sheet was subsequently oriented eight by about five and one - half times using a commercially available sequential biaxially orienting apparatus to provide a multi - layer film structure . the machine direction ( md ) orientation is conducted at about 285 ° f . and the transverse direction ( td ) orientation is conducted at about 300 ° f . the resultant multi - layer film exhibits a pleasing appearance of higher whiteness than that of example 1 . the properties of the film so produced are as follows : a concentrate containing 90 % by weight of a 4 . 5 melt index isotactic polypropylene and 10 % by weight of sipernat 44 , a precipitated sodium - aluminum silicate of the following analysis , sio 2 42 %, al 2 o 3 36 %, na 2 o 22 %, having a 3 . 5 micron mean particle size , available from degussa chemical company ; is intimately melt - mixed in a bolling mixer until the inorganic components are uniformly dispersed in the molten polypropylene . the melt concentrate is fed into a pelletizing extruder line and formed into a solid - pellet concentrate . a second concentrate containing 90 % by weight of a 4 . 5 melt index isotactic homopolymer polypropylene and 10 % by weight kaopolite 1152 , a dehydrated kaolinite of the following analysis sio 2 55 %, al 2 o 3 44 %, fe 2 o 3 0 . 4 %, having a 0 . 7 micron mean particle size is prepared in the same manner and also pelletized . the two pelletized concentrates are then melt - blended with additional isotactic polypropylene of 4 . 5 melt index , and after uniform mixing , the blend is formed into solid pellets . the composition is now 99 . 5 % polypropylene , 2400 ppm sipernat 44 and 3000 ppm by weight kaopolite 1152 . a mixture of 92 percent , by weight isotactic polypropylene ( mp = 320 ° f ., melt index = 4 . 5 ), containing 8 weight percent pbt ( mp = 440 ° f . ), as the core layer void - initiating material , is melted in an extruder with a screw of l / d ratio of 20 / 1 to provide the core layer mixture . a second extruder , in association with the first extruder , is supplied with the same isotactic polypropylene as the first extruder , to which is added 4 percent tio 2 , this extruder used to provide the first skin layer mixture . a third extruder , in association with the first and second extruders , is supplied with the pellets produced as described above , having a composition of 99 . 5 % polypropylene , 2400 ppm sipernat 44 and 3000 ppm by weight kaopolite 1152 . the third extruder is used to provide the second skin layer mixture . a three - layer film laminate was coextruded with a core thickness again representing about 80 percent of the overall extruded thickness , with the thicknesses of the first and second skin layers each representing about 10 percent of the film &# 39 ; s overall thickness . the resultant film sheet was subsequently oriented eight by about five and one - half times using a commercially available sequential biaxially orienting apparatus to provide a multi - layer film structure . as in the previous examples , the machine direction ( md ) orientation is conducted at about 285 ° f . and the transverse direction ( td ) orientation is conducted at about 300 ° f . the resultant multi - layer film has a first side of higher whiteness than that of the film of example 1 and a second side having an appearance substantially the same as that of example 1 . the properties of the film so produced are as follows : the coefficient of friction of the finished film not only is desirably low but also is stable over conditions which simulate typical converting operations involving temperatures reaching as high as 80 ° c . for three seconds . the percent gloss is considered to be remarkably good considering the excellent coefficient of friction and anti - block characteristics of the structure . moreover , no blocking of slit rolls occured after three days at 60 ° c . the structure of example 3 is corona discharge treated on both sides thereof in order to improve wettability and adhesion by inks or other surface layers which may tend to have inferior wetting and adhesion in the absence of corona treatment . the finished film has the following characteristics . this film demonstrates that the coefficient of friction of the surface of the film from example 3 is unaffected by corona discharge treatment . it is known that amide - modified polypropylene films significantly increase in coefficient of friction upon such treatment and must thereafter be conditioned to restore the coefficient of friction to useable levels . again , no blocking of slit rolls occured after three days at 60 ° c . although the present invention has been described with preferred embodiments , it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of this 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 amended claims . | 1 |
as depicted in fig1 , the rfid sensing system comprises an interrogator device 101 with an antenna 102 and an rfid sensor tag device 105 with an antenna 104 . the rfid sensor tag device 105 has no internal power source . it gains power from a near field or far field rf 103 generated by the interrogator device 101 . after the tag device 105 is powered , it then changes the amplitude of the rf carrier with a sequence of code stored inside the device . the change in amplitude is detected by the interrogator device 101 and the pattern of the amplitude change , which contains the code information , is examined therein . the demodulated code is used for further data processing . referring to fig2 , in an embodiment of the rfid sensor tag device , a clock generator 201 is employed to provide a synchronous signal for a logic control block 203 to read the rfid code from a memory array 204 . the synchronous signal is also used for generating a trigger signal for a monostable multivibrator 205 through a frequency divider 202 . at rising edge or falling edge of the trigger signal , the monostable multivibrator 205 generates a pulse with its width determined by a resistor 206 and a capacitor 207 , either of which could have sensor elements included . the pulse signal from the monostable multivibrator 205 is then concatenated with the rfid code signal provided by the memory array 204 in a signal generator 209 , which in this embodiment is an or gate 210 . the result signal is then modulated on the rf carrier signal obtained from an antenna 212 through a modulation control block 211 and a load circuit 213 . the power supply for the rfid tag is generated by a rectifier 214 from the carrier signals passing through the load circuit 213 . the rfid code stored in the memory array 204 include two sections : leading code , which comprises a series of zeros , and id code , which includes the id of the tag . if the rfid code has 2 n bits , then the frequency divider 202 should have n registers ( frequency is divided by 2 n ), where n is an integral . when a capacitive sensor is included in the capacitor 207 ( or a resistive sensor is included in the resistor 206 ), the resistor 206 ( or capacitor 207 ) should be selected to make the width of the pulse generated by the monostable multivibrator shorter than that of the leading code . for example , if the pulse width t is a function of the values of the resistor 206 ( r ) and the capacitor 207 ( c ): then the maximum pulse width t max in sensing range should be shorter than the width of the leading code t c ; where m is the number of bits in the leading code and f c is the clock frequency . the signal waveforms in fig2 are depicted in fig3 . triggered by the synchronous signal b , the frequency of which is f c / 2 n , the signal c generated by the monostable multivibrator 205 includes a sensing pulse 301 . its pulse width is f ( r , c ). synchronized by the clock signal a , the rfid code signal d is generated through the memory array 204 . the low level leading code signal 302 lasts for t c seconds , and while the overall time of the id code signal 303 is ( 2n − m )/ f c . in the signal generator 209 , the rfid code signal d and the sensing pulse signal c are concatenated in the or gate 210 . the result signal e has a pulse 304 and an id code signal 305 . the width of the pulse 304 changes with the values of the sensing elements in the rfid tag , the signals generated by the rfid tag are then received by an interrogator . as shown in fig4 , in the interrogator , signals acquired from an antenna 401 are sent to an envelope detector 407 , where the code signals are separated from the carrier . the output signals from the envelope detector 407 pass through a filter and amplifier circuit 408 . the result signals 410 are processed in a pulse - processing block 409 , where the pulse width of the sensing pulse is digitized . a microcontroller 405 reads id code and calculates the sensing value , while a circuit 406 is used for the communication between the microcontroller 405 and a host computer ( not shown in the figure ). the clock pulses for the microcontroller 405 and the pulse processing circuit 409 are provided by an oscillator 404 through a frequency divider 411 . rf carrier in the interrogator is generated by the oscillator 404 through a frequency divider 403 and a driver 402 . an example of the pulse - processing block 409 in the interrogator is shown in fig5 , where it is realized by a counter 501 . in the circuit , the “ clear ” signal is provided by the microcontroller 405 . the pulse sequence is the “ signal to modulation control ” e ( fig3 ), and the “ clock ” signal is generated by the oscillator 404 through a divider 411 . the output signals q 0 to q r of the counter 501 are sent to the microcontroller 405 . referring to the timing chart , which is shown in fig6 , before the sensing pulse 304 appears in the signal e ( fig3 ), the clear signal is at low level , and the counting value is set to 0 . when a sensing pulse is received , the high level signal enables the counter , which keeps counting up until a falling edge of the sensing pulse appears . then , an interrupt is trigged for the microcontroller 405 and the microcontroller reads the counting value in its interrupt service routine and clears the counter for the next code reading . since the counter only counts during the sensing pulse period , the counting value is a measure of the pulse width . the flow chart for an interrupt service routine example is depicted in fig7 . when the interrupt service program starts , it reads the counting value . before the interrupt service routine ends , the counter is cleared and disabled by setting the clear signal to 1 , and the sensing pulse interrupt service is disabled ( this interrupt service will be enabled in the main routine after the communication process is complete ), so that it will not be triggered by the id code pulses . in addition to a dedicated counter , the pulse processing can also be realized by using the microcontroller 405 directly based on timer interrupts . some standard pulse measuring routines can be employed for digitizing the pulse width . the flow chart of a main routine example is shown in fig8 . during initialization , the sensing pulse interrupt service is enabled , and then the program waits for a sensing pulse to be detected by examining if the interrupt service is disabled ( this interrupt service is disabled after a sensing pulse is detected ). when a sensing pulse is received , a communication process for detecting id code starts . the id code can be read using a standard serial communication program . after the id code communication is complete , the program sets the clear signal ( fig5 ) to 0 for clearing the pulse - processing counter 501 , and the sensing value is calculated during data processing . before the program ends , the sensing pulse interrupt service is enabled for the next interrogation . | 6 |
fig1 shows the main components of a classic flying time ims . the chemical compounds enter via an inlet system 1 into an ion source 2 where the ions are generated . an electrical ion gate 3 prevents the ions from entering into a drift chamber 5 from a reaction chamber 4 . the electrical field strength in the drift tube ( drift chamber 5 ) is approx . 200v / cm and is built up via corresponding electrode potentials 6 . the drift tubes are usually constructed of alternating metal and insulator rings . the electrical ion gate 3 separates the reaction chamber 4 , where the ion source 2 is located , from the drift chamber 5 . these ion gates 3 can consist of two electrically conductive comb structures on one plane which lie on different potentials , and are also known as bradbury - nielsen gates . usually , the potential difference is approx . 100v . since the comb structures are somewhat offset locally and do not touch each other , a relatively high field force is present , so that the ions do not enter the drift tubes . by switching the ion gate 3 , the potential difference is built up within several microseconds , so that the ions can enter the drift tube . the ions in the drift tube are pulled by the electrical field in the direction of a detector 7 , which usually consists of a flat , conductive disc , and which is also known as a faraday cup . a screen grid 8 is located in front of the detector 7 , which serves a capacitive decoupling between the ions located shortly before the detector 7 and the detector 7 . different ions have different mobilities , so that they then arrive in temporal sequence . due to the pole reversal of the drift tube ( of the drift chamber 5 ), positive and negative ions are identified in alternation . fig2 shows a classic flying time ims with a closed drift gas circuit according to the prior art . the flow , in the closed drift gas circuit , is maintained by a pump 17 . the drift gas 16 which flows out is suctioned out via a drift gas outlet 10 and guided through a filter 18 . the drift gas is then split into two tracks , into the track 14 in which the drift gas flows into the reaction chamber 4 on the one hand , and into the track 15 on the other in which the drift gas flows into the drift chamber 5 , and is respectively guided via a drift gas inlet 9 into the reaction chamber 4 or via a drift gas inlet 11 into the drift chamber 5 . fig3 shows a classic flying time ims with closed drift gas circuit in accordance with the invention . the same parts as in the previous figures are assigned the same reference numerals and no repeated explanation is given . the flow , in the closed drift gas circuit , is maintained by the pump 17 . the outflowing drift gas 16 is suctioned out via the drift gas outlet 10 and guided through the filter 18 . the drift gas is then split into two tracks , into the track 14 in which the drift gas flows into the reaction chamber 4 , and into the track 15 in which the drift gas flows into the drift chamber 5 , and is guided via the drift gas inlet 9 into the reaction chamber 4 or via the drift gas inlet 11 into the drift chamber 5 . in the track 15 for the inflowing drift gas into the drift chamber 5 , a variable restriction 20 enables an adjustment of a drift gas velocity 13 in the drift chamber 5 . this variable restriction 20 is for example a triggerable proportional valve with which which a flow profile in track 15 can be changed . according to another example , the restriction 20 is a triggerable pump with which a flow velocity in track 15 can be changed . fig4 shows the distribution of the humidity in an ion mobility spectrometer . a boundary area of the humidity boundary is labelled with the fig2 . the penetration depth of the humidity into the drift chamber 5 is determined by the diffusion constant of water in air and a drift gas velocity 13 in the drift chamber 5 . fig5 shows the dependence of the penetration depth of the humidity into the drift chamber 5 on different drift gas velocities 13 in the drift chamber 5 . the lower the drift velocity 13 , the further the boundary area 21 is displaced in the drift chamber 5 . fig6 shows the amount of average residual humidity in the drift chamber 5 for drift gas velocities 13 in the range of 118 - 410 ml / min with a constant drift gas velocity 12 of 300 ml / mm in the reaction chamber 4 . the advantage when the new method for offsetting residual humidity in an ims is used is that it is possible to both determine the residual humidity content and continuously adjust a nominal residual humidity content . the average number of water molecules in a product ion cluster during the drift in the drift chamber 5 is dependent on the residual humidity of the drift gas 13 in the drift chamber 5 . this residual humidity can by adjusted by varying the drift gas velocity 13 in the drift chamber 5 . for this purpose , it is advantageous when the drift gas velocity is influenced in a targeted manner e . g . by a variable restriction 20 . the residual humidity in the drift chamber 5 is determined by the humidity in the reaction chamber 4 and the humidity of the inflowing drift gas via the drift gas inlet 11 . the humidity in the reaction chamber 4 is decisively determined by the ambient humidity 19 , which enters the reaction chamber 4 via the inlet system 1 . the humidity of the inflowing drift gas 11 is decisively determined by the filter 18 . the degree of exhaustion of the filter 18 determines the ability of absorbing humidity . with progressive service life of the filter 18 , less humidity is adsorbed and accordingly , the humidity of the inflowing drift gas 13 increases . due to the diffusion of the humidity from the reaction chamber 4 into the drift chamber 5 , an average residual humidity is created in the drift chamber 5 . a further factor which determines the residual humidity in the drift chamber 5 is the drift gas velocity 13 . the higher the drift gas velocity 13 , the lower the average residual humidity in the drift chamber 5 . fig7 - 10 show the measurement results of an ims constructed according to fig3 with corresponding modification of the drift gas speed 13 with regard to the influence on the drift time of the chloride ion cluster ( cl − [ h 2 o ] n ) and the reactant ions . depending on the higher residual humidity in the drift chamber that ensues , a prolongation of the drift time can be detected both with the chloride ion cluster ( cl − [ h 2 o ] n ) and with the reactant ions . as can be anticipated , this tendency is more clearly evident with the chloride ion cluster ( cl − [ h 2 o ] n ), which leads to a merging of the chloride ion cluster ( cl − [ h 2 o ] n ) with the reactant ions . with even higher residual humidities , it would no longer be possible to differentiate between these two ion species . as used herein , the term “ substantially ,” “ about ,” and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree , and are intended to account for the inherent deviations in measured or calculated values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art . also , any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub - ranges of the same numerical precision subsumed within the recited range . for example , a range of “ 1 . 0 to 10 . 0 ” is intended to include all subranges between ( and including ) the recited minimum value of 1 . 0 and the recited maximum value of 10 . 0 , that is , having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 . 0 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10 . 0 , such as , for example , 2 . 4 to 7 . 6 . any maximum numerical limitation recited herein is intended to include all lower numerical limitations subsumed therein and any minimum numerical limitation recited in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limitations subsumed therein . accordingly , applicant reserves the right to amend this specification , including the claims , to expressly recite any sub - range subsumed within the ranges expressly recited herein . the device and / or any other relevant devices or components according to embodiments of the present invention described herein may be implemented utilizing any suitable hardware , firmware ( e . g . an application - specific integrated circuit ), software , or a combination of software , firmware , and hardware . for example , the various components of the [ device ] may be formed on one integrated circuit ( ic ) chip or on separate ic chips . further , the various components of the device may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film , a tape carrier package ( tcp ), a printed circuit board ( pcb ), or formed on one substrate . further , the various components of the [ device ] may be a process or thread , running on one or more processors , in one or more computing devices , executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components for performing the various functionalities described herein . the computer program instructions are stored in a memory which may be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device , such as , for example , a random access memory ( ram ). the computer program instructions may also be stored in other non - transitory computer readable media such as , for example , a cd - rom , flash drive , or the like . also , a person of skill in the art should recognize that the functionality of various computing devices may be combined or integrated into a single computing device , or the functionality of a particular computing device may be distributed across one or more other computing devices without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention . while the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments , it is to be understood that the invention is not 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 , and equivalents thereof . | 6 |
the example device for removing the tail end of a brussels sprout comprises a separation unit , a transport and orientation unit , a detection unit , and a cutting unit . each brussels sprout to be handled will pass through these four units before it will be laid down in clean condition in a receiving tray . it is accepted that brussels sprouts are supplied as all goods in containers or the like and that , in the separation unit , one brussels sprout at a time is separated from the stack of products and transferred to the transport and orientation unit . for that purpose a unit can be used as described in wo - a - 2006 - 094837 which is incorporated by reference into this specification . although the device described there is intended to be used with onions , the same type of device can be used with minor changes with respect to the dimensions so as to make it usable with brussels sprouts . the brussels sprout can first be brought into a storage bin as described in this earlier patent application and transported one by one upwardly . at the end of this upward movement , each individual brussels sprout will fall into a vertical chute which , having its upper end at the end of the upward movement path of the separation unit and its lower end just above one end of the transport and orientation unit . this lower end is provided with a valve so that a brussels sprout arriving there can be withheld for some time until a transport set of the transport unit is in the right position as will be described later . at that time the valve can be opened and the brussels sprout transferred to the transport and orientation unit . the transport and orientation unit can be of the type as described in dutch patent specification 1025386 . the transport device described in this specification is of the type to be used with onions , but with the same type of device and an adaptation of the dimensions it can also be used for transporting and orienting brussels sprouts . part of the transport and orientation unit 10 is shown in the fig1 . the transport and orientation unit comprises a number of endless chains 11 , each of which is running over a number of wheels , one of which can be driven thereby moving the chains 11 . the upper part of each chain is substantially horizontal and forms the so - called transport track ; this is the part in which the brussels sprouts are transported from the separation unit to the cutting unit thereby passing the detection unit . between each pair of adjacent chains there is provided a number of pairs of parallel axis 12 , each of these axis carry two rollers 13 each having the general form of a truncated cone and the ends with the smaller diameter being directed towards each other . four rollers on a pair of parallel axis form together a support for a brussels sprout to be transported as described above . as shown in the drawing between each pair of chains there is a number of pairs of axis and each axis carries more than one pair of rollers , but the invention can be performed with only one pair of rollers on each axis . each roller is free rotatable around the axis on which it is mounted . otherwise each roller is connected to a chain wheel which is free rotatable mounted on the same axis and which in the upper transport track part extends below the chains 11 . under the transport track part of the chains there is mounted a number of endless chains cooperating with these chain wheels , which chains ( not shown ) can be driven so that during the movement of the chains 11 , the rollers are rotatably driven . the movements of these additional chains can be selected in such a way that either the rollers in each set of two pairs are driven in one direction , whereas the other pair of rollers on the adjacent axis are driven either in the same circumferential or in opposite circumferential direction . moreover , the circumferential velocity can be freely selected . the additional chains responsible for the rotating movement of the rollers are only active in the part of the transport track before reaching the detection unit . once a set of rollers entering the detection zone the engagement between the additional chains and the chain wheels stops and the rollers are no longer rotating . in this way , the brussels sprout is in a stable position for being photographed or otherwise optically analyzed . as explained in the already mentioned dutch patent specification 1025386 , the movement of the rollers does agitate the brussels sprout in such a way that it has the tendency to direct its longitudinal axis in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the transport track , or the general direction of the chains 11 . in this way all the brussels sprout arriving in the detection unit will have the same orientation in so far that the orientation of the tail end is not fixed but can be twofold . the detection unit ( not shown ) is provided in the end part of the transport track above the same and includes a digital camera , where one camera can be provided for each set of four rollers provided on an axis as seen along the longitudinal direction of said axis . as soon as the set of four rollers in a stationary condition and carrying a brussels sprout arrives at a defined position the camera will make a picture of the brussels sprout and transfer it to a computer . in the computer the picture of the brussels sprout is analyzed in that its circumference is defined and based upon that the largest dimension of the brussels sprout is defined which will be defined as the longitudinal direction of the brussels sprout . at the same time the largest dimension of the brussels sprout in the direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is defined and the tail end is defined based upon the general shape of the two ends of the brussels sprout at the end of the longitudinal axis . the tail end is generally the not rounded end part of the sprout , which has commonly a more or less straight shape . as the brussels sprout is generally not exactly oriented in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the transport track , the angle position of the brussels sprout with respect to that direction is also defined . with these data it becomes possible to control a gripping device that will take the brussels sprout from the set of four rollers and transport it through the cutting unit , before releasing it in a receiving tray . in the cutting unit there are provided a number of gripping devices , one for each of the parallel transport tracks present in the transport unit , which are adapted to take the brussels sprouts form the support rollers in the transport tracks . each gripping device as such comprises a gripper 16 , which is mounted on a substantially vertical axis 15 which is rotatably mounted on a bracket 14 . the brackets 14 are mounted on a frame bar 21 which can be moved back and for along a sliding surface 17 , which is under an angle with respect to the transport tracks so that by a movement of the frame bar 21 along the sliding surfaces 17 , the grippers 16 are moving back and forth with respect to the transport track . each of the grippers 16 comprises two claw - like members which are positioned opposite each other as commonly known in the art , and which can be moved towards each other in order to grip a brussels sprout , and which can be opened so as to release a brussels sprout . as the axis 15 is rotatably mounted in the bracket the angle orientation of the gripper can be adjusted to the actual angle position of the brussels sprout of the brussels sprout on the support rollers in the transport track . moreover , the bracket 14 is moveable with respect to the frame bar in a direction parallel to the length of the frame bar 21 . this allows the gripper to be adjusted accurately with respect to the brussels sprout so that the gripper acts on that part of the brussels sprout with the largest diameter by movement of the gripper to the right position as detected in the detection unit . the actuation of the different movements to be performed in the gripping unit will not be described in detail as this is obvious for the man skilled in the art . the different movements can be obtained by hydraulic , pneumatic and / or electro - magnetic devices or combinations thereof . between the two sliding surfaces 17 there is mounted a bar 18 on which there are mounted a number of knife blades 20 which are oriented with their cutting edge in the direction of the sliding surfaces 17 . the position of these knife blades is such that a brussels sprout gripped by the gripper 16 and oriented in the right way will be removed from its tail end during the movement of the frame bar upwardly along the sliding surfaces 17 . the operation of the device is described with respect to fig2 , as follows . at 55 , a brussels sprout is provided on the transport track . at 56 , after a brussels sprout had been transferred to a set of support rollers 13 in the transport track it will be agitated in such a way by the rolling movement of these rollers that it occupies a position in which its longitudinal axis is substantially oriented in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the transport track . there might be a possible deviation of some degrees , but the main direction is like that . at 57 , the configuration , position and orientation of the brussels sprout is detected and at 58 , the gripper is positioned in such a way that it will pick up ( 59 ) the sprout from its set of support rollers in the optimal way , in which is the gripper is oriented ( 60 ) in line with the possible orientation of the brussels sprout and taking into account its actual shape . the gripper picks up ( 59 ) the brussels sprout and is taking a orientation ( 60 ) such that the longitudinal axis of the sprout is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transport track and its lateral position is corrected such that the tail end of the sprout will be trimmed off from the brussels sprout during the movement along the sliding surfaces . if needed and based upon detection by the detection unit the orientation of the brussels sprout is reversed over 180 ° by rotation of the gripper over 180 ° ( 61 , 62 ), in order to have the tail end of the brussels sprout at the side of the cutting blade 20 . by positioning and orienting the brussels sprout in this way by movement of the gripper the tail end can be removed ( 63 ) with a very high degree of accuracy , so that the brussels sprout is almost not damaged . the trimmed brussels sprout is released ( 64 ) into a receptacle . fig3 depicts an example process for detecting position and orientation of brussels sprouts ( 57 ), using an image taken of each brussels sprout . in an example , each image is taken using a single and contrasting background color , and for example , a black background . the example process comprises a plurality of parallel and different recognition parts , which are used composed into a determined position and orientation . color pre - processing ( 103 ) uses multiple images of sprouts to identify the 2d color plane information , which can be used as input to the following parts of the process in one approach , this process includes edge detection to separate the sprout from background ( 105 ) based on the 2d colour plane identified in 103 , resulting in an identification of pixels that form a boundary between the sprout and the background . an ellipse is fitted ( 107 ) to the detected pixels . a least mean squares fitting algorithm can be used . using the ellipse , the ends of the sprout are differentiated ( 109 ) from its midsection . for the ends , color differentiation within the sprout is used to identify ( 111 ) an end to be trimmed , distinguishing the opposite end . in an example , the trim end contains a higher proportion of white , such that the proportion of white to green is a distinguishing characteristic . an orientation of the sprout is estimated ( 113 ). in fig3 , the example process includes a parallel track in which the sprout is separated ( 115 ) from background using the 2d colour plane data from 103 , and a circle is fitted ( 117 ) with a radius that tracks a smooth contour found on the sprout ( on the end opposite the trim section ). this circle fitting would generally under estimate the extent of the sprout on the side to be trimmed . as such , pixels outside of the circle are identified ( 119 ), and regions of such pixels are grouped ( 121 ). among those regions , a color differentiation ( 123 ) can be used to identify an end of the sprout to be trimmed ( as in 111 , described above ). from this information , an orientation of the sprout can be estimated ( 125 ). another example approach includes separating ( 115 ) the sprout from background , determining ( 130 ) an angular orientation of the long center axis of the sprout ( rotational axis through ends ), calculating ( 132 ) a center of the sprout , and calculating ( 134 ) a distance from the center to the edge along the determined angular orientation . the information obtained from each estimation can be averaged or otherwise composited ( 127 ) to arrive at a decision concerning the position of the sprout and orientation of the end to be trimmed . these estimations can use different algorithms . this disclosure should not be interpreted to require use of multiple algorithms , and those of ordinary skill would understand that if a single algorithm were found to produce satisfactory results , then a single algorithm can be used . the determined orientation and position can be outputted ( 129 ). fig4 depicts a top view of an example device that can automatically trim brussels sprouts . fig4 depicts some of the elements introduced in fig1 . in particular , fig4 depicts grippers 16 , and rollers 13 . a motor 22 is depicted . in the example of fig4 , a set of spinning blades 29 serve to trim the brussels sprout ( while fig1 depicts a set of fixed blades 20 ). spinning blades may provide a better cut , reducing damage to the trimmed brussels sprout . a number of sets of rollers are also depicted , with one set identified as 32 . fig5 depicts a side view of the example device introduced in fig4 . fig5 depicts spinner blades 29 . fig5 also depicts the grippers 16 in two positions , as they are operable to move on the track 17 apparatus shown in fig1 ( which is not shown here in outline , to avoid obstructing grippers 16 . a camera 25 is shown relatively disposed to the apparatus portion of fig1 , and to the rollers depicted in fig4 . the drive chain 11 depicted in fig1 also is identified here . a brussels sprout 33 is identified , to aid in understanding a path through the machine . a receptacle 40 that collects trimmed sprouts through opening 41 is shown . such receptacle can be removable and replaced while the machine is in operation . fig6 depicts a larger view of the camera 25 , and shows sprout 33 , moved from a location in fig4 . a grip position , at which grippers 16 can grip the sprouts is shown , relative to the side view of the rollers . fig7 shows a detailed view of the area of the device of fig4 proximal grip position 31 . spinner blades 29 are shown , along with gripper 16 . a high position 30 is generally identified , and in conjunction with grip position 31 depicts an example movement pattern of grippers 16 . spinning blades 29 are an example of a cutting implement . a variety of other cutting implements can be provided . in one example , a water knife can be provided and disposed so that a cutting stream of water is provided in a location at which gripper 16 can move sprouts to be trimmed across the stream of water , thereby trimming or otherwise cutting the sprout as intended . a cuisinart style blade can be provided , and in such an implementation , gripper 16 would move a tip of the sprout into the blade in a direction traverse to a plane in which the blade spins ( as opposed to generally parallel to a plane of spinning blades 29 , in the above disclosure ). a fixed or moving wire can be used . these all are examples of cutting implements . in some examples , multiple cutting implements can be provided ; for example , a tail end can be trimmed by one cutter , and the sprout cut in half by another . the above disclosures related primarily to an example of trimming a tail end of a brussels sprout . however , implementations of the disclosure are not limited to trimming a tail end of a brussels sprout , or to only trimming a tail end of the brussels sprout . in one example , a brussels sprout can be cut in half ; for example , along a long dimension of the sprout . in the above examples , a brussels sprout is gripped traverse to the long dimension , so a midline along the long dimension of the sprout is exposed and the sprout does not need to be re - gripped or the sprout re - oriented with respect to gripper 16 . rather , the sprout can simply be repositioned while being held by gripper 16 . in one example , gripper 16 can grip a sprout as disclosed above and position the sprout relative to one blade of spinning blades 29 to trim the tail end , as described above . after such tail end trimming operation , the gripper can be controlled to move the sprout , in a relative orientation with respect to one blade of spinning blades 29 , to cut the sprout in half . as can be understood from these examples , a variety of trimming operations can be performed using the disclosed gripper 16 by positioning ( repositioning ) the sprout relative to a blade from blades 29 and moving gripper relative to the blade to complete each of the trimming operations . where grippers 16 operate to move a sprout along the length by moving generally in one directional motion , grippers 16 can reorient , and reverse motion in order to cut the sprout in half , and then release the sprout , for example . grippers 16 are programmatically controlled , and thus trimming operations can be selected and sequenced as required . for example , one batch of sprouts may be both trimmed and cut in half , while another batch may be trimmed only , and a further batch only cut in half . cutting in half and trimming the tail end are examples of trimming operations that can be performed according to the disclosure . grippers used in implementations can have different capabilities , such as movement speed , accuracy , and degrees of freedom . other components of the overall system can be selected or adjusted in view of a type of gripper to be used , and vice versa . these considerations are within the scope of decisions to be made by those of ordinary skill , in view of these disclosures . in the above disclosure , it was described that gripper 16 does not need to release a sprout between the example cutting operations of trimming and cutting in half . however , this is not to the exclusion of releasing and regripping the sprout , if desired . fig8 a depicts a magnified view of rollers 32 depicted in the top view of fig4 . fig8 b depicts a top view of another embodiment of such rollers , identified as rollers 35 . rollers 35 have a solid portion 36 in locations where rollers 32 have gaps . rollers 32 and 35 each have a narrow waist providing diabolo - shaped portions 37 . the above disclosure provided examples where rollers 32 pre - orient sprouts so that they are in a relatively similar position at a point when they are imaged and gripped by grippers 16 . it is expected that this approach may aid in efficiency . however , other examples include situations where a gripper can grip a sprout that may be in an arbitrary orientation . so , rollers 32 may be excluded or may be substituted by another delivery mechanism that does not tend to orient sprouts into a generally common orientation . whether or not to use rollers 32 may be determined according to an amount of ( extra ) time , if any , required to determine an orientation of a sprout to be gripped , as well as degrees of freedom or movement provided by a gripper to be used . also , throughput considerations relating to how quickly an arbitrary orientation can be gripped or the amount of slippage may be other considerations that would occur to those of ordinary skill in view of the disclosure . it also should be apparent from the above disclosures that implementations of the examples are scalable , in that more instances of rollers , cameras , grippers and cutters can be provided in a parallel format to increase throughput . these examples included examples where there was a 1 : 1 correspondence between rollers , cameras and grippers . however , some implementations may provide that one set of rollers feeds multiple camera and gripper paths , or that multiple sets of rollers feed one camera and gripper path , for example . the invention is not restricted to the described embodiments as shown in the annexed drawings , but that within the scope of the claims modifications , can be applied without departing from the inventive concept . | 0 |
fig1 is a layout diagram of a system embodying the invention for controlling three tether lines . fig1 illustrates an embodiment for controlling the tether lines of one or more triangular kites and for power transfer . the system of fig1 includes : 1 — 3 corner sections 142 a , 142 b , 142 c which function as dual capstan and take - up reels for controlling the reeling out and reeling in of tether lines 141 a , 141 b , 141 c ( the corner sections and their functions may be similar , for example , to those shown in fig1 and 2 of u . s . pat . no . 4 , 234 , 167 ); 2 — there are 4 shafts , 151 a , 151 b 151 c and 152 ; 3 — shafts 151 a , 151 b , 151 c are coupled to their respective tether lines 141 a , 141 b , 141 c ; 4 — shaft 151 a is coupled via a right - angle gearbox 161 and clutch 163 to generator 165 ; 5 — shaft 151 a is also coupled via a right - angle gearbox 167 and clutch 169 to kite retrieval motor 171 ; 6 — shaft 151 a may be controlled ( slowed ) via brake 173 ; 7 — shaft 151 b extends from a 3 way gearbox 177 b to tether line control section 142 b and shaft 151 c extends from a 3 way gearbox 177 c to tether line control section 142 c , and shaft 151 a extends to control section 142 a ; 8 — a tether line adjustment motor 179 b is coupled via gearbox 177 b to shaft 151 b and section 142 b to selectively adjust tether line 141 b and a tether line adjustment motor 179 c is coupled via gearbox 177 c to shaft 151 c and section 142 c to selectively adjust tether line 141 c . the pitch angle and orientation of the kites can thus be controlled by using one or more of the following methods : a — the tether line control units ( i . e . dual capstan and take - up reel systems ) 142 a , b , and c can be used in parallel with the two three - way gearboxes 177 b , c to change the length of the two downwind tether lines ( 141 b , 141 c ) relative to the third tether line , and thereby change the pitch angle of the kites . the two three - way gearboxes 177 b , 177 c can also be operated in a differential mode to control the orientation of the kite with respect to the tether line axis ; b — rotating the platform ( via electromechanical or other means ) away from the wind vector direction ( clockwise or counterclockwise ); and / or c — using a rudder and / or elevons ( elevators and ailerons ) or any other suitable control surfaces generally located at the downwind edge of the top kite ( or any other suitable points ). elevons ( or a flap ) at the top kite can be used to give an upward force and thereby counteract the force of gravity when the kites are moving upwind . this will better assure good control over pitch angle of the kites and may be used to eliminate the need for the 3 small kites shown in fig4 of u . s . pat . no . 7 , 275 , 719 and in fig1 herein . in the system shown in fig1 it may be desirable to use a large speed reduction ratio gear at the output of the tether line adjustment motors ( 179 b , 179 c ). this may be achieved by using a worm gear inside each of the three - way gearboxes . this arrangement ensures that when the tether line adjustment motors are not energized their drive shafts will not rotate . it may be assumed that the drive shafts ( 151 a , 151 b , 151 c ) connecting the three dual - capstan reels ( in control units 142 a , b , and c ) are interconnected with a 1 : 1 ratio . this means that the three tether lines will be shortened or lengthened in synchronism when the tether line adjustment motors are not energized . thus it may be assumed that the top most right angle gearbox ( 175 ) in fig1 is a 1 : 1 miter gear set . on the other hand , it is preferable to have a large step - up speed ratio for the other two right - angle gearboxes , so a bevel gear and pinion gear may be used for these . in accordance with the invention , the orientation and altitude of the kites as well as the speed and direction of the wind may be monitored and the corresponding signals ( and others ) are fed to a computer ( not shown ) programmed to control ( and optimize ) the various motors , clutches and brake shown in fig1 . also , it should be understood that fig1 is a simplified example which would be most appropriate for a constant wind condition . to allow for a full range of wind speeds and variability , a system which includes a continuously variable transmission and controls , similar to what is found with hybrid automobiles , could be used . fig1 a shows a simplification for the case of kites that need only two tether lines ( as will be described below ) and also shows the use of a continuously variable transmission and a motor / generator unit ( instead of a separate motor and generator ). it should be noted that the three - way gearboxes in fig1 and 1a may be essentially the same as conventional automobile differentials . optimizing the operation to get maximum power includes determining the best range of travel for the kites during their power generation cycle . it should be noted that if the range of travel of the kites is too great , the kites will spend too much time near the earth , where the wind speed is relatively low . if the range of travel is too low , the kites will have too much time spent changing their pitch angle relative to the steady speed downwind travel time . the pattern of travel of the kites may be controlled , and we consider , for example , the following two possibilities : 1 . the kites travel in a generally straight line , both going out ( downwind ) and coming back ( upwind ), with the tether lines staying in a vertical plane which is generally parallel to the wind vector direction . this pattern is simple and relatively easy to control . 2 . the kite ( s ) may be controlled to travel in a crosswind direction ( e . g ., a figure - 8 configuration or pattern ) during the downwind portion of the power cycle , and then controlled to convert to straight line travel during the upwind travel time . the crosswind pattern generates higher power than the straight line pattern , however it requires stronger kite construction and more sophisticated control systems . for the crosswind pattern , a higher lift to drag ( l / d ) ratio and lower camber ( curvature of airfoil ) is preferred . to more securely attach the kites to the tether lines , knots may be tied ( formed ) in the tether lines at the points where the kites are attached . if two knots are formed close to each other ( e . g ., 1 to 3 inches ), a spring loaded clip may be used at each kite corner to allow very fast attachment and detachment . a properly sized clip located between two knots would not be able to slip up or down beyond the knots . these knots would be small enough to pass around any capstan , pulley and reel in the system . however , spring loaded clips generally require either human involvement or a sophisticated robotic mechanism . another kite attachment approach is shown in fig2 a and 2b ( top view and side view ). in accordance with this approach , remote controlled actuators which include ball valves ( or similar devices ) are built into each corner of the kites . the opening of the ball valves is controllable . when the valve is fully open the hole diameter is large enough to allow the knots in the tether line to pass through . when the valve is partially closed the knot ( or knots ) will not pass through the valve . a gear motor may be used to control the ball in the valve for attachment and detachment of the kite ( s ). the design and operation of the valve must be such that the tether line is not overly pinched , which could cause damage to the line . also , the valve may be selected to be a cylindrical type ( rather than a ball type ) design which could be simpler and less expensive to manufacture . a linear slide arrangement would also perform this function . in all cases , any sharp edges which could scrape the tether lines should be avoided , and precise control of the motion is needed for best results . if the rotatable element is a strong - walled tube , it will be possible to use a single knot rather than two at each kite corner . the remote controlled actuators ( or gear motors ) in each of the corners of the kites may be powered by batteries and / or solar power . since power to operate the gear motor would only be needed sporadically and with very short bursts , the average power drain from the battery is very small . a radio control receiver similar to those used for model airplanes can serve to link the gear motors on the kites to the ground - based control system . the kite bridle lines 363 in prior art fig1 and 12 ( which control the camber and add some rigidity ) are shown to be attached to the bottom two tether lines at locations midway between the kites . for this embodiment of the invention , it is preferred to have the bridle lines from any given kite attached near the ends of the horizontal spar of the kite immediately below . in this way the bridle lines can be left permanently attached during launch and retrieval . this is more consistent with the aim of having automatic launch and retrieval . it may be assumed that no bridle lines are attached below the bottom kite , since this would present a problem for unattended launch and retrieval . instead of bridle lines the bottom kite would be made with stronger ( sturdier ) spars and / or could use a smaller total area of fabric in its construction , both of which would limit the bending or deformation of the kite in high wind speed conditions . the top kite of a train of kites differs from the other kites in that it may be left permanently attached to the tether lines . the top kite may be provided with a long distance radio link which allows the performance of either one ( or both ) of these functions : 1 — remote control of elevons and / or rudder 2 — information from instrumentation ( e . g ., accelerometers , gyros , altimeter ) located on the top kite can be sent to a ground - based computer . for remote operation of the system , one or more video cameras may be used to send live images of each corner of the platform during launch and retrieval and also images of the kites as they go through their power cycle travel . the video cameras may be mounted on a vertical pole rising from the windward corner of the platform . the video cameras may be pan / tilt / zoom types . an observer from the control side of the remote link can then see the knots in the tether line ( s ) as they move through the thru - holes of the valves , as shown in fig2 . a control operator can then send an actuation command to selected gear motors to lock or unlock the kite tether line attachment assemblies at their respective tether lines . additional automation of the system may be achieved by use of sensors to detect the presence of a knot in the thru - hole . the sensing may be based on an ultrasonic , capacitive or optoelectronic sensing method . fig3 shows an optoelectronic system for knot detection using a number of light emitting diodes ( led &# 39 ; s ) and photo - detectors to set up beam break paths . for this specific example , four led &# 39 ; s and four photodetectors are used to form an array of eight beam break paths . four detectors and 8 leds could produce 16 beam break paths . a ( relatively small diameter ) tether line may block a few of the light paths . however , a knot , having a relatively larger diameter , will block many more of the light paths and will be detected . note that alternative schemes including magnetic or capacitive methods might eliminate the need for knots and could be used to provide a high friction arrangement to selectively clamp a kite to a tether line . a similar operation could be done with a linear actuator which clamps the tether line against the side wall of the aperture in fig2 a and 2b . this clamping action would be similar to the brake function in automobiles . under certain conditions ( e . g ., low wind or during a storm ) the kites are retrieved and sandwiched one on top of the other on top of the platform ( as suggested in fig9 ). a kite in its deflated condition may take up less than two inches of vertical space . thus , a train of 15 kites may take up less than 30 inches of vertical space on top of a platform . when the wind is in a speed range for efficient power production , the top kite is launched . launching may be assisted with a simple lifting mechanism operating on the windward corner of the kite . the lifting mechanism could be a linear actuator attached to the video camera mounting pole ( described above ) or any other suitable arrangement . after launch of the top kite , the tether lines are extended until the knots for the second kite come into their proper location for attachment . as each set of knots moves into place , the appropriate gear motor causes the corresponding corner of the kite to be locked to the corresponding tether line . this process continues until all the subsequent kites in the train are launched . after all the subsequent kites are launched , the kites may be moved to an operating altitude and power cycling begins . when wind or weather conditions become unsuited for power production , the kites may be brought back to the launching platform by reversing the process described above ( with control of the pitch angle of the kites to ensure easy pull back ). as is known ( e . g ., article by miles loyd in 1980 ), the kites need to have a high lift to drag ratio ( l / d ) in order to take full advantage of the cross wind pattern of motion . achieving a high l / d ratio normally requires a high aspect ratio ( ratio of wingspan to chord ). this corresponds to the long slender wings of modern sailplanes or gliders . high l / d also requires an airfoil cross sectional shape for the wings as is found with modern airplanes . these characteristics are shown in the flexifoil type of kite ( prior art u . s . pat . no . 4 , 129 , 272 ). this type of kite is known to be very fast ( over 100 mph ) using a cross wind pattern . the flexifoil kite requires only two control ( tether ) lines and allows for stacking of multiple kites in a train . however , this kite type , as originally designed , is not well suited for high speed travel upwind , as compared to a flat surface kite . in accordance with this invention , the flexifoil type kite may be modified in several ways for the generation of power , as shown in the drawings and discussed below . to strengthen the kite , the soft , wind - inflated fabric may be attached to a strong , stiff rectangular framework . ( aspects of which are shown , for example , in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 213 , 289 , and others ). this enables changing the pitch angle when high speed upwind travel is desired . in contrast to the flexifoil design , a stiff rectangular framework allows for the two tether lines to be attached at places other than the two upwind corners ( as the flexifoil requires ). this is shown in fig4 . as may be recognized from an examination of fig4 , the imaginary line connecting the two tether line attachment points passes through the central region of the kite close to the center of lift and center of mass of the kite . this allows for rotation about the imaginary connecting line to change pitch angle . this may be done in several different ways : 1 . as shown in fig1 of u . s . pat . nos . 5 , 213 , 289 and 3 , 338 , 536 , additional tether ( control ) lines may be added to the downwind ( trailing ) edge of the kite . with three lines , the ground platform and controls would be similar to that shown in fig1 above . 2 . alternatively , when only two tether lines are being used , additional control surfaces ( flaps , ailerons , etc .) may be added to the downwind ( trailing ) edge of the kite , as shown in fig4 a . this system ( using only two tether lines ) results in a simpler platform and launch and retrieval process since only two capstan - reel modules are required . also , the two three - way gearboxes may be eliminated , although either one or two of them may still be useful for faster control of the orientation of the kites . this is shown in fig1 a . fig4 shows a kite 10 with a solid framework embodying one aspect of the invention . for ease of description , the kite is shown to be rectangular , however , it should be understood that it can have any shape so long as it is generally symmetrical about a central axis . in fig4 , the kite 10 is shown to have horizontal spars h 1 and h 2 defining the leading edge and trailing edge of the kite and vertical spars v 1 and v 7 defining the two outer ends of the kite . the outer perimeter of the kite is defined by the interconnection of horizontal spars h 1 and h 2 with vertical spars v 1 and v 7 . the structure may be reinforced with the use of angle elements a 1 , a 2 , a 3 and a 4 . to add strength to the kite , any number of additional vertical spars ( e . g ., v 2 - v 6 ) may be connected generally parallel to v 1 and v 7 between ( and generally perpendicular to ) h 1 and h 2 . centrally located ( in general ) spars c 1 , c 2 , parallel to h 1 and h 2 , extend across the kite and beyond its outer ends defined by spars v 1 and v 7 . the left end and right end of spars c 1 and c 2 support tether line attachment assemblies 401 a and 401 b . the assemblies 401 a and 401 b may be similar to what is shown in fig2 , above except they are now rectangular rather than triangular in shape . in the embodiment shown in fig4 , the kite may be controlled by means of the tether lines attached to the ends 401 a and 401 b . additional control lines may be attached to the trailing edge of the kite . alternatively , as shown in fig4 a , a kite may be controlled by the use of one or more control surfaces ( 411 a , 411 b ) located on the kite . the control surface could be as simple as a single flap ( or elevator ) located at , or along , the center of the trailing edge of the kite . the control surfaces and their associated components may be similar to structures commonly used on large radio controlled model airplanes . to put the kite into a figure - 8 pattern , differential control of the tether line length may be used ( as with all two - line stunt kites ). for very long tether lines , it may be preferable to use additional control surfaces on the kite . for example , two small flippers with servo control may be mounted along the outer edges of the kite . if one of these flippers produces an upward force and the other produces a downward force , the kite will be driven into a clockwise or counterclockwise spiral . many different combinations of control surfaces may be used for more complete control of the kite &# 39 ; s roll , pitch , yaw and trajectory as suggested in fig4 b . note that the topmost kite in a train may include a rudder . the top kite will generally be where most control is needed , depending on how the kites are attached to each other . it is generally not desirable to have a rudder on the intermediate kites of a train of kites in order to sandwich them compactly . as shown in fig5 and 6 , a bridle arrangement may be used to reduce the requirements for stiffness , weight and cost of the spars in fig4 . to allow for easy launch and retrieval , the bridle lines would preferably not be attached to the tether lines . rather , the bridle lines would be attached to the spar closest to the axis of rotation of the kite immediately below , as shown in fig5 . fig5 shows the top kite and the one below it with a wind inflated airfoil . the kites above the bottom kite would have an airfoil thickness characteristic of an optimum l / d wing . the bottom kite , however , is shown without this thickness because there are no bridle lines which could support a high lift force on this surface . note that , alternatively , the spars in the bottom kite could be made sufficiently strong so that a high lift force could be supported without bridle lines . fig5 shows each kite to be interconnected by four bridle lines . however , this is by way of example only and other numbers of bridle lines might be used . fig6 is a side view of this embodiment of the invention . as shown in fig6 , one or more control lines may be used to interconnect the trailing edges of all the kites in order to assure that all the kites in a train of kites will change their pitch by the same amount and at the same time . fig6 also shows the use of control surfaces ( flaps ) to maintain tension in the trailing edge lines and to provide for pitch angle control . the designs discussed above consider kites with 4 , 3 and 2 tether lines . fig2 and 26 in u . s . pat . no . 7 , 275 , 719 show a single tether line . however , these figures do not show a means for remote or automatic launch and retrieval . in accordance with the invention , the system shown in fig4 , 5 and 6 can be converted to a single tether line system by replacing the two edge attachment assemblies with a single assembly near the center of the kite as shown in fig7 and 8 fig7 is a top view of a kite 71 suitable for use with a single tether line . the kite is shown to be rectangular and to have cross supports similar to the kite of fig4 . the kite of fig7 differs from the kite of fig4 in that it has a single , centrally - placed attachment assembly 750 for attaching and securing the tether line to the kite . fig8 shows kites k 1 , k 2 and k 3 , with a portion of the tether line ( tl ) being connected between kites k 1 and k 2 and a portion of the tether line being connected between kites k 2 and k 3 . bridle lines are connected between selected points on each kite and the attachment assembly ( 750 ) of the kite immediately below . also shown are trailing edge interconnecting lines l 1 and l 2 connected between selected end points of a kite to selected end points of a kite above or below it . we assume here that the single tether line kites will use control surfaces , one version of which is shown in fig4 b . a problem with a single tether line system is maintaining control of the azimuth angle of the kites as the kites are brought ( or come ) down onto the platform since twisting can occur . for example , gusts of wind may cause each kite to have a variable angle around a vertical axis while sandwiched on top of the platform . a solution for this would be to use two or more vertical rods mounted on the platform and to have them located at the windward edge ( leading edge ) of the kites when the kites are at their optimum location on the platform . for a single tether line system , additional control surfaces ( e . g ., elevons or rudders ) will be needed regardless of the length of the tether line , and with fast , precise control these will also minimize the azimuth angle twisting . note that the arrangement shown in side view in fig6 will apply to either dual or single tether line systems . the showing in any of these figures may be extended to four or more kites by replicating what is shown for the middle kite in each case . with sufficiently short tether lines , the dual tether line system ( shown in fig4 ) may not need control surfaces on the kites , except for flaps to provide pitch angle control . if a dual tether line system uses additional control surfaces , there will be a complex interaction between the effects of the control surfaces and the effects of differential tether line lengths . a suitable approach would be to use two tether lines and to place them closer to the center of the kites ( see fig4 b ). in this case if the tether lines are very long , the flight characteristics of the kites will be similar to the single tether line system and may thus avoid the complex interaction mentioned above . also , with two tether lines , the azimuth angle positioning on the platform will be properly constrained . another advantage of the proposed two tether line system is a better distribution of forces along the long axis of the kites . this may help reduce the number of bridle lines needed and allow for lighter weight spars for a given level of performance . to have full control of pitch , roll , and yaw of the kites using control surfaces it may be desirable to use two or more dual servo / airfoil assemblies of the type shown in fig3 , 38 and 39 of u . s . pat . no . 7 , 275 , 719 . these assemblies can give a variable upward force , downward force , and / or drag force with any desired percentage of each . at a minimum , these assemblies may be used at the downwind ( rear ) corners of the top kite of a train of kites . a more complete control arrangement may make use of these dual servo / airfoil assemblies on the bottom kite or one or more of the intermediate kites , in addition to their use on the top kite . these assemblies are shown at the two trailing edge corners in fig4 b . note that the launch and retrieval operations are easier if the top kite weight is minimized . to the extent that dual servo / airfoil assemblies are used , the weight of this kite is increased . in addition , radio control and sensing equipment mounted on the kite will add additional weight . the additional equipment may include a radio receiver , batteries , a battery charger mechanism , and a position / orientation sensing system . if it is desired to collect and transmit data to a ground based computer , a radio transmitter will also be needed . the problem of excess weight on the top kite may be resolved by using conductive bridle lines between the top kite and one or more of the kites below . in this way , all of the extra functional elements , other than the servos and control surfaces , can be placed on a lower kite so that this weight will be supported by two or more kites rather than a single kite . the kite ( s ) of the invention are intended to be operable when wind and weather conditions permit . operation at night is possible , but there may be various requirements such as lighting of the kites which would require imposing added weight on the kites . power for these requirements may be obtained by using one or more alternators whose shaft is turned by wind power . linear to rotary conversion for an alternator may be done with a trailing pinwheel , a multi blade propeller , a ducted fan assembly , or a rotating cup mechanism as is used with anemometers . in accordance with the invention , multiple kites with automatic launch and retrieval capability may be useful for towing boats or ships . the flexifoil type of kite or a modified version using a solid framework may be used for this function . a train of kites could be used with a control system based on fig1 ; however a generator is not needed for towing . when the kites are not in use they could be retrieved and stacked ( sandwiched ) together on top of a rotatable platform as described above . as before , a linear actuator may be used to lift the leading edge of the top kite during the initial phase of launching . for optimum towing of a ship , a computer may be used to establish the best azimuth direction for the flight of the kites and the best crosswind pattern . since no power cycling is needed for ship towing , there is no need for high speed upwind travel . when the kites are being pulled back , the apparent wind speed will generally be less than the real wind speed . it has been noted that kites can also be used to propel ships directly against the wind . in this case , it may be desirable and / or necessary to generate electricity as an intermediate form of energy . when electricity is to be generated , there is a need for the kites to have a high speed travel upwind . this requirement suggests a need for pitch control and a kite with a solid framework , as discussed above . where a long ship is involved , it may be possible to use two or more platforms and kite trains to tow the ship or generate electricity for propulsion . | 5 |
commercially available reagents referred to in the examples were used according to manufacturer &# 39 ; s instructions unless otherwise indicated . for all single nucleotide polymorphisms discovery was performed by double - stranded dna sequencing using an abi capillary sequencer and big dye chemistry ( abi ). first the genomic organization of the nkna gene was derived from a pac clone found in the embl database with the accession no . em_hum1 : ac004140 . 1 by a blast search with the nkna mrna ( accession no . u37529 . 1 in the embl database ). exon - intron boundaries were derived as indicated in fig1 and primers were designed to amplify all coding and regulatory regions of the gene . the primers used to amplify all exons are shown below and were also used as sequencing primers . all polymorphisms were targeted with these pair - of - primer sets : to detect polymorphisms the nkna gene was pcr - amplified from 47 unrelated individuals of 5 different ethnic origins . using fragment - specific primer pairs ( length 18 - 27 bp ), 200 - 700 bp fragments were amplified e . g . a 519 bp - pcr product was generated with the primer pair 5 and 6 . fragments were designed covering coding and regulatory regions of the nkna gene . after a column purification of the pcr products , the dna was sequenced on an abi capillary sequencer using abi dye terminator chemistry ( fluorescence based sequencing ). polymorphisms in the dna sequences were detected using polyphred software ( nickerson , d . et al . 1997 : nar 25 ( 14 ): 2745 - 2751 ), which operates on the basis of phred , phrap and consed ( programs all licensed from the university of washington , usa ). this program is able to automatically detect the presence of heterozygous single nucleotide substitutions by fluorescence - based sequencing . in the example above the following 2 polymorphisms were detected in the 519 bp fragment : in total , seven single polynucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the nkna gene as shown in fig3 . the study protocol and the informed consent form were submitted for approval to the local ethical committee . all subjects provided written informed consent for their blood sample to be used for genotyping . the consent could be withdrawn up to a month later , if the subjects changed their mind . all the samples were assigned new independent codes and within six months after clinical database closure the link between the new and original codes was deleted . this was an added measure to ensure patient confidentiality ; however , as a consequence it is not possible to retrieve genotype information based on the patient &# 39 ; s name or number used in the original clinical trial . in approximately 15 years time , all blood and dna samples will be destroyed . single blood samples ( 9 ml ) were collected in edta tubes . these were frozen and stored between − 20 and − 70 c , before being sent to the roche central sample office ( cso ) in basel , switzerland , where they were aliquoted into three tubes and assigned new , independent codes on bar code labels to assure patient anonymity . two samples of blood ( 1 ml and 4 mls ) were sent to the roche sample repository ( rsr ) at roche molecular systems ( rms ) in alameda , calif ., and stored at − 80 ° c . the remaining 4 ml aliquot was stored at − 80 ° c . in the cso in basel , switzerland . all procedures performed on the samples at the rsr were done according to established standard operating procedures in compliance with gcp guidelines . dna was extracted from 400 μl of the whole blood using a silica membrane - based extraction method ( qiaamp 96 dna blood kit , valencia , calif .). controls included 10 mm tris ph 8 . 0 , 0 . 1 mm edta ( te ) buffer and whole blood from a blood unit with a known yield of dna . three genetic markers were selected based on the results from polymorphism discovery in the nkna gene . samples were genotyped for these single nucleotide polymorphisms by a kinetic pcr method described by germer et al ., genome res . ( 2000 ), 10 , 258 - 266 with the modification of using single sample for each reaction instead of pooling samples . this method allows discrimination of single nucleotide polymorphisms without the use of fluorescent probes . in the kinetic thermal cycler ( ktc ) format , the generation of double - stranded amplification product is monitored using a dna intercalating dye and a thermal cycler which has a fluorescence - detecting ccd camera attached ( pe - biosystems geneamp 5700 sequence detection system ). fluorescence in each well of the pcr amplification plate is measured at each cycle of annealing and denaturation . the cycle at which the relative fluorescence reached a threshold of 0 . 5 using the sds software from pe - biosystems was defined as the c t . the amplification reactions were designed to be allele - specific , so that the amplification reaction was positive if the allele was present and the amplification reaction was negative if the allele was absent . for each bi - allelic polymorphism , one well of the amplification plate was set up to be specific for allele 1 and a second well was set up to be specific for allele 2 . for each polymorphism to be detected , three primers were designed — two allele - specific primers and one common primer ( table 2 ). reactions for allele 1 contained allele 1 - specific primer and the common primer and reactions for allele 2 contained allele 2 - specific primer and the common primer . the c t values for each pair of wells is used to calculate the delta c t which is used to determine the allele call . the amplification conditions were as follows : 10 mm tris ph 8 . 0 , 40 mm kcl , 2 mm mgcl 2 , 50 μm each of datp , dctp , and dgtp , 25 μm of dttp and 75 μm of dutp , 4 % dmso , 0 . 2 × sybr green i ( molecular probes , eugene , oreg . ), 2 % glycerol , 2 units of uracil n - glycosylase ( ung ), 15 units of stoffel gold dna polymerase ( for reference see nature ( 1996 ), 381 , 445 - 6 ) and primers in an 85 μl volume for each well . the concentration of the primers used for each assay are listed in table 2 . 30 ng of dna in a 15 μl volume was then added to each well . to reduce the possibility of contamination by pre - existing amplification product , the assay procedure included the incorporation of dutp into the amplification product and an incubation step for ung degradation of pre - existing du - containing products ( longo et al , gene ( 1990 ), 93 , 125 - 128 ). amplification reactions were prepared using an aliquoting robot ( packard multiprobe ii , meriden , conn .) in 96 - well amplification plates identified by barcode labels generated by the experiment management database . parameters for procedures performed by the robot were set to minimize the possibility of cross - contamination . for each plate of 81 samples , 5 samples were run in duplicate and the duplicate results were analyzed to determine that they matched . the thermal cycling conditions were as follows : 2 minutes at 50 ° c . for ung degradation of any previously contaminating pcr products , 12 minutes at 95 ° c . for stoffel gold polymerase activation , 55 cycles of denaturation at 95 ° c . for 20 seconds and annealing at 58 ° c . for 20 seconds , followed by a dissociation step of 0 . 57 minute at 1 degree increments from 60 ° c . to 95 ° c . the amplification reactions were run in pe biosystems geneamp 5700 sequence detection systems ( sds ) instruments ( foster city , calif .). the first derivatives of the dissociation curves were produced by the sds software and examined as needed to confirm that the fluorescence in a given reaction was due to amplification of a specific product with a well - defined dissociation peak rather than non - specific primer - dimer . product differentiation was done by analysis of dna melting curves during pcr following the method of k . m . ririe et al ., anal . biochem . ( 1997 ), 245 , 154 - 160 . the c t of each amplification reaction was determined and the difference between the c t for allele 1 and allele 2 ( delta c t ) was used as the assay result . samples with delta c t s between − 3 . 0 and 3 . 0 were considered heterozygous ( a1 / a2 ). samples with delta c t s below − 3 . 0 were considered homozygous for a1 ( a1 / a1 ); samples with delta c t s above 3 . 0 were considered homozygous for a2 ( a2 / a2 ). in most cases , the delta c t differences between the three groups of genotypes were well - defined and samples with c t values close to 3 . 0 were re - tested as discrepants . each assay was run on a panel of 20 cell line dnas to identify cell lines with the appropriate genotypes for use as controls on each assay plate ( a1 / a1 , a1 / a2 , and a2 / a2 ). the cell line dna was obtained from the culture collection in r & amp ; d service , roche molecular systems ( rms ) alameda , ca and was extracted using the qiagen extraction kits ( qiaamp dna blood kits , valencia , calif .). the genotypes of the cell line dnas were confirmed by dna sequencing . three cell line dnas ( a1 / a1 , a1 / a2 , and a2 / a2 ) were run as controls on each plate of clinical trial samples and used to determine the between - plate variability . the c t values obtained for the control cell lines were analyzed to determine the cutoff for the delta c t values obtained for the clinical trial samples . a data file containing the c t values for each well was generated by the sds software for each plate and entered into the experiment management database . for all the snp assays ran for the clinical trial , a data file with c t values for all the samples identified by the independent code was extracted from the database and interpreted to the final genotypes by a in - house developed program . the genotype results were sent to the statistician and matched to the clinical data also identified by the independent code for statistical analysis . the described emesis test was performed in two studies . a single ascending dose study ( sad ) and a multiple ascending dose study ( mad ). in the sad the emesis test was performed 6 and / or 24 hrs after intake of 2 -( 3 , 5 - bis - trifluoromethyl - phenyl )- n - methyl - n -( 6 - morpholin - 4 - yl - 4 - o - tolyl - pyridin - 3 - yl )- isobutyramide . in the mad the emesis test was performed after 14 once daily doses , 6 or 24 hrs after the last dose . sad in the sad on study day 1 doses of 5 , 10 , 20 , 40 , 80 , 160 , 230 and 400 mg 2 -( 3 , 5 - bis - trifluoromethyl - phenyl )- n - methyl - n -( 6 - morpholin - 4 - yl - 4 - o - tolyl - pyridin - 3 - yl )- isobutyramide were administered to the subjects orally as a drinking emulsion . at either 6 or 24 hours after the administration of the drug the subjects received a subcutaneous injection of 50 μg / kg of apomorphine in the lower part of the abdomen . the time of apomorphine administration was recorded . the subjects were brought into an upright sitting position immediately after the injection . they remained in this position until vomiting occurred or for at least 1 hour after the apomorphine injection . vomiting is defined as regurgitation of approximately 25 ml or more of gastric contents . a retch is defined as a regurgitation producing less or no gastric content . nausea and / or vomiting was expected to occur on average within 10 minutes after the injection . the duration of nausea and / or vomiting after a subcutaneous dose of 50 μg / kg apomorphine was approximately 5 to 30 minutes . the number of vomits and retches were recorded . the test groups were ranked in following order of “ plasma concentration at the time of emesis test ”. the plateau that was reached with the blockade had an average of 3 retches and vomits . if one assumes this as the point were efficacy is reached the test predicts that efficacious levels are reached at a concentration of 20 ng / ml plasma concentration . the spearman correlation test for the correlation between plasma concentration and the number of retches and vomits suggests a highly statistically significant relationship ( p & lt ; 0 . 01 ). subjects were dosed for 14 days with 2 -( 3 , 5 - bis - trifluoromethyl - phenyl )- n - methyl - n -( 6 - morpholin - 4 - yl - 4 - o - tolyl - pyridin - 3 - yl )- isobutyramide . on day 14 the test was carried out as described in the sad . all participants of the sad and mad were tested for the single nucleotide polymorphism at position 41172 of the nkna gene as defined by position in fig2 . as the minimal concentration to achieve efficacy was found to be 20 ng / ml plasma concentration it was tested whether the single nucleotide polymorphism was found preferably in those individuals that had plasma concentration & gt ; 20 ng / ml and who responded to the treatment , which is having ≦ 3 retches and vomits . the results are shown in fig4 . subjects containing the single nucleotide polymorphism g at position 41172 of the nkna gene as defined by position in fig2 in their genome were responding with a higher efficacy to the treatment as subjects not containing the single nucleotide polymorphism or those who are heterozygous only . | 2 |
the chromosomal dna used for pcr amplification of the gene sequences of interest were b . subtilis subsp . subtilis str . 168 , s . aureus nctc 8325 , s . aureus n315 and s . aureus col . an erythromycin resistant soda :: lacz transcriptional fusion derivative of s . aureus sh1000 ( s . aureus sjf741 ), was the strain used in the assays ( horsburgh et al . 2002 ). the gene and protein sequences of the genes mentioned can be found at : s . aureus 8325 ( this is a non - annotated sequence ; equivalent annotated sequences of s . aureus containing the genes of interest can be found below ): iandolo et al ., 2002 ; novick , 1967 ; s . aureus strain subsp . aureus col : the center for genomic research ; ncbi taxonomy database , taxonomy id 93062 note : different strains of s . aureus have different locus names for the same genes due to phage insertions within the sequence . in this document , the locus names used for the s . aureus genes correspond to those in the s . aureus n315 sequence . the genes encoding selected proteins from bacillus subtilis 168 ( obg , ydib , yphc ( fig1 ; seq id no : 1 ), ysxc ( fig2 ; seq id no : 2 ), ywlc ( fig3 ; seq id no : 3 ), and s . aureus n315 ( sa1387 , gcp / sa1854 ( fig6 ; seq id no : 6 and 7 )) were amplified by pcr . the resulting products were cloned in plasmid petblue - 1 , and the genes overexpressed in escherichia coli tuner ™ ( de3 ) placi competent cells ( novagen ) according to the manufacturer &# 39 ; s instructions . the overexpressed proteins were purified in a 3 - step scheme based on anion exchange , hydrophobic and gel filtration chromatography . the level of protein overexpression was confirmed by sds - page , and the purity had an average of 90 %. in addition , selected peptides within the s . aureus n315 protein sa1187 ( ynes - 731 ( fig4 ; seq id no : 4 ) and ynes - 733 ( fig5 ; seq id no : 5 )) were synthesized on a milligen 9050 peptide synthesizer using f - moc chemistry . the f - moc amino acids ( novobiochem / merck ) were activated immediately before coupling using equimolar amounts of hctu or hbtu in the presence of a 10 % molar excess of hobt . in both cases , a cysteine was incorporated at the c - terminus of the peptide to enable linkage to carrier protein by assembling the peptide on fmoc - l - cys ( trt )- peg - ps resin ( applied biosystems ). peptides were purified using a c18 vydac column ( 22 × 250 mm ) using gradients of acetonitrile in 0 . 1 % tfa . peptides were verified by mass spectrometry . the purified peptides were conjugated to klh ( sigma ) ( carrier protein ) to enhance immunogenicity of the hapten in the rabbit . conjugation was performed in 10 × pbs using mbs ( sigma ). sera were obtained from the antibody resource center at the university of sheffield from : i ) rabbits immunized against proteins from b . subtilis ( obg , ydib , yphc , ywlc and ysxc and s . aureus ( gcp , sa1387 ); ii ) rabbits immunized against klh - conjugated peptides selected within the s . aureus protein sa1187 ( ynes - 731 , ynes - 733 ); iii ) rabbits immunized against a klh - conjugated peptide from the cyclophilin protein from arabidopsis thaliana ; iv ) naive ( non - immune ) rabbit serum ; and v ) human serum from a patient convalescent from a s . aureus infection . the immunization process was performed as follows . for each rabbit 200 to 500 μg of antigen ( in a maximum volume of 250 ul of phosphate buffer saline , pbs ) were mixed with an equal volume of complete freund &# 39 ; s adjuvant . the solution was filtered through a 23 g needle until an emulsion formed which did not separate on standing . each rabbit was inoculated with a maximum of 500 μl subcutaneously . on day 22 , 43 and 64 the injection was repeated but using incomplete freund &# 39 ; s adjuvant . sample bleeds were collected on day 53 and after day 64 . injection dates were flexible within a range of 3 to 6 weeks . when a suitable titer was detected in the test serum , a final boost followed by bleed out 10 days later was performed . sera were stored frozen being thawed and filtered through 0 . 2 μm pore diameter filters ( minisart high flow , sartorius ) immediately before use in killing experiments . using western blot analysis ( data not shown ) it was shown that antibodies against the b . subtilis ydib recognize a band of the size corresponding to the ydib homolog in s . aureus , suggesting the species cross - reactivity of these antibodies . to prepare the inoculum for the serum experiments , s . aureus sjf741 was grown at 37 ° c . in brain heart infusion medium ( bhi ; oxoid ) supplemented with erythromycin ( sigma ) to a final concentration of 5 μg / ml ( bhi - ery ). a single colony of s . aureus sjf741 freshly grown on bhi - ery plates from the laboratory frozen stock was inoculated in 30 ml universals containing 5 ml of bhi - ery and incubated overnight ( between 12 to 16 hours ) at 37 ° c . in an orbital shaker ( 250 rpm ). a 10 - fold dilution in phosphate saline buffer ( pbs ) of the resulting culture was prepared immediately before inoculation into serum . aliquots of 200 μl from the various sera in 1 . 5 ml microfuge tubes were inoculated with the pbs dilution of s . aureus sjf741 ( see preparation of the inoculum ) to a final cell density of 1 × 10 6 to 1 × 10 7 cells / ml , followed by incubation in a rotary shaker at 37 ° c . 10 ul samples were taken periodically from these serum cultures , serially diluted , and 10 ul from each dilution plated on bhi - ery plates , which were subsequently incubated at 37 ° c . overnight . in addition , another 10 ul sample from each serum culture was directly plated on bhi - ery plates . only the dilutions rendering between 1 to 40 colonies were enumerated and the number of viable cells ( colony forming units , cfu ) per ml determined . to evaluate the staphylococcal killing abilities of the various sera , s . aureus was challenged with the various rabbit anti - sera and survival over time was evaluated . the results showed that s . aureus was dramatically killed within 2 to 3 hours of contact with sera ( fig1 ) containing antibodies against gcp and ynes , as well as to other surface proteins . in contrast , antibodies against cytoplasmic proteins from b . subtilis ( obg and ydib ), to a membrane protein from arabidopsis thaliana ( cyclophilin ), and to various normal rabbit sera did not show the bactericidal phenotype ( fig1 ). strikingly , sera from rabbits immunized against other presumed cytoplasmic proteins from b . subtilis ( ysxc and yphc and ywlc ) also revealed a killing phenotype similar to the one observed for gcp and ynes ( 731 and 733 ) antibodies . this was unexpected since ysxc , yphc and ywlc are presumed cytoplasmic proteins and , therefore , are not surface exposed and so the antisera would not be expected to recognize them . this work suggests the location of ysxc in the membrane fraction of s . aureus . this work has further demonstrated that the killing effect is mediated through a heat - labile component ( inactivated by heat treatment , see material and methods ) present in serum , likely to correspond to some of the components of the complement ( fig1 ). lao and shimizu in valafar , f . ( ed . ), proceedings of the 2001 international conference on mathematics and engineering techniques in medicine and biological sciences ( metmbs &# 39 ; 01 ), csrea press , usa , pp . 119 - 125 ( 2001 ). | 0 |
an embodiment of the invention is based on a temperature sensor having the features listed in the claims . prior art temperature sensors are known from u . s . pat . no . 6 , 617 , 956 b1 and u . s . pat . no . 7 , 233 , 262 b2 . u . s . pat . no . 6 , 617 , 956 b1 and u . s . pat . no . 7 , 233 , 262 b2 disclose temperature sensors comprising a platinum resistor that is arranged on a substrate and covered by a protective ceramic layer of al 2 o 3 . the thin protective layer is covered by a thicker covering layer that is a mixture of al 2 o 3 , mgo and si 2 o . the known temperature sensors can only be used at temperatures up to 1000 ° c . and show significant resistance drift after extended use at such elevated temperatures . an object of the present invention is to show how the temperature resistance of such sensors can be improved and resistance drift lowered . this problem , and other problems , may be solved by a temperature sensor according to the claims . further advantageous refinements of the invention may be the matter of the dependent claims . an increase in temperature resistance is achieved with a temperature sensor comprising a substrate , a platinum resistor arranged on the substrate , a protective layer covering the platinum resistor , and a cover layer covering the protective layer in that the cover layer contains al 2 o 3 , si 2 o , and y 2 o 3 . by adding y 2 o 3 to al 2 o 3 and si 2 o a cover layer can be provided that results in significantly reduced layer diffusion . the cover layer is thus less prone to pore formation and can provide a reliable seal up to higher temperatures . moreover , reduced layer diffusion means that contact between material of the cover layer and the platinum resistor can be prevented up to higher temperatures and thus resistance shift reduced . a rather small amount of y 2 o 3 is sufficient to improve the heat resistance of a layer that consists predominantly of al 2 o 3 and si 2 o . for example , the cover layer may contain 5 % by weight of y 2 o 3 or more . in an embodiment of the invention , the cover layer may contain 10 % by weight of y 2 o 3 or more . increasing the concentration of y 2 o 3 beyond 30 % by weight does not improve the cover layer significantly and may not be economical . an embodiment of the invention may be that the cover layer contains less than 20 % by weight of y 2 o 3 . another embodiment of the invention may be that si 2 o and al 2 o 3 together add up to at least 50 % by weight of the cover layer , for example 60 % by weight or more . another embodiment of the invention may be that the cover layer contains more si 2 o by weight than al 2 o 3 . for example , the cover layer can contain twice as much si 2 o by weight than al 2 o 3 or more . another embodiment of the invention is that the cover layer contains less y 2 o 3 by weight than al 2 o 3 . another embodiment of the invention is that the cover layer contains more si 2 o by weight than y 2 o 3 . the cover layer may contain at least 30 % by weight of si 2 o , for example 40 % by weight or more . a si 2 o content of more than 70 % is usually not advantageous . the cover layer may contain at least 15 % by weight of al 2 o 3 , for example 20 % weight or more . an al 2 o 3 content of more than 30 % is usually not advantageous . the cover layer may also contain b 2 o 3 , e . g . up to 25 % by weight . for example , in an embodiment of invention the cover layer may contain 1 % by weight to 20 % by weight of b 2 o 3 . the cover layer may also contain additional additives , especially other oxides besides si 2 o , al 2 o 3 , y 2 o 3 and b 2 o 3 . in a possible embodiment of the invention , the content of any additional additives may be less than 20 % by weight in total , for example not more than 10 % by weight . fig1 shows a schematical cross - section of an embodiment of a temperature sensor . an embodiment of a temperature sensor shown in fig1 comprises a substrate 1 , for example an alumina substrate . a platinum resistor 2 , which may be connected to a wire 3 , is arranged on the substrate 1 . the platinum resistor 2 is a resistive layer and may be made of any platinum metal or platinum metal based alloy . the platinum resistor 2 is covered by a protective layer 4 , for example a ceramic layer . the protective layer 4 can be made of alumina or other ceramic material . a cover layer 5 is arranged on top of the protective layer 4 . the cover layer 5 can be covered by an additional layer 6 , e . g . a glaze layer . a connection area of the wire 3 and the platinum resistor 2 may be covered by a glass ceramic 7 in order to secure and protect the connection between lead wire 3 and platinum resistor 2 . the cover layer 5 may be a glass ceramic or glaze layer . the cover layer 5 contains si 2 o , al 2 o 3 , and y 2 o 3 . for example , the cover layer 5 may contain 40 to 60 % by weight of si 2 o , 20 to 25 % by weight of al 2 o 3 , and 10 to 19 % by weight of y 2 o 3 . the cover layer 5 may also contain up to 20 % by weight of b 2 o 3 , e . g . 5 % to 20 % by weight of b 2 o 3 , and up to 20 % by weight of other components , especially other oxides . such a temperature sensor can be used for measuring temperatures up to 1200 ° c . the protective layer 4 can be applied by a vapour deposition method or as a green foil that is later fired . the cover layer 5 can be produced by a screen - printing method , for example . in the embodiment of fig1 , which is not to scale , the cover layer 5 is thicker than the protective layer 4 . if an additional layer 6 is placed on top of the cover layer 5 , this additional layer 6 may be even thicker than the cover layer 5 . any additional layer 6 may be applied as a paste , e . g . by printing and later fired . the thickness of the various layers may not be critical for the functioning of the temperature sensor and may be chosen for manufacturing considerations . although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration , various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be limited , except as by the appended claims . | 7 |
fig1 shows the block diagram of a possible variant of the control system 10 for controlling an adjustment device ( not illustrated in fig1 ) in a motor vehicle , which adjustment device is operated by electric motor by means of a drive unit 18 . the control system 10 comprises an anti - trapping system 12 . this anti - trapping system 12 is connected to the drive unit 18 . the drive unit 18 drives the adjustment movement of an adjustment element 11 ( not illustrated in fig1 ) of the adjustment device 1 along an adjustment path x and usually comprises an electrically operated motor which interacts with the adjustment element 11 via a transmission unit . fig2 a to 2 c show , as application examples , various adjustment devices 1 with the reflective adjustment 11 in the form of a window lifting system with a window pane 11 ( fig2 a ), as the motor vehicle seat adjustment means with a motor vehicle seat 11 ( fig2 b ) and as a motor - operated vehicle tailgate 11 ( fig2 c ). these application examples each have a control system 10 which interacts with the assigned drive unit 18 . the drive unit 18 drives a movement of the respective adjustment element 11 along the adjustment path x . for each of the adjustment devices 1 which is shown in fig2 a to 2 c , there is a vehicle element 13 which is arranged adjacent to the adjustment element 11 . this vehicle element 13 is arranged in each case that the distance between the adjustment element 11 and the adjacent vehicle element 13 becomes smaller if the adjustment element 11 moves along the adjustment path x in the direction of the vehicle element 13 . since the distance between the adjustment element 11 and the vehicle element 13 becomes smaller , it is possible for an obstacle to be trapped between the adjustment element 11 and vehicle element 13 as a result of the adjustment movement . in order to be able to detect such a case of trapping , the control system 10 has an anti - trapping system . such an anti - trapping system 12 is represented by way of example in the schematic illustration in fig1 . the anti - trapping system 12 which is shown in fig1 comprises an analysis unit 14 for analyzing mechanical running parameters ( p 1 , p 2 . . . ) which result from the adjustment movement of the adjustment devices . these running parameters ( p 1 , p 2 . . . ) can be selected in particular from the following parameters : rotational speed n of the drive unit 18 or of the driven adjustment element 11 , torque m of the drive unit 18 , the change over time in the rotational speed n or the torque m or else the length of movement of the adjustment element 11 or the play of the adjustment device 1 when the direction of movement of the adjustment element 11 reverses onto its adjustment path x . by means of characteristic changes in these mechanical running parameters ( p 1 , p 2 . . . ) or on the basis of limiting values being exceeded , it is possible to determine a case of trapping of an obstacle between the adjustment path 11 and the vehicle element 13 . the determination of a case of trapping causes the adjustment movement of the adjustment element 11 to be stopped and / or reversed . the case of trapping is therefore not determined directly by means of the mechanical interaction of a trapped obstacle with the adjustment element 11 and / or the vehicle element 13 but rather indirectly by means of the analysis of the mechanical running - in parameters ( p 1 , p 2 . . . ) mentioned above . furthermore , the control system 10 comprises a control unit 15 with an electronic memory element 17 . furthermore , an activation element 16 with a keypad 160 interacts with the control system 10 . this activation element 16 can either be embodied separately , as illustrated in fig1 , or else as a component of the control system 10 . in the text which follows , the method of functioning of the control system 10 is described . by means of the activation element 16 , the control system 10 can be placed in an analysis mode . this means that the analysis unit 14 of the anti - trapping system 12 does not analyze the mechanical running - in parameters ( p 1 , p 2 . . . ) of the adjustment device 1 with regard to a case of trapping but rather for mechanical functional faults . different functional faults can be considered here depending on the specific embodiment of the adjustment device 1 . if the adjustment device 1 provides guide rails for the movement of the adjustment element 11 , these may be incorrectly positioned resulting in an undesired difficulty of movement at least in certain sections along the adjustment path x . if sealing elements are in frictional contact with moved elements of the adjustment device during the adjustment movement , incorrect position of the sealing elements may result in an increased frictional force to be overcome . if the sealing elements are absent , it is also conceivable that the sum of the forces which inhibit movement will be too low . furthermore it is conceivable that there is damage to the transmission or that other elements project into the respective adjustment path x of the adjustment element 11 or interact mechanically with the adjustment element 11 in certain sections along the adjustment path x , therefore making the movement of the adjustment element 11 more difficult . if the adjustment device is embodied as a window lifter , these may be other components which are arranged in the interior of the door , for example the attachment for the exterior rear view mirror . such mechanical functional faults can be determined by means of the analysis unit 14 if , for example , the limiting values for changes in rotational speed which occur or changes in torque which occur are selected in a correspondingly sensitive way . if the analysis unit 14 has determined a mechanical functional fault of the adjustment device , the control device 15 generates a diagnostic message l . this diagnostic message l can be embodied , for example , as a characteristic movement sequence l of the adjustment element 11 . for this purpose , the control device actuates the drive unit 18 in such a way that a detectable deviation from the customary movement sequence of the adjustment element 11 is ensured in what are referred to as critical areas k of the adjustment path x in which a mechanical functional fault is present . the person who is controlling the adjustment device 1 can request this diagnostic message by means of the activation element 16 . fig1 illustrates three exemplary variants of a changed movement sequence l in the diagrams arranged on the left - hand side . the rotational speed n of the drive unit is illustrated for all three movement sequences l 1 shown . in the case of the first movement sequence l 1 which is illustrated on the left , the rotational speed n is plotted against the adjustment path x . in the case of this movement sequence l 1 , the rotational speed is significantly reduced in the illustrated critical area k which has a mechanical functional fault . in this way it is possible to satisfactorily detect mechanical functional faults of the adjustment device 1 along the adjustment path x given appropriate visual checking . in the two further illustrated movement sequences l 1 , the rotational speed n is plotted in each case against the traveling time t . if the adjustment element 11 has reached , on its adjustment path x , the area of the mechanical functional fault of the adjustment device , the control unit 15 causes the adjustment element 11 to reverse a plurality of times ( central diagram ) or once ( right - hand diagram ) along the critical area by interacting with the drive unit 18 . in this way , the critical area k of the adjustment path x can also be easily recognized by a person who is checking the method of functioning of the adjustment device 1 . it is expedient if this person can repeatedly call the diagnostic messages l 1 described above by means of the operator control element 16 until the mechanical functional fault of the adjustment device 1 is precisely identified and located . alternatively or cumulatively to the diagnostic message described above in the form of a characteristic movement sequence l 1 of the adjustment element 11 , a visual diagnostic message l 2 can be implemented by means of the control unit 15 on the display d which is present in any case in the motor vehicle . the display d shows this as a diagrammatic representation of the mechanical running parameters p 1 , p 2 . . . of the adjustment device 1 which represents , for example , the torque m plotted against the adjustment path x or the time t . as a result , in contrast to the pure representation of the diagnostic message l by means of a changed movement sequence l 1 , a mechanical functional fault of the adjustment device 1 in a critical area k can be represented not only qualitatively but also quantitatively . the person performing a check can determine from the diagram to what extent the mechanical running parameters p 1 , p 2 . . . shown differ from the customary values of a correctly mounted and functioning adjustment device 1 . alternatively or cumulatively , the visual display message l 2 which is represented on the display d can comprise a text component tl . this text component contains more extensive information on the elimination of the mechanical functional faults which are determined in the adjustment device 1 . this can be implemented , for example , by equipping the analysis unit 14 of the control system 10 with a logic unit which is of correspondingly integrated electronic design and which permits customary mechanical functional faults to be categorized . this can go as far as storing the fault - free movement sequence of the adjustment element 11 at least in certain sections together with acceptable tolerance limiting values in a suitable memory element . as a result , the desired movement sequence of the adjustment element can be correspondingly checked . in the variant of the window lifting system 1 shown in fig2 a with the control system 10 , this is expedient , for example , for the running - area 110 of the window pane 11 which is arranged adjacent to the window seal 111 . since the running in of a seal of a motor vehicle window pane requires particular care with respect to the mounting or maintenance of a window lifting system 1 , it is expedient to store running parameters of a process of running into the seal which is still acceptable in the worst case in the control system 10 so that the analysis unit 14 can perform a corresponding comparison . it is also conceivable to embody the analysis device 14 with the functionality of a neural network in order to implement a self - adapting detection of mechanical malfunctions . the categorization of the mechanical malfunction allows a selective indication of the more extensive information which is associated with the corresponding category of the fault , by means of the text component tl of the visual diagnostic message l 2 . it is also conceivable for this more extensive information to be stored in a memory element of the adjustment device 1 . as a result , when necessary it is possible to call the more extensive information via the display d without a separate manual having to be consulted . | 4 |
representative embodiments according to the inventive subject matter are shown in fig1 - 7 , wherein similar features share common reference numerals . the inventive subject matter of a multi - purpose positioning device has the following method of operation . fig1 shows a right side view of the lower extremity surgical positioning device 100 ( hereinafter “ positioning device ”) which shows a surgical rail mount clamp 110 , a lower leg support arm 125 , a vertical extending member 120 , and a cradle support arm , connected between a surgical rail mount clamp 110 and a leg cradle support base 130 . the leg cradle body 135 is connected to the leg lower leg cradle support base 130 . a foot support arm 140 connects the leg cradle body 135 to the foot plate 150 . the foot plate 150 is interconnected to the foot plate pivot mount 210 which is mounted to the foot support arm 140 . a foot ( not shown ) may be freely placed on the foot plate 150 or affixed by angle or foot straps 155 . the foot support arm 140 can be extended away from the lower leg cradle body 135 to accommodate different sized patients . the mechanism for extending the length of the foot support arm 140 may consist of any number of extension / locking mechanisms that are well known in the arts , including , but not limited to , pressure screws against internal rails , linear actuators , gear drives ( 240 ), and / or motor either stepper type , pneumatic or hydraulic . the positioning device allows for the manipulation of the patients lower leg in at least three degrees of freedom relative to the operating table . utilizing cartesian coordinates will further clarify the device 100 . the rail mount clamp 110 may be mounted at any point on the operating table rail 115 and would correspond to the “ x ” axis , running the length of a patient from head to toe , where in the “ y ” axis would extend perpendicularly and upwards from then table rail 115 towards the ceiling , and the “ z ” axis would be perpendicular to operating table rail 115 and parallel to the operating table surface or the operating room floor . the lower leg support arm 125 may be adjusted in relationship to the vertical extending member 120 in a telescoping fashion to adjust the height or to vary the location of the lower leg cradle body 135 in the “ y ” plane to allow for better access by the surgeon . also , in one embodiment , the lower leg support arm 125 is pivotally connected to the rail mount clamp 110 with a friction lock or lower leg pivot adjuster 190 . also , the lower leg support arm vertical extending member is pivotally connected to the cradle support arm 145 with a friction lock or pivot adjuster 165 . these three adjustment points provide a flexible means of adjusting the leg in the operating table x - y - z frame of reference . now referring to fig2 , is a rear view of the positioning device 100 . as shown in fig2 , the rail mount clamp 110 is affixed to the operating table rail ( not shown ) and pivotally connected to the vertical extending member 125 , which is in turn connected to the lower leg support arm 120 . the support arm 120 is attached to the lower leg cradle support base 130 that is connected to the lower leg cradle body 135 . the foot support arm 140 is inserted into the leg cradle body 135 at one end and terminates at the other end into a ball joint or foot plate pivot mount 210 ( as seen in fig1 ) that is attached to the foot plate 150 wherein the heal and sole of the patient &# 39 ; s foot ( not shown but depicted in fig4 ) are positioned or rest against . the interface between the lower leg cradle body 135 and the foot support arm 140 allow for the traction and distraction of the lower leg along the “ x ” axis , while the pivot mount 210 allows the ankle and foot to be rotated along the “ x ”, “ y ” and “ z ” axis or in line with the ankle joint . the interface between the lower leg cradle support base 130 and the pivot mount 170 allows the entire leg to be rotated along the “ z ” axis . the foot plate 150 may have alternative embodiments such as a built in buckle clip as well as the cradle pivot mount 210 which has been contemplated in various embodiments as either , a ball joint for multi - directional pivoting , a ball joint with quick release and lock handle , and a ball joint secured on a leg extrusion plate . one embodiment of the foot plate 150 contemplates an extrusion plate with grooves on the plate . now referring to fig3 which , is a rear view of the positioning device 100 . as shown in fig2 , the rail mount clamp 110 is affixed to the operating table rail ( not shown ) and pivotally connected to the lower leg support arm 120 , which is in turn connected to the cradle support arm 145 through the vertical extending member pivot adjuster 165 . the cradle support arm 145 is attached to the lower leg cradle support base 130 through the cradle pivot mount 170 . the interface between the lower leg cradle support base 130 and the pivot mount 170 allows the entire leg to be rotated along the “ y ” axis . the cradle support base 130 may be mounted at any point on the lower leg cradle body 135 and would correspond to the “ x ” axis allowing further limb positioning adjustments . the foot support arm 140 is inserted into the leg cradle body 135 at one end and terminates at the other end into a ball joint or foot plate pivot mount 210 ( as seen in fig1 ) that is attached to the foot plate 150 wherein the heal and sole of the patient &# 39 ; s foot ( not shown but depicted in fig4 ) are positioned or rest against . the interface between the lower leg cradle body 135 and the foot support arm 140 allow for the traction and distraction of the lower leg along the “ x ” axis , while the pivot mount 170 allows the entire leg to be rotated along the “ z ” axis or in line with the ankle joint . now referring to fig4 is a side view of the lower extremity surgical positioning device with an illustration of the leg 172 and foot 174 inserted into the positioning device 100 . the positioning device 100 is also shown mounted to the operating table &# 39 ; s railing and adjustment along the “ x ” axis . the foot and ankle straps 155 hold the foot and ankle to the foot plate while the leg straps 160 hold the leg onto the lower leg cradle body 135 . fig5 is a side view of the leg cradle body 135 . one embodiment of the lower leg cradle body 135 has a gear drive mechanism 240 attached to the foot support arm 140 . this is actuated by a gear lock and release 245 hat may support three positions : ( 1 ) the locked position ; ( 2 ) the semi - locked position , which allows for the torque wrench movement without the application of excessive tension ; ( 3 ) the embodiment also allows for the complete release of the gear drive allowing free movement and remove of the foot support arm from the lower leg cradle body . the gear drive 240 may be adjusted by an allen bit that fits the torque wrench . fig6 is a top view of the leg cradle body . in this embodiment , the lower leg cradle body 135 has a tapered design with dimensions of about 10 cm in width and 25 cm in length . the lower leg cradle body has a top cover plate 137 with slotted gaps of 1 cm by 4 cm for straps attachments . fig7 is a bottom view of the leg cradle body . the bottom view illustrates the rail mount clamp 110 that can be affixed to the operating table and allow the entire apparatus to be moved parallel to the bedside . the leg cradle support base 130 has three alternate embodiments . in one embodiment , the shaft of the lower leg cradle support base 130 is approximately 10 cm in length . the shaft is approximately 2 . 5 cm in diameter . the height of the assembly is approximately 7 . 5 cm . the adjustment of the mount can be accomplished by slotted indexing grooves 165 in 10 degree increments . alternate embodiments would utilize and electronic motor positioning elements . in alternate embodiments of the straps 160 for the upper leg and lower leg cradle body . an implementation of the support straps for the upper and lower leg has a pliable material with a foam backing . the overall dimensions are 10 cm in width and 50 cm in length , with 30 cm as a strap . also in another embodiment of the straps , an ankle strap is used that encompasses the foot and ankle to prevent unwarranted motion . to prevent movement , the foot and ankle strap has a ring design where the rings are about 2 cm in diameter . the configuration of the aforementioned inventive subject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment described ; instead all possible configurations that can be implemented and derived by one skilled in the arts are understood to be embodied herein . the inventive subject matter of a multi - purpose positioning device has the following method of operation . the methodology used will vary from physician to physician as well as from procedure to procedure , as well as the order of adjustment may vary . it is also noted that standard operating procedures will be use , but not discussed herein , such as the use of gauze and sterile environment practices . the general use of the device 100 requires that the patient is placed or laid prone on the operating table . as shown on fig4 , the patient &# 39 ; s lower leg and foot is placed into the positioning device 100 . the lower leg cradle support base 130 is placed such that the lower leg 172 and the foot 174 are securely mounted on the lower leg cradle body 135 and the foot support arm 140 by the use of foot straps 155 and leg straps 160 . the lower leg cradle body 135 and the foot support arm 140 are adjusted to provide for specific patient limb length by extending or retracting the foot support arm 140 relative to the lower leg cradle body 140 . one embodiment has a bifurcation in the lower leg cradle body 135 wherein the foot support arm 140 is part of the lower leg cradle body 135 and is so interleaved , so that the overall length of the lower leg cradle body 135 may be extended or reduced in length to accommodate varied leg sizes . adjustment of the height of patient &# 39 ; s lower leg 172 is achieved by raising and lowering the lower leg cradle body 135 by moving the vertical extending member 120 towards or away from the lower leg support arm 125 . in one embodiment of the inventive subject matter , the support arm 125 and vertical extending member 120 consists of a telescopically retractable and extendable hollow tubular pole sections allowing the length to be adjusted manually . in another embodiment , the support arm 125 and vertical extending member 120 is extended and / or retracted using an electronic or hydraulics means , such as a linear actuator or piston configuration , thereby manipulating the lower leg cradle body 135 in the “ y ” frame of reference . the patient &# 39 ; s lower leg can be further adjusted as needed by rotating the lower leg support arm 125 which is pivotally connected to the operating rail 115 through the rail mount clamp 110 and then locked in position by the lower leg pivot adjuster 190 which allows the support arm to rotate approximately 180 degrees around the “ y ” frame of reference . in one embodiment of the inventive subject matter , the adjuster pivot is manually adjusted , but other embodiments would allow for electrical or hydraulics adjustments . further adjustments can be made at lower leg cradle support base 130 which will cause the lower leg cradle body 135 and the patient &# 39 ; s lower leg 172 to rotate along the “ x ” axis . the foot plate 150 is connected to a cradle pivot allowing for manipulation of the patient &# 39 ; s foot 174 along the “ z ” and “ y ” plans . it has been contemplated in various embodiments to use a variety of position locking configurations , to ensure that once an adjustment has been made , there will be no further movement . these locking configurations include , but are not limited to simple friction locking structures , such as a knob and screw , gear and pawls , and combinations of springs and spring materials . the materials as depicted in fig1 can be fabricated from materials generally used in operating room environments . these materials may be also constructed from metal , plastic , or carbon fiber products . the use of wood laminates and / or wood can be utilized . in operating environments where x - rays will need to be taken while the leg is inserted into the positioning device 100 , the material should be fabricated from radio - lucent material . persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details , materials , and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this inventive concept and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein . all patent and non - patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes . | 0 |
before the description of the present invention proceeds , it is to be noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the several views of the accompanying drawings . an electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention is applicable may be of any known construction and includes a photoreceptor drum 61 ( fig1 and 2 ) supported for rotation in one direction past a plurality of processing stations . these processing stations includes , inter alia , an electrostatic charging station at which an electrostatic charger is disposed for building an electrostatic charge on an outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 , an exposing station at which image - wise rays of light descriptive of information to be copied are projected onto the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 to form an electrostatic latent image thereon , and a developing station at which a developer is disposed to apply toner particles onto the outer peripheral surface of the drum to form a toned image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image . however , the details of the copying machine to which the present invention is applied will be discussed later with reference to fig6 . referring now to fig1 and 2 , a charge eraser according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention , generally identified by 4 , comprises a generally elongated box - like casing 42 having two groups of a plurality of light output cells in which respective light emitting diodes are accommodated , one group of the light output cells being generally identified by 41a and the other group of the light output cells being generally identified by 41b , all of said light output cells 41a and 41b opening towards the photoreceptor drum 61 . for the purpose of the discussion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention , the number of the light output cells 41a is assumed to be 34 and that of the light output cells 41b is assumed to be 47 . the group of the light output cells 41a and the group of the light output cells 41b assume , in the instance as shown , left - hand and right - hand end portions of the elongated casing 42 as viewed therein and differ from each other in that each neighboring light output cells 41a are spaced a predetermined pitch of , for example , 5 mm from each other while the each neighboring light output cells 41b are spaced a predetermined pitch of , for example , 1 mm from each other . thus , it will readily be understood that each of the light output cells 41a has a greater width , as measured in the direction lengthwise of the elongated casing 42 , than that of each of the light output cells 41b . the eraser casing 42 has built therein a drive circuit which will be described later with reference to fig4 and which is electrically connected with an electric power source and a central processing unit for the control of the charge eraser 4 . the eraser casing 42 has spaced apart guide rods 411 protruding from the opposite end portions of a rear wall thereof in a direction counter to the direction towards the photoreceptor drum 61 , which guide rods 411 in turn extend slidably through guide holes formed in associated angle members 412 rigid or fast with a framework of the copying machine so that the eraser casing 42 can be reciprocated in a direction shown by the arrow a . the eraser casing 42 also has at least one pin 419 protruding from one of the opposite end walls of the casing 42 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal sense of the casing 42 and positioned adjacent the light output cells , said pin 419 being in turn engaged in a hole defined in a link member 415 . the link member 415 is pivotally supported at a substantially intermediate portion thereof by means of a support pin 418 and is connected at one end with the pin 419 and at the other end with a solenoid plunger 414 built in a solenoid unit 413 , said plunger 414 being movable between projected and retracted positions . a tension spring 416 extends between the end of the link member 415 adjacent the pin 419 and a pin 417 fixed to the framework 800 of the copying machine and acts to hold the plunger 414 at the projected position in which condition the eraser casing 42 is held at a position away from the photoreceptor drum 61 . however , when the solenoid unit 416 is electrically powered , the plunger 414 is moved to the retracted position inwardly of the solenoid unit 413 against the pulling force of the tension spring 416 with the consequence that the eraser casing 42 is moved in a direction towards the photoreceptor drum 61 . the eraser casing 42 of the construction described above is so positioned in the vicinity of the photoreceptor drum 61 and so supported that a beam of light from each of the light emitting elements within the eraser casing 42 can impinge upon the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 generally at right angles thereto . the imprinting of a character or the partial erasure of the electrostatic charge that is performed by the charge eraser 4 can be realized in the following manner . referring to fig3 assuming that the 34 light emitting diodes in the light output cell 41a , having a larger width , are designated by a1 , a2 , . . . a33 and a34 as shown , and when some of these light emitting diodes falling within ca to da are turned on to illuminate the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 during a period from the timing of termination of a timer xa to the timing of termination of a timer xb , a portion of the electrostatic charge built up on the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 which is shown by a shaded area in fig3 can be removed . because of this , no toner is attracted to such portion of the electrostatic charge on the photosensitive surface during the subsequent developing process and , accordingly , when looking at the resultant copy made , a portion of the copy corresponding in position to that portion of the photosensitive surface from which the electrostatic charge has been dissipated by the charge eraser 4 is left blank with no image reproduced . when it comes to the imprinting of the character , it can be achieved by selectively switching on and off the 47 light emitting diodes b1 to b47 within the light output cells of smaller width so that portions of the electrostatic charge built up on the photosensitive surface of the photo - receptor drum 61 can be removed in a pattern corresponding to the shape of the character desired to be imprinted , for example , in a pattern of the reversed shape of &# 34 ; 23 &# 34 ; if &# 34 ; 23 &# 34 ; is desired to be imprinted . the selective switching on and off of the 47 light emitting diodes can be accomplished by , for example , by storing such a font pattern as shown in fig7 in a memory and , then , keying in some selected keys on a keyboard to read the font pattern out from the memory to form a bit map so that selected commands can be generated from the bit map . it is to be noted that fig7 illustrates only a portion of the font patterns to be written in the memory for the purpose of discussion of the present invention , each of said font patterns being composed of 5 × 7 dots . the reason that the number of the light emitting diodes within the light output cells of smaller width is selected to be 47 in the instance discussed above , is because a maximum of eight characters each having a character width equal to the sum of five dots can be imprinted in a side - by - side relationship . therefore , where more or less than the eight characters are desired to be imprinted or where the number of dots determinative of the character width is greater or smaller than the five dots , the number of the light emitting diodes actually used may vary correspondingly . with reference to fig4 an eraser drive circuit will now be described . the eraser drive circuit includes a shift register 401 , a latch 402 and a driver 403 , all of which are controlled by respective signals , fed from a central processing unit 22 for the control of the charge eraser , for controlling the selective switching on and off of drive transistors tr ( 1 ) to tr ( 81 ). each of the light emitting elements led ( 1 ) to led ( 81 ) is driven by a power source voltage vcc . the structural details of the copying machine to which the present invention is applied will now be described with reference to fig6 . the illustrated copying machine incorporating the charge eraser according to the foregoing embodiment therein comprises an optical system 5 operable to scan the document to be copied while illuminating the same , an electrophotographic system 6 for reproducing an image of the document on a copying paper through the electrophotographic process , a paper supply and toner fixing system 7 , and a transparent document support 8 in the form of a glass plate . hereinafter , these systems will be individually discussed under respective headings . the optical system 5 comprises a source of light ( not shown ), a plurality of reflecting mirrors 51 , 52 , 53 and 54 , a lens assembly 55 and a drive mechanism ( not shown ) and is operable to reciprocally move between home and scanned positions , said optical system scanning the document placed on the document support 8 while illuminating the same during the movement thereof from the home position towards the scanned position . more specifically , rays of light reflected from the document are , after having been reflected by the mirrors 51 to 53 , allowed to pass through the lens assembly ( a magnification variable lens block ) and are then reflected by the mirror 54 so as to travel towards the photoreceptor drum 61 , thereby forming an image of the document on the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 . the mirrors 51 to 53 are adapted to be simultaneously driven by a common drive motor m3 , the mirror 51 being driven at a speed equal to v / n and the mirrors 52 and 53 being driven at a speed equal to v / 2n for maintaining the optical paths at a constant length , wherein v represents the peripheral velocity of the photoreceptor drum 61 and n represents the magnification factor . on the other hand , the mirror 54 and the lens assembly 55 are driven in association with each other by a magnification setting motor m4 in such a way that the lens assembly 55 is moved to any desired position in a direction parallel to the optical axis thereof for the selection of a particular magnification factor while the mirror 54 serves to compensate for any possible variation in the image forming point which would result from the movement of the lens assembly 55 . in addition to the photoreceptor drum 61 adapted to be driven in one direction shown by the arrow , the image forming system 6 includes a main eraser lamp 62 , an auxiliary electrostatic charger 63 , an auxiliary eraser lamp 64 , a main electrostatic charger 65 , a developing unit 66 , a transfer charger 67 , a separation charger 68 for copying papers and blade - type cleaning unit 69 , all disposed around and in the vicinity of the photoreceptor drum 61 . the charge eraser 4 according to the present embodiment is disposed in the vicinity of the photoreceptor drum 61 at a location between the main electrostatic charger 65 and the developing unit 66 . it is to be noted that , although the position of the charge eraser 4 is , in the illustrated instance , closer to the main electrostatic charger 65 than to the image exposure station , it may be closer to the developing unit 66 . in other words , the position of the charge eraser 4 may be such that illumination by the charge eraser 4 can be effected after the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 has been uniformly electrostatically charged and before the developing is performed by the developing unit 66 . as the photoreceptor drum 61 being rotated passes sequentially past the eraser lamps 62 and 64 and the electrostatic chargers 63 and 65 , the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 is increasingly sensitized and electrostatically charged and an electrostatic latent image is then formed upon receipt of the imagewise rays of light from the optical system 5 through an exposure slit . at the subsequent developing station , the latent image on the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 is applied with toner particles to form a toned image which is in turn transferred onto the copying paper ( the one supplied through a timing roller 73 of the paper supply and ejecting system 7 ) at the transfer station . the paper supply and ejecting system 7 comprises an upper paper cassette 71 and a lower paper cassette 72 , paired feed rollers 711 and 721 for the respective cassettes 71 and 72 , paired conveyance rollers 712 and 713 , the timing roller 73 , a transport belt 74 , a fixing unit 75 , and paired delivery rollers 76 , all of them being adapted to be driven by a drive motor m1 . it is to be noted that the toned image transferred onto the copying paper is heat - fixed as it passes through the paired rollers of the fixing unit 75 . referring to fig5 there is shown an editor 900 placed on the document support 8 . this editor 900 is adapted to be electrically connected with the copying machine when placed on the document support 8 as shown in fig5 and 6 . as shown , the editor 900 includes a tablet 910 and a plurality of keys 901 to 905 . the tablet 910 is generally rectangular in shape corresponding to the shape of the document support 8 and has a plurality of resistance wirings 911 extending in a mesh fashion in x - axis and y - axis directions while each adjacent resistance wirings are spaced a predetermined interval , for example , about 1 mm , wherefore when a selected point of intersection between the x - axis resistance wirings and the y - axis resistance wirings is pressed to shortcircuit , the resistance determined by the x - axis and y - axis coordinates of such selected point of intersection can be detected in terms of the level of voltage . accordingly , where a particular point on the document is desired to be inputted as a data of the x - axis and y - axis coordinates , the document is to be placed on and retained in position above the tablet 910 and a desired point of intersection is to be then pressed . the tablet 910 has imprinted thereon characters such as &# 34 ; a &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; b &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; c &# 34 ;, . . . &# 34 ; y &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; z &# 34 ; or &# 34 ; 1 &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; 2 &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; 3 &# 34 ; . . . , which correspond to the fonts shown in fig7 and a desired character can be selected in association with a character key 903 as will be described later . the keys 901 to 905 represent an erase key , a trimming key , a character key , an end key and a clear key , respectively . the erase key 901 is used to specify a full erasure of a particular area ; the trimming key 902 is used to specify a full erasure of an area other than the particular area ; the character key 903 is used to specify a character input mode ; the end key 904 is used to terminate the inputting of the coordinates or character ; and the clear key 905 is used to clear all of the above mentioned specifications . hereinafter , the operation of the device according to the present embodiment will be described with particular reference to fig8 comprised of fig8 ( a ) and 8 ( b ) which illustrate the sequence of control ( control of the editor 900 and the eraser 4 ) performed by the central processing unit 22 . it is to be noted that the control for the copying operation and the temperature adjustment is well known to those skilled in the art and , therefore , the description thereof will not be reiterated here . as shown , the central processing unit 22 starts its operation when the electric power supply is initiated , initializing at step s102 . during the initialization , the count of a counter m for counting the number of readings of the font pattern from a font memory , and the value of a counter n for counting the number of specifications of the coordinates are reset to zero . also , each flag is lowered and each memory is cleared . thereafter , a routine timer for determining the time for one routine is set at step s104 . subsequently , at step s106 , input and output are rendered to be active . then , at step s108 , a decision is made in reference to an end flag to determine if the specification of the coordinates and the reading of the font pattern have been completed . should the result of decision at step s108 indicates that the end flag has not been set up , that is , if the inputting of the data of the coordinates and / or the reading of the font pattern have not yet been completed , a process from step 112 to step 146 is executed . at step s112 , a decision is made to determine if a coordinate signal from the tablet 910 has been inputted . this can be accomplished by referring to the presence or absence of any variation of the data inputted from the tablet 910 through an analog - to - digital ( a / d ) converter ( not shown ). if the result of decision at step s112 indicates the presence of the input , the program flow proceeds to step s114 on the condition that it is not in the character mode , that is , on the condition that a w flag is zero ( step s113 ). at step 114 , a decision is made to determine if the count of the counter n ( the number of times of inputting of the coordinates ) has reached 2 . if the count has not yet reached 2 , step s116 takes place at which the ( x , y ) coordinates which have been inputted as described above is stored in a memory , followed by the increment of the count of the counter n by one at step s118 , after which the program flow return to step s104 . since in the present embodiment a generally rectangular area is specified where the area is specified , the specification of the coordinate data would suffice at two points ( opposite ends of the diagonal line ) and , therefore , the upperlimit count of the counter n is fixed 2 . where the result of decision at step s113 indicates that the w flag is 1 , it means the character mode and , therefore , the program flow proceeds to step s132 . at step s132 a decision is made to determine if the count of the counter m ( the number of reading of the font pattern ) has reached 8 . if it has not yet reached 8 , step s136 takes place to read from the font memory the font pattern ( see fig7 ) corresponding to the character which is delineated at an area then pressed with a light pen 950 ( fig5 ), followed by step s138 at which a bit map for controlling the switching on and off of the eraser 4 is prepared on a bit map memory . thereafter , at step s140 , the count of the counter m is incremented by one , with the program flow subsequently returning to step s104 . it is to be noted that the upperlimit count of the counter m which is 8 is determined by the number ( 47 ) of the light emitting diodes and the number ( 5 ) of dots for each character representative of the width thereof . should the result of decision at step s112 indicate the absence of input , the program flow proceeds to step s120 , et seq . at step s120 , a decision is made to determine as to the presence or absence of input from the erase key 901 . if the result of decision at this step indicates the presence of input , an e flag ( erase flag ) is set up at step s122 , followed by the return to step s104 . on the other hand , in the event of the absence of input , the program flow proceeds to step s124 at which a decision is made to determine as to the presence or presence of input from the trimming key 902 . in the event that the result of decision at step s124 indicates the presence of input , a t flag ( trimming flag ) is set up at step s126 , followed by the return to step s104 . in the event of the absence of input , the program flow proceeds to step s128 . at step s128 a decision is made to determine as to the presence or absence of input from a character mode key 903 . if the result of decision at this step indicates the presence of input , a w flag ( character mode flag ) is set up at step s130 , with the program flow returning to step s104 . in the event of the absence of input , the program flow skips from step s128 to step s142 . at step s142 a decision is made to determine as to the presence or absence of input from the end key 904 . if the result of decision at this step indicates the presence of input , the program flow returns to step s104 after the end flag has been set up at step s144 in view of the fact that the inputting of the data of the coordinates and / or the conversion from the data of the coordinates to the data of characters have been completed . in the event of the absence of input , however , the program flow proceeds from step s142 to step s104 . at step s146 a decision is made to determine as to the presence or absence of input from the clear key 905 . if the result of decision at this step indicates the presence of input , the program flow returns to step s102 , but if it indicates the absence of input , the program flow returns to step s104 via step s146 . in this way , i . e ., through the process from step s112 to step s146 , the coordinate data and / or the character data ( bit map ) are stored in the bit map memory . in the event that the result of decision at step s108 indicates that the end flag has been set up , that is , the coordinate data and / or the character data ( bit map ) have been stored in the bit map memory , the subsequent decision takes place at step s110 at which a decision is made to determine if the copying operation is executed . in the case where the copying operation is executed , the program flow proceeds to step s150 , et seq ., particularly as shown in fig8 ( b ). the program flow from step s150 to step s158 represents a process in which the specified area is erase - controlled . specifically , by switching on the light emitting diodes corresponding to coordinates x1 to x2 within a time period corresponding to coordinates y1 to y2 , a square area having the opposite apexes represented by ( x1 , y1 ), ( x2 , y2 ) can be full erased . on the other hand , the program flow from step s162 to step s174 represents a process in which the specified area is trimmed . specifically , by switching off the light emitting elements x1 to x2 from y = y1 to y = y2 while switching on the other light emitting elements , an area other than the square area having the opposite apexes represented by ( x1 , y1 ), ( x2 , y2 ) can be erased . the program flow from step s176 to step s184 represents a process in which in accordance with the bit map corresponding to the stored font pattern the light emitting diodes 35 to 81 of the charge eraser 4 are selectively switched on and off when and after y = y1 has been attained , to remove a portion of the electrostatic charge on the photoreceptor drum 61 in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined character pattern . specifically , with the condition that the w flag has been set to 1 ( step s176 ), the solenoid unit 413 ( fig1 ) is energized at step s177 to cause the eraser 4 to approach the photoreceptor drum 61 while an exposure lamp is switched off at step s178 in readiness for the character imprinting . subsequent to step s180 , the light emitting diodes of the eraser 4 are selectively switched on and off at step s182 according to the bit map table , prepared at step s138 , to effect the character imprinting , followed by the deenergization of the solenoid unit 413 at step s184 to move the eraser 4 towards a reference position away from the photoreceptor drum 61 . in this way , the character pattern can be sharply delineated on the copying paper . in the foregoing embodiment , the eraser has been described as supported for movement in a direction towards and away from the photoreceptor drum 61 along the path perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 61 . however , in the following embodiment which will now be described with reference to fig9 and 10 , the eraser is supported for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 61 so that the distance between the front of the eraser and the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 can be varied to vary the area of surface of the photosensitive surface that is to be illuminated . in the embodiment shown in fig9 the eraser casing 42 has stud pins 410 protruding from the opposite end walls thereof in a direction away from each other parallel to the longitudinal sense of the casing 42 . these stud pins 410 are positioned on the opposite ends of the casing 42 adjacent a rear wall thereof remote from the photoreceptor drum 61 and are journaled to respective portions of the machine framework 800 so that the eraser can pivot between first and second positions about an axis coaxial with any one of the stud pins 410 . the plunger 414 of the solenoid unit 413 is coupled with the pin 419 as is the case with the foregoing embodiment of fig2 however , the solenoid unit 413 including the plunger 414 is so positioned and so supported that , when the solenoid unit 413 is energized with the plunger 414 moved to the retracted position , the eraser casing 42 is pivoted from the first position , shown by the solid line in fig1 , to the second position shown by the phantom line in fig1 against the pulling force of the spring 416 . however , when the solenoid unit 413 is deenergized , the plunger 414 is pulled to the projected position by the action of the spring 416 with the eraser casing 42 held at the first position shown by the solid line . when the eraser casing 42 is held at the first position , the front of the charge eraser , that is , the openings of the light output cells of the eraser , is spaced a maximum distance from the area of the photosensitive surface that is to be illuminated thereby and , accordingly , the removal of a portion of the electrostatic charge on the photosensitive surface is possible with no ripple accompanied . on the other hand , when the eraser casing 42 is held at the second position , the front of the charge eraser is spaced a minimum distance from the area of the photosensitive surface to be illuminated and , accordingly , the removal of that portion of the electrostatic charge delimited by a clear and sharp boundary line is possible . while in any one of the foregoing embodiments the eraser has been shown and described as movably supported , it may be supported stationary as will be described in connection with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention with particular reference to fig1 and 12 . as best shown in fig1 , the eraser casing 42 is supported stationary sandwiched between opposite wall members of the machine framework 800 with a substantial distance left between the front of the eraser 4 and the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 . a selfoc lens array ( trade name ) 400 is generally of a elongated configuration is shown and positioned within a space delimited between the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 and the eraser 4 , having its longitudinal dimension enough to cover or overlap with the group of the light output cells 41b . this is selfoc lens array is comprised of a plurality of optical fibers tied to provide a generally bundled configuration and is operable to render all of the rays of light passing therethrough to be parallel to each other as will be described later . the lens array 400 is carried by the link 425 for movement between first and second positions shown by the solid line and the phantom line , respectively , in fig1 , said link 425 having one end connected to one of the wall members of the machine framework 800 through a pivot pin 427 . the lens array 400 so supported is normally biased to the first position by the action of the spring 426 , but can be pivoted about the pivot pin 427 to the second position against the spring 426 by the solenoid plunger 424 when the latter is moved to the retracted position as a result of the energization of the solenoid unit 423 . it is , however , to be noted that instead of the use of the solenoid unit 423 including the plunger 424 , a stepper motor may be employed for driving the lens array in a manner as hereinbefore described . when the lens array 400 is in the first position as shown by the solid line in fig1 , rays of light emitted from the led light source 42 are , after having been restricted by the neighboring partitions 410 on respective sides of the led light source 41 , diffused before they reach the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 as shown in fig1 ( a ). therefore , at the boundary , rays of light from the neighboring led light sources overlap with each other with the consequence that a local variation of the potential can be lessened as shown in fig1 ( b ). conversely , when the lens array 400 is pivoted to the first position intervening between the drum 61 and the charge eraser 4 , the rays of light emitted from the neighboring led light sources 41 are , after having been restricted by the neighboring partitions 410 on the respective sides of the led light source 41 , rendered parallel to each other by the lens array before they reach the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor drum 61 as shown in fig1 ( a ). therefore , the rays of light from the respective led light sources 41 do not overlap with each other at the boundary and the character can be clearly and sharply imprinted as shown in fig1 ( b ). except for the direction of movement of the eraser 4 , the program flow shown in and described with reference to fig8 can be equally employed for controlling the charge eraser 4 shown in and described with reference to fig1 . although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings , it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims . such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention . | 6 |
referring now to the drawings where the illustrations are for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention described herein . fig1 illustrates sample symbols and scripting mechanisms utilized by the programmable data collector of the present invention . in this figure , example a is the terminator symbol which is used only to specify an event that initiates script or terminates execution of the script . there can be only one of each instance ( initiation or termination ) of this symbol in the flow chart . when this symbol indicates an initiating event , the word “ start ” must be the first word within the symbol . terminating events contain the word “ end ” as the first word within the symbol . initiating events are selected from a list of all possible initiating events for a given data collector type or model . example b is the decision symbol that generates the “ if ” statement in the script . logic equations within this symbol are used as parameters of the “ if ” statement . logic flow arrows associated with the “ true ” and “ false ” states of the decision symbol , along with the associated flow chart symbols and text in each logic path , generate script lines with each logic state of the “ if ” statement . example c is the display symbol that can generate a display on the data collector &# 39 ; s liquid crystal display or can produce a voice prompt , if the data collector is appropriately equipped , by generating script calls to standard routines within the data collector &# 39 ; s software . the first word within this symbol determines the prompting method and which of the data collector &# 39 ; s software routines are called . example d is the manual input symbol which generates a call to a standard software routine within the data collector &# 39 ; s software that handles input from the data collector &# 39 ; s keyboard . appropriate timeouts and error checks are provided by the software that is selected . example e is the process symbol that generates a call to one of several standard software routines within the data collector &# 39 ; s software . the first word within this symbol determines which software call is made . also shown in fig1 is the script that would be generated for a typical flow chart , such as the flow chart 10 shown in fig2 , which illustrates the logic that may be utilized by the programmable data collector of the present invention . the script generated by the scripting software may be human readable , as described in fig1 , or the script may be encoded , tokenized , in the form of machine code , or in other forms that are not readable by , or meaningful to , humans . in this flow chart 10 , when an officer reads a location checkpoint associated with room 3 or room 9 of a specific facility , the logic prompts the officer to check the pressure within a fire extinguisher located on the north wall of the same room . in addition , the officer is asked to enter the pressure reading on each of the fire extinguishers . the desired pressure reading ( e . g ., 150 psi ) is stored in the memory of the data collector . if the pressure reading is less than 150 psi , the officer is prompted to notify the building maintenance manager or supervisor . referring to the flow chart 10 in fig2 , the logic is started in block 12 when a location identification is read by the data collector . a determination is then made in block 14 as to whether the location is room 3 or room 9 of the facility . if the location is not room 3 or room 9 , the logic is terminated in block 16 . if the location is either room 3 or room 9 , the officer is “ prompted ” on a liquid crystal display in the data collector to check the fire extinguisher at a particular location in that room and enter its pressure , as shown in block 18 . the officer manually inputs (“ keys in ”) the pressure in the data collector , as shown in block 20 , and the data collector stores time stamped data in its memory as to the location of the fire extinguisher and its pressure , as shown in block 22 . a check is made in block 24 as to whether the pressure of the fire extinguisher is less than the desired pressure ( e . g ., 150 psi ). if the pressure of the fire extinguisher is not less than 150 psi , a prompt is given to the officer in block 26 to proceed to the next checkpoint and the logic is terminated in block 16 . if the pressure of the fire extinguisher is less than 150 psi , a prompt is given to the officer in block 28 to notify the building maintenance manager of this low pressure condition and the logic is terminated in block 16 . it should be noted that when an officer enters an incident into the data collector , the data collector may ask additional questions of the officer or may offer additional instructions to the officer . for example , when a particular incident is read , the data collector may ask the officer whether there were any other persons involved . if the officer answers “ yes ”, the data collector may prompt the officer to enter the names of those persons and other information regarding those persons . if the officer answers “ no ”, the data collector may inquire about particular conditions , such as weather or lighting , or the like . the entered information might later be used in the creation of accident reports and the like . in addition , the reading of a certain checkpoint may cause the data collector to prompt the officer to perform some additional activity relating to that location , such as checking a fire extinguisher , as in the previous example . this could take the form of a simple instruction for the officer or the data collector could ask the officer to enter particular data , such as a pressure gauge reading . if the reading entered by the officer exceeds or is below a predetermined level , the data collector may instruct the officer to notify the appropriate individual of this condition or to take other corrective action . certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing . it is understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability , but are properly within the scope of the following claims . | 6 |
exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail . the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts . detailed descriptions of well - known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention . while the present invention may be embodied in many different forms , specific embodiments of the present invention are shown in drawings and are described herein in detail , with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated . the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be any information communication appliance that can perform bluetooth communication , such as a mobile communication terminal , mobile phone , personal digital assistant ( pda ), smart phone , notebook computer , and multimedia appliances , and applications thereof . further , in the present invention , a headset that has a bluetooth function and can perform a dongle function is exemplified . the dongle function is used for assisting other appliances in which a bluetooth function is not provided to perform a bluetooth function . the headset may be any appliance that has a bluetooth function , such as an ear set , headphone , or stereo headset , and can perform a dongle function and applications thereof . referring to fig1 , the system includes a mobile terminal 100 , headset 200 , and printer 300 . the mobile terminal 100 establishes a bluetooth communication link with the headset 200 , and the headset 200 establishes a usb communication link with the printer 300 . the headset 200 includes a bluetooth module for forming a bluetooth communication link with the mobile terminal 100 . further , the headset 200 includes a usb connector for forming the usb communication link with the printer 300 and a usb control module for performing usb communication . the printer 300 includes a usb port for forming the usb communication link with the headset 200 . as shown in fig2 , the mobile terminal 100 includes a radio frequency ( rf ) unit 101 , bluetooth module 103 , controller 105 , display unit 107 , input unit 109 , memory unit 111 , and audio unit 113 . the rf unit 101 performs general wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and a mobile communication network . for example , the rf unit 101 transmits and receives voice data , transmission and reception of a character messages , and multi media messages through the mobile communication network . the bluetooth module 103 performs bluetooth communication with other bluetooth devices through a bluetooth antenna according to bluetooth protocol . particularly , the bluetooth module 103 stores a host stack necessary for bluetooth communication , a bluetooth profile that can be selected according to a function or condition of an external bluetooth device to be a communication target , an application program , etc . further , an object push profile ( opp ) and basic printer profile ( bpp ) are stored in the bluetooth profile . the opp is a profile necessary for performing object exchange or file transfer , and the bpp is a profile necessary for controlling a printer . the controller 105 controls the general operation of the mobile terminal 100 . particularly , the controller 105 includes a modem and codec having a transmitter for encoding and modulating a signal for transmission from the rf unit 101 and a receiver for demodulating and decoding a received signal . the controller 105 determines whether an intrinsic number of the printer 300 received from the bluetooth module of the headset 200 is identical to an intrinsic number stored in the memory unit 111 , and if an intrinsic number of the printer 300 received from the bluetooth module of the headset 200 is not identical to an intrinsic number stored in the memory unit 111 , the controller 105 stores the intrinsic number in the memory unit 111 . the controller 105 can recognize that a device connected to the headset 200 is the printer 300 by utilizing the intrinsic number . further , the controller 105 controls the bluetooth module 103 to transmit data to print and a set print format to the headset 200 . the controller 105 determines whether transmission of the data to print is completed through the bluetooth module 103 . the print format includes a size of a paper for performing the print , a print resolution , and the number of copies . the display unit 107 displays a series of operation states , an operation result , and information performed in the mobile terminal 100 by the control of the controller 105 . the display unit 107 is composed of a display device such as liquid crystal display ( lcd ), organic light emitting diodes ( oled ), and plasma display panel ( pdp ). particularly , the display unit 107 displays , if data to print of the mobile terminal 100 are transmitted to the headset 200 by the control of the controller 105 , a message of data transmission completion . the input unit 109 includes a general keypad , for example , a touch screen , touch pad , or scroll wheel . the input unit 109 receives a manipulation signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100 and provides the manipulation signal to the controller 105 . the memory unit 111 stores information ( e . g . information about a setting state and menu ) related to the operation of the mobile terminal 100 by the control of the controller 105 . particularly , the memory unit 111 stores an intrinsic number of the printer 300 received from the bluetooth module of the headset 200 as controlled by the controller 105 . further , the memory unit 111 stores a set print format , a size of a paper for performing the print , a print resolution , and the number of copies . the audio unit 113 converts an analog audio signal input through a microphone ( mic ) to a digital audio signal and plays a converted digital audio signal output from the controller 105 through a speaker ( spk ). referring to fig3 , a bluetooth communication link is formed between the mobile terminal 100 and headset 200 in step 301 , and a usb communication link is formed between the headset 200 and the printer 300 in step 303 ). the connection order of steps 301 and 303 may be reversed without any difficulty in executing the present invention . the usb communication link between the headset 200 and the printer 300 is composed of a wired or wireless usb device . after connecting the mobile terminal 100 and headset 200 with bluetooth communication at step 301 and the headset 200 and printer 300 with usb communication at step 303 , the mobile terminal 100 receives a registration request initiated by the headset 200 for registration of the printer 300 in step 305 . thereafter , the mobile terminal 100 transmits a request instruction of an intrinsic number of the printer 300 connected to the headset 200 to the headset 200 in step 307 , and the headset 200 forwards the intrinsic number request instruction of the printer 300 received from the mobile terminal 100 to the printer 300 in step 309 . the printer 300 then transmits an intrinsic number to the headset 200 according to the intrinsic number request instruction transmitted from the headset 200 in step 311 , and the headset 200 forwards the intrinsic number received from the printer 300 to the mobile terminal 100 in step 313 . the mobile terminal 100 stores the received intrinsic number of the printer 300 in the memory unit 111 and registers the printer 300 connected to the headset 200 in order to control the printer 300 connected with a usb connector to the headset 200 in step 315 . referring to fig4 , an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described using the mobile terminal 100 , headset 200 , and printer 300 . the mobile terminal 100 enters a bluetooth mode in step 401 , and the controller 105 searches for the printer 300 for performing the printing using an intrinsic number of the printer 300 stored in the memory unit 111 in step 403 . upon finding the printer 300 for performing the printing , the controller 105 transmits a request for the intrinsic number of the printer 300 to the headset 200 , which forwards the request for the intrinsic number to the printer 300 in step 405 . the printer 300 transmits the intrinsic number to the headset 200 according to the request for the intrinsic number , and the headset 200 transmits the intrinsic number received from the printer 300 to the mobile terminal 100 in step 407 . thereafter , the controller 105 determines whether the intrinsic number is the registered number of the printer 300 as described in fig3 , and if the intrinsic number is stored in the memory unit 111 as the registered number of the printer 300 , the controller 105 connects the mobile terminal 100 to the printer 300 in step s 409 . if the intrinsic number is not stored in the memory unit 111 as the registered number of the printer 300 , the memory unit 111 stores the received intrinsic number of the printer 300 , according to step 315 , and the controller 105 then performs step 409 . next , the mobile terminal 100 selects data to print in step 411 . although in this exemplary embodiment step 411 is performed after steps 401 to 409 , in another embodiment , the order of the steps may be changed by performing first step 411 and then performing steps 401 to 409 without any difficulty in executing the present invention . the mobile terminal 100 sets a print format for data to print in step 413 ), and the mobile terminal 100 transmits the print format to the headset 200 , which forwards the transmitted print format to the printer 300 in step 415 . the printer 300 sets the print format to the print format received from the headset 200 . the print format includes a size of a paper for performing the printing , a print resolution and the number of copies . the controller 105 then transmits the data selected at step 411 through the bluetooth module 103 to the headset 200 , which forwards the transmitted data to the printer 300 in step 417 . the controller 105 determines whether transmission of the data selected at step 411 is complete in step 419 and , if transmission of the data selected at step 411 is complete , the controller 105 controls the display unit 107 to display a data transmission completion message in step 421 . upon receiving the data transmission , at step 423 the printer 300 prints the data transmitted at step 417 with the print format set at step 415 , and , if the printing is complete in step 425 , a usb communication link formed between the headset 200 and printer 300 is ended in step 427 . thereafter , the controller 105 ends a bluetooth communication link formed between the mobile terminal 100 and headset 200 in step 429 . although in this exemplary embodiment step 429 is performed after step 427 , the order of steps 427 and 429 may be reversed , without any difficulty in executing the present invention . as described above , according to the present invention , a bluetooth function of a mobile terminal can be extended by enabling a mobile terminal for performing bluetooth communication to control a printer in which a bluetooth module is not provided . further , a function of a headset can be extended by enabling the headset to perform a bluetooth dongle function through providing a usb connector in the headset that can perform bluetooth communication . further , the mobile terminal can control the printer by enabling the mobile terminal and the printer to perform bluetooth communication through connecting the headset for performing a bluetooth dongle function to the printer . although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove , it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught that may appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention , as defined in the appended claims . | 7 |
describing now the drawings , it is to be understood that for purposes of simplifying the illustration thereof only enough of the construction of the ring spinning machine has been depicted in order to enable those skilled in the art to readily understand the underlying principles and concepts of the present development . turning attention now to fig1 and 2 , as an aid to comprehending the teachings of the present development there have been depicted therein travellers 1 and 2 , respectively , of conventional design , these travellers 1 and 2 being illustrated in their operating position upon an associated ring 3 of a conventional ring spinning machine . regarding the traveller 1 depicted in fig1 it will be seen that such has a substantially semi - circular shaped yarn guide or guiding portion 4 , and there is clearly visible in the showing of such fig1 the narrow passageway or throughpassage for the yarn 5 between the traveller 1 and the upper edge of the ring 3 . on the other hand , in fig2 there is depicted the formation of the yarn guide or guiding portion of the traveller 2 from two symmetrical , substantially straight sections or parts 6 and 7 which are arranged at an angle with respect to one another , and this design obviously produces a substantial enlargement of the cross - sectional area of the passageway for the throughpassing yarn 5 . however , this yarn 5 always run exactly at the apex region or apex 8 of the two straight parts or sections 6 and 7 , resulting in the drawbacks previously indicated . on the other hand , in fig3 and 4 there is shown a construction of traveller 9 according to the present invention . such traveller 9 will be seen to contain a yarn guide or guiding portion composed of a substantially quadrant circle part or quarter circular segment part 10 for the yarn throughpassage and which is located between the short leg or limb 12 and the apex 8 and a straight to slightly curved section or part 14 located between the apex 8 and the long leg or limb 13 of the traveller 9 . in the case of a yarn 5 containing thickenings or thickened portions , there is available a larger cross - section of the yarn passageway and , at the same time , at the adjacent bent part or quadrant 10 there is provided the desirable undefined free sliding surface . the radii of the traveller 9 advantageously have the following values : the modified construction of traveller 11 depicted in fig5 differs from the substantially u - shaped traveller 9 of fig3 and 4 in that , here , there are provided v - shaped widening legs or limbs 12 and 13 , and furthermore , there are present different values for the radii which , preferably , are established as follows : finally , fig6 illustrates in detail the dimensions of a traveller 9 which is advantageously usable for the count range tex 20 . this traveller 9 corresponds in its dimensions to the iso - standard no . 2266 , series r20 , no . 45 , which is incorporated herein by reference and wherein the abbreviation or acronym &# 34 ; iso &# 34 ; refers to the standards established by the international standards organization . according to section 3 , of iso 2266 - 1974 ( e ), the number of a traveller is the nominal mass , in grams , of 1000 travellers of the same type and the term r20 indicates that the number is a preferred number in accordance with the r20 series of preferred numbers ( iso 3 ). there are clearly visible the two small radii r and r 2 which . here , each amount to 1 . 2 millimeters at the substantially straight section or part 14 . the radius of r 1 of the bent or substantially quarter circular segment part or quadrant section 10 is substantially greater , amounting to 1 . 6 millimeters . while there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention , it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto , but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims . accordingly , | 3 |
[ 0015 ] fig1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a semiconductor processing system ( 8 ) which is used for carrying out a method according to the invention . the system ( 8 ) includes a semiconductor processing chamber ( 10 ), a susceptor ( 12 ) within the chamber ( 10 ), a power supply ( 14 ), a power control ( 16 ), infrared lamp heaters ( 18 ), a lower pyrometer ( 20 ), an upper pyrometer ( 22 ), and a computer ( 24 ). the chamber ( 10 ) includes a base ring ( 26 ), an upper quartz window ( 28 ), and a lower quartz window ( 30 ). the quartz windows ( 28 ) and ( 30 ) have peripheries that seal with the base ring ( 26 ). the base ring ( 26 ), together with the quartz windows ( 28 ) and ( 30 ), define an internal volume ( 32 ). a gas inlet ( 34 ) is formed through the base ring ( 26 ) into the internal volume ( 32 ), and a gas outlet ( 36 ) is formed out of the internal volume ( 32 ) on a side of the internal volume ( 32 ) opposing the gas inlet ( 34 ). a slit valve opening ( not shown ) is formed through the base ring ( 26 ). a wafer substrate can be inserted into and later be removed from the internal volume ( 32 ) through the slit valve opening . the susceptor ( 12 ) is mounted in a substantially horizontal orientation within the internal volume ( 32 ). the wafer substrate can be located on top of the susceptor ( 12 ). the power supply ( 14 ) is connected through a power control ( 16 ) to the heaters ( 18 ). electric power can be provided from the power supply ( 14 ) through the power control ( 16 ) to the heaters ( 18 ). the power control ( 16 ) can vary an amount of electric power provided to the heaters ( 18 ). the heaters ( 18 ) radiate infrared radiation ( 38 ) through the lower quartz window ( 30 ) onto a lower surface of the susceptor ( 12 ). more heaters may be located above the upper quartz window ( 28 ) and radiate into the internal volume ( 32 ). the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) is located below the lower quartz window ( 30 ). infrared radiation ( 40 ) radiates from the lower surface of the susceptor ( 12 ) through the lower quartz window ( 30 ). the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) is located in a position to receive the infrared radiation ( 40 ). the infrared radiation ( 40 ) tends to increase when a temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ) increases , and decrease when the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ) decreases . the pyrometer ( 20 ) generates a signal ( 42 ) in response to the infrared radiation ( 40 ). the signal ( 42 ) increases if the infrared radiation ( 40 ) increases , and decreases when the infrared radiation ( 40 ) decreases . the power control ( 16 ) is connected to the pyrometer ( 20 ), so that the signal ( 42 ) is provided to the power control ( 16 ). the power control ( 16 ) is connected between the power supply ( 14 ) and the heaters ( 18 ) and can utilize the signal ( 42 ) to maintain the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ) steady and constant . in use , a wafer substrate is inserted into the internal volume ( 32 ) and located on top of the susceptor ( 12 ). the slit valve closes the slit valve opening through which the wafer is inserted into the internal volume ( 32 ). a pump ( not shown ) connected to the gas outlet ( 36 ) is operated so that the internal volume ( 32 ) is maintained at a required , constant pressure . the susceptor ( 12 ) heats the wafer substrate to a processing wafer temperature . processing gases are then introduced through the gas inlet ( 34 ). the processing gases flow at a constant rate over an upper surface of the wafer substrate and then out of the gas outlet ( 36 ). the gases combine with one another and deposit a layer on top of the wafer substrate according to conventional principles relating to chemical vapor deposition . the rate at which the layer forms depends on the pressure within the internal volume ( 32 ) and the temperature of the wafer substrate . infrared radiation ( 44 ) radiates from the layer formed on the wafer substrate through the upper quartz window ( 28 ). the upper pyrometer ( 22 ) is located in a position wherein it receives the infrared radiation ( 44 ). the upper pyrometer ( 22 ) is connected to the computer ( 24 ). the upper pyrometer ( 22 ) generates a signal ( 46 ) in response to the infrared radiation ( 44 ). the signal ( 46 ) increases when a magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) increases , and decreases when a magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) decreases . a magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) depends on two factors : ( i ) the temperature of the layer that is formed on the wafer substrate , and ( ii ) the emissivity of the layer that is formed on the wafer substrate . the emissivity changes as the layer is formed , so that the magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) changes as the layer is formed , even at a constant temperature . the magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) is thus not a good indicator of the temperature of the layer . however , the inventors have found that the magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) is cyclical . as will be described in more detail below , the cyclical nature of the magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) is used to determine growth rate of the layer . the growth rate of the layer can be used to determine temperature of the layer indirectly . the emissivity of the susceptor ( 12 ) changes as films are deposited thereon . a layer on the lower quartz window ( 30 ) also attenuates infrared radiation therethrough . for purposes of further discussion , the effect of the layer on the lower quartz window ( 30 ) is combined with the emissivity of the susceptor ( 12 ). although reference hereinafter is made to the emissivity of the susceptor ( 12 ), it should be understood that it is the effective emissivity of the combination of the real emissivity of the susceptor ( 12 ) and the effect of the layer on the lower quartz window ( 30 ). [ 0023 ] fig2 illustrates how the lower pyrometer is calibrated and an initial emissivity value , ε s , of the initial clean susceptor ( 12 ) is obtained . a thermocouple ( 50 ) is inserted into the susceptor ( 12 ), and the susceptor ( 12 ) is heated to a temperature of , for example , 660 ° c . the thermocouple ( 50 ) provides a signal ( 51 ) to the computer ( 24 ). the thermocouple ( 50 ) is calibrated so that the signal ( 51 ) provides an accurate indication of the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ). the signal ( 42 ) of the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) is compared with the signal ( 51 ) from the thermocouple ( 50 ). the signal ( 42 ) is dependent on the degree of the infrared radiation ( 40 ). the degree of infrared radiation ( 40 ) depends on the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ) and its emissivity ε s . the magnitude of the signal ( 42 ) is thus a function of the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ) and its emissivity ε s . the signal ( 51 ) provides an indication of the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ), so that the only variable to be calculated is the emissivity ε s of the susceptor ( 12 ). the signals ( 42 ) and ( 51 ) are then compared ( 52 ), and the emissivity ε s is calculated ( 53 ). the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) is then calibrated ( 54 ) using the calculated emissivity ε s . a functional ε - t relationship is also stored in the computer ( 24 ). the ε - t relationship is represented as a curve of real temperature t against emissivity ε . the real temperature is generally inversely proportional to the emissivity ε . should the emissivity of the susceptor ( 12 ) increase and a magnitude of the signal ( 42 ) remain the same , it would translate that the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ) has decreased . what is important to note is that the curve provides a slope of real temperature against emissivity ε near the emissivity ε s . a number of reference substrates ( 56 ) are located on the susceptor ( 12 ) while it is still new , and thus has an emissivity ε s . the reference substrates ( 56 ) are located after one another on the susceptor ( 12 ) and their respective reference layer ( 57 ) is formed on a respective reference substrate ( 56 ). because the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) is calibrated , and because the susceptor ( 12 ) still has its original emissivity ε s , the signal ( 42 ) can still be used to accurately determine the real temperature on the lower surface of the susceptor ( 12 ). the signal ( 42 ) is provided to the computer ( 24 ). the signal ( 42 ) is also provided to the power control ( 16 ), which maintains the heaters ( 18 ) at a steady power , so that the heaters ( 18 ) create a steady heat flux over the susceptor ( 12 ). the steady heat flux maintains the susceptor ( 12 ) at a constant temperature . infrared radiation ( 44 ) simultaneously transmits to the upper pyrometer ( 22 ). because the emissivity of the reference layer ( 57 ) changes as it forms , the signal ( 46 ) also changes correspondingly . as the reference layer ( 57 ) begins to form , the signal ( 46 ) increases from a starting value , then decreases to the starting value , then decreases further , and then increases to the starting value . the signal ( 46 ) thus has a magnitude which is periodic . a length of time of a period of the signal ( 46 ) is the length of time that it takes for the magnitude of the signal ( 46 ) to return to its original value a second time . it has been found that the reference layer ( 57 ) has the same thickness every time the magnitude of the signal ( 46 ) returns to its original value the second time . the length of the period of the signal thus provides an indication of the growth rate of the reference layer ( 57 ). a longer period indicates a slower growth rate and a shorter period indicates a faster growth rate . the signal ( 46 ) is provided to the computer ( 24 ). the computer ( 24 ) has a clock ( 58 ). the computer ( 24 ) determines when the magnitude of the signal ( 46 ) returns to its original level the second time , and then utilizes the clock ( 58 ) to determine a length of time for the signal ( 46 ) to return to its original value the second time . a data point is then stored in the computer ( 24 ), which relates the reference period from the signal ( 46 ) to the real temperature in the signal ( 42 ). thus , for a reference substrate n , the real temperature n has a specific reference period n . the reference substrate n ( 56 ) is then removed from the susceptor ( 12 ) out of the chamber ( 10 ), and another reference substrate , n + 1 , is then inserted into the chamber ( 10 ) and on the susceptor ( 12 ). the susceptor ( 12 ) and the reference substrate n + 1 are then heated to a temperature different to the real reference temperature when forming the prior reference layer on the prior reference substrate n . the real reference temperature n + 1 is then related to the reference period n + 1 for the reference substrate n + 1 . by repeating the process for subsequent reference substrates , a consolidated set of reference data is created , with different reference periods related to different real temperatures . the reference periods are generally inversely proportional to the real temperatures of the different reference substrates . therefore , the higher the real temperature , the shorter the period ( and the faster the growth rate ). reference is again made to fig1 . subsequent use of the system ( 8 ) creates layers on inner surfaces of the quartz windows ( 28 ) and ( 30 ). the layer on the upper quartz window ( 28 ) further reduces the ability of the upper pyrometer ( 22 ) to accurately determine a temperature of a layer formed on a substrate on the susceptor ( 12 ). furthermore , the layer on the lower quartz window ( 30 ) affects the magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 40 ), so that when the infrared radiation ( 40 ) reaches the lower pyrometer ( 20 ), it has a lower magnitude than when the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) was calibrated . film deposition on the lower surface of the susceptor ( 12 ) also changes its emissivity . the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) thus “ misreads ” the temperature on the lower surface of the susceptor ( 12 ). however , the upper pyrometer ( 22 ) can still detect a period in the magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ). the period in the magnitude of the infrared radiation ( 44 ) is indicative of a growth rate of the layer which , in turn , is indicative of the temperature of the layer . the period at the signal ( 46 ) can thus be compared with the periods in the reference data to determine the real temperature of the layer , provided that all other processing conditions are the same . [ 0033 ] fig4 illustrates how the formation of a test layer on a test substrate can be used to determine the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ), for purposes of further modification of power provided to the susceptor ( 12 ). a test substrate ( 62 ) is located on the susceptor ( 12 ), and a test layer ( 64 ) is formed on the test substrate ( 62 ). the conditions for forming the test layer ( 64 ) are the same as the conditions for forming the reference layer ( 57 ) in fig3 . total pressure , partial pressure of gases , the types of gases used , and the flow rates are the same when forming the test layer ( 64 ) than when forming the reference layer ( 57 ) and , as when forming the reference layer ( 57 ), are maintained at constant levels . the only difference is that the emissivity of the susceptor ( 12 ) changes to a modified emissivity ε mod because of contamination on the susceptor ( 12 ). the signal ( 42 ) from the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) does not provide an accurate measure of the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ). the signal ( 42 ) is still used by the power control ( 16 ) to maintain the heaters ( 18 ) steady , so that they create a steady heat flux over the susceptor ( 12 ), and thus maintain the susceptor ( 12 ) at a constant temperature . the intention is to determine ε mod so that the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ) can be determined . the upper pyrometer ( 22 ) detects the infrared radiation ( 44 ) from the test layer ( 64 ). the computer ( 24 ) then again utilizes the signal ( 46 ) from the upper pyrometer ( 22 ) and the clock ( 58 ) to calculate a test period ( 70 ) of the signal ( 46 ). the length of the test period is again calculated from the moment when the test layer ( 64 ) starts to form until when the signal ( 46 ) returns to its original value a second time . the test period is then compared with the reference data generated in fig3 . because all reference periods are related to specific real temperatures , the calculated test period ( 70 ) corresponds to a particular real temperature . an operator enters a desired temperature ( 72 ) into the computer ( 24 ). the computer ( 24 ) then subtracts the desired temperature ( 72 ) from the real temperature corresponding to the calculated test period ( 70 ), and the difference in temperature , δt , is the temperature difference by which the susceptor ( 12 ) has to be adjusted to the desired temperature ( 72 ). the difference in temperature , δt , is then compared with the ε - t relationship generated in fig2 . because the slope of the curve of the ε - t relationship is known near ε s , ε mod can be determined . ε mod is determined by moving the temperature down the γ - axis by δt . δt may , for example , be 5 ° c , and , as mentioned earlier , the temperature at ε s was 660 ° c ., so that the temperature is moved down to 655 ° c . ε mod is the emissivity value corresponding to 655 ° c . ε mod is the emissivity value of the susceptor ( 12 ) due to contamination . as shown in fig5 the test substrate ( 62 ) of fig4 is removed from the susceptor ( 12 ), and a process substrate ( 80 ) is located on the susceptor ( 12 ). a process layer ( 82 ) is then formed on the process substrate ( 80 ). the process layer ( 82 ) can be a totally different layer than the reference layer ( 57 ) of fig3 and the test layer ( 64 ) of fig4 . in fact , all the processing conditions when forming the process layer ( 82 ) can be different than when forming the reference layers ( 57 ) and the test layer ( 64 ). what is important is that the emissivity value ε mod of the susceptor ( 12 ) is known , and its temperature can thus be calculated . the signal ( 42 ) generated by the lower pyrometer ( 20 ) is now dependent on two factors : ( i ) the temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ), and ( ii ) the emissivity ε mod of the susceptor ( 12 ), both of which are known . a relationship exists between the desired signal i d from the lower pyrometer ( 20 ), the emissivity from the susceptor ( 12 ), and the desired temperature of the susceptor ( 12 ), as illustrated in the power control box ( 16 ). the desired signal i d can be calculated by replacing the emissivity value ε with ε mod , and replacing the temperature t with the desired temperature ( 72 ) of the susceptor ( 12 ), as entered by the operator ( k 1 , k 2 , k 3 , and k 4 are constants ). the power control ( 16 ) compares the value of i d with the signal ( 42 ). if the signal ( 42 ) is below the value i d , more power is provided to the heaters ( 18 ), and vice versa . as such , the susceptor ( 12 ) is maintained at a temperature corresponding to the desired temperature ( 72 ) entered by the operator . while certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings , it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the current invention , and that this invention is not restricted to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art . | 7 |
many of the details of the tags and interrogators are not described herein except the aspects providing the novel features of this invention because they have been previously described in one or more of u . s . pat . nos . 4 , 739 , 328 ; 4 , 782 , 345 ; 4 , 786 , 907 ; 4 , 816 , 839 ; 4 , 835 , 377 and 4 , 853 , 705 . referring to fig1 the read pulse codes of the invention are illustrated . if desired , using these codes , the tag may continually scroll the predetermined information in its memory so that it is ready to backscatter - modulate that information on any received rf signal of sufficient strength from an interrogator . otherwise , scrolling may be instigated by receipt of a sufficiently strong rf signal from an interrogator . the backscatter - modulated information using the code format of fig1 must be capable of being decoded by the interrogator sending the continuous rf signal . moreover , since the tags or the interrogators of this invention are often travelling very fast relative to each other , such as on high speed trains , an interrogator must be able , very quickly , to decode the signal , determine the identity of the tag , and , if it so desires , to write a message to the tag while the tag is still in writing range of the interrogator . this means that the tag identification step must happen very quickly . data rates approaching 200 kilobaud are often required . this identification step is speeded up considerably in this invention by the use of a new code shown in fig1 for the backscatter - modulated data . to represent a binary zero , as shown in fig1 a , a signal 10 is used with one - half period at a first frequency f 1 followed by a full period at a second frequency 2f 1 , equal to twice the first frequency . a binary one is represented by the opposite sequence 12 , shown in fig1 b , namely a full period at frequency 2f 1 followed by one - half period at frequency f 1 . these signals are shown in fig1 a and fig1 b above the heading &# 34 ; normal &# 34 ;. these signals also may be inverted as shown on the right side of fig1 above the heading &# 34 ; inverted &# 34 ;. signal 11 is an inverted zero ; signal 13 is an inverted one . the unique aspect of this particular set of signals is that they may be properly decoded as ones and zeros whether in either their normal or inverted form . this coding technique of the invention inverts every other binary bit , as shown in fig1 . the ability of the interrogator to receive either normal or inverted signals enables the tag , when backscatter modulating the signals , to invert every other bit . when the alternately inverted series of binary bits are received at the interrogator , they have a zero d . c . component , since the average level of the backscatter - modulated signal will be zero . with interrogators which use limiting amplifiers for detection , this has significant advantages . the read code frame marker signals 14 and 15 shown in fig1 c mark the end of a frame of data . these signals , too , were uniquely designed to provide zero d . c . component when used within a frame consisting of an odd number of binary bits and yet be uniquely distinguishable in either their normal form 14 or inverted form 15 from any combination of a series of binary zero and one bits , whether any such bit is transmitted in its normal or inverted form . in order to ensure that the d . c . component of an entire frame , not just the frame marker , is equal to zero , the frame marker must be inverted relative to the bits preceding and following it , which in turn requires that a frame consists of an odd number of binary bits followed by a single frame marker . the sequence of a frame marker having five periods of frequency 2f 1 followed by one - half period of frequency f 1 , whether in the normal or inverted form , satisfies this criterion . additionally , the backscattered data , including ones , zeros and frame markers may become inadvertently inverted during reception depending on the phase angle difference between the transmitted and received signals . therefore this data must be recognizable by the interrogator as frame markers in either form . the binary data format shown in fig1 when back scatter - modulated by the tag , provides uniquely distinguishable binary code for ones , zeros and frame markers , yet is capable of twice the transmission speed at any given clock rate compared with prior art codes such as those described in u . s . pat . no . 4 , 739 , 328 . in order to accomplish the write operation , the interrogator and tag need use only four different write signals using three different frequencies . for ease of understanding , these frequencies are f 2 , 2f 2 and 4f 2 , the second two being integral multiples of the first . the first signal 20 , shown in fig2 a , represents a binary &# 34 ; zero &# 34 ; bit by turning the rf off for one - half period of frequency 4f 2 followed by turning it on for the same amount of time . the second signal 21 shown in fig2 b , which turns the rf off for one - half period of frequency 2f 2 and back on again for the same period of time , represents a binary one . the third frame marker signal 22 shown in fig2 c , turns the rf off for one - half period of frequency f 2 and back on again for the same amount of time . finally , the mode signal 23 shown in fig2 d , the use of which will be described below , turns the rf off and on , each for one - half period of frequency f 2 , repeating that four times . the entire write communication sequence between the interrogator and the tag may be carried out using only these four types of signals shown in fig2 each of which is made up of a selection from three different frequencies , each being a multiple or submultiple of the others . the circuitry of a preferred embodiment of the tag of this invention is shown in fig3 . the tag has an antenna 30 , similar in type to that described in u . s . pat . nos . 4 , 782 345 and 4 , 816 , 839 . antenna 30 is connected as an input to an rf detector 31 . when an interrogator desires to write information into a tag , it sends an rf write signal . the write signal appears on antenna 30 , passes through rf detector 31 , and decoder 33 to message memory 34 . a portion of rf detector 31 is always on , so it must be designed to use little power to conserve tag battery life . decoder 33 separates the write signal bit pattern into the four possible write pulse codes shown in fig2 a mode signal , a binary one or a binary zero and a frame marker . if indicated by the proper sequence of signals , which will be explained later , the received data will be written into memory 34 . this memory may be any non - volatile memory , such as eeprom , earom or battery - backed ram . if desired , the newly written data in memory 34 can be returned through encoder 35 and modulator 32 for backscatter modulation and verification by the interrogator . when the tag backscatter - modulates the data in memory 34 for reception by an interrogator , the data from memory 34 is passed to encoder 35 . encoder 35 may be turned on , if desired , only in the presence of rf , to save battery power . this &# 34 ; read back message &# 34 ; from memory 34 is encoded by encoder 35 using the codes of this invention shown in fig1 . this encoded data is then passed to modulator 32 . modulator 32 modulates the backscatter , by changing the rf load on antenna 30 , to send the encoded signals back from the tag to the interrogator . this backscatter modulation technique is described in more detail in u . s . pat . no . 4 , 739 , 328 . the tag state diagram of fig4 illustrates the signalling sequence used for reading information from the tag and writing information to the tag . when a tag is not in the rf range of the interrogator , it remains in the default mode 40 . while in this mode , the tag may be continually scrolling the data from its memory , so that it is always ready to backscatter - modulate any received rf signal . alternatively , scrolling may be automatically initiated by the rf signal . as soon as a tag enters into an rf field of an interrogator , it may receive a mode signal of the type shown in fig2 from the interrogator . this mode signal , as shown in fig2 d , has a frequency f 2 which , to avoid interference with read signals , is less than or equal to one - half of the lowest read pulse frequency f 1 . this was discussed earlier . upon recognizing the mode signal while it is in default mode 40 shown in fig4 the tag switches into the identification mode (&# 34 ; id mode &# 34 ;) 41 in fig4 . in the id mode , the tag backscatter - modulates the received rf signal , after recognizing the mode signal , with selected data contained in its memory . in one embodiment of the invention , frame # 0 of the backscatter - modulated data has 5 - bits for address data , 3 - bits for any desired data which permanently resides in the tag other than the identification data , 64 - bits for the tag identification , 47 additional bits for more user data , 4 checksum bits , leaving 5 extra bits in a reserved field . the tag continually scrolls through frame # 0 , sending the contained data back to the interrogator . while it is sending data in the id mode 41 , if the tag receives a second mode signal , it shifts to the &# 34 ; listen mode &# 34 ; 42 in fig4 . in the listen mode , the tag stops sending data and gets ready to receive data to be written into the tag by the interrogator . in the listen mode , there is no longer a possibility of interference between read and write pulses , since the backscatter - modulation in the tag is turned off . while in the listen mode 42 , if an interrogator desires to write to the tag , the interrogator then sends a command message to the tag , as shown in fig4 . upon completion of the message , the tag shifts into the &# 34 ; acknowledge mode &# 34 ; 43 in fig4 . the command message consists of one or more frames of information contained in a sequence of ones and zeros followed by a frame marker . a command message normally contains a command frame . command frames provide instructions to the tag , such as the desired locations in memory that transmitted data frames are to be stored . such command frames may or may not be followed by actual data frames containing the data to be stored . the interrogator may read the acknowledgment frames from the tag in order to verify the previous command message sent . after a tag has received and compared the message , the interrogator may send an additional mode signal , of the type shown in fig2 which causes the tag to return to the listen mode 42 . this mode signal sets up the tag to receive additional commands to do various operations , including scrolling through selected contents of its memory , or receiving a write command message from the interrogator . such a command message will tell the tag where to store the next series of bits , called data frames , which it will receive . other commands may be used to ( 1 ) unlock a fixed data field to allow data to be written into it ; or ( 2 ) lock a variable data field so that no data may subsequently be written into it . while the tag is in the acknowledge mode 43 , and the rf field stops for some reason so that the tag is no longer receiving a continuous rf signal from the interrogator , the tag automatically reverts to the default mode 40 , as shown in fig4 . accordingly , the arrow from acknowledge mode 43 to default mode 40 shows &# 34 ; loss of rf &# 34 ;. the difference between the acknowledge and default modes is that in the latter , all message information may be scrolled , whereas , in the acknowledge mode , just the recently received information is scrolled . there are some situations where the tag is in the listen mode 42 , shown in fig4 and the tag is receiving an rf signal , but the signal contains no level transitions from on to off , as shown in the write codes in fig2 . the tag has a timer for detecting these level transitions , and when one does not occur for a predetermined period of time , the tag will detect the extended time between pulse edges , called a timeout , and automatically revert to the default mode 40 , upon the expiration of the timeout , and recommence default scrolling . at this time , the tag may power down the decoder 33 and part of the rf detect 31 to conserve battery power . the tag also reverts from the listen mode 42 or from the id mode 41 to the default mode 40 upon the loss of rf , as shown in fig4 . command messages are sent to the tag by the interrogator while the tag is in the listen mode 42 . these frames set up the tag to do various operations , including scrolling through selected contents of its memory , or invalidating selected contents of its memory . additionally , the listen mode 42 can be used for initially putting data into the tag using a hard - wired connection . this data is sent through write - by - wire line 36 shown in fig3 . sometimes it is desireable to change data in the tag on a semi - permanent basis prior to the time the tag is shipped . this data can be placed into the tag through this hardwired write - by - wire connection while the tag is in the listen mode 42 , and will remain in the tag until it is overwritten at a later time either by an interrogator using rf , or by a subsequent overwriting process through the hard - wired connection . the tag may also be read by wire in the same manner , using read - by - wire line 37 shown in fig3 . commands may be issued while in the listen mode 42 to change the data structure of the tag so that , when the tag returns to the default mode 40 while the tag is scrolling , the number of frames to be included in the scrolling can be changed , or a different set of frames may be selected . furthermore , by changing one bit of the command code , certain variable rf frames within the tag may be rendered invalid so future interrogators will not accept the invalidated data . this procedure may be used , for example , to notify future interrogators that certain data in the tag is no longer valid . for example , if a tag attached to a railroad car has its contents modified , an interrogator can send a command code which invalidates the potentially inaccurate variable data in the tag . the system of the invention preferably uses a single common rf carrier and rf signal polarization for both the read and the write signals . as will be apparent to those skilled in the art , many modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in fig1 - 4 and described above . accordingly , the invention is only limited as set forth in the claims which follow . | 6 |
as discussed above , the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the utility and interoperability of peripheral devices , e . g ., voice mail devices and speech recognition platforms , used in communications systems , e . g ., telephone systems . fig2 illustrates a telephone system 200 implemented in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention . as illustrated the telephone system 200 includes a plurality of telephone networks 210 , 211 which are coupled together by a fiber optic connection 32 . the first telephone network 210 is illustrated in detail in fig2 . the second telephone network 211 may be the same as the first telephone network 210 or , e . g ., a known telephone network , e . g ., the network 10 of fig1 . while two telephone networks are shown in the fig2 embodiment , it is to be understood that the system may comprise any number of networks 210 , 211 and / or other additional communications networks which provide , e . g ., internet services . as illustrated in fig2 the telephone network 210 includes a plurality of telephones 212 , 214 , a c . o . switch 216 , a first voice mail ip 228 , a second voice mail ip 230 , a control ip 232 and a switching matrix 234 . the telephones 212 , 214 are coupled to the central office switch 216 via a first interface 218 . each telephone 212 , 214 corresponds to a telephone subscriber who , in addition to subscribing to basic telephone service may also subscribe to one or more additional services such as voice mail and / or voice dialing services provided though the use of ips 228 , 230 , 232 . the switch &# 39 ; s interface 218 is coupled by a local bus to a cpu 220 , memory 222 , digit receiver 226 and a second interface 224 . the cpu 220 controls call routing and other switch operations in response to inputs received via the first and second interfaces 218 , 224 in accordance with program routines stored in the memory 222 . the digit receiver 226 , when active , detects the receipt of dtmf tones and converts them to digits which are supplied to the cpu 220 for , e . g ., call routing purposes . the switch 216 is capable of implementing the known nfa protocol for communicating between one or more of the telephones 212 , 214 coupled thereto and one or more of the ips 228 , 230 , 232 . in one embodiment , the switch 216 is a class v digital communications switch . the switch 216 is coupled to each one of the first and second voice mail ips 228 , 230 via its second interface 224 , and one or more t 1 links and smdi lines . a voice and / or data connection can be established between a subscriber operating one of the telephones 212 , 214 and either the first or second voice mail ips 228 , 230 using one of the t 1 links . the smdi links between the voice mail ips 228 , 230 and the c . o . switch 216 are used to notify the central office switch when a new message has been received and is waiting for a particular subscriber corresponding to one of the telephones 212 , 214 coupled to the central office switch . the central office switch uses the smdi information to activate a message waiting light on the particular subscriber &# 39 ; s telephone 212 , 214 , when such message waiting functionality is supported by the telephone 212 , 214 . in accordance with the present invention , the smdi lines of the first and second voice mail ips 228 , 230 are also coupled to smdi inputs of the control ip 232 . in this manner , the control ip 232 receives information regarding messages which are waiting for a voice mail subscriber at the voice mail ips , 228 , 230 . in addition to being coupled to the voice mail ips 228 , 230 , the control ip 232 is coupled to the c . o . switch 216 by a recent change channel ( rcc ) and a plurality of t 1 links . the t 1 links are routed through the switching matrix 234 . the switching matrix 234 is controlled by a switching control signal ( scs ) received from to the control ip 232 . though use of the scs the control ip 232 can control the routing of incoming and outgoing lines to establish a connection to anyone of a plurality of line termination points including the first and second voice mail ips 228 , 230 and telephones 212 , 214 . where communication protocol conversion is required , the switching matrix 234 may be replaced by a programmable switch such as those made by the summa four corporation . fig3 a illustrates a control ip 300 suitable for use as the control ip 232 of the system 200 . as will be discussed in detail below , in accordance with the present invention , the control ip 300 may be used to support voice dialing services in addition to switch and call routing control functions . as illustrated , the control ip 300 comprises a plurality of speech recognizer arrays , 302 , 304 , 306 , a control interface 308 , and an application processor 312 . each of the speech recognizer circuits 302 is coupled to at least one t 1 link for receiving and transmitting voice and data to and from the switch 216 . each of the speech recognizer arrays 302 , 304 , 306 is also coupled to an interface 318 of the application processor 312 . the application processor 312 , includes the interface 318 , a cpu 314 , and a plurality of data storage devices including a memory 316 , a database 310 , and service logic 311 . the memory 316 stores instructions in the form of a program as well as data about the speech recognizer arrays 302 , 304 , 306 and the speech recognition capabilities of various circuits included therein . the service logic includes data and program code used to implement one or more services , e . g ., a voice dialing service . the program stored in the memory 316 , in conjunction with the information and program code stored in the service logic 311 , when executed by the cpu 314 , controls the operation of the control ip in accordance with the present invention . the interface 318 is used to couple and interface the various components of the application processor , such as the database 310 , cpu 314 , memory 316 and service logic 311 to the speech recognizer arrays 302 , 304 , 306 and the control interface 308 . the interface 318 converts the various signals received by the application processor 312 into a format that can be interpreted and processed by the cpu 314 as well as converts signals generated by the cpu 314 into a signal format that can be used to control and interact with the various circuits coupled to the application processor 312 . the control interface 308 is responsible for receiving smdi signal inputs from the voice mail ips 228 , 230 which form part of the network 210 . the information regarding waiting messages , e . g ., subscriber &# 39 ; s account number and message waiting indicator , received via the smdi links , is conveyed to the application processor 312 . the application processor 312 is responsive to the information received via the smdi links which it uses in conjunction with information from the database 310 to determine the action which is to be taken by the control ± p 300 . via the control interface 308 , the application processor can instruct , e . g ., using the recent change channel ( rcc ), the c . o . switch 216 , to enable / disable the nfa protocol on a particular subscriber &# 39 ; s line and / or perform other operations such as enable / disable the c . o . switch &# 39 ; s digit receiver 226 with regard to an ongoing connection . in addition , via the control interface 308 , which generates the switching matrix control signal ( scs ), the application processor 312 can control the switching matrix 234 to establish connections via the c . o . switch with one or more ips and / or destination telephones . the database 310 , which is included in the application processor 312 , is used to store relevant subscriber information . fig3 b illustrates an exemplary control ip database 310 . as illustrated , the database 310 comprises a plurality of entries . one set of entries , represented by a horizontal row , is associated with each subscriber being serviced by the control ip 232 . each set of entries includes information pertinent to servicing one subscription which , in most cases , will correspond to a single individual subscriber . however , in the case of a multi - party mailbox , the single subscription may correspond to multiple individuals . in the fig3 b embodiment , columns 1 - 9 represent different information entries which are maintained in the database 310 for each subscription . column 1 , corresponds to subscriber name information , column 2 corresponds to a subscriber id number . the subscriber id number may be , e . g ., a number used to identify the subscriber for voice mail purposes . column 3 corresponds to subscriber telephone number information . the telephone number information may be used , e . g ., to identify to the c . o . switch 216 , the line on which the nfa protocol is to be enabled / disabled . in addition , in the case where the smdi link provides message waiting information associated with a subscriber &# 39 ; s telephone number , the control ip 232 can identify the particular subscriber for which a message is waiting by using the received telephone number and the telephone number information stored in the database 310 . column 4 of the database 310 corresponds to the subscriber &# 39 ; s personal identification number ( pin ) which the subscriber would normally use to access the messaging service or services to which the subscriber subscribes . while , in columns 2 and 4 only one subscriber and pin is shown for each subscriber , it is to be understood that a different subscriber id and pin may be stored for each one of a plurality of messaging services to which a customer subscribers . columns 5 , 6 , 7 , and 8 include status and service information used by the ip 232 in determining how to control call routing , e . g ., which ips a customer should be connected to , and what services are to be provided to a customer . column 5 , corresponds to nfa protocol status . if the nfa protocol is enabled for a particular subscriber , the subscriber will automatically be coupled to the control ip 232 when the c . o . switch detects an off - hook condition on the subscriber &# 39 ; s line . if the nfa protocol is not enabled for a particular subscriber , that subscriber will not be automatically connected to the control ip when an off - hook condition is initiated . under such circumstances , the subscriber would have to dial the number of an ip to gain access to his or her voice mail service or other ip provided service . database column 6 corresponds to message waiting status . if a message is waiting for a particular subscriber , e . g ., as indicated by the receipt of an smdi signal including the subscriber &# 39 ; s telephone number , this column will include an ip identifier identifying the ip where a message is waiting . in the event that messages are waiting on multiple ips for a subscriber , the entry in column 6 associated with the subscriber will include an ip identifier for each ip with a waiting message . database column 7 indicates the type of message prompt to be played to the subscriber once a connection is established between the subscriber and the control ip . in the case where no message is waiting , a message that there are no waiting messages is played to the subscriber in the event that the subscriber connects to the control ip , e . g . by dialing the ip . accordingly , in column 7 , “ none ” is indicated with regard to the prompt that should be used for subscribers without waiting messages . in the case where a voice message is waiting for an individual subscriber to an individual voice mail service , default message is played to the subscriber upon connection to the ip . the default message may be something like “ you have at least one new message .” in at least one embodiment the default message provides a user with the actual number of new waiting messages . in the case where the voice mail service being provided corresponds to a multi - party account , as in the case of the last account listed in database 310 , a prompt identifying the individual for whom the waiting message is intended may be played when such information is available . for example , in one embodiment the prompt which is played states : “ new message for : name ” where name is the name of the individual to whom the waiting message is directed . when individual name information is not available regarding the intended recipient of a waiting message the default message prompt may be used . column 8 indicates whether the customer subscribes to a voice dialing service supported by the control ip 232 . as will be discussed below , this information is important with regard to call flow handling by the control ip 232 . normally , for voice dialing service subscribers , the nfa protocol feature will be enabled at the central office switch 216 even when messages are not waiting for the subscriber . this allows the subscriber to obtain direct access to the voice dialing capability of the control ip without having to dial the ip . as discussed above , in the case where a customer subscribes to a voice mail service but not a voice dialing service , the nfa protocol feature is disabled in accordance with the present invention at the c . o . switch when there are no messages waiting for the subscriber . column 9 includes voice template and voice recording information ( tr ) used for supporting voice dialing services for subscribers to the voice dialing service . for each voice dialing service subscriber , at least one speaker dependent speech recognition template is stored for each name to be recognized using speaker dependent speech recognition techniques . a recording of the name corresponding to a speech template , e . g ., made when the template was created , is also stored in the database 310 so that it can be played back to the subscriber as a way of indicating to the caller which name was identified by the speech recognition circuit . a telephone number , to be dialed , is also normally stored in the database 310 for each name for which there is a stored template . with regard to customer john smith , columns 5 - 9 of the first row of database 310 indicate , for example , that the nfa protocol is not enabled for his telephone line , that there are no messages waiting for him , that a prompt is to be played to john smith indicating that there are no waiting messages in the event that he establishes a connection with the control ip , e . g ., via a direct dial operation , that he does not subscribe to the control ip &# 39 ; s voice dialing service , and that there are no stored templates or recordings for john smith . with regard to customer mary wells , columns 5 - 9 of the second row of database 310 indicate , for example , that the nfa protocol is enabled for her telephone line , that there is one or more messages waiting for her on the first voice mail ip 228 , that a default prompt is to be played to her indicating that there are one or more waiting messages in the event that she establishes a connection with the control ip , e . g ., via initiating an off - hook condition on the telephone line identified by the telephone number listed in database 310 , that she does not subscribe to the control ip &# 39 ; s voice dialing service , and that there are no stored templates or recordings for her . fig4 illustrates a speech recognizer array 400 suitable for use as any one of the speech recognizer arrays 302 , 304 , 306 . the speech recognizer array 400 includes a t 1 interface for coupling the recognizer array to a t 1 link , first and second speaker independent speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , a primary speech recognizer 407 and a dtmf tone generator / receiver 410 . these circuits 402 , 404 , 406 , 407 , 410 are coupled together by a data bus 403 and a high bandwidth bus 401 capable of carrying voice communications . the high bandwidth bus 401 is also coupled to the control ip &# 39 ; s application processor 312 . the data bus 403 couples a cpu 412 , memory 414 and an ethernet adapter 416 to the data bus 403 thereby allowing them to interact with the various speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 , t 1 interface 402 and dtmf tone generator / receiver 410 . the ethernet adapter 416 is used to couple the data bus 403 to the application processor 312 . the primary speech recognizer 407 includes a speech capture circuit 409 and a combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 . the speech capture circuit 409 is used to collect speech data and to arrange it into segments which are then supplied to one of the speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 or 408 for processing . by coupling the various speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 and the speech capture circuit 409 to the same high speed bus 401 , the speech capture circuit 409 can transmit captured speech to any of the voice recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 thereby eliminating the need to provide a separate speech capture circuit 409 for each of the speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 . each of the speech recognition units 404 , 406 , 408 include a processor and memory which are used to perform speech recognition operations . the large vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition circuit 404 may support , e . g ., the recognition of , e . g ., over 100 words or phrases using speaker independent speech recognition techniques . the combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit may support , e . g ., the recognition of 20 - 75 words or phrases . in contrast , the small vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition circuit may support the recognition of 20 or fewer words , e . g ., spoken numbers or keywords , which may be included in phrases . because of the relative complexity of the speech recognition tasks to be performed , the large vocabulary recognition circuit 406 will normally be implemented using a relatively powerful cpu and a large amount of memory . the combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 will normally be implemented using a less powerful cpu and less memory than the speech recognizer 406 while the small vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition circuit 404 will normally be implemented using the least amount of memory and the least powerful cpu out of the three speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 . the recognition circuit 404 , uses the least powerful cpu and least memory because it needs to perform the least processing operations per unit time , out of the three recognizer circuits , for each caller being serviced to perform real time speech recognition . in contrast , the large vocabulary recognition circuit 406 has to perform the most processing operations , out of the three circuits 404 , 406 , 408 , per caller per unit time , to perform real time speech recognition and therefore includes the most powerful cpu out of the speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 . the large vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition circuit 406 is capable is capable of detecting a large number of names and phrases using speaker independent speech recognition techniques . for this reason , it is particularly well suited for , e . g ., providing corporate directory information where it is desirable to be able to identify hundreds or even thousands of names of individual people and words which are , e . g ., part of the name of a corporate department title . the large vocabulary speech recognition circuit 406 may be thought of as a high end , e . g ., relatively expensive and powerful , speech recognition circuit . the small vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition circuit 404 supports the recognition of relatively few words or phrases , e . g ., less than 20 . in one embodiment the circuit 404 is used to recognize numbers spoken as part of a phrase such as “ press number ”. in addition , in various embodiments , it is used to recognize words which may be interpreted as a trigger to switch to the use of another voice dialing circuit . the combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 may be characterized as a mid - level speech recognition circuit capable of recognizing , e . g ., up to 100 words or phrases in one exemplary embodiment . the circuit 408 is particularly well suited for voice dialing purposes and may be the same as or similar to the speech recognition circuit described at length in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 719 , 921 which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference . the combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 is used , in one embodiment , to support voice dialing . voice dialing generally involves performing speaker independent speech recognition used to identify commands , e . g ., dial , forward , cancel call forward , and speaker dependent speech recognition to identify names , e . g ., the names of the people to be called . see , u . s . pat . no . 5 , 719 , 921 for a discussion of the use of speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition to support voice dialing services . in order to support speaker dependent voice dialing services speaker dependent speech recognition templates , e . g ., of names are stored in the database 310 for each voice dialing service subscriber . this information is retrieved , stored in the memory of the speech recognition circuit 408 , and used to support voice dialing , when a connection is established between the control ip 232 and a voice dialing service subscriber . in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention , the speech recognition circuit 404 , 406 , 408 which is used to support speech recognition is dynamically changed according to the speech recognition task to be performed during the particular stage of a call . in this manner , hardware is used in a more cost effective manner than would be possible if an unnecessarily powerful , and therefore , relatively expensive , speech recognition circuit were used for all stages of call processing . as will be discussed further below , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention , the combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 is used during portions of a call where voice dialing is to be provided . however , during portions of a call where the detection of , e . g ., spoken digits alone or as part of a phrase , is the primary concern , the small vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition circuit 404 is used . in cases where large vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition operations are required , e . g ., providing corporate directory information , circuit 406 is used . in accordance with the present invention , the dynamic switching between speech recognition units 404 , 406 , 408 , as a call progresses and / or the service being provided the subscriber changes during a call , is performed under control of the application processor 312 and / or cpu 412 . in one particular embodiment , when a call connection is initially established with the control ip 232 a service code , e . g ., a number indicating voice dialing , corporate directory , or a voice mail service request , is provided by the switch 216 to the control ip . subsequently , a new service code may be supplied to the control ip during the same call connection , e . g ., in response to the switch detecting the pressing of the * key followed by a number indicating a requested service such as voice mail service . in one such embodiment , cpu 412 of the speech recognizer array detects the service code associated with a particular call connection and assigns one of the speech recognizer circuits 408 , 406 , 404 to service the call as a function of the service code . in the event that another service code is received during the same call connection , the cpu will re - assess the speech recognition circuit assignment in response to receipt of the new service code . thus , as a result of receipt of a new service code , the speech recognizer assigned to service a call may be dynamically changed during the call . for example , if a voice dialing service code is initially received , the combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 would be assigned to service the call . if during the call a voice message service code were received , the cpu 412 would de - assign the combined speech recognizer and assign the small vocabulary speaker independent speech recognition to servicing the call . in another embodiment , the call connection established with the control ip 232 is monitored throughout the period in which the call connection is maintained for spoken words or phrases , referred to herein as “ trigger phrases ” which may be used to determine the service to be performed and thus which speech recognizer is best suited for servicing a particular portion of a call . for example , detection of the phrase “ corporate directory ” would be interpreted as indicative of a corporate directory information request and , in response to detection of such a phrase , the large vocabulary recognition circuit 406 would be assigned to service the call . detection of the word “ dial ” or a spoken name included in the caller &# 39 ; s voice dialing database could be interpreted as indicating a voice dialing service request . in such an instance the combined speech recognition circuit 408 would be assigned to service the call . similarly , the phrase “ voice mail ” would trigger use of the small vocabulary speech recognition circuit 404 to service the call . each of the speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 can use speaker independent speech recognition techniques to detect such keywords or trigger phrases . accordingly , such keywords or trigger phrases can be detected at any point during a call causing the cpu 412 to reassess and possibly re - assign the call to a different one of the speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 , 408 . in this manner the cpu 412 matches the requested service to the most cost effective one of the speech recognition circuits available . operation of the telephone system 200 of the present invention , and use of the control ip 232 will now be discussed in detail with reference to fig5 a - 5c which are a flow diagram illustrating the operations performed by the control ip in servicing a subscriber . operation of the control ip begins in step 502 , the start step . in this step the control ip &# 39 ; s application processor 312 is initialized , the ip control program stored in the memory 316 is loaded and executed by the cpu 314 . once various initialization procedures have been completed control ip operation proceeds to step 504 . in step 504 , the application processor 312 , via the speech recognizer arrays 303 , 304 , 306 and control interface 308 , monitors for inputs to the control ip , ( e . g .) from either the smdi lines or t 1 links coupled to the control ip 232 . in step 506 , a determination is made by the application processor as to whether or not an input has been detected . if no input has been detected operation proceeds once again to the monitoring step 504 . if , however , in step 506 , a message waiting indicator signal is detected , e . g ., on one of the smdi lines , operation progresses to step 508 . in step 508 the subscriber for which the message is intended is identified . this is accomplished by , e . g ., using either a telephone number or subscriber id received from the smdi line in conjunction with a message waiting signal , with the corresponding subscriber information stored in the database 310 . once the subscriber for which the message is intended is identified , and the corresponding data base entries for the subscriber retrieved from the database 310 , operation proceeds to step 510 . in step 510 , a determination is made , e . g ., from the data included in column 5 of the database 310 , as to whether or not the nfa protocol is active at the c . o . switch for the identified subscriber for which the message is intended . active nfa protocol status at the switch for the identified subscriber will result in the identified subscriber being coupled automatically to the control ip 232 in response to the detection of an off - hook condition on the identified subscriber &# 39 ; s line . normally , if there is already one or more waiting messages for the identified subscriber , not including the current message being reported by the detected signal on the smdi line , the nfa protocol will be active for the identified subscriber as the result of the earlier unretrieved waiting messages . similarly , if the subscriber subscribes to the voice dialing service supported by the control ip 232 , the nfa protocol will be enabled for the subscriber . if , in step 510 it is determined that the nfa protocol is already active for the identified subscriber , operation proceeds directly to step 514 . however , if in step 510 it is determined that the nfa protocol is not active for the subscriber at the c . o . switch operator proceeds to step 512 wherein a control signal is sent by the control ip to the c . o . switch , via the recent change channel ( rcc ). the control signal instructs the c . o . switch to connect the identified subscriber to the control i . p ., in response to an off - hook condition on the identified subscriber &# 39 ; s telephone line , e . g ., by using the nfa protocol . from step 512 , operation progresses to step 514 . step 514 involves updating of the database 310 to reflect changes in the status information associated with the identified subscriber . this involves , e . g ., changing the nfa status information if it was activated in step 512 , and updating the message waiting and message prompt information to reflect the waiting message . for example , the message waiting status information in col . 6 may be updated to reflect that there is an additional waiting message for the identified subscriber and the vmip where the message is waiting . in addition , the message prompt information , included in database column 7 , will be modified , if necessary , so that the identified subscriber will be informed of the waiting message upon connecting to the control ip . once the subscriber database is updated in step 514 , operation returns to the monitoring step 504 wherein the control ip monitors for additional inputs . from step 504 , operation proceeds to step 506 . if , in step 506 , a subscriber connection signal is detected as a result of the monitoring for received signals which occurred in step 504 , operation proceeds to step 520 via flow chart connectors 516 , 518 . the subscriber connection signal will normally include information sufficient to identify the subscriber for database access purposes , e . g ., the subscriber &# 39 ; s telephone number or account number information . for purposes of this exemplary discussion , the exemplary individual subscriber who established the connection to the ip will be referred to as “ the connected subscriber ”. in step 520 , the database 310 is accessed and the information included therein , pertinent to the connected subscriber , is retrieved . the retrieved information may include , e . g ., in the case where the caller is a voice dialing service subscriber , speaker dependent voice dialing templates and recordings in addition to the other information illustrated in fig3 b . once the subscriber data is retrieved from the database 310 , operation proceeds to step 522 wherein a determination is made , using the retrieved information , as to whether the connected subscriber is a voice dialing subscriber . if the answer to this inquiry is yes , operation proceeds to step 524 wherein the voice dialing service is provided to the caller . this step involves , e . g ., loading retrieved speaker dependent speech recognition templates and recordings into the speech recognition circuit 408 . it also involves controlling the recognition circuit 408 so that it monitors the line which connects the subscriber to the control ip and performs speech recognition operations on speech transmitted thereon . once the voice dialing service is activated , if the speech recognition circuit 408 receives an instruction to dial a telephone number over the line connecting the subscriber to the control ip 232 , a voice dialing operation will be performed by the ip in a manner that is the same as or similar to the manner in which known voice dialing service is provided . from step 524 operation proceeds to step 526 . operation will proceed directly from step 522 to step 526 if in step 522 it is determined that the connected subscriber is not a voice dialing subscriber . in step 526 , a determination is made from the retrieved database information , e . g ., by the application processor 312 , as to whether there are any new messages waiting for the connected subscriber . if there are no new messages , operation proceeds to step 527 . in step 527 , the caller is notified , e . g ., via an audio prompt that there are no new messages . the connection between the ip and the subscriber is then allowed to terminate , in step 528 , in accordance with voice dialing procedures in the event a voice dialing call is placed or if the subscriber hangs up . in one embodiment , in the case where the connected subscriber is a voice dialing customer , a preselected amount of time may be allowed to pass in step 527 before the no new messages prompt is played . if the subscriber initiates a voice dialing call during this period , the call will be allowed to terminate as a conventional voice dialing call without the prompt being played to the subscriber . if , in step 526 it is determined that there are new messages for the subscriber , operation proceeds to step 530 . in step 530 , the subscriber is notified of the presence of a waiting message , e . g ., by playing the prompt indicated in the database 310 for the connected subscriber . from step 530 operation proceeds to step 531 wherein an inquiry is made as to whether or not the subscriber wants to retrieve the messages . the inquiry may involve playing of a message asking if the subscriber wants to retrieve the messages followed by monitoring of the call connection to detect a spoken yes or no response . if , in step 531 , a no response is detected operation proceeds to step 528 wherein the call connection is allowed to terminate according to normal voice dialing procedure or nfa protocol operation . if , in step 531 , a yes response is detected indicating that the subscriber wants to retrieve the waiting messages operation proceeds to step 532 . in step 532 the control ip establishes a connection between the subscriber and a voice mail ip where one or more messages are waiting for the subscriber . the voice mail ip 228 , 230 to which the subscriber is connected is determined by the information in the database 310 which indicates which ip contains the subscriber &# 39 ; s waiting message or messages . as part of the process of establishing the connection between the connected subscriber and voice mail ip , the control ip seizes a line of one of the t 1 links coupled to the control ip . in addition , it controls the switching matrix 234 to route the subscribers call , via the c . o . switch 216 , to the desired voice mail ip 228 , 230 . in this manner , the control ip 232 establishes a connection between the subscriber and the voice mail ip 228 or 230 while remaining connected to the line . as part of the process of establishing the connection between the subscriber and voice mail ip 228 or 230 , the control ip supplies both the connected subscriber &# 39 ; s account number and pin number information to the voice mail ip thereby eliminating the need for the connected subscriber to enter this information . once a connection is established with one of the voice mail ips 228 , 230 , the control ip 232 signals , in step 534 , the c . o . switch 216 to take its digit receiver off - line . in step 536 voice dialing support is de - activated if it was enabled . accordingly , by the end of step 536 , the relatively expensive combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 used for voice dialing is released from servicing the connected subscriber . in addition , because the dtmf receiver of the central office switch is disable with regard to the connected subscriber , the connected subscriber is free to interact with the voice messaging ip through the use of dtmf or voice instructions without accidentally initiating a telephone call . from step 536 control ip operation proceeds to steps 542 and 548 via connectors 538 , 540 . the path comprising steps 542 , 544 , 546 represents speech recognition and dtmf generation functionality supported by the control ip 232 which is provided to facilitate subscriber interaction with a voice mail or other connected service ip . this functionality is provided through the use of one of the speaker independent speech recognition circuits 404 , 406 and the dtmf tone generator / receiver 410 . while speaker independent recognition is used in the illustrated embodiment speaker dependent recognition may be used alone or in combination with speaker independent speech recognition step 542 involves monitoring the line connected to the subscriber for speech such as the instruction “ press one ” or “ one ” which is to be recognized and converted into dtmf tones . upon one of the speech recognition circuits 404 or 406 detecting a spoken digit , e . g ., as part of a phrase such as “ press one ”, a signal is sent to the dtmf tone generator circuit 410 instructing it to generate a dtmf tone corresponding to the detected digit . in step 544 , one or more dtmf tones are generated in response to the speech recognized in step 542 . the generated dtmf tones 546 are transmitted by the control ip 232 to the voice mail ip 228 or 230 to which the subscriber is connected . however , to avoid annoying the subscriber with the dtmf tones , in one embodiment , the line to the subscriber is muted while the tones are transmitted to the voice mail ip . thus , the voice mail ip receives the dtmf signals generated from the subscribers speech and can respond thereto without the subscriber having to enter the signals by pressing keys and without the subscriber having to listen to the tones . after transmission of the generated tone operation proceeds to step 542 where the connection is monitored for additional speech . the process of monitoring the connection to a voice mail ip will continue for the duration of the connection to the voice mail ip . accordingly , while connected to the voice mail ip 228 or 230 , the subscriber will have the opportunity to input responses or commands to the voice mail ip using speech as opposed to having to press keys of a telephone . the path beginning with step 548 may occur in parallel with the path beginning with step 542 . in step 548 the connection between the subscriber and the voice mail ip 228 , 230 is monitored for a voice mail ip connection termination control signal e . g . from the voice mail ip or subscriber . operation progresses to step 550 when a termination signal is detected . in step 550 the connection between the subscriber and the voice mail ip 228 , 230 is terminated . from step 550 operation proceeds to step 552 wherein the database 310 is updated to reflect the review of messages by the subscriber which were stored on the voice mail ip to which the subscriber was connected . after termination of the connection with the voice mail ip 228 or 230 , a determination is made in step 554 as to whether or not there are new messages waiting for the subscriber on another voice mail ip . this is done by , e . g ., checking the updated database entry for the connected subscriber indicating the message waiting status . for example , if the connected subscriber were bob barker , after connecting to the second voice mail ip 230 , there would still be voice mail messages on first voice mail ip 228 . however , if the connected subscriber were mary wells , there would be no additional messages waiting for the subscriber . if in step 554 , it is determined that there are additional new messages waiting for the subscriber , e . g ., on a different voice ip , operation proceeds to step 524 thereby causing the subscriber to automatically be connected to the ip with the messages . however , in step 554 if it is determined that there are no more messages waiting for the connected subscriber , operation proceeds to step 558 wherein a determination is made as to whether or not the connected subscriber is a voice dialing subscriber . if the connected subscriber is a voice dialing subscriber , operation proceeds to step 560 wherein the voice dialing function of the control ip 232 is enabled by , e . g ., re - connecting the combined speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition circuit 408 to the connected subscriber &# 39 ; s line . in addition , the c . o . switch &# 39 ; s digit receiver 226 is also enabled in step 560 . accordingly , the connected subscriber can complete a call to a spoken or dialed telephone number without the need to hang - up after receiving his or her messages . under such circumstances , termination of the connection with the caller will occur in accordance with normal voice dialing procedures which may include the connected subscriber hanging up the telephone . while not explicitly stated in the flow diagram of fig5 a - 5b it is to be understood that a connected subscriber can terminate the call at any time by hanging up . hanging up causes the control ip 232 to terminate the subscriber &# 39 ; s connection with any voice mail ip &# 39 ; s which may exist at the time of call termination . in addition , the control ip 232 updates the database 232 to reflect the retrieval of messages prior to call termination if , in fact , any messages where retrieved . fig6 illustrates a telephone system 600 implemented in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention . the system 600 comprises a plurality of telephone networks 610 , 211 coupled together by a fiber optic line 32 . the telephone network 610 comprises many of the same elements as the network 210 . elements of the fig2 and fig6 embodiments which are the same , or similar , bear the same reference numbers and will not be described again . the fig2 and fig6 embodiments differ principally in the way in which the telephone network &# 39 ; s peripheral devices , including first and second voice mail ips 628 , 630 and a control ip 632 are connected together . note that smdi lines are not used in the fig6 embodiment as they are in the fig2 embodiment . instead , digital lines 631 , 633 are used to connect the first and second voice mail ips 631 , 633 to the control ip 632 . by using digital lines in this manner , information not available over an ordinary smdi line can be supplied to the control ip 632 . for example , a brief message introduction may be sent by the voice mail ip to the control ip 632 . the introduction may include a 15 or 30 second sound message provided by a person leaving the message to identify him or herself . alternatively , in the case of a multi - person account , the information provided by the digital line 631 or 632 may be a recording identifying the name of the recipient for which the message is intended . in addition to receiving information about waiting messages from the first and second voice mail ip &# 39 ; s , in one embodiment , the control ip 632 uses the lines 631 , 633 when establishing a connection between a connected caller and subscriber . the lines 631 , 633 may be implemented using a plurality of digital data and / or control lines . in one particular embodiment the lines 631 , 632 are implemented as lines which implement the known signaling system 7 ( ss7 ) protocol frequently used to implement telecommunications and data networks . while the use of a control ip to facilitate the interaction of multiple ips which provide services to the same subscriber has been described in the context of a voice mail embodiment , it is to be understood , that the features of the present invention are applicable to facilitating subscriber / ip access and ip interaction regardless of the type or types of services being provided by the ips . while the substitution of speech recognizer circuits has been discussed above as a cost effective method of providing speech recognition services to a plurality of telephone users , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention , multiple speech recognizers are used to process the same speech . in one such embodiment , a low or mid level speech recognizer circuit such as the recognizer circuit 404 or 408 is used to service all or most of a call . for portions of a call where more complicated , e . g ., large vocabulary , speech recognition is required , an additional speech recognizer such as the speech recognition circuit 406 is also assigned to service the call in conjunction with the other speech recognizer . by switching in a high end speech recognition unit for the small portion of a call where , e . g ., large vocabulary speech recognition is required , speech recognition service is provided without having to use the large vocabulary speech recognizer for the entire duration of the call . in addition , speech recognition functionality included in the low or mid level speech recognizer circuit need not be duplicated in the higher end speech recognition circuit which is switched in to supplement the speech recognition capability being provided . additional embodiments and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above discussion and exemplary embodiments set forth in the present application . | 7 |
the ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment ( s ) only , and is not intended to limit the scope , applicability or configuration of the disclosure . rather , the ensuing description of the preferred exemplary embodiment ( s ) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment . it is understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope as set forth in the appended claims . referring initially to fig1 , an embodiment of a communication system 100 is shown in a simplified form . a help center 112 is available over phone and data networks 104 , 108 to allow a user 124 of a cellular phone 120 receive assistance in an automated and human - assisted manner . although a single cellular telephone , user and customer service representative ( csr ) are shown , it is to be understood that many would exist in a typical implementation . the cellular phone 120 includes an application that provides functionality , for example , health coaching , customer service , billing information , medication reminders , personal security , concierge service , etc . the application can be built - into the cellular phone or downloaded after deployment to the field . in one embodiment , the user 124 downloads the application from an application store accessible from the cellular phone 120 . in other embodiments , the cellular phone could be a pad , tablet , camera , game controller , medical alert fob , emergency notification device , information device , car key , or other handheld communication device . the phone network 104 is used to call the user 124 should automated help not solve an issue . the cellular phone 120 could call the help center or the help center could call the cellular phone 120 . some embodiments may forgo the phone network 104 for voice communication in favor of voip or a digital walkie - talkie feature of the application . a data network is used to communicate status of the application and user interaction with the cellular phone 120 . answers to automated questions and queries on the phone could also be relayed back to the help center 112 using the data network . some of the help information displayed on the cellular phone is found using the data network 108 to query the help center 112 in real time . the answers to queries could be automatic or provided with human assistance that is displayed on a screen of the cellular phone through a chat window . a csr 116 interacts with the help center 112 locally or remotely to assist the user when automated help resident on the phone is not able to solve a problem . this help can be hand selecting answers after remote viewing of a user &# 39 ; s screen and interaction , chat communication or phone communication . the software on the cellular phone 120 logs all interaction immediately before ( e . g ., the prior 30 sec ., 1 min ., 5 min .) the help workflow was activated and after activation . the csr has a tool where the cellular phone screen can be viewed in real time or rewound to any time before that and even before help was activated . with reference to fig1 a , another embodiment of this invention is shown as system 100 a . in this embodiment , cellular phone 120 communicates with another device 118 which is situated at a specific location . for example , device 118 could be an information terminal at a zoo or a tradeshow . by shaking cellular phone 120 , user 124 &# 39 ; s location is sent to a server via data network 108 . the server correlates user 124 &# 39 ; s location with the location of device 118 . device 118 would then play an audio with relevant information about the particular exhibit . alternatively , device 118 could be located at a restaurant , a store , or a company , in which case , the device would reply via text message or voice or alternative method with location specific information such as restaurant menus , store specific coupons , or information about a particular company . if device 118 is located for example in a cab stop , shaking the device could enable a taxi to know that a ride is requested . alternatively , device 118 could be a device carried by another person or located in an organization . by shaking cellular phone 120 , the user could place a call to an emergency call center or 911 to request help . in this case , device 118 would be located in the call center itself and would be answered by user 126 , who is the emergency call operator . in another embodiment , device 118 could belong to a person in user 124 &# 39 ; s “ trusted network ,” so user 126 would be a friend , family member , colleague , or otherwise trusted person . by shaking cellular phone 120 user 124 would open communications with all or a subset of the people in his trusted network . this communication would occur through phone network 104 or data network 108 , and would consist of a cellular broadcast technology , push to talk ( ptt ) technology , or other voice or data technology . in this way user 124 can communicate directly with multiple people by shaking his cellular phone 120 . yet another embodiment of this invention involves finding or locating “ trusted devices ”. for example , by shaking cellular phone 120 , device 118 , which is a trusted device , such as a car key , cell phone , car , or other device would respond with a chirp or other audio sound . in this way , if user 124 has misplaced his keys , he can shake cellular phone 120 , which would cause his keys ( device 118 ) to respond by emitting an audio sound . user 124 could preset a number of trusted devices which would respond to the gesture of cellular phone 120 . with reference to fig2 , an embodiment of a block diagram of the help system 110 is shown in detail for the cellular phone 120 and the help center 112 . the cellular phone 120 includes application software 204 , but other embodiments could place the software in the operating system . the application software 204 has access to a gesture recognition feature 208 . in this embodiment , the gesture recognition feature is an orientation sensor ( e . g ., a gravity switch , accelerometer and / or gyroscope ) that can detect a shake gesture where the phone is moved back in forth in a predetermined way . other embodiments could use other gestures ( e . g ., raising one &# 39 ; s hand , a rotating gesture , several flips of the phone , etc .) normal movement of the cellular phone 120 is filtered such that false detections are kept to a minimum . other embodiments could use an embedded camera to detect gestures or voice recognition could be used . some embodiments may include a feedback feature . in this embodiment , haptic feedback 210 is provided through a movement transducer that vibrates when the gesture is recognized . this is done to supplement a window or bubble on the touch - sensitive display 216 . other embodiments could provide a sound or voice confirmation when help is activated through the gesture . once activated , the user can touch an area of the display 216 outside the help window or a close button to exit help . other embodiments allow a second gesture to exit help . in this embodiment , shaking will also exit help after activated . if the shaking causes a false activation , the continued shaking will close down the help . an expert system of automated help is provided that is context - sensitive . based upon the user &# 39 ; s current place in the application and / or historical interaction , the context - sensitive information 212 is referenced and appropriate information is provided in the help window . other embodiments provide the context - sensitive information via audio instructions that may be played using the speaker 218 . presumptions are made about the expertise level of the user 124 such that help is not given for features that the user has successfully used in the past . additionally , the skill level of the user 124 is scored based upon past interaction such that answers appropriate for that skill level are provided . in the help center 112 , a help center system 220 has access to user profiles 224 . the user profiles have demographic information on the user 124 , skill level , expertise level , and other historical information . additionally , information entered into the application software 204 is available . for example , a medication coaching application would include the medication regimen , doctor information , pharmacy information , etc . for the user 124 . all that is available along with a knowledge base 228 of answers to commonly occurring issues . referring next to fig3 , an embodiment of a process 300 for providing help to users 124 is shown . the depicted portion of the process 300 begins in block 304 where the gesture predetermined to activate help is detected . the help information is presented on the display 216 and / or via the speaker 218 after determining the context to provide a good suggestion from the context - sensitive information 212 in block 308 . optionally , haptic feedback 210 is provided to let the user 124 know that help has been activated in block 312 . should the gesture continue or another predetermined gesture happen , the help screen and workflow would cease in block 316 . automatic help is provided through interaction with the cellular phone 120 in block 320 . ultimately , automatic help may not solve the problem and the user 124 can elevate the process to receiving communication from a human csr . the interaction could be chat initially or a phone call . in block 324 , the csr calls the cellular phone 120 or another phone in the user profile 224 , or the cellular phone 120 calls the csr . remote access software provides a screen scrape of the display in real time in block 328 . additionally , historical displays are available through a rewind feature that lists all the interaction along a timeline as the csr manipulates the timeline . the problem is hopefully solved through interaction with the user profile 224 , knowledge base 228 and discussion with the user 124 in block 332 . where unsuccessful , the problem is marked for remedial action , elevation or other follow - up . in this way , a cellular phone user 124 can easily activate a help workflow that uses both automatic and manual techniques with a rich environment of information to quickly solve any problem that might occur with software 204 in this embodiment . while the principles of the disclosure have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods , it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the disclosure . | 7 |
fig1 - 4 show an actuator control valve system in a first embodiment of the present invention . the actuator valve control system 10 includes a servo - actuator 12 with a servo - valve body 16 and an integrated sensor 14 . the servo - actuator 12 includes a servo - valve body 16 and a solenoid core 33 surrounded by coil ( s ) 38 . the solenoid core 33 includes a null spring 34 and a spring retainer 35 , an adjustable spring retainer 80 and a movable armature 32 . an air gap 41 is present between the armature 32 and the solenoid core 33 . the servo - actuator 12 also has a sensing rod 30 with a first rod end 30 a with a sensing core pin 36 and a second rod end 30 b connectable to a movable member 18 . the sensing core pin 36 is sensed by a non - contact sensor 14 built into or integral with an end of the servo - actuator 12 . the non - contact sensor 14 reports the position of the sensing core pin 36 to the ecu or ecm ( not shown ) in unison and proportional with the movement of moveable member 18 . a push rod guide 31 with a flange 31 a is mounted to the armature 32 and is mounted over the sensing rod 30 along its length between the first rod end 30 a and the second rod end 30 b . the flange 31 a of the guide 31 on the sensing rod 30 is present in the air gap 41 between the solenoid core 33 and the movable armature 32 . the sensing rod 30 passes through the solenoid core 33 of the servo - valve 12 , the armature 32 within the solenoid core 33 , the guide 31 with a flange 31 a and the solenoid core 33 , the feedback spring 37 , the null spring 34 , the spool 17 and the servo - valve body 16 . an adjustable spring retainer 80 at one end of the null spring 34 maintains the null spring 34 within the solenoid core 33 , and spring retainer 35 at the opposite end of the null spring 34 contacts the guide 31 , allowing the sensing rod 30 to move freely and independently of the armature 32 , push rod guide 31 , null spring 34 , spring 37 and spool 17 housed in servo - valve body 16 . the actuation of the armature 32 occurs via an increasing electrical signal to the coil ( s ) 38 from the ecu , which increases the magnetic force in gap 41 proportional to the increasing electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 . the armature 32 , push rod guide 31 , spool 17 housed in servo - valve body 16 moves in a first direction decreasing gap 41 between the solenoid core 33 and the movable armature 32 and compresses null spring 34 and extends spring 37 . pressurized fluid is communicated to one side of the piston rack assembly 28 and drained from an opposing side of piston rack assembly 28 via spool 17 in conjunction with servo - valve body 16 through appropriate passage ( s ) in the servo - actuator 10 . the movement of the fluid causes the piston - rack assembly 28 to move in a first direction and the teeth 22 on the pinion 20 and the teeth 26 on the rack 24 mesh as shown in fig3 , thereby causing the cam profile of pinion 20 in this example to move or rotate in a first direction , allowing moveable member 18 to move away from spool 17 along its axis , altering the force balance between spring 34 and spring 37 . the force balance between spring 34 and spring 37 changes until the spring force balance equals the magnetic force generated in gap 41 between the solenoid core 33 and armature 32 as generated by the electrical commanded signal from the ecu to coil ( s ) 38 . as motion of the moveable member 18 continues in the first direction , armature 32 , push rod guide 31 , and the spool 17 housed in servo - valve body 16 also move . the spool 17 blocks fluid from entering and draining the appropriate passages to and from piston rack assembly 28 . since sensing rod 30 is attached to and or mounted against movable member 18 at the second rod end 30 b , the sensing rod 30 follows moveable member 18 as it moves along its axis , thereby changing the position of the sensing core pin 36 in reference to the non contact sensor 14 . the change in position in a first direction is communicated to and monitored by the ecu or ecm . the sensor 14 provides electric feedback to the ecu or ecm , as well as on board diagnostic capabilities . based on the information from the sensor , the ecu or ecm can map the performance of the actuator control valve system to establish an initial performance mapping as well as monitor the performance throughout the life expectancy of the system . upon de - actuation of the armature 32 via a decreasing electrical signal to the coil ( s ) 38 , the magnetic force in gap 41 proportional to the decreasing electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 is reduced . the armature 32 , guide 31 , spool 17 housed in servo - valve body 16 moves in a second direction increasing the gap 41 between the solenoid core 33 and the armature 32 and de - compresses spring 34 and compresses spring 37 . pressurized fluid is communicated to one side of the piston rack assembly 28 and drained from the opposing side of piston rack assembly 28 via spool 17 and servo - valve body 16 through appropriate passage ( s ) in servo - actuator 10 . the movement of fluid causes the piston - rack assembly 28 to move in a second direction and the teeth 22 on the pinion 20 and the teeth 26 on the rack 24 mesh as shown in fig3 , thereby causing the cam profile of pinion 20 in this example to move / rotate in a second direction allowing moveable member 18 to move towards the spool 17 along its axis , compresses spring 37 and increasing the opposing force of spring 37 to null spring 34 . the force balance between spring 34 and spring 37 changes until the spring force equals the magnetic force generated in gap 41 between solenoid core 33 and armature 32 proportional to the electrical commanded signal to the coil ( s ) 38 . as motion of the moveable member 18 continues in a second direction , the armature 32 , guide 31 , and spool 17 move . the spool 17 blocks fluid from entering and draining the appropriate passages in actuator 10 to piston rack assembly 28 . since sensing rod 30 is attached to and or mounted to member 18 at the second rod end 30 b , the sensing rod 30 follows moveable member 18 as it moves along its axis , thereby changing the position of the sensing core pin 36 in reference to the non contact sensor 14 in the second direction . the change in position in a second direction is monitored by the ecu or ecm . the sensor 14 provides electric feedback to the ecu or ecm , as well as on board diagnostic capabilities . based on the information from the sensor , the ecu or ecm can map the performance of the actuator control valve system to establish an initial performance mapping as well as monitor the performance throughout the life expectancy of the system . it should be noted that the positional control of the servo - valve actuator is infinite between the first direction and the second direction proportional to the applied input electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 . hence , sensor 14 provides infinite positional feed back to the ecu or ecm of the actuation system . if the non - contact sensor 14 were to fail , open loop control may be still be obtained by the position feed back spring 37 between spool 17 and the external member 18 . the sensor core 33 profile may be straight , tapered hollow like a tube , concave , convex , profiled - contoured , or parabolic to achieve optimum linearity of the output signal versus position . the sensor 14 may be added to any mechanical feedback valve within the actuator control valve systems such as a hydraulic , a pneumatic , a rotary or a linear actuated control valve system . the actuator system may be directly or pilot operated by either electrical , hydraulic , pneumatic , or other mechanical means . the actuator control valve system may be part of an but not limited to an egr system , waste gate control system , cooler bi - pass control system , turbo bi - pass control system , pneumatic flow divider , hydraulic flow divider , variable geometry turbo charger control system , coolant control system , fuel control systems , or cam phasing systems in a combustion or fuel cell engine control management system . the sensor 14 may be , but is not limited to , an eddy current type , single coil inductive as shown , a lvdt sensor , a hall effect sensor , a magnetostrictive position sensor , or a potentiometer . fig5 - 6 show an actuator control valve system in a second embodiment of the present invention . the actuator valve control system 50 includes a servo - actuator 51 with a servo - valve 16 and an integrated sensor 14 . the servo - actuator 51 includes a solenoid core 33 surrounded by coil ( s ) 38 . the solenoid core 33 includes a first spring 64 and a movable armature 32 at one end and a bearing - passage portion 33 a at an opposite end . an air gap 41 is present between the armature 32 and the solenoid core 33 . the servo - actuator 51 also has a sensing rod 30 with a first rod end 30 a with a sensing core pin 36 and a second rod end 30 b connectable to a moveable member 58 . the sensing core pin 36 is sensed by a non - contact sensor 14 built into or integral with an end of the servo - actuator 51 . the non - contact sensor 14 reports the position of the sensing core pin 36 to the ecu or ecm ( not shown ). a guide 31 with a flange 31 a is mounted to the armature 32 which is mounted over sensing rod 30 along its length between the first rod end 30 a and the second rod end 30 b . the flange 31 a of the push rod guide 31 mounted over the sensing rod 30 is present between the armature 32 and the bearing passage portion 33 a of the solenoid core 33 . the sensing rod 30 passes through the solenoid core 33 of the servo - valve 12 , the armature 32 within the solenoid core 33 , the guide 31 with a flange 31 a present within the bearing passage portion 33 a of the solenoid core 33 , the first spring 64 and a second spring 67 mounted between a moveable member 58 and the spool 17 of the servo - valve 16 . a spring retainer 35 at one end of the spring 64 maintains the first spring 64 within the solenoid core 33 between the end of the solenoid core 33 and the armature 32 . the servo - valve 16 includes a servo - valve actuator housing assembly 57 with a spool 17 , and a second spring 67 , with one end mounted to the spool 17 and an opposite end mounted to a moveable member 58 . the spool 17 is biased in an opposite direction by a first spring 64 through the armature 32 and push rod 31 . attached to the moveable member 58 is a piston 53 within a chamber 52 and 61 between moveable member 58 and the servo - valve actuator housing 57 . the spool 17 housed in the servo - valve body 16 directs fluid to and from passages in the servo - valve housing 57 to the chambers 52 and 61 formed between the piston 53 and the servo - valve housing 57 . the actuation of the armature 32 via an increasing electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 , increases the magnetic force in the gap 41 between armature 32 and solenoid core 33 proportional to the increasing electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 and compresses spring 67 and extends spring 64 . pressurized fluid is communicated to one side of the piston 53 via spool 17 through appropriate passages 59 , 70 , 54 in the servo - actuator housing 57 to chamber 52 and fluid is drained from chamber 61 in servo - actuator assembly 57 through passages 62 , 66 , 63 formed by spool 17 . the movement of fluid causes the piston assembly of piston 53 and moveable member 58 to move in a first direction , compressing spring 67 and increasing the opposing force to spring 64 and magnetic force in gap 41 generated by the electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 between solenoid core 33 and armature 32 . as the piston assembly moves , the force of spring 67 increases , the spool 17 , push rod 31 , and armature 32 moves inside servo - valve body 16 and solenoid core 33 until fluid is blocked from entering chamber 52 and draining from chamber 67 by the spool 17 . as the piston 53 and moveable member 58 moves , sensor rod 30 follows and the sensor core pin 36 at a first rod end 30 a changes position in reference to non contact sensor 14 to reflect the position of the piston 53 and piston member 58 . upon de - actuation of the armature 32 via a decreasing electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 , the magnetic force in gap 41 between the armature 32 and the solenoid core 33 decreases proportional to the decreasing electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 and compresses spring 64 and extends spring 67 . pressurized fluid is communicated to one side of the piston 53 via spool 17 through appropriate passages 59 , 65 , 62 in the servo - actuator housing 57 and the spool 17 to chamber 61 and drains fluid from chamber 52 in servo - actuator assembly 57 through passages 54 , 70 , and 63 , causing the piston assembly of the piston 53 and moveable member 58 to move in a second direction . as the piston assembly moves and decreases the opposing force of spring 67 , the spool 17 , push rod 31 , and armature 32 moves inside servo - valve body 16 and solenoid core 33 until fluid is blocked from entering chamber 61 and exiting chamber 52 by the spool 17 . as the piston assembly of piston 53 and moveable member 58 moves , sensing rod 30 follows and the sensor core pin 36 at the first rod end 30 a changes position in reference to the non contact sensor 14 to reflect the position of the piston 53 and moveable member 58 . the sensor 14 provides electric feedback to the ecu or ecm , as well as on board diagnostic capabilities . based on the information from the sensor , the ecu or ecm can map the performance of the actuator control valve system to establish an initial performance mapping as well as monitor the performance throughout the life expectancy of the system . the sensor core 33 profile may straight , tapered , concave , hollow like tube , convex , profiled - contoured , or parabolic to achieve optimum linearity of the output signal versus position . the sensor 14 may be added to any mechanical feedback valve within the actuator control valve systems such as a hydraulic , a pneumatic , a rotary or a linear actuated control valve system . the actuator system may be directly or pilot operated by either electrical , hydraulic , pneumatic , or other mechanical means . the actuator control valve system may be part of , but not limited to an egr system , waste gate control system , cooler bi - pass control system , turbo bi - pass control system , pneumatic flow divider , hydraulic flow divider , variable geometry turbo charger control system , coolant control system , fuel control systems , or cam phasing systems in a combustion or fuel cell engine control management system . the sensor 14 may be , but is not limited to , an eddy current type , single coil inductive as shown , a lvdt sensor , a hall effect sensor , magnetostrictive position sensor or a potentiometer . it should be noted that the positional control of the servo - valve actuator is infinite between the first direction and the second direction proportional to the applied input electrical signal to coil ( s ) 38 . hence , sensor 14 provides infinite positional feed back to the ecu or ecm of the actuation system . accordingly , it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention . reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims , which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention . | 7 |
the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof , given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : fig1 and 2 are diagrammatic elevational views of illumination schemes for a system of the invention . referring to fig1 and 2 a machine vision system comprises an illumination head such as that described in ep1455179 . this head is controlled so that there is illumination from one side or the other as viewed in elevation as shown in fig1 and 2 . the direction across the elevational view is the main dimension for illumination and image analysis purposes . only pixels normal to the regions of interest are analysed : above left - side fillets for fig1 and above right - side fillets for fig2 . when there is illumination from the left side as viewed in these drawings there will be a particular pattern for good - quality inspected joints 10 . even though there may be some secondary reflections as shown by the arrow 1 , these reflections do not affect the image processing as there is no light captured in a direction normal to the left - side joints . likewise , for right - side illumination only , as shown in fig2 a secondary reflection 2 does not affect the inspection of the right - side joints 20 . in the above , the left - side illumination does not involve any illumination having a component from the opposite side ( right side ) of this dimension . the opposite is true for right - side illumination . the illumination head is controlled to activate different quadrants or , more generally , sectors . the camera is controlled to acquire a separate image for each illumination . in each image only the pixels arising from light normal to the relevant side are analysed . if the level of granularity is at the quadrant level , then the choice of which quadrant to use depends on how indirect is the light incident on the surface . if a solder surface is facing northeast , the north quadrant will be 45 degrees away from the ideal angle and so will the east quadrant . the south and west quadrants will each be at an angle of 135 degrees . there may be a threshold of , for example , 60 °. thus as 45 ° is less than 60 ° the north and east quadrants will be combined into a single image for processing . by setting the threshold to 45 ° there can be one quadrant on . if set to 120 ° there will always be three quadrants on . one approach to combining source images is by “ maxing ” them together to generate a new image . each pixel in the new image is given an intensity equal to the brightest pixel among all of the corresponding pixels in the different source images . the resulting image is then thresholded so that each pixel is classified as bright if its intensity is above the grey scale threhold , and dark otherwise . the percentage of dark pixels is then calculated for each side fillet and each side fillet is classified as good if the percentage of dark pixels is above the coverage threshold , bad otherwise . the two side fillet results are then combined . the system may or the results together so that if either side fillet passes , the check passes . the system may and the results so that both must pass for the check to pass . the system could alternatively use “ side fillet averaging ” so that the two boxes are treated as a single larger box . the system may alternatively mask the area based on knowledge of the position and size of the pad . if a side fillet box falls outside the pad region then only the pixels that are within the pad region are masked and hence used to generate a good / bad decision for that side fillet . if the number of masked pixels falls to zero then the decision is based only on the other side fillet . if both side fillet boxes contain zero masked pixels then the side fillet does not generate a decision . the joint will then be inspected as if the side fillet check was switched off . in another embodiment a color look up table ( lut ) is used to combine a number of different images into a single image . the resulting image contains pixels whose intensity depends on how close a match the color of the input pixel is to a set of desired colors . the desired colors will have previously been trained into the lut by an application engineer using a color picker . the user trains the color picker by selecting groups of pixels from an image of a board ( repeatedly if needs be ). the color of each pixel is defined by the combined intensities of red , green and blue pixels i . e . the corresponding pixels in 3 different image planes . the system can take up to 8 images , so the ability to vary which images are interpreted as red , green and blue would be important . the technique could in principle be extended to use more than 3 image planes simultaneously . a pixel which is similar to the colors trained in the lut will be darker than a pixel which is less similar , so the resulting image can be thresholded . the user would be able to create new luts with the color picker which would each be given a unique name by the user . when programming a side fillet algorithm in the algorithm editor , the user would be able to choose a “ color picker ” instead of a specific set of image planes ( e . g . angle 1 and angle 2 ). then a new field would appear in the editor , which would contain a list of names of all available luts for selection . a possible application of this technique is to eliminate secondary reflections . on some components these can appear as a pink color rather than a bright red . the color picker could have been trained so that pink , black and dark green are all associated with a good joint . the method finds particular application for inspection of rows of adjacent leads or where chips or other components face each other in close proximity . the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail . | 6 |
fig1 schematically illustrates a gas turbine engine 20 . the gas turbine engine 20 is disclosed herein as a two - spool turbofan that generally incorporates a fan section 22 , a compressor section 24 , a combustor section 26 and a turbine section 28 . alternative engines might include an augmentor section ( not shown ) among other systems or features . the fan section 22 drives air along a bypass flow path b in a bypass duct defined within a nacelle 15 , while the compressor section 24 drives air along a core flow path c for compression and communication into the combustor section 26 then expansion through the turbine section 28 . although depicted as a two - spool turbofan gas turbine engine in the disclosed non - limiting embodiment , it should be understood that the concepts described herein are not limited to use with two - spool turbofans as the teachings may be applied to other types of turbine engines including three - spool architectures . the exemplary engine 20 generally includes a low speed spool 30 and a high speed spool 32 mounted for rotation about an engine central longitudinal axis a relative to an engine static structure 36 via several bearing systems 38 . it should be understood that various bearing systems 38 at various locations may alternatively or additionally be provided , and the location of bearing systems 38 may be varied as appropriate to the application . the low speed spool 30 generally includes an inner shaft 40 that interconnects a fan 42 , a first ( or low ) pressure compressor 44 and a first ( or low ) pressure turbine 46 . the inner shaft 40 is connected to the fan 42 through a speed change mechanism , which in exemplary gas turbine engine 20 is illustrated as a geared architecture 48 to drive the fan 42 at a lower speed than the low speed spool 30 . the high speed spool 32 includes an outer shaft 50 that interconnects a second ( or high ) pressure compressor 52 and a second ( or high ) pressure turbine 54 . a combustor 56 is arranged in exemplary gas turbine 20 between the high pressure compressor 52 and the high pressure turbine 54 . a mid - turbine frame 57 of the engine static structure 36 is arranged generally between the high pressure turbine 54 and the low pressure turbine 46 . the mid - turbine frame 57 further supports bearing systems 38 in the turbine section 28 . the inner shaft 40 and the outer shaft 50 are concentric and rotate via bearing systems 38 about the engine central longitudinal axis a which is collinear with their longitudinal axes . the core airflow is compressed by the low pressure compressor 44 then the high pressure compressor 52 , mixed and burned with fuel in the combustor 56 , then expanded over the high pressure turbine 54 and low pressure turbine 46 . the mid - turbine frame 57 includes airfoils 59 which are in the core airflow path c . the turbines 46 , 54 rotationally drive the respective low speed spool 30 and high speed spool 32 in response to the expansion . it will be appreciated that each of the positions of the fan section 22 , compressor section 24 , combustor section 26 , turbine section 28 , and fan drive gear system 48 may be varied . for example , gear system 48 may be located aft of combustor section 26 or even aft of turbine section 28 , and fan section 22 may be positioned forward or aft of the location of gear system 48 . the engine 20 in one example is a high - bypass geared aircraft engine . in a further example , the engine 20 bypass ratio is greater than about six ( 6 ), with an example embodiment being greater than about ten ( 10 ), the geared architecture 48 is an epicyclic gear train , such as a planetary gear system or other gear system , with a gear reduction ratio of greater than about 2 . 3 and the low pressure turbine 46 has a pressure ratio that is greater than about five . in one disclosed embodiment , the engine 20 bypass ratio is greater than about ten ( 10 : 1 ), the fan diameter is significantly larger than that of the low pressure compressor 44 , and the low pressure turbine 46 has a pressure ratio that is greater than about five 5 : 1 . low pressure turbine 46 pressure ratio is pressure measured prior to inlet of low pressure turbine 46 as related to the pressure at the outlet of the low pressure turbine 46 prior to an exhaust nozzle . the geared architecture 48 may be an epicycle gear train , such as a planetary gear system or other gear system , with a gear reduction ratio of greater than about 2 . 3 : 1 . it should be understood , however , that the above parameters are only exemplary of one embodiment of a geared architecture engine and that the present invention is applicable to other gas turbine engines including direct drive turbofans . a significant amount of thrust is provided by the bypass flow b due to the high bypass ratio . the fan section 22 of the engine 20 is designed for a particular flight condition — typically cruise at about 0 . 8 mach and about 35 , 000 feet ( 10 , 668 meters ). the flight condition of 0 . 8 mach and 35 , 000 ft ( 10 , 668 meters ), with the engine at its best fuel consumption — also known as “ bucket cruise thrust specific fuel consumption (‘ tsfc ’)”— is the industry standard parameter of 1 bm of fuel being burned divided by 1 bf of thrust the engine produces at that minimum point . “ low fan pressure ratio ” is the pressure ratio across the fan blade alone , without a fan exit guide vane (“ fegv ”) system . the low fan pressure ratio as disclosed herein according to one non - limiting embodiment is less than about 1 . 45 . “ low corrected fan tip speed ” is the actual fan tip speed in ft / sec divided by an industry standard temperature correction of [( tram ° r )/( 518 . 7 ° r )] 0 . 5 . the “ low corrected fan tip speed ” as disclosed herein according to one non - limiting embodiment is less than about 1150 ft / second ( 350 . 5 meters / second ). in such a geared gas turbine engine , there are more bearing compartments than there were found in the direct drive gas turbine engine . in addition , the bearing compartments , particularly as associated with a gear reduction , become critical . it is important to ensure that oil is maintained in the bearing compartments as shown in fig2 , several bearing compartments 100 associated with a gas turbine engine , such as the gas turbine engine 20 illustrated in fig1 , include seals . a bearing compartment 102 is associated with a low speed shaft 92 at a location associated with the low pressure turbine . bearings 106 are shown schematically as is a seal 104 . a bearing compartment 108 is associated with the high speed rotor 90 and the high pressure turbine of fig1 . bearing compartment 108 includes seals 110 at each axial end and a central bearing 112 . a second bearing compartment 114 is also associated with the high speed rotor 90 and the high pressure compressor and includes a bearing 118 and seals 116 . finally , a third bearing compartment 120 / 123 is associated with a fan drive gear system 122 , or the gear reduction of fig1 . the third bearing 120 / 123 compartment is also associated with a fan bearing 130 , forward of the fan drive gear system 122 . seals 126 and 128 mechanically seal axial ends of the bearing compartment 120 / 123 and are associated with a fan rotor 127 and the low speed rotor 92 . seals 126 and 128 are also respectively associated with bearings 124 and 130 that are positioned within the bearing compartment 120 / 123 . the locations of the seals and the bearing compartments , as mentioned above , are exemplary and this disclosure extends to any number of other bearing component locations . in the past , particular types of seals have been provided in a geared gas turbine engine . contact seals have been utilized and complex non - contact seals have been proposed . while these seals may operate efficiently , they are prone to wear and must be repaired or replaced periodically . replacing these seals may require shut down of the engine , which is undesirable . thus , a labyrinth seal 80 , such as shown in fig3 , may be utilized . in a labyrinth seal , a base 82 has knife edges 84 . the fig3 embodiment has the knife edges 84 associated with a static component . that is , base 82 may be fixed to housing structure fig4 shows an embodiment 90 where the knife edges 96 are associated with a shaft 94 , which is positioned inwardly and facing a static structure 92 . it should be understood that this disclosure extends to labyrinth seals 90 which rotate ( fig4 ) or are associated with the static structure ( fig3 ). a wear surface 99 is positioned to face the knife edges 96 as shown in fig4 . in some applications , it may be ensured that there is a gap between the radial extent of the knife edges and wear surfaces 99 , such that there is no wear . however , it is also known to include an abradable material at surface 99 . as shown schematically , lubricant l from a portion 101 of the bearing chamber may tend to flow outwardly of the bearing chamber portion 101 . the knife edges 96 resist this flow . a supply of pressurized air p is supplied to a chamber 98 to further assist in resisting this lubricant flow , as would be understood by one of ordinary skill . labyrinth seals provide benefits , particularly , when utilized in a geared gas turbine engine . in embodiments , there are at least two knife edges associated with the seal . the knife edges may have different diameters . fig5 shows an alternative seal 140 which may be a brush seal . in a brush seal 140 , a ring 142 secures a plurality of brush bristles 144 . these brush bristles provide a seal much like the knife edges 96 , as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill . speaking generically , the illustrated seal 80 is a seal member having a plurality of distinct sealing members 84 extending towards a facing surface . fig6 shows an engine 200 having a rotating shaft 202 . a labyrinth seal 210 may be associated with a bearing compartment #?. a location 208 of the shaft 202 may be defined as being in a plane of a fuel nozzle 206 of a combustor 204 . a radius r 1 may be defined to the outer tip of the knife edges at labyrinth seal 210 . a second radius r 2 is defined at portion 208 . in embodiments , r 1 may be less than or equal to about twice r 2 . further , r 1 may be less than or equal to about one and three quarters ( 1 . 75 ) r 2 . in the prior art , labyrinth seals have typically been much larger . a gas turbine engine incorporating seals , such as disclosed in this application , may be provided in an engine with a bypass ratio greater than or equal to about 12 . a gear ratio for gear reduction 122 may be greater than or equal to about 2 . 6 . although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed , a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention . for that reason , the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention . | 5 |
referring to fig1 through 4 and particularly to fig1 there is shown a ladle or vessel 1 containing a hot fluid , such as molten metal , which flows in a stream 2 into a mold 3 . a lance 4 is provided with a connector , generally designated 5 , and a device generally designated 6 , is detachably connected to the connector , and provided with tubular means 7 for disposition in the stream 2 for obtaining a sample therefrom . the lance 4 is preferably of a length to facilitate manipulation of the device and protect an operator and may be constructed of any material suitable for the purpose but is preferably in the form of an elongated length of pipe . the connector 5 , may be designed and constructed in various ways as will appear hereinafter , but as best shown in fig2 and 4 , it is preferably in the form of a tubular cylindrical member 8 of pasteboard or equivalent material . one extremity of the connector is snugly fitted over an end of the lance and its other extremity serves to detachably support the device 6 in a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connector and / or lance . the device 6 is elongated and is preferably comprised of a pair of moulded half sections , each having an enlarged or head portion 9 provided with a recess 10 , and a reduced extended portion 11 provided with a semi - cylindrical groove 12 . when the sections are correctly assembled , the recesses define a chamber 10 &# 39 ; and the extended portions 11 and grooves 12 define a tubular formation . the device also preferably includes a tubular means 13 , preferably in the form of a cylindrical tube of pyrex , quartz or equivalent material which has an inner extremity secured in the opening and an outer free extremity provided with a bevelled inlet or entrance 14 for entry into the stream 2 . a tubular casing or sleeve 15 , preferably of pasteboard , is snugly fitted about the extended portions 11 of the half sections whereby to hold the sections and so that the tubular means 7 is more or less clamped between the extended portions . an apertured member 16 or cement preferably surrounds the tubular means 7 and is snugly fitted or packed into the sleeve and against the portions 11 whereby to prevent entry of molten metal between the sleeve and portions 11 and between the latter and the tubular means . a layer of cement 17 , as depicted in fig1 of said continuation , may also be utilized to secure a tubular means in a tubular formation or a casing about the tubular formation . it should be noted that the sections are provided with mating notches whereby to provide vents 18 ( one shown ) at the sides of the heads 9 . it may also be noted that the head portions having planar parallel side surfaces , planar end surfaces and rounded surfaces which merge into the extended portions 11 . the extended portions may be referred to as channel portions which form a tubular formation which receives the tubular means 7 . referring back to the tubular member 8 which constitutes the connector 5 , it is provided with a round side opening 19 for accommodating the sleeve or casing 15 of the device as depicted in fig3 and 4 and with a pair of curved wings or outwardly extending portions 20 disposed generally opposite or across from the opening 19 . these wings or portions 20 are formed by providing the member with an opening opposite to the opening 19 and by cutting the member 8 along parallel lines 21 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the member and by a longitudinal parting line which extends through the opening opposite the opening 19 so that the portions 20 can be bent outwardly whereby the parting line will form marginal edges 22 on the wings and the opening opposite the opening 19 will define a pair of arcuate notches 22 &# 39 ; interrupting the edge 22 . the wing portions may be considered to be resiliently flexible or yieldable in character so that they can be manually spread apart in order that the parallel side edges of the head portions 9 will be received and gripped in the notch as evidenced in fig2 and 4 to hold the device in a position substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connector and / or lance so that an operator standing safely at one side or offside of the stream 2 can readily manipulate the lance to cause the entrance 14 of the device to enter the stream whereby to obtain a sample thereof as distinguished from at least some other equipment in use which requires an operator to stand in what may be termed a dangerous position to obtain a sample . the lance or member 8 may be moved with respect to one another to cause an inner end of the lance to engage the sleeve 15 of the device as best shown in fig4 whereby to assist in stabilizing or holding the device in relation to the member . it should be noted that the wing portions 20 are preferably spread apart sufficiently so that the sleeve 15 of the device can be inserted into the opening 19 and the head portions 9 into the notches 22 &# 39 ; by a single thrust of the device , or if desired the wings may be opened to a lesser extent to permit entry of the sleeve into the opening 19 so that the planar faces of the head portions will engage the opposed marginal edges 22 of the wings whereupon the device may be rotated 90 ° to cause the wings to spread apart in order that their notches 22 &# 39 ; will receive the edges of the head portions . it should also be noted that the device is preferably inset from the outer end of the tubular connector a sufficient distance so that any normal charring or disintegration of the outer end resulting from engagement with any molten metal will not accidently release the device . of further significance is the fact that the wing portions also assist in holding the half sections assembled and promote safety as they also serve as shields to protect the half sections from spraying metal as well as an operator using the device . if so desired , the device can be assembled with the connector as exemplified in fig5 whereby the marginal end portions 22 of the wings ( one shown ) will engage or grip the planar side surfaces of the head portions of the sections and an end of the lance may engage the head portions . after a sample is obtained , the device may be readily released from the connector by merely bending back or breaking the wings and pulling the sleeve out of the opening 19 and so that the sleeve 15 and tubular means may be separated from one another including the half sections , the tubular means may be separated from a stem portion of a sample and the head portions of the sections may be released from a head portion of a sample which is joined to the stem portion . referring to fig6 and 8 there is disclosed a modified device generally designated 25 and a modified form of a connector generally designated 26 . the connector 26 is adapted for a telescoping relatively tight fit on an end of a lance 27 . the device 25 is substantially the same as the device 6 above referred but differs therefrom in that end portions 27 of its half sections 28 are provided with notches 29 ( one shown ) which forms a generally rectangular opening axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of a tubular receiving means 30 and through which extends a sheet metal appendage 31 , preferably rectangular in cross - section , so that an inner portion of the appendage is located in a chamber 32 formed by the head portions 28 of the sections and an outer portion 33 provided with an aperture is located exteriorly of the head portions to which a tab may be attached for identification purposes . the notches 29 are similar to those identified as 234 in fig1 and 18 of said continuation . the outer planar side surfaces of the head portions 28 adjacent to the notches 29 are preferably respectively provided with transversely disposed corresponding grooves 34 ( one shown ) so that resiliently flexible clip means 35 having legs 36 joined by a bridge 37 embrace portions of the head portions and so that detents 38 formed on the ends of the legs may be manually located or snapped in the grooves 34 . this clip means serves to hold the head portions together at one extremity of the device and a sleeve or casing 39 serves to hold the channel or extended portions at the other extremity of the device together and about the tubular means 30 . the clip means also serves to cause a portion 40 of the appendage 31 to be locked in the notches 29 , a portion 41 to be locked between the sections and the clip means , and an indented portion 42 of the appendage in one of the grooves 34 . this appendage and clip means are substantially the same as those shown in fig1 in said continuation . the free outer portion 31 not only serves as a means whereby identification means may be attached thereto but is a handle which can be manually grasped or pulled by a tool whereby to release the clip means from the half sections . obviously , the appendage per se may serve as an identification means . the connector 26 is similar to the connector 5 , described above , and is provided with a round side opening 43 which receives the sleeve 29 of the device and with an elongated notch 45 having parallel longitudinal marginal edges 46 , which edges are respectively interrupted by arcuate notches 47 which define a generally round opening opposite the opening 43 whereby the head portions 28 of the device may be manually inserted into the elongated notch whereby the planar side surfaces of the head portions may be caused to engage the edges 46 to hold the device in a position substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis . the opening formed by the arcuate notches 47 obviously afford clearance to facilitate entry of the sleeve 29 through the opening 43 . the tubular means 30 is provided with a bevelled entrance 48 . attention is directed to the fact that the plane of the bevelled entrance 48 of the device 25 is so disposed with reference to the chamber 32 formed by the head portions of the half sections that the inflow of metal or liquid into the chamber is generally more in a horizontal plane , as distinguished from a generally vertical plane when the head portions are disposed as shown in fig4 . a modified form of a connector generally designated 50 is depicted in fig9 . this connector comprises a relatively long cylindrical member having one extremity which is provided with a longitudinal slot 51 of a predetermined width and length in order to accommodate side edge portions of the head portions of half sections of a device generally designated 52 , when the latter is substantially confined in the member . this setup affords protection for the device during shipment or storage prior to use . the opposite extremity of the connector is provided with an opening 53 aligned with the slot 51 , a pair of transverse parallel cuts or scores 54 on opposite sides of the opening and a longitudinal cut or score 55 intersecting the opening so that portions 56 of the member may be bent outwardly to provide wing portions provided with notches in a manner substantially in accord with the structure shown in fig2 for accommodating the head portions of the device in either of the two positions depicted in this fig . and fig5 . the member is also provided with a side opening 57 opposite the opening 53 for accommodating a fore extremity of the device as shown in fig9 . the foregoing structure is unique in that the device is protected substantially within the confines of the connector until it is removed and installed in the connector for use . obviously , the lance is inserted into the slotted extremity of the connector after the device is removed from its storage position and installed to its operative position . fig1 and 13 disclose a modified form of connector generally designated 70 for accommodating a device generally designated 71 which substantially corresponds to the device shown in fig8 above referred to . the connector 70 preferably comprises a cylindrical tubular member provided with an internal abutment means , preferably in the form of an annular ring or element 72 of pasteboard or equivalent material , which is secured in place in the member by staples 73 or equivalent means , or cement . the connector or member 70 is also provided with an opening 75 for accommodating a tubular means 76 of the device and with wings 77 opposite the opening for accommodating head portions 76 of the device . the connector is unique in that the opening 75 receives the tubular means 76 in lieu of the sleeve 71 &# 39 ; as depicted in fig3 . the setup also affords a support for the tubular means in use and assists in preventing any seepage of metal or fluid into the chamber of the device between the tubular means and half sections . another feature resides in the abutment means 72 which receives a portion of the sleeve 71 &# 39 ; and engages one of the half sections and a portion of the sleeve is also disposed in an open end of a tubular lance 79 as depicted in fig1 whereby to lock the device in a correct operative position for use . obviously , the lance may be shifted to the position shown in fig1 , after the device is placed in the connector . if the abutment means is secured in position prior to entry of the device then it may become necessary to slightly cock the device so that the sleeve 71 &# 39 ; may be correctly located in the abutment means when the wings 77 are spread apart . the device may be assembled with the connector as shown in fig1 and 13 or in a different position , such as the one shown in fig5 . fig1 depicts a modified form of a connector generally designated 80 and a lance 81 which substantially respectively correspond to those shown in fig1 and 13 , except that an abutment means 82 is preferably bevelled at its inner end as indicated at 83 whereby to facilitate its entry into the connector and engage curved portions of head portions of a device 84 and the inner end of the lance is preferably bevelled at 85 for also engaging the curved portions and facilitating entry of the lance into the connector , all for the purpose of holding the device in the position shown , which position is different from the one shown in fig1 . the lance may be shifted to the position shown to lock the device in place after the latter has been inserted into the connector . having thus described my invention or inventions , it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention and , therefore , i do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms , constructions , arrangements , and combinations of the parts herein shown and described . | 6 |
fig1 . 1 and 1 . 2 explain the course - radial conversion mode respectively in the case of convergence towards a point and in the case of divergence from a point . until the operational use of absolute positioning means such as gnss , trajectory programming was based on radio - navigation beacons , for example a vor ( very high frequency omnidirectional range ) beacon , possibly associated with distance measuring equipment ( dme ). it was done by radial lines regardless of whether the aircraft was converging toward or diverging from said beacon . the radials are position - plotting lines of which the angle relative to magnetic north in the clockwise direction is measured . these position lines are not oriented according to the direction of movement of the aeroplane on the line . an aircraft that is approaching a beacon and an aircraft that is diverging following opposite headings have the same radial . on the other hand , if the waypoint is not a beacon ( for example an airport runway ), the programming is done by course . the course is the angle measured in the clockwise direction between magnetic north and the aeroplane heading . therefore , an aeroplane that is diverging from the waypoint will have a course 180 ° greater than that of an aeroplane that is approaching thereto following the same direction passing through the point . now , air traffic controllers may give radial interception instructions even when the waypoint is not a radiofrequency beacon and the operator must make the conversion before inputting the procedure into the fms if it offers an interface limited to course interception . fig2 represents an approach and landing phase of an aeroplane and illustrates the problem created by the coexistence of these two procedure modes . an aircraft 10 follows a route passing through points a , b towards waypoints c and d to enter into the capture beam 30 of the approach axis d , e of the landing runway 40 . in the situation illustrated , the aeroplane has been guided to the heading by the operator by following the clearances from air traffic control . if the procedure is to intercept the course of the runway approach means towards the final approach point , the natural procedure is to input a course procedure towards this point . if the interface does not propose this programming means , the operator must enter the value of the opposite direction ( corresponding to a radial ) then check the result on another flight plan display page when executing the command . in practice , the system converts this reference trajectory into a manoeuvre with termination condition ( otherwise known as a leg , these legs are defined in the arinc 424 standard ). in an approach case , the programmed leg is a cf ( course to fix ). in a comparable situation , air traffic control may send clearance to the radial interception operator ( generally to a radio - navigation beacon ). if the reference point is not a radio - navigation beacon , the operator cannot check the result on the flight plan display page when executing the command . in practice , a cf - type manoeuvre will be flown observing the calculated course value ( radial input plus 180 °) and not the programmed radial value . when diverging from a point , the course followed by the aircraft is equal to the radial starting from this point . the system converts this reference trajectory into an fm ( fix to manual , or course from a fixed point to a manual termination ) leg . since this kind of manoeuvre is performed more in the destination runway approach phase , the operator has already been subjected to a high work load and can easily mix up the scenarios . the situation can have critical consequences because the post - checking capabilities are low : the result of the programming actually carried out by the operator is presented on the navigation display following the calculation of the trajectory of the new flight plan . now , a 180 ° error may be detected only when the aeroplane &# 39 ; s servocontrol function is actually engaged . in practice , when the new flight plan is in the system , a trajectory is calculated and presented to the crew , but if the aeroplane is too close to the radial , the guidance will be directly engaged . obviously , the risk of the aircraft actually making a half - turn is limited by the fact that the coupling between flight plan and automatic pilot is disengaged if the deviation between aeroplane heading and trajectory course is greater than 160 °. however , this does not settle all the scenarios likely to occur , like when the capture angle is between 30 ° and 45 °. to resolve these problems uniformly in all cases , including those that can compromise flight safety , the invention therefore provides ways of lifting ambiguity that are suited to the display mode used with the programming : either the navigation display which is in graphic mode or the multifunction display which is in text mode . fig3 . 1 and 3 . 2 represent the graphic display of the course and of the radial respectively in a waypoint approach and divergence case according to an embodiment of the invention . eliminating ambiguity in graphic mode entails making clearly apparent both the fact that the situation is a waypoint approach or divergence situation and the difference or the equality of the two course and radial angles . in a preferred embodiment of the invention , the approach / divergence difference is underscored by three symbolic representations : the course that is actually flown ( approaching or diverging from the waypoint ) is represented for example as a solid line ; the solid line ends with an arrow head next to the rhombus symbol which represents the waypoint in an approach scenario and at the opposite end in a divergence scenario ; the course that is not flown ( forward of the waypoint in an approach scenario and backward of the waypoint in a divergence scenario ) is represented for example by a dotted line . the graphic representations can have a number of variants provided that they fulfil the same technical function , namely clearly differentiating approach and divergence situations . furthermore , when the values of the course and the radial are different ( by 180 °) they both appear on the graphic navigation display . such is the case of fig3 . 1 which represents an approach scenario with a course of 240 ° and a radial of 60 °. in the case of fig3 . 2 , the course and the radial both have a value equal to 90 °. in the case of fig3 . 1 , if the operator enters the procedure in the form of a 60 ° radial interception , the system calculates the course of the cf leg which must be inserted into the flight plan to allow the trajectory observing the convergent radial to be calculated . in the case illustrated , the course is equal to 240 °. in the state of the art , the numerical values are not displayed on the parameter input interface , the course being represented only graphically . according to the invention , the radial value input by the operator and the course value are both represented both symbolically as explained above and numerically . the numerical course and radial values are respectively attached to the leg flown ( continuous line in the figure ) and to the leg not flown which is situated on the other side of the waypoint ( broken line in the figure ). the procedure can also be input as a course . in this case , the radial is not directly involved but is nevertheless displayed . to input one of the two data , there are a number of possible means ; the course or the radial can be input : by its numerical value on the keyboard ; by rotating the operator thumbwheel which varies an initially displayed value ; by using the arrows on the keyboard or any other interface means with the navigation display , to rotate the direction of the course or of the radial represented by the line . in the example of fig3 . 2 , course and radial are equal . in the exemplary embodiment illustrated , it has been chosen to display only a single value given that the two are equal . when the programming is done by the multifunction display , and therefore in text mode , it is also important to distinguish the approach and divergence scenarios . fig4 represents the textual display of the same procedures according to an embodiment of the invention . according to the invention , this elimination of ambiguity in text mode is provided by the vocabulary . in the case of an approach , the direction of the manoeuvre , in , is attached to the expressions course and radial . in the case of a divergence , in the embodiment illustrated , it has been chosen to use the same word intercept for the course and the radial since they are equal . it would be possible to envisage including the two expressions course out and radial out with the same value . the invention requires no hardware modification to the flight management system . some calculation and display loops , certain symbols and certain names displayed for the fields of the flight database must be modified . those skilled in the art will nevertheless be able to make these modifications based on the information in this description . the examples described hereinabove are given as illustrations of embodiments of the invention . they in no way limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims . | 6 |
the present invention relates to new diazepine derivatives , to processes for their production , to pharmaceutical compositions containing the new compounds , and to the use thereof . the new diazepine derivatives correspond to the general formula i : ## spc1 ## r 1 represents a hydrogen atom of an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms , and either each of the symbols r 2 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms , or the symbols r 2 together represent a bivalent , saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms , and wherein each of the rings a and b , independently of the other , may be substituted by one or more bromine , chlorine and / or fluorine atoms and / or trifluoromethyl groups , nitro groups , alkyl groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and / or alkoxy groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms . the invention also relates to the 5 - oxides of the compounds of the general formula i , and to the addition salts of the compounds of the general formula i with inorganic and organic acids . as an alkyl group in the compounds of the general formula i , r 1 is , e . g . the methyl , ethyl or propyl group . r 2 as an alkyl group is , e . g . the propyl , isopropyl , butyl , isobutyl or sec . butyl group , and particularly the methyl or ethyl group ; or -- r 2 . r 2 -- as a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 5 carbon atoms is , e . g . the ethylene , propylene , ethyl - ethylene , trimethylene , tetramethylene , 2 , 2 - dimethyl - trimethylene , or the 2 - ethyl - trimethylene group . halogen atoms as substituents of the rings a and b are fluorine , chlorine or bromine atoms ; whilst as alkyl groups or alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms , the following are , for example , suitable : methyl , ethyl , propyl , isopropyl , butyl , isobutyl , tert . butyl , pentyl , isopentyl , 2 , 2 - dimethyl - propyl , hexyl or isohexyl groups , or methoxy , ethoxy , propoxy , isopropoxy , butoxy , isobutoxy , pentyloxy , isopentyloxy , 2 , 2 - dimethylpropoxy , hexyloxy or isohexyloxy groups . a substituent of ring a is , in particular , in the 8 - position , and is preferably fluorine , bromine , the nitro group , the trifluoromethyl group and , in particular , chlorine . ring b is preferably unsubstituted , or substituted by fluorine , chlorine or bromine in any desired position , especially , however , by fluorine or chlorine in the o - position . the compounds of the general formula i , their 5 - oxides and their addition salts with inorganic and organic acids possess valuable pharmacological properties . they exhibit , in particular , anticonvulsive and central - depressant activity and relax the muscular system . the anticonvulsive effectiveness can be determined , e . g . in the pentetrazole convulsion test on the mouse with oral doses from ca . 0 . 02 mg / kg , as well as in the strychnin convulsion test , in the electric shock test , and in the psychomotor electric shock test on the mouse after oral administration . the central - depressant activity is shown , for example , from the anaesthetic - potentiating effectiveness on the mouse after oral administration ; this is , however , less pronounced compared with the anticonvulsive activity . the muscle - relaxing activity is reflected , for example , in the inhibition of polysynaptic reflexes on the rabbit after intravenous administration . the mentioned properties and others , which can be determined by selected standard tests [ cp . w . theobald and h . a . kunz , arzneimittelforsch . 13 , 122 ( 1963 ), and w . theobald et al ., arzneimittelforsch . 17 , 561 ( 1967 )], characterise the compounds of the general formula i , their 5 - oxides , as well as their physiologically tolerable addition salts with inorganic and organic acids , as active substances for tranquillisers , sedatives , muscle - relaxants and antiepileptics which are applicable , e . g . for the treatment of states of tension and agitation , for the lowering of the tension of the striated muscular system , as well as for the treatment of epilepsy . compounds of the general formula i which are of particular importance are those in which r 1 represents hydrogen or the methyl group , and r 2 the methyl or ethyl group , the ring a is unsubstituted or substituted by fluorine , chlorine , bromine , the nitro or trifluoromethyl group , and the ring b is either unsubstituted or carries at least one of the substituents metioned for ring a , especially fluorine , chlorine or bromine , with preferably at least one of the rings a and b being substituted . particularly valuable compounds within this group are those having the general formula i a ## spc2 ## r 1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group , each of the symbols r 2 represents a methyl or ethyl group , and r 3 and r 4 , independently of each other represent hydrogen , a chlorine , fluorine or bromine atom , or a nitro or trifluoro methyl group , at least one of the symbols r 3 and r 4 being other than hydrogen of the compounds of the general formula i a , those are most preferred wherein r 1 is hydrogen , r 2 is a methyl or ethyl group , r 3 is hydrogen or a chlorine atom and r 4 is hydrogen or a fluorine or chlorine atom , at least one of the symbols r 3 and r 4 being other than hydrogen . mentioned as examples of highly effective compounds from this group are : 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , 6 -( o - fluorophenyl )- 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , 6 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , and 6 -( o - chloro - phenyl )- 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , 5 - oxides of the compounds of the general formula i , and particularly of the preferred types , in addition to having valuable pharmacological properties themselves , are of importance also as intermediates for the production of further pharmacologically effective compounds . the new compounds of the general formula i , their 5 - oxides and their addition salts are produced with application of a first process according to the invention by the condensation of a compound of the general formula ii : ## spc3 ## x represents a mercapto group , a lower alkoxy or alkylthio group optionally activated by a substituent , or an optionally mono - or disubstituted amino group , r 1 has the meaning given under formula i , and the rings a and b can be substituted as stated under formula i , with a compound of the general formula iii : ## equ1 ## wherein r 2 or -- r 2 . r 2 -- has the meaning given under formula i ; and , optionally , the oxidation of the obtained reaction product to its 5 - oxide , or the conversion thereof into an addition salt with an inorganic or organic acid . as lower alkylthio groups , x is preferably the methylthio or ethylthio group , and as alkoxy groups the methoxy or ethoxy group . these groups can be activated by a substituent . such activated groups are , e . g . the o - or p - nitrobenzylthio group and the o - or p - nitrobenzyloxy group , respectively . as a mono - substituted amino group , x is , in particular , a lower alkylamino group such as the methylamino group , or an aralkylamino group such as the benzylamino group . as disubstituted amino group , x is , in particular , a lower dialkylamino group such as the dimethylamino group . the reaction according to the invention is preferably performed at a reaction temperature of ca . 80 ° to 160 ° c in an inert solvent . suitable inert solvents are , for example , hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene , halogenated hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzene , a lower alkanol , preferably one agreeing with that of the acetal grouping , such as , e . g . ethanol or butanol , ethereal liquids such as diethylene glycol dimethyl ether , diethylene glycol diethyl ether , or dioxane and amides , especially n , n , n &# 39 ;, n &# 39 ;, n &# 34 ;, n &# 34 ;- hexamethyl - phosphoric acid triamide , or sulphoxides such as dimethylsulphoxide . the reaction times are between ca . 1 hour and 24 hours . starting substances embraced by the general formula ii are described in the literature ; see , amongst others , l . h . sternbach and e . reeder , j . org . chem . 26 , 1111 ( 1961 ), s . c . bell et al ., j . med . chem . 5 , 63 ( 1962 ), g . a . archer and l . h . sternbach , j . org . chem . 29 , 231 ( 1964 ) and j . farber et al ., j . med . chem . 7 , 235 ( 1964 ). furthermore , compounds embraced by the general formula iii have been described , such as , e . g . dimethoxyacetic acid hydrazide ( cp . e . j . browne and j . b . polya , j . chem . soc . 1962 , 5149 ). further compounds of the general formulae ii and iii can be produced analogously to the procedure for the known compounds . for example , further starting materials of the general formula ii having an optionally substituted amino group x can be obtained by reduction of the corresponding 4 - oxides described in the literature . suitable oxidising agents for the subsequent conversion of compounds of the general formula i into their 5 - oxides are preferably hydrogen peroxide or peroxy acids , at a temperature of ca . 0 ° to 70 ° c . suitable peroxy acids are , e . g . peroxyacetic acid , or peroxybenzoic acids such as peroxybenzoic acid or , in particular , m - chloroperoxybenzoic acid . the oxidising agents are preferably used in a solvent , e . g . peroxyacetic acid in acetic acid , and peroxybenzoic acid in halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride or chloroform . compounds of the general formula i or their 5 - oxides , as well as their addition salts with inorganic or organic acids , are produced with application of a second process according to the invention by the reaction of an aldehyde of the general formula iv : ## spc4 ## wherein r 1 has the meaning given under formula i , and the rings a and b can be substituted as stated under formula i , with a compound of the general formula v or vi : ## equ2 ## wherein r 2 or -- r 2 . r 2 -- has the meaning given under formula i ; and , optionally the oxidation of the obtained reaction product to its 5 - oxide , or the conversion of the said reaction product into an addition salt with an inorganic or organic acid . the reaction according to the invention is preferably performed in a solvent , e . g . in an excess of the employed alkanol of the general formula v , or of an alkanediol of the general formula vi , in the presence of a catalyst . the catalyst used is , for example , a mineral acid , e . g . sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid , an aromatic sulphonic acid , e . g . the o - or p - toluenesulphonic acid , or a lewis acid , e . g . boron trifluoride . the reaction is performed at a temperature of from ca . 20 ° to 170 ° c , particularly at the boiling temperature of the employed solvent . the starting materials of the general formula iv can be obtained , for example , as follows : the starting compounds are compounds of the previously defined general formula ii ; these are reacted with benzyloxyacetic acid hydrazide to give corresponding 1 - benzyloxymethyl - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepines , which are split with hydrobromic acid to corresponding 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - methanols ; the obtained alcohols are subsequently oxidised with dimethylsulphoxide in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and phosphoric acid . the oxidation of the obtained compounds of the general formula i to their 5 - oxides was described in conjunction with the first process . the compounds of the general formula i , their 5 - oxides , and their addition salts with inorganic or organic acids are obtained with application of a third process according to the invention by the condensation of a compound of the general formula vii : ## spc5 ## wherein r 1 has the meaning given under formula i , and the rings a and b can be substituted as stated therein , with a reactive ester of a compound of the general formula viii : ## equ3 ## wherein r 2 or -- r 2 . r 2 -- has the meaning given under formula i ; and , optionally , the oxidation of the obtained reaction product to its 5 - oxide , or the conversion of the said reaction product into an addition salt with an inorganic or organic acid . as reactive esters of a compound of the general formula viii , it is possible to use , e . g . lower alkyl esters , particularly the methyl or ethyl ester . the reaction according to the invention is preferably carried out at a reaction temperature of ca . 80 ° to 160 ° c in an inert solvent . suitable inert solvents are , e . g . hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene , halogenated hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzene , a lower alkanol , preferably one corresponding to the alkanol of the acetal grouping , such as , e . g . ethanol or butanol , ethereal liquids such as diethylene glycol methyl ether or dioxane , and amides , particularly n , n , n &# 39 ;, n &# 39 ;, n &# 34 ;, n &# 34 ;- hexamethyl - phosphoric acid triamide . the reaction times are between ca . 1 hour and 24 hours . starting materials of the general formula vii are known , e . g . 2 - hydrazino - 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine ( cp . kanji meguro and yutaka kuwada , tetrahedron letters 1970 , 4039 ). further compounds of this type can be produced analogously . the oxidation of the obtained compounds of the general formula i to their 5 - oxides was described in conjunction with the first process . the compounds of the general formula i obtained by the processes according to the invention are optionally subsequently converted , in the usual manner , into their addition salts with inorganic and organic acids . for example , the acid desired as the salt component is added to a solution of a compound of the general formula i in an organic solvent . the organic solvents preferred for the reaction are ones in which the formed salt is difficultly soluble , and can hence be separated by filtration . such solvents are , e . g . methanol , ether , acetone , methyl ethyl ketone , acetone / ether , acetone / ethanol , methanol / ether or ethanol / ether . for use as pharmaceutical compositions it is possible to use , instead of free bases , physiologically tolerable acid addition salts , i . e . salts with such acids of which the anions are not toxic in the dosage amounts concerned . moreover , it is of advantage if the salts to be used as pharmaceutical compositions crystallise well , and are not , or only slightly , hygroscopic . for salt formation with compounds of the general formula i it is possible to use , e . g . hydrochloric acid , hydrobromic acid , sulphuric acid , phosphoric acid , methanesulphonic acid , ethanesulphonic acid , 2 - hydroxyethanesulphonic acid , or perchloric acid . the new active substances are administered orally , rectally or parenterally . the dosage depends on the manner of administration , on the age , and on the individual condition . the daily dosages of the free bases , their 5 - oxides , and of physiologically tolerable acid addition salts of the free bases vary between 0 . 02 and 4 mg / kg for warm - blooded animals . suitable dosage units , such as dragees , tablets or suppositories , preferably contain 0 . 5 - 25 mg of an active substance according to the invention . dosage units for oral administration contain as active substance preferably between 1 - 50 % of a compound of the general formula i , of its 5 - oxide or of a corresponding physiologically tolerable salt . they are produced by combining the active substance , e . g . with solid pulverulent carriers such as lactose , saccharose , sorbitol , mannitol ; starches such as potato starch , maize starch or amylopectin , also laminaria powder or citrus pulp powder ; cellulose derivatives or gelatine , optionally with the addition of lubricants such as magnesium or calcium stearate , or polyethylene glycols , to form tablets or dragee cores . the dragee cores are coated , e . g . with concentrated sugar solutions which may also contain , e . g . gum arabic , talcum and / or titanium dioxide ; or with a lacquer dissolved in readily volatile organic solvents or mixtures of solvents . dyestuffs can be added to these coatings , e . g . to distinguish between varying dosages of active substance . further dosage units suitable for oral administration are hard gelatine capsules , as well as soft closed capsules made from gelatine and a softener , such as glycerin . the hard capsules preferably contain the active substance as a granulate , e . g . in admixture with fillers such as maize starch , and / or lubricants such as talcum or magnesium stearate , and optionally stabilisers such as sodium metabisulphite ( na 2 s 2 o 5 ) or ascorbic acid . in soft capsules , the active substance is preferably dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids such as polyethylene glycols , whereby stabilisers may also be added . suitable dosage units for rectal administration are , e . g . suppositories consisting of a combination of an active substance with a suppository base material . suitable suppository base materials are , e . g . natural or synthetic triglycerides , paraffin hydrocarbons , polyethylene glycols , or higher alkanols . also suitable are gelatine rectal capsules consisting of a combination of the active substance with a base material . suitable as a base material are , e . g . liquid triglycerides , polyethylene glycols , or paraffin hydrocarbons . ampoules for parenteral administration , especially intramuscular administration , preferably contain a water - soluble salt of an active substance in a concentration of preferably 0 , 1 - 1 %, optionally together with suitable stabilisers and buffer substances , in aqueous solution . the following prescriptions further illustrate the production of tablets , dragees , capsules , suppositories and ampoules : a . 50 g of 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal are mixed with 175 . 8 g of lactose and 169 . 70 g of potato starch ; the mixture is then moistened with an alcoholic solution of 10 g of stearic acid , and granulated through a sieve . after drying the granulate , 160 g of potato starch , 200 g of talcum , 2 . 50 g of magnesium stearate and 32 g of colloidal silicon dioxide are mixed in ; the mixture is subsequently pressed into 10 , 000 tablets each weighing 80 mg and each containing 5 mg of active substance . the tablets can , if required , be provided with grooves for a more precise adjustment of the dosage amount . b . a granulate is produced from 50 g of 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 . 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , 175 . 90 g of lactose , and the alcoholic solution of 10 g of stearic acid . after drying of the granulate , it is mixed with 56 . 60 g of colloidal silicon dioxide , 165 g of talcum , 20 g of potato starch and 2 . 50 g of magnesium stearate ; the mixture is then pressed into 10 , 000 dragee cores . these are subsequently coated with a concentrated syrup made from 502 . 28 g of crystallised saccharose , 6 g shellac , 10 g of gum arabic , 0 . 22 g of dyestuff and 1 . 5 g of titanium dioxide ; they are then dried . the obtained dragees each weigh 100 mg and each contain 5 mg of active substance . c . to produce 1000 capsules each containing 5 mg of active substance , 5 g of 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal are mixed with 268 . 0 g of lactose ; the mixture is evenly moistened with an aqueous solution of 2 . 0 g of gelatine , and then granulated through a suitable sieve ( e . g . sieve iii , ph . helv . v ). the granulate is mixed with 10 . 0 g of dried maize starch and 15 . 0 g of talcum ; the mixture is then evenly filled into 1000 hard gelatine capsules , size 1 . d . a suppository base mixture is prepared from 1 . 0 g 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal and 169 . 0 g of adeps solidus ; the mixture is then filled into 100 suppositories each containing 10 mg of active substance . as active substances for the above described or other dosage units , e . g . the identical amounts of 6 -( o - fluorophenyl )- 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , 6 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , 6 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal or 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - dimethylacetal can be used as well . the following examples further illustrate the production of the new compounds of the general formula i , as well as of starting materials not hitherto known ; these examples , however , in no way limit the scope of the invention . temperatures are given in degrees centigrade . for elution chromatography , silica gel merck ( registered trademark ), 0 . 05 to 0 . 2 mm grain , is used . the petroleum ether employed is always one having a boiling range of 40 ° to 65 ° c . a solution of 60 . 0 g of 2 - methylthio - 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine [ cp . g . a . archer et al ., j . org . chem . 29 , 231 ( 1964 )] and 38 . 8 g of diethoxyacetic acid hydrazide in 460 ml of abs . hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide is heated for 6 hours at 140 °. the solvent is then distilled off in vacuo , and the residue distributed between methylene chloride and water . the organic phase is separated , washed with saturated sodium chloride solution , dried over sodium sulphate , and concentrated by evaporation . the residue is recrystallised from ethyl acetate / ether / petroleum ether , whereupon pure 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal is obtained , which melts at 133 °- 135 °. the diethoxyacetic acid hydrazide used as starting material is prepared as follows : a . an amount of 81 . 0 g of diethoxyacetic acid methyl ester is dissolved in 800 ml of abs . ethanol ; an addition is made to the solution of 50 . 0 g of hydrazine hydrate , and the mixture allowed to stand for 20 hours at 25 °. the reaction mixture is then filtered , the filtrate concentrated in vacuo , and the residue distilled . the obtained diethoxyacetic acid hydrazide boils at 120 °- 150 °/ 0 . 005 torr , m . p . 30 °- 40 °. a solution of 15 . 9 g of 2 -( methylthio )- 5 -( o - fluorophenyl )- 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine and 9 . 7 g of diethoxyacetic acid hydrazide in 100 ml of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide is heated for 10 hours at 140 °; processing is then carried out analogously to the procedure described in example 1 , and the residue recrystallised from ethyl acetate / petroleum ether to obtain 6 -( o - fluorophenyl )- 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , m . p . 120 °- 121 °. the following are obtained in an analogous manner : with the use of 16 . 7 g of 2 -( methylthio )- 5 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 7 - chloro - 3h - benzodiazepine :- 6 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , m . p . 120 °- 121 . 5 ° ( from ethyl acetate / petroleum ether ); with the use of 17 . 3 g of 2 -( methylthio )- 5 - phenyl - 7 - bromo - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine :- 6 - phenyl - 8 - bromo - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal ; and with the use of 16 . 5 g of 2 -( methylthio )- 5 -( o - methoxyphenyl )- 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine :- 6 -( o - methoxyphenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal . the substituted 2 -( methylthio )- 5 - phenyl - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepines required as starting materials for the aforementioned final materials are obtainable from the corresponding substituted 1 , 3 - dihydro - 5 - phenyl - 2h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine - 2 - thiones described in j . org . chem . 29 , 231 ( 1964 ) analogously to the process described therein for 2 -( methylthio )- 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine . the following are moreover likewise obtained analogously to the above example : from 15 . 7 g of 2 -( methylthio )- 3 - methyl - 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine :- 3 - methyl - 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , m . p . 151 °- 153 ° ( from ethyl acetate / petroleum ether ); the substituted 2 -( methylthio )- 5 - phenyl - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepines required as starting materials are obtained , starting with the correspondingly substituted 1 , 3 - dihydro - 5 - phenyl - 2h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepin - 2 - ones , of which the compounds containing a trifluoromethyl group are described in the american patent 3 , 341 , 392 , and , in some cases , also in helv . chim . acta 45 , 2226 ( 1962 ), and the remaining four compounds in j . org . chem . 27 , 3788 ( 1962 ), by conversion into the corresponding 2 - thiones , and reaction of these with dimethylsulphate in methanolic sodium hydroxide solution , analogously to the process described in j . org . chem . 29 , 231 ( 1964 ). a solution of 12 . 0 g of 2 - methylthio - 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine and 7 . 0 g of dimethoxyacetic acid hydrazide ( cp . e . j . browne and j . b . polya , j . chem . soc . 1962 , 5149 - 5152 ) in 100 ml of abs . hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide is heated for 9 hours at 140 °. the obtained 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - dimethylacetal melts at 166 °- 172 °. by reaction of 15 . 0 g of 2 -( methylthio )- 5 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine with 9 . 7 g of diethoxyacetic acid hydrazide in 100 ml of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide , analogously to example 1 , and crystallisation of the crude product from ethyl acetate / petroleum ether , 6 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , m . p . 145 °- 146 °, is obtained . the 2 - methylthio compound required as starting material is produced from the 1 , 3 - dihydro - 5 -( o - chlorophenyl )- 2h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepin - 2 - one described by l . h . sternbach et al ., j . med . chem . 6 , 261 - 265 ( 1963 ) by conversion into the corresponding 2 - thione , and reaction of this with dimethylsulphate in methanolic sodium hydroxide solution , analogously to the process described in j . org . chem . 29 , 231 ( 1964 ), m . p . 109 °- 111 ° ( from ethyl acetate / petroleum ether ). a solution of 7 . 0 g of 7 - chloro - 2 - mercapto - 5 - phenyl - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine [ cp . g . a . archer and l . h . sternbach , j . org . chem . 29 , 231 ( 1964 )] and 5 . 7 g of diethoxyacetic acid hydrazide in 50 ml of abs . ethanol is refluxed for 25 hours . the reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo , and the obtained crude product is processed as described in example 1 , whereupon 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , m . p . 133 °- 135 °, is obtained . a . a solution of 200 mg of 2 -( dimethylamino )- 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine [ cp . j . farber et al ., j . med . chem . 7 , 235 ( 1964 )] and 150 mg of diethoxyacetic acid hydrazide in 3 ml of abs . hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide is heated for 10 hours at 140 °. the reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo , and the crude product processed as described under example 1 , whereupon 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , m . p . 133 °- 135 °, is obtained . b . the identical final material is obtained also by the use of the following starting materials , instead of 2 -( dimethylamino )- 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine : 180 mg of 2 - amino - 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine [ cp . s . c . bell et al ., j . med . chem . 5 , 63 ( 1962 )], or 240 mg of 2 -( benzylamino )- 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine ( obtainable according to the british patent 1 , 023 , 793 , or from the 4 - oxide described by s . c . bell et al ., loc . cit . analogously to l . h . sternbach et al ., loc . cit . ), or 190 mg of 2 -( methylamino )- 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine [ cp . l . h . sternbach et al ., j . org . chem . 26 , 1111 ( 1961 )]. the three aforementioned starting materials can be produced , for example , by the process of the german offenlegungsschrift 1 , 933 , 986 , chemical abstracts 72 , 100772 h ( 1970 ), or analogously to the previously mentioned 2 - amino compound . a mixture of 300 mg of 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - methanol , 0 . 57 g of dicyclohexyl - carbodiimide , 45 mg of phosphoric acid and 3 ml of abs . dimethylsulphoxide is stirred for 6 days at 25 ° and for a further 2 days at 70 °- 80 °. methylene chloride is then added , the organic phase washed with water and saturated sodium chloride solution , dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated by evarporation . crude 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde is obtained , which is dissolved in 5 ml of ethanol . an addition is made to the obtained solution of 100 mg of p - toluenesulphonic acid , and the mixture refluxed for 10 hours . the solution is concentrated in vacuo . the residue is taken up in methylene chloride , the organic phase washed with 5 % aqueous potassium carbonate solution and with saturated sodium chloride solution , dried over sodium sulphate , and concentrated by evaporation . the residue is recrystallised from ethyl acetate / ether / petroleum ether to obtain 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal , m . p . 133 °- 135 °. a . a solution of 30 g of 2 - methylthio - 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine [ cp . g . a . archer et al ., j . org . chem . 29 , 231 ( 1964 )] and 19 . 8 g of benzyloxyacethydrazide [ cp . th . curtius and n . schwan , j . prakt . chem . [ 2 ] 51 , 353 ( 1895 )] in 160 ml of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide is heated for 8 hours at 140 °. the solvent is then distilled off in vacuo , and the residue distributed between methylene chloride and water . the organic phase is separated , washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution , dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation . 1 - benzyloxymethyl - 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine crystallises out ; it melts at 163 °- 165 °. b . an amount of 25 g of the compound prepared according to ( a ) is dissolved in 200 ml of glacial acetic acid ; an addition of 170 ml of 48 % hydrobromic acid is then made to the above solution . the mixture is refluxed for 90 minutes , cooled to 5 ° and , whilst stirring is maintained , adjusted with sodium hydroxide solution to ph 6 ; water and methylene chloride are then added . the organic phase is separated , washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution , dried over sodium sulphate , and concentrated by evaporation . the residue is dissolved in ethyl acetate / methanol ( 9 : 1 ), the solution filtered through a column of 150 g of silicagel merck ( registered trademark ), 0 . 05 - 0 . 2 mm grain , and the column eluted with ethyl acetate - methanol ( 9 : 1 ) to ( 7 : 3 ). the eluate is concentrated by evaporation and the residue crystallised from ethyl acetate / ether to obtain 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - methanol , m . p . 209 °- 211 °. a solution of 2 - hydrazino - 5 - phenyl - 7 - chloro - 3h - 1 , 4 - benzodiazepine [ cp . kanji meguro and yutaka kuwada , tetrahedron letters 1970 , 4039 ( 1970 )] and 5 g of diethoxyacetic acid ethyl ester in 50 ml of n , n , n &# 39 ;, n &# 39 ;, n &# 34 ;, n &# 34 ;- hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide is heated for 5 hours at 100 °. the reaction mixture is then concentrated in vacuo , and the residue distributed between methylene chloride and water . the organic phase is washed with water and saturated sodium chloride solution , dried over sodium sulphate , and concentrated by evaporation . the residue is recrystallised from ethyl acetate / ether / petroleum ether , whereupon the obtained pure 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal melts at 133 ° - 135 °. a solution of 7 . 64 g ( 0 . 024 mole ) of m - chloro - peroxybenzoic acid in 140 ml of methylene chloride is added dropwise within 15 minutes at 0 °- 5 °, with stirring , to a solution of 9 . 0 g ( 0 . 0126 mole ) of 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal in 100 ml of methylene chloride . the reaction mixture is stirred in a melting ice bath for a further 16 hours ; the mixture is subsequently concentrated in vacuo and ether added to the residue . the precipitated crystals are filtered under suction , and washed twice with hot ethyl acetate . the obtained 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal - 5 - oxide melts at 200 °- 202 °. an amount of 0 . 13 g ( 0 . 0013 mole ) of perchloric acid is added to a solution of 0 . 5 g ( 0 . 00126 mole ) of 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal in 3 ml each of acetone and methanol . the salt crystallises out after the addition of 5 ml of petroleum ether . filtration under suction is then performed and 6 - phenyl - 8 - chloro - 4h - s - triazolo [ 4 , 3 - a ][ 1 , 4 ] benzodiazepine - 1 - carboxaldehyde - diethylacetal - perchlorate obtained , which decomposes at 250 °- 265 °. | 2 |
[ 0011 ] fig1 is a schematic diagram of prior art write circuit 10 . write circuit 10 includes resistors r 1 , r 2 , r 3 , r 4 , r 5 and r 6 , transistors q 1 , q 2 , q 3 , q 4 , q 5 and q 6 , current sources i 1 and i 2 , and inductive head 12 having inductance l h . transistors q 1 and q 2 make up the upper switching portion of the circuit , while transistors q 3 - q 4 and q 5 - q 6 are configured as current mirrors to form the lower portion of the circuit . transistors q 1 and q 2 each have a parasitic capacitance c p which is represented schematically in fig1 . fig2 a - 2 c are graphs of waveforms which occur in operation of the circuit of fig1 . current sources i 1 and i 2 provide current in an alternating fashion , as shown by waveforms 20 ( fig2 a ) and 22 ( fig2 b ), respectively . these currents result in a current flowing through one of transistors q 1 and q 2 and through head 12 ( fig1 ). because of the parasitic capacitances of transistors q 1 and q 2 and their effect on frequency response , the current i head flowing through head 12 ( shown by waveform 24 , fig2 c ) takes time to transition between steady state values in opposite directions , known as the “ rise time .” the frequency response of the emitter follower is governed by the following equation , which determines the effective pole of the frequency response : f = 1 2 π r c p ( eq . 1 ) where r is the value of the resistor connected to the base of the switching transistor and c p is the parasitic capacitance of the transistor . for transistor q 1 , the relevant resistor is r 1 , and for transistor q 2 , the relevant resistor is r 2 . in most exemplary embodiments , resistors r 1 and r 2 are selected to have equal resistances and transistors q 1 and q 2 are selected to have equal parasitic capacitances , to preserve the symmetry of the circuit . in order to improve the frequency response of the emitter follower ( that is , increase the frequency of the effective pole ), either the resistance or parasitic capacitance must be reduced . it is not practical to reduce the parasitic capacitance , since the current - carrying capability of the transistor would be compromised . a reduction in the resistance is therefore desirable . [ 0015 ] fig3 is a schematic diagram of write circuit 30 employing capacitive boost according to the present invention . write circuit 30 includes resistors r a1 , r a2 , r b , r c1 , r c2 , r d , r e , r f , r g and r h , transistors q a , q b , q c , q d , q e , q f , q g and q h , capacitors c 1 and c 2 , current sources i a1 , i a2 , i b1 , i b2 , i dc1 and i dc2 , and head 12 having an inductance l h . transistors q a , q b , q c and q d make up the upper switching portion of the circuit , while transistors q e - q f and q g - q h are configured as current mirrors to form the lower portion of the circuit to pull current through the write head . transistors q a , q b , q c and q d have respective parasitic capacitances c pa , c pb , c pc and c pd which are represented schematically in fig3 . fig4 a - 4 e are graphs of waveforms which occur in operation of the circuit of fig3 . current sources i a1 , i a2 , i b1 and i b2 are configured to provide pre - drive currents . current sources i a1 / a2 and i b1 / b2 provide current in an alternating fashion , as shown by waveforms 40 ( fig4 a ), 42 ( fig4 b ), 44 ( fig4 c ) and 46 ( fig4 d ), respectively . the write current i head flowing through the write head is shown as waveform 48 ( fig4 e ). referring again to fig3 transistors q c and q d are configured as emitter - followers . resistors r a1 and r c1 are selected to have a value of about 75 % of the value of a conventional pull - up resistor ( such as r 1 shown in fig1 ). transistors q c and q d therefore have good high frequency response , since the resistance is reduced ( see eq . 1 ). current sources i dc1 and i dc2 provide a dc current to ensure that transistors q c and q d are always on . as a result , the signals at the emitters of transistors q c and q d accurately reflect the signal content of the input signals provided by current sources i a1 and i b1 . series capacitors c 1 and c 2 pass the high frequency content of the signals at the emitters of transistors q c and q d on to node 32 between resistors r a2 and r b ( an intermediate point of the pull - up resistance ) and to node 34 between resistors r c2 and r d ( an intermediate point of the pull - up resistance ), respectively . resistors r a2 and r c2 are selected to have values equal to the values of resistors r a1 and r a2 ( about 75 % of the value of a conventional pull - up resistor ), and resistors r b and r d are elected to have a value of about 25 % of the value of a conventional pull - up resistor . since resistors r a2 and r b are connected in series between the base of transistor q a and v cc , and resistors r c2 and r d are connected in series between the base of transistor q b and v cc , the total pull - up resistance provided for transistors q a and q b is equal to the conventional pull - up resistance . however , the resistance that affects the frequency response of transistors q a and q b is only r b and r d , respectively . since r b and r d are only about 25 % of the value of a conventional pull - up resistor , the effective pole of the frequency response of transistors q a and q b is about four times higher than in a conventional system . the preceding description has explained the improved frequency response of the circuit of fig3 . capacitive boost of the voltage across head 12 may also be obtained by adjusting the signal waveforms provided by current sources i a1 , i a2 , i b1 and i b2 . specifically , as shown in fig4 a - 4 d , the target write waveform is essentially decomposed into a boost ( higher frequency ) portion provided by current sources i a1 and i b1 , and a steady state ( lower frequency ) portion provided by current sources i a2 and i b2 . a greater percentage of the overshoot portion of the signal is assigned to the boost current source ( i a1 and i b1 ), compared to the portion assigned to the steady state current source ( i a2 and i b2 ). this is shown graphically in the disparate magnitudes of the overshoot portions and steady state portions of the waveforms shown in fig4 a - 4 d . as a result , the voltage at the bases of transistors q a and q b is level shifted toward ( and potentially above ) the positive supply voltage v cc . the total amount of level shifting that is possible is limited by the difference between the overshoot voltage of the write voltage waveform and the steady state voltage of the write voltage waveform , which is supply limited . the amount of level shifting is limited to about a diode ( i . e ., about 0 . 7 volts ), at which point the emitter follower transistor would saturate . the circuit of the present invention improves the switching speed and frequency response of the system , as shown by the increased overshoot and faster switching of write current direction in waveform 48 of fig4 e ( compared to waveform 24 of fig2 c ). for the benefit of those skilled in the art , a mathematical explanation of the frequency response benefits of the present invention is also included . the frequency response associated with transistor q c driven by current source i a1 , is as follows : v a1 = i a1 r a1 j ω c 1 r a2 1 + j ω [ c 1 r a2 + c p a ( r a2 + r b ) ] - ω 2 c 1 r a2 c p a r b ( eq . 2 ) the frequency response associated with transistor q a , driven by current source i a2 , is as follows : v a2 = i a2 ( r a2 + r b ) 1 + j ω c 1 ( r a2 r b ) 1 + j ω [ c 1 r a2 + c pa ( r a2 + r b ) ] - ω 2 c 1 r a2 c p a r b ( eq . 3 ) by selecting the value of c 1 to be much greater than c pa , the equations can be approximated in a much simpler manner : v a1 ≈ i a1 r a1 j ω c 1 r a2 ( 1 + j ω c 1 r a2 ) ( 1 + j ω c pa r b ) ( eq . 4 ) v a2 ≈ i a2 ( r a2 + r b ) 1 + j ω c 1 ( r a2 r b ) ( 1 + j ω c 1 r a2 ) ( 1 + j ω c pa r b ) ( eq . 5 ) if the magnitude of the boost current source ( provided by i a1 ) is made equal to the magnitude of the attenuation of the mid - band response of the steady state current source ( provided by i a2 ), the summation of the two responses is simplified . the condition for this is given by : when this condition is satisfied , the summation of eq . 4 and eq . 5 becomes : v h ≈ i a2 ( r a2 + r b ) 1 1 + j ω c pa r b ( eq . 7 ) the frequency response is therefore that of a low pass filter whose cutoff frequency is equal to : f 3 d b = 1 2 π c pa r b ( eq . 8 ) which improves the frequency response of the system by the ratio of r b to ( r a2 + r b ). [ 0027 ] fig5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary full circuit implementation of a write circuit employing capacitive boost according to the present invention . it should be understood that the circuit shown in fig5 is shown to illustrate the best mode of practicing the invention , and should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention in any way . the portions of the circuit which functionally represent the capacitive boost components shown in fig3 are labeled in order to simplify the understanding of the circuit . one skilled in the art will readily discern the operating characteristics of the overall circuit , in conjunction with the specification and drawings of the instant application and of u . s . application ser . no . ______ ( docket no . v44 . 12 - 0152 ) filed on even date herewith for “ disk drive writer with active reflection cancellation ,” by j . leighton , c . elliott , m . o &# 39 ; brien , c . rabe , n . krenz , r . wimmer and s . o &# 39 ; brien , which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant application , and is hereby incorporated by reference . although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments , workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . particularly , while some forms of the invention are described in the form of discrete devices , it is recognized that the circuit is preferably reduced to practice in the form of an integrated circuit ( ic ). therefore , terms such as “ device ” and the like should be construed in their broadest contexts to include portions of ics that are conveniently described as functional components , as well as discrete devices . likewise , some forms of the invention are described in terms of logical gates and chips that could also be implemented by discrete devices , all within the scope and spirit of the present invention . | 6 |
with reference to fig1 a conventional fluid conduit fitting is illustrated consisting of the male adapter part 10 , the conduit , or conduit associated part 12 , and a compression nut 14 . the adapter fitting part 10 comprises a metal body affixed at its right end to a conduit , hose , tank , reservoir or the like not shown , and the adapter includes an axial bore 16 , a wrench engaging portion 18 having wrench flats 20 defined thereon , and external threads 22 for cooperation with the compression nut 14 . the adapter includes a cylindrical surface 24 adjacent to and intersecting the conical nose 26 , and the conical nose is preferably of the conventional 37 ° configuration and intersects the radial adapter end surface 28 . the adapter is conventional in all respects . the other primary part of the fitting includes the conduit 12 which may be attached to the hose or rigid conduit , or may comprise a metal conduit , itself . the end of the part 12 is provided with an enlarged head 30 defining a conical surface 32 which is of such radial positioning as to be in axial alignment with the adapter conical surface 26 when the fitting parts are axially aligned . the head 30 , in some installations , may consist of the well known flared end of a conduit , and the head includes a radial surface 34 engagable by the compression nut 14 . the compression nut 14 includes wrench flats 36 and internal threads 38 for cooperation with the adapter threads 22 , and an inwardly extending flange 40 is axially aligned with the head surface 34 for engagement therewith for imposing an axial force upon the fitting part 12 . the seal 42 in accord with the invention is of an annular form and primarily formed of metal , such as brass , aluminum , steel , etc . and includes a cylindrical portion 44 having an inner surface 46 only slightly larger than the adapter surface 24 for engagement therewith , and the outer surface 48 of the seal comprises the maximum circumference thereof . the cone portion 50 of the seal depends from the portion 44 and comprises substantially parallel inner side 52 and outer side 54 defining a conical portion oriented at approximately 37 ° to the cylindrical portion 44 . the thickness of the cone 50 is defined by the sides 52 and 54 , and the thickness of the cone is substantially the same as that of the cylindrical portion 44 . the outer end 56 of the cone 50 has an annular elastomeric ring 58 bonded thereto , and the elastomeric ring seal includes an inner end , fig4 bonded to the cone 56 , and an outer end 60 which may be of a radiused configuration . the elastomeric ring includes an inner surface 62 and outer surface 64 which are spaced apart a distance at least equal to the spacing of the cone surfaces 52 and 54 , and preferably , the spacing between the elastomer sides 62 and 64 is slightly greater than that of the cone sides . bonding of the elastomer seal 58 to the cone 50 may be augmented by forming irregularities , holes , or the like in the outer end of the metal of the cone , and as will be appreciated from fig1 the radial dimension of the cone 50 is such that the elastomer 58 will be axially aligned between the fitting surfaces 26 and 32 when the seal is assembled to the fitting parts as shown in fig1 . in use , the seal 58 is located upon the adapter 10 as appreciated in fig1 i . e . the seal inner cylindrical surface 46 being placed upon the adapter surface 24 , and the cone surface 52 engages the adapter surface 26 . the fitting part 12 is coaxially aligned with the adapter 10 , and the nut 14 is threaded upon the adapter thread 22 . the nut is tightened drawing the surfaces 26 and 32 toward each other compressing the cone 50 therebetween to produce an effective sealing relationship . the compression produced on the cone 50 compresses the elastomer 58 , and accordingly , an effective elastomeric sealed relationship is produced between the fitting surfaces 26 and 32 , as well as a metal - to - metal seal . the preferred slightly greater thickness of the elastomer 58 causes the compression of the elastomer prior to compression of the seal cone portion 50 , and slight extrusion of the elastomer may occur which readily takes place inwardly in that the elastomer ring 58 is unconfined in this direction . upon fully tightening the nut 14 , the seal 42 , due to its relatively thin configuration will conform itself to any irregularities in the surfaces 26 and 32 , such as scratches or dents , producing an effective seal . thus , high pressure sealing is produced , and the dependability of the seal is improved over those arrangements wherein an elastomeric seal is not used with a &# 34 ; flare &# 34 ; fitting . the presence of the elastomer 58 intermediate the conical surfaces will maintain the integrity of the fitting and prevent leakage even if the metal sealing fails . the seal 58 prevents the pressurized medium from engaging the threads , and it will be appreciated that the simplicity of the invention substantially improves the efficiency and dependability of this type of fitting . it is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive concepts may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . | 8 |
the present invention relates to a simple , economical and commercially viable process for the preparation of diarylpyrimidine nnrtis . in particular , the present invention relates to a novel method for synthesis of etravirine . typically , the instant invention provides a method for synthesis of etravirine using a compound of formula ( v ) i . e . 4 -[( 2 , 6 - dichloro )- 4 - pyrimidinyloxy ]- 3 , 5 - dimethylbenzonitrile and 4 - aminobenzonitrile as shown in scheme - 4 . in the above procedure , 2 , 4 , 6 - trichloropyrimidine is reacted with 3 , 5 - dimethyl - 4 - hydroxybenzonitrile , to obtain a compound of formula ( v ), in an inert solvent such as ethanol , n - methyl - 2 - pyrrolidone , n , n - dimethylformamide , 1 , 4 - dioxane , tetrahydrofuran , dimethylsulfoxide , tetraline , sulfolane , acetonitrile and the like . the reaction is preferably carried out at refluxing temperatures and optionally , in presence of base . preferably , 1 , 4 - dioxane is used as solvent and n , n - diisopropylethylamine as base . the obtained compound of formula ( v ) is then condensed with 4 - aminobenzonitrile to give a compound of formula ( vi ). the condensation of compound of formula ( v ) with 4 - aminobenzonitrle is the most critical step of the present invention . the present inventors have found that acidic conditions are not typically favorable for the instant reaction . when the said condensation reaction is carried out in presence of acid catalyst such as 1n hcl and an inert solvent such as dimethylformamide or n - methyl pyrrolidone , the reaction does not proceed smoothly as desired yielding the desired products . even in presence of inorganic bases such as sodium hydroxide , potassium hydroxide , sodium carbonate , potassium carbonate reactions fails . presence of organic bases such as diethylamine , pyridine , dibutyl urea also fails to initiate the condensation reaction . however , present inventors have surprisingly found that the condensation reaction of compound of formula ( v ) with 4 - aminobenzonitrile to give a compound of formula ( vi ) could be carried out in presence of alkoxides such as potassium tertiary butoxide , sodium tertiary butoxide . the said reaction could be carried out in presence of inert solvent by using alkoxide as base . preferably , n - methylpyrrolidone is used as solvent and potassium tertiary butoxide is used as base . potassium tertiary butoxide can be used in an amount of up to four molar equivalents for the said reaction . preferably , two molar equivalents are used for conducting the said condensation reaction . reaction of thus obtained compound of formula ( vi ) with aqueous ammonia in refluxing dioxane gives the compound of formula ( iv ). surprisingly it was observed that because of absence of a bromo substituent on pyrimidine ring at 5 - position , the said reaction goes to completion in 10 to 12 hrs instead of 96 hours as mentioned in the prior art process . preferably , a 25 % aqueous ammonia solution is used for the reaction . though the reaction is carried out using dioxane as a solvent and a temperature of 120 - 130 ° c ., however , other inert solvents mentioned hereinbefore could be used for reaction . further , the present inventors have found that compound of formula ( vi ) can be purified by washing with ethyl acetate . most of the undesired impurities , isomers are removed by the ethyl acetate solution washing . typically , ethyl acetate washing treatment is done at 60 - 70 ° c . followed by filtration at room temperature to get the desired product in pure form . the obtained compound ( iv ) then can be readily converted in the desired product etravirine by halogenating the same with free halogen e . g . free bromine or by using a halogen doner compounds . this halogenation reaction preferably is conducted in a suitable inert solvent . preferred solvents are methylene dichloride or ether . thus , the present invention provides an efficient , simple and cost effective method for synthesis of etravirine . the process typically comprises the steps of : 1 . condensing 2 , 4 , 6 - trichlorpyrimidine with 3 , 5 - dimethyl - 4 - hydroxybenzonitrile , in presence of a base and inert solvent , to obtain compound of formula ( v ); 2 . converting the compound of formula ( v ) to a compound of formula ( vi ) by condensation with 4 - aminobenzonitrile by using alkoxide as a base ; 3 . optionally , purifying the compound of formula ( vi ); 4 . ammonlysis of compound of formula ( vi ) to get a compound of formula ( iv ); and 5 . halogenation of compound of formula ( iv ) in an inert solvent to get etravirine . thus , the present invention further provides a process for preparation of etravirine by using a compound of formula ( v ) and 4 - aminobenzonitrile . the present invention further provides a simple method for condensation of compound of formula ( v ) with 4 - aminobenzonitrile . the principles , preferred embodiments , and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification . the invention which is intended to be protected herein , however , is not to be construed limited to the particular forms disclosed , since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive . variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art , without departing from the spirit of the invention . the invention is further explained with the help of following illustrative examples , however , in no way these examples should be construed as limiting the scope of the invention . 2 , 4 , 6 - trichloropyrimidine ( 100 g , 0 . 545 m ) was dissolved in 1 , 4 - dioxane ( 300 ml ) and 3 , 5 ,- dimethyl - 4 - hydroxybenzonitrile ( 80 . 1 g , 0 . 545 m ) was added under stirring . addition of n , n - diisopropylethylamine ( 141 . 00 g , 1 . 09 m ) was carried to this solution over a period of 30 minutes . reaction mass was heated at 70 ° c . and stirred for 2 . 0 hours . the reaction mass was cooled slowly to 15 ° c . and obtained product was filtered at 12 - 15 ° c . followed by washing the cake with 50 ml of 1 , 4 - dioxane . finally the cake was washed with water ( 200 ml ) to get the desired product . melting point : 208 - 210 ° c . compound - v ( 100 g , 0 . 34 m ) was dissolved in n - methylpyrrolidone ( 500 ml ) and 4 - aminobenzonitrile ( 40 . 12 g , 0 . 34 m ) was added under stirring . the reaction mass was cooled to 0 ° c . to this solution , addition of potassium t - butoxide was carried out ( 76 . 3 g , 0 . 68 m ) in lots over a period of 1 . 0 hour at 0 to 10 ° c . the reaction mass was allowed to come at room temperature gradually over 1 to 2 hours . then slowly the reaction mass was added in chilled water ( 2 . 0 l ) by maintaining the reaction mass temperature below 20 ° c . the reaction mass was filtered and washed the cake with 200 ml water . wet cake was again dissolved in 1 . 0 l water below 20 ° c . and filtered . the obtained product was purified by using ethyl acetate ( 2 × 300 ml ) at 60 - 70 ° c . followed by filtration at 10 - 15 ° c . aqueous ammonia ( 25 %) ( 600 ml ) was added to a solution of compound - vi ( 100 g , 0 . 266 m ) in 1 , 4 - dioxane ( 1000 ml ) and the reaction mass was heated in pressure autoclave at 120 ° c . and maintain at 120 - 125 ° c . for 10 - 12 hours . the reaction mass was allowed to cool to 50 ° c ., and again heated to 70 - 80 ° c ., at which water ( 200 ml ) was added slowly . the reaction mass gradually cooled to 10 ° c . and filtered to obtain wet cake , which was dried to get desired product . compound - iv ( 100 g , 0 . 28 m ) was taken in methylene dichloride ( 800 ml ) and cooled to a temperature of 0 to 5 ° c . slowly liquid bromine ( 47 . 2 g , 0 . 294 m ) was added at 0 to 5 ° c . by dissolving in 200 ml of methylene dichloride . the reaction mass was stirred at 0 to 5 ° c . for 2 to 4 hrs . chilled water ( 800 ml ) was added in to the reaction mass and ph was adjusted at 9 to 10 by slow addition of sodium hydroxide solution at 0 to 5 ° c . sodium metabisulphite solution was added at 0 to 5 ° c . and the reaction mass was stirred at 0 - 10 ° c . for 1 hour by maintaining the reaction mass ph at 8 to 9 . the reaction mass was filtered and washed the cake with 200 ml water . dry the wet product at 50 - 60 ° c . & amp ; recrystallize from acetone . | 2 |
referring now to fig1 to 3 , which illustrate a wheel suspension system 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention . as will be understood , the wheel suspension system 10 is preferably intended for use with a dolly wheel that provides , what are termed in the art , zero turn capabilities . however , it will be understood that the disclosed wheel suspension system can be utilized with other types of wheels , including wheels that are fixed and have controlled steering capabilities . additionally , the disclosed suspension system is preferably incorporated into a vehicle , such as an automotive vehicle , a trailed vehicle , or a mobility vehicle . the dolly wheel suspension system 10 includes a dolly wheel 12 , a dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 , a wheel carrier arm 16 , and a shock absorber 18 . the dolly wheel 12 includes a wheel rim 20 having an outer periphery 22 . a tire 24 is disposed around the outer periphery 22 of the wheel rim 20 and is secured to the wheel rim 20 . the tire 24 has an outer periphery 26 , which is intended to engage the ground . the wheel rim 20 has a wheel hub 28 secured thereto , as would be clearly understood by one of skill in the art . the tire 24 is preferably configured for off road capability . the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 includes an upwardly extending pin portion 30 which is secured to a top portion 32 , which extends over top of the tire 24 . the pin portion 30 is secured to a support portion 34 ( fig2 ) of a vehicle . the pin portion 30 of the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 is secured through at least one bearing 36 to the support portion 34 . the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 is thus free to spin about a dolly wheel spindle axis 38 to respond to the direction of travel of a vehicle . the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 preferably carries all of the suspension components in the direction of travel of the wheel and of the end of the vehicle , as generally indicated by the arrow 40 . the wheel carrier arm 16 is pivotally connected to the top portion 32 of the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 by a pin 42 to define a pivot point 43 thereat . the pivot point 43 allows the wheel carrier arm 16 to pivot with respect to the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 , as required . the wheel carrier arm 16 is secured to the shock absorber 18 , which carries a spring 46 to maintain the wheel carrier arm 16 in a secure and load carrying position with respect to the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 . the wheel carrier arm 16 is also secured to the wheel hub 28 by a bearing shaft 44 . the wheel carrier arm 16 preferably has a bend 45 formed therein to allow a portion of the wheel carrier arm 16 and the shock absorber 18 to fit inside the wheel rim 20 . in this configuration , inside means that at least a portion of the wheel carrier arm 16 as well a portion of the shock absorber 18 are located within the wheel rim 20 when the dolly wheel 12 is viewed from the front . in other words , the bend 45 locates a portion of the wheel carrier arm 16 and the shock absorber 18 inside the outermost side portion of the tire 24 or in the volume defined by the wheel rim . the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 also includes an extending portion 47 that is also preferably constructed to function as a mud scraper within the wheel rim 20 . the shock absorber 18 is preferably a spring shock and includes the spring 46 . the shock absorber 18 is preferably set for operating load and acts in compression . as will be understood , the shock absorber 18 thus urges the wheel carrier arm 16 downwardly and forwardly such that the dolly wheel 12 engages the ground . the shock absorber 18 is secured to the wheel carrier arm 16 and to the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 by a plurality of securing bolts 48 . the shock absorber 18 has a first end 50 that is secured to the wheel carrier arm 16 and a second end 52 that is secured to a flange portion 35 . the flange portion 35 extends downwardly from the top portion 32 of the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 . the first end 50 of the shock absorber 18 is preferably pivotally secured to the wheel carrier arm 16 . similarly , the second end 52 of the shock absorber 18 is preferably pivotally secured to the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 . as shown , the suspension system 10 is preferably provided such that the shock absorber 18 is located within the outer periphery 26 of the tire 24 . more preferably , the shock absorber 18 is located within the outer periphery 22 of the wheel rim 20 . additionally , at least a portion of the wheel carrier arm 16 is located within the outer periphery 22 of the wheel rim 20 . preferably , a substantial portion of the wheel carrier arm 16 is located within the outer periphery 22 of the wheel rim . the dolly wheel 12 and the wheel rim 20 are preferably of a sufficient diameter to accommodate the suspension needed by the vehicle . it will be understood that it is also possible to locate the wheel carrier arm 16 either within the outer periphery 22 of the wheel rim 20 or outside the outer periphery 26 of the tire 24 , depending on packaging needs . moreover , the pivot point 43 for the wheel carrier arm 16 can be positioned outside the outer periphery 26 of the tire 24 and the wheel rim 20 for more linear path of the dolly wheel 12 and thus a greater length of suspension travel . in the embodiment shown in fig1 through 3 , a substantial portion of the wheel carrier arm 16 is located within the periphery of the wheel rim 20 . moreover , the suspension system 10 is located below the dolly wheel spindle axis 38 . the suspension operates equally in all directions of vehicle motion with the turning of the dolly wheel 12 to the direction of travel . this is because the dolly wheel 12 spins toward its direction of travel , thereby taking the suspension system 10 with it in that direction of travel . it will be understood that when utilized on a vehicle , a pair of dolly wheels will preferably be utilized . the operation of each dolly wheel and its associated suspension is preferably the same and thus the description of the structure and operation of one will apply equally to the operation of the other . referring now to fig3 which illustrates the operation of the suspension system 10 in accordance with the present invention . as shown , when the tire 24 contacts a bump or rock 60 in the road or ground , a force can impact the tire 24 , which results in upward and rearward motion , as generally indicated by arrow 70 , in such a manner as to absorb forward motion impact . this upward and rearward motion is shown in fig3 . in order to effectuate this motion , the wheel carrier arm 16 rotates about the pivot point 43 and the shock absorber 18 compresses against the force of the spring 46 . moreover , because the shock absorber 18 is pivotal about its first end 50 and its second end 52 , it can rotate during compression to accommodate for the length of travel of the wheel carrier arm 16 . referring now to fig4 through 6 , which illustrate another embodiment of the suspension system 10 in accordance with the present invention . in the embodiment shown in fig4 the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 and the wheel carrier arm 16 are configured differently than the embodiment shown in fig2 to 3 . as shown in fig4 the flange portion 35 of the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 extends further downwardly than in the embodiment of fig2 and 3 such that its axis pin 43 , rotatably securing the wheel carrier arm 16 is located within the outer periphery 26 of the tire 24 . with this configuration , the pivot point determined by axis pin 43 is located within the outer periphery 22 of the wheel rim 20 . moreover , the first end 52 of the shock absorber 18 is pivotally secured to an extension portion 62 that is integrally formed with the dolly wheel spindle assembly 14 . fig5 illustrates the operation of the suspension system 10 of fig4 . the operation of the suspension system 10 is substantially the same as in the embodiment described above in connection with fig1 through 3 . specifically , when the tire 24 contacts a bump or rock 60 in the road or ground , a force can impact the tire 24 , which results in upward and rearward motion in such a manner as to absorb forward motion impact . in order to effectuate this motion , the wheel carrier arm 16 rotates about the pivot point 43 and the shock absorber 18 compresses against the force of the spring 46 . moreover , because the shock absorber 18 is pivotal about its first end 50 and its second end 52 , it can rotate during a compression to accommodate the travel of the wheel carrier arm 16 . fig6 illustrates the wheel carrier arm 16 and the shock absorber 18 being located within an area or volume defined by the wheel rim 20 . thus , as shown , in the front view , the shock absorber 18 and the wheel carrier arm 16 are located within the area defined by the wheel rim 20 . similarly , the wheel carrier arm 16 , the axis pin 43 , and the shock absorber 18 are located within the outer periphery 22 of the wheel rim 20 when viewed from the side view . fig7 and 8 illustrate alternative embodiments of the preferred suspension system 10 for use with a standard steering system . as shown , a tire 80 is secured to a vehicle frame 82 . the vehicle frame 82 includes a tie rod 84 extending therefrom to effectuate standard steering . the vehicle frame 82 includes a vehicle king ping 84 secured thereto . the king pin 85 includes a generally vertical axis of rotation 86 . the king pin 85 is in communication with an assembly 88 of the vehicle frame 82 for securing a wheel carrier 90 . the wheel carrier 90 has a wheel carrier arm 92 pivotally secured thereto on axis 101 . a shock absorber 94 and associated spring 96 is disposed between one end 98 of the wheel carrier arm 92 and an upper end 100 of the wheel carrier 90 . the wheel carrier arm 92 is secured to a wheel hub 102 on an axis 103 , as will be understood by one of skill in the art . the operation of the suspension system 10 for the standard steering , as illustrated in fig7 and 8 , is the same as described above in connection with dolly wheel steering . in the embodiment shown in fig7 the wheel carrier arm 92 and the shock absorber 94 are located entirely within the area or volume defined by the wheel rim 104 . thus , as shown , in the front view , the shock absorber 94 and the wheel carrier arm 92 are located within the area defined by the wheel rim 104 . similarly , the wheel carrier arm 92 , the axis pin 101 , and the shock absorber 94 are located within the outer periphery 108 of the wheel rim 104 when viewed from the side view . in the embodiment shown in fig8 the wheel carrier arm 92 and the shock absorber 94 are located entirely outside the tire 80 and the wheel rim 104 in the front view . however , the wheel carrier arm 92 and the shock absorber 94 are located inside the outer periphery 110 of the tire 80 when viewed from the side view . in accordance with the above , the suspension system 10 has maximum ability in all directions of the vehicle steer condition . further , the angle of the king pin axis 86 does not change with movement of the suspension system 10 . the disclosed suspension system 10 provides a compact , cost effective design and in particular is an excellent , well - packaged suspension for a mobility vehicle . it will be appreciated that a free acting dolly wheel 12 , as shown in fig1 through 6 , with this suspension system 10 could also be controlled to effectuate fully controlled steering with the use of the suspension system described herein . alternatively , the disclosed suspension system 10 could be used with a standard wheel , as disclosed in fig7 and 8 , rather than a dolly wheel . while a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention , it is to be understood that variations and modifications may be employed without departing from the purview and intent of the present invention , as defined in the following claims . accordingly , the preceding description is intended to be exemplary and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention . the scope of the invention should be determined only by reference to the following claims . | 1 |
in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention , the air cooler and cleaner in its entirety ( as illustrated in fig1 ) is designated by the reference - number 20 . the tubular housing thereof is designated in its entirety by the reference number 21 , and the upper housing closure thereof is designated by the reference number 22 , and the bottom housing closure member thereof is designated by the reference number 23 . a funnel - like member 24 , hereinafter generally referred to as the &# 34 ; funnel &# 34 ;, is operatively mounted within the tubular housing 21 , in the manner indicated in fig1 . the funnel 24 comprises a flange including a horizontal planar outer flange portion 25 and a conical inner flange portion 26 having a central opening 27 therein . the outer diameter of the outer planar flange portion 25 is such that it will fit neatly within the inner diameter of the tubular housing 21 , with a minimum clearance required to insert flange into the housing such clearance being sufficiently small that any upward leakage of air between the outer periphery of the planar flange portion 25 and the inner surface of the tubular housing 21 will be insignificant . the outer planar flange portion 25 rests on and is supported by three or four equidistantly spaced and horizontally aligned rivet heads 28 whose stems 29 pass through holes 30 in the tubular housing 21 with a tight fit and with the outer ends 31 thereof riveted over tightly , so that the rivets are in air tight relation to the housing 21 . the flange ( 25 & amp ; 26 ) of the funnel 24 divides the tubular housing 21 into a lower swirl chamber 32 and an upper cooling chamber 33 , the upper cooling chamber having a vertical dimension or extent substantially greater than that of the lower swirl chamber 32 . an air riser tube 34 extends downwardly from the funnel 24 , into the swirl chamber 32 to a point a short distance above the bottom thereof as indicated in fig1 . a boss - like fitting 35 is welded to the outer surface of the housing 21 , in operative alignment with inlet opening 36 in the housing 21 , by means of the annular fillet weld 37 . the outer end portion of the boss - like fitting 35 is pipe threaded to receive a suitable t - fitting 38 whose outer end 39 is connected with the pipe line which delivers the compressed air to the air cooler and cleaner , and to the right - angular branch 40 of which any suitable pressure release valve or safety valve is operatively mounted . the inner end portion of the bore of the fitting 35 may be pipe - threaded as indicated in fig1 and into such inner threaded portion a 45 ° angled fitting 42 is operatively secured , as indicated in fig1 & amp ; 4 , with the inner angled portion 43 thereof formed into a threadless nozzle ( as indicated in fig4 ) for delivering the incoming compressed air tangentially of the inner surface of the swirl chamber 32 , so as to impart a rapidly spinning or swirling motion to the air descending downwardly through the swirl chamber . instead of providing a separate inner 45 °- angled fitting 42 ( as in fig1 and 4 ), the boss - like fitting 35 may have a coaxial inward extension 44 ( fig4 ) formed integrally therewith , whose inner end may be closed , and in the side of which a round hole or a slot 45 may be provided with its median plane generally horizontally disposed , the hole or slot 45 being suitably angled so as to discharge the incoming compressed air generally tangentially of the inner surface of the swirl chamber 32 , as indicated by the arrows in fig1 . the bottom housing closure 23 ( fig1 , 10 and 5 ) is preferably cast or forged of aluminum or an aluminum alloy , but may otherwise be formed of aluminum or of an aluminum alloy . the bottom housing closure 23 includes a cylindrical flange 46 whose outer surface fits snugly within the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular housing 21 , and a conical bottom wall 47 which is preferably coaxial with the cylindrical flange 46 . an oblong drain boss 48 extends downwardly from the conical bottom wall 47 as shown in fig9 and 10 . the oblong boss 48 has a vertical discharge passageway or sump 49 therethrough , which also extends through the conical bottom wall 47 , the discharge passageway 49 being off - center in relation to the axis of the cylindrical flange 46 , as indicated particularly in fig1 and 10 . a lateral threaded hole 50 extends from the vertical drain passageway or sump 49 , into which hole 50 a threaded pipe - end or nipple 51 of an automatic drain valve 52 is threaded . a closure plug 53 is threaded into the lowermost end of the vertical drain passageway of sump 49 , so that its upper end is at or in close proximity to the hole through the nipple 51 , so that when the drain valve 52 is periodically opened , substantially all the water , oil and solid particles which have accumulated in the sump 49 ( and in the conical cavity 54 thereabove ) will be flushed out and discharged or &# 34 ; dumped &# 34 ; through the discharge outlet 55 of the automatic drain valve 52 by the force of the compressed air within the housing 21 and within air director 62 ( fig1 ). the plug 53 in the bottom of the drain sump 49 may be removed for access to the sump 49 and to the interior of the swirl chamber for inspection or clean out , if needed . a lateral cylindrical bore or chamber 56 is provided in the oblong drain boss 48 , coaxial with the lateral opening 50 therein , in which bore or chamber 56 the innermost cylindrical portion 99 of the drain valve 52 may be snugly nested as indicated in fig1 so that any vibration of the air cooler and cleaner resulting from the vibration of the vehicle on which it is mounted will not tend to break off the nipple 51 nor otherwise adversely effect the attachment of the drain valve 52 to the lateral drain opening 50 . alternatively , the innermost portion 99 of the housing of the drain valve 52 may be screw threaded into the bore 56 , as indicated in fig1 and 17 , or it may be formed integrally with the drain boss 48 . a vertical clearance hole 57 is provided in the bottom of the oblong drain boss 48 , through which the drain valve 52 may discharge the contents of the sump hole 49 and of the conical cavity 54 thereabove . a pipe nipple 58 may extend through the hole 57 and be threaded into the drain hole 55 of the drain valve 52 for discharging the contents of the sump 49 and of the conical cavity 54 as indicated in fig1 or the bottom of the oblong drain boss 48 may be cut away beyond the bore or chamber 56 thereof . a recess 59 is provided at the bottom of the housing 21 , as indicated particularly in fig1 and 6 , for clearing the outer portion of the drain valve 52 . the lower housing closure 23 is secured to the tubular housing 21 in air tight relationship thereto , by means of an annular fillet weld 60 between its flange 46 and the housing 21 . the hollow cylindrical air director 62 is preferably formed of suitable plastic or hard pressed fiber or impregnated fiber material having very low heat conductivity , and having an upper closure 63 of the same or similar material . the lower portion 64 of the closure 63 is press fitted and / or cemented into or otherwise secured to the top of the cylindrical body of the air director 62 , and its upper portion 65 has a flange 66 extending outwardly and overlapping the upper end of the tubular body of the air director 62 . at three of four circumferentially distributed points thereof , centering projections 94 ( fig1 ) extend outwardly from the flange 66 into close proximity of the inner wall surface of the cooling chamber 33 ( as indicated in fig1 and 14 ), for centering the upper end of the air director 62 in relation to the cooling chamber 33 . the lower open end of the tubular body of the air director 62 is supported on a multi - diametered and perforated director supporting disc 67 shown in fig1 . the smaller diametered upper portion 68 of the disc 67 is press fitted into the lower end of the tubular body of the air director 62 , as indicated in fig1 with the lower end of such tubular body resting on the horizontal shoulder 69 of the disc 67 ( fig1 and 1 ). three or four circumferentially distributed integral air director centering elements 70 extend laterally outwardly from the disc 67 into close proximity of the inner wall surface of the tubular housing 21 , so as to center the lower end of the air director in relation thereto . integral spacers 71 extend downwardly from the centering elements 70 and rest on the outer flange portion 25 of the funnel 24 , as indicated in fig1 and 12 , so as to space the air director supporting disc 67 at a distance above the funnel 24 just sufficiently to permit the free passage of the compressed air between the disc 67 and the funnel flange ( 25 and 26 ) in a laterally outward direction towards an annular air passage space 72 between the air director 62 and the inner surface of the cooling chamber 33 , as indicated by the arrows in fig1 . instead of the downwardly extending vertical spacer 71 , vertical spacers of corresponding height may be provided on the planar flange portion 25 of the funnel 24 , by being formed integrally therewith or by being riveted or spot - welded thereto or by being otherwise secured thereto , such alternative vertical spacers preferably extending upwardly to the lower horizontal annular surfaces 73 of the disc 67 , so as to space the disc 67 from the flange 25 of the funnel 24 at the same distance as the spacing provided by the vertical spacers 71 . alternatively , a short upstanding peripheral cylindrical spacer flange may be provided on the funnel flange ( 25 and 26 ) beneath the radial centering projections 70 of the air director supporting disc 67 for supporting the latter and the air director 62 . the upper housing closure 22 , preferably cast or forged of aluminum or aluminum alloy , has a downwardly extending filter - housing 74 , preferably formed integrally therewith , in which the filter 75 , confined between upper and lower perforated metallic discs 76 and 77 , is operatively mounted , as indicated in fig1 . an annular retainer ring 78 is mounted in the ring receiving groove 79 ( fig7 ) near the bottom of the filter housing 74 , and supports the lower perforated disc 77 of the filter assembly as shown in fig1 . a suitable helical compression spring 80 is operatively mounted between the bottom surface of the upper housing closure 22 and the upper perforated disc 76 , so as to press the discs 76 and 77 to the filter 75 and to keep the filter assemblage seated on the retainer ring 78 . as the compressed air is cooled during its upward passage through the annulus - shaped air passageway 72 ( between the wall surface of the cooling chamber 33 and the air director 62 ) most , if not all , of the moisture content thereof is condensed and flows downwardly as a thin film on the wall surface of the cooling chamber 33 and drops onto the funnel flange ( 25 and 26 ) and drains from there into the bottom of the swirl - chamber 32 along the inner wall surface of the air riser tube 34 . for the removal of any traces of moisture which may be still left in the compressed air after it has risen above the air director 62 , i may operatively mount an air - permeable desiccator cartridge ( not shown ) between filter assemblage ( 75 , 76 and 77 ) and the inner surface of the upper housing closure 22 . the upper housing closure 22 is provided with an outer boss 81 through which the outlet opening 82 extends . the outer end of the opening has a check valve 83 operatively mounted thereto , with the downstream end 84 of the check valve 83 being connected to the compressed - air reservoir by any suitable piping or tubing 85 , as indicated in fig1 . to the upper end of the tubular housing 21 , an aluminum or aluminum alloy ring or collar 86 is secured by being press fitted over and welded thereto by the fillet weld 87 which may be a continuous annular weld or may be comprised of several circumferentially spaced fillet welds . the collar 86 is provided with a suitable number of circumferentially distributed tapped holes 88 , into which the headed bolts 89 ( extending through corresponding holes in the housing closure 22 ) are firmly threaded , thereby securing the upper housing closure 22 to the upper end of the housing 21 , as indicated in fig1 , 7 and 8 . a suitable sealing gasket 97 is interposed between the upper housing closure 22 and the upper end of the housing 21 , so as to form an air - tight seal therebetween , as indicated in fig1 . a spring designated generally by the numeral 90 ( shown in fig1 and 15 ) has four upper inwardly inclining v - shaped spring prongs 91 and rests on top of the upper closure 63 of the air director 62 , with its outermost elbow - like bends 92 in close proximity to the inner surface of the tubular housing 21 , so as to be centered thereby , and having the points 93 of its four prongs 91 bearing against the lower annular end of the filter housing 74 ( as indicated in fig1 ), thereby to exert a resilient downward pressure upon the air director 62 . the generally rectangular sheet aluminum ( or aluminum alloy ) cooling fins 95 , have rounded corners ( as indicated in fig2 , 12 and 14 ) and have central openings therein and have generally cylindrical short integral flanges 96 at their inner diameters , with the inner diameters of such flanges tightly fitting the outer diameter of the tubular housing 21 . the inner diameters of the cylindrical flanges 96 of the cooling fins 95 are preferably made slightly less than the outer diameter of the tubular housing 21 , and such flanged fins are telescoped over the tubular housing 21 by being first heated to and maintained at a temperature sufficiently high to increase the inner diameter of the flange 96 thereof to an extent permitting such flanges to be telescoped over the tubular housing 21 and thereafter cooled so as to shrink the flange 96 tightly onto the outer surface of the tubular housing 21 in firm thermally conductive contact with the outer surface of the tubular housing . instead of heating the fins 95 and flanges 96 to sufficiently high temperature ( above ambient temperature ) to expand the inner diameter of the flanges 96 sufficiently to be telescoped over the tubular housing 21 at ambient temperature , i may , alternatively , chill the tubular housing 21 sufficiently below ambient temperature to reduce its outer diameter sufficiently to fit into the flanges 96 while the later are at ambient temperature . i may both heat the fins 95 ( and their flanges 96 ) and chill the housing 21 so as concurrently to enlarge the inner diameter of the flanges 96 and reduce outer diameter of the housing 21 , and then telescope the fins 95 ( and flanges 96 ) and the housing 21 in relation to each other while they are maintained at their elevated and lowered temperatures , repectively . as used in the following claims thereof , the term &# 34 ; heat shrunk &# 34 ; is intended to cover the firm thermally conductive contact between the flanges 96 and the housing 21 obtained by any of these three methods . the flanged fins 95 may instead be press fitted onto the outer surface of the tubular housing 21 , as well as any of these three heat shrinkings . the flanged fins 95 and the housing 21 are so telescoped in relation to each other either before the collar 86 is applied to the tubular housing 21 or before the air - inlet fitting 35 and the rivets ( 28 and 29 ) are applied to the tubular housing , preferably before the latter are applied thereto . several short circumferentially distributed fillet welds 98 ( fig1 ) are applied to the lowermost fin 95 and the adjacent outer wall surface of the tubular housing 21 , so as to maintain the fins against the separation of the flanges thereof from the next adjacent fin . the uppermost fin 95 is abutted against the fillet weld 87 , which serves as an upper abutment for the fins . while in the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings , the fins 95 are provided only on the portion of the tubular housing 21 which is generally above the flange ( 25 and 26 ) of the funnel 24 ( namely , that part of the tubular housing which constitutes the cooling chamber and the portion thereof immediately above the cooling chamber ), yet for use in warm or hot climates i may also provide similar cooling fins on the portion of the tubular housing 21 between the inlet fitting 35 and the valve clearing recess 59 in the lower end of the housing 21 . for use of my air cooler and drier in extremely cold climate , i may encase or envelope the lower portion of the tubular housing 21 , namely , the portion thereof below flange 25 - 26 of the funnel 24 , or the lowermost portion thereof in which the lower housing closure 23 is mounted ( including the bottom thereof across the lower end of the tubular housing 21 ), in a thermally insulating boot or jacket ( not shown ), in order to prevent any possible freezing of the water in the swirl chamber 32 or in the conical cavity 54 or in the drain sump 49 therebeneath or to prevent any possible freezing of the drain - valve 52 . instead of the rivets ( 28 - 29 ) for supporting the funnel 24 and the air director 62 , i may provide a spacer between the upper annular shoulder 100 of the lower housing closure 23 and the lower surface of the flange portion 25 of the funnel 24 . such spacer may be in the form of a thin - walled aluminum tube snugly fitting into the inner diameter of tubular housing 21 and having a cut - out or hole to clear the inlet nozzle 42 in fig1 and 4 or the inlet nozzle 44 ( in fig1 ). the automatic drain valve 52 may be of the normally closed type illustrated in fig1 or it may be of the normally open type illustrated in fig1 . in the embodiment of my air cooler and cleaner 20 for use in connection with air compressors ( 116 ) and their storage reservoirs ( 117 ) on automotive equipment , such as trucks , tractors and the like ( fig1 and 18 ) whose compressor 116 is continuously driven by the engine thereof , the drain valve 52 is of the normally closed type illustrated in fig1 whose innermost housing portion 99 may be screw - threadedly mounted to ( or formed integrally with ) the drain boss 48 of the lower housing closure 23 of the air cooler and cleaner 20 . the normally closed drain valve 52 shown in fig1 includes a conical valve seat 101 facing downstream , and a corresponding conical valve disc 102 facing upstream , carried by a valve rod 103 whose downstream end is slidably supported in the central hole 104 of the web 105 having through holes 106 therein , and whose upstream end is slidably supported in the co - axial hole 107 of a similarly apertured web 108 . the outer end of the valve stem 103 abuts against the piston 109 . a helical compression spring 110 returns the piston 109 to its retracted position shown in fig1 when compressed air from the governor unloader valve 115 is not applied thereto , while ( under the same condition ) the helical compression spring 111 urges the valve disc 102 into its seating or closed position shown in fig1 . the seating of the valve disc 102 is also augmented by the pressure of the compressed air upstream thereof . the flange 113 on the valve stem 103 serves to limit the downstream unseating movement of the valve disc 102 . the pipe or tubing 61 from the control air port 112 of the drain valve 52 shown in fig1 is connected to the pipe line 114 between the governor unloader valve 115 and the air compressor 116 shown schematically in fig1 . such governor unloader valve 115 is generally mounted between the compressed air storage reservoir 117 and the air compressor 116 , so that when the pressure in the storage reservoir 117 reaches the upper pressure limit for which it is set , the compressed air from the storage reservoir 117 will activate the unloader valve 115 so that its control valve is thereby opened to admit compressed air from the storage reservoir 117 to the valve deactivator of the air compressor , which thereby keeps the air intake valve of the compressor open even though the compressor continues to turn over . so long as the air intake valve of the air compressor is thus kept open , the compressor does not deliver compressed air to the air cooler and cleaner 20 and hence does not deliver compressed air to the storage reservoir 117 therebeyond . when the pressure of the air in the storage reservoir 117 drops to the lower pressure limit for which the governor unloader valve 115 is set , then its control valve closes , so that compressed air from the reservoir 117 is not delivered to the pipe line 114 leading to the aforementioned valve deactivator of the compressor and so that the line 114 is vented to the atmosphere whereby the air intake valve of the compressor again closes cylically during the compression stroke of the piston of the compressor , so that the compressor delivers compressed air to the air cooler and cleaner 20 and to the storage reservoir 117 therebeyond . upon such venting of the line 114 , the line 61 connected to the control air port 112 of the drain valve 52 is likewise vented , with the result that the spring 110 returns the piston 109 to the position shown in fig1 , and the spring 111 returns the valve disc 102 to its closed position as shown in fig1 . in the embodiment of my air cooler and cleaner 20 for use in connection with air compressors ( and their storage reservoirs ) stationarily installed in service stations , shops , factories , laboratories and the like , where the compressor is completely shut down or stopped whenever the pressure in its storage reservoir reaches an upper set limit and is then started up again when the lower set limit of pressure is reached in the reservoir , the drain valve 52 is of the normally open type illustrated in fig1 , whose innermost housing portion 99 may likewise be screw threadedly mounted to ( or formed integrally with ) the drain boss 38 of the lower housing closure 23 of my air cooler and cleaner 20 . in this embodiment the piston 109 and the valve disc 122 and the valve rod or the valve stem 103 may be formed integrally with each other as illustrated in fig1 . in this embodiment , the conical valve seat 121 faces upstream and the correspondingly tapered valve disc 122 faces downstream , so that the piston return spring 111 keeps the valve open in the absence of pressure applied to the control fluid port 112 . in this embodiment the pipe line 61 is connected to the oil delivery side or the pressure side of the oil pump of the air compressor ( or to the line leading therefrom ), so that whenever the compressor is turning over , the valve disc 122 will be kept in its seated or closed position , against the valve seat 121 , so that the drain valve 52 is closed whenever the air compressor is running , and so that whenever the air compressor is shut down ( and the oil pressure from the oil pump of the compressor ceases or drops below the required pressure ), then the drain valve 52 shown in fig1 will be opened so as to drain and discharge the contents of the sump 49 and the conical cavity 54 thereabove in the lower housing closure 23 . the term &# 34 ; pilot fluid &# 34 ;, as used in the following claims , is intended to cover the pilot air under pressure supplied to the pilot port 112 through the lines 114 and 61 by the governor unloader valve 115 of or connected to the compressor 116 as in the automotive embodiment illustrated in fig1 and 18 , as well as the pilot oil under pressure supplied to the pilot port 112 by the oil pump of the air compressor in stationary embodiment illustrated in fig1 . the term &# 34 ; pilot - fluid output port &# 34 ; as used in the claims is intended to cover the compressed air output port of the governor unloader valve 115 ( fig1 ) in the automotive use of my air cooler and cleaner 20 as well as the oil output port or oil output line of the oil pump of the air compressor in the stationary use of my air cooler and cleaner 20 ( such oil pump not being shown in the drawings ). in the embodiment of my air cooler and cleaner 20 illustrated in fig1 the extruded aluminum tube constituting the housing 21 is 15 inches ( 38 . 1 cm .) long and has a 51 / 4 inches ( 13 . 33 cm .) long outer diameter and a 43 / 4 inches ( 12 . 06 cm .) inner diameter and a wall thickness of 1 / 4 inches ( 0 . 635 cm . ), and the fins 95 ( and flanges 96 ) are sheet aluminum having a thickness of about 0 . 050 inches ( 0 . 127 cm .). these dimensions are stated here for purposes of illustration and without restriction . to increase the capacity of my air cooler and cleaner , as , for instance , to accommodate larger air compressors , i generally need only increase the length of the thick walled aluminum housing tube 21 and correspondingly increase the lengths of the cooling chamber 33 and air director 62 , although i may also increase the vertical dimensions of the swirl chamber 32 and air riser tube 34 . the same upper and lower housing closures ( 22 and 23 ) and the same inlet boss ( 35 ) are usuable with such lengthened housing tubes 21 , thus conducting to economic manufacture of my air cooler and cleaner . the aforementioned emulsion - like oil and the water and solid particles entrained in the compressed air at times result in the accumulation of a sludge in the bottom of an air cooler and cleaner , which tends to become more viscous and at times to cake unless it is fully flushed out with each successive periodic operation of the automatic drain valve . in order better to assure the adequate flushing out of such sludge upon each operation of the automatic valve 52 , i have made the diameter or horizontal dimension of the drain sump 49 relatively smaller in relation to the diameter or horizontal dimension of the conical cavity 54 and of the swirl chamber 32 thereabove . as a result , the sludge which is the oldest will accumulate in the small diametered drain sump 49 from which it can better be flushed out by the compressed air thereabove , which passes through the drain sump at a higher velocity because of the small cross - sectional area thereof ( during each &# 34 ; open &# 34 ; phase of the drain valve 52 ) whereas the sludge in the cavity 54 or in the bottom of the swirl chamber 32 can be more readily flushed out by the lower velocity compressed air sweeping therethrough . the normally closed automatic drain valve 52 is shown in fig1 and the normally open automatic drain valve 52 is shown in fig1 only for the purposes exemplifying illustrations of these automatic drain valves and without limitation to the specific constructional details shown in these exemplifying illustrations . the term &# 34 ; aluminum &# 34 ; as used hereinabove and as used in the following claims is intended also to cover aluminum alloys and compositions containing a major proportion of aluminum . the compressed air enters the swirl chamber near the top thereof and the air rapidly spins or swirls , thereby imposing a force on the relatively heavy solid or liquid particles entrained in the compressed air . this force causes the particles to move to the wall of the housing and then to drain downwardly to the low side of the housing . since the lower end of the funnel is spaced considerably lower than the air inlet , the air must move a substantial distance before entering the lower open end of the funnel , thereby ensuring removal of the particles . further , the lower open end of the funnel is relatively close to the cavity 54 and the sump 49 , and the air entering the swirl chamber is relatively hot . consequently , the hot air prevents contaminants and sludge which collects in the sump 49 , from freezing . while the apparatus has been described herein in its function of an air cleaner , it should be apparent that it also may be used to clean other fluids . | 8 |
fig1 shows a high - pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp having an outer envelope 1 , a base 2 and an elongated arc tube 3 . the outer envelope is made of a glass , such as a borosilicate glass , which transmits visible light but is opaque to ultraviolet radiation emitted by the arc tube . a pair of electrodes 4 and 4 &# 39 ; are arranged at opposite ends of the tube 3 . each of the electrodes is connected to an electrical lead 5 and 5 &# 39 ;, respectively , which extends through the wall of the tube 3 and into the interior space 6 . the space 6 between the outer envelope 1 and the arc tube 3 may be either evacuated or , as is usually the case with higher wattage lamps , filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen . the arc tube 3 is supported within the envelope by a metallic wire frame 7 of conventional design . leaf springs 8 at one end of the frame 7 engage the dome portion 9 of the outer envelope so as to resiliently maintain the arc tube centered within the outer envelope 1 . the opposite end of the frame 7 is affixed to the lead 10 which electrically connects the frame to one of the terminals of the screw base 2 . the electrode lead 5 &# 39 ; is also electrically connected to the frame 7 so that the latter acts as an electrical conductor connecting the upper electrode 4 &# 39 ; to the source of electrical power . the lead 5 from the other electrode 4 is connected to the second conductor 11 leading to the other terminal of screw base 2 . in accordance with the invention , the electrode 4 &# 39 ; is connected to the frame 7 through a failsafe switch constituted by cylindrical carbon rod 12 . the lead 5 &# 39 ; from electrode 4 &# 39 ; is a wire braid and is connected to one end of the carbon rod 12 by wrapping it tightly around the end of the rod and spot welding the braid to itself with some compression against the rod . the other end of the carbon rod is connected in like manner to a wire braid 14 which is spot welded to the frame 7 . conductive cement may be used to attach the carbon rod to the wire braids more securely and to aid electrical contact . in operation , the carbon rod will be heated by the electrical current flowing through it . hence , if the outer envelope is broken , the carbon rod will be exposed to air and oxidize rapidly to form carbon dioxide . the oxides are gaseous so that the rod will rapidly burn out and fail thereby interrupting the electrical path to electrode 4 &# 39 ;. the carbon rod may be graphite , carbon black or a mixture of the two with little or no binder . a suitable material for the rod is a pencil lead of the type which is nearly pure carbon . in the pencil lead of the preferred composition , the synthetic resin binder is partially or completely decomposed by heat treatment after extrusion so that the final result is mainly graphite and carbon black . an example of such material is pencil lead manufactured by the pentel corporation . pencil leads which use clay as a binder are less suitable for use as failsafe switches since upon oxidation of the surface layer , a clay coating is left which hinders oxidation of the remaining carbon . the dimensions of the rod depend on the wattage of the lamp . for oxidation to occur upon exposure to air , the carbon rod should be maintained at a temperature of at least 400 ° c . and preferably at about 600 ° c . accordingly , the rod should be dimensioned so that at the rated lamp current , the rod is heated to a temperature which will result in oxidation and burn - out upon rupture of the outer envelope . it has been found that for a 25 to 30 mm long rod , the diameter should vary with lamp wattage as follows : in the case of 400 w mercury and metal halide lamps , a 0 . 5 mm diameter pencil lead having a length from 30 to 60 mm performs satisfactorily . at room temperature , a 0 . 5 mm diameter and 30 mm long carbon rod has a resistance of about 0 . 8 ohms . during operation of the 400 w lamp , the carbon rod exhibited a dark red glow indicating that it is maintained at a temperature of approximately 600 ° c . the burn out time of a switch of these dimensions is 5 to 6 minutes . for a 0 . 5 mm diameter , 60 mm long carbon rod , the burn - out time decreases to approximately 2 to 3 minutes . for protection against breakage due to shocks during handling , shipping and the like , the carbon rod may be secured to a rod of glass or other suitable non - conductive material . in the embodiment shown in fig2 the leads 5 &# 39 ; and 14 are medium diameter wires , for example , 0 . 025 inch molybdenum wires . the two wires are sealed into a glass rod 13 by heating the ends of the glass rod and pressing the wires into the molten glass . the ends of the two wires protruding from the glass rod are provided with loops and the carbon rod 12 is cemented into the loops with conductive cement . a conductive cement suitable for this purpose is aremco - coat 543 . instead of sealing the wires in the glass rod , wire braids may be used which are attached to the glass rod 13 by tightly wrapping them about the ends of the glass rod and spot welding the braid to itself . the carbon rod is then attached to the braid at each end of the glass rod by conductive cement or , alternatively , by a second wire braid which is wrapped around the first braid and spot welded to it so that the carbon rod 12 is sandwiched between the two wire straps . one advantage of this arrangement is that the carbon rod 12 is spaced from the glass rod 13 by the thickness of the wire braid so that thermal losses from this carbon rod are reduced . | 7 |
the following description relates to the manufacturing of lv ( low voltage and high speed ) and hv ( high voltage ) nmos transistors , lv and hv pmos transistors , and eeprom memory cells , having a selection transistor and a memory transistor . in particular , in view of the duality in manufacturing nmos and pmos transistors , the drawings show only the steps relative to nmos transistors , and the steps relative to pmos transistors are described in words alone . the eeprom memory cells form a memory matrix and are formed in a part of the wafer referred to hereinafter as a matrix zone 15 . in fig1 a wafer 1 , formed from a monocrystalline silicon substrate 2 , here of p - type , has been subjected to the steps of defining the active areas . in detail , with the surface 3 of the substrate 2 covered by an active area mask 4 made of non - oxidisable material ( typically including a double layer of silicon oxide and silicon nitride , defined using resist ), the wafer 1 has been subjected to thermal oxidation ; consequently , on the parts of the substrate 2 which are not covered by the active area mask 4 , thick oxide ( field oxide ) layers 5 have been grown , delimiting between one another substrate active areas designed to accommodate various components of the device to be formed . in particular , fig1 shows three active areas , an active lv area 6 , designed to accommodate an lv nmos transistor , an active hv area 7 , designed to accommodate an hv nmos transistor , and an active matrix area 8 , designed to accommodate eeprom memory cells . in detail , and in known manner , the active matrix area 8 defines a grid , of which fig2 shows in full only the part relative to a cell , indicated at 9 , which has substantially the shape of a “ t ” rotated by 90 °, and comprises a leg 9 a ( far from active hv area 7 ) and a cross - piece 9 b . leg 9 a is adjacent and electrically connected to respective legs 9 a of other cells arranged above and below the cell shown , and of which only parts are shown ; in addition , the leg 9 a is connected to a leg of an adjacent cell to the right ( not shown ), which has a structure which is symmetrical relative to that shown . the legs 9 a are designed to accommodate source regions of the memory transistors ; the end of cross - pieces 9 b are designed to accommodate drain regions of the selection transistors and gate regions of the cells must be formed on the cross - pieces 9 b . further active areas are generally formed to accommodate lv or hv pmos transistors , not shown in the drawings . subsequently active area mask 4 is removed , the free surface 3 of the substrate is oxidized to form a sacrificial oxide layer 10 , and masked implanting of doping ion species of n - type is carried out , to form n - hv regions ( not shown ) for hv pmos transistors ; then , using an hv p - well resist mask 11 , which covers the entire surface of the wafer 1 , except hv active area 7 and matrix area 8 , implanting of doping ionic species of p - type is carried out , as shown schematically in fig3 by arrows 12 . then p - hv regions 13 of p - type for high - voltage transistors , and a p - matrix region 14 , also of p - type , for cells , is formed in the substrate 2 , as shown in fig3 . p - hv region 13 and p - matrix region 14 reproduce exactly the shape of the respective hv active area 7 and matrix area 8 , and thus , each cell comprises legs 14 a ( corresponding to legs 9 a of the active areas of cell 9 , see fig7 ), and cross - pieces 14 b ( fig7 corresponding to the cross - pieces 9 b ). after hv p - well mask 11 has been removed , masked implanting of doping ionic species of n - type is carried out , to form n - lv regions ( not shown ) for lv pmos transistors ; then , using an lv p - well resist mask 17 that covers the entire surface of the wafer 1 , except lv active areas 6 , doping ionic species of p - type are implanted , as shown schematically in fig4 by arrows 18 . p - lv regions 19 of p - type for lv nmos transistors are then formed in substrate 2 , as shown in fig4 . thereby , p - hv regions 13 and p - lv regions 19 are separated from one another , and their electrical characteristics can be optimized to the required electrical characteristics . after lv p - well mask 17 has been removed , a capacitor mask 20 is formed , which covers the entire surface of the wafer 1 , except strips perpendicular to the cross - pieces 14 b . doping species of n - type ( for example phosphorous ) are then implanted , as shown schematically in fig5 by arrows 21 . in the cross - pieces 14 b , continuity regions 22 of n - type are thus formed , as necessary for electrical continuity between each selection transistor and the respective memory transistor of each cell . the structure of fig5 is thus obtained . after capacitor mask 20 has been removed , wafer 1 is subjected to annealing , sacrificial layer 10 is removed , and matrix oxidation is carried out , leading to a matrix oxide layer 25 forming on the surface of all the regions 13 , 14 and 19 . then , using a matrix oxide mask 24 , shown in cross - section in fig6 and from above in fig7 the matrix oxide layer is removed everywhere except from below the matrix oxide mask 24 , forming a region 25 b ( fig8 ) arranged partially above the continuity region 22 and partially covering the leg 9 a ; after matrix oxide mask 24 has been removed , wafer 1 is oxidized again , forming a tunnel oxide region 26 on the entire surface of the active areas . the structure in fig8 is thus obtained . a first polycrystalline silicon layer ( polyl layer ) 27 is then deposited and suitably doped ; an interpoly dielectric layer 31 is then formed , for example comprising a triple layer of ono ( silicon oxide - silicon nitride - silicon oxide ), as shown in fig9 . a floating gate mask 30 , shown in fig1 , is formed ; then dielectric layer 31 , polyl layer 27 , and tunnel oxide layer 26 are removed from everywhere except where floating gate regions of the memory transistors are to be formed , as indicated at 27 b in fig1 . consequently , of tunnel oxide layer 26 , only a tunnel region 26 b is left , which is adjacent to an edge of floating gate region 27 b of the memory transistor . after floating gate mask 30 has been removed , an hv oxidation step is carried out , forming an hv gate oxide layer 34 on the entire free surface of substrate 2 , and in particular on regions p - lv 19 and p - hv 13 ( fig1 ). oxide portions 34 b are also formed laterally to the floating gate region 27 b of the memory transistor , as shown in fig1 . subsequently , using an hv resist oxide mask 35 , which covers regions p - hv 13 and matrix zone 15 , hv gate oxide layer 34 is removed from above regions p - lv 19 ( fig1 ). after hv oxide mask 35 has been removed , an lv oxidation step is carried out , forming an lv gate oxide layer 36 on regions p - lv 19 ; in addition , the thickness of hv gate oxide layer 34 on p - hv regions 13 increases , providing the intermediate structure of fig1 . a second polycrystalline layer ( poly 2 layer 43 ) then is deposited and doped , as shown in fig1 . an lv gate mask 44 is then formed , which covers regions n - hv ( not shown ), regions p - hv 13 , and matrix zone 15 , except where cell source regions and cell drain regions are to be formed , such as to define both sides of the control gate regions of the memory transistors , and one side ( facing the respective memory transistor ) of gate regions of selection transistors . in addition , lv gate mask 44 covers poly 2 layer on regions p - lv 19 , where gate regions of lv nmos and pmos transistors are to be defined , as shown in fig1 and 17 , and n - lv regions ( not shown ), where gate regions of lv pmos transistors are to be defined . the exposed portions of poly 2 layer 43 are then removed , providing the intermediate structure of fig1 , wherein the remaining portions of poly 2 on regions p - lv 19 form gate regions 43 a of lv nmos transistors , and the remaining portions of poly 2 on p - matrix regions 14 form control gate regions 43 b of the memory transistors . as is known , while defining the gate regions of lv transistors , the layers on regions p - hv 13 are protected , as are the layers on regions n - hv ( not shown ); consequently , the method described provides separate definition of the gate regions of the lv transistors and the hv transistors . after lv gate mask 44 has been removed , wafer 1 is subjected to oxidation , such that an oxide layer 46 grows on the exposed portions of the poly 2 layer . using a resist mask , not shown , which covers regions n - lv and n - hv , doping ionic species of n - type ( lddn implanting ) are implanted , as schematized by arrows 47 in fig1 . at the sides of gate regions 43 a ( inside regions p - lv 19 ), ldd regions 48 of n - type are then formed ; and at the sides of gate region 27 b ( inside p - matrix region 14 ), first cell source regions 49 of n - type , and drain regions 50 of n - type , also defining source regions of selection transistors , are formed ; in addition , poly 2 layer 43 is suitably doped . the structure of fig1 is thus obtained . after the resist mask ( not shown ) has been removed , masked implanting of doping ionic species of p - type is carried out ; in particular , during this step , regions p - hv 13 and p - lv 19 , as well as matrix zone 15 are covered , whereas in regions n - lv , ldd regions of p - type ( not shown ) are formed . a dielectric layer ( for example teos - tetraethylorthosilicate ) is then deposited on the entire surface of wafer 1 ; then , in known manner , the teos layer is subjected to anisotropic etching and is removed completely from the horizontal portions , remaining only at the sides of the gate regions 43 a ( where it forms spacers 52 , fig1 ), on the side of the floating gate region 27 b and control gate region 43 b of the memory transistors which does not face the respective selection transistor ( on the source region 49 , where it forms spacers 53 b ), on the side of the floating gate region 27 b and the control gate region 43 b of the memory transistors which faces the respective selection transistor ( on the drain region 50 , where it forms spacers 53 a ), as well as on the side already defined of the poly 2 layer 43 , which is designed to form the gate region of the selection transistors ( where it forms spacers 53 c ). in particular , the spacers 53 b and 53 c on each drain region 50 are connected to one another , forming a single region which protects the drain region 50 beneath . on the other hand , spacers are not formed above field oxide regions 5 , since the edges of the latter are birds beak - shaped ( formed in known manner , not shown for simplicity ); in addition , no spacers are formed above regions p - hv 13 , and corresponding regions n - hv , since the gate regions of the hv transistors are not yet defined . the oxide layer 46 is also removed in this step . subsequently , using a resist mask , not shown , which covers regions n - lv and n - hv , doping ionic species of n - type are implanted , as schematically shown in fig1 by arrows 54 . lv - nmos source and drain regions 55 of n +- type are then formed in regions p - lv 19 , self - aligned with spacers 52 , and second cell source regions 56 of n +- type are formed self - aligned with spacers 53 a in p - matrix region 14 . lv - nmos source and drain regions 55 are more highly doped than ldd regions 48 , and second source regions 56 are more highly doped than first cell source regions 49 . in addition , poly 2 layer 43 and gate regions 43 a are n - doped , while covering the zones where hv and lv pmos transistors are to be formed . thus the structure of fig1 is obtained . after resist mask ( not shown ) has been removed , analogously doping ionic species of p - type are masked implanted , to form respective source and drain regions in regions of n - lv type ( not shown ), and for p - type doping of poly 2 layer 43 above n - lv and n - hv regions . in this step , p - lv , p - hv and p - matrix regions are fully covered . subsequently , if zener diodes , low - doping precision resistors , and / or transistors of n - and p - type with non - salicided junctions are to be provided , a dielectric layer is deposited and defined through a respective mask , in a manner not shown . the exposed poly 2 layer is then salicized . saliciding , carried out in known manner , as already described , causes the formation of titanium silicide regions above the source and drain regions of the lv nmos and pmos transistors ( silicide regions 57 a 1 above lv - nmos source and drain regions 55 , and similar regions for lv pmos transistors ), above the gate regions of lv nmos and pmos transistors ( silicide regions 57 a 2 above gate regions 43 a for lv nmos transistors , and similar regions for lv pmos transistors ), above second cell source regions 56 ( silicide regions 57 b 1 ), above control gate regions 43 b of memory transistors ( salicide regions 57 b 2 ) and the regions where gate regions of selection transistors and of hv nmos and similar hv pmos transistors are to be formed , as shown in fig2 . subsequently , an hv gate mask 60 is formed , which covers the entire surface of wafer 1 , except the active areas where high voltage transistors are to be formed ( p - hv regions 13 , for hv nmos ), and a portion of p - matrix region 14 designed to form the source of the selection transistor ; in particular , mask 60 covers the zones where to form the gate regions of high voltage transistors and the side of the gate regions of selection transistors not facing the respective memory transistor ( in this respect see also fig2 , which shows hv gate mask 60 from above ). the portions of silicide layer 57 and poly 2 layer 43 b not covered by the hv gate mask 60 are then etched . thus , the structure of fig2 is obtained , wherein the gate region of the memory transistor is indicated at 43 c , and the gate region of hv nmos transistor is indicated at 43 d ; the respective portions of salicide are indicated at 57 c and 57 d . in practice , definition of regions 43 c and 43 d takes place after saliciding , and causes removal of the salicide ( together with poly 2 layer 43 ), on the high voltage junctions on which silicide must not be present . after hv gate mask 60 has been removed , an n - hv mask 62 is formed , which covers n - lv and n - hv regions ( not shown ), and p - lv regions 19 . using nhv mask 62 , doping ionic species of n - type are implanted , as shown schematically in fig2 by arrows 63 . in p - hv regions 13 , at both sides of hv gate regions 43 d , hv - nmos source and drain regions 64 of n - type are thus formed , which are less doped than lv - nmos source and drain regions 55 ; simultaneously , in p - matrix region 14 , selection transistor source regions 65 a are formed , on one side , self - aligned with gate region 43 c of selection transistors . selection transistor source regions 65 a ( as well as hv - nmos source and drain regions 64 ) have a doping level lower than lv - nmos source and drain regions 55 , and than second cell source regions 56 , and thus they have a higher breakdown voltage , as well as greater resistivity . after nhv mask 62 has been removed , similar masked implanting is carried out for source and drain regions of hv pmos transistors ( which are not shown ); a protective dielectric layer 66 is then deposited , providing the structure of fig2 , showing an lv nmos transistor 70 , an hv nmos transistor 71 , and an eeprom cell 72 , including a selection transistor 73 and a memory transistor 74 . the final steps then follow , including forming the contacts and the electrical interconnection lines , depositing a passivation layer , etc . thus , in the final device , eeprom cells 72 have selection transistor source regions 65 a which are not salicided , thus have high breakdown voltages , and are obtained independently of the respective drain regions ( regions 50 ); second source regions 56 of the memory transistors 74 ( forming source lines ), which are salicided , and have a different doping from selection source regions 65 a ; control gate lines 43 b for the memory transistors 74 , and gate regions 43 c for the selection transistors 73 with low resistivity ; in addition gate regions of selection transistors 73 are obtained entirely from the second polycrystalline silicon layer 43 . furthermore , the cell as a whole is fully non - self - aligned . lv ( nmos and pmos ) transistors have a high - speed ldd structure with a dual gate ( gate region 43 a doped with doping ionic species of the same type as source and drain regions 48 , 55 ); with salicided source and drain regions 55 and gate region 43 a . hv ( nmos and pmos ) transistors have a dual gate and drain extension structure , with salicided gate region 43 d alone . the described method thus simultaneously form lv , hv and memory components that have very different characteristics , optimising the necessary number of steps , and using altogether a low number of masks . finally , it is apparent that many modifications and variants can be made to the method and the device described and illustrated here , all within the scope of the invention , as defined in the attached claims . in particular , the steps described of forming zener diodes and low - doping precision resistors , and n - and p - type transistors with non - salicided junctions , can be omitted if these components are not needed . | 7 |
consideration is given initially to the structure of the outlet stage of a primary pump having complementary profiles , for example as shown in fig1 to 3 . the pump comprises a pump stator 1 having an inside cavity 2 with two rotors 3 and 4 turning therein on two corresponding parallel shafts 5 and 6 driven by a motor in opposite directions of rotation 7 and 8 and with appropriate relative angular positions being maintained . in the outlet or “ atmospheric ” stage , the rotor 3 has a lobe 9 presenting a peripheral profile that is complementary to the profile of a corresponding lobe 10 of the rotor 4 such that the lobes 9 and 10 are permanently in contact with each other via an intermediate sealing zone 11 , and each of them is also in sealing contact with the wall of the pump stator 1 via respective peripheral sealing zones 12 and 13 . a suction orifice 14 is in communication with a suction zone 15 of the internal cavity 2 , while a discharge orifice 16 communicates with a discharge zone 17 of the internal cavity 2 , and constitutes the discharge from the pump . the pump shown in fig1 to 3 operates in the manner described below and starting from the step shown in fig1 . in this state , the lobe 10 of the rotor 4 has just taken a volume of gas from the suction zone 15 . with continuing rotation of the rotor 4 , the volume of gas 18 is held captive by the lobe 10 , as shown in fig2 . thereafter , with continuing rotation of the rotor 4 , the volume of gas 18 is moved progressively ( fig2 ) until it comes into communication with the discharge orifice 16 . the instant at which communication is established with the discharge orifice 16 is shown in fig2 in association with the corresponding volume of gas 18 a previously taken and moved by the lobe 9 of the rotor 3 . at this instant , the discharge orifice 16 is theoretically at atmospheric pressure , whereas the volume of gas 18 a is still at the suction pressure of the outlet stage of the pump , i . e . at a pressure that is much lower . a flow of gas 19 is thus sucked into the pump through the discharge orifice 16 . as rotation of the rotors 3 and 4 continues , the system takes on the state shown in fig3 : the gas flow 19 reverses suddenly , thereby producing a shockwave 19 a , and the gases in the volume 18 a are then discharged by the pump , thereby producing a discharge gas flow 20 as shown in fig3 . it is this shockwave 19 a and these two flows 19 and 20 that produce the discharge noise of the pump . [ 0030 ] fig4 is a timing diagram showing the suction gas flow 19 and the discharge gas flow 20 that pass through the discharge orifice 16 . according to the invention , the discharge noise is attenuated by means of a dynamic attenuator , a first embodiment of which is shown in fig5 . the discharge noise attenuator 21 , as shown in fig5 comprises an inlet orifice 22 which is connected to the discharge or discharge orifice 16 of the atmospheric stage of the primary pump , and it has an outlet or outlet orifice 23 connected to the surrounding atmosphere . in the discharge noise attenuator 21 , a transfer device , e . g . a rotary device is interposed between the inlet orifice 22 and the outlet orifice 23 , the transfer device having independent cavities such as the cavity 24 which move sequentially between the discharge or discharge orifice 16 and the outlet or outlet orifice 23 , coming successively into communication with the outlet 23 , then being isolated , then into communication with the discharge 16 , then isolated , and then again coming into communication with the outlet 23 , and so on . in the embodiment shown in fig5 the cavities such as the cavity 24 are made in a rotor 25 rotating on a shaft 26 in a cylindrical chamber 27 of a stator 28 having an inlet orifice 22 and an outlet orifice 23 . the inlet orifice 22 puts one or more cavities such as the cavity 24 c into communication with the discharge orifice 16 , while the outlet orifice 23 puts one or more cavities such as the cavity 24 into communication with the atmosphere . in the embodiment shown in fig5 the rotor 25 carries eight peripheral cavities 24 , 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , 24 d , 24 e , 24 f , and 24 g on its shaft 26 . the rotor 25 can be a disk having peripheral cavities 24 - 24 g that are isolated from one another and that come sequentially : into register with the outlet orifice 23 ( such as the cavity 24 in fig5 ), then into register with a solid portion 29 of the wall of the chamber 27 of the stator 28 , and then into register with the inlet orifice 22 ( such as the cavity 24 c ), and then into register with another solid portion 30 of the wall of the chamber 27 of the stator 28 , before coming again into register with the outlet orifice 23 , and so on . the rotor 25 with the cavities 24 - 24 g constitutes the transfer device having independent cavities . in the embodiment shown in fig6 the discharge noise attenuator 21 of the invention comprises two parallel - shaft rotors rotating in two respective chambers of the stator 28 and connected in parallel between a common inlet orifice 22 and one or two outlet orifices 23 . a first chamber 27 of the stator 28 thus has the rotor 25 rotating on the shaft 26 and including the cavities 24 to 24 g . there is also a second rotor 125 , in a second chamber 127 , of the stator 28 having a shaft 126 carrying cavities 124 to 124 g . the rotors 25 and 125 and their cavities constitute two transfer devices with independent cavities . in this embodiment , there is also shown the characteristic whereby a progressive leak is established for putting the cavities into communication with the atmosphere : over a defined sector of the said other solid portion 30 ( 130 ) of the wall of the chamber 27 ( 127 ) of the stator 28 there is a progressive flare going angularly towards the outlet orifice 23 with the chamber diameter increasing away from the shaft 26 ( 126 ) so as to establish a progressive gap 31 or leak between said solid portion 30 ( 130 ) and the walls of the cavities such as the cavities 24 f and 24 g , with said gap 31 increasing progressively on approaching the outlet orifice 23 in the direction of rotation of the rotors . the volume of the cavities such as the cavities 2424 g is selected to be large enough to ensure that under steady conditions of the vacuum machine maintaining a vacuum , the internal gas pressure in the inlet orifice 22 ( i . e . the discharge 16 from the pump ) is only slightly higher than atmospheric pressure at the end of the discharge step . this ensures that the attenuator of the invention does not reduce the vacuum - creating ability of the pump . in the embodiment of fig7 there can be seen the same means as those constituting the embodiment of fig6 and these means are identified by the same numerical references . however , the embodiment of fig7 differs in that there is also a bypass circuit 32 having a non - return valve 33 which serves to put the inlet orifice 22 directly into communication with the outlet orifice to the atmosphere 23 in the event of the internal gas pressure inside the inlet orifice 22 exceeding atmospheric pressure beyond a predefined pressure threshold determined by rating means 34 of the non - return valve 33 . as a result , if the pump discharges gas coming from the inlet orifice 22 at a rate exceeding the gas - displacement ability through the cavities 24 - 24 g and 124 - 124 g , then the non - return valve 33 opens and enables the surplus gas flow to be discharged directly without excessively increasing the pressure in the inlet volume of the attenuator , and thus in the outlet stage of the pump . the cavity transfer device of the invention , e . g . the device shown in fig6 or fig7 comprising the rotors 25 and 125 , can advantageously be driven by the rotary vacuum machine itself , being mechanically coupled thereto . for example , the shafts 26 and 126 can be constituted by the shafts 5 and 6 of the pump itself . the attenuator is then placed adjacent to the discharge 16 of the vacuum machine . alternatively , the attenuator can be placed at a distance from the discharge 16 of the machine , and it can be connected thereto via a connection pipe . it is also possible for the transfer device with cavities as constituted by the rotors 25 and 125 to be rotated by an auxiliary motor , possibly driven at varying speed so as to adapt to varying gas discharge rates passing through the pump . the effectiveness of the device of the invention is illustrated with reference to fig8 . this figure is a timing diagram showing the gas pressure inside a cavity such as the cavity 24 during one complete revolution of the rotor 25 . starting from the position shown in fig5 to 7 , with the cavity 24 in communication with the outlet orifice 23 , the gas pressure pc inside the cavity 24 is at atmospheric pressure pa during a first step a . thereafter , the cavity 24 is closed by the solid portion 29 of the wall of the chamber 27 of the stator 28 , and the pressure pc remains constant and equal to atmospheric pressure pa through step b . then , during step c , the cavity 24 comes into communication with the inlet orifice 22 and the discharge 16 from the pump . at this moment , or at a moment shifted thereafter , a suction flow 19 of gas can penetrate into the inside of the pump as shown in fig2 thus causing the pressure to drop d inside the cavity 24 , followed by a rise r in the pressure due to the flow 20 being discharged from the pump . during step e , the cavity 24 is at a pressure that is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure , and it is closed by the solid portion 30 of the wall of the chamber 27 of the stator 28 . finally , during step f , leakage takes place progressively through the gap 31 , and the pressure pc falls progressively back to atmospheric pressure pa which then remains constant , and the cycle begins again . it will be understood that because the cavity 24 c communicating with the discharge 16 of the pump is isolated from the outside atmosphere by the sealing across the walls of the other chambers , the shockwave produced during step c is not transmitted to the outside atmosphere , so the noise is confined within the inlet compartment of the noise attenuator . the invention is not limited to the embodiments described in particular , and it includes any variants and generalizations which are within the competence of the person skilled in the art . | 5 |
one aspect of the present invention relates to an improved process for the manufacture of hfc which includes the step of reacting hf with one or more hfc precursors to produce a reaction product that includes the desired hfc . fig1 illustrates , in a generalized block diagram form , such a process in which one or more hfc precursors , represented by feed stream 10 in fig1 are introduced into a reaction step 100 together with fresh hf , represented by feed stream 20 , wherein a reaction product , represented by stream 30 , is produced . it is contemplated that the particulars of the reaction step in accordance with the present invention may vary greatly within the scope hereof , and accordingly all fluorination reaction particulars which are presently known or which may hereinafter be developed are adaptable for use in the present invention , provided the reaction product contains un - reacted hf and unreactive compounds , particularly and preferably unreactive compounds that form an azeotropic mixture with hf . according to preferred embodiments in which the desired hfcs are c3 - hfcs , c4 - hfcs and c5 - hfcs , it is generally preferred that the reaction step comprises a fluorination reaction in which hf is reacted , optionally but preferably in the presence of a fluorination catalyst , with an hfc precursor that is selected from the group consisting of cn - hccs , cn - hcfcs and combinations of these , where n is 3 , 4 or 5 . in certain embodiments , it is preferred that the hfc precursor is selected from the group consisting of propanes and propenes , fluorinated or chlorinated , and mixtures of these . examples of chlorinated propanes that may be used include : 1 - chloro - 1 , 3 , 3 , 3 - tetrafluoropropane ( hcfc - 244fa ); 1 , 1 , 1 , 3 , 3 - pentachloropropane ( hcc - 240fa ); trichlorodifluoropropanes ( hcfc - 242 ); 1 , 1 - dichloro - 3 , 3 , 3 - trifluoropropane ; and 1 , 3 - dichloro - 1 , 3 , 3 - trifluoropropane , the latter two of which are each sometimes refereed to herein as hcfc - 243 . examples of chlorinated propenes that may be used are 1 , 1 , 3 , 3 - tetrachloropropene ( hcc - 1230za ) and 1 , 3 , 3 , 3 - tetrachloropropene ( hcc - 1230zd ). examples of fluorinated propenes that may be used are 1 , 3 , 3 , 3 - tetrafluoropropene ( hfc - 1234ze ) and 1 - chloro - 3 , 3 , 3 - trifluoropropene ( hcfc - 1233zd ). for embodiments involving the manufacture of penta - or hexa - fluoropropanes , the reaction step preferably comprises one or more of the reaction steps , conditions and means that are disclosed and referred to in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 763 , 706 — tung et . al ., which is incorporated herein by reference . under such reaction conditions , the reaction product stream will generally comprise hcl ; un - reacted hf ; the desired hfc , namely , hfc - 245fa ; hcfc - 244fa ; and 1 , 2 - dichloro - 3 , 3 , 3 - trifluoropropene ( hcfc - 1223xd ). the reaction product stream 30 is processed in separation step 200 to produce at least one product stream 40 containing the desired hfc at the desired rate and in the desired purity and at least one intermediate product stream 50 that is substantially free of the desired hfc and which contains un - reacted hf and at least one unreactive compound which is difficult to separate from hf , as would occur for example when such an unreactive product forms an azeotrope with hf . according to certain embodiments , the intermediate product stream 50 also includes at least one reactive compound that is difficult to separate from the unreactive product . for example , in certain embodiments the reactive compound forms an azeotrope with hf , and the boiling point of the hf / reactive compound azeotrope is within about 10 ° c . of the boiling point of the hf / unreactive compound azeotrope . stream 50 may also include other heavy boiling organic compounds produced in the reaction step . as the term is used herein , “ intermediate product stream ” refers to a product stream that requires further processing in accordance with the present invention . it is contemplated that the particulars of the separation step 200 in accordance with the present invention may vary greatly within the scope hereof , and accordingly all separation processes which are presently known or which may hereinafter be developed are adaptable for use in the present invention , provided the step produces an intermediate product stream having the characteristics mentioned above with respect to stream 50 . in general , the preferred separation step 200 includes the step of removing hcl , preferably substantially anhydrous hcl , from reaction product stream 30 . one or more distillation columns can be used to remove anhydrous hcl from stream 30 . the overhead stream from this hcl removal step is generally removed from the process , as illustrated by the dotted line 41 in fig1 . the remaining components are then further separated to produce at least the product stream 40 containing the desired hfc and intermediate product stream 50 , preferably using conventional steps such as pressure swing distillation , as described , for example in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 918 , 481 ( which is incorporated herein by reference ), or by sulfuric acid extraction , as described , for example in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 895 , 639 ( which is incorporated herein by reference ), or by metal fluoride salt extraction , as described , for example in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 948 , 381 ( which is incorporated herein by reference ), or by water scrubbing , or by combinations of two or more of any of these and other well known separation steps . as mentioned above , for embodiments involving the manufacture of penta - or hexa - fluoropropanes , the preferred reaction step 100 produces a reaction product stream 30 that comprises , in addition to un - reacted hf and the desired product ( s ) ( such as hfc - 245fa ), hcfc - 244fa and hcfc - 1223xd . the normal boiling point of hcfc - 244fa is sufficiently below that of hcfc - 1223xd that these two components , in a binary mixture , can be readily separated from one another by using simple distillation . more particularly , the normal boiling points of hcfc - 244fa and that of hcfc - 1223xd are 16 ° c . apart , namely , 35 ° c . and 51 ° c ., respectively . however , applicants have come to appreciate that both hcfc - 244fa and hcfc - 1223xd not only form azeotropes with hf , thus making it difficult to separate each of these components from the hf in the reaction product , but also that the boiling points for the hcfc - 1223xd / hf azeotrope and the hcfc - 244fa / hf are much less than 16 ° c . apart . as a result , separation of the hcfc - 244fa / hf azeotrope from hcfc - 1223xd / hf azeotrope can not be readily achieved in the separation step 200 , and therefore the stream 50 , which preferably contains the un - reacted hf for recycle to the reaction step , will contain these two hcfcs . table 1 below reports the boiling points of these two azeotropic mixtures at several pressures . the composition of 244fa / hf azeotrope is at about 34 . 7 wt % hf . the 1223xd / hf is a heterogeneous azeotrope . the 244fa / hf is a homogeneous azeotrope . as can be seen from table 1 above , the temperature differences decrease with pressure and that , due to the presence of hf in the reaction product , the boiling points of hcfc - 244fa / hf and hcfc - 1223xd / hf azeotropes are much closer than in the absence of hf . the preferred embodiments of this invention include a separating step 300 for removing hf from stream 50 to produce one or more recycle streams 60 comprising a substantial portion , and preferably at least about a major proportion , of the hf present in reaction product 30 . the separation step 300 preferably further comprises removing hcfc - 1223xd from stream 50 to produce one or more streams 70 comprising a substantial portion , and preferably at least about a major proportion , of the hcfc - 1223xd present in reaction product 30 . it is contemplated that stream 70 will not be recycled to the reaction 100 but instead will be routed for further processing , sale and / or disposal . a preferred embodiment of the separation step 300 of the present invention is illustrated in fig2 . according to this embodiment , the stream 50 is introduced to a separating step 310 , such as a distillation operation comprising one or more distillation towers , wherein the azeotropes of hf , together with any other organic components , are preferably removed in a vapor stream 51 , which is fed to a condenser unit 320 . hf which is not in an azeotropic mixture with organic compounds is removed as bottoms stream 60 a , preferably after passing through reboiler 350 wherein the at least a portion of the stream is heated to the vapor state and reintroduced into the separation step 310 . stream 60 a is preferably recycled to the reaction step 100 . the output stream 52 from condenser 320 comprises two liquid phases . stream 52 is introduced into a phase separation step , such as separator drum 330 , which is designed to have a volume and shape sufficient to allow stream 52 to separate into an organic phase 52 a and an inorganic phase 52 b . the inorganic phase is removed from the drum as stream 53 and preferably returned to distillation step 310 as reflux . the organic phase 52 a is removed as stream 54 and preferably introduced into a separation step 340 , such as a distillation operation comprising one or more distillation towers . the heavier organic component ( s ) contained in stream 54 are removed as bottoms stream 70 , preferably after passing through a reboiler 360 wherein the at least a portion of the stream is heated to the vapor state and reintroduced into the separation step 340 . stream 70 preferably contains the unreactive compounds contained in stream 50 and is further processed but not recycled to the reaction step , as indicated above . the lighter organic components contained in stream 50 , which preferably include the reactive compounds contained in stream 54 , are preferably removed in a vapor stream 55 , which is fed to a condenser unit 370 . a portion of the cooled stream from the condenser 370 is introduced into the separator 340 as reflux stream 61 and the remainder of the stream is transferred to the reaction step as recycle stream 60 b . for embodiments of the present invention involving the manufacture of penta - or hexa - fluoropropanes , the stream 50 preferably includes at least about 80 % by weight of the hcfc - 244fa and of the hcfc - 1223xd contained in the reaction product 30 , together with at least a substantial portion of the un - reacted hf in the reaction product . according to highly preferred embodiments , stream 50 will comprise hcfc - 244fa in an amount at least about 90 % on weight basis of the hcfc - 244fa in the reaction product , hcfc - 1223xd in an amount at least about 90 % on weight basis of the hcfc - 1223xd in the reaction product , and hf in an amount at least about 90 % on weight basis of the hf in the reaction product . in such embodiments , the inorganic components , which are comprised in substantial proportion of un - reacted hf , are removed in separator 310 and recycled via stream 60 a to the reaction chamber 100 . it is preferred that stream 60 a is comprised of less than about 5 % by weight of unreactive components , and particularly hcfc - 1223xd , and even more preferably less than about 1 % by weight of such components . likewise , it is preferred that stream 60 b is comprised of less than about 5 % by weight of unreactive components , and particularly hcfc - 1223 - xd , and even more preferably less than about 1 % by weight of such components . it is also preferred that the organic stream 54 is comprised of less than about 15 % by weight of hf , more preferably less than about 10 % by weight of hf and even more preferably is essentially free of hf . in separator 340 , hcfc - 244fa is separated from the hdcfc - 1223xd by distillation , with the lower boiling hcfc - 244fa being concentrated in the overhead stream 60 b . it is preferred that the separator 340 is operated under conditions effective to ensure that recycle stream 60 b contains less than about 5 % by weight of unreactive components ( such as hcfc - 1223xd ), and even more preferably less than about 1 % by weight of such components . further , for embodiments of the present invention involving the manufacture of penta - or hexa - fluoropropanes , the separation step 310 is preferably operated at a pressure of from about 15 to about 200 psia , and even more preferably from about 15 to about 100 psia . the temperatures used for the separation will vary depending on the pressures used , the specific composition of stream 50 , and other factors . in general , however , it is preferred that the separation operate with a bottoms temperature ( e . g ., reboiler input ) of from about 30 ° c . to 100 ° c . and even more preferably from about 50 ° c . to about 70 ° c . and with an overhead temperature ( e . g ., condenser input ) of from about 0 ° c . to 50 ° c . and even more preferably from about 20 ° c . to about 30 ° c . the condenser preferably operates to cool stream 51 to a temperature effective to separate the organic phase from inorganic phase . the temperature used for the condensation and phase separation step will vary depending on the pressures used , the specific composition of stream 51 , and other factors . in general , however , it is preferred that stream 52 be cooled to a temperature of from about - 70 ° c . to 5 ° c . and even more preferably from about - 70 ° c . to about - 20 ° c . | 2 |
an image processing device according to the present embodiment 1 is a device for realizing a method for processing image according to the present invention . this image processing device is now described in conjunction with fig1 . the image processing device comprises an image storing unit 1 partitioned into at least two image storing regions ; a region management table 3 for managing the state of the image storing unit 1 ; a region indicating unit 2 for determining , by means of looking up the region management table 3 , the image storing region in which the image data should be stored as well as indicating the image storing region which the image data should be read out ; and an image storage device 4 for recording the image data of the image storing region indicated by said region indicating unit 2 to a predetermined recording media . the image storing unit 1 is partitioned into . two or more image storing regions to digitize the image data on each image storing region . the region management table 3 is a table for managing the state of each image storing region of the image storing unit 1 . more particularly , the region management table 3 stores information representing whether each image storing region stores the image data and information representing the order of recording over time in each image storing region . the region indicating unit 2 judges whether there is a free image storing region among the image storing regions by means of looking up the region management table 3 when the image data is entered the image processing device in question to determine the image storing region in which this image data should be stored . in addition , the region indicating unit 2 has a function to indicate , by means of looking up the region management table 3 , the image storing region that stored the image data most previously and already digitized . the region indicating unit 2 reads out the image data of the indicated image storing region . the storage device 4 has a function to record the image data read out by the region indicating unit 2 into a predetermined recording media . when image data is supplied through an image pick - up device or the like , the region indicating unit 2 looks up the region management table 3 to judge a free image storing region to determine the image storing region in which this image data should be stored . the region indicating unit 2 further looks up the region management table 3 to judge the image storing region that stored the image data most previously and already digitized to read out . the storage device 4 records the image data read out by the region indicating unit 2 into a predetermined recording media . in this event , the region management table 3 changes the information regarding said image storing region from information representing storing state to information representing free state . in addition , the region management table 3 updates the information representing the order of recording over time in each image storing region . as a result of this , the image storing unit 1 can serve as a buffer . in other words , the image storing unit 1 can hold the image data for a few seconds when the storage device 4 is troubled . in addition , to prepare the region indicating unit 2 in the form of a hardware allows continued digitization during file access to the storage device 4 by means of subsequently indicating the free space in the image storing unit 1 . fig2 is a functional block diagram showing an entire structure of an image data processing device according to the embodiment 2 . image input unit 7 may be a ccd camera or a video reproduction device for public use which produces a video signal ( hereinafter referred to as ntsc signal ) in the form of an analog signal . an input image converting unit 8 has a function to convert the ntsc signal supplied from the image input unit 7 into an analog rgb signal . an a / d converting unit ( a / d ) has a function to convert the analog rgb signal supplied from the input image converting unit 8 into a digital rgb signal . a video output control unit 13 has functions to write the image data of the digital rgb signal into an image memory ( v - ram ) 1 through a vram control unit 10 and to read the same out of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 . in this event , the vram control unit 10 is connected to a bus 11 to carry out the following processing under control of a main control unit ( cpu ): ( 1 ) processing to transfer the image data stored on the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 to a main memory ( mem ); and ( 2 ) processing to transfer the image data stored on the main memory ( mem ) to the storage device 4 . a d / a converting unit ( d / a ) has a function to convert the digital rgb signal read out of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 into an analog rgb signal . an output image converting unit 12 has functions to convert the analog rgb signal supplied from the d / a converting unit ( d / a ) into the ntsc signal to supply the same to a displaying unit such as a crt , or to supply the analog rgb signal unconverted to the displaying unit such as a crt . procedures of the digitization processing are described briefly with reference to fig2 . first , the image input unit 7 enters the image data as the ntsc signal . the image input unit 7 supplies this image data to the input image converting unit 8 . the input image converting unit 8 converts the image data in the form of the ntsc signal format into the image data in the form of the analog rgb signal format to supply the same to the a / d converting unit ( a / d ). the a / d converting unit ( a / d ) converts the image data in the form of the analog rgb signal format into the image data in the form of the digital rgb signal format to supply the same to the video output control unit . 13 . the video output control unit 13 writes the image data in the form of the digital rgb signal format into the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 through the vram control unit 10 . the image data written in the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 is read out by the vram control unit 10 and written in to the storage device 4 such as a magnetic disk . device through the bus 11 . next , a characteristic mechanism of the image data processing device is described with reference to fig3 . in this embodiment , the storing area of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 is partitioned into a plurality of image storing regions . in addition , the image data processing device sets a region indicating unit 2 on the vram control unit 10 . the region indicating unit 2 has a function to indicate , in a hardware manner , in which image storing region the processing to be carried out on the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 should be carried out . an example of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 is shown in fig7 . the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 according to the present embodiment is partitioned into six regions ( a - f ). in this event , if the total capacity of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 is equal to 512 dots × 256 dots , the capacity of each region is equal to 160 dots × 120 dots . in the figure , the region defined by a double line corresponds to a display region on the crt at the initial state . the region management table 3 is set in the vram control unit 10 or the storage device 4 and has a table structure shown in fig4 . more particularly , the region management table 3 registers the order of the image storing regions ( a - f ) in the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 and a flag of one bit representing whether the data is stored in each image region . the order representing the time of recording of the image data and the higher priority is set to the region in the order stored . it is noted that the region management table 3 in this figure sets the higher priority in the alphabetical order from a region a . the region management table 3 shown in fig4 indicates that the image data is stored in the region a of the first order and a region b of the second order , as well as that the time of recording of the region a is previous to that of the region b . at that time , the vram control unit 10 first reads out from the storage device 4 the image data stored in the region a and then reads out from the storage device 4 the image data stored in the region b . in addition , the region indicating unit 2 indicates a region c , the free region of the highest order , as the storing region for the image data . the flag of the region management table 3 is updated at the time when digitization of the image data is completed . more particularly , when image data is stored in a given image storing region and digitization of this image data is completed , the flag of the image storing region in question is set into “ 1 .” next , an acquisition counter 6 is disposed in the video output control unit 13 or the vram control unit 10 to count the change of the v - sync signal . in order to digitize the image data of 10 frames per second during the v - sync signal generates 30 pulses per second in synchronism with the image signal , an image acquisition signal is generated for every three v - sync signals . an over - run counter 5 is a counter indicating how many regions of all regions in the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 store the image data . for example , if the state of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 corresponds to the region management table 3 shown in fig4 i . e ., if the image data are held only in the regions a and b , a value ( no ) of the over - run counter 5 becomes “ no = 2 .” in this event , the region indicating unit 2 is capable of judging the number of regions in the storing state on the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 , or the number of free regions . though the over - run counter 5 is a counter of the incrementing type , it may be a counter of the decrementing type which subtracts the number of regions in the storing state from the total number of regions . when the value of the over - run counter 5 indicates the value larger than or equal to the number of the image storing regions of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 ( i . e ., larger than or equal to seven ), over - run information is written in to the storage device 4 . next , procedures to acquire the image data in the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 is described with reference to fig5 . first , the acquisition counter 6 increments a counter value ( 502 ) in response to the v - sync signal indicating interruption ( step 501 ). if it becomes counting out ( e . g ., nc = 3 ) due to this incrementation ( 503 ), the acquisition counter 6 indicates the region indicating unit 2 to acquire the subsequent image data ( frame ). in this event , the region indicating unit 2 looks up the region management table 3 and the over - run counter 5 to judge whether a region is available for the subsequent digitization , i . e ., whether there is a free image storing region on the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 ( 504 ). if there is a free image storing region on the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 , the region indicating unit 2 determines the region subjected to recording processing ( for example , the region c in fig4 ) ( 505 ). the vram control unit 10 stores the image data in the image storing region determined by the region indicating unit 2 . on completion of the digitization processing of said image data , the region indicating unit 2 updates the contents of the region management table 3 ( 506 ). next , digitizing processing is described with reference to fig6 . when the digitizing processing begins in response to an instruction from the region indicating unit 2 ( 601 ), the over - run counter 5 is checked ( 602 ) to check whether it is over - run . if over - run , this over - run information is written to the storage device 4 ( 606 ). next , the region indicating unit 2 looks up the region management table 3 to indicate the image storing region that stored the image most previously . the vram control unit 10 reads the image data out of the image storing region indicated by the region indicating unit 2 to transfer the same to the main memory ( mem ) ( 603 ). in this event , the vram control unit 10 transfers the image data in said image storing region to the main memory ( mem ) through the bus 11 . in addition , the vram control unit 10 transfers the image data stored in the main memory ( mem ) to the storage device 4 under the control , of the main control unit ( cpu ). the image data transferred to the main memory ( mem ) in the above manner is transferred to the storage device 4 through the bus 11 under the control of the main control unit ( cpu ). at step 603 , the vram control unit 10 may transfer the image data in the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 directly to the storage device 4 . if the image data are directly erred from the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 to the storage device 4 , it becomes possible to store the image data at a high speed without affecting on the main control unit ( cpu ). at said step 603 , if all image storing regions of the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 are in the free state , the vram control unit 10 waits until the subsequent image data is stored ( 603 ). on completion of the write - in processing of the image data , the contents of the region management table 3 is updated . more particularly , the flag of the image storing region where the write - in processing is completed is updated from “ 1 ” to “ 0 ” ( 604 ). the above mentioned processing is repeatedly carried out . the processing is terminated when all image data on the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 are transferred to the storage device 4 ( 605 ). while the above mentioned description has thus been made in conjunction with the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 partitioned into six regions ( a - f ) as shown in fig7 it may be partitioned into twelve regions ( a - l ) as shown in fig8 . in this event , the capacity of each region is equal to 106 dots × 80 dots . in addition , it may be partitioned into twenty - four regions ( a - x ) as shown in fig9 . in this event , the capacity of each region is equal to 80 dots × 60 dots . it is understood that the increased number of regions partitioned requires the increased value of the region management table 3 and the over - run counter 5 . the present embodiments use the image storing unit 1 ( the image memory ( v - ram ) 1 ) partitioned into a plurality of regions as a buffer for digitization to realize the image processing effectively using the limited memory resources . as the image storing unit according to the present invention , the main memory ( mem ) can be used equally with being partitioned into a plurality of regions . | 7 |
with reference to fig6 , the invention can be preferably implemented by suitable programming of the control software 52 of a known microprocessor 40 controlled pacemaker having suitable memory and data registers 50 , and signal conditioning input output circuits 30 , the pacemaker being coupled to a heart 10 by cardiac lead ( s ) 11 , 21 ( two conventional bipolar leads shown ). the control software also preferably integrates an automatic mode switching algorithm of the ddd - amc type , such as that described by the aforementioned ep - a - 0 488 904 and ep - a - 1 048 322 , and their respective corresponding u . s . pat . nos . 5 , 318 , 594 and 6 , 397 , 105 b1 , which u . s . patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein . detection p : sensing of a spontaneous activity having its origin in the atrium a ( fig6 ); it will be considered that there is indeed a detection p if an atrial detection is not followed in a given delay , for example , 31 ms , by a ventricular detection ( otherwise , one would be in a situation of “ ventricularfar - field ” detection , i . e ., a sensing via the atrium of a remote depolarization coming from the ventricle ). detection r : sensing of a spontaneous activity having its origin in the ventricle v ( fig6 ). stimulation a : stimulation delivered in the atrium . stimulation v : stimulation delivered in the ventricle . atrial event : either detection p or stimulation a . ventricular event : either detection r or stimulation v . cardiac cycle : a delay separating two events of comparable nature in the same cavity , for example , separating two detections p , or two stimulations a . pp average : an average interval of the atrial rate / rhythm , calculated , for example , over eight cardiac cycles not including an extrasystole . escape interval ( ei ): the time interval , counted after a detection or a stimulation in a given cavity , following which a stimulation is delivered to the given cavity if no spontaneous event was detected in this given cavity . for the atrium , it is known as the atrial escape interval ( aei ). atrial extrasystole ( aes ): an atrial detection occurring inside the post - atrial atrial refractory period ( paarp ), the calculation of this paarp being that of the standard type ddd pacemaker . ventricular extrasystole ( ves ): a ventricular detection preceded by a ventricular detection or stimulation , with a coupling interval ( r - r interval or v - r interval ) less than or equal to a parametrable ( i . e ., a parameterized , programmable ) value of the pp average , for example a value less than or equal to 75 % of the pp average . for further details on the detection and the treatment of the extrasystoles , one will be able to refer to the ep - a - 0 550 342 and its corresponding u . s . pat . no . 5 , 312 , 451 commonly assigned herewith to ela medical , which describes an algorithm for the detection and treatment of the ves by an asynchronous stimulation of the atrium and a controlled stimulation of the ventricle , which description is incorporated herein by reference . in accordance with a preferred implementation of the invention employing an implanted device having a standard dual chamber cardiac pacing functionality , a certain number of functions , if they are present , are maintained just as they normally are . thus , the algorithms for cardiac stimulation , the algorithm for “ fallback ” of the cardiac rate , and for prevention of electronic tachycardias ( also referred to as pmt or pacemaker - mediated tachycardia ), and the algorithms that make it possible to calculate and apply paarp periods and for protection against a retrograde conduction in the event of suspicion of ves are used in their known and conventional manners . one now will discuss a way in which , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention , the device includes the suspecting means manages the losses of atrial capture ( or the atrio - ventricular blocks ( avb )), and those for which it manages the losses of atrial detection . the management of the loss of capture is discussed with reference to the illustrated situations fig1 to 3 . the first case for management of loss of atrial capture corresponds to the situation illustrated on the chronogram of fig1 . this first case is that of having detected and analyzed the sequence of spontaneous and stimulated events and identified an absence of ventricular activity after an atrial stimulation ( this case being particular to a device that is equipped with automatic mode commutation ). as a result , the device suspects a loss of atrial capture , and takes the following actions : first , it applies an atrial counter - stimulation , provided that this function is activated by the physician ( the delay separating the counter - stimulation from the preceding atrial stimulation being a programmable interval ). next , the energy of the following atrial stimulation , or of the counter - stimulation , is increased . the value or level of energy applied is programmable and can be either the maximum energy permitted by the device , or an energy corresponding to a step ( i . e ., a programmable value ) above the current energy . for example , it may be desirable in certain circumstances to use the maximum energy level , e . g ., in the case of a counter - stimulation . two possibilities arise then : on the one hand , if the spontaneous ventricular activity ( detection r ) is restored ( the lower chronogram of fig1 ), then the device detects a normal behavior , without avd , but with a stimulation energy increased to compensate for the risk of loss of capture . on the other hand , ( the upper chronogram of fig1 ), if the authorized number of cycles n1 is reached without detecting ventricular activity , then any nonextrasystolic atrial event starts an avd , and this is maintained during n2 cycles , or until the occurrence of a nonextrasystolic detection r . preferably , n1 = 1 cycle , and n2 = 8 cycles . the maintenance of a detected condition over a number of cardiac cycles is known as persistence . the second case of management of atrial loss of capture corresponds to the situation illustrated on the chronogram of fig2 . this case concerns the lengthening of the atrio - ventricular conduction delay over a given number of cycles n3 , this number being programmable , for example , n3 = 3 cycles . if the atrial activity is systematically a stimulated activity ( stimulation a ), the device initially suspect a loss of atrial capture . in this case , the energy of the following stimulation is increased , with the parameterized value ( maximum energy or an energy corresponding to a step above the current energy ). then , if the normal atrio - ventricular conduction delay is restored ( the upper chronogram of fig2 ), the device returns to its initial operation mode aai , without avd , with an increased stimulation energy . in the contrary case the lower chronogram of fig2 , the initial atrial stimulation energy is restored , and a nonextrasystolic atrial event accordingly starts an avd , which occurs during n 2 successive cycles , or until the occurrence a nonextrasystolic detection r . in the case that a lengthening of the atrio - ventricular conduction delay also is observed after an atrial detection , the device then can suspect the beginning an avb and , at the end of n4 cycles , start an avd , which continues during n2 successive cycles or until the occurrence of a nonextrasystolic detection r . the third case of management of atrial loss of capture corresponds to the situation illustrated on the chronogram of fig3 . this third case is that of a sequence in which a stimulation a is followed by detection p of a p wave , which in turn is followed by the detection r of a spontaneous r wave , with this same sequence repeating itself over a programmable number of given cycles n4 , for example , n4 = 3 cycles . this p wave , shifted in time from the stimulation a , sensed by the device , is considered to be an aes . the device suspects then a loss of atrial capture and increases the energy for the following stimulation to the parameterized value ( maximum energy or energy corresponding to a step above current energy ). the device also has a functionality that enables it to restore the initial stimulation energy in the event of a temporary increase . in this regard , periodically , e . g ., every 24 hours , the stimulation energy is lowered by a step . the step is preferably a programmable value and may be the same as the step increment , or not . nevertheless , if an increase in energy occurs during 3 consecutive days , this “ reversibility ” is inhibited . one now will describe the manner in which the device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention manages a loss of atrial detection with reference to the illustrated chronograms of fig4 and 5 . the first case of management of loss of atrial detection , illustrated in fig4 , is that of the detection of a ventricular event of a ves type , which one can assume is a loss of atrial detection if its coupling interval is higher than a programmed threshold value . in this first case , the atrial sensitivity is increased ( for example , the threshold applied to detect spontaneous activity ( i . e ., the detection threshold ) is decreased by a step ) until there is a return of a normal atrial detection , or a return to an atrial stimulation with a normal delay ( i . e ., in the absence of acceleration of the ventricular rate / rhythm between successive detections r ) between atrial stimulation and ventricular detection . the second case of management of atrial loss of detection corresponds to the situation illustrated on the chronogram of fig5 . if the delay between an atrial stimulation and a ventricular detection decreases by a quantity greater than one programmable duration , for example , 47 ms cycle to cycle , or compared to a delay defined as a normal delay , the device suspect a loss of atrial detection and increases the atrial sensitivity at the following cycle ( for example , by decreasing the sensitivity threshold by a step ) until the return of a normal delay between atrial stimulation and ventricular detection . a third case of management of loss of atrial detection is that of the passage of a detection p to a stimulation a if the a - r delay is less than the p - r delay by a programmable duration ( for example , 63 ms ); the device suspect then also a loss of detection , and increases the sensitivity at the following cycle . in the same manner as discussed for the stimulation energy , periodically , e . g ., every 24 hours , the device decreases the sensitivity ( by raising the detection threshold ) to allow a return to the initial value . nevertheless , if an increase in the sensitivity occurs during consecutive 3 days , this reversibility also is inhibited . suitable devices for which the present invention has application include , for example , the talent ™ and symphony ™, rhapsody ™ brand pacemakers and the alto ™ brand of defibrillators available from ela médical , montrouge france . with reference also to fig6 , these devices are microprocessor based systems 40 having circuits ( hardware and software ) that provides for receiving , conditioning and processing detected electrical signals 30 , and are capable of receiving software instructions 52 by telemetry ( not shown ), storing them in memory 50 , and then executing those instructions to perform the functions and control algorithm described above in implementing the present invention . the creation of suitable software instructions 52 for controlling an implant to perform the aforementioned functions of the present invention are believed to be within the abilities of a person of ordinary skill in the art . the detection circuits 22 used to detect the cardiac signals in the atrium and the ventricle , in the left and / or right chambers , as well as the circuits 24 used to stimulate those chambers are well known and any suitable design may be used . one skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments , and the parameters provided with respect to numbers of cycles and time intervals are merely representative examples , which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation . | 0 |
fig3 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a key structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention . as shown in fig3 , the key structure 2 comprises a keycap 21 , a scissors - type support member , an elastic element 24 , a membrane switch 25 and a base plate 26 . the scissors - type support member comprises an inner frame 22 and an outer frame 23 , which cooperate with each other to fix the keycap 21 on the base plate 26 . the membrane switch 25 is arranged on the base plate 26 . the elastic element 24 is arranged between the keycap 21 and the membrane switch 25 . when the keycap 21 is depressed , the elastic element 24 is deformed downwardly to trigger the membrane switch 25 such that the membrane switch 25 generates an electronic signal . by means of the elastic element 24 , the keycap 21 can be returned to its original position where the keycap 21 is not depressed . moreover , the base plate 26 has a hook 261 and a second connecting part 262 . the second connecting part 262 comprises a hook 262 a and a stopper 262 b . fig4 a , 4 b and 4 c are schematic perspective views illustrating the keycap 21 , the inner frame 22 and the outer frame 23 of the key structure 2 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention , respectively . hereinafter , the configurations of the key structure 2 will be illustrated in more details with reference to fig4 a , 4 b and 4 c . as shown in fig4 a , a first connecting part 211 and a guiding slot 212 are formed on the bottom of the keycap 21 . as shown in fig4 b , a first convex part 222 and an internal concave part 223 are formed on an arm part 221 of the inner frame 22 . the first convex part 222 has a first inclined surface 222 a and a second inclined surface 222 b . the concave part 223 has a second bottom surface 223 a and a sixth inclined surface 223 b . the sixth inclined surface 223 b is extended from the first inclined surface 222 a . in addition , a first coupling shaft 224 and a first glide shaft 225 are formed on both terminals of the arm part 221 of the inner frame 22 . as shown in fig4 c , an internal v - shaped notch 232 and a second convex part 233 are formed on an arm part 231 of the outer frame 23 . the v - shaped notch 232 comprises a third inclined surface 232 b and a fourth inclined surface 232 a . in this embodiment , the second convex part 233 is a triangular prism . the second convex part 233 comprises a first bottom surface 233 a and a fifth inclined surface 233 b . the fifth inclined surface 233 b is extended from the third inclined surface 232 b . in addition , a second coupling shaft 234 and a second glide shaft 235 are formed on both terminals of the arm part 231 of the outer frame 23 . hereinafter , the process of assembling the inner frame and the outer frame of the scissors - type support member of the key structure will be illustrated with reference to fig5 a , 5 b and 5 c . for assembling inner frame 22 and the outer frame 23 of the scissors - type support member , the inner frame 22 is firstly inserted into the outer frame 23 and then the inner frame 22 is turned over . as shown in fig5 a and fig5 b , the first inclined surface 222 a of the first convex part 222 of the inner frame 22 is aslant inserted into the v - shaped notch 232 of the outer frame 23 such that the first inclined surface 222 a is sustained against the fourth inclined surface 232 a of the v - shaped notch 232 of the outer frame 23 ( see fig5 b ). meanwhile , the concave part 223 of the inner frame 22 faces the outer frame 23 . next , as shown in fig5 b and fig5 c , the inner frame 22 is turned over in the direction indicated as the arrow r . after the second convex part 233 of the outer frame 23 is engaged with the concave part 223 of the inner frame 22 , the scissors - type support member of the key structure 2 is assembled . in this embodiment , the scissors - type support member is very easily assembled by combining the first convex part 222 and the internal concave part 223 of the inner frame 22 with the v - shaped notch 232 and the second convex part 233 of the outer frame 23 . since the user needs not to prop open the outer frame 23 during the process of assembling the scissors - type support member , the possibility of damaging the outer frame 23 is minimized . in particular , it is very simple to assemble the scissors - type support member of the present invention by aslant inserting the inner frame 22 into the outer frame 23 and turning over the inner frame 22 . that is , the process of assembling the scissors - type support member of the present invention may be automated and thus the throughput of the key structure or the keyboard is enhanced . after the scissors - type support member is assembled , the scissors - type support member is fixed on the base plate 26 via the engagement between the hook 261 and the first glide shaft 225 and the engagement between the second coupling shaft 234 and the second connecting part 262 . next , via the engagement between the guiding slot 212 and the second glide shaft 235 and the engagement between the first connecting part 211 and the first coupling shaft 224 , the keycap 21 is combined with the scissors - type support member . fig6 a is a schematic cross - sectional view illustrating the key structure of the present invention that is not depressed . fig6 b is a schematic cross - sectional view illustrating the key structure of the present invention that has been depressed . the use of the scissors - type support member to balance the keycap 21 and achieve a desired tactile feel when the keycap 21 is depressed will be illustrated with reference to fig6 a and fig6 b . in a case that the keycap 21 is not depressed , the keycap 21 is located at a first height hi with respect to the bottom of the base plate 26 . as shown in fig6 a , the first inclined surface 222 a of the first convex part 222 of the inner frame 22 is sustained against the third inclined surface 232 b of the v - shaped notch 232 of the outer frame 23 . at this moment , the fifth inclined surface 233 b of the second convex part 233 of the outer frame 23 is also sustained against the sixth inclined surface 223 b of the concave part 223 of the inner frame 22 . whereas , when the keycap 21 is depressed , the height of the keycap 21 with respect to the bottom of the base plate 26 is lowered from the first height h 1 to a second height h 2 . as shown in fig6 b , the second inclined surface 222 b of the first convex part 222 of the inner frame 22 is sustained against the fourth inclined surface 232 a of the v - shaped notch 232 of the outer frame 23 . at this moment , the first bottom surface 233 a of the second convex part ( i . e . the triangular prism ) 233 of the outer frame 23 is engaged with the second bottom surface 223 a of the concave part 223 of the inner frame 22 . from the above description , since the inner frame 22 and the outer frame 23 are contacted with each other by a surface - to - surface contacting manner during the keycap 21 is vertically moved , the scissors - type support member of the present invention is more stable and the rocking phenomenon is minimized . the surface - to - surface contacting manner increases the contact area between the inner frame 22 and the outer frame 23 , and thus the stability of the scissors - type support member is enhanced . moreover , since the inner frame 22 is not pivotally coupled with the outer frame 23 , the first convex part 222 of the inner frame 22 is nearly not contacted with the v - shaped notch 232 of the outer frame 23 during the keycap 21 is moved from the first height h 1 to the second height h 2 or from the second height h 2 to the first height h 1 . as a consequence , the abrasion of the scissors - type support member is reduced and the use life of the keycap is extended . moreover , due to the scissors - type support member of the present invention , a desired tactile feel when the keycap is depressed will be achieved . for further reducing the abrasion between the inner frame 22 and the outer frame 23 and facilitating assembling the scissors - type support member , the scissors - type support member of the key structures 2 can be further modified . for example , fillets are optionally formed at the surface - to - surface joints of the first convex part 222 and the concave part 223 of the inner frame 22 and the v - shaped notch 232 and the second convex part 233 of the outer frame 23 . in other words , fillets can be formed at the joints between the first inclined surface 222 a and the second inclined surface 222 b of the first convex part 222 of the inner frame 22 , between the third inclined surface 232 b and the fourth inclined surface 232 a of the v - shaped notch 232 of the outer frame 23 and / or between the first bottom surface 233 a and the fifth inclined surface 233 b of the second convex part 233 of the outer frame 23 . the key structure 2 of the present invention can be applied to a keyboard . that is , the keyboard has multiple key structures 2 of the present invention . an example of the keyboard includes but is not limited to a desktop keyboard or a notebook keyboard . while the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments , it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment . on the contrary , it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures . | 7 |
embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems that allow for effective management of access systems . in some embodiments , such access systems include biometric access systems , with “ biometrics ” referring generally to the statistical analysis of characteristics of living bodies . in those embodiments , biometrics may be used to identify and / or verify the identity of individuals authorized to have access . embodiments of the invention make use of a handheld electronic device and a terminal as illustrated respectively in fig1 a and 1b . the structure shown for the handheld device 100 in fig1 a is merely exemplary ; the invention may make use of any type of handheld electronic device that allows display of information to a user and allows a user to input data , whether such input is performed by using a keypad integral with the device or by using a touchscreen either to mimic keypad operations through a virtual keypad or to respond to options presented to the user by the device . the device 100 may advantageously include a speaker 104 and microphone 108 in embodiments that additionally make use of acoustic signals as described below , but this is not a requirement of all embodiments and some embodiments implement the invention without the use of acoustic signals . the structure of the terminal 140 of fig1 b is also intended to be exemplary . in this example , the terminal 140 comprises an optical terminal having an optical screen 144 with which image data may be read by the terminal 140 , although other mechanisms of communication with the terminal 140 may be used in alternative embodiments . in the illustrated example , the terminal additionally includes a sound generator 148 that may be used in those embodiments that make use of acoustic signals . use of both a handheld electronic device 100 that incorporates input and output data interfaces advantageously allows the terminal 140 to be provided with a simplified structure that does not include such interfaces . instead , embodiments of the invention exploit the user interfaces provided by the handheld electronic device in coordinating exchange of data between a user and the optical terminal 140 , with additional communication being effected between the handheld device 100 and the terminal 140 . this is illustrated more fully in fig1 c for embodiments in which the terminal 140 comprises an optical terminal . communication among the handheld device 100 and the terminal 140 may have direct and indirect components . direct communication may be effected through the use of images 168 generated on a display comprised by the handheld device 100 that are presented to the optical screen 144 of the terminal 140 . this advantageously ensures that the handheld device 100 is physically present at the terminal 140 at the time that the image is presented . alternative communication mechanisms between the handheld device 100 and the terminal 140 , such as the use of bluetooth connections , wifi connections , and the like , provide other forms of direct communication that may be used , but compromise the strength of ensuring the locality of the communication . in the illustration , the image 168 generated by the handheld device 100 and read by the terminal 140 is shown as a two - dimensional barcode , although it will be understood by those of skill in the art that a variety of other types of images may be used in alternative embodiments , such as encrypted or unencrypted character strings . in embodiments that make use of two - dimensional barcodes , the invention is not limited by the symbology used in generating the barcode and may accommodate any symbology , including aztec code , code 16k , pdf417 , compact pdf417 , micro pdf417 , macro pdf417 , datamaxtrix , qr code , semacode , and other formats . in addition , while the illustration of fig1 c shows a two - dimensional barcode , one - dimensional symbologies may be used in alternative embodiments , including codabar , code 11 , code 128 , code 32 , code 39 , code 93 , ean - 13 , ean - 8 , ean - 99 , ean - velocity , industrial 2 of 5 , interleaved 2 of %, isbn , upc - a , upc - e , and other symbologies . furthermore , embodiments of the invention may accommodate both monochromatic and color barcode symbologies , including , for example , the high capacity color barcode (“ hccb ”) symbology . local communication from the terminal 140 to the handheld device 100 may also be implemented using a variety of techniques , with the illustration showing the generation of a sound 172 by the terminal 140 that may be detected by a microphone comprised by the handheld device 100 . similar to the use of an image displayed on the handheld device 100 that is read by the terminal 140 , generation of a sound imposes a strong requirement of locality between the terminal 140 and the device 100 . in other embodiments , where such reverse communication is achieved using such protocols as bluetooth , wifi , or the like , the locality imposition may be weaker . in addition to such direct forms of communication , indirect forms of communication may take place by using a network , illustrated in the drawing as the internet 160 , although any private or public network may be used in alternative embodiments . it is generally for many embodiments that the handheld device 100 will be provided in communication with the network , although a dashed line is indicated between the internet 160 and the terminal 140 in the drawing to account for other embodiments in which the terminal 140 is also configured for communication with the internet . such indirect communications may be augmented by data provided by a web server 164 and permit a plurality of handheld devices 100 to be involved in the access - management functions described herein . advantageously , such multiple - device interactions may use the direct communication techniques to impose a locality constraint only on one of the devices 100 - 1 , with another of the devices 100 - 2 permissibly being remote from the terminal 140 so that it is accessed using only indirect communications . a detailed illustration of a terminal 140 is provided in fig2 a for a particular embodiment in which the terminal 140 comprises an optical terminal having structure that enables not only the reading of an image from handheld devices 100 but also enables the collection of biometric information from an individual . terminals having such dual capability are referred to herein as “ dual use ” terminals . the biometric information collected in this illustration is collected from a skin site and at least some of the optical structure of the optical terminal is advantageously used in both image reading and biometric - data collection . but the invention is not limited to such a structure nor to such particular forms of biometric - data collection . alternative embodiments will be evident to those of skill in the art that use alternative forms of biometric data collection , including devices that scan irises or retinas , perform facial - or hand - geometry measurements , and the like . such alternative embodiments , even those in which collection of biometric data involves optical measurements , may or may not combine functionality of optical structure comprised by the device so that it is used in both biometric - data collection and in image reading from handheld devices . images are read through a platen 202 by a digital imaging system 218 , which comprises a camera 220 and may additionally comprise optics that are discussed in detail below . reading images from a handheld device may generally be performed without additional illumination by the terminal 140 , such as by using backlight illumination provided by the handheld device itself , but illumination systems 210 may be provided as part of a mechanism for collecting biometric data . in the illustrated embodiment , the illumination systems 210 comprise light sources 208 and optics that interact with the optics of the digital imaging system 218 . the arrangement shown in the drawing is especially suitable for collection of biometric data from skin sites placed in contact with the platen 202 , but the optics of the illumination and imaging systems 208 and 218 may readily be adapted for collecting biometric data from skin sites that are not in contact with the platen 202 . appropriate skin sites for collection of biometric data include all surfaces and all joints of the fingers and thumbs , the fingernails and nail beds , the palms , the backs of the hands , the wrists and forearms , the face , the eyes , the ears , and all other external surfaces of the body . while the discussion below sometimes makes reference to “ fingers ,” this is done for convenience and it should be understood that this refers merely to exemplary embodiments and that other embodiments may use skin sites at other body parts . the number of illumination sources 208 may conveniently be selected to achieve certain levels of illumination , to meet packaging requirements , and to meet other structural constraints of the terminal 140 . it also allows for a particular implementation of “ multispectral ” biometric imaging , which is used herein to refer to a more general class of optical data collection in which a set of images is collected under a plurality of distinct optical conditions during a single illumination session . other implementations of multispectral biometric imaging are described further below in connection with particular optical structure that may be included in the terminal 140 , including differences in polarization conditions , differences in imaging angles , differences in illumination wavelength , and the like . in operation , illumination passes from the light sources 208 through illumination optics 206 that shape the illumination to a desired form , such as in the form of flood light , light lines , light points , and the like . the light sources 208 may be narrowband sources such as monochromatic led &# 39 ; s or laser diodes , or may be broadband sources such as white - light led &# 39 ; s or incandescent sources . in cases where the light sources 208 comprise a series of sources , the series of sources may be of the same wavelength or different wavelengths . the different sources 208 may be configured identically or they may differ from each other . the illumination optics 206 are shown for convenience as consisting of a lens but may more generally include any combination of one or more lenses , one or more mirrors , and / or other optical elements . the illumination optics 206 may also comprise a scanner mechanism ( not shown ) to scan the illumination light in a specified one - dimensional or two - dimensional pattern . the light source 208 may comprise a point source , a line source , an area source , or may comprise a series of such sources in different embodiments . after the light passes through the illumination optics 206 , it passes through the platen 202 to illuminate the skin site so that reflected light is directed to the digital imaging system 218 , which comprises detection optics 214 adapted to focus the light reflected from the skin site onto the array . for example , the detection optics 214 may comprise a lens , a mirror , a pinhole , or a combination of such optical elements or other optical elements known to those of skill in the art . both the illumination systems 210 and the digital imaging system 218 may additionally comprise optical polarizers 204 and 212 . the polarizers 204 and 212 may be linear or circular , or a combination of the two . in the case of linear polarizers , one useful arrangement is that in which the illumination light is polarized along a particular axis while the detected light requires an orthogonal polarization . such an arrangement has utility in ensuring that detected light has undergone multiple scatter events in a medium such as skin . further utility is derived from the observation that such an arrangement greatly reduces the visibility of latent prints left on the platen 202 by previous users , thus providing improved image quality and reducing the likelihood of spoofing by “ reactivating ” the latent prints . the digital imaging system 218 may also comprise a color filter array 216 , which may in some instances be incorporated as part of the camera 220 . the color filter array 216 may conveniently comprise a red - green - blue filter array in the well - known bayer pattern or in other patters . in some instances , the filter elements may function to transmit wavelengths that differ from the standard red - green - blue wavelengths , may include additional wavelengths , and / or may be arranged in a pattern that differs from the bayer pattern . the terminal layout and components may advantageously be selected to minimize the direct reflection of the illumination into the digital imaging system 218 . in one embodiment , such direct reflections are reduced by relatively orienting the illumination and detection optics such that the amount of directly reflected light detected is minimized . for instance , the optical axes of the illumination optics 210 and the detection optics 218 may be placed at angles such that a mirror placed on the platen 202 does not direct an appreciable amount of illumination light into the detection system 218 . in addition , the optical axes of the illumination and detection optics may be placed at angles relative to the platen 202 such that the angular acceptance of both subsystems is less than the critical angle of the system ; such a configuration avoids appreciable effects due to total internal reflectance between the platen 202 and the skin site . the camera 220 may be coupled electronically with elements of a computational system that aid in processing of images collected by the terminal 140 . in particular , hardware elements of such a computational system may be electrically coupled via bus 234 , and may include a processor 224 , a storage device 228 , a processing acceleration unit 236 such as a dsp or special - purpose processor , and a memory 240 . a communications system 232 may additionally be provided in those embodiments where the terminal 140 is equipped for communication with a network , but the structure of the terminal 140 is further simplified when communication with the terminal 140 takes place only through the optical interface . in embodiments that include a communications system 232 , it may comprise a wired , wireless , modem , and / or other type of interfacing connection and permits data to be exchanged with the network 160 according to the structure illustrated in fig1 c . software elements are shown as being currently located within working memory 240 , including an operating system 244 and other code 248 , such as a program designed to implement methods of the invention . it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantial variations may be used in accordance with specific requirements . for example , customized hardware might also be used and / or particular elements might be implemented in hardware , software ( including portable software , such as applets ), or both . further , connection to other computing devices such as network input / output devices may be employed . the structure of the terminal 140 thus described is suitable for imaging either a skin site or an image from a handheld device , as illustrated schematically in fig2 b and 2c . in fig2 b , the skin site is shown as part of a finger 260 that is brought in contact with the platen 202 , while fig2 c shows an illustration in which the handheld device 264 is held so that the display of the image on the handheld device is a height h data above the platen 202 . such a dual - mode terminal has a number of benefits , but it is to be understood that not all embodiments of the invention make use of such a dual - mode terminal , particularly embodiments in which no biometric functions are performed or embodiments in which the biometric and nonbiometric functionality is not integrated into a single terminal . furthermore , while the described embodiment is suitable for multispectral applications , this is also not a requirement of the invention and many alternative embodiments use nonmultispectral configurations . some examples of various alternative optical structures that may readily be adapted to the terminal are described in , for example , commonly assigned u . s . pat . no . 7 , 460 , 696 , entitled “ multispectral imaging biometrics ,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes . an overview methods of the invention is summarized with the flow diagram of fig3 . while this and other flow diagrams in the application set forth an illustrative order of steps , this is not intended to be limiting . the steps identified specifically in the diagram may sometimes be performed in an alternative order , steps that are specifically identified may sometimes be omitted , and additional steps not specifically set forth may sometimes also be performed . in describing the methods of fig3 , reference is sometimes made to fig4 a - 4c , which provide examples of screen displays that may be presented on the handheld device in one implementation . the methods illustrated with fig3 permit a number of access - management functions to be performed with the handheld device and terminal of fig1 a and 1b . such methods begin at block 304 with a user activating an application maintained on the handheld device at block 304 , with fig4 a providing an illustration of starting up such an application . fig4 b provides a screen display illustrating a number of access - management functions that may be selected at block 308 of fig3 ; these examples are particularly suitable for embodiments that integrate biometric functionality . selection of the function may prompt a request for entry of additional information . for example , selection of the “ enroll ” function might prompt a request for entry of a user identification number (“ userid ”) that may be entered using a virtual keypad like that shown in fig4 c . in response to selection of a function , the application generates an encoded signal to be transmitted from the handheld device to the terminal . in certain embodiments , the encoded signal comprises a barcode , which may advantageously be displayed on the handheld device as a pulsing barcode . in particular , the pulsing barcode changes its size in periodic fashion while maintaining substantially constant relative dimensions . this is illustrated for an example of a barcode in fig5 a - 5c . while the invention is not limited to any particular pulsation frequency , having a period between successive maximal sizes for the barcode on the order of a second provides certain benefits . in particular , the optics of the terminal may be configured to provide a certain depth of focus for imaging the barcode when the handheld device is held over the platen 202 as shown in fig2 c . pulsing of the barcode allows greater variation in the acceptable distance h data that the handheld device may be presented to the platen 202 since the barcode size varies to accommodate the imaging optics . within a wide range of distances h data , the pulsing barcode will sweep multiple times through a size amenable to ready imaging by the terminal . the content of the barcode itself may also change in time when presented on a display of a handheld device , as illustrated in fig6 a - 6c . the time variation of the barcode effectively adds a further dimension to the barcode , resulting in a concomitant increase in the amount of information that may be conveyed from the handheld device to the terminal . for instance , a time - varying two - dimensional barcode is equivalent to a rendering of a three - dimensional barcode , with the successive two - dimensional barcode images corresponding to two - dimensional slices of the three - dimensional barcode . the concept applies also to other types of barcodes . a time - varying one - dimensional barcode is equivalent to a further symbology of a two - dimensional barcode , with the successive one - dimensional barcodes corresponding to one - dimensional slices of the two - dimensional barcode . similarly , when a barcode uses color , such as in the case of the hccb symbology , the time variation effectively provides a fourth dimension : the two spatial dimensions of the barcode itself , a third dimension that corresponds to the color representations , and a fourth dimension that corresponds to the time variation . depending on the specific embodiment , then , the amount of information conveyed by the encoded signal at block 312 of fig3 may be very great . at block 316 , the terminal may transmit a local acknowledgment to the handheld device after it has successfully imaged and decoded the signal . with the structures shown in fig1 a and 1b , such a local acknowledgment may take the form of a sound generated by the terminal , but other types of acknowledgments may be transmitted in alternative embodiments , including electromagnetic acknowledgments that use visible or nonvisible light as well as sounds that are outside the range of human hearing . for instance , a radio - frequency (“ rf ”) signal could alternatively be generated for transmission of the acknowledgment from the terminal to the hand - held device . there are a number of different responses that may be made to receipt of the acknowledgment by the handheld device , a principal one being to instruct the application to cease presentation of the barcode or other encoded signal . as previously noted , the use of a local acknowledgment in this way also acts to ensure that the handheld device that generated the barcode is local to the terminal . this is one of a number of security protections that may be implemented . another security feature that may be implemented is to restrict the form of encoding in time . for example , the encoding coordinated between the handheld device and the terminal may be such that particular encoded patterns are used only a single time , similar to the use of one - time - pad encryption systems , with the encoded patterns being valid only for a window of time on the order of minutes . rather than encode a plaintext instruction such as “ enroll user john smith ” into a two - dimensional barcode pattern , there may be a further level of encryption so that “ enroll user john smith ” is first encrypted using a one - time key with the encrypted string being encoded into the two - dimensional barcode pattern . such techniques may rely on a number of sources for the one - time key , such as by having the application on the handheld device and the terminal use their interfaces with the network 160 to access a common source of information to provide the one - time key . any techniques in which the validity of an encoded pattern is limited in time generally requires some reasonable close time synchronization of the handheld device and the terminal . once the terminal has properly received and decoded the signal from the handheld device , it may initiate the access maintenance functions , as indicated at block 320 . this may include any of a variety of functions , such as enrolling a user for access according to certain access - level criteria , identifying a previously enrolled person , verifying the identity of a previously enrolled person , removing access for a previously enrolled user , redefining access levels for a previously enrolled user , and the like . some of these functions are described in greater detail below to illustrate how such functions may be specifically implemented . at block 324 of fig3 , the handheld device transmits instructions to a backend server over the network 160 and the server transmits an update to the handheld device that generated the encoded pattern at block 328 , allowing updates to be made to the application in accordance with the received instructions at block 332 . this exchange of information between the handheld device and the server may be prompted by detection of the acknowledgment signal transmitted from the terminal 140 at block 316 . in this way , the terminal 140 acts as an isolated component that is involved in communications among system components only through its optical interface and responsive signal . in alternative embodiments in which the terminal 140 is provided with a communications system as illustrated in fig2 a , the instructions may instead be transmitted directly from the terminal 140 to the server over the network . in addition , the server may download an application and / or modifications to an existing application to a second handheld device at block 336 , which may or may not be local to terminal . the general operation of the system described in connection with fig3 may be better understood with examples of specific functions . these examples are provided only by way of illustration , it being understood that the systems and methods of the invention are amenable to numerous further functions . methods of using the system described above to enroll an individual are illustrated with the flow diagram of fig7 . in this example , enrollment of a user who has a handheld device is effected by a supervisor who also has a handheld device . the supervisor has previously been enrolled with the system such that her biometric is registered with the system . enrollment of the user begins at block 704 with the supervisor presenting her biometric measure to the terminal , such as by placing her finger on the platen so that her fingerprint may be imaged in either a conventional manner or by using multispectral imaging if the terminal is equipped for multispectral imaging . if the supervisor can be authenticated by the terminal as indicated at block 708 , she may continue with enrollment functions , but will otherwise be denied access to functionality of the terminal at block 744 . at block 712 , the supervisor activates the application on her handheld device , selecting the enrollment function at block 716 . as part of selecting the enrollment function , the supervisor is prompted by the application to enter a userid for the individual to be enrolled and perhaps to enter other information such as an access level for the individual , communication information for the individual such as telephone number and email address , and the like . the application generates an enrollment barcode at block 720 from that information using any of the techniques described above , i . e . by generating a one - dimensional or two - dimensional barcode that pulses on the handheld device and that may vary in time or may use color and that is encoded from plaintext or that undergoes a prior encryption , perhaps by using a time - restricted encryption key . after displaying the supervisor displays the barcode to the terminal at block 724 so that it may be imaged , the terminal verifies that it is valid at block 728 , again denying access to the desired functionality at block 744 if the barcode is invalid . the new user presents his biometric to the terminal , such as by placing his finger on the terminal platen , at block 732 . in some embodiments , multiple measurements of the user &# 39 ; s biometric may be taken , both to ensure an accurate reading of the biometric and as a spoof - prevention protocol . after the terminal has scanned the new user &# 39 ; s biometric at block 736 and updated internal records on the storage device to reflect the user &# 39 ; s authorization , including his authorization level , the terminal generates a responsive audio signal at block 740 that is detected by the handheld device at block 744 , confirming the locality of the interaction and prompting the handheld device to cease pulsation of the barcode and to transmit the userid and related information for the new user to the server at block 748 . a custom application is created by the web server , appropriate to the user &# 39 ; s authorization level , at block 750 and downloaded directly to the new user &# 39 ; s handheld device . customization of the application my reflect such unique characteristics as the new user &# 39 ; s personal information and its specific functionality may depend on the authorization level granted . for instance , a low - level authorization might provide only limited access to certain physical areas or functionality while an intermediate - level authorization provides access to a greater number of physical areas or functionality . a highest - level authorization might provide the capability for the new user to act as a supervisor himself so that the custom application includes functionality for enrolling other users rather than only providing the limited functionality of lower - level authorizations . with the enrollment of the new user complete , he is then able to authorize himself by presentation of his biometric measure to the terminal at block 764 , to activate the application on his own handheld device at block 768 , and the to perform those functions for which he is authorized at block 772 . supervisors may be provided with the capability to de - enroll users at authorization levels below theirs or to modify their access levels . this is illustrated with the flow diagram of fig8 , with the method beginning when the supervisor presents her biometric measure to the terminal at block 804 so that it can be verified at block 808 and access to functionality enabled . if an unauthorized individual attempts to gain access to the functionality and accordingly fails the biometric check at block 808 , that access is denied at block 830 . similar to the enrollment function , the supervisor activates the application on her handheld device at block 812 and selects an access management function at block 816 , either entering the userid of the user whose access levels are to be modified or selecting the userid from a generated menu of userids . the application may also prompt the supervisor to select what type of access - management changes are to be made , examples of which include completely deauthorizing the user , changing the access level of the user to a higher or lower level , or removing or adding supervisory capability . after receiving the appropriate information from the supervisor , the application generates a barcode at block 820 that includes instructions to give effect to the desired access changes , and the supervisor displays the barcode to the terminal at block 824 . after a check that the barcode is valid at block 828 , the terminal generates a responsive audio signal at block 832 and takes appropriate action at block 844 , 848 , or 852 to change the access level of the identified user . the handheld device detects the confirmation signal at block 836 , causing it to cease display of the barcode and to initiate transmittal of update information to the web server at block 840 as described above . in some embodiments , the terminal may be made available to customers as part of a service in providing a mechanism for access control . the level of service may depend on the amount that is paid for the service and may be limited by such factors as the number of people who may be enrolled to have access , the number of people enrolled at particular access levels , the length of time the service will be provided , and the like . the system may advantageously be configured to allow automatic modifications in service levels as illustrated in fig9 . consider a customer having purchased services at a particular service level who wishes to modify the service level . a user , such as an employee or officer of the customer , engages in an authentication process by presenting his biometric measure to the terminal at block 904 so that it may be checked and block 908 , with access denied at block 940 if appropriate . to begin the service upgrade or downgrade , the user activates the handheld - device application at block 912 and selects the service modification function at block 916 . the desired change in service level may be determined in any of several mechanisms , one of which is to have the handheld device present the user with an identification of the current service level , specifying such features of the service as number of allowable users at each level , time restrictions and the like , together with a listing of different available service levels and their cost . when the desired service level has been selected , the user additionally provides payment information at block 920 that is processed by a secure web server using the network communication capabilities of the handheld device at block 924 . this may be done using any of a variety of known financial - transaction techniques known to those of skill in the art . a check is made at block 928 whether the financial aspect of the transaction has been approved by checking for the return of a valid financial authorization code . if no valid authorization code is returned , the upgrade is denied at block 940 . upon receipt of a valid authorization code indicating that the payment information has been successfully processed , the application on the handheld device generates a barcode at block 932 that encodes instructions defining the authorized change in service level . as before , the barcode may take any of a variety of forms , including being a pulsing barcode , having a time variation , including color , and the like . the process for completing the modification is then similar to what has been described above , namely that the user displays the barcode to the terminal at block 936 so that it may be evaluated at block 944 . upon confirmation that the barcode is valid , the terminal generates a responsive confirmation signal at block 948 , the handheld device detects the signal at block 952 , and the service level for the user is upgraded at block 956 through an exchange of information between the handheld device and the web server . there are a large number of environments in which the systems and methods described above may be implemented . the illustrations provided below are intended only to provide an example of the breadth of such implementations , recognizing that many other implementations are within the scope of the invention . one implementation for the systems and methods described above is a large factory environment in which different employees have access to different physical parts of the factory . when used in this environment , terminals may be deployed at various access points , requiring authorized employees to present biometric measures to gain access , and with the terminals additionally being capable of performing any of the access - management functions described herein . those functions enable effective management of a potentially large number of employees , with greater security for controlling access than in other arrangements . another implementation for the systems and methods described above is a small office environment in which different employees are all to be provided physical access to the office but whose access to certain equipment is limited . for instance , access to human - resources computers might be limited to those in that department . when used in this environment , a terminal may be deployed at the entrance to the office where it is used by all employees to gain access to the office . terminals may also be deployed to limit access to sensitive equipment to those who have a sufficient access level . the service - update features are particularly suitable in such implementations to manage access levels as employees within the office are hired , dismissed , or promoted . in another implementation , a terminal may be deployed in an automobile or other vehicle so that access to the vehicle is controlled by biometric recognition of those authorized to drive the vehicle . the access - management functions are particularly useful in such implementations when the vehicle is entrusted to others on a temporary basis , such as when the vehicle is entrusted to a valet or when the vehicle is left at a shop for repairs . temporary authorizations commensurate with the temporary nature of the entrustment may then be provided . in a further implementation , a terminal may be deployed in a classroom setting in which information is gathered by applications on each of the handheld devices by students , such as in a scenario in which answers to exam questions are provided to the applications . at the conclusion of the exam , the barcode that is generated encodes each student &# 39 ; s answers to the questions , which are delivered to the terminal . academic misconduct issues may be addressed by additionally requiring biometric verification of student identities when they present their handheld devices to the terminal and by ensuring that the application will not terminate until the confirmation signal is received from the terminal so that the student handheld devices cannot be used to access other applications for answers . having described several embodiments , it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that various modifications , alternative constructions , and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention . accordingly , the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention , which is defined in the following claims . | 6 |
while the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as forming the present invention , it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which briefly : fig1 is a graphical representation which shows the changes in mean arterial blood pressure ( map ) induced by bolus intravenous injections of methylguanidine ( mg ), aminoguanidine ( ag ) or n g - monomethyl - l - arginine ( nmma ) in which change in map is recorded in % increase in pressure above baseline and the dose of the bolus injection is recorded in μmol / kg . fig2 is a graphical representation which shows the effects of methylguanidine ( mg ), aminoguanidine ( ag ) or n g - monomethyl - l - arginine ( nmma ) on il - 1 - induced nitrite formation by rin - m5f cells in which the effect on nitrite formation is recorded in % of il - 1βb - induced nitrite formation and the concentration of the test compounds is recorded in μm . fig3 is a graphical representation which shows the effects of methylguanidine ( mg ), dimethylguanidine ( dmg ) and aminoguanidine ( ag ) on il - 1β - induced nitrite formation by rin - m5f cells as in fig2 . fig4 is a bar chart which shows the relative development of fluorescence products upon incubation of methylguanidine , aminoguanidine or semicarbazide in glucose - 6 - phosphate / lysine ( g - 6 - p / lysine ) for six days . effects of methylguanidine on constitutive ( vascular ) nitric oxide synthase activity were assessed by monitoring mean arterial blood pressure ( map ) changes following intravenous injection of methylguanidine in anesthetized , normal rats . the dose responses of methylguanidine , aminoguanidine and nmma are shown in fig1 . since methylguanidine contains strong structural similarities to l - arginine and the competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase , viz . nmma , in that these compounds contain two chemically equivalent guanidine nitrogen groups , the effects of methylguanidine on il - 1β - induced formation of nitrite and cgmp by rin m5f cells were examined and compared to the effects of nmma in similar tests ( fig2 ). also in similar tests , methylguanidine and its close analog , dimethylguanidine , were each compared to the effects of aminoguanidine ( ag ) ( fig3 ). the rin m5f cell line is an insulinoma cell line of the rodent β - cell that has been shown to contain the cytokine - inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase . fig2 and 3 demonstrate the dose response of methylguanidine , dimethylguanidine , aminoguanidine and nmma or ag on il - 1β - induced formation of nitrite ( an oxidation product of nitric oxide ) from rin m5f cells incubated for 18 hrs with 5 units / ml il - 1β ± the indicated concentrations of methylguanidine , dimethylguanidine , aminoguanidine and nmma or ag . the effects of methylguanidine on glycation were assessed by measuring the development of fluorescence products upon its incubation in glucose - 6 - phosphate / lysine and compared to the corresponding effects of aminoguanidine and semicarbazide . the results are shown in fig4 and indicate that methylguanidine is relatively ineffective ( compared to aminoguanidine and semicarbazide ) in preventing glucose - induced glycation products as manifested by the development of fluorescence products which are characteristic of glycation end products . in order to further illustrate the invention , the following detailed examples were carried out although it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these specific examples or the details described therein . the results obtained in these examples are shown in tables 1 to 5 and the accompanying fig1 to 4 . this example illustrates a method to prevent diabetes - induced vascular dysfunction using methylguanidine to inhibit nitric oxide synthase . all rats used in these tests were housed and cared for in accordance with the guidelines of the university committee for the humane care of laboratory animals and in accordance with nih guidelines on laboratory animal welfare . rats were housed individually , allowed food ( standard rat chow ; ralston purina , richmond , in ) and water ad libitum , and were on a 12 hour light / dark cycle . male , sprague - dawley rats initially weighing 225 - 250 g were divided into four groups : group 1 , untreated controls ; group 2 , methylguanidine ( mg )- treated controls ; group 3 , untreated diabetics ; and group 4 , mg - treated diabetics . diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of 45 mg / kg body weight streptozotocin ( sigma chemical co ., st . louis , mo ) using ketamine anesthesia . methylguanidine hydrochloride ( sigma chemical co .) was administered subcutaneously once daily at a dose of 25 mg / kg body weight . in addition , control rats were given water containing 2 . 5 g / l methylguanidine while diabetic rats were given water containing 1 g / l . water consumption was monitored weekly for all rats . body weights were measured weekly , nonfasting morning plasma glucose levels were assessed 3 days after injection of streptozotocin ( to ensure induction of diabetes ), then biweekly thereafter using the conventional glucose oxidase method of lowry and passoneau ( 14 ). after 4 weeks , all rats were placed into individual metabolic cages for 24 hours to determine food consumption ( g / 100 g body weight / 24 hr ) and urine output ( ml / kidney / 24 hr ). a sample of urine was stored at - 70 ° c . for determination of urinary albumin excretion ( see below ). five weeks after induction of diabetes , rats were used for the permeability and blood flow studies detailed below . regional vascular albumin permeation was quantified by use of an isotope dilution technique based on the injection of bovine serum albumin ( bsa ) labeled with 2 different iodine isotopes , 131 i and 125 i ( 15 - 17 ). 125 i - bsa was used to quantify vascular albumin filtration after 10 min of tracer circulation , while 131 i - bsa served as a plasma volume marker for correction of 125 i - bsa tissue activity for tracer contained within vessels . preparation of radiolabeled tracers . purified monomer bsa ( 20 mg ) was iodinated with 1 mci of 131 i or 125 i ( nen research products , boston , ma ) by the iodogen method as previously described ( 15 ). 57 co - edta was prepared as previously described ( 15 , 16 ) and 46 sc - microspheres ( 10 μm diameter ) were used to assess regional blood flow as detailed below . surgical procedures . rats were anesthetized with inactin ( byk gulden , konstanz , frg ) (˜ 100 mg / kg body weight injected i . p . ), and core body temperature maintained at 37 ± 0 . 5 ° c . using heat lamps , a 37 ° c . surgical tray , and a rectal temperature probe . the left femoral vein , left iliac artery , right subclavian artery , and right carotid artery were cannulated with polyethylene tubing ( 0 . 58 mm i . d .) filled with heparinized saline ( 400 u heparin / ml ). the femoral vein cannula was used for tracer injection and the subclavian artery cannula was connected to a pressure transducer for blood pressure monitoring . the left iliac artery was connected to a 1 ml syringe attached to a harvard model 940 constant withdrawal pump preset to withdraw at a constant rate of 0 . 055 ml / min . the tip of the cannula in the right carotid artery was placed in the left ventricle of the heart and was used for injection of radiolabeled microspheres . the trachea was intubated and connected to a small rodent respirator for continuous ventilatory support . at time 0 , 125 i - albumin ( in 0 . 3 ml of saline ) and 57 co - edta (˜ 0 . 1μci in 0 . 1 ml of saline ) were injected i . v . and the withdrawal pump was started simultaneously . eight min after time 0 , 0 . 2 ml of 131 i - bsa was injected and 1 min later , the 46sc - microspheres were injected slowly over ˜ 30 sec . at the 10 min mark , the heart was excised to stop all blood flow , the withdrawal pump was stopped simultaneously , and various tissues were sampled for gamma spectrometry . both kidneys , bladder , and connecting ureters were removed . eyes were dissected as previously described ( 15 , 16 ) and tissues from both eyes were pooled prior to gamma spectrometry . all tissue samples and arterial plasma samples were weighed , then counted in a gamma spectrometer interfaced with a hewlett - packard 1000a computer in which the data were corrected for background and stored for subsequent analysis . a quantitative index of 125 i - bsa tissue clearance was calculated as previously described ( 15 , 16 , 17 ) and expressed as μg plasma / g tissue wet weight / min . very briefly , 125 i - bsa tissue activity was corrected for tracer contained within the tissue by multiplying 125 i - bsa activity in the tissue by the ratio of 125 i - bsa / 131 i - bsa activities in the arterial plasma sample obtained at the end of the test . the vascular - corrected 125 i - bsa tissue activity was divided by the time - averaged 125 i - bsa plasma activity ( obtained from a well mixed sample of plasma taken from the withdrawal syringe ) and by the tracer circulation time ( 10 min ) and then normalized per g tissue wet weight . glomerular filtration fate ( gfr ) was calculated as previously described ( 18 ). to calculate regional blood flows , the total activity of 46 sc in the retina was divided by the total activity of 46 sc in the reference blood sample obtained from the withdrawal syringe , then multiplied by the pump withdrawal rate , and expressed as ml / g tissue wet weight per minute ( 19 ). lysine - derived advanced glycosylation products were prepared as described by bucala et al . ( 12 ) by incubating 100 mm concentrations of glucose - 6 - phosphate and l - lysine in 0 . 2 m sodium phosphate buffer , ph 7 . 4 . the incubations were maintained sterile , and were kept in the dark at room temperature for ˜ 6 days , at which time relative fluorescence was measured as an index of glycation using a perkin - elmer ls - 5b luminescence spectrometer with excitation at 370 nm and emission at 440 nm . samples were diluted 1 : 11 with saline prior to spectrometry . the ability of 10 and 100 mm concentrations of methylguanidine , aminoguanidine , or semicarbazide to inhibit the glycation process was compared in two separate tests ( fig4 ). systolic blood pressure was measured at weekly intervals in conscious rats using the tail - cuff method ( 20 , 2 ). animals were adapted to the procedure initially by placing them in a restrainer and inflating the sphygmomanometer several times . blood pressure also was obtained from the iliac artery cannula in anesthetized rats during the permeability studies . normal male , sprague - dawley rats weighing 250 - 300 g were anesthetized with 100 mg / kg body weight inactin , followed by 0 . 1 ml / kg body weight d - tubocurarine chloride , the left femoral vein ( for tracer injection ) and right iliac artery ( for monitoring blood pressure ) were cannulated with polyvinyl tubing ( 0 . 8 × 0 . 5 mm ) filled with heparinized saline , and the trachea was cannulated and connected to a small rodent respirator for continuous ventilatory support . following stabilization of arterial pressure , increasing amounts ( 3 . 1 and 50 μmol / kg body weight ) of methylguanidine or n g - monomethyl - l - arginine ( nmma ) were injected intravenously in a volume of 0 . 5 ml in separate animals and the peak pressure increase was recorded using a gould rs 3200 recorder . results were expressed as a percent increase in pressure above baseline . data are expressed as mean ± 1sd . an analysis of variance was performed using the sas general linear models procedure . to reduce potential type 1 errors related to multiple comparisons , overall differences among groups for each parameter were preliminarily assessed by the van der waerden test . if statistically significant differences ( at p & lt ; 0 . 05 ) were indicated among groups for a given parameter , pair - wise comparisons were assessed by least square means following a nonparametric ( rank order ) blom transformation of all data . this example illustrates the effects of methylguanidine on il - 1β - induced nitrite formation by rin m5f cells ( fig2 ). rin m5f cells , obtained from the washington university tissue culture support center , were removed from growth flasks ( 55 - 80 million cells / flask ) by trypsin / edta treatment , and aliquoted into 1 ml petri dishes ( 1 - 2 million rin m5f cells per condition ). cells were incubated for 18 hrs ( under an atmosphere of 95 % air and 5 % co 2 ) in 1 ml of complete cmrl - 1066 tissue culture media ( cmrl supplemented with 10 % heat - inactivated , fetal bovine serum , 2 mm l - glutamine , 50 units / ml penicillin , and 50 μg / ml streptomycin ), or complete cmrl - 1066 supplemented with methylguanidine ( mg ), aminoguanidine ( ag ) or nmma . following incubation , the supernatant was removed and nitrite was determined on 100 μl aliquots by conventional procedures as previously described ( 8 , 13 ). the results are expressed as the % of il - 1 induced nitrite formation , and are the mean ± sem of 4 individual tests containing 3 replicates per test . the results demonstrate that both ag and nmma are ˜ 10 fold more potent than mg at inhibiting nitric oxide formation by the cytokine inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase . the effects of each of methylguanidine , 1 , 1 - dimethylguanidine and aminoguanidine on il - 1β - induced nitrite formation by rin m5f cells were tested by the procedures described in example ii and the results are shown in fig3 . the results demonstrate the following order of potency , ag & gt ; dmg & gt ; mg , for inhibiting the cytokine inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase . tables 1 to 5 , below , and the accompanying fig1 to 4 record the results obtained in the foregoing examples . these results indicate that methylguanidine and dimethylguanidine are potent inhibitors of constitutive and cytokine - induced no production . this is manifested by increases in mean arterial blood pressure by methylguanidine when injected intravenously in normal rats as shown in fig1 and by inhibition of il - 1β - induced increases in nitrite in rodent insulinoma cells with methylguanidine and dimethylguanidine as shown in fig2 and 3 , respectively . since methylguanidine is relatively ineffective ( in contrast t aminoguanidine ) in preventing glucose - induced glycation products ( manifested by the development of fluorescence products characteristic of advanced glycation end products ( fig4 ), the prevention by methylguanidine of diabetes - induced vascular dysfunction is believed to be attributable to its ability to block no production . methylguanidine and its close analog , dimethylguanidine , thus should be useful for prevention of diabetic complications as well as inflammatory and immunological diseases in which increased no production is involved . table 1______________________________________effects of diabetes and methylguanidine on bodyweights , plasma glucose and water consumption . control + diabetic + control mg diabetic mg______________________________________number of rats 10 11 14 18body weights ( g ) initial 249 ± 20 256 ± 16 250 ± 19 248 ± 18week 2 326 ± 25 300 ± 31 297 ± 23 271 ± 23week 4 375 ± 41 351 ± 37 334 ± 45 294 ± 50plasma glucose 130 ± 15 131 ± 28 419 ± 120 420 ± 87 ( mg / dl ) hematocrit (%) 43 ± 2 42 ± 1 42 ± 1 42 ± 2blood pressure ( mm hg ) conscious 125 ± 18 121 ± 7 123 ± 5 126 ± 5anesthetized 118 ± 14 114 ± 14 120 ± 16 121 ± 14water 46 ± 6 32 ± 9 108 ± 42 93 ± 53consumption ( ml / day ) ______________________________________ table 2__________________________________________________________________________effects of diabetes and methylguanidine ( mg ) on . sup . 125 i - albumin permeation . sup . a control control + mg diabetic diabetic + mg__________________________________________________________________________number of rats 10 8 11 9eyeanterior uvea 266 ± 77 . sup . b 359 ± 146 623 ± 109 . sup . a 370 ± 60 . sup . bposterior uvea 328 ± 106 312 ± 101 742 ± 134 . sup . a 358 ± 108retina 47 ± 12 61 ± 11 116 ± 30 . sup . a 55 ± 18sciatic nerve 47 ± 13 47 ± 10 121 ± 22 . sup . a 50 ± 10aorta 62 ± 20 60 ± 18 155 ± 37 . sup . a 85 ± 41kidney 727 ± 239 714 ± 214 1011 ± 265 . sup . c 738 ± 169lung 1805 ± 532 1656 ± 454 1405 ± 324 . sup . 1 , 498 ± 487diaphram 201 ± 75 190 ± 27 210 ± 61 . sup . 216 ± 46heart 521 ± 135 731 ± 269 534 ± 62 599 ± 68brain 5 ± 3 4 ± 3 . sup . 5 ± 2 6 ± 4__________________________________________________________________________ . sup . a μg plasma / g wet weight / min ; see methods in example i for detail of test procedure . . sup . b mean ± sd significantly different from untreated controls by student &# 39 ; s t test : . sup . a p & lt ; 0 . 001 ; . sup . b p & lt ; 0 . 05 ; . sup . c p & lt ; 0 . 01 . table 3__________________________________________________________________________effects of diabetes and methylquanidine ( mg ) on regional blood flows * anterior posterior sciatic ( n ) uvea uvea retina nerve kidney__________________________________________________________________________control ( 10 ) 2 . 0 ± 0 . 6 3 . 4 ± 0 . 6 0 . 43 ± 0 . 02 0 . 06 ± 0 . 02 6 . 5 ± 0 . 3 . sup . control + mg ( 8 ) 2 . 4 ± 0 . 5 3 . 3 ± 0 . 6 0 . 45 ± 0 . 07 0 . 07 ± 0 . 03 4 . 8 ± 0 . 3 . sup . adiabetic ( 10 ) . sup . 2 . 7 ± 0 . 3 . sup . b . sup . 4 . 2 ± 0 . 5 . sup . b . sup . 0 . 57 ± 0 . 08 . sup . a . sup . 0 . 09 ± 0 . 01 . sup . a 6 . 0 ± 0 . 4 . sup . cdiabetic + mg ( 9 ) 2 . 3 ± 0 . 6 3 . 9 ± 0 . 6 0 . 45 ± 0 . 04 0 . 06 ± 0 . 02 5 . 8 ± 0 . 3 . sup . a__________________________________________________________________________ * ml / min / g wet weight ; values are mean ± 1sd measured using radiolabele microspheres (˜ 10 μm diameter ) significantly different from controls by student &# 39 ; s t test ; . sup . a p & lt ; 0 . 001 ; . sup . b p & lt ; 0 . 005 ; . sup . c p & lt ; 0 . 01 table 4______________________________________effects of diabetes and methylguanidine ( mg ) on gfr * ( n ) per whole kidney per g kidney______________________________________control ( 10 ) 1 . 33 ± 0 . 19 0 . 85 ± 0 . 07control + mg ( 8 ) 1 . 53 ± 0 . 29 0 . 87 ± 0 . 08diabetic ( 10 ) . sup . 1 . 81 ± 0 . 25 . sup . a 0 . 92 ± 0 . 14diabetic + mg ( 9 ) 1 . 59 ± 0 . 15 . sup . b , c 0 . 85 ± 0 . 09______________________________________ * ml / min ; values are mean ± 1sd measured using radiolabeled . sup . 57 coedta significantly different from controls by students &# 39 ; ttest : . sup . a p & lt ; 0 . 001 ; . sup . b p & lt ; 0 . 005 significantly different from diabetics by students &# 39 ; ttest : . sup . c p & lt ; 0 . 0 table 5______________________________________effects of diabetes and methylguanidine ( mg ) on tissue sorbitol and myo - inositol control + diabetic + control mg diabetic mg______________________________________number of 7 8 11 9ratsretinasorbitol . sup . 102 ± 16 . sup . a 102 ± 31 933 ± 275 533 ± 265myo - 1613 ± 516 1529 ± 187 1564 ± 452 1513 ± 402inositolsciaticnervesorbitol 183 ± 41 194 ± 75 1999 ± 334 1234 ± 710myo - 3943 ± 526 4263 ± 1587 3444 ± 639 3308 ± 792inositolerythro - cytessorbitol 6 ± 1 6 ± 2 44 ± 9 40 ± 8myo - 131 ± 47 104 ± 19 109 ± 20 103 ± 19inositol______________________________________ . sup . a values are mean ± sd ; see methods in example i for test procedures the methylguanidine and dimethylguanidine inhibitors of nitric oxide formation described herein can be used for administration to warm blooded mammals by conventional means , preferably in formulations with pharmaceutically acceptable diluents and carriers . the amount of the active inhibitor to be administered must be an effective amount , that is , an amount which is medically beneficial but does not present toxic effects which overweigh the advantages which accompany its use . it would be expected that the adult human daily dosage would normally range upward from about one milligram per kilo of body weight of the drug . a suitable route of administration is orally in the form of capsules , tablets , syrups , elixirs and the like , although parenteral administration also can be used , e . g . intraveneously , intraperitoneally or subcutaneously . intraveneous administration of the drug in aqueous solution such as physiologic saline is illustrative . appropriate formulations of the drug in pharmaceutically acceptable diluents and carriers in therapeutic dosage form can be prepared by reference to general texts in the field such as , for example , remington &# 39 ; s pharmaceutical sciences , ed . arthur osol . 16th ed ., 1980 , mack publishing co ., easton , pa . various other examples will be apparent to the person skilled in the art after reading the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . it is intended that all such examples be included within the scope of the appended claims . references cited in parenthesis in the disclosure are appended hereto as follows : 1 . d . j . stuehr , h . j . cho , n . s . kwon , m . f . weise , c . f . nathan , proc . natl . acad . sci . usa 88 , 7773 ( 1991 ). 2 . s . moncada , r . m . j . palmer , e . a . higgs , pharmacol . reviews 43 , 109 ( 1991 ). 4 . j . b . hibbs , jr ., et al ., in nitric oxide from l - aroinine : a bioregulatory system , s . moncada and e . higgs , eds . elsevier , new york , ( 1990 ) pp 189 - 223 . 5 . g . pugliese , r . g . tilton , j . r . williamson , diabetes / metabolism reviews 7 , 35 ( 1991 ). 6 . c . southern , d . schulster , i . c . green , febs lett . 276 , 42 ( 1990 ). 7 . j . a . corbett , j . l . wang , m . a . sweetland , j . r . lancaster , jr ., m . l . mcdaniel , biochemical j . ( submitted ). 8 . j . a . corbett , j . r . lancaster , jr ., m . a . sweetland , m . l . mcdaniel , j . biol . chem . 266 , 21351 - 21354 ( 1991 ). 9 . j . r . williamson et al ., diabete & amp ; metab . 16 , 3369 ( 1990 ). t . soulis - liparota , m . cooper , d . papazoglou , b . clarke , g . jerums , diabetes 40 , 1328 ( 1991 ). 10 . m . kihara et al ., proc . natl . acad . sci . usa 88 , 6107 ( 1991 ). 11 . m . brownlee , a . cerami , h . vlassara , n . engl . j . med . 318 , 1315 ( 1988 ). m . brownlee , h . vlassara , a . kooney , p . ulrich , a . cerami , science 232 , 1629 ( 1986 ). 12 . r . bucala , k . j . tracey , a . cerami , j . clin . invest . 87 , 432 ( 1991 ). 13 . l . c . green et al ., anal . biochem . 126 , 131 ( 1982 ). 14 . o . h . lowry , j . v . passoneau ( 1972 ) a flexible system of enzymatic analysis . orlando : academis press . 15 . r . g . tilton , k . chang , g . pugliese , d . m . eades , m . a . province , w . r . sherman , c . kilo , j . r . williamson , diabetes 38 , 1258 - 1270 ( 1989 ). 16 . g . pugliese , r . g . tilton , a . speedy , k . chang , m . a . province , c . kilo , j . r . williamson , metabolism 39 , 690 - 697 ( 1990 ). 17 . g . pugliese , r . g . tilton , k . chang , a . speedy , m . province , d . m . eades , p . e . lacy , c . kilo , j . r . williamson , diabetes 39 , 323 - 332 ( 1990 ). 18 . y . ido , r . g . tilton , k . chang , and j . r . williamson , kidney int ., in press , 1992 . 19 . g . pugliese , r . g . tilton , a . speedy , e . santarelli , d . m . eades , m . a . province , c . kilo , w . r . sherman , j . r . williamson , diabetes 39 312 - 322 ( 1990 ). 21 . j . m . pfeffer , m . a . pfeffer , e . d . frohlich , j . lab . clin . med . 78 , 957 - 962 ( 1997 ). | 8 |
fig1 illustrates a system diagram 10 according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concept . referring to fig1 a user device 11 , such as , a mobile terminal ( mt ) provides a user input at operation 12 that may be , for example , an initiated request for a location or simply user location information of the current location of the mt 11 . the user request may be sent to a server at operation 13 at a local base station ( bs ) or to a remote server location . further to the operations of fig1 , operation provides that the request is received and a physical area - of - interest is determined for the user based on the requested information and / or the user &# 39 ; s current location . a database ( not shown ) may be accessed to reference previously stored user parameters , which may provide additional input for calculating a relevant area - of - interest ( i . e ., a local facility , a target geographical area , etc .) at operation 15 . once the area - of - interest is calculated , the relevant information may then be sent to the client / user mt 11 at operation 16 . referring to the operations of the system model in greater detail , fig2 illustrates further example operations that are performed between the mt 11 and the server side of the system network . the mt 11 may instead by referred to as a client device 101 which communicates with a server device 102 at a remote location . referring to fig2 , the client device 101 may be a handheld computer or mobile terminal ( mt ) capable of locating its position ( e . g ., latitude , longitude and / or direction ), via an internal and / or external compass , which may also include a gps device . the server device 102 may be a general purpose computer capable of providing processing and database services to the client 101 . in operation , the client device 101 initiates a request 110 that is processed at operation 120 and is sent to the server 102 . once the request is received , the server 102 determines the physical area - of - interest ( operation 130 ) based on the client &# 39 ; s current geographical position and further based on the client &# 39 ; s gesture and / or movement . the combination of the client &# 39 ; s position and gesture are both taken into consideration when calculating the relevant area - of - interest information ( i . e ., a boundary estimate of the client &# 39 ; s desired targeted area ) at operation 140 . the information provided by the server is sent to the client 101 ( operation 150 ) and is presented to the user ( operation 160 ). fig3 illustrates a block diagram of the hardware components used in an example communication transfer between the client 101 and the server 102 . the user device 11 illustrates an example computing device , such as , a mobile phone or hybrid personal digital assistant ( pda ) and mobile phone . the client 101 represents the processing modules used in the user device 11 . the gesture processing module 310 receives the user input gesture , which may include , for example , a voice command , a movement of the user device 11 , a change in direction of the user device 11 , etc . the gesture processing module 310 may then forward the gesture information and the user &# 39 ; s current position information ( e . g ., gps location information ) to the sending communications module 320 , which then transmits the information to the server 102 via a wireless connection over a local and / or remote communications network . the receiving communications module 330 of the server 102 receives the location and gesture related information and forwards it to the request processing module 340 which initiates a request for stored data and other resources to assist in predicting and calculating an area - of - interest . for example , the request processing module 340 will interpret the received location information and determine the coordinates and the location origin of the area - of - interest . the server 102 further calculates the relevant information needed to determine the area - of - interest by the data retrieval module 350 . the information gathered for the user may include information related to the request itself ( i . e ., a gas station , bank , service area ) and may also include relevant advertisement data related to other services within the area - of - interest defined by the data retrieval module 350 . once the information related to the request is obtained , the user requested data will be forwarded to the client device 101 via the sending communications module 360 , and received at the client device 101 via the receiving communications module 370 . the client device 101 may further process the information before presenting the requested data to the user of the client device 101 . the client device 101 will receive the sent information , which will be presented to the user by the client device 101 . the information provided by the client device 101 to the server 102 will include both a location estimate of the client device 101 and gesture data . for instance , an initial gps location position of the mobile client device 101 may be obtained via an estimate provided by a satellite . in addition , a gesture performed by the user of the client device 101 will be combined with the gps location estimate . the gesture portion of the data will be used to determine a target area - of - interest . for example , the movement of the client device 101 in a particular direction may be discerned as being a valid gesture which will narrow the area - of - interest to a particular direction near the original gps calculated location of the mobile device 101 ( i . e ., relevant location information in the direction moved ). in a two - dimensional coordinate system , the gps estimate location of the client device 101 may be used to represent a starting point , and , the gesture ( i . e ., movement of the user in a particular direction ) may be used to move from the point to create an arc of movement data . the arc can in turn be used to define a region or area - of - interest . the gesture may be initiated by a command , for example , a simple push button indicating a direction arrow pointing in a direction of interest . the gesture may instead be a vocal command that indicates a direction ( i . e ., “ north ”) or object that may be recognized by the server as a valid gesture that assists in defining a region or area - of - interest . for instance , the movement of the device may be interpreted as a two - dimensional arc that is tracked and stored in memory as gesture data defining the area - of - interest . another example of a gesture may be providing a direction in a well - defined shopping area . for instance , a user of a mobile terminal may initiate a request by conducting a gesture for information while being located in a shopping plaza . the user &# 39 ; s current position may be located as being on the sidewalk by a gps satellite . the user may then gesture towards a store by moving the client device in the direction of the store . this movement may constitute a valid gesture that is used with the gps data to provide information regarding the store . as a result , the user may receive information about the store ( e . g ., coupons , advertising , details of merchandise etc .). in another example , according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concept , the arc - description may be generated by a separate device ( e . g . separate apparel worn by the user ). for instance , a bluetooth enabled device ( i . e ., a pair of sunglasses ) may offer another way to communicate gesture data ( via the direction of the user &# 39 ; s head ) to the mobile device , which may be interpreted as a valid gesture by the server 102 . a locally paired device that is capable of communicating with the mobile device may provide an alternative to offering gesture data , provided that the external device has the requisite compass ( i . e ., orientation ) functionality . in the case of an orientation only type of gesture , a direction of the device is used to represent a valid gesture . such an example gesture would require a compass functionality and would offer a direction and an angle that could be measured to identify the direction the user is pointing without any arc movement being generated . in turn , the angle could then be used to provide a direction of interest , which could then be defined as a larger area - of - interest . providing the information to the user may be accomplished by a server or a plurality of distributed servers . the plurality of distributed servers can offer individualized treatment of the requests depending on the local information stored in each server . the information may be presented to the user via text message , push email or an executable application on the user device . the server 102 calculations that may be performed based on device location information and user gesture information may include narrowing the area - of - interest by beginning at a single point . for example , a circle - shaped region based on a point may be narrowed by offering an angle based on the gesture information that could be used to narrow a section of the circle . the arc path generated from the user gesture information could define a pie slice of the circle as an area of interest . translating the pie slice to a map , may offer the locations of stores or facilities wholly or partially within only the defined pie slice . server calculations include converting the user supplied area - of - interest ( arc ) and “ fitting ” it to a preset granularity for the categorization of information ( e . g . the server may use 60 degree arcs in hexagons or circles of map data ). the client 101 and server 102 may exchange client - to - server and server - to - client information . the links between client 101 and server 102 may be wireless links enabled directly or through other transport networks . the client 101 may initiate an area - of - interest request that may include an initial compass heading and gesture data . the request which may include location , compass heading , gesture arc , and distance information , may be sent to the server 102 by the sending unit 120 . the sending unit , in turn , should generally be equipped with all necessary functions and hardware required to communicate with the server 102 . more precise user preferred location information may be generated by using a combination of a predetermined location ( i . e ., latitude and longitude determined via gps or other location method ) and a gesture as input to an information source . in addition , a remote database of location - relevant information filtered by user preferences may offer more precise user preferred location information when compared to the predetermined location and gesture information . in addition , the area - of - interest may be determined on the client device 101 before sending the request to a server 102 . the server 102 could further modify the area - of - interest or simply just populate the area - of - interest with facility information of nearby stores , gas stations or other user preferred facility information . the user &# 39 ; s request for information pertaining to a particular area - of - interest may provide optimized use of the system resources , such as , bandwidth and network resources . for instance , by pre - storing user preferences and receiving user initiated area - of - interest information , the system may offer fast and optimized location information to the user without requiring excessive bandwidth requirements or processing resources . there may also be a reduction in the overall amount of irrelevant information being sent to the user . in general , the gestures provide an input mechanism for human interfacing with a computer or a handheld device . computers and handheld devices equipped with gesture recognition sensors provide the necessary hardware and software to recognize gesture input related to hand movements or vocal commands in varying degrees of complexity . some recognition systems utilize planar two - dimensional ( 2d ) or three - dimensional ( 3d ) accelerometers embedded in handheld devices , which , in turn , communicate the human initiated data to their respective computing engines to provide data geared at offering integrated human input and location information requests for additional information . fig4 illustrates an example flow diagram of the communications conducted between a user and a remote location information server , according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concept . referring to fig4 , a user makes a gesture at operation 400 , it is then determined by the user device or the server whether the gesture is a valid known type of gesture at operation 401 . if not , the user is informed that gesture is not valid or there is no result from that invalid gesture at operation 403 . if the gesture is valid the gesture information is forwarded to the gesture server provided the server is available at operation 404 . if the server is not available , the user is informed or the process does not move forward at operation 405 , and the process will end at 403 . if the server is available , the server proceeds to define the area - of - interest based on the information it receives and information which may be known to the server at operation 406 . the server will receive a request sent for location information at operation 407 and if the request is properly received , the operations will continue to operation 410 denoted by “ a ”, and the process will further be continued at fig5 . if the request is lost , operation 409 will create an error message to re - transmit the request . referring to fig5 , further details of the location information processing between the client and server is disclosed . for instance , continuing at “ a ”, now that the preliminary communications between the client and server have commenced . the additional client operations are illustrated on the left and the server operations are illustrated on the right . these operations may be conducted independently by the client and / or server , or , alternatively , may be conducted in parallel . after receiving the area of interest request , the server validates the request at operation 508 from the client . once the request is deemed valid , the server calculates at operation 510 the geospatial boundaries of the physical area that the user had indicated via the gesture input to determine the physical area - of - interest . if the request is not valid , an invalid request response will be generated and sent to the user at operation 509 , and the process will end at “ b ” operation 514 . moving forward , the server will further determine the relevant stores included in the area - of - interest defined at operation 511 . based on the results of operation 511 , the server will also determine the relevant advertisements at operation 512 by cross - referencing the relevant stores with advertisement information stored in a database . the server will then send the results to the user at operation 513 and will end at “ b ” in operation 514 . referring to the left side of fig5 , while the server is validating and locating the area - of - interest and its related content , the client device is standing by and waiting for the response at operation 501 . during this time period of waiting , the client device keeps checking for the server response while keeping track of time at operation 502 . if a predefined timeout period expires , the client will be informed that no response was received at operation 506 and the process will end at 503 . on the other hand , if the response is received within the timeout period and the result of the server operations “ b ” is provided to the client , it is then determined whether the request is valid or invalid at operation 504 . if the request is considered invalid the client is informed at operation 507 , and the process ends at operation 503 . if the request is deemed valid , the client is informed of the results at operation 505 , and the process ends at operation 503 . the present inventive concept is preferably realized in a hardware device , such as , a computer , cellular phone , or other mobile terminal device etc . in other embodiments , the present invention may be realized in hardware , software , firmware or a combination of hardware , software and / or firmware . the above example embodiments may also be implemented in software code and may be stored on a computer readable medium , such as , for example , non - volatile memory devices ( e . g ., ram , rom , hard disk etc .). the software code may be accessed from the computer readable medium and may be executed by a processor . the executed program may provide one or more of the features of the example embodiments . while preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described , it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims when considered with a full range of equivalents and modifications ( e . g ., protocols , hardware devices , software platforms etc .) thereto . | 7 |
referring initially to fig1 illustrated is a substrate 1 having a trench 2 formed therein . fig2 shows a titanium layer 3 , optional but preferred , formed in the trench and over the substrate , while fig3 shows a titanium nitride layer 5 being formed over the titanium layer 3 . fig4 shows the forming of an electrical conductor 7 like tungsten in the trench 2 . the surface of the substrate 1 is shown after planarizing in fig5 . note that the conductor 7 is now in the form of a plug having titanium nitride sidewalls 5 . fig6 shows that after patterning of the substrate , usually by photolithographic means ( photoresist , mask and etch ), the titanium nitride 5 sidewalls of the conductive 7 plug are now exposed . if a conventional mom capacitor were to be made , processing would continue at this point with the deposition of a dielectric like tantalum pentoxide and a second electrode . instead , fig7 shows that an electrode material layer 9 that is not titanium nitride , but rather is tungsten or a tungsten - like material such as tungsten nitride , tungsten silicide or tungsten silicide nitride is deposited over the conductor 7 , the titanium 3 and the titanium nitride 5 . fig8 shows that after patterning , the electrode material layer 9 is encapsulating the titanium layer 3 and especially the titanium nitride 5 layer of the plug . in this way titanium nitride 5 is prevented from contacting any subsequently applied tantalum pentoxide to reduce leakage current . fig9 shows a built up mom capacitor with electrode material layer 9 , tantalum pentoxide dielectric 11 and a second electrode 13 . note that the titanium nitride layer 5 does not contact the tantalum pentoxide layer 11 , but the structure has the desirable surface area increase , resulting from the patterning of the substrate , that allows an increase in capacitance per unit area . it is not completely understood why tantalum pentoxide in contact with titanium nitride , as opposed to bare tungsten , has such a high leakage current . it is believed that titanium nitride reacts with tantalum pentoxide to form titanium suboxides , which are resistive . alternatively , or in addition , the use of titanium nitride in conjunction with tantalum pentoxide and an underlying ti layer getters the oxygen from the tantalum pentoxide via diffusion through the barrier , thus reducing the tantalum pentoxide to elemental ta , creating electrical leakage paths or shorts . this results in general circuit performance degradation or failure . the substrate will generally be a semiconductor such as silicon , preferably a dielectric such as silicon dioxide or both . in a typical embedded dram application the conductive plug 7 will be surrounded by dielectric and the bottom of the conductive plug 7 will contact the top of a transistor structure ( not shown ) in silicon . formation of the trench 2 is by conventional patterning such as by photoresist , masking and etching . a “ trench ” is generally a feature that does not extend all the way through a substrate , but a “ trench ” is not necessarily elongated and a trench may be round . however as used herein “ trench ”, for simplicity , also encompasses a “ via ”, which provides electrical communication between two layers , but a via need not be round . in the context of this invention , a trench can extend partially or fully through the substrate to form a via . formation of the titanium layer 3 and the titanium nitride layer 5 may be done by conventional physical vapor deposition ( pvd ) or chemical vapor deposition ( cvd ). the conductive material 7 used to form the plug is preferably tungsten , but alternative materials include aluminum , aluminum alloys such as aluminum copper and aluminum silicon copper , doped polysilicon and the like and these may be deposited by conventional pvd , cvd , electroless and electrolytic plating and the like . note that when the conductive plug 7 is w , the layer 5 on the w will be tin and over the tin will be an optional but preferred ti layer 3 . however , when the conductive plug is aluminum , the adhesion and barrier layers will usually be ti / tin / ti or ti . the electrode material layer 9 is an electrical conductor that is not titanium or titanium nitride . preferred materials include tungsten , tungsten nitride , tungsten silicide , tungsten silicide nitride and combinations thereof . tungsten may be put down as thin as about 50 to about 100 nm by conventional pvd or cvd . tungsten nitride , tungsten silicide and tungsten silicide nitride may be put down as thin as about 10 to about 20 nm . they are preferred to tungsten , as they may be put down thinner . embodiments of capacitor bottom electrode stack - ups of the present invention include w ( or aluminum , aluminum alloys , doped polysilicon ) plug 7 / tin as layer 3 and optional ti as layer 5 or ti / tin / ti or ti when the plug 7 is al / w or wn or wsin or wsi or combinations as layer 9 . final capacitors would further comprise ta 2 o 5 as dielectric layer 11 or other titanium nitride reactive or reducible dielectric and al , w , doped polysilicon or other electrical conductor as a top electrode 13 . in an advantageous embodiment , the electrode material layer 9 may be deposited to a thickness of about 10 nm to about 100 nm at a temperature ranging from about 150 ° c . to about 400 ° c ., under a pressure ranging from about 2 millitorr to about 6 millitorr . the deposition of the electrode material layer 9 may be accomplished by physical vapor deposition at a power ranging from about 1 to about 12 kilowatts . if tungsten nitride or tungsten nitride silicide is used to form layer 9 , this can be done by reactive sputtering of tungsten or tungsten silicide in nitrogen . the tungsten silicide and tungsten nitride may be deposited as a functionally gradient material , wherein the nitrogen and silicon content are made to deliberately vary smoothly within the film thickness . the dielectric layer 11 is then formed using tantalum pentoxide by conventional deposition processes . finally , aluminum , w , doped polysilicon or other conductor forms layer 13 , which is used to make electrical connection to the rest of the embedded dram circuit and as a second electrode . note that the deposition of tungsten nitride and tungsten silicide nitride may also be accomplished by chemical vapor deposition ( cvd ). tungsten nitride is typically applied using wf 6 and ammonia ( nh 3 ) as precursors , while si 2 h 6 is added to the mix to make tungsten silicide nitride . however , the present invention is preferably done in the absence of ammonia , which generates hydrogen . while not wishing to be held to any theory , it is believed that the hydrogen reduces the tantalum pentoxide . nitrogen trifluoride should be used instead of ammonia as a nitrogen source when using cvd . the dielectric layer 11 may be made of a titanium or titanium nitride reactive dielectrics including tantalum pentoxide or aluminum doped tantalum pentoxide . particularly preferred is the use of a stacked tantalum pentoxide dielectric system wherein silicon dioxide is first formed on silicon , followed by tantalum pentoxide , followed by another layer of silicon dioxide . respective thicknesses are about 10 to about 2 nm , about 5 to about 30 nm and about 10 to about 120 nm . stacked tantalum pentoxide systems are described by p . k . roy et al . in appl . phys . letts ., vol . 72 , no . 22 , jun . 1 , 1998 , pp . 2835 - 37 , incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full . one application for such a capacitor electrode is in memory , optionally embedded , having a transistor in contact with an interconnect plug 7 formed within a dielectric layer overlaying the transistor . in one embodiment , the memory comprises a capacitor located on the dielectric layer that contacts the interconnect . in this particular embodiment , the capacitor includes a capacitor electrode located on the interconnect , wherein the electrode comprises a conductive plug having titanium nitride on its sidewalls that has been encapsulated with an electrode material that is not titanium nitride . tungsten may be used , but tungsten nitride ( wn ), tungsten silicide ( wsi ) and tungsten silicide nitride ( wsin ) are preferred . moreover , the thickness of the electrode material may , of course , vary depending on the design . however , in one particular embodiment , the electrode material may have a thickness ranging from about 10 nm to about 100 nm . in the present invention , the capacitor in use will further include a capacitor dielectric located on the electrode material . for example , in one embodiment , the capacitor dielectric may be tantalum pentoxide . to form a metal - oxide - metal ( mom ) capacitor requires a second electrode located over the capacitor dielectric . in another embodiment , a capacitor includes a conductive plug having titanium nitride thereon , including over the top of the plug , an electrode material layer and a capacitor dielectric . the electrode material layer serves as an electrode and to prevent contact of the dielectric material with titanium nitride . in such embodiments , the electrode material layer may be comprised of tungsten , tungsten nitride , tungsten silicide and tungsten silicide nitride . it is readily apparent that the present invention provides for use with an integrated circuit , an embedded memory having a transistor ( not shown ) in contact with an interconnect conductive plug formed within a dielectric layer overlaying the transistor . the embedded memory comprises a capacitor of the present invention : an interconnect plug coated with a material to cover the titanium or titanium nitride , a dielectric and a top electrode located on the dielectric layer , the interconnect plug also providing connection with a transistor . the foregoing has disclosed preferred and alternative features and embodiments of the present invention so that one of ordinary skill in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows . additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention . one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure can appreciate that he can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention . those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form . | 7 |
in the following , embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings . [ 0033 ] fig1 is a block diagram of a system for controlling handover which is concerned with a working form of the invention . in fig1 this handover control system 100 comprises a wcdma ( wideband code division multiple access )/ wlan multi - functional wireless communications terminal ( hereinafter abbreviated as the mobile terminal ) 10 which handles both the wcdma method based on the imt - 2000 standards specifications and the wlan method , a wcdma access point 20 ( for example , a wireless base station ), a wlan access point 30 , and an ip network 40 , the mobile terminal 10 being enabled for connection to the internet 50 via the ip network 40 . [ 0035 ] fig2 is a block diagram of the ip network 40 which is illustrated in fig1 . in fig2 this ip network 40 comprises access routers 41 through 45 which connect to the wlan access point 30 and the wcdma access point 40 , a handover method selector 46 , a handover method effector 47 , and a database 48 which manages the corresponding relationships between the access routers and the access points ( or an ap - ar management database ). the handover method selector 46 refers to the ap - ar management database 48 based on the information provided from the mobile terminal 10 so as to select an optimal handover method and notifies the handover method effector 47 of the selection . the handover method effector 47 performs the handover processing according to the handover method as provided from the handover method selector 46 . the specific processing procedures are described below . [ 0038 ] fig3 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal 10 as illustrated in fig1 . in fig3 this mobile terminal 10 comprises an antenna 11 which receives a wcdma wireless or a wlan wireless signal , a multi - band rf / if unit 12 which switches to a filter that is relevant to the corresponding wireless methods of said received signal so as to convert the wireless signal to an if signal , an adc ( analog - to - digital converter ) and dac ( digital - to - analog converter ) 13 which performs conversion processing between an analog if signal and a digital . if signal , a signal processor 14 which performs signal processing that is relevant to the method ( for example , despreading processing , modulation / demodulation processing ), an external interface unit 16 which is provided with an interface function for outputting to an external ethernet ( a registered trademark ), etc ., the output received from the signal processor 14 , a central processing unit ( cpu ) 15 which is in charge of controlling the overall system and determines a destination wireless system based on the received input signal output from the multi - band rf / if unit 12 , and the network interface cards ( nics ) 17 and 18 which accommodate , for example , the communications protocols for performing wireless connections according to said corresponding wireless methods . the mobile terminal 10 as described above comprises , for example , a software - defined radio which enables the operation , by downloading to the multi - band rf / if unit 12 , the adc and dac 13 , and the signal processor 14 , the software of the communications method accommodated in nic 17 or nic 18 , as an apparatus at the terminal side for the corresponding methods . besides , the software of the corresponding methods may be accommodated in one nic , or one nic may be provided per wireless method . in the present embodiment , a nic is provided per wireless method so that a wlan nic 17 and a wcdma nic 18 are implemented in the mobile terminal 10 . besides , the example described above is an example in which the nic and the antenna 11 are separately configured , but there may be a case in which a nic includes an antenna . in such a case , such antenna serves the function of the antenna 11 as described above . referring to fig4 through fig6 the handover operations of the system for controlling handover which is configured as described above are described . [ 0043 ] fig4 is a diagram which illustrates a state of communications so as to describe the handover operations of a system for controlling handover according to a working form of the invention . [ 0044 ] fig5 and fig6 are sequence diagrams which illustrate the handover operations of a system for controlling handover according to a working form of the invention . in fig4 the example is intended to represent a case in which the mobile terminal 10 is located in the vicinity of the boundary between a wireless zone that comprises a wlan access point ap - lan 30 and a wireless zone that comprises a wcdma access point ap - wcdma 20 and in which the mobile terminal 10 is seeking a handover from a wlan wireless system to a wcdma wireless system . moreover , taking an access router that is proximate to the wlan access point ap - lan 30 as ar - a 101 and an access router that is proximate to the wcdma access point ap - wcdma 20 as ar - b 102 , the access routers ar - a 101 and ar - b 102 are connected to a router r - a 103 , the handover method selector 46 , and the handover method effector 47 so as to form the respective communications routes . furthermore , a transmitting mobile terminal 70 which transmits a packet to the mobile terminal 10 conducts wireless communications with an access point ap - tx 60 which is currently communicating so that a packet which is received at the ap - tx 60 is transferred via a proximate router r - b 104 . now referring to fig5 and fig6 the handover operations of a system for controlling handover according to a working form of the invention are described in detail . a user packet which is transmitted at the transmitting mobile terminal 70 is received at the wireless system access point ap - tx 60 and then is sequentially transferred in the order of r - b 104 , r - a 103 , ar - a 101 , and ap - lan 30 so as to be converted to a wireless signal at the ap - lan 30 and sent to the mobile terminal 10 ( s 1 ). the wireless signal which transmits said user packet is input to the multi - band rf / if unit 12 of the mobile terminal 10 , which measures the received input value . the measured value is converted to a predetermined signal format at the w - lan nic 17 so as to be sent to the cpu 15 . furthermore , as the mobile terminal 10 is then in the vicinity of the boundary of the wireless zone which comprises the wcdma access point ap - wcdma 20 , the wireless signal which is being transmitted from said ap - wcdma 20 is also received . therefore , as described above , the measurement result of the received input of the wireless signal which is transmitted from ap - wcdma 20 is also sent to the cpu 15 ( s 3 ). the cpu 15 of the mobile terminal 10 compares the received input value from ap - lan 30 and that from ap - wcdma 20 so as to determine the wireless system with the higher received input value as the destination wireless system . here it is assumed that the wcdma wireless system is determined as the destination wireless system . also , then , the cpu 15 detects a change in the respective received inputs at ap - lan 30 and at ap - wcdma 20 so as to estimate from said detected amount of change the travelling speed of the mobile terminal 10 . for example , the doppler velocity is calculated based on the distribution of the received power so as to assume the doppler velocity as the travelling speed of the mobile terminal ( s 4 ). the cpu 15 , as described above , determines the wcdma wireless system as the destination wireless system and , when the projection of the travelling speed is completed , a startup instruction which triggers the startup of wcdma wireless communications is output to nic 17 ( s 5 ). upon receiving this startup instruction , the wcdma nic 18 outputs and sets up at the signal processor 14 , the adc / dac 13 , and the multi - band rf / if unit 12 , the software in which various parameters ( such as modulation parameters ) for receiving the wcdma wireless signal are stated so as to enable the reception of the broadcast information which is periodically broadcast from the ap - wcdma 20 . this broadcast information is received at the cpu 15 via the multi - band rf / if unit 12 , the adc / dac 13 and the signal processor 14 ( s 6 ), said cpu 15 determining the destination access point ( hereinafter abbreviated as the destination ap ) according to the address information of the access router which is included in this broadcast information ( in this case , determined as ar - b 102 ) ( s 7 ). the cpu 15 outputs to the signal processor 14 the information of the destination ap which is determined in said manner ( 1 ), the travelling speed information of the mobile terminal 10 which is previously predicted ( 2 ) and the information on the wireless communications system previously determined ( to be called the wireless system type information ( 3 )). a set of information items comprising ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) as described above which is input to the signal processor 14 , after undergoing modulation processing , etc ., is converted to an analog signal at the dac portion of the adc / dac 13 and then is converted to a wireless signal at the multi - band rf / if unit 12 so as to be transmitted to the ap - wcdma 20 . subsequently , the information set is sent to the handover method selector 46 via the ar - b 102 within the ip network 40 ( s 8 ). the handover method selector 46 , upon receiving the set of information items ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ), or the destination ap information , the speed information of the mobile terminal 10 , and the wireless system type information , accesses the ap - ar management database 48 so as to determine whether the access router which is in the proximity of the destination access point differs from the access router which is in the proximity of the access point prior to travelling ( in this case , referred to as the determination on the compatibility of the access routers ) ( s 9 ). more specifically , the compatibility of the access routers is determined as described below . fig7 is a table which illustrates an exemplary structure of the ap - ar management database . this ap - ar management database is a database for registering and / or inquiring about the corresponding relationships between the access points and the access routers per user and may be a database server , for example . in fig7 this ap - ar management database 48 manages per user the access point address ( the ap address ), the access router address ( the ar address ), the wireless qos parameter which corresponds to the required qos class , the wireless system type information and the wireless quality condition information . hereupon , it is assumed that a user a of the mobile terminal 10 is currently conducting wireless communications with the ap - lan 30 so as to transfer a user packet via ar - a 101 . therefore , in the ap - ar management database 48 , the ap - lan 30 address as the ap address for the user a and the ar - a 101 address as the ar address are registered . the handover method selector 46 , upon receiving the wireless system type information and the notification of ap - wcdma 20 as the destination ap , refers to the ap - ar management database 48 so as to retrieve the ap address which corresponds to the ap address of the ap - wcdma 20 , the destination access point . in this example , the fact that the ar address which corresponds to the ap address of the ap - wcdma 20 is ar - b 102 may be determined from the same database . in this connection , this ar - b 102 is used for transferring the user packet from the mobile terminal of a certain user x . the handover method selector 46 upon identifying the destination access router as described above determines whether this destination access router and the access router prior to travelling are compatible . as described below , there are , for example , two methods of determining this compatibility of access routers . method 1 is a method which corresponds to a handover between heterogeneous wireless systems in which the compatibility of the access routers is determined based on the wireless system type information . for example , in the example as described above , the wireless system type information of ar - a 101 and the wireless system type information of ar - b 102 are compared so as to determine whether there is compatibility of the access points in the case that the types are different . method 2 is a method which corresponds to a handover between homogeneous wireless systems in which a prefix is set up per access router so as to determine whether there is compatibility of the access routers in the case that the prefixes are different . the handover method selector 46 , upon completing the determination of the compatibility of the access routers as described above , transmits to the mobile terminal 10 a request for setting up a wcdma wireless link ( s 10 ). thereafter , a predetermined process to set up a wireless link between the ap - wcdma 20 and the mobile terminal 10 is executed ( s 11 ) so that a wireless link setup completion notification is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the handover method selector 46 upon completing this setup process . the handover method selector 46 , upon receiving the wireless link set - up completion notification ( s 12 ), determines a handover method based on the wireless characteristics of the destination wireless system ( s 13 ). more specifically , a network method is selected ( or a handover algorithm is determined ) based on the wireless system type information sent from the mobile terminal 10 , and then a determination is made as to whether a high - speed handover is to be performed based on the information of the travelling speed of the mobile terminal . the handover method selector 46 selects a handover algorithm based on the destination wireless system according to the criteria as described below . ( 2 ) in the case of hsdpa ( high speed downlink packet access ), an enhanced wcdma method : the ip - packet - buffering method ( 4 ) in the case of pdc ( personal digital cellular ): the hard - handover method below , the respective handover methods as listed above according to an embodiment of the invention are described . the soft - handover method of ( 1 ) refers to a method in which the same packet is sent at the time of handover to the router of the destination and the router prior to travelling . the ip - packet - buffering method of ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) refers to a method in which an ip packet is buffered temporarily at the time of handover , the buffering being completed at the time the mobile terminal changes over to the destination router . the hard - handover method of ( 4 ) refers to a method in which at the time of handover a routing cache table is newly created while the routing cache table of the router prior to travelling is deleted . in the case of the present embodiment , since wcdma is selected as the destination wireless system based on the wireless system type information , the soft - handover method ( 1 ) is selected . then , the handover method selector 46 selects whether a high - speed handover is to be performed based on the criteria as described below . selection criteria of high - speed handover high - speed handover speed of terminal 10 selection high speed required medium speed not required low speed not required herein , the high - speed handover method refers to a method in which the signaling procedure ( referring to a signal procedure to set up a communications channel with the other party before starting communications and to carry out the connection with the other party ) of the wireless link is simplified , or to multicasting to the candidate destination routers at the network side , in order to enable , at the time the mobile terminal 10 is travelling at high speed , the accomplishment of the handover for the mobile terminal . based on the travelling speed information from the mobile terminal 10 , the handover method selector 46 selects the high - speed handover method in the case where the mobile terminal 10 is determined to be travelling at high speed while the high - speed handover method is not selected in the cases where the mobile terminal 10 is determined to be travelling at either low speed or medium speed . as described above , the handover method selector 46 selects a handover method according to the type of the wireless system and determines whether the high - speed handover method is required so that the result ( for example , a combination of the handover method and a determination as to whether the high - speed handover method is required ) is provided to the handover method effector 47 ( s 14 ). the handover effector 47 performs processing for the mobile terminal 10 to make the handover based on the provided result ( s 15 ). more specifically , the handover method effector 47 transfers the user packet which is transmitted from the transmitting mobile terminal 70 to ap - wcdma 20 and an access point which neighbors said ap - wcdma ( tentatively referred to herein as the ap - wcdma2 ) via r - a 103 and ar - b 102 ( s 16 ). in the case where the mobile terminal 10 is located in the vicinity of the boundary of the wireless zones comprising the respective access points , the mobile terminal 10 receives and modulates the user packets which are transmitted from the respective access points . furthermore , the mobile terminal 10 , in the case where the terminal is not located in the vicinity of the boundary , receives and modulates the user packet which is received from either access point . besides , in the case that the handover method selector 46 determines that the high - speed handover method is required , a further transfer of the user packet is performed , omitting the signaling procedure as described above . as described above , according to the present working form , the handover method selector 46 at the network side selects a handover method which fulfills the requirement of the mobile terminal 10 based on the destination ap information , the wireless system type information and the travelling speed information which are provided by the mobile terminal 10 so that the selection of the handover method at the side of the mobile terminal 10 is not required . in other words , the identification of the handover method at the mobile terminal 10 is not required so as to enable a reduction in the amount of handover control processing at the mobile terminal . therefore , even in the case of the mobile terminal 10 in which the handover between homogeneous or heterogeneous wireless systems is implemented by a software - defined radio , the configuration of the apparatus at the mobile side does not become complex , enabling the simplification of the apparatus . although the embodiment describes an example in which the handover method selector 46 and the handover method effector 47 are configured separately , they do not necessarily have to be set up separately and may be configured in one server unit which includes both functions . moreover , although the embodiment describes a case in which the handover method selector 46 selects the handover method based on the wireless system type information which is received from the mobile terminal 10 , the present invention is not limited to that case . for example , it may take a form in which the mobile terminal 10 monitors the wireless link quality conditions prior to and after travelling , and the monitoring results are provided to the handover method selector 46 at the network side so that the selector selects the handover method based on the wireless link quality conditions . in this case , the mobile terminal 10 calculates the ber ( bit error rate ) or the s / n ( signal - to - noise ratio ) using the received inputs from the access point prior to travelling ( the wlan system in the case of the present embodiment ) and the access point after travelling ( the wcdma system in the case of the present embodiment ) so as to provide the calculation results as the wireless link quality conditions to the handover method selector 46 at the network side . the handover method selector 46 performs the selection of the handover method according to the criteria as described below : handover method wireless link before / after quality conditions travelling good / good hard - handover method good / bad soft - handover method bad / good ip - packet buffering method bad / bad soft - handover method for example , in the case such that the ber is good before travelling and bad after travelling , the soft - handover method in which the packets are sent from two or more access points is selected as the handover method to obtain a predetermined reception quality . this enables the execution of handover without degrading the reception quality at the mobile terminal 10 . moreover , although the ap - ar management database 48 in the embodiment described above assumes a database server which is connected externally to the handover method selector 46 , the configuration is not limited to this form , but may take , for example , a form such that the functions of the ap - ar management database 48 are provided within the handover method selector 46 . furthermore , although the example as described thus far indicates a case in which communications with multiple wireless systems is enabled by having the mobile terminal 10 either to switch nics which store the respective wireless system communications protocols or to implement multiple nics , the present invention is not limited to this form . for example , it may take a form in which the software which is stored in the nics is downloaded from a server , etc ., that is provided externally . in such a case , as the software in which a wireless protocol most suitable for the location as stated is automatically downloaded to the mobile terminal 10 , the user of the mobile terminal 10 does not have to keep possession of multiple nics , thus improving the ease - of - use for the user . also , although the embodiment describes a case in which the mobile terminal 10 is a multi - functional wcdma / wlan terminal which handles both wcdma and wlan communications methods , it is possible as a matter of course to apply to the present invention a multi - functional terminal which handles more than two types of wireless systems . the present application is based on japanese priority patent application no . 2003 - 047761 filed feb . 25 , 2003 , with the japanese patent office , the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference . | 7 |
referring now to the drawings , a print machine 10 is mounted on a normal frame table 12 . the print machine 10 has a first inlet 14 for receiving originals and print - paper sheets in contact with one another ; a first outlet 16 ; a second , or developer , inlet 17 ; and a final copies outlet 18 . explaining briefly the operation of the print machine 10 , the print machine 10 receives originals superimposed on print - paper sheets at the first inlet 14 , and exposes these two sheets to a lamp 15 in an exposure portion 19a of the print machine 10 . the print machine 10 then ejects the originals and the exposed print - paper sheets at the first outlet 16 . an operator must separate the originals from the print - paper sheets and feed the print - paper sheets into the second inlet 17 where the transferred images are developed on the print - paper sheets in a developing portion 19b of the print machine 10 by means of application of ammonia or the like . the print machine 10 ejects the thusly developed copies at the copies outlet 18 . it should be noted that both inlets 14 and 17 and the first outlet 16 are located at the front of the print machine 10 while the second , or copies , outlet 18 is located at the rear of the print machine 10 . such print machines are common in the art and are well known by architects , draftsmen and other designers . two such print machines have been sold by rotolite corp ., designated by rotolite as model &# 34 ; l &# 34 ; diaz - jet and model &# 34 ; k &# 34 ; mark ii . rotolite , as well as other manufacturers have published specifications and drawings for these print machines and it is not thought necessary to describe them in greater detail herein . also mounted on the table 12 adjacent to the print machine 10 is a tray assembly 20 including an originals / print - paper tray 22 , a copies tray 24 , and a telescoping support arm 26 which is attached to the lower edges of the originals / print - paper tray 22 and the copies tray 24 . the originals / print - paper tray 22 has a front wall 28 , side walls 30 , a rear wall 32 , and a bottom wall 34 . these walls define an envelope for receiving originals and print paper and holding them in a substantially vertical attitude . in this respect , it should be noted that the originals / print - paper tray 22 is sufficiently wide to hold an original blueprint - type trace , for example , without bending it . further , the front wall 28 of the originals / print - paper tray 22 has a height such that the upper edge of a thusly contained , original trace is easily accessible to an operator at a mouth 35 . the originals / print - paper tray 22 , in addition to defining an envelope for holding originals and print - paper sheets , includes side mounting supports 36 for mounting the envelope and for mounting adjustable guides 38a and 38b which guide originals ejected from the first outlet 16 back into the envelope of the originals / print - paper tray 22 . the side mounting supports 36 have table - mounting flanges 40 extending normal to the main portion thereof for fastening the mounting supports 36 to the surface of the table 12 with screws or the like and envelope - mounting , coplanar , flanges 42 for attaching the mounting support 36 to the sidewalls 30 of the envelope . the adjustable guides 38a and b are mounted on rods 44 which extend between the side mounting supports 36 . in this respect , the adjustable guides 38a and b are attached to the rods 44 while the rods 44 are threaded on the ends thereof to engage wing nuts 46 which can be loosened or tightened to clamp the mounting supports 36 against the adjustable guides 38a and b to hold the adjustable guides 38a and b in stable positions . in the preferred embodiment , the walls 28 - 34 , the mounting supports 36 and the adjustable guides 38a and b are constructed of sheet material , such as plastic , however , they could also be constructed of cardboard , fiberboard , wire mesh , or the like . it is only necessary that the material used be somewhat rigid in order to hold the shapes depicted herein . a flat , rigid , sheet - like separator 48 is positioned in the envelope of the originals / print - paper tray 22 to separate already - copied originals from other originals and print paper as is hereinafter described . the separator 48 , in the preferred embodiment , is loosely held in the envelope so that it is freely movable between the front and rear walls 28 and 32 , however , it could also be attached at its lower edge to the bottom wall 34 so long as its upper edge is movable between the front and rear walls 28 and 32 . the copies tray 24 is similarly constructed as the originals / print - paper tray 22 in that it has a front wall 50 , side wall 52 , a rear wall 54 , and a bottom wall 56 . in addition , the copies tray 24 has mounting supports 58 and adjustable guides 60 and 62 . it should be noted that the top adjustable guide 60 is somewhat smaller than the lower adjustable guide 62 , however , its principle is the same . in this respect , the adjustable guides 60 and 62 are similarly mounted with rods 64 and wing nuts 66 as are the adjustable guides 38a and b on the originals / print - paper tray 22 . in this respect , however , there are a series of guide mounting holes 68 into which the rods 64 can be inserted for changing the positions of the rods . the mounting supports 58 of the copies tray 24 also includes table - mounting flanges 70 and envelope - mounting flanges 72 . it can be seen in fig1 that when the copies tray 24 is mounted on the table 12 adjacent to the print machine 10 a mouth 74 of an envelope formed by the front , side , rear , and bottom walls 50 - 58 is adjacent to the copies outlet 18 of the print machine 10 . the adjustable guides 60 and 62 are positioned to guide copies ejected from the copies outlet 18 into the mouth 74 . as was mentioned above , the adjusting arm 26 is mounted at the lower edges 74 and 76 of the originals / print - paper tray 22 and the copies tray 24 , respectively . by extending or contracting the adjusting arm 26 , and by changing the location of the adjustable guide 62 between the guide - mounting holes 68 , the tray assembly 20 can be made to fit various size support tables 12 . it should be noted that both of the trays 22 and 24 are substantially vertical which allows them to be positioned adjacent to the print machine 10 , but yet they do not interfere with movement of an operator about , or access of an operator to , the print machine 10 . in operation , a stack 77 ( fig5 ) of original traces , to be copied with the print machine 10 are placed in the envelope of the originals / print - paper tray 22 immediately in front of the separator 48 , facing the print machine 10 , with the first original to be copied 77a being away from the print machine 10 , or close to the operator . a stack 80 of print paper sheets is also placed in the envelope of the originals / print - paper tray 22 on the outside of the separator 48 and closer to the front wall 28 than the stack 77 of originals . to initiate making a copy , the operator picks up the outside - most original 77a and a piece of print paper 80 at their top opposite corners and holds them together . the operator , pulls these two sheets out of the envelope of the originals / print - paper tray 22 and inserts the bottom edges 82 thereof into the first inlet 14 as is shown in fig4 . as the two sheets proceed through the exposure portion 19a of the print machine 10 , the material on the original is exposed by the lamp 15 ( fig6 ) onto the print paper . both the print paper and the original are ejected from the first outlet 16 , with the print paper being on top and the original being on bottom , facing downwardly . the print paper is fed directly from the first outlet 16 into the second inlet 17 , where it is processed by the developing portion 19b of the print machine 10 and ejected from the second outlet 18 . the original is guided from the first outlet 16 into the mouth of the envelope of the originals / print - paper tray 22 behind ( on the side close to the print machine 48 ) the separator 48 by the adjustable guides 38a and b . in this respect , the operator holds the separator 48 toward the front wall 28 so that the original returns to the envelope behind the separator 48 . each subsequent original , similarly , is guided behind the previous original so that the originals return to the same order and orientation as before they were copied . when an entire set of originals have been printed , the separator 48 can then be moved behind the originals for making another set of prints . the first set of prints may be removed from the print tray for binding without further collating or the like . in this respect , the prints or copies are deposited in the print tray 24 , one on top of the other , in the same order as the originals are in the originals / print - paper tray 22 . it should be understood that the tray assembly of this invention allows the making of many copy sets of a single set of originals with very little lost motion and a minimum of collating and other unnecessary steps . in addition , the tray assembly of this invention maintains original traces during the copying thereof without creasing or otherwise damaging them . while the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . | 6 |
the bonding pastes to be used according to the invention result in coated articles which have an exceptionally soft hand resembling that of napa leather , and the polyurethane films produced from the bonding pastes are distinguished by their low microhardness ( shore a hardness at the most 50 ) and low 100 % modulus values ( less than 15 kp / cm 2 ). these properties are unexpected since polyurethane elastomers produced from aromatic isocyanate prepolymers and hydrazine hydrate of the type used , for example , in elastic polyurethane fibres of the spandex - type have relatively high values for microhardness and modulus values at 100 % elongation . polyurethane elastomers produced from aliphatic isocyanate prepolymers and diamines as chain lengthening agents in the hard segments also have a substantially higher microhardness and high 100 % modulus values compared with the corresponding values of the bonding coats used according to the invention . numerical comparisons may be found in the examples . the bonding coat solutions according to the invention are prepared as follows : an isocyanate prepolymer is first prepared from dihydroxypolyethers and / or dihydroxypolyesters and aliphatic and / or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates ( preferably containing from 6 to 15 carbon atoms ), such as butane - 1 , 4 - diisocyanate , hexane - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate , cyclohexane - 1 , 3 - diisocyanate and / or 1 , 4 - diisocyanate , 3 , 3 , 5 - trimethyl - 5 - isocyanatomethyl - cyclohexylisocyanate ( isophorone diisocyanate ), dicyclohexylmethane - 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diisocyanate and hexahydrotolyene - 2 , 4 - or - 2 , 6 - diisocyanate . the nco / oh ratio is maintained at from 1 . 4 to 2 . 5 and preferably from 1 . 8 to 2 . 1 . the isocyanate component used is preferably a mixture of hexane - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate ( molar ratio from 1 : 3 to 3 : 1 ). the prepolymer is then converted into the polyurethane hydrazodicarbonamide elastomer by reacting it in solution with hydrazine hydrate ( preferably from 50 to 100 % hydrate content ) or with the reaction product of hydrazine hydrate and carbon dioxide . the most suitable dihydroxypolyesters and / or dihydroxypolyethers are those with molecular weights of from 600 to 4000 and particularly from 1800 to 1300 . the dihydroxypolyesters are prepared in known manner from one or more dicarboxylic acids which preferably contain at least 6 carbon atoms and one or more dihydric alcohols . instead of free polycarboxylic acids , the corresponding polycarboxylic acid anhydrides or esters of lower alcohols or mixtures thereof may be used for preparing the polyesters . the polycarboxylic acids may be aliphatic , cycloaliphatic , aromatic and / or heterocyclic and they may be substituted , e . g ., with halogen atoms , and / or be unsaturated . the following are examples : succinic acid , pimelic acid , adipic acid , suberic acid , azelaic acid , sebacic acid , phthalic acid , isophthalic acid , trimellitic acid , phthalic acid anhydride , tetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride , hexahydrophthalic acid anhydride , tetrachlorophthalic acid anhydride , endomethylene tetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride , glutaric acid anhydride , maleic acid anhydride , fumaric acid , dimeric and trimeric fatty acids , such as oleic acid , optionally as mixtures with monomeric fatty acids , dimethylterephthalate or bis - glycol terephthalate . aliphatic dicarboxylic acids are preferred , and particularly adipic acid . examples of suitable dihydric alcohols include ; ethylene glycol , propylene - 1 , 2 - glycol and 1 , 3 - glycol , butylene - 1 , 4 - glycol , - 2 , 3 - glycol and 1 , 3 - glycol , hexane - 1 , 6 - diol , octane - 1 , 8 - diol , neopentyl glycol , 1 , 4 - bis - hydroxymethyl - cyclohexane , 2 - methyl - propane - 1 , 3 - diol , diethylene glycol , triethylene glycol , tetraethylene glycol , higher polyethylene glycols , dipropylene glycol , polypropylene glycols , dibutylene glycol and polybutylene glycols . particularly preferred for the purpose of the invention are ethylene glycol , diethylene glycol , butylene - 1 , 4 - glycol and mixtures of these dihydric alcohols . apart from polyesters of the type described above , polycondensation products of straight - chain hydroxyalkane monocarboxylic acids containing at least 5 carbon atoms , e . g . ε - hydroxycaproic acid , or the corresponding lactone polymers , may also be used according to the invention . suitable polyethers containing two hydroxyl groups are also already known and may be prepared , for example , by the polymerisation of epoxides , such as ethylene oxide , propylene oxide , butylene oxide , tetrahydrofuran , styrene oxide or epichlorohydrin , either each on its own , e . g ., in the presence of bf 3 , or by addition of these epoxides , optionally as mixtures or successively , to starting components which contain reactive hydrogen atoms , such as water , alcohols or amines , e . g . ethylene glycol , propylene - 1 , 2 - glycol or - 1 , 3 - glycol , 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- dihydroxy - diphenylpropane , aniline , ethanolamine or ethylene diamine . dihydroxyl compounds which have been prepared by preliminary chain lengthening or relatively low molecular weight dihydroxypolyesters or dihydroxypolyethers ( molecular weight from 500 to 1200 ) with any aliphatic , cycloaliphatic or aromatic diisocyanates , preferably tolylene diisocyanate , using an nco / oh ratio of from 1 : 2 to 2 : 3 may also be used for synthesising the isocyanate prepolymers . it has been found that the incorporation of such aromatic urethane groups has no deleterious effect on the hand and mechanical properties of the bonding coat . in addition to polyureas , the bonding pastes according to the invention contain commercial reaction products of melamine or urea and formaldehyde or formaldehyde derivatives , which can be prepared in known manner . the combination of these known formaldehyde resins with polyurethanes or cycloaliphatic and if desired also aliphatic isocyanates , dihydroxypolyesters or dihydroxypolyethers ( preferably polyesters from adipic acid and ethylene glycol and / or butane - 1 , 4 - diol and / or diethylene glycol or dihydroxypolybutylene glycol or dihydroxypolypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of from 1800 or 3000 ) and hydrazine , as chain lengthening agent , is surprisingly found to result in bonding coats which have the desired mechanical properties ( microhardness according to shore a ≦ 50 and modulus of 100 % elongation ≦ 15 kp / cm 2 ) and a napa - like hand if the quantitative proportions indicated above are observed . as mentioned above , the bonding pastes preferably contain from 40 to 60 % by weight , of dimethylformamide . the following solvents may be used in addition : dimethylacetamide , n - methylpyrrolidone , tetrahydrofuran , dioxane , methyl ethyl ketone , acetone , diethyl ketone , methyl isobutyl ketone , toluene , xylene , methyl glycol acetate , ethyl glycol acetate , butyl acetate , ethyl acetate , methyl acetate , methanol , ethanol , isopropanol , ethylene glycol monomethyl ether , ethylene glycol monoethyl ether , butanols , diacetone alcohol , cyclohexanone , water and others . a preferred mixture consists of 40 % of dimethylformamide , 30 % of toluene , 20 % of isopropanol and 10 % of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether . acid catalysts are used for cross - linking the polyurethane hydrazodicarbonamide used according to the invention with formaldehyde resins , for example maleic acid , p - toluene - sulphonic acid or mono - ammonium phosphate . they may be used in a buffered form together with bases , such as ammonia , triethylamine , triethanolamine , n - methylmorpholine and morpholine . the polyurethanes in the top coat solutions are so - called &# 34 ; aromatic polyurethanes &# 34 ; or &# 34 ; aliphatic polyurethanes &# 34 ; which are synthesised in known manner from polyisocyanates , higher molecular weight dihydroxypolyesters and / or polyethers and low molecular weight chain lengthening agents . these polyurethanes can be prepared by known methods , either solvent - free or in solution and either by the one - shot process or by way of a prepolymer . the dihydroxypolyesters and / or dihydroxypolyethers used in this case also preferably have molecular weights of from 600 to 4000 and most preferably from 800 to 2500 . the polyesters and polyethers used may , for example , be the same as those mentioned above for the preparation of the bonding coat solutions . other starting components to be used include : aliphatic , cycloaliphatic , araliphatic aromatic and heterocyclic polyisocyanates , such as those described , e . g ., by w . siefken in justus liebigs annalen der chemie , 562 , pages 75 to 136 , for example , ethylene diisocyanate , tetramethylene - 1 , 4 - diisocyanate , hexamethylene - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate , dodecane - 1 , 12 - diisocyanate , cyclobutane - 1 , 3 - diisocyanate , cyclohexane - 1 , 3 - and - 1 , 4 - diisocyanate and mixtures of these isomers , 1 - methyl - 2 , 6 - diisocyanatocyclohexane , 1 - methyl - 2 , 4 - diisocyanatocyclohexane , 1 - isocyanato - 3 , 3 , 5 - trimethyl - 5 - isocyanatomethyl - cyclohexane , hexahydrotolylene - 2 , 4 - and - 2 , 6 - diisocyanate and mixtures of these isomers , hexahydrophenylene - 1 , 3 - and / or - 1 , 4 - diisocyanate , perhydrodiphenylmethane - 2 , 4 &# 39 ;- and / or 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diisocyanate , phenyl - 1 , 3 - and - 1 , 4 - diisocyanate , tolylene - 2 , 4 - and - 2 , 6 - diisocyanate and mixtures of these isomers , diphenylmethane - 2 , 4 &# 39 ;- and / or - 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diisocyanate , naphthylene - 1 , 5 - diisocyanate , 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diphenyl - dimethylmethane - diisocyanate or mixtures of these compounds . 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diphenylmethane diisocyanate is particularly suitable . the low molecular weight diol components used as chain lengthening agents for the preparation of the polyurethanes used as top coats preferably have molecular weights of from 62 to 450 . various types of diol compounds may be used according to the invention , for example the following : a . alkanediols , such as ethylene glycol , propylene - 1 , 3 - glycol and propylene - 1 , 2 - glycol , butane - 1 , 4 - diol , pentane - 1 , 5 - diol , dimethylpropane - 1 , 3 - diol and hexane - 1 , 6 - diol ; b . ether diols , such as diethylene glycol , triethylene glycol or phenylene - 1 , 4 - bis -( β - hydroxyethylether ); r represents an alkylene or arylene group containing from 1 to 10 , preferably from 2 to 6 carbon atoms ; e . g ., δ - hydroxybutyl - ε - hydroxy - caproic acid ester , ω - hydroxyhexyl - γ - hydroxybutyric acid ester , adipic acid -( β - hydroxyethyl ) ester and terephthalic acid bis -( β - hydroxyethyl ) ester ; r &# 39 ; represents an alkylene , cycloalkylene or arylene group containing from 2 to 15 , preferably from 2 to 6 carbon atoms ; and x represents a number of from 2 to 6 ; e . g ., 1 , 6 - hexamethylene - bis -( β - hydroxyethylurethane ) or 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diphenylmethane - bis -( δ - hydroxybutylurethane ); f . diol ureas corresponding to the following general formula ## str1 ## wherein r &# 34 ; represents an alkylene , cycloalkylene or arylene group containing from 2 to 15 and preferably from 2 to 9 carbon atoms ; the following are examples of aliphatic diamines which may be used as chain lengthening agents either alone or as mixtures ; ethylene diamine , propylene - 1 , 2 - and 1 , 3 - diamine , tetramethylene - 1 , 4 - diamine , hexamethylene - 1 , 6 - diamine , n , n &# 39 ;- diisobutyl - 1 , 6 - hexamethylene diamine , 1 , 11 - undecamethylene diamine , cyclohexane - 1 , 3 - and - 1 , 4 - diamine and mixtures thereof , 1 - amino - 3 , 3 , 5 - trimethyl - 5 - aminomethylcyclohexane , hexahydrotolylene - 2 , 4 - diamine and - 2 , 6 - diamine and mixtures thereof , perhydro - 2 , 4 &# 39 ;- and - 4 , 4 &# 39 ; diaminodiphenylmethane , p - xylylenediamine and bis ( 3 - aminopropyl - methylamine ). hydrazine and substituted hydrazines such as methylhydrazine , n , n &# 39 ;- dimethylhydrazine and their homologues , as well as acid dihydrazides may also be used according to the invention , e . g ., carbodihydrazide , oxalic acid dihydrazide , the dihydrazides of malonic acid , succinic acid , glutaric acid , adipic acid , β - methyladipic acid , sebacic acid , hydracrylic acid and terephthalic acid , semi - carbazidoalkylene hydrazides , such as β - semicarbazido - propionic acid hydrazine ( dos no . 1 , 770 , 591 ), semicarbazido - alkylene - carbazic esters , such as 2 - semi - carbazidoethyl - carbazic ester ( dos no . 1 , 918 , 504 ), or also amino - semi - carbazide compounds such as β - aminoethylsemi - carbazido - carbonate ( dos no . 1 , 902 , 931 ). examples of suitable aromatic diamines include : bis - anthranilic acid esters according to german offenlegungsschrift nos . 2 , 040 , 644 and 2 , 160 , 590 , 3 , 5 - and 2 , 4 - diaminobenzoic acid esters according to dos no . 2 , 025 , 900 , the diamines with ester described in german offenlegungschrift nos . 1 , 803 , 635 ; 2 , 040 , 650 and 2 , 160 , 589 , and 3 , 3 &# 39 ;- dichloro - 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diamino - diphenylmethane , tolylene diamine , 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diaminodiphenylmethane and 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diaminodiphenyl disulphide . pigments , fillers and other auxiliary agents , such as stabilizers against hydrolysis , uv stabilizers , antioxidants and polysiloxanes , may be added to the top coat and bonding coat pastes in the usual manner . the hand of coated articles produced from known polyurethane top coats and the bonding coats used according to the invention are assessed in the examples . the values for microhardness and 100 % modulus of films produced from the bonding coat pastes are also compared . the figures given represent parts or percentages by weight unless otherwise indicated . the top coating solution is spread on a release paper by means of a doctor roll coater on a spread coating machine . the quantity applied each time corresponds to 120 g of paste per m 2 . after the first passage through the drying channel , which has an air temperature of 100 ° c at the inlet and 140 ° c at the outlet , the bonding coat paste is applied in analogous manner in a thickness corresponding 120 g / m 2 , either in a second spreading machine or after return of the coated release paper . the textile web , consisting of a napped cotton duvetyn weighing 240 g per m 2 , is then applied , and the solvent mixture of the bonding coat is evaporated off in the drying channel . on leaving the drying channel , the release paper and coated web of fabric are rolled up independently of each other . the top coat paste d 1 is a 35 % solution of a polycarbonate polyester urethane is dimethylformamide / mek ( 3 : 2 ) which has a viscosity of 10 , 000 cp at 25 ° c . the polycarbonate polyester urethane was prepared by solvent - free condensation of 1000 g ( 0 . 5 mol ) of hexanediol polycarbonate , 1125 g ( 0 . 5 mol ) of a butane - 1 , 4 - diol adipate , 270 g of butane - 1 , 4 - diol ( 3 . 0 mol ) and the equivalent quantity of 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diphenylmethanediisocyanate ( 100 g ). the coating paste contains 10 % of a commercial pigment paste . bonding coat paste h 1 is an approximately 50 % solution composed of : 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution of a commercial melamine - formaldehyde resin in butanol and 5 . 0 g of a 20 % solution of p - toluenesulphonic acid in isopropanol . to prepare the 50 % solution of polyesterurethane hydrazodicarbonamide , 2550 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of a polyester from diethylene glycol and adipic acid ( oh number 44 ) were reacted solvent - free with 333 g ( 1 . 5 mol ) of 3 , 3 , 5 - trimethyl - 5 - isocyanatomethylcyclohexylisocyanate and 84 g ( 0 . 5 mol ) of hexane - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate at 100 ° c to produce an nco - prepolymer . the solvent - free melt was dissolved in 1203 g of dimethylformamide and 896 g of toluene and reacted with a solution of 50 . 0 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of hydrazine hydrate in 601 g of isopropanol and 301 g of ethylene glycol under conditions of cooling to produce the polyester urethane hydrazo dicarbonamide . the viscosity of the solution is 40 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . bonding coat paste h 2 ( comparison experiment ) is an approximately 50 % solution composed of : 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution of a melamine formaldehyde resin in n - butanol and to prepare the 50 % solution of polyesterurethane urea , 2967 g of the isocyanate prepolymer described for the preparation of bonding coat paste h 1 were dissolved in 1260 g of dimethylformamide and 940 g of toluene and reacted with a solution of 170 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of 3 , 3 , 5 - trimethyl - 5 - aminomethylcyclohexylamine in 624 g of isopropanol and 315 g of ethyl glycol under conditions of cooling to produce the polyester urethane urea . the viscosity of the solution is 40 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . bonding coat paste h 2 is also adjusted to a suitable spread coating viscosity of about 15 , 000 cp / 25 ° c with dimethylformamide . bonding coat paste h 3 ( comparison experiment ) is a 30 % solution of an aromatic polyester urethane hydrazoldicarbonamide which was prepared as follows : 2550 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of the diethyleneglycol adipate used for h 1 are reacted with 500 g ( 2 . 0 mol ) of 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diphenylmethane diisocyanate in 783 g of toluene at 100 ° c to produce an nco prepolymer solution . after dilution of this solution with 6000 g of dimethylformamide , 50 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of hydrazine hydrate in 430 g of dimethylformamide are added dropwise with cooling and vigorous stirring in the course of about 30 minutes . the approximately 30 % solution obtained has a viscosity of about 25 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . ______________________________________ 100 % moduluscoating microhardness kg / cm . sup . 2component hand shore a ( din 53 504 ) ______________________________________d 1 / h 1 very soft , resem - 50 10 - 13 bling napa leatherd 1 / h 2 distinctly harder 65 15 - 20 ( compari - than d 1 / h 1 ( sond 1 / h 3 hard to rigid 80 70 - 80 ( compari - son ) ______________________________________ top coat paste d 2 is a 30 % solution of a segmented polycarbonate - polyurethaneurea elastomer in xylene / isopropanol / ethyl glycol having a viscosity of 30 , 000 cp at 25 ° c . the polyurethane was prepared by the prepolymer process from 730 g of hexanediol polycarbonate ( molecular weight 2000 ), 180 g of 1 - isocyanate - 3 - isocyanatomethyl - 3 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - cyclohexane and 90 g of 4 , 4 &# 39 ;- diamino - dicyclohexylmethane . the nco prepolymer which was prepared solvent - free from hexanediol polycarbonate and 1 - isocyanato - 3 - isocyanatomethyl - 3 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane was dissolved in toluene and reacted with the diamine solution in isopropanol / ethyl glycol to produce the polyurethane urea . 10 % of a commercial pigment paste is added to the solution . bonding coat past h 4 is an approximately 50 % solution composed of : 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution in n - butanol of a commercial melamine - formaldehyde resin and 50 g of a 20 % solution in isopropanol of p - toluenesulphonic acid . to prepare the 50 % polyester urethane hydrazodicarbonamide solution , 2000 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of a diethyleneglycol adipate with oh number 56 were reacted solvent - free with 289 g ( 1 . 3 mol ) of 1 - isocyanato - 3 - isocyanato - methyl - 3 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane and 67 g ( 0 . 4 mol ) of hexane - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate at 100 ° c to produce an nco prepolymer . the solvent - free melt was dissolved in 1035 g of toluene and reacted with 35 . 0 g ( 0 . 70 mol ) of hydrazine hydrate in 830 g of isopropanol and 475 g of ethyl glycol under conditions of cooling to produce the polyester urethane hydrazodicarbonamide . the viscosity of the solution is 42 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . bonding coat paste h 4 is adjusted to a suitable spread coating viscosity of about 15 , 000 cp / 25 ° c with toluene for laminating the textile web . bonding coat paste h 5 ( com parison ) is an approximately 50 % solution composed of : 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution of a melamine - formaldehyde resin in n - butanol and to prepare the 50 % solution of polyester urethane urea , 2356 g of the prepolymer mentioned for the preparation of bonding coat paste h 4 were dissolved in 1120 g of toluene and reacted with a solution of 119 g ( 0 . 70 mol ) of 3 , 3 , 5 - trimethyl - 5 - aminomethylcyclohexylamine in 865 g of isopropanol and 490 g of ethyl glycol under conditions of cooling to produce the polyester urethane urea . the viscosity of the solution is 40 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . for laminating the textile web , the viscosity is adjusted to 15 , 000 cp / 25 ° c with toluene . ______________________________________com - ponentsof the microhardness 100 % moduluscoating hand shore a kp / cm . sup . 2______________________________________d 2 / h 4 very soft and 45 - 50 10 - 12 pleasant , resem - bling nappa leatherd 2 / h 5 substantially 60 15 - 20 ( compari - harder and lessson ) pleasant than d 2 / h 4______________________________________ top coating paste d 1 is used for producing the top coat . bonding coat paste h 6 is an approximately 50 % solution composed of : 1000 g of a 50 % solution of polyether urethane hydrazocarbonamide , 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution of a melamine - formaldehyde resin in n - butanol and 5 . 0 g of a 20 % solution of p - toluenesulphonic acid in isopropanol . to prepare the 50 % solution of polyether urethane hydrazodicarbonamide , 3000 g ( 3 . 0 mol ) of a dihydroxypolypropylene glycol ether ( oh number 112 ) and 348 g ( 2 . 0 mol ) of an isomeric mixture of 2 , 4 - and 2 , 6 - diisocyanatotoluene ( 65 / 35 ) were reacted solvent free at 100 ° c . the dihydroxypolyether urethane was then reacted with 333 g of 1 - isocyanato - 3 - isocyanatomethyl - 3 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane ( 1 . 5 mol ) and 84 g of hexane - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate ( 0 . 5 mol ) at 100 ° c to produce the nco prepolymer which was then dissolved in 1520 g of dimethylformamide and 1140 g of toluene and reacted with a solution of 50 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of hydrazine hydrate in 760 g of isopropanol and 380 g of ethyl glycol . the viscosity of the 50 % solution is 30 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . for laminating the textile web , the solution is adjusted to a spread coating viscosity of about 15 , 000 cp / 25 ° c with dimethyl formamide . bonding coat paste h 7 ( comparison ) is an approximately 50 % solution of 1000 g of a 50 % solution of a polyether urethane urea , 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution of a melamine - formaldehyde resin in n - butanol and 5 . 0 g of a 20 % solution of p - toluenesulphonic acid in isopropanol . to prepare the approximately 50 % solution of polyether urethane urea , 3765 g of the nco prepolymer mentioned for the preparation of bonding coat solution h 6 were dissolved in 1585 g of dimethylformamide and 1175 g of toluene and reacted with a solution of 170 g of 1 - amino - 3 - aminomethyl - 3 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane ( 1 . 0 mol ) in 785 g of isopropanol and 395 g of ethyl glycol . viscosity of the solution : 35 , 000 cp / 25 ° c ./ ______________________________________coating microhardness 100 % moduluscomponents hand shore a kp / cm . sup . 2______________________________________d 1 / h 6 very soft , 45 5 - 10 resembling napa leatherd 1 / h 7 substantially 60 20 - 30 ( compari - harder and lessson ) pleasant than d 1 / h 6______________________________________ top coating paste d 1 is used to produce the top coat . bonding coat paste h 8 is an approximately 50 % solution composed of : 1000 g of a 50 % solution of polyester urethane hydrazodicarbonamide , 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution of a commercial melamine - formaldehyde resin in n - butanol , and 5 . 0 g of a 20 % solution of p - toluenesulphonic acid in isopropanol . to prepare the 50 % solution of polyester urethane hydrazodicarbonamide , 2070 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of a polyester of triethylene glycol / hexane - 1 , 6 - diol ( molar ratio 2 : 1 ) and adipic acid ( oh number 54 ) were reacted with 333 g ( 1 . 5 mol ) of isophorone diisocyanate and 84 g ( 0 . 5 mol ) of hexamethylene - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate at 100 ° c to produce an isocyanate prepolymer which was then dissolved in 1000 g of dimethylformamide and 750 g of toluene and chain lengthened with a solution of 50 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of hydrazine hydrate in 500 g of isopropanol and 250 g of ethyl glycol . the viscosity of the 50 % solution is 40 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . for laminating the textile web , the paste is adjusted to a spread coating velocity of about 15000 cp / 25 ° c with dimethylformamide . ______________________________________coating microhardness 100 % moduluscomponents hand shore a kp / cm . sup . 2______________________________________d 1 / h 8 very soft , 30 5 resembling napa leather______________________________________ top coating paste d 1 is used to produce the top coat . 50 g of an approximately 50 % solution of a commercial melamine - formaldehyde resin in n - butanol , 5 . 0 g of a 20 % solution of p - toluene sulphonic acid in isopropanol . to prepare the 50 % solution of polyester urethane hydrazodicarbonamide , 2000 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of a polyester from butylene glycol - 1 , 4 , ethylene glycol , diethylene glycol ( molar ratio 2 . 2 : 1 . 9 : 1 . 2 ) and adipic acid ( oh number 56 ) were reacted with 333 g ( 1 . 5 mol ) of isophorone diisocyanate and 84 g ( 0 . 5 mol ) of hexamethylene - 1 , 6 - diisocyanate at 100 ° c to produce the isocyanate prepolymer which was then dissolved in 980 g of dimethylformamide and 735 g of toluene and chain lengthened with a solution of 50 g ( 1 . 0 mol ) of hydrazine hydrate in 490 g of isopropanol and 215 g of ethyl glycol . the viscosity of the 50 % solution is 42 , 000 cp / 25 ° c . for laminating the textile web , the coating paste is adjusted to a viscosity of about 10 , 000 cp / 25 ° c with dimethylformamide . ______________________________________coating microhardness 100 % moduluscomponent hand shore a kp / cm______________________________________d 1 / h 9 very soft , 30 5 resembling napa leather______________________________________ | 8 |
referring now to fig1 , an industrial control system 10 may provide for a housing 12 or similar support that assembles together multiple modules 14 to communicate together on a common industrial control backplane 15 when so assembled . modules 14 may generally include an industrial controller 14 a executing a control program , a communication module 14 b , for example , communicating on an industrial control network ( such as those using common industrial protocols ( cip ) such as ethernet / ip , devicenet , and controlnet ), a power supply 14 c , and one or more i / o modules 14 e to be discussed herein . one i / o module 14 may be an input module 16 having a set of electrical terminals 18 on a front face of a housing 19 , the terminals 18 adapted to be connected to conductors 20 that may communicate with various sensors 22 and 24 of an industrial process 26 . a rear face of the housing 19 may provide an electrical connector 28 that may communicate with a corresponding connector on the backplane 15 . it will be appreciated that backplane 15 may be alternatively contained partially within each module 14 and formed by interconnections via connector pairs ( not shown ) on each of the modules 14 connecting with adjacent modules when the modules 14 are assembled together . referring now also to fig2 , the input module 16 may include an input circuit 30 held within the housing 19 and providing electrical isolation to protect the industrial control system 10 from external high voltages . the input circuit 30 may receive , across a first and second terminal 18 a and 18 b , one or more pulses 32 at input terminal 18 a from an associated sensor and being either positive - or negative - going with respect to a ground reference at terminal 18 b . desirably , the input circuit 30 may respond to a positive - going pulse from 4 to 32 volts occurring at frequencies as high as four megahertz and providing for a pulse - width detection accurate to plus or minus 30 nanoseconds . a positive - going pulse 32 generates a current along a current path 39 received by an input of an optical isolator 34 which provides outputs 36 which may be communicated through a backplane interface to the backplane 15 . terminals 18 a and 18 b of the input circuit 30 are shunted by a surge protector 38 that limits the voltage difference between terminals 18 a and 18 b . as shown in fig3 , the surge protector 38 is placed to bypass the current path 39 and may be a transient - voltage - suppression ( tvs ) diode 40 in parallel with a capacitor 41 . the tvs diode 40 will be rated at a voltage higher than the highest expected operating voltage of the input circuit 30 . following the tvs diode 40 may be a reverse current limiter 42 placed along the current path 39 and connected to the junction between terminal 18 a and surge protector 38 . the reverse current limiter 42 may limit current passing along current path 39 in a reverse direction from terminal 18 b to terminal 18 a , for example , when the pulse 32 is negative - going . this reverse current limiter 42 may comprise a diode 44 back - biased by reverse current along current path 39 and shunted by a resistor 46 . forward current along current path 39 from terminal 18 a and 18 b passes through the diode 44 with a minor forward diode voltage drop while reverse current is blocked by the diode 44 and must pass through resistor 46 which limits this current . following the surge protector 38 and reverse current limiter 42 is a reverse voltage limiter 50 which shunts the current path 39 to allow the flow of current from terminal 18 b through the reverse voltage limiter 50 backward through the reverse current limiter 42 to the terminal 18 a thereby bypassing the remainder of the input circuit 30 . the reverse voltage limiter 50 may comprise two series - connected diodes oriented to be forward biased by current passing backward along the current path 39 from terminal 18 b to terminal 18 a and limiting the voltage difference across the reverse voltage limiter 50 ( and thus the voltage applied to the remainder of the input circuit 30 ) to approximately two diode drops or approximately 1 . 4 volts . along the current path 39 from terminal 18 a , past the reverse voltage limiter 50 , is a forward current limiter 56 which is in series with the input of the optical isolator 34 along the current path 39 . the forward current limiter 56 thus operates to limit current to the input of the optical isolator 34 . the forward current limiter 56 may comprise two series - connected n - channel depletion jfet devices 58 and 60 where current passing along current path 39 passes into the drain and out of the source of device 58 and then into the drain and out of the source of device 60 . current exiting the source of device 60 passes through a resistor 62 and then to the anode of a light emitting diode 64 providing input of the optical isolator 34 . a junction between the resistor 62 and the input of the optical isolator 34 is connected in parallel to the gates of devices 58 and 60 . this biasing by the voltage drop across resistor 62 causes devices 58 and 60 to be normally on with low current flows and then to be progressively turned off ( to higher resistance values ) as current flow increases . a shunting resistor 65 may be placed across the drain and source of device 58 to reduce heat dissipation from device 58 . the forward current limiter 56 allows the input circuit 30 to operate over a wide variety of different voltages at the terminals 18 without overloading the current capabilities of the input of the optical isolator 34 . a second mechanism limiting the application of electrical power to the light emitting diode 64 of the optical isolator 34 is a shunting bipolar npn transistor 66 which provides a shunt current limiter 67 creating a bypass path 68 around the optical isolator 34 . in one example , the emitter of transistor 66 communicates with the ground reference of terminal 18 b and the collector of transistor 66 is connected through diode 70 to the output of the forward current limiter 56 . diode 70 is oriented to allow current flow through the transistor 66 from collector to emitter . the base of transistor 66 is connected to a voltage divider comprised of a resistor 72 passing from the output of forward current limiter 56 ( and one input of the optical isolator 34 ) to the base of transistor 66 , and of resistor 74 passing from the base of transistor 66 to the ground reference of terminal 18 b . the light emitting diode 64 of the optical isolator 34 is connected across the ends of resistor 72 in a direction to conduct electricity passing forward along the current path 39 . a capacitor 76 of less than 1000 picofarads is connected across the ends of resistor 74 in order to speed up the response of the optical isolator . it will be appreciated that the circuit of the shunt current limiter 67 limits the current through the light emitting diode 64 to less than that which would occur at a voltage equal to the sum of saturation voltage of transistor 66 and the forward diode drop of diode 70 . by clamping this voltage , the response time of light emitting diode 64 in turning off is greatly reduced for example , by limiting the charging of parasitic capacitances and the like . light emitting diode 64 transmits light to a photodetector 80 within the optical isolator 34 which communicates with schmitt trigger circuit 82 . the schmitt trigger circuit 82 provides hysteresis in the switching of the output 36 of the optical isolator 34 . an optical isolator 34 providing these features is commercially available from toshiba of japan under the trade designation tlp2361 and provides a high output , gallium aluminum arsenide light emitting diode coupled with a high gain high - speed photodetector . in one embodiment , a stability capacitor 84 may be placed across the outputs 36 of the optical isolator 34 . certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only , and thus is not intended to be limiting . for example , terms such as “ upper ”, “ lower ”, “ above ”, and “ below ” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made . terms such as “ front ”, “ back ”, “ rear ”, “ bottom ” and “ side ”, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion . such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above , derivatives thereof , and words of similar import . similarly , the terms “ first ”, “ second ” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context . when introducing elements or features of the present disclosure and the exemplary embodiments , the articles “ a ”, “ an ”, “ the ” and “ said ” are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features . the terms “ comprising ”, “ including ” and “ having ” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted . it is further to be understood that the method steps , processes , and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated , unless specifically identified as an order of performance . it is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed . it is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein and the claims should be understood to include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims . all of the publications described herein , including patents and non - patent publications , are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties . | 6 |
[ 0039 ] fig1 is a block diagram illustrating relevant components of a networked system 110 employing one embodiment of the present invention . fig1 shows a pair of computer systems ( nodes ) 112 and 114 executing the tcp / ip protocol suite . in fig1 , nodes 112 and 114 are coupled to each other via a router or switch 116 and ethernet communication links 120 and 122 . in one embodiment , the present invention may take form in software executing on one or more processors within router or switch 116 . in another embodiment , the present invention may take form in an application specific integrated circuit ( asic ) in router or switch 1116 . the present invention should not be limited to use within router or switch 116 . the present invention could find use within , for example , node 114 . for purposes of explanation , the present invention will be explained as being used within router 116 , it being understood that the present invention should not be limited thereto . nodes 112 and 114 are shown having four communication layers 130 - 136 and 140 - 146 , respectively . layers 130 - 136 and 140 - 146 take form in software instructions executing on one or more processors in nodes 112 and 114 , respectively . layers 132 - 136 and 142 - 146 are implemented in operating systems of nodes 12 and 14 , respectively . layers 130 and 140 and nodes 112 and 114 , respectively , take form in any one of many user applications including ftp , smtp , telnet , etc . for purposes of explanation , layers 132 and 142 will take form in either tcp or udp transport layers , layers 134 and 144 will take form in ip network layers , while layers 136 and 146 take form in ethernet link layers for interfacing with ethernet communication links 120 and 122 , respectively . in fig1 , node 112 is presented as a client to server node 114 . server application 40 provides some type of service ( e . g ., smtp ) to client application 130 in response to a request from client application 130 . client application 130 communicates with server application 140 by sending data down through layers 132 - 136 until the data , along with appended headers and / or trailers , is sent as a stream of bits to node 114 via router 116 and communication links 120 and 122 . the data received by node 114 is sent up through layers 146 - 142 until the data , less headers and / or trailers reaches server application 140 . the type of headers and / or trailers generally added to data generated by layers 130 - 136 are described in the background section above with reference to fig4 - 7 . router 116 shown in fig1 includes a filter 142 that checks frames it receives . if a frame received by router 116 passes the checks performed by filter 142 , the frame is passed to , for example , node 114 . if a frame received by router 116 does not pass one or more of the checks performed by filter 142 , the frame is dropped so that the frame does not reach its destination ( e . g ., node 114 ). filter 142 can perform many checks on frames received by router 116 . in one embodiment , filter 142 performs any one or more of the checks of the algorithm listed below : if ( protocol = tcp ) if ( fragment offset = 0 ) check length 1 ≧ ( p0 × 8 ) check ( 1 ) check length 2 ≧ ( p0 × 8 ) check ( 2 ) check tcp header length ≧ 5 check ( 3 ) else check fragment offset ≧ p0 check ( 4 ) if ( protocol = udp ) if ( fragment offset = 0 ) check length 1 ≧ ( p1 × 8 ) check ( 5 ) check length 2 ≧ ( p1 × 8 ) check ( 6 ) else check fragment offset ≧ p1 check ( 7 ) else if ( fragment offset = 0 ) check length 1 ≧ ( p2 × 8 ) check ( 8 ) check length 2 ≧ ( p2 × 8 ) check ( 9 ) else check fragment offset ≧ p2 , check ( 10 ) where length 1 and length2 are calculated according to the following equations : length 1 ( in bytes )=( total length value in ip header of the received frame )−(( ip header length value in ip header of the received frame )× 4 ). length 2 ( in bytes )=( total number of counted bytes in the received frame )−( total number of data bytes in ethernet header and trailer of the received frame )−(( ip header length value in ip header of the received frame )× 4 ) p0 , p1 , and p2 in the above algorithm are programmable values stored within memory . p0 , p1 , and p2 may be equal to each other , or different from each other . it is noted that p0 , p1 , and p2 are multiplied by 8 in the above algorithms . in an alternative embodiment , p0 , p1 , and p2 may be multiplied by values other than 8 . length2 is calculated as a function of the total number of counted bytes in the received frame to be checked . the total number of counted bytes of the received frame can be generated in one of many different ways . in one embodiment , a counting variable n in memory is initially to 0 . thereafter , n is incremented by one for each byte in the received frame until all bytes in the received frame are counted . the bytes of the frame can be counted as the bytes enter the router 116 , or the bytes can be counted after the received frame has been temporarily stored in memory of router 116 . length2 ( in bytes )=( total number of counted bytes in the datagram of the received frame )−(( ip header length value in ip header in the received frame )× 4 ) it is noted that in this alternative embodiment of calculating length2 , only the bytes of the datagram of the received frame need be counted . the total number of counted bytes of the datagram can be generated in one of many different ways . in one embodiment , a counting variable m in memory is initially to 0 . thereafter , m is incremented by one for each byte of the datagram in the received frame until all bytes of the datagram are counted . the bytes of the datagram can be counted as the bytes of the datagram enter the router 116 , or the bytes of the datagram can be counted after the datagram have been temporarily stored in memory of router 116 . in operation , filter 142 will drop any received frame if any one or more of the various checks ( 1 )-( 10 ) are not passed . it is noted that filter 142 need not perform all checks ( 1 )-( 10 ) listed above for each frame received by router 116 . for example , filter 142 at one point in time , may perform only check ( 2 ) or only check ( 3 ), or filter 142 may perform only checks ( 2 ), ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) on frames received by router 116 . at another point in time , filter 142 may perform all checks ( 1 )-( 10 ) on frames received by router 116 . for purposes of explanation , it will be presumed that filter 142 performs all checks ( 1 )-( 10 ) on all frames received by router 116 . thus , if router 116 receives a frame , regardless of whether its datagram contains a udp or tcp segment as identified in the protocol field of the ip header , if the fragment offset of the ip header is set to 0 , and if lengths 1 or 2 are calculated to be less than p2 × 8 , filter 142 will drop the frame such that it never reaches its destination ( e . g ., node 14 ) in accordance with checks ( 8 ) and ( 9 ), respectively . if router 116 receives a frame , regardless of whether its datagram contains a udp or tcp segment as identified in the protocol field of the ip header , filter 142 will drop the frame if the fragment offset defined in the ip header is not equal to 0 but is less than p2 in accordance with check ( 10 ). if router 116 receives a frame having a udp segment in its datagram ( as identified in the protocol field of the ip header of the received frame ) and if the fragment offset set forth in the ip header of the received frame is set to 0 , then filter 142 will drop the received frame if length 1 or length2 is less than p1 × 8 in accordance with checks ( 5 ) and ( 6 ), respectively . if router 116 receives a frame having a udp segment , filter 142 will drop the frame if the fragment offset set forth in the ip header is not set to 0 but is set to a value less than p1 in accordance with check ( 7 ). if router 116 receives a frame having a tcp segment in its datagram ( as identified in the protocol field of the ip header of the received frame ), filter 142 will drop the frame if the fragment offset value set forth in the ip header is set to 0 , and if length1 or length2 is less than p0 × 8 in accordance with checks ( 1 ) and ( 2 ), respectively . if router 116 receives a frame having a tcp segment in its datagram ( as identified in the protocol field of the ip header of the received frame ), filter 142 will drop the frame if the value of the tcp header length field is than 5 in accordance with check ( 3 ). if router 116 receives a frame having a tcp segment , filter 142 will drop the frame if the fragment offset set forth in the ip header is not set to 0 but is set to a value less than p0 in accordance with check ( 4 ). as described in the background section above frame 108 in fig1 is capable of passing the rfc 3128 algorithm . if router 116 receives frame 108 , filter 142 executing the algorithm set forth above , will drop frame 108 if , for example , p0 is set to 2 such that po × 8 is 16 bytes . when router 116 receives frame 108 , lengths 1 and 2 are calculated . for purposes of explanation the total number of bytes of frame 108 including the bytes in the ethernet header and trailer , is counted . in the illustrated example , because each line of frame 108 is 32 - bits long , a total number of 46 bytes will be counted . the total number of bytes in the ethernet header and trailer is 18 . the ip header length value in the ip header of frame 108 is 5 . accordingly , length2 ( in bytes )= 46 − 18 −( 5 × 4 )= 8 . because 8 bytes is less than po × 8 = 16 bytes , frame 108 shown in fig1 will be dropped by filter 142 in accordance with check ( 2 ). as noted above , the checks ( 1 )-( 10 ) above can be performed by one or more processors within router 116 executing software instructions . alternatively , the checks ( 1 )-( 10 ) above can be performed by one or more asics within router 116 . fig1 illustrates one non - software implemented filter embodiment for checking frames in accordance with checks ( 1 )-( 10 ). more particularly , fig1 shows in block diagram form , a media access control ( mac ) circuit 144 coupled to a parser circuit 146 and asic 148 . in operation , mac circuit 144 receives an ethernet frame directly or indirectly from node 112 via ethernet communication link 120 . media access controller may store the received frame within a memory ( not shown ). mac circuit 144 counts the total number of bytes within the received frame including the number of bytes of the ethernet frame header and trailer . this value is provided as the total number of counted bytes to asic 148 . additionally , mac circuit 144 provides the frame data to asic 148 and parser 146 . it is noted that mac circuit 144 processes the received frame into a format that can be understood by asic 148 and parser 146 . asic 148 in response to receiving the frame data and the total number of counter bytes from mac circuit 144 , performs one or more of the checks ( 1 )-( 10 ) above . if the frame received by asic 148 does not meet one or more of the checks set forth above , then the frame is dropped . although the present invention has been described in connection with several embodiments , the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described herein . on the contrary , it is intended to cover such alternatives , modifications , and equivalents as can be reasonably included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims . | 7 |
the details of this invention are described as following through combination of the embodiments and figures . the normal mice were purchased from shanghai research center for model organisms . all the reagents and raw materials can be obtained through purchase from companies or preparation with the methods reported . in the following experiments , the processes without specific instructions were carried out routinely or according to the manufactory &# 39 ; s instruction . a plasmid containing fabp4 - metrnl was constructed with the promoter region of fabp4 and open reading frame of metrnl . after the verification with sequencing and linearization with restriction enzyme cutting , this plasmid was injected into fertilized eggs which were transplanted into the uterus of pseudopregnant mice . after genomic identification of the offspring , the mice carrying the fabp4 - metrnl in genome were chosen to mate with c57bl / 6 mice . the next - generation mice carrying the fabp4 - metrnl in genome were selected into experimental group , and the mice without fabp4 - metrnl in genome were selected into control group . plasmid containing fabp4 - metrnl can also be produced using purchased commodities , for example , open reading frame of metrnl can be purchased from thermo ( lot . mmm1013 - 202763251 ), and the promoter region of fabp4 can be obtained from addgene ( no . 11424 ). the metrnl adipose - specific overexpression mice can also produced through entrusting shanghai research center for model organisms . metrnl overexpression can prevent the increase of blood glucose induced by intraperitoneal injection of glucose mice aged 22 weeks have been fed for 16 weeks with high fat diet ( research diets , lot . d12492 ). both control wild type and metrnl adipose - specific overexpression mice were administrated with the same dose of glucose via intraperitoneal injection . follows are the details . mice aged 22 weeks fasted for 8 hours , and were intraperitoneally injected with glucose at a dose of 1 g / kg . then , blood glucose was detected at different time points ( table 1 ) with a one touch ultra glucometer ( johnson & amp ; johnson ) via tail vein bleeding . the results showed that the blood glucose was dramatically lower in metrnl adipose - specific overexpression mice than that in control wild type mice ( table 1 and fig1 ). 12 - week - old mice fasted for 3 hours , and were administrated with fat emulsion ( lipofundin , b . braun melsungen ) at a dose of 10 μl / g . blood samples were obtained from the tail vein at different time points . and 10 μl serum was used to detect the concentration of triglyceride with triglyceride colorimetric assay kit ( e1003 , applygen technologies inc .) the results showed that the blood triglyceride was significantly lower in metrnl adipose - specific overexpression mice than that in control wild type mice ( table 2 and fig2 ). the present invention is not intended to limit to embodiments thereof . further , 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 . | 0 |
in the following detailed description of the present embodiments , reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof , and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced . these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice disclosed subject matter , and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process , electrical or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter . the following detailed description is , therefore , not to be taken in a limiting sense , and the scope of the claimed subject matter is defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof . fig1 is a schematic of a micro - display 100 , e . g ., as a portion of a digital projector , according to an embodiment . for one embodiment , micro - display 100 functions as a light modulator of the digital projector . for another embodiment , micro - display 100 includes a device 102 and a driver 104 . for some embodiments , device 102 includes one or more micro - electromechanical system ( mems ) devices 111 , such as micro - mirrors , liquid crystal on silicon ( lcos ) devices , interference - based modulators , etc . for other embodiments , device 102 and driver 104 are formed separately and are subsequently bonded together . for one embodiment , device 102 includes a substrate 106 , such as a transparent cover , e . g ., of glass . for another embodiment , a transparent layer 108 , e . g ., of teos ( tetraethylorthosilicate ) oxide , silicon oxide , etc ., is formed on substrate 106 . a partially reflecting layer 110 , e . g ., a tantalum - aluminum ( taal ) layer , is formed on transparent layer 108 . for other embodiments , partially reflecting layer 110 may be formed directly on substrate 106 . for other embodiments , partially reflecting layer 110 forms a first capacitor plate of device 102 . device 102 also includes pixel plates 112 , e . g ., as a portion of the mems devices 111 , that are suspended by flexures 120 within a gap 114 located between partially reflecting layer 110 and a protective layer 116 , e . g ., of teos ( tetraethylorthosilicate ) oxide , silicon oxide , etc . specifically , a first gap portion 114 , of gap 114 separates a pixel plate 112 from partially reflecting layer 110 , and a second gap portion 114 2 of gap 114 separates a pixel plate 112 from protective layer 116 . for one embodiment , pixel plates 112 form second capacitor plates of device 102 . flexures 120 electrically connect their respective pixel plates to one or more signal posts 122 that terminate at signal contacts 124 formed on protective layer 116 . for one embodiment , pixel plates 112 are of a aluminum - copper ( alcu ) alloy that acts like a mirror . for another embodiment , pixel plates 112 include a layer of taal formed on a layer of alcu , where the alcu layer faces partially reflecting layer 110 . for one embodiment , a bond ring 126 is electrically connected to partially reflecting layer 110 and terminates at ground contacts 128 formed on protective layer 116 . for some embodiments , bond ring 126 also provides support between substrate 106 and protective layer 116 . for another embodiment , ground posts 127 are also electrically connected to partially reflecting layer 110 and terminate at ground contacts 129 formed on protective layer 116 . ground posts 127 may also provide support between substrate 106 and protective layer 116 , for some embodiments . for one embodiment , driver 104 is complementary metal oxide semiconductor ( cmos ) substrate . driver 104 can be formed using semiconductor - processing methods known to those skilled in the art . driver 104 includes driver circuits 130 adapted to respectively control the positions of pixel plates 112 and thus the corresponding gaps 114 . each of driver circuits 130 is connected between a signal supply line 132 and a ground line 136 . signal supply line 132 terminates at a signal contact 134 formed in a protective layer 135 , e . g ., of teos ( tetraethylorthosilicate ) oxide , silicon oxide , etc . ground line 136 is connected between a main ground line 137 and a ground contact 138 formed in protective layer 135 . driver 104 is electrically connected to device 102 , for one embodiment , by bonding ground contacts 129 to ground contacts 138 to connect ground posts 127 , and thus partially reflecting layer 110 , to ground , and by bonding signal contacts 124 to signal contacts 134 to connect driver circuits 130 to signal posts 122 and thus to pixel plates 112 . for another embodiment , main ground line 137 may also be separately connected to ground contacts 128 by bonding ground contacts 128 to ground contacts 140 formed in protective layer 135 and connected to main ground line 137 . this connects seal ring 126 , and thus further connects partially reflecting layer 110 , to ground . for another embodiment , the contacts may be soldered together . for other embodiments , protective layers 116 and 135 are bonded together using plasma - enhanced bonding so that the contacts abut each other . for another embodiment , ground posts 127 and / or bond ring 126 , signal posts 122 , pixel plates 112 , and flexures 120 are formed as a part of driver 104 using semiconductor - processing methods . for this embodiment , partially reflecting layer 110 is formed on substrate 106 , e . g ., by chemical vapor deposition . partially reflecting layer 110 is then bonded , e . g ., by gluing , plasma - enhanced bonding , or the like , to ground posts 127 and / or bond ring 126 . this acts to reduce the number of processing steps compared to where transparent layer 108 is disposed on the substrate 106 prior to partially reflecting layer 110 , as discussed above and shown in fig1 . in operation , driver circuits 130 respectively send signals via signal lines 132 , signal posts 122 , and flexures 120 to pixel plates 112 . this creates potentials between partially reflecting layer 110 and the respective pixel plates 112 that deflect the respective pixel plates 112 and thus change the corresponding gap portions 114 1 . light , e . g ., from a light source of a projector , passes through substrate 106 and through transparent layer 108 . partially reflecting plate 110 passes a portion of the light onto pixel plates 112 and reflects a portion of the light back through transparent layer 108 and substrate 106 . the pixel plates 112 reflect the light back to partially reflecting plate 110 , which passes some of the light through transparent layer 108 and substrate 106 and reflects a portion of the light back to pixel plates 112 and the process repeats . that is , multiple reflections occur between the pixel plates 112 and partially reflecting layer 110 , with some of the reflected light passing through partially reflecting layer 110 and through substrate 106 . this produces optical interference that can be tuned using the gap portions 114 1 . fig2 a - 2l are cross - sections of a portion of a device 200 at various stages of fabrication , according to another embodiment . the device 200 includes a first substrate 206 , such as an insulator , transparent cover , e . g ., of glass , etc ., as shown in fig2 a . for one embodiment , a transparent layer 208 is formed on first substrate 206 and a partially reflecting layer 210 is formed on transparent layer 208 and is patterned and etched to expose portions of transparent layer 208 . for another embodiment , partially reflecting layer 210 is formed directly on first substrate 206 . in fig2 b , a first sacrificial layer 211 ( distinguished by cross - hatching ) is formed on partially reflecting layer 210 and for one embodiment is patterned and etched to expose the exposed portions of transparent layer 208 and portions of partially reflecting layer 210 . for one embodiment , the first sacrificial layer 211 may be smoothed and / or flattened prior to patterning and etching using chemical mechanical polishing ( cmp ). the first sacrificial layer 211 will form a portion of a gap , such as a gap portion 114 1 of fig1 , between a pixel plate , such as a pixel plate 112 of fig1 , and partially reflecting layer 210 . a first metal layer 213 , e . g ., a layer of taal or a layer of taal formed on a layer of alcu is formed on the first sacrificial layer 211 and on the exposed portions of transparent layer 208 and partially reflecting layer 210 in fig2 c . the first metal layer 213 is patterned and etched to define a pixel plate 212 , first portions of ground posts 227 , and signal posts 222 and to expose portions of the first sacrificial layer 211 in fig2 d . note that the pixel plate 212 contacts the sacrificial layer 211 , the ground posts 227 contact the exposed portions of partially reflecting layer 210 , and the signal posts 222 contact transparent layer 208 , or for embodiments without transparent layer 208 , first substrate 206 . a second sacrificial layer 231 ( distinguished by cross - hatching ) is formed on the first metal layer 213 , i . e ., on pixel plate 212 , ground posts 227 , and signal posts 222 , and on the exposed portions of the first sacrificial layer 211 in fig2 e . the second sacrificial layer 231 is patterned and etched to expose portions of pixel plate 212 and to expose ground posts 227 and signal posts 222 . for one embodiment , the second sacrificial layer 231 may be smoothed and / or flattened prior to patterning and etching using cmp . a second metal layer 233 , e . g ., of taal , is formed on the second sacrificial layer 231 , on the exposed portions of pixel plate 212 , and on the exposed ground posts 227 and signal posts 222 in fig2 f . the second metal layer 233 is patterned and etched to form flexures 220 and second portions of ground posts 227 and to expose portions of the second sacrificial layer 231 in fig2 g . note that flexures 220 electrically and physically connect signal posts 222 to the exposed portions of pixel plate 212 . note further that flexures 220 directly overlie pixel plate 212 , meaning that when the device 200 is inverted and connected to a second substrate , such as driver 104 , as shown in fig1 , flexures 220 will be located under the pixel plate 212 . that is , flexures 220 are aligned behind pixel plate 212 so that pixel plate 212 obstructs flexures 220 from being viewed through cover 206 . this helps to conserve device real estate . a third sacrificial layer 261 ( distinguished by cross - hatching ) is formed on flexures 220 , ground posts 227 , and the exposed portions of the second sacrificial layer 231 and is patterned and etched to expose portions of flexures 220 and ground posts 227 in fig2 h . for one embodiment , the third sacrificial layer 261 may be smoothed and / or flattened prior to patterning and etching using cmp . a third metal layer 264 , e . g ., alcu , taal , or the like , is formed on the third sacrificial layer 261 and on the exposed portions of flexures 220 and on ground posts 227 in fig2 i . the third metal layer 264 is patterned and etched to form ground contacts 229 in physical and electrical contact with ground posts 227 and signal contacts 224 in physical and electrical contact with flexures 220 and to expose portions of the third sacrificial layer 261 in fig2 j . alternatively , for another embodiment , cmp forms the ground contacts 229 . a protective layer 216 , e . g ., of teos ( tetraethylorthosilicate ) oxide , silicon oxide , etc ., is formed on the exposed portions of the third sacrificial layer 261 and on ground contacts 229 and signal contacts 224 and is patterned and etched to expose portions of the third sacrificial layer 261 and ground contacts 229 and signal contacts 224 in fig2 k . for one embodiment , cmp follows patterning and etching to smooth and flatten protective layer 216 and ground contacts 229 and signal contacts 224 so that ground contacts 229 and signal contacts 224 are substantially flush with protective layer 216 . for another embodiment , cmp may be used to expose the portions of the third sacrificial layer 261 and ground contacts 229 and signal contacts 224 . the first sacrificial layer 211 , the second sacrificial layer 231 , and the third sacrificial layer 261 are removed in fig2 l to form the portion of the device 200 that includes a gap 214 , as indicated by removal of the cross - hatching . gap 214 contains pixel plate 212 and flexures 220 . note that removal of the first sacrificial layer 211 forms a first gap portion 214 , between pixel plate 212 and partially reflecting layer 210 . removal of the second sacrificial layer 231 and the third sacrificial layer 261 forms a second gap portion 214 2 between pixel plate 212 and protective layer 216 . note that flexures 220 are contained within the second gap portion 214 2 . flexures 220 support pixel plate 212 within gap 214 and provide a restoring force against which pixel plate 212 returns from an electrostatic actuation driving force applied to pixel plate 212 for some embodiments . the device is inverted and bonded to the second substrate , such as driver 104 of fig1 . this electrically connects signal contacts 224 to a signal line of the second substrate , such as a signal line 132 of a driver circuit 130 of driver 104 . ground contacts 229 are connected to a ground line of the second substrate , such as ground line 136 of driver 104 . note that partially reflecting layer 210 is at a ground state and acts as a first capacitor plate . when electrical signals are applied to pixel plate 212 , via signal contacts 224 and flexures 220 , pixel plate 212 acts as a second capacitor plate and moves within gap 214 against the restoring force provided by flexures 220 . this regulates the size of gap portion 214 1 . it will be appreciated that the bond ring 126 of device 102 of fig1 may be formed , for one embodiment , as described above for ground posts 227 . although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein it is manifestly intended that the scope of the claimed subject matter be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof . | 6 |
identical elements are identified by the same reference numerals throughout the application . fig1 and 7 shows the high current ground fault circuit interrupter a comprising a housing compartment b in which the ground fault interrupter circuitry is located , and a sensor compartment c in which a differential transformer and a neutral transformer are located ( see fig7 ). mounting ears d and e , as well as test push - button f , are also shown . the separate compartmentalization of the ground fault interrupter circuitry and the transformers allows a plurality of high current cables g to be passed through the sensor housing c of the ground fault circuit interrupter whereas , in the prior art , such high current carrying cables , i . e ., around 20 to 50 amps , could not be used with ground fault circuit interrupters having the size of the present one , which has contacts rated at only 20 amps . the differential transformer dt and the neutral transformer nt , as seen as in fig7 are placed in a compartment c made up of two half shells s1 and s2 which when joined at their open long sides form a hollow toroid about the cores of the transformers dt and nt , which are held parallel to each other by a separator or spacer i . the half shells s1 and s2 may be held in assembly by any conventional fastener , adhesive , welding , swaging , upsetting , etc . compartment c can be fastened to the back of compartment b by any conventional means including welding , adhesives , fasteners , etc . the secondary windings on the transformers dt and nt ( not shown ) are connected to the ground fault circuit interrupter circuitry in housing compartment b . the individual conductors g can be fed through aperture w in compartment c , where they act as the primary winding ( one turn ) for the transformers dt and nt . the arrangement of fig1 and 7 places the conductors g in compartment c close to the compartment b where the ground fault circuit interrupter circuitry is located , but this proximity is not required . in fig8 the ground fault circuit interrupter circuitry is in a compartment b &# 39 ; located at control panel p at one location , while the compartment c &# 39 ; is located remote from panel p at a location closer to the load and contactor contacts as will be further discussed below . one of the salient features of the ground fault circuit interrupter system shown in fig2 is the inductance loop 10 mounted in sensor compartment c . this inductance loop 10 comprises two transformers the differential transformer dt and the neutral transformer nt mounted adjacent to each other , as shown in fig7 and having a voltage carrying capability of 277 volts 3 phase wye . as shown in fig2 two phase lines l1 , l2 , and a neutral line n pass through inductance loop 10 . each of these lines provides a primary winding for each of the two transformers of inductance loop 10 . the secondary windings of each of these transformers are connected to respective points in gfci 12 , as shown in detail in fig5 . also shown in fig2 are terminals marked hot and neutral which can be suitably connected to a 120 volt , 60 hz source needed to power the ground fault circuit interrupter . when either a line to ground or neutral to ground fault is sensed by gfci 12 , contacts 14 and 16 open whereupon contactor coil 18 is deenergized . this permits the spring loaded to the normally open position contactor contacts 20 and 22 of the contactor to respectively open lines l1 and l2 , thus disconnecting load 24 from the circuit . a slight modification in the schematic of fig2 is required if the gfci load , i . e ., the contactor coil 18 , is to be protected . in this instance , the lines labeled &# 34 ; hot &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; neutral &# 34 ; should be fed through the inductance loop 10 comprising the two transformers first ( see fig3 ). fig3 shows the ground fault circuit interrupter of the present invention as it can be used with loads of two different voltages . in the event of a line to ground or neutral to ground fault , inductance loop 10 sends respective signals to different points in gfci 12 . gfci contacts 14 and 16 in gfci 12 thereupon open , thus deenergizing contactor coils 26 and 28 . contactor coil 26 permits spring loaded to the open position contactor contacts 30 and 32 connected to the 240 volt ac load 40 to open , whereas contactor coil 28 permits spring loaded to the open position contactor contacts 34 and 36 connected to the 120 volt ac load 38 to open . as in the circuit of fig2 if contactor coils 26 and 28 are to be protected , the &# 34 ; hot &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; neutral &# 34 ; lines should be fed through the inductive loop 10 comprising the two transformers first . fig3 a shows an alternative arrangement where the sets of contactor contacts are separately operable by their respective contactor coils . thus , it is possible to open one set of contactor contacts while retaining the other set of contactor contacts in their closed condition so that only the faulted circuit is caused to open without affecting other circuits . a first inductance loop 10 &# 39 ; receives conductors l1 and n therethrough and is coupled to a gfci 12 . a second inductance loop 10 &# 34 ; or merely different windings upon a common inductance loop 10 &# 39 ; is connected to a second gfci 12 &# 39 ; or to a different portion of the same gfci 12 . gfci 12 is coupled to contactor coil 26 and in the presence of a fault signal from inductance loop 10 &# 39 ; permits the gfci contacts 14 , 16 , which are biased to the open position , to open and deenergize contactor coil 26 . this permits the contactor contacts 34 , 36 , biased to the open position , to open the circuit to the 120 volt ac load 38 . this has no effect on the contactor contacts 30 , 32 which remain closed and conduct current to load 40 . alternatively , a fault could exist between conductors l1 and l2 which is detected by inductance loop 10 &# 34 ; connected to gfci 12 &# 39 ;. the signal to gfci 12 &# 39 ; permits gfci contacts 14 &# 39 ; and 16 &# 39 ; to open and deenergize contactor coil 28 . the deenergization of contactor coil 28 permits contacts 30 , 32 to open and cut off the current to 240 v ac load 40 . a fault that affects conductors l1 , l2 and n will cause all the contactor contacts 30 , 32 , 34 and 36 to open thus removing all current to both the 120 vac and 240 vac loads . fig4 shows a ground fault interrupter system of the present invention as applied to a 3 phase system . this arrangement functions similarly to that of fig2 in that , in the event of a line to ground or neutral to ground fault , inductive loop 10 sends respective signals to different points in gfci 12 . gfci 12 contacts 14 and 16 thereupon open and deenergizes contactor coil 110 . contactor coil 110 permits the spring loaded to the open position contactor contacts 112 , 114 , and 116 to open the connections of lines l1 , l2 , and l3 to the load 118 . fig5 is a prior art schematic which shows basic circuitry which can be used to implement the ground fault circuit interrupter portions of fig2 - 4 . it should be emphasized , however , that the circuitry of fig5 lacks the features of the present invention of orienting the transformer coils in an inductance loop separately compartmentalized from the ground fault interrupter circuitry capable of carrying up to 277 volts , utilizing a first set of contacts in the ground fault circuit interrupter to deenergize the coils of one or more contactors having the capability of interrupting currents of up to 50 amps , and then using the contacts of respective contactors to interrupt respective load currents . the circuit of fig5 which is limited to a single phase application with 120 volts line to ground and which , though it can be found in the prior art , is explanatory of the electronic features of the present invention except as modified by fig2 - 4 , operates in the following manner : differential transformer 50 monitors the flow of current in the line and neutral conductors , 52 and 54 , respectively , and produces in its secondary a fault signal when the total current in the line conductor or conductors 52 does not equal the current in the neutral conductor 54 . the output from the secondary of differential transformer 50 is conveyed to integrated circuit 56 through diode 58 , capacitors 60 , 62 and 64 , and resistor 66 . integrated circuit 56 may be a type ml 1851 ground fault interrupter manufactured by national semiconductor corporation . a salient feature of the above circuit is the combination of diode 58 and resistor 66 which are arranged so as to promote quick discharge of capacitor 60 . this discharge of capacitor 60 allows for integrated circuit 56 to be kept continuously energized and thus considerably reduces the time required for detection of a fault . this continuous energization of integrated circuit 56 from the line side was not possible in the earlier arrangements wherein power to the integrated circuit had to be brought from the load side or an auxiliary switch had to be employed so that the integrated circuit could only function intermittently . the reason for this is that capacitor 68 , which is attached to output pin 7 of integrated circuit 56 , and which basically controls the trip circuit , would otherwise cause scr 72 to fire frequently , thus frequently energizing trip coil 70 and causing the possibility of trip coil burnout . on a neutral to ground fault the system functions somewhat similarly in that transformer 74 , which together with differential transformer 50 forms part of the induction coil 10 , which as previously indicated is mounted remotely from the ground fault interrupter circuitry in such a fashion that high current cables can be carried therethrough , has a signal induced on its secondary windings which is carried through capacitors 76 and 78 to input pin 4 of integrated circuit 56 . the trip circuit for both types of faults is identical in that if a fault is detected by the input pins 2 , 3 , and 4 of ic 56 , a signal is output from pin 7 of integrated circuit 56 causing capacitor 68 to charge faster . at the same time , the path to the gate of scr 72 including resistors 80 and 84 , diode 82 , and capacitors 86 and 88 , is energized . scr 72 then conducts and an energization path to trip coil 70 is created through diode bridge 92 , 94 , 96 , and 98 . capacitor 90 and mov 106 are present for surge protection . upon energization of trip coil 70 , contacts 100 and 102 of the ground fault circuit interrupter ( equivalent to the spring loaded to the open position gfci contacts 14 , 16 of fig2 to 4 ) are opened which in turn causes a load , in this case , contactor coil 104 ( equivalent to contactor coil 18 of fig2 ) to react and to use its contact or contacts ( not shown ) to open one or more high current lines such as are shown in fig2 - 4 . a push - button 106 and resistor 108 are part of a test circuit which bypasses the transformers 50 and 74 . also , since the ground fault circuit interrupter is only sensitive to differences in current flow between the &# 34 ; hot &# 34 ; conductors and the neutral conductor or the neutral conductor and ground , unbalanced loading between &# 34 ; hot &# 34 ; conductors will not cause &# 34 ; nuisance &# 34 ; tripping . among the many advantages achieved by the present invention are the ability to handle currents of at least 50 amps provided by the construction wherein the differential transformer and neutral transformer are mounted adjacent to each other and separately compartmentalized from the ground fault interrupter to allow the passage of heavy duty cables capable of carrying such high currents therethrough , the provision for the capability to interrupt high current loads achieved by using the intermediary of a contactor coil or coils as the load for the ground fault circuit interrupter , the capability of the transformers of the induction loop 10 to handle 240 volts ac whether line to ground or line to line , and the capability to open the lines at remote distances achieved by the intermediary of the contactor between the ground fault circuit interrupter and the trip points on the lines . this is in contrast with prior art devices wherein the ground fault circuit interrupter circuitry was installed in the lines to be monitored and thus limited the current levels that could be monitored . here the transformers in inductance loop 10 , in compartment c , can see voltages up to 277 volts but they in turn pass only a small current induced in the secondary windings of the transformers dt and nt to the gfci 112 . an additional feature of the invention is that the circuit interrupting means may be installed at a location remote from the sensing control circuitry . for example , as shown in fig8 the gfci 12 in its housing compartment b &# 39 ; can be mounted on a control panel p at a first location and thus made accessible to a user , while the contactor 18 , the transformers dt and nt in compartment c &# 39 ; and the conductors g is mounted closer to the load at a location remote from the user . this arrangement protects the transformers , particularly the differential transformer , from exposure to electrical noise in the vicinity of the remote location . if desired a switch 23 can be employed to open the neutral line n . this can be done in both a two and three phase system . the embodiments of the invention disclosed and described in the present specification and drawings and claims are presented merely as examples of the invention . other embodiments , forms and modifications thereof win suggest themselves from a reading thereof and are contemplated as coming within the scope of the present invention . | 7 |
in the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention , reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof , and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary 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 . other embodiments may be utilized , and logical , mechanical , and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention . the following detailed description is , therefore , not to be taken in a limiting sense , and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims . fig1 a shows a perspective view of an image - forming device , according to an embodiment of the invention . the device includes a shaft 112 on which a mechanism , or scanning carriage , 114 is slidably situated . the mechanism 114 has a left side 124 , a right side 126 , a front 122 , and a bottom 120 . the mechanism supports one or more printing heads ( not shown ); in the present embodiment these are conventional inkjet printheads . the mechanism 114 is able to move back and forth along a scanning axis 106 , as indicated by the bi - directional arrow 108 . as the mechanism moves back and forth , the printheads may be controlled to eject ink on print media located beneath the mechanism 114 . the media 102 is advanced by a roller 118 , which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 116 . this causes the media 102 to move along a media axis 104 that is perpendicular to the scanning axis 106 , as indicated by the arrow 110 . as can be seen from the figure , the media 102 is supported by a print platen 128 in the region where the media receives ink from the printheads . the print platen 128 has an opening 130 passing through its thickness . also illustrated in the figure is a media - positioning sensor 132 according to the present embodiment . the media - positioning sensor 132 is located such that it is able to sense or image the underside of the media 102 , which is resting on top of the platen 128 , through the opening 130 in the platen . in practise , the media - positioning sensor 132 may be located in any convenient location ; for example : in a recess in the upper surface of the platen ; or , above the platen and the print media . in any event , however , it is preferable that the media - positioning sensor 132 does not obstruct the advance of the media . the sensor 132 may be an optical sensor , such as a charge - coupled device ( ccd ) sensor , a complementary metal - oxide semiconductor ( cmos ) sensor , or another type of optical sensor . when the media 102 is advanced by the roller 118 along the media axis 104 , the sensor 132 is able to detect the changes in the position of the media 102 relative to its fixed position , as is described in more detail below . fig1 b shows an enlarged schematic view of the media - positioning sensor 132 shown in fig1 a . as can be seen from the figure , the sensor 132 comprises two individual sensing elements 304 a and 304 b . the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b are aligned with each other in the direction of the media advance direction 110 . the centres of the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b are separated from each other in the media advance direction 110 by a separation distance “ d ”. the two sensing elements 304 a and 304 b may be identical in the present embodiment and both are suitably located relative to the print medium such that they may image its surface . the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b are located in this manner using a conventional fixture ( not shown ). it will thus be appreciated that as the media is advanced , an area of print media that is aligned with the sensor 132 will pass first over the sensing element 304 a and then over the sensing elements 304 b . fig2 schematically illustrates one of the sensing elements 304 in more detail . associated with the sensing element 304 is an illumination mechanism 306 , such as a light - emitting diode ( led ). the sensing element 304 captures an image of a portion 310 of the media 102 that lies above it , as indicated by the arrow 312 . for the sake of clarity , the platen 128 is not illustrated in this figure . the illuminating mechanism 306 illuminates the portion 310 of the media 102 , as is indicated by the rays 308 , so that the element 304 is able to capture a satisfactory image . the controller 302 , which is more generally a controlling mechanism , may be software , hardware , or a combination of software and hardware . the controller 302 controls the element 304 and mechanism 306 so that images are captured and media portions are illuminated at desired times . the images captured may be of inherent physical aspects of the media 102 , which are utilized to determine the positioning of the media 102 . such physical aspects of the media may include small scale ( e . g . microscopic ) features in the surface of the media . these may include fibres or characteristics caused by the process used to manufacture the media , for example . in practice each of the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b may have a dedicated illumination mechanism 306 or a single illumination mechanism 306 may suffice for both of the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b . additionally , both of the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b and the / both illumination mechanisms 306 may be connected to and controlled by the same controller 302 . one example of a sensing element suitable for use in embodiments of the present invention is described in u . s . pat . no . 6 , 118 , 132 by barclay , j . tullis entitled , “ system for measuring the velocity , displacement and strain on a moving surface or web of material ” assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety . in this manner , a portion of print media may be imaged by the sensor the sensing element 304 a and then by the sensing elements 304 b . conventional artificial imaging or vision techniques may then be used to identify the positions of features of the media that are common to the images made by the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b . since the separation of the two sensing elements 304 a and 304 b is known , the distance that the features have moved may be determined , in a conventional manner . fig3 shows a block diagram of an image - forming device 400 , according to an embodiment of the invention . as can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill within the art , the image - forming device 400 may include components in addition to and / or in lieu of those depicted in fig3 . the image - forming device 400 may be a fluid - ejection device , such as an inkjet printer , or another type of image - forming device . the image - forming device 400 specifically is depicted in fig3 as including a fluid - ejection mechanism 402 , a media - advance mechanism 404 , a carriage - advance mechanism 406 , a media - positioning sensor 408 , and a controller 410 . the fluid - ejection mechanism 402 moves back and forth along a first axis , over print media . the fluid - ejection mechanism 402 may eject fluid ( such as ink ) on the media during some such passes over the medium ; for example , every other pass . alternatively , it may eject fluid on the media during every pass over the medium . the media - advance mechanism 404 operates to advance the media along the media axis ; which in this embodiment is a second axis perpendicular to the first axis . this may be during carrying out a print job . depending upon the print mode used , this may be after every pass made by the mechanism over the media . alternatively , this may be after two or more passes made by the mechanism over the media . additionally , the media - advance mechanism 404 may advance the media before starting a print job or after completing a print job . such media advances may be employed to correctly position the media to receive ink corresponding to a print job and then to transport the finished print job from the print zone , respectively . such media advances are often of greater distance than those employed during a print operation . the media - advance mechanism 404 may include , for instance , the roller 118 of fig1 a . the carriage - advance mechanism 406 advances the carriage along the scan axis , which is the first axis . the mechanism 306 may include , for instance , the shaft 112 of fig1 a . in the present embodiment , the media - positioning sensor 408 may be the same as the media - positioning sensor 132 described with reference fig1 . the media - positioning sensor 408 is mounted stationary beneath the level of a media supporting surface or platen of the image - forming device 400 . in this way , its component sensing elements are able to image the media supported thereon , as has been described in relation to fig1 a , fig1 b and fig2 . the sensor 408 , which may utilise optical sensor elements , detects positioning of the media relative to the fixed position of the sensor 408 . the controller 410 may be a combination of hardware and / or software , and controls operation of the fluid - ejection mechanism 402 , the media - advance mechanism 404 , the carriage - advance mechanism 406 , and , the media - positioning sensor 408 . fig4 illustrates a typical idealised velocity profile for a media feed operation which may be employed in one embodiment of the present invention . it will be appreciated that different print modes will require that the media is fed a different distance . however , a generalised velocity profile , such as is illustrated in fig4 , may be used for any given media feed distance . as can be seen from the figure , the figure gives the relationship between media feed velocity ( y axis ) and time ( x axis ) for a given media feed . the profile is made up of five phases : firstly , the acceleration phase , referenced “ a ”, in which the print media is accelerated from zero velocity to a selected “ feed velocity ”; secondly , the constant velocity phase referenced “ b ”, during which the media is fed at the “ feed velocity ”; thirdly , the deceleration phase referenced “ c ”, in which the print media is decelerated from the “ feed velocity ” to a “ low velocity ”; fourthly , the low velocity final phase referenced “ d ”; and , lastly , the final deceleration phase referenced “ e ”, in which the print media is decelerated from the “ low velocity ” to a velocity of zero . during the phase “ d ”, the media may be advanced comparatively slowly over a short distance , at the end of which , the media may be stopped comparatively accurately at a desired position , in the final deceleration phase “ e ”. it will be understood , however , that the characteristics of the image - forming device will cause the actual velocity profile for any given media feed operation to differ slightly from the corresponding idealised profile . because of such differences , small errors have historically been experienced in such printers , such as inkjet printers , which employ such velocity profiles in media feed operation . fig5 a illustrates in a schematic manner the operation of a method according to an embodiment of the invention . in the figure , the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b are illustrated . they are separated in the media feed direction ( indicated by the arrow “ m ”) by a distance “ d ”. also shown in the figure are lines p , p ′, and p ″. the line p represents a line or border on the print media , lying perpendicular to the media feed direction . this border may be imaginary for the purpose of explanation only . alternatively , it may represent the position on the print media on which part of a swath of ink is , or is to be printed by the image - forming device . once the media has been fed one media feed distance , or a distance f 0 downstream , the new position of the border p is indicated by the line p ′. by “ downstream ”, a movement in the direction of a media input position to a media output position of the printer is meant ; alternatively , this may be viewed as being in the direction from the print zone towards the output position of a printed sheet . conversely , the term “ upstream ” will be understood as the reverse direction ; i . e . a movement in the direction of a media output position of the printer towards a media input position . as can be seen from the figure , the line p ′ lies centrally , in the media feed direction , relative to the sensing element 304 a . after the media has been fed a further media feed distance , or a further distance f 0 downstream , the new position of the border p is indicated by the line p ″ thus , the line p ″ lies a distance of f 0 downstream from the sensing element 304 a and a distance of “ z ” downstream from the sensing element 304 b . it will be understood that each media feed advance or feed of distance f 0 may follow a velocity profile such as that illustrated in fig4 . a media feed process of the present embodiment will now be described from the time that the border p has reached the line p ′ in this position , the sensing element 304 a images the area of print media lying adjacent to it . this area is illustrated by the circle referenced i 1 in the figure . this imaging step in the present embodiment is carried out while the print media is stationary , prior to a media feed step . however , in other embodiments , the print media may be moving . as the media feed operation commences , the controller monitors the position of the media , i . e . the instantaneous degree to which the media has been advanced , using a conventional shaft encoder associated with the drive roller 118 that is used to advance the media . the controller then controls the sensing element 304 a to image a further area of the media , as it passes adjacent the sensing element 304 a . this further area of media is illustrated by the circle referenced i 2 in the figure . as can be seen from the figure , the area of media i 2 is located a distance of “ x ” upstream from the area of media i 1 . in the present embodiment , the distance “ x ” is less than the distance “ d ” separating the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b in the media feed direction . as the media advance continues , the area of media i 1 passes adjacent to the sensing element 304 b . this occurs when the media has been advanced a distance corresponding to the distance “ d ” separating the sensing element 304 a and 304 b . the controller detects this moment in time , again using the output of the drive roller shaft encoder . the controller then controls the sensing element 304 b to image the area of media i 1 to determine the exact position of the area of media i 1 relative to the position of the sensing element 304 b . the image of the area i 1 of media taken by the sensing element 304 b can then be compared with that taken by the sensing element 304 a . in this manner , the distance that the print media has been advanced so far in the media feed operation may be calculated in a manner that is more accurate than may be achieved using the shaft encoder associated with the drive roller 118 in isolation . in this manner , the distance that the media has been fed in the media feed direction may be accurately established . it will be understood that this distance may be exactly the distance “ d ”. alternatively , this given distance may be the distance “ d ”, plus or minus an error distance . once the given distance has been established , the controller monitors the output of the shaft encoder associated with the drive roller 118 , to determine when the media has advanced a further distance “ x ”; equal to the separation between areas of media i 1 and i 2 . when it is determined that the media has advanced a further distance “ x ”, the area i 2 is located substantially adjacent to the sensing element 304 b . the controller then controls the sensing element 304 b to image this area ; referenced i 2 ′ in the figure . in the figure , the areas corresponding to the areas imaged by the sensing element 304 b are illustrated as dashed circles . they are referenced i 1 ′ and i 2 ′. in the figure , both of the areas i 1 ′ and i 2 ′ are shown in the figure in the positions that they occupy relative to the two sensing elements 304 a and 304 b , when the area i 2 / i 2 ′ is located substantially adjacent to the sensing element 304 b . in the present embodiment , the borders of the areas imaged by the sensing element 304 b will be nearly , if not exactly , coterminous with the corresponding areas imaged by the sensing element 304 a . thus , for the purposes of clarity , only the areas i 1 ′ and i 2 ′ are referenced in the figure downstream of the sensing element 304 a . in this manner , it may be it may be accurately established when the media has been fed a distance of “ d + x ” in the media feed direction . in the present embodiment , the distance “ d + x ” is made equal to the distance f i ; where f 1 is equal to the total distance that the media is advanced in the media advance phases “ a ”, “ b ” and “ c ”, illustrated in fig4 . since the distance “ d ”, which separates the two sensing elements 304 a and 304 b is generally fixed , it will be appreciated that that for any distance f 1 which is greater than “ d ”, the distance “ x ” may be selected by the controller such that the distance “ d + x ” is made equal to the distance f 1 . it will be understood that the remaining portions of the media advance operation are the low velocity media advance phase “ d ” and the final deceleration phase “ e ”, shown in fig4 . these phases correspond to the distance “ y ” shown in fig5 a . in practice , this distance may be very short , as it need only be sufficiently long to allow errors in the measured distance “ d + x ”, which will normally be very small , to be corrected for . thus , the controller may then control the advance of the print media by the distance “ y ”, plus or minus any necessary error correction . again the output of the shaft encoder associated with the drive roller 118 is used to measure this distance “ y ”. at this point , the media will have advanced a whole media feed distance f 0 downstream and the new position of the border p will be that of the line p ″. by , utilizing two separate sensing elements , as opposed to a single ( larger ) sensing element , various advantages may be realized . for a pair of sensing elements that cover a given distance ( or have a given separation distance ) the size of the images generated will be generally smaller . this in turn means that the portions of the media that is to be imaged may be relatively easily and inexpensively illuminated . additionally , suitable optics for focusing the images may be easily and inexpensively provided . furthermore , the resulting system may have reduced memory and processing requirements compared to an equivalent single sensor system . viewed differently , this means that a system may be able to operate faster , for example in terms of image processing speed , using a pair of sensing elements than would be the case with an equivalent single sensor system . it will however be appreciated by the skilled reader that the system of the present invention may employ any reasonable hardware and software . thus , the image processing implemented in embodiments of the present inventions may operate at any reasonable desired speed . in the present example , the final phases of the media advance , the low velocity phase “ d ” and the final deceleration “ e ”, shown in fig4 , are made after the point at which the sensing element 304 b images area i 2 ′, in order that features imaged by the sensing element 304 a in area i 2 may be recognised . in this manner , at least part of the image processing required to do this may occur during the media feed phase “ d ” and / or the final deceleration “ e ”. this allows the use of relatively low powered and thus inexpensive imaging processing hardware and / or techniques . however , it will be understood that the length of the media feed phase “ d ” and / or the final deceleration phase “ e ” may be reduced by the use of faster image processing . indeed , if the image processing were sufficiently fast , the media feed phase “ d ” could be avoided altogether . in this manner , the final deceleration phase “ e ” could continue directly on from the deceleration phase “ c ”, shown in fig4 . in this way , the media advance could be stopped when a suitably positioned feature of the print media is recognized in the area i 2 ′ imaged by the sensing element 304 b . in such a case , the relative spacing between the areas the areas i 1 and i 2 imaged by the sensing element 304 a , and illustrated in fig5 a , may be adjusted to take this into account . as has been stated above , different print modes will require that the media is fed a different distance in each media feed operation . generally , in a scanning inkjet printer , for example , the media is fed four times as far in each media advance in a single pass print mode as is the case in a four pass print mode and eight times as far as is the case in an eight pass print mode . thus , in an image - forming device that can operate in various print modes , media feed distances of various distances need to be performed . it will be appreciated from the above description that by imaging , or sampling , the media at distance intervals of less than the distance between the sensing elements , a given pair of sensing elements may be effectively used to measure a media advance of any given distance that is greater than the distance between the sensing elements . thus , by setting the distance “ d ” separating the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b in the media feed direction to a distance which is less than or equal to the minimum media advance distance that the image - forming device is arranged to implement , that distance may be measured according , as described above with reference to fig5 a . referring now to fig5 b , the operation of a media feed process according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to a print mode that employs a media advance having a media feed distance that is significantly longer than the distance “ d ” separating the sensing elements 304 a and 304 b . fig5 b illustrates one media advance of distance f 0 , where a border on the print media , represented by line p is fed to a new position represented by line p ′. in the figure , the position of the two sensing elements 304 a is illustrated relative to the lines line p to line p ′. thus , the line p lies centrally in the media feed direction relative to the sensing element 304 a . as described above , the distance separating the two sensing elements 304 a and 304 b in the media feed direction ( again indicated by the arrow “ m ”) is the distance “ d ”. as can be seen from the figure , the distance f 0 , in the present example is more than three times the distance “ d ” separating the two sensing elements 304 a and 304 b . in this example , the sensing element 304 a has sequentially imaged several areas of the media as the media has advanced past it . these areas are i 1 to i 4 , where these areas were imaged in order , with i 1 being the first area to be imaged and i 4 being the last area to be imaged . as can be seen in the figure , the areas i 1 and i 2 are spaced apart by a distance “ d ” in the media feed direction , equal to the spacing between the sensor elements 304 a and 304 b in the media feed direction . the same distance “ d ” separates areas i 2 and i 3 in the media feed direction . however , the distance separating areas i 3 and i 4 in the media feed direction is the comparatively reduced distance “ c ”. as was described with reference to the process of fig5 a , the controller monitors the position of the media in the media feed direction using the shaft encoder associated with the drive roller 118 . as each of the areas the areas i 1 to i 4 pass under the sensing element 304 b , the controller controls the sensing element 304 b to image these areas . as was described above , the images of these areas taken by the sensing element 304 b can be compared with the corresponding image taken by the sensing element 304 a to determine precisely the instantaneous position of the print media in the media feed direction . in the figure , the area i 3 is correctly positioned to be imaged by the sensing element 304 b . thus , in the figure the areas i 1 to i 2 have already been imaged by the sensing element 304 b and the area i 4 has not yet to been imaged by the sensing element 304 b . it can be seen from the figure that the area i 1 needs to be advanced a distance “ c ” in order to arrive at the line p ′, at which position the media will have been advanced a complete media advance distance f 0 . similarly , the area i 4 needs to be advanced a distance “ c ′” in order to arrive at the position adjacent to the sensing element 304 b such that it may be imaged . thus , when the media is advanced such that the area i 4 is correctly positioned to be imaged by the sensing element 304 b , the position of the area i 4 , relative to the line p ′ is precisely known , since the distance separating the areas i 1 and i 4 , ( 2 d + c ), is also precisely known . as has been described above , the embodiment may by arranged such that the media feed operation is stopped once an appropriate feature of the print media , located in area i 4 , is identified in a corresponding location in the image taken by the sensing element 304 b . in this case , the distance “ c ” and “ c ′” may be set to be almost or exactly the same . alternatively , the distance “ c ′” may be set to be somewhat less than the distance “ c ”. in this case , the controller may calculate that the media must be fed by a certain distance further ( corresponding to the distance “ y ” shown in fig4 ) in order to complete the feed cycle . this calculation may be made once an appropriate feature of the print media , located in the image of area i 4 taken by the sensing element 304 a , is identified in a corresponding image taken by the sensing element 304 b . in the process illustrated in fig5 b , it is apparent that various areas of the print media ( in this example 4 areas ) are imaged by the sensing elements in a distance in the media feed direction that is less than or equal to one media advance distance f 0 . it will be appreciated that in practice , the number of areas may be reduced to two or three . however , by imaging more areas the accuracy with which the system measures the media feed may be increased . as will be well understood by the skilled reader , by generating a “ population ” of feed measurements , or distances , in a given media advance , the measured error for the advance distance ( which although it may already be small ) may on average be further reduced . if for example , the average measurement error using the system of an embodiment of the invention was 1 micron , by taking four measurements , the statistical error for the population of measurements on average may be ( 1 /( sqrt ( 4 )). thus , it will be understood that the number of images taken in any given feed operation may be beneficially increased . this is illustrated in fig5 c . fig5 c is a diagram that closely resembles fig5 b , so it will not be described in detail . however , as can be seen from fig5 b , the number of imaged areas has been increased from four to six in the same media advance distance , generally by spacing the imaged areas closer together in the media feed direction . imaging an increased number of areas in this way may be particularly useful when printing in print mode with a high number of passes ; for example an eight pass print mode . in such a print mode , the ink dots making up the image in a given location will be composed of dots printed in up to eight passes , where the print media was positioned in a different position relative to the print heads and the sensing elements 304 during each of the eight passes . thus , in certain situations , improving the accuracy with which the position of the media is known in this manner , may yield superior resultant print quality . in the example of fig5 c , the controller controls the sensing elements to image areas of media , in general , every distance “ d / 2 ”, where “ d ” is the distance separating the sensing element in the media feed direction ; thus , approximately doubling the number of imaged areas . however , it will be appreciated that the exact number of imaged areas may be any suitable number . in the examples of fig5 b and fig5 c , the spacing between the most of the adjacent areas is common or fixed ( i . e . between adjacent areas i 1 to i 3 in fig5 b and between adjacent areas i 1 to i 5 in fig5 c ). however , in other embodiments of the invention the spacing may be variable . furthermore , in the examples of fig5 b and fig5 c the spacing between the last pair of areas ( i . e . between areas i 3 and i 4 in fig5 b and between areas i 5 and i 6 in fig5 c ) is different to the spacing between the other adjacent pairs of areas . it will be understood that in other embodiments of the invention the spacing between last pair of areas may be the same as that separating one or more other pairs of imaged areas . it is noted that , although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein , it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown . other applications and uses of embodiments of the invention , besides those described herein , are amenable to at least some embodiments . this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention . therefore , it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof . | 1 |
to provide an overall understanding , certain illustrative embodiments will now be described ; however , it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the systems and methods described herein can be adapted and modified to provide systems and methods for other suitable applications and that other additions and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the systems and methods described herein . simplified block diagrams of examples of ion implanters incorporating the present invention are shown in fig1 a and 1 b . an ion beam generator 10 generates an ion beam 20 of desired species , accelerates the ions in the beam to desired energies , performs mass / energy analysis of the ion beam to remove energy and mass contaminants and supplies an energetic ion beam having a low level of energy and mass contaminants . the ion beam 20 travels through a mass resolving aperture 30 to further remove undesirable ion energies and species before passing through scan plates 114 of the beam scan system 40 . details of the conventional components used in the system of the present invention are described in more detail in u . s . pat . nos . 6 , 075 , 249 and 6 , 437 , 350 . the scan plates 114 are used to produce ion trajectories that diverge from a point 112 . the scanned beam then travels through an ion optical element referred to as an angle corrector 50 that focuses the beam . the scanned beam has parallel or nearly parallel ion trajectories 60 output from the angle corrector 50 . downstream of the angle corrector is the end station 100 . within the end station 100 , is the wafer platen 110 supporting a wafer 120 in the path of the scanned ion beam 60 such that ions of a desired species are implanted into the semiconductor wafer 120 . the end station 100 also includes instrumentation for measuring the ion beam current in the approximate y - plane location where the wafer 120 is positioned during implantation . for example , this instrumentation may include a profiling faraday detector 130 supported on a mounting shaft 140 . the faraday detector 130 can be moved using a motorized system 150 to determine the scanned beam current as a function of position . this simultaneous measurement of beam current as a function of position is often referred to as profiling and the data produced is a beam current profile . a beam current profile measured by a current measurement system 160 in this way may be performed prior to wafer implantation to insure that ion dose measured in ions per square centimeter is uniformly applied to the wafer . a uniformity optimization controller 170 comprised of several components is used to produce a uniform implant dose . the uniformity optimization controller 170 may include a system controller 172 for coordinating the scanning of the ion beam and the measurement of ion beam current . the system controller 172 may be microprocessor based and designed to generate a voltage waveform that will produce a beam current profile that is uniform to within a given specification . low voltage signals are generated by the system scan generator and applied to the scan plates by a scan generator 176 and amplifiers 44 and 46 that magnify the waveforms . the specification on uniformity is given in terms of the standard deviation of the measured beam current as a percentage of the average , or mean , beam current . the scan amplifiers receive phased ac scan voltages from the scan generator similar to those in fig2 a . the amplitude of the ac scan waveform depends on the size of the beam when it is not scanning ( i . e . : spot mode ), the ion species and energy , the location of beam current detectors , and the wafer dimensions . additionally , a dc voltage offset can also be applied to both scan plates to focus the ion beam . the applied scan voltage waveforms in this example result in the ion beam being scanned from the side closest to one scan plate to the side closest to the other scan plate and back again . the profiling faraday , current measurement system electronics , and motor system are used to measure the scanned beam uniformity as a function of x - position . this measurement procedure is often referred to as profiling the beam current . the resulting signature of beam current as a function of position is referred to as the uniformity profile . the uniformity is not generally within specifications for a constant scan voltage rate ( i . e . : saw - tooth ) waveform due to disturbances in the beam shape while scanning , etc . the desired specification on uniformity is achieved by modifying the nearly saw - tooth waveform to adjust the uniformity of the ion dose applied to the wafer . the deflection of the beam is proportional to the difference in the applied voltage to the scan plates as shown in fig2 b . the waveform adjustment procedure involves changing the rate at which the beam is scanned at discrete locations along the x - direction to compensate for the non - uniformities in the profile measurement . reducing the beam scan rate in a region will apply more ion dose . conversely , increasing the scan rate will apply less ion dose in a region . a uniformity optimization procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in fig3 . in this embodiment , a scan beam is generated by applying an initial ac voltage waveform to the scan plates at step s 300 . next , the scanned beam is profiled at step s 310 . the spacial uniformity is determined by filtering the beam current measurements at step s 320 . the spacial uniformity is compared with a predetermined specification range at step s 330 . if the spacial uniformity is determined to be outside of the predetermined specification range at step s 330 , the ac voltage waveform applied to the scan plates is adjusted at step s 350 . if the spacial uniformity is determined to be within the predetermined specification range at step s 330 , the wafers may be prepared and positioned for implantation at step s 340 . in another embodiment of the uniformity optimization procedure according to the present invention as illustrated in fig4 the beam is placed in a spot mode by applying only dc voltage components to the scan plates at step s 400 . next , the profiling faraday is moved across the end station and beam current measurements of the spot beam are acquired at step s 410 . at step s 420 , the ac voltage waveform amplitude is computed using the spot mode beam size , ion species and energy and then the beam is scanned at step s 430 by applying ac voltages to the scan plates . at step s 440 , the profiling faraday is moved across the end station and the beam current measurements of the scanned beam are acquired and then the spacial uniformity is determined at step s 450 by filtering the beam current measurements . at step s 460 , the spacial uniformity is compared to a predetermined specification range . if the spacial uniformity is determined to be outside of the predetermined specification range at step s 460 , the ac voltage waveform applied to the scan plates is adjusted at step s 480 . if the spacial uniformity is determined to be within the predetermined specification range at step s 460 , the wafers can be prepared and positioned for implantation at step s 470 . a finite number of scan waveform correction points is determined a priori and positioned at equal intervals in the direction that the beam is scanning ( i . e . : x - direction ) by the uniformity system controller . as a result , the maximum amount of beam non - uniformities for which the system can compensate is finite . in terms of control theory , the maximum controllable frequency in the uniformity profile is finite . the amount of correction points is selected sufficiently large to be able to compensate adequately for the spatially distributed non - uniformities encountered in this type of ion implanter system . additionally , there are sources of noise in the system that result in time dependent components in the measured signals . noise sources include the power supplies of the components within the ion beam generator , the rotating drums comprising the mass resolving aperture , etc . these noise components mask the spatially distributed non - uniformities in beam current resulting from the scanned beam . in terms of control theory , the frequencies of the noise components are observable in the uniformity profile . the noise components are not controllable because by definition they are time dependent and not spacially dependent . according to one embodiment of the present invention , a digital band - pass filter design methodology is provided to optimize ion implanter uniformity control in a given direction by making ( 1 ) controllable frequencies observable and ( 2 ) uncontrollable frequencies unobservable . the design methodology uses the uniformity system &# 39 ; s control parameters to define the controllable beam current signal frequencies and set the filter pass band frequency range ( s ). the known noise sources , which are not spacially distributed , define the attenuated frequency range ( s ). as a result , the uniformity optimization control system observes and controls the spatially distributed components of uniformity profile . the beam noise components will not significantly impact the wafer ion dose uniformity if the wafer surface is implanted over a time period sufficiently long to allow negation of the beam noise components . the controllable frequency range was determined from the control system parameters . the beam current measurements are taken at a constant interval , s , along the x - direction while the profiling faraday is moved at a constant velocity , v . therefore , the uniformity profile is effectively a signal sampled at a constant time interval . the sampling frequency , f s , is shown in eqn . 1 . an example of a sampling frequency for a system is 32 hz . the observed frequency of a static sinusoidal signal in space with respect to an observer moving at constant velocity , v , is shown in eqn . 2 in terms of the signal wavelength , λ . the maximum controllable frequency can be estimated from the fundamental frequency produced by scan voltage waveforms where the scan rate alternates between two constant rates at each correction point . the maximum controllable frequency , f c , is shown in eqn . 3 for correction points at equal intervals , p , along the profile direction . in this case , the wavelength in eqn . 2 is two times the correction point spacing . this spacing defines the spacial resolution of the uniformity optimization system . the maximum controllable frequency can alternatively be expressed in terms of the sampling rate of system by solving eqn . 1 for the profiler velocity , v , and substituting the result into eqn . 3 . the result is shown as eqn . 4 below . for an example design , the spatial resolution , sampling rate , and sampling interval are such that the maximum controllable frequency from eqn . 4 is approximately 1 . 6 hz . the sampling interval and spatial resolution selected are such that s & lt ;& lt ; p . the frequencies of the known noise sources define the stop band where the components are attenuated . the lowest known frequency noise source in this example system results from the drum rotation of the mass resolving aperture . this frequency may be approximately 3 . 7 hz . the filter design type selected in one embodiment was a low pass filter because the maximum controllable frequency occurs at a lower frequency than the minimum observable noise frequency component . consequently , attenuating all frequencies above the maximum controllable frequency would accomplish the design intent . a low pass filter combined with a notch filter design could have been used had the frequency ranges overlapped . this would potentially have allowed undesirable attenuation in the controllable frequency range . the selected filter design is implemented through software processing of the uniformity profile signal on the host computer in fig1 according to one embodiment of the present invention . in another embodiment of the present invention , hardware components may be utilized to achieve similar effects . the specific design algorithm is based on a conventional finite - impulse response ( fir ) design . in the specific implementation used , an odd number of coefficients are selected and positioned symmetrically around each beam current sample to be filtered according to an embodiment of the present invention . a symmetric arrangement produces no signal phase loss over the frequency spectrum . this implementation is shown in eqn . 5 where ck are the filter coefficients and x ( n ) are the beam current samples . s ( i )= c 0 x ( i − 7 )+ c 1 x ( i − 6 )+ . . . + c 7 x ( i )+ . . . + c 13 x ( i + 6 )+ c 14 x ( i + 7 ) eqn . 5 a known filter design package , such as one supplied by elite engineering of westlake village , calif ., may be used to determine the filter coefficients based on the pass band ( 1 . 6 hz ) and stop band ( 3 . 7 hz ) criteria determined by the controllable frequency range and observable noise sources , respectively . it is appreciated that one skilled in the art may incorporate other known filter design packages . additional inputs for the design package include the stop band attenuation (− 40 db ), ripple ( 0 . 3 db ), and sample frequency ( 32 hz ). the resulting distribution of coefficients is shown in fig5 . the frequency response of the filter is shown in fig6 validating the input design criteria . an example , demonstrating the filter &# 39 ; s effect on an actual implanter uniformity profile is shown in fig7 . the parameter uniformity rms is calculated from the standard deviation ( i . e . : root - mean - square or rms ) of the profile data expressed as a percentage of the average of the data for a given profile . the filtered response data shows the higher frequency noise components in the original unfiltered profile have been attenuated . the filtered signal produces a uniformity value approximately one - half as large as the unfiltered data in this specific example . lower rms values correspond to increased ion dose uniformity in the implanted wafer . uniformity rms values derived from profiles utilizing the design have been shown to correlate accurately with laboratory test data derived from the analysis of implanted wafer properties . unless otherwise specified , the illustrated embodiments can be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of certain embodiments , and therefore features , components , modules , and / or aspects of the illustrations or processes can be otherwise combined , separated , interchanged , and / or rearranged without departing from the disclosed systems or methods . the methods and systems described herein are not limited to a particular hardware or software configuration , and may find applicability in many computing or processing environments . the methods and systems can be implemented in hardware or software , or a combination of hardware and software . the methods and systems can be implemented in one or more computer programs , where a computer program can be understood to include one or more processor executable instructions . the computer program ( s ) can execute on one or more programmable processors , and can be stored on one or more storage medium readable by the processor ( including volatile and non - volatile memory and / or storage elements ), one or more input devices , and / or one or more output devices . the processor thus can access one or more input devices to obtain input data , and can access one or more output devices to communicate output data . the input and / or output devices can include one or more of the following : random access memory ( ram ), redundant array of independent disks ( raid ), floppy drive , cd , dvd , magnetic disk , internal hard drive , external hard drive , memory stick , or other storage device capable of being accessed by a processor as provided herein , where such aforementioned examples are not exhaustive , and are for illustration and not limitation . the computer program ( s ) is preferably implemented using one or more high level procedural or object - oriented programming languages to communicate with a computer system ; however , the program ( s ) can be implemented in assembly or machine language , if desired . the language can be compiled or interpreted . the processor ( s ) can thus be embedded in one or more devices that can be operated independently or together in a networked environment , where the network can include , for example , a local area network ( lan ), wide area network ( wan ), and / or can include an intranet and / or the internet and / or another network . the network ( s ) can be wired or wireless or a combination thereof and can use one or more communications protocols to facilitate communications between the different processors . the processors can be configured for distributed processing and can utilize , in some embodiments , a client - server model as needed . accordingly , the methods and systems can utilize multiple processors and / or processor devices , and the processor instructions can be divided amongst such single or multiple processor / devices . the device ( s ) or computer systems that integrate with the processor ( s ) can include , for example , a personal computer ( s ), workstation ( e . g ., sun , hp ), personal digital assistant ( pda ), handheld device such as cellular telephone , or another device capable of being integrated with a processor ( s ) that can operate as provided herein . accordingly , the devices provided herein are not exhaustive and are provided for illustration and not limitation . although the methods and systems have been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof , they are not so limited . obviously many modifications and variations may become apparent in light of the above teachings . many additional changes in the details , materials , and arrangement of parts , herein described and illustrated , can be made by those skilled in the art . accordingly , it will be understood that the following claims are not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein , can include practices otherwise than specifically described , and are to be interpreted as broadly as allowed under the law . | 7 |
to facilitate the understanding of the invention , a nomenclature list is herewith provided , to wit : in fig1 of the drawings , reference numeral 1 generally refers to the ski sled invention shown assembled in tandem relationship . ski sled 1 has two identical and interchangeable ski members 3 of plastic or other suitable material . ski member 3 has a single , elongated , relatively narrow runner 5 having a upwardly curved tip or toe 7 , a flat main portion 9 and a terminating heel portion 11 . upstanding from the lateral sides of runner 5 are toe brackets having two sets of aligned holes and upstanding from the lateral sides of runner 5 are heel brackets 15 having two sets of aligned holes . as shown in fig2 and 3 , the toe brackets 13 fit within the heel brackets 15 and are rigidly joined together by bolts 17 inserted through such aligned holes and secured by nuts 19 engaged and tightened upon the threaded ends of bolts 17 . each ski member 3 has a seat assembly 21 comprising a collar 23 , upstanding from the bight portion of main portion 9 , which complementally receives a tongue 25 depending from a hollow , tubular post 27 which is removably fixed thereto by a bolt 29 inserted through aligned holes in the tongue 25 and tubular post 27 , and secured by a wing nut 31 engaged and tightened upon the threaded end of bolt 29 . a flat seat 33 , with upstanding lateral hand holds 35 in fixed relationship therewith , has fixed thereto in depending relationship a post collar 37 which complementally receives a shaft 39 in fixed relationship via a bolt 41 inserted through aligned holes in the post collar 37 and shaft 39 , and secured by a wing nut 43 engaged and tightened upon the threaded end of bolt 41 . elongated vertical guide slots 45 in tubular post 27 receive a cross pin 47 fixedly carried in transverse relationship on the bottom shouldered portion 49 of shaft 39 by interference fit through a transverse hole in shouldered portion 49 . a compression spring 51 operatively disposed between the bottom of hollow , tubular post 27 and shouldered portion 49 , functions as a shock absorber to absorb and attenuate the impacts transmitted when runner 5 hits a bump . cross pins 53 , in transverse relationship with tubular post 27 and extending outwardly therefrom , function as foot rests upon which a rider places his feet . wheel assemblies 55 may be utilized with the toe and heel brackets 13 and 15 to convert a ski member 3 for scooting use , or may be utilized with such toe and heel brackets 13 and 15 of ski sled 1 , assembled in its tandem relationship , to convert same to scooting use . each wheel assembly 55 comprises a shaft 57 , two spacer washers 59 , two wheels 61 , two washers 63 and two cotter pins 65 . for scooting use of a ski member 3 , one shaft 57 , two spacer washers 59 , two wheels 61 , two washers 63 and two cotter pins 65 would be assembled with respect to one of the aligned holes in each of the toe and heel brackets 13 and 15 , as shown in fig6 . for scooting use of a ski sled assembled of two ski members 3 assembled in tandem relationship , three wheel assemblies 55 would be employed and assembled as shown in fig3 . in fig6 of the drawings , two ski members 3 are shown assembled in side - by - side relationship . such assembly is accomplished by a sleeve 67 which complementally receives therein opposed cross pins 53 . fixed relationship of the sleeve 67 and cross pins 53 is effected via bolts 69 inserted through aligned holes in the sleeve 67 and cross pins 53 , and secured in rigid relationship by wing nuts 71 engaged and tightened upon the threaded ends of the bolts 69 . from the description of the assembly of two ski members 3 in tandem relationship , it should be self - evident that three or more ski members 3 can be assembled in tandem relationship . from the description of the assembly of two ski members 3 in side - by - side relationship , it should be self - evident that three or more ski members 3 can be assembled in side - by - side relationship . and from the descriptions of the assemblies of the ski members 3 in their tandem and side - by - side relationships , the assembly of the ski members 3 in the combination of tandem and side - by - side relationships should be self - evident . to utilize the ski member 3 , a rider simply sits on the seat 33 , grasps the hand holds 35 , propels himself forward and appropriately places his feet on the foot rests 53 . the same operation would be followed in unison when riders are utilizing the ski sled 1 of ski members 3 assembled in tandem , side - by - side , or combination relationships . | 0 |
for the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure , reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings , and specific language will be used to describe the same . it will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended . in response to the unmet need for a syringe design that enable safe , reliable administration of a drug to protect against both improper dosage and inadvertent needle sticks , such a novel syringe design is disclosed herein . for demonstration purposes , the herein described novel syringe design is an insulin syringe . however , it should be appreciated that the applications for the herein described novel syringe extends beyond insulin syringes and can apply to medications of all types that are to be administered via a syringe . referring to fig1 , which is an image of an insulin syringe in common use , current syringes comprise a hollow barrel and a solid plunger used to push fluid out of a nozzle at the tip . there are numerous shortcomings in the current insulin syringe designs . first , the size of the syringe is quite small . it has a narrow diameter cylinder with markings that wrap almost completely around the barrel of the syringe . this small size can be difficult to handle for both health care providers and patients of all ages . notably , complications of diabetes , specifically in those patients who may already have high insulin demand ( in excess of 200 units per day ), include blurred vision and neuropathy , or pain and loss of sensation in their fingers and toes . these patient conditions make the current syringe design far less than optimal for the safe , ergonomic handling of a device that is intended to inject a drug with a narrow therapeutic window . second , these syringes can be used for both u100 and u500 concentrations . for example , if a health care provider drew up 100 units of u500 in one syringe and 20 units of u100 into separate syringes ( same volumes of clear liquid ) and walked away to attend to another task ( e . g ., answer a ringing phone ), the syringes would be indistinguishable upon the health care provider &# 39 ; s return . if the health care provider did not remember which was which , one represents a lethal dose for one patient while the other represents a dose far too low to combat the conditions of the other patient . without any visual cues or “ forcing functions ” to indicate differently concentrated insulin doses is a formula for catastrophe . a forcing function would be any discernable difference between syringes such as shape , size , color , structure , or any other means of immediately noticing a difference beyond having to remember . third , the current u100 syringes require computations to be made in order to achieve the correct dose . in order for a health care provider or a patient to achieve a 100 unit dose of u500 insulin , they would need 0 . 2 ml of insulin at this concentration to achieve this . however , 0 . 2 ml in a u100 syringe is labeled on the barrel as only being 20 units . such requirements are accompanied by risk that errors can be made in the computations and can thus lead to disastrous results , should an error be made . to address the above concerns , a novel design for a syringe , hereinafter referred to as a “ perimeter fill syringe ” is disclosed . referring to fig2 a and 2b , in one embodiment , the perimeter fill syringe 100 is cylindrical in shape . in another embodiment , referring to fig3 a and 3b , the perimeter fill syringe 100 is of a rectangular shape . it should be appreciated that although for demonstration purposes of this disclosure a cylindrical and rectangular shape for the perimeter fill syringe 100 are described , such descriptions are not intended to be limiting , and rather , any shape can be used . referring to fig4 , which is a cross - sectional view of an intermediate portion 200 along the length of the perimeter fill syringe 100 , the perimeter fill syringe 100 and has a core 201 . still referring to fig4 , an outer shell 203 encases the core 201 . in between the outer shell 203 and the core 201 is a fluid space 205 for the medication or fluid to be placed . referring to fig5 a and 5b , a plunger 301 is configured to be inserted into the fluid space 205 . fig5 a and 5b show an embodiment of the plunger 301 that is configured to be inserted into a perimeter fill syringe 100 that has a rectangular shape . fig6 shows an embodiment of the plunger 301 that is configured to be inserted in to a perimeter fill syringe 100 that has a cylindrical shape . referring to fig2 b , an image of an embodiment of the top end 204 of the outer shell 203 of the perimeter fill syringe 100 is shown , of which the plunger 301 shown in fig6 can be inserted . the fluid space 205 is no longer along the shape of a ring at the top end 204 of the outer shell 203 to allow for minimal waste of the medication or fluid traveling through the fluid space 205 . referring to fig7 , which shows separate images of the core 201 and of the outer shell 203 of an embodiment in which the perimeter fill syringe 100 is in cylindrical in shape , the top end 204 of the outer shell 203 can be configured to have a syringe needle inserted thereon . still referring to fig7 , the core 201 can have a bottom end 207 that is configured to be coupled to a plunger that can facilitate the core 201 being inserted into the outer shell 203 to thereby administer the medication through the fluid space 205 . a space for the plunger needs to be configured into the design of the perimeter fill syringe 100 , an example of which is shown at the top of fig3 a and 3b . fig8 similarly shows an alternate embodiment of the perimeter fill syringe 100 shown in fig7 , but in fig8 , the shape of the perimeter fill syringe 100 is rectangular . fig4 shows an alternate view of the embodiment of the perimeter fill syringe 100 of fig8 . referring to fig4 , the fluid can be inserted into the fluid space 205 can be seen to form the shape of a ring along a bottom portion 209 of the perimeter fill syringe 100 . still referring to fig4 , the top end 211 of the core 201 is configured to be inserted into the bottom portion 209 to fill the fluid space 205 . fig9 a and 9b show an embodiment of the fully assembled perimeter fill syringe 100 , wherein the core 201 is partially slidably inserted into the outer shell 203 . referring to fig9 b , drawing back the core 201 allows the fluid space 205 to fill with fluid medication . such a thin perimeter geometry enables a wider syringe design that is easier to grasp for patients and health care providers , especially those with lessening of motor function or dexterity . the wider diameter on the perimeter fill syringes 100 also enables markings to appear more clearly on a single face of the perimeter fill syringe 100 , thus eliminating the need to roll or rotate the syringe in a user &# 39 ; s hand while drawing up a dosage of medication . as described above , the perimeter fill syringes 100 can take on a plurality of shapes and geometries . for instance , the perimeter fill syringe 100 can be of a cylindrical shape . alternatively , a rectangular prism - like shape can be used . yet another embodiment features a triangular prism - like shape for the perimeter fill syringe 100 . table 1 shows an example of the calculations for a 500 unit syringe and various inner width dimensions , specifically for estimating a desired fluid space 205 for a perimeter fill syringe 100 that is rectangular in shape and the core 201 and outer shell 203 each have widths that are the same ( i . e ., their top and bottom ends are squares ), given the dimensions of the outer shell 203 and the core 201 , for a desired height of the perimeter fill syringe , and an inner width core 201 diameter . such calculations are conducted using volume dimensions and the exact calculations can vary depending on the geometry of the perimeter fill syringe 100 ( e . g ., volumetric calculations for a cylinder can be used if the perimeter fill syringe 100 is cylindrical ; volumetric calculations for a triangle will be used if the perimeter fill syringe 100 is triangular ). the fluid space 205 needs to be calculated such that the plunger will not cripple with the force of drawing the fluid in and out of the perimeter fill syringe 100 . the exact dimensions can vary depending on a variety of factors , including the desired ease of flow of the particular medication to be administered and the age and physical abilities of individual administering the medication . for example , a patient with weak hands and poor dexterity may need a perimeter fill syringe 100 that is capable of having a sliding motion that has less resistance than what is considered normal in the field . similarly , if the user of the perimeter fill syringe 100 is a child , the sliding motion may have to be altered accordingly to ensure ease of use for the patient . alternate colors and shapes can also be used to help identify and alert the user as to which medication and dosage is being administered . such configurations can revolutionize the way in which medications are administered by patient and health care providers . such designs address the issue of drawing up different concentrations of insulin into a single type of syringe . in the example given above where a health care provider walks away from two identical volumes of different concentrations of insulin , it was previously impossible to discern between the two . now , with this disclosure , the rectangular shape of the u500 insulin syringe acts as a physical alert and a forcing function to warn both patients and nurses alike that this syringe contains highly concentrated insulin . using this new invention , a new standard will be set for administration of insulin . the cylindrical shape will be retained for u100 insulin while the rectangular shape will become the new standard by which all 500 unit / ml insulin will be dispensed and administered . changing the shape of the syringe is a human factors strategy that will reduce the cognitive load on nurses and patients when they need to be focused on other matters . now , rather than having to be extremely diligent to avoid mixing concentrations , they can consistently rely upon syringe geometry as a forcing function to prompt safe dispensing and administration techniques . in addition to the differing syringe geometries , each syringe can have markings on the barrel or outer shell 203 that precisely correlate to the concentration of the corresponding insulin being administered . therefore , in a u100 syringe , 0 . 2 ml will be 20 units every time and no dose of u500 should ever be drawn up in these syringes ever again . a u500 syringe will have 100 units marked at the corresponding 0 . 2 ml line on the barrel because only 500 unit / ml insulin shall ever be used in this shape of syringe . keeping the markings distinct eliminates the need for additional math and calculations or incorrect labeling on the barrel after drawing up insulin . those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the specific implementations described above . the implementations should not be limited to the particular limitations described . other implementations may be possible . | 0 |
a device for training a baseball pitcher in accordance with the present invention has a catching unit which can be formed as a net 1 mounted on a frame 2 . an inclined protective plate 3 is associated with the lower part of the frame and forms a rolling trough 4 . the device also has a throwing unit for throwing a baseball . the throwing unit includes a catching plate 5 and a throwing arm 6 having one end associated with the catching plate 5 and another end pivotably connected to the frame 2 . the device further has a drive for displacing the throwing arm 6 so as to throw a baseball received on the catching plate 5 . the drive in the shown embodiment is formed as a pneumatic cylinder - piston unit 7 which has an immovable cylinder , and a piston which is reciprocatingly movable in the cylinder and connected to the opposite end of the throwing arm 6 . the cylinder - piston unit 7 is supplied with pressurized air from a pressure container 8 through a pressure conduit 9 provided with a pressure regulating valve 10 and then through a 3 / 2 directional valve 11 ′ and a further pressure conduit 12 . a contact pin 13 is further provided and connected through a rod 14 with a locking hook 15 which is spring biased by a pulling spring 16 . the device for training a baseball pitcher in accordance with the present invention operates in the following manner . in the initial position shown in fig1 before hitting the ball , the catching plate 5 is connected with the valve 11 ′ and located in its initial position . an arresting angle 17 located at the right side of the catching plate 5 is not locked with the locking hook 15 . the throwing arm 6 is located with its one end under the catching plate 5 in the initial position . the throwing arm 6 is connected with the pressurized air cylinder - piston unit and pivotably connected with the frame 2 at the opposite end . when the ball hits the net 1 , it rolls through the rolling trough 4 downwardly and falls onto the catching plate 5 . this situation is shown in fig4 . the catching plate 5 has such a weight that the weight of the ball is sufficient to displace it downwardly . thereby the arresting angle 17 is locked by the locking hook 15 . the valve 11 ′ is open under the action of lowering of the catching plate 5 and the pressurized air flows into the cylinder - piston unit . the throwing arm 6 is accelerated upwardly through a slot in the catching plate 5 and drives the baseball with it . during the whole accelerating movement the valve 11 ′ remains open , since the catching plate is always locked in its lower position . as can be seen from fig5 the accelerating movement or throwing movement is performed so far , that the throwing arm 6 hits the contact pin 13 and displaces until it hits a rubber coating 18 . the contact pin 13 is connected through the rod 14 with the locking hook 15 . by the movement of the contact pin 13 , the catching plate 5 is unlocked . the catching plate can now move upwardly , so that the valve 11 ′ is closed and the pressurized air supply is interrupted . simultaneously , a connection between atmosphere and the cylinder - piston unit is established through the valve 11 ′, so that air escape from the cylinder - piston unit . thereby the throwing arm 6 moves back to the initial position shown in fig6 . without the locking mechanism the pressurized air supply to the cylinder - piston unit 7 would be interrupted when the throwing arm 6 lifts the baseball substantially from the catching plate 5 . by lifting of the baseball the catching plate 5 is unloaded and the valve 11 ′ would be closed . [ 0029 ] fig6 again shows the initial situation . the throwing arm 6 falls back after the throw , to its initial position . the catching plate 5 is not locked , since no ball is located on it . the operational pressure amounts approximately to 5 . 5 bar and can be regulated by the pressure regulator 10 located between the pressure container 8 and the valve 11 ′. the catching plate 5 is connected with the displacement valve 11 ′ through a connecting hinge 21 . [ 0030 ] fig7 shows the catching plate 5 with the groove 19 on a plan view . ball guides 20 also provided to guarantee that after hitting the catching plate 5 the ball reaches an optimal throwing position . [ 0031 ] fig8 shows a switching diagram of the 3 / 2 valve 11 ′. during the accelerating or throwing movement , the connection between the pressure container 8 and the pressurized air cylinder - piston unit 7 is established . during the downward movement of the throwing arm 6 after the throw , the pressurized air cylinder - piston unit is connected with atmosphere through the 3 / 2 directional valve 11 ′. this figure shows a connection of the pressure container 8 with the pressurized air cylinder - piston unit 7 through a fast coupling 22 , a plug nipple 23 , the pressure regulator 10 , and the displacement valve 11 ′. it will be understood that each of the elements described above , or two or more together , may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above . while the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in baseball training apparatus , 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 . 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 . | 0 |
reference is made to fig4 , which shows a lens 80 in accordance with the prior art . the lens 80 may be a progressive lens , such that it has a long - distance focus region 82 , and a second region 83 , which may include a progressive region and a short - distance focus region ( for use when reading ). in such a lens , the traditional approach to transitioning between the second region 83 and the long - distance region 82 has been to blend gradually . the transition regions that result from this design methodology can be seen as shaded areas 88 and 90 in fig4 . these transition regions 88 and 90 unfortunately are areas of distortion in the lens 80 , and it can be seen that these regions 88 and 90 occupy a significant region of the swept area of the lens 80 . in particular , a result of this design methodology , there is distortion in lower left and lower right regions of the lens 80 , which are shown at 92 and 94 respectively . the distortion in these regions 92 and 94 in particular can cause visual difficulty for the wearer of the lens 80 . for some wearers , this visual difficulty might cause discomfort and headaches . reference is first made to fig1 , which shows a multifocal lens 10 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention . the lens 10 is for use in eyewear , such as eyeglasses or monocles and the like , providing the wearer with improved vision at selected ranges of focal distance , with little distortion . the lens 10 comprises a first region 12 , which has first focal properties and a second region 14 which has second focal properties . in the particular lens shown , the first focal properties are substantially constant throughout the first region . the first region 12 may , for example , be configured for focus at long - distance . the second focal properties ( i . e . the focal properties of the second region 14 ) may vary . more particularly , the second region 14 includes a portion that is a progressive region 14 a and portion that is a short - distance focus region 14 b ( which may be referred to as a reading region 14 b ). the reading region 14 b has an associated focal distance that is suitable for reading , such as , for example , approximately 12 inches , although other focal distances are alternatively possible . the progressive region 14 a has associated therewith a focal distance that varies progressively between the focal distance of the reading region 14 b and the focal distance of the first lens region 12 . it will be noted that there is no discontinuity in the lens 10 at the upper and lower limits of the progressive region ; the lens surface at the upper end of the progressive region 14 a transitions smoothly from the surface of the first region 12 , and the lens surface at the lower end of the progressive region 14 a transitions smoothly to the surface of the reading region 14 b . the progressive region 14 a begins below the optical center 29 . the progressive region 14 a may be relatively short , such that the progression is relatively fast from the focal distance of the first lens region 12 to the focal distance of the reading region 14 b , thereby providing a relatively tall reading region 14 b . alternatively , the progressive region 14 a may be more gradual ( and therefore taller ) thereby providing a reading region 14 a that is relatively short . the second lens region 14 has a first side edge 16 a and a second side edge 16 b . the first and second side edges 16 a and 16 b may be curved , as shown in fig1 , or they may be generally straight , as shown in fig2 . it can be seen that the width of the second region 14 increases in the downward direction on the lens 10 . the lens 10 further includes a first transition region 22 between the first side edge 16 a and the first lens region 12 , and a second transition region 24 between the second side edge 16 b and the first lens region 12 . it can be seen that the transition regions 22 and 24 are generally parallel to the side edges 16 a and 16 b . for example , as can be seen in fig1 , the transition regions 22 and 24 each have a roughly similar arcuate shape to that of the first and second side edges 16 a and 16 b respectively . similarly , as shown in fig2 , the transition regions 22 and 24 have a generally straight shape that is similar to the generally straight shape of the first and second side edges 16 a and 16 b respectively . additionally , the transition regions 22 and 24 may each have a selected width which may be less than a selected value , such as , for example , about 8 mm or in some embodiments less than about 7 mm , for a 70 mm diameter lens . in the embodiment shown in fig2 , the width is relatively constant along the transition regions 22 and 24 and is shown at w . in the embodiment shown in fig1 , the width of the bottom of the transition region 22 ( shown at w 1 ) is larger than the width of the top of the transition region 22 ( shown at w 2 ). in this embodiment , the width at all points along the transition region 22 or 24 may be less than the selected value . in such embodiments where the width varies , the transition regions 22 and 24 may have a width at their respective top ends that is less than a different selected value , such as , for example , 3 mm , or even less than 1 mm . having a particularly narrow width at the upper end of the transition regions is valuable since in some lenses , the bottom portion of the lens ( where the width w 2 in some instances is at its largest ) might not be used in the final lens that ultimately is fitted into a wearer &# 39 ; s eyeglass frames . as a result of providing transition regions that are narrow , the reading region 14 b of the lens 10 may be made relatively wide , while at the same time keeping these transition regions out of the lower left and lower right regions of the lens , shown at 26 and 28 , which , as noted above are regions of the lens 10 that are important to make distortion - free . as can be seen , the regions 26 and 28 in fig1 and 2 are substantially entirely located within the first lens region 12 , and so there is no distortion in the regions 26 and 28 . in total it will be noted that the transition regions 22 and 24 , which make up the total area of the lens 10 that may be considered to have astigmatic distortion , is less than about 25 % of the swept area of the lens 10 . in some embodiments , they constitute less than about 10 % of the swept area of the lens 10 . the progressive region 14 a and the area surrounding it ( e . g . the upper ends of the transition regions 22 and 24 ) may have a relatively complex shape , and may be designed using a point cloud ( shown at 34 ) instead of ‘ building ’ the complex shape by stitching together simple surfaces . it will be understood that it is possible to design the entirety of the lens 10 using a point cloud . as shown in fig1 and 2 , the second region 14 of the lens 10 may extend all the way down to the bottom of the lens 10 , such that the bottom edge of the second region 14 is a segment of the edge of the lens 10 . reference is made to fig3 , which shows a lens 100 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention . the lens 100 is shown rotated somewhat . the optical center of the lens 100 is shown at 102 . the horizontal primary meridian is shown at 104 . the lens 100 has a first lens region 106 having first focal properties , a second lens region 108 having second focal properties and a third lens region 110 having third focal properties . the first lens region 106 may contain the optical center 102 of the lens 100 . the first lens region 106 may have substantially constant focal properties throughout , and may have a first focal distance that is selected to be suitable for a particular task . for example , the first lens region may be configured to permit the wearer to view a computer monitor , and may thus have a focal distance of less than , for example , about 30 ″. in another example , the focal distance may be selected to permit a musician to view sheet music while playing their instrument . the first lens region 106 preferably extends across the entire width of the lens 100 , as shown . the second lens region 108 may be similar to the second lens region 14 in fig1 or 2 and may include a progressive region 108 a and a reading region 108 b . the second lens region 108 has a first side edge 112 a and a second side edge 112 b . first and second transition regions 114 and 116 transition between the side edges 112 a and 112 b and the first region 106 . the transition regions 114 and 116 may be similar to the transition regions 22 and 24 in fig1 or 2 , in that they may be generally parallel to the first and second side edges 112 c and 112 d respectively , and may each have a width that is less than a selected value . above the optical center 102 the third lens region 110 is provided . the third lens region 110 may includes a portion that is a progressive region 110 a and a portion that is a long - distance viewing portion 110 b . the progressive region 110 a has associated therewith a focal distance that varies progressively between the focal distance of the long - distance region 110 b and the focal distance of the first lens region 110 . the third lens region 110 has a first side edge 120 a and a second side edge 120 b . third and fourth transition regions 122 and 124 extend between the side edges 120 a and 120 b and the first region 106 . the transition regions 122 and 124 may be generally parallel to the first and second side edges 120 c and 120 d and may have a width that is less than a selected value ( which may or may not be the same value as the widths of the transition regions 114 and 116 ). it will be noted that the first region 106 generally surrounds the second region about a top edge and the side edges 112 a and 112 b , and the third region about a bottom edge and the side edges 120 a and 120 b . thus , the first region is roughly h - shaped . the lenses 10 and 100 may be manufactured by any suitable process and may be made from any suitable material . furthermore , all the lens features ( e . g . the features that form the various lens regions may be formed using the front surface of the lens 10 or 100 ( i . e . the surface of the lens facing away from the wearer &# 39 ; s eye ), or using the back surface of the lens 10 or 100 ( i . e . the surface of the lens facing the wearer &# 39 ; s eye ), or a combination of both . the surfaces of the lens 10 or 100 may have any suitable surface shape . for example , the surfaces of the lens 10 or 100 may be generally spherical , or may be sphero - cylindrical , such that the radius of the lens 10 or 100 may remain substantially constant over a 360 degree angular sweep about the centre of the lens , or alternatively , the radius of the lens 10 or 100 may vary , such that the lens 10 or 100 may have a major axis and a minor axis . while the above description constitutes a plurality of embodiments of the present invention , it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to further modification and change without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims . | 6 |
fig2 , and 4 are schematic plan views of three layers of the badge . fig5 is a sectional side view of a chamber at 5 - 5 in fig4 . as shown in fig1 , in some examples , an identification badge 10 worn by a doctor has red and green lights 12 , 14 , that indicate that her hands are likely to be respectively in a clean ( e . g ., disinfected , green light ) condition or in a not clean ( e . g ., not disinfected , red light ) condition . the two lights are controlled by a control circuit ( not shown in fig1 ) based on ( a ) information derived from an ethanol sensor 16 in the badge , ( b ) signals from a timer ( also not shown in fig1 ) that tracks the passage of time after the circuit has determined that the hands are likely to be in a disinfected condition , and ( c ) the state of the logic implemented by the control circuit ( also not shown ). an lcd display 23 provides displayed information that can include the status of the badge , the control circuit , or the sensor ; the time ; the status of the cleanliness of the doctor &# 39 ; s hands ; and other information . in addition to providing the disinfection determining function , the badge 10 can be of a shape and form and can display information sufficient to serve a conventional function of complying with government and institution regulations that require health care workers to carry visible identification . for example , the badge includes a photograph 17 of the doctor , and other information including the doctor &# 39 ; s name 19 and identification number 21 . a typical badge could be approximately credit - card size . because health care workers are required to carry such badges for other reasons , providing the disinfection determining function within the same badge make it more likely that the worker will use that function than if the function were provided in a separate device that the worker was expected to carry separately . in addition , because the badge worn by a worker must be visible to others in the health care environment , the feature of the badge that indicates whether the user &# 39 ; s hands are clean or unclean will naturally be visible to others . thus , the worker , merely by having to wear the badge , will be subjected to social pressure of peers , patients , and managers with respect to the cleanliness of the worker &# 39 ; s hands . this makes the use of the disinfection determining feature of the badge and the improvement of cleanliness habits self - enforcing . the institution by whom the worker is employed need only provide badges that include those features without directly managing or monitoring their use . a pair of electrodes 24 , 26 on either side of the sensor is used to determine when a finger 28 or other part of the hand or other skin has been placed against the sensor . when skin of a finger or other part of the hand touches both electrodes , the resistance between them will decline . by measuring that resistance the control circuit can detect the presence of a finger . the badge is used by the doctor in conjunction with disinfecting her hands using cleaners of the kind that include ethanol ( for example , the liquid known by the name purell available from gojo industries , akron , ohio , and which contains 62 % ethyl alcohol ). such cleaners are considered to be more effective than soaps and detergents in killing bacteria and viruses and are widely used in health care and other environments . when the ethanol - based cleaner is rubbed on the skin of the hands , the ethanol kills the bacteria and viruses . the effect will last for several hours but eventually wears off . ethanol is volatile and eventually evaporates from the skin , leaving the possibility ( which increases over time ) that live bacteria and viruses will again contaminate the skin from the air and from objects that are touched , for example . the concentration of ethanol on the skin and the decay of that concentration from evaporation tend to determine the onset of subsequent contamination . in turn , the concentration of ethanol on the skin can be inferred by the concentration of ethanol vapor near the skin . by placing the skin near an ethanol detector for a short period of time , it is possible to determine the vapor concentration of ethanol and thus to infer the ethanol concentration on the skin and the disinfected state of the skin . when the current inferred concentration is above a threshold , it is possible to make an assumption about how long the hands will remain disinfected . the badge can be used in the following way to improve the hand cleaning habits of the user . in some simple examples , the badge can be configured to determine and display two different states : disinfected and not disinfected . except when the badge has recently enough ( say within two or three hours ) entered the disinfected state due to a measurement cycle in which an adequate concentration of ethanol vapor had been sensed , the badge will assume a default state of the user &# 39 ; s skin of not disinfected . thus , when the badge is first powered on , or reset , or the permitted time since a prior successful measurement has elapsed , the state becomes not disinfected . when the state is not disinfected the red light is lit and the word re - test is displayed on the lcd . in some implementations , the badge can be made to switch from the not disinfected state to the disinfected state only by a successful ethanol measurement cycle . a successful cycle is one in which a finger or other part of the body is held in position over the sensor ( touching both of the electrodes ) for a period that is at least as long as a required measurement cycle ( e . g ., 30 seconds or 45 seconds or 60 seconds depending on the design of the circuit ), and the concentration of ethanol vapor that passes from the skin into a measurement chamber of the sensor is high enough to permit an inference that the skin is disinfected . thus , when the doctor wipes her hands with the cleaner to disinfect them , she can then press one of her clean fingers against the sensor 16 and the two electrodes 24 , 26 , for , say , 60 seconds . touching of both of the electrodes simultaneously by the finger is detected by the control circuit which then begins the measurement cycle . the control circuit could start the red and green lamps to flash alternately and to continue to do so as an indication to the user that the electrodes are both being touched and that the measurement cycle is proceeding . at the end of the sensing cycle , the control circuit determines a level of concentration of ethanol and uses the level to determine whether the finger , and by inference , the hand of the doctor is disinfected . each time a measurement cycle has been filly completed , the red and green lights may both be flashed briefly to signal that the cycle has ended and the finger may be removed . the control circuit continually monitors the electrodes to determine when a finger or other skin is touching both of the electrodes . when that event is detected , a measurement cycle count down timer ( which is initialized for the number of seconds needed to complete a measurement ) is started . at the beginning of a cycle , a voltage is applied to the heater to begin to heat the sensor element . initially the heater voltage may be set to a higher than normal value in order to shorten the initial action period described below . then the heater voltage is reduced . at the end of the measurement cycle , a measurement voltage is applied across the series connection of the measurement cell and the series resistor , and the voltage across the series resistor is detected and compared to a threshold to determine whether the state should be set to disinfected or not disinfected . when the control circuit determines that the hand is disinfected , the control circuit switches to the disinfected state , lights the green lamp ( and turns off the red lamp ), and displays the word clean on the lcd . in addition , upon the initiation of the disinfected state , the control circuit starts a re - test count down timer that is initially set to the period during which the skin is expected to remain disinfected ( for example two hours ). if the control circuit is in the disinfected state and the user voluntarily performs another successful measurement cycle ( for example , if , during the two hours after the prior successful measurement , she disinfects her hands again ), the re - test count down timer is reset . anyone in the vicinity of the doctor who can see the lights or lcd is made aware of whether , according to the doctor &# 39 ; s use of the badge , the doctor &# 39 ; s hands are disinfected or not . people who find troubling the indication that a person &# 39 ; s hands are not disinfected can complain to the person or to the employer , for example . during the sensing cycle the doctor must keep her finger against the sensor for at least a certain period of time , say 60 seconds , to give the sensor and the control circuit time to obtain a good reading . if the doctor removes her finger before the end of the period , the control circuit remains in or switches to the not disinfected state and displays the word re - test on the lcd display . if the doctor holds her finger against the sensor long enough to complete the sensing cycle and the results of the sensing cycle are displayed on the lcd and by lighting either the red light or the green light . if the sensing cycle ends with a determination that the finger is not disinfected , the doctor can try again to apply enough of the cleaner to her hands to satisfy the circuit and can test the ethanol concentration again . and the cycle can be repeated until the disinfected state is determined . in addition to causing the green light to be illuminated and the lcd to show clean , successfully completing an ethanol test also causes the control circuit to reset a count down timer ( not shown in fig1 ) to a predetermined period ( say , two hours ) after which it is assumed that the benefit of the ethanol treatment has worn off and the doctor &# 39 ; s hands are no longer disinfected . when the timer times out at the end of the predetermined period , the control circuit turns off the green light , lights the red light , and changes the displayed word from clean to re - test . the red light stays on and the word re - test continues to be displayed until a successful ethanol test is performed by the doctor . as shown in fig2 , and 4 , the badge 10 can be fabricated by assembling three layers . a bottom layer 29 ( shown schematically in fig2 ) contains a printed circuit 31 and components mounted on the circuit . the components include the sensor element 30 of the sensor , two thin batteries 32 , 34 , a microprocessor 36 ( an example of the control circuit mentioned earlier ), a clock 38 ( an example of the timer circuit mentioned earlier that can be used both for the measurement count - down timer and for the re - test count - down timer ), the two led lamps 12 , 14 , and an lcd display device 40 . the detailed interconnections of the devices mounted on the bottom layer are not shown in fig2 . the control circuit could be , for example , a pic microcontroller available from microchip technology , inc . of chandler , ariz . a middle layer ( shown schematically in fig3 ) is thicker than the bottom and top layer and provides physical relief for the components mounted on the bottom layer . the patterns shown in fig3 represent cutouts 43 or perforations in the middle layer . a top layer 50 ( shown schematically in fig4 ) includes a non - perforated and non - printed clear region 52 to permit viewing of the lcd display . space is left for adding a photograph and other information as show in fig1 . a perforated region 54 provides openings for passage of ethanol vapors into the badge and two perforations 56 , 58 on opposite sides of the perforated region 54 accept the conductive electrodes that are used to detect the presence of a finger . as shown in fig5 , the arrangement of the three layers in the vicinity of the sensor provides a sensing chamber 56 . ethanol vapors 55 pass from the finger 53 through the holes in perforated region 54 ( which is shown as narrower than in fig4 ) and into the chamber . within the chamber is a tin oxide sensor element 30 ( which includes an integral heater ). the sensor element is connected by wire bonded connections 61 to circuit runs 59 on the bottom layer of the badge . the heater heats the vapors within the chamber and sensor element measures the concentration of ethanol . tin oxide sensosr are small , low cost , and relatively low in power requirements . an example of a tin oxide ethanol sensor is the model tgs 2620 - m available from figaro , usa inc . of glenview , ill ., although other sensors available from other vendors could be used . the sensor includes an integral heater and four connections , two for the sensor element , and two for the heater . by wiring a resistor in series with the element and measuring the voltage drop across the resistor , the control circuit can determine the amount of current flowing in the element and hence the resistance of the element which will vary with ethanol concentration . tin oxide sensors with heaters are subject to a so - called initial action that occurs when the sensors are not energized for a period and then are energized . the resistance of the sensor drops sharply during an initial period of energization , whether gases are present in the surrounding air or not . the longer the period of unenergized storage ( up to about 30 days ), the longer the period of the initial action . therefore using tin oxide sensors in the badges requires a trade off between powering their operation for a period longer than the initial action but not so long that the energy drain caused by measurement cycles reduces the lifetime of the battery to an unacceptably short period . experiments suggest that if the user keeps her finger in contact with the sensor for at least 20 or 30 seconds , the sensing of ethanol then begins to dominate the initial action and permits detection of the ethanol concentration . other approaches may provide a shorter initial action ( such as applying a larger voltage for the first few sections of operation and then the normal voltage after that ). the badge provides a simple , effective , portable , inexpensive way to confirm that the ethanol treatment has occurred no longer than , say , two hours ago , which likely means that the hands remain disinfected . no other external equipment is needed . the disinfection condition is apparent to anyone in the vicinity of the doctor , including patients , supervisors , regulators , and peers . the social pressure associated with being identified easily as not having disinfected hands is an effective way to improve the frequency and thoroughness of cleaning . the system does not force the doctor to comply . compliance with cleaning rules and policies may remain less than perfect using the badges . yet it is likely that the compliance will improve significantly . any degree of improvement translates into reduced costs and injuries now associated with hands that have not been disinfected . a wide variety of other implementations are within the scope of the following claims . for example , although a simple matching of a measured ethanol concentration against a threshold can be used to determine simply whether the state should be disinfected or not disinfected , it is also possible to provide a more complicated analysis of measured concentration over time and a comparison of the measured concentration against dynamically selected thresholds . more than two states would be possible , for example , to denote different levels of disinfection or to denote that longer periods of time may elapse before another measurement is required . the length of time before a first measurement is considered stale and another measurement is required need not be based on an estimate of how long the ethanol on the skin will be effective , but can be based on an arbitrary period such as every hour . the degree of accuracy and repeatability of the measurement of ethanol concentration may be traded with the cost and complexity of the circuitry needed to do the measurements . in some examples , the goal need not be to assure that the user &# 39 ; s hands are thoroughly disinfected at all times . rather , if the system encourages more frequent and more thorough cleaning to any noticeable degree , great benefits will result . thus a very simple system may be quite useful and effective even though it may allow some users to cheat and may fail to determine the state accurately at all times . additional lights and displayed words may be used for a variety of purposes . the approach of the end of the disinfected period could be indicated by a yellow light to alert the user that a cleaning would soon be needed . the lights and lcd display could be supplemented with or replaced by audible alerts for all functions or some of them . in some examples , not all of the circuitry need be mounted in a single badge . some of the circuitry could be located in a different piece of equipment . for example , a sensor used in common by many people may be mounted on a wall and convey ( say by wireless communication ) the measured concentration of ethanol to the badge , which would then determine the state and indicate that state through lights and on the lcd . by separating the two , the badge could be lower cost , the sensor could be more complex and accurate , and the sensor could be located at places where the disinfectant solution is dispensed . fewer sensors would be needed . each badge could itself be split into two components that communicate with each other wirelessly or by wire . for example , a sensor module could be located in the user &# 39 ; s pocket , while the badge contains only the logic circuitry . the cleaning agent that is being measured need not be limited to ethanol but could include combinations of ethanol with other materials or other materials in the absence of ethanol ; an appropriate sensor for the other materials would be used . the badge could include clips , hook and loop fasteners , chains , pins , ribbons , and belt loops , and other devices to hold the badge on the user . the device need not take the form of a badge but could be an id device that attaches to a belt , a lapel , any other article of clothing , and other parts of the body including an arm , a leg , or a neck . the sensor and indicators need not be associated with identification information but could be provided in a device the sole purpose of which is to measure the concentration and provide an indication of it . the device can be used in non - health care environments in which hand cleanliness is important or expected . in a health - care environment , the device could be used by anyone who is providing services as well as by patients and their families or friends . information about the frequency , timing , and results of measurements performed historically by the user can be stored on the badge . many additional functions could be added to the badge by increasing the capacity of its processor , memory , displaying , communications ability , and user inputs features . | 6 |
the following technology may be used in various multiple access schemes such as code division multiple access ( cdma ), frequency division multiple access ( fdma ), time division multiple access ( tdma ), orthogonal frequency division multiple access ( ofdma ) and single carrier - frequency division multiple access ( sc - fdma ). the cdma may be implemented by a radio technology such as universal terrestrial radio access ( utra ) or cdma2000 . the tdma may be implemented by a radio technology such as a global system for mobile communications ( gsm )/ general packet radio service ( gprs )/ enhanced data rates for gsm evolution ( edge ). the ofdma may be implemented by a radio technology such as institute of electrical and electronics engineers ( ieee ) 802 . 11 ( wi - fi ), ieee 802 . 16 ( wimax ), ieee 802 . 20 or evolved utra ( e - utra ). the utra is a portion of a universal mobile telecommunications system ( umts ). 3rd generation partnership project ( 3gpp ) long term evolution ( lte ) is a portion of an evolved umts ( e - umts ) using the e - utra , which employs the ofdma in downlink and the sc - fdma in uplink . lte - advanced ( lte - a ) is an evolution of the 3gpp lte . technical terms used in this specification are used to merely illustrate specific embodiments , and should be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure . as far as not being defined differently , all terms used herein including technical or scientific terms may have the same meaning as those generally understood by an ordinary person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs to , and should not be construed in an excessively comprehensive meaning or an excessively restricted meaning . in addition , if a technical term used in the description of the present disclosure is an erroneous term that fails to clearly express the idea of the present disclosure , it should be replaced by a technical term that can be properly understood by the skilled person in the art . in addition , general terms used in the description of the present disclosure should be construed according to definitions in dictionaries or according to its front or rear context , and should not be construed to have an excessively restrained meaning . the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention . it will be further understood that the terms “ includes ” and / or “ including ,” when used in this specification , specify the presence of stated features , integers , steps , operations , elements , and / or components , but do not preclude the presence and / or addition of one or more other features , integers , steps , operations , elements , components , and / or groups thereof . it will be understood that , although the terms “ first ,” “ second ,” etc . may be used herein to describe various elements , these elements should not be limited by these terms . these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element . thus , a “ first ” element discussed below could also be termed as a “ second ” element without departing from the teachings of the present invention . it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “ coupled ” or “ connected ” to another element , it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present . in contrast , when an element is referred to as being “ directly coupled ” or “ directly connected ” to another element , there are no intervening elements present . in the drawings , the thickness of layers , films and regions are exaggerated for clarity . like numerals refer to like elements throughout . description will now be given in detail of the exemplary embodiments , with reference to the accompanying drawings . for the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings , the same or equivalent components will be provided with the same reference numbers , and description thereof will not be repeated . it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention . thus , it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents . hereinafter , although a terminal is shown in the drawings , the ue may be called as a user equipment ( ue ), mobile equipment ( me ), mobile station ( ms ), user terminal ( ut ), subscriber station ( ss ), wireless device , handheld device or access terminal ( at ). the ue may be a portable device having a communication function , such as a cellular phone , personal digital assistant ( pda ), smart phone , wireless modem or notebook computer , or may be a device that cannot be carried , such as a personal computer ( pc ) or vehicle mounting device . fig9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a method of limiting transmission power of a terminal . fig1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating another method of limiting transmission power of a terminal . before the method of limiting transmission power of a terminal is described with reference to fig9 , the maximum power actually available for the terminal in an lte system is briefly expressed as follows . here , the pcmax denotes maximum power ( actual maximum transmit power ) that the terminal can transmit to a corresponding cell , and the pemax denotes maximum power available in a corresponding cell on which a base station ( bs ) performs signaling . the pumax denotes the maximum power ( p powerclass ) of the terminal itself in consideration of maximum power reduction ( hereinafter , referred to as mpr ), additive - mpr ( hereinafter , referred to as a - mpr ), etc . the maximum output power is changed depending on a channel band . in the case of intra - band carrier aggregation ( ca ), the operating band is defined as shown in the following table . in table 1 , the f ul — low means the lowest frequency in the uplink operating band , and the f ul — high means the highest frequency in the uplink operating band . the fdd is an abbreviation for frequency division duplex , and the tdd is an abbreviation for time division duplex . meanwhile , ca band classes and protection bands corresponding thereto are shown in the following table . in table 2 , the square bracket [ ] is not surely specified yet , and may be changed . the n rb — agg denotes the number of resource blocks ( rbs ) aggregated in an aggregation channel band . in the channel band class c for the intra - band ca shown in table 2 , the maximum output power in an arbitrary transmission band may be defined as shown in the following table . that is , if the channel band for the intra - band ca is defined as class c , the maximum output power may be defined as shown in the following table . in table 3 , the tolerance represents an allowable error . in table 3 , the square bracket [ ] is not surely specified yet , and may be changed . here , the ca — 1c means an operating band ca — 1 in table 1 in the class c , and the ca — 40c means an operating band ca — 40 in table 1 in the class c . the maximum output power described above expresses a value measured during the length ( 1 ms ) of one subframe in an antenna of each ue . in the current lte system , the maximum power ( p powerclass ) of the terminal itself is defined as power class 3 , which means power of 23 dbm . meanwhile , the mpr means the amount of power reduction for the maximum transmit power defined with respect to a specific modulation order or the number of rbs so as to satisfy rf requirements ( a spectrum emission mask ( sem ), an adjacent channel leakage ratio ( aclr ), etc ) defined in the standard . the a - mpr means the amount of power reduction for the maximum transmit power defined due to regional characteristics . thus , the maximum power of the terminal is additionally reduced by applying the a - mpr suitable for a situation , so that the transmission power of the terminal is induced to a level that satisfies requirements for a public safety ( ps ) band , specified in a corresponding country . referring to fig9 ( a ), the bs performs signaling on a network signaling ( hereinafter , referred to as ns ) value . information element ( hereinafter , referred to as ie ) called as additional spectrum emission is defined in the protocol standard of the current lte system , and 32 nss is included in the ie . the value of a - mpr corresponding to each ns is defined in ts36 . 101 that is the 3gpp standard document . that is , each ns indicates the value of a - mpr corresponding thereto . then , the terminal transmits a signal by limiting its transmit power according to the corresponding value of a - mpr . specifically , if the terminal receives rbs for multi - cluster transmission in a single component carrier , which are allocated from the bs through its transceiver and then receives an ns value , the terminal transmits a signal by limiting the maximum transmit power according to the mpr indicated by the ns value . referring to fig9 ( b ), the bs transmits a master information block ( mib ) and a system information block ( sib ). the sib may contain at least one of information on an operating band , information on an uplink ( ul ) bandwidth and information on a carrier frequency . the information on the ul bandwidth may contain information on the number of rbs . the information on the operating band may contain information shown in the following table . here , the f ul — low means the lowest frequency in the uplink operating band , and the f ul — high means the highest frequency in the uplink operating band . the f dl — low means the lowest frequency in the downlink operating band , and the f dl — high means the highest frequency in the downlink operating band . meanwhile , the terminal can identify that the ul allocated to transmit a signal belongs to a specific class of the ca band classes in table 2 , using the system information ( si ) described above . then , the terminal may transmit the signal by limiting the maximum transmit power according to the mpr recognized by the terminal , without considering the a - mpr through the ns . that is , additional aclr and se received through the ns may not be considered . as can be seen with reference to fig1 , the terminal may transmit the signal by limiting the maximum transmit power according to the mpr recognized by the terminal , without the ns performed from the bs . this means that when the ul resource allocated from the bs is a general operating band which does not requires the ns performed by the bs , the maximum transmit power may be limited according to the mpr recognized by the terminal . hereinafter , a single carrier - frequency division multiple access ( sc - fdma ) transmission scheme and the mpr required in the sc - fdma will be described . fig1 is a block diagram illustrating an sc - fdma transmission scheme that is an uplink access scheme employed in the 3gpp lte . sc - fdma is employed in the uplink of lte . here , the sc - fdma is a scheme similar to ofdm , but can reduce power consumption of a portable terminal and cost of a power amplifier by decreasing a peak to average power ratio ( papr ). the sc - fdma is a scheme similar to the ofdm in which a signal is divided into sub - bands to be transmitted through sub - carriers using fast fourier transform ( fft ) and inverse - fft ( ifft ). the sc - fdma is identical to the conventional ofdm scheme in that a guard interval ( cyclic prefix ) is used so that it is possible to utilize a simple equalizer in the frequency domain with respect to inter - symbol interference ( isi ). however , the power efficiency of a transmitter has been improved by decreasing the papr at a transmitter terminal by about 2 to 3 db using an additional unique technique . that is , the problem of the conventional ofdm receiver is that signals carried by each sub - carrier on a frequency axis are converted into signals on a time axis by the ifft . since parallel equal operations are performed in the ifft , an increase in the papr occurs . referring to fig1 , to solve such a problem , a discrete fourier transform ( dft ) 12 is first performed on information before a signal is mapped to a sub - carrier in the sc - fdma . sub - carrier mapping 13 is performed on a signal spread ( or precoded in the same meaning ) by the dft , and the signal subjected to the sub - carrier mapping is converted into a signal in the time axis by performing an ifft 14 . in this case , unlike the ofdm , the papr of a signal in the time domain after the ifft 14 is not increased so much by the correlation among the def 12 , the sub - carrier mapping 13 and the ifft 14 , and thus the sc - fdma is advantageous in terms of transmission power efficiency . that is , a transmission scheme in which the ifft is performed after dft spreading is referred to as the sc - fdma . as such , the sc - fdma has a similar structure to the ofdm , thereby obtaining the signal strength for a multi - path channel , and the sc - fdma completely prevents the papr from being increased through the through the ifft in the conventional ofdm , thereby enabling the use of a power amplifier . meanwhile , the sc - fdma may also be called as def spread ofdm ( def - s - ofdm ). that is , the papr or cubic metric ( cm ) may be decreased in the sc - fdma . when the sc - fdma transmission scheme is used , it is possible to avoid a non - linear distortion period of the power amplifier , and thus the transmission power efficiency can be improved in an ue of which power consumption is limited . accordingly , it is possible to increase a user throughput . meanwhile , the standardization of the lte - a more improved than the lte has been actively performed in the 3gpp . in the process of standardizing the lte - a , the sc - fdma - based scheme and the ofdm scheme competed with each other , but a clustered def - s - ofdm scheme that allows non - contiguous resource allocation has been employed . fig1 is a block diagram a clustered discrete fourier transform - spread - orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ( dft - s - ofdm ) transmission method employed as an uplink access method in the lte - advanced standard . the important feature of the clustered dft - s - ofdm is that it is possible to flexibly cope with a frequency selective fading environment by enabling frequency selective resource allocation . in the clustered dft - s - ofdm scheme employed as the uplink access scheme of the lte - a , the non - contiguous resource allocation is allowed differently from the sc - fdma that is an uplink access scheme of the conventional lte , and thus transmitted uplink data can be divided into several cluster units . that is , the lte system maintains a single carrier characteristic in the ul . on the other hand , the lte - a allows a case in which data subjected to dft - precoding is non - contiguously allocated on the frequency axis or the pusch and pucch are transmitted at the same time . in this case , it is difficult to maintain the single carrier characteristic . fig1 illustrates a scenario in which a pusch is transmitted by being divided into several cluster units in a single component carrier . fig1 illustrates an adjacent channel leakage ratio ( aclr ). fig1 a to 15d illustrate simulations respectively obtained by using quadrature phase - shift keying ( qpsk ) and 16 - quadrature amplitude modulation ( qam ), and illustrate mprs according to the simulations . as can be seen with reference to fig1 , there is shown an example in which the pusch is transmitted by being allocated to several rbs when the single component carrier has 100 rbs , i . e ., 20 mhz . the number and position of the allocated rbs are moved from the end to center of the frequency axis . in this case , the worst scenario is that the smallest number of rbs are allocated to both ends of the band . first , before performing a simulation , parameters used in the simulation will be described . the channel band uses a band compatible in 3gpp release 8 and 9 . the modulation scheme is qpsk / 16 - qam . the modulator impairments are as follows . here , the i / q imbalance is i / q inequality , which means that the i / q imbalance acts as spreading between symmetric subcarriers and causes performance degradation . in this case , the unit dbc represents the relative size of power based on the size in the power of a carrier frequency . the carrier leakage is an additional sinusoidal ( sine ) wave having the same frequency as a modulation carrier frequency . the counter im3 ( counter inter - modulation distortion ) represents an element caused by components such as a mixer and an amplifier in an rf system . in table 5 , in a case where an adjacent channel 1402 is used for the purpose of utra as shown in fig1 when the terminal transmits a signal in an e - utra channel 1401 , the utra aclr1 is a rate in which the signal is leaked to the adjacent channel 1402 , i . e ., utra channel . that is , the utra aclr1 is an adjacent channel leakage rate ( aclr ). in a case where a channel 1403 positioned adjacent to the adjacent channel 1402 is used for the purpose of utra as shown in fig1 when the terminal transmits a signal in the e - utra channel 1401 , the utra aclr2 is a rate in which the signal is leaked to the adjacent channel 1403 , i . e ., utra channel . that is , the utra aclr2 is an aclr . in a case where a channel 1404 positioned adjacent to the adjacent channel 1404 is used for the purpose of utra as shown in fig1 when the terminal transmits a signal in the e - utra channel 1401 , the e - utra aclr is a rate in which the signal is leaked to the adjacent channel 1404 , i . e ., utra channel . that is , the utra aclr is an aclr . the value of the mpr represents a general sem that a frequency must not interfere when the channel is distant by a certain frequency distance from the outside of a given channel band . the value of mpr for release 8 or 9 is defined as shown in the following table . here , the δf oob is an abbreviation for frequency of out of band emission , and represents a frequency when the frequency is emitted out of the channel band . the dbm is a unit of power ( watt ), and 1 mw = 0 dbm . the general spurious emission ( se ) that a frequency must not interfere according to the frequency range is defined as shown in the following table . hereinafter , the result obtained by performing the simulations , based on the simulation parameters described above , will be described . in this case , based on the simulation result , the mpr required in the single component carrier is defined as ns — 01 , and the a - mpr required when other requirements additionally exist is defined as ns_xx . referring to fig1 a , there is shown a simulation result when multiple clusters are simultaneously transmitted using a qpsk modulation scheme under the situation of a single component carrier . specifically , when the allocation ratio is within a range from 0 to 0 . 1 , the mpr of a maximum of about 7 . 6 db is required . as such , the mpr according to the simulation result of fig1 a can be defined as ns — 01 if qpsk modulation is used . referring to fig1 b , there is shown a simulation result when multiple clusters are simultaneously transmitted using a 16 - qam modulation scheme under the situation of a single component carrier . according to the simulation result , when the allocation ratio is within a range from 0 to 0 . 1 , the mpr of a maximum of about 8 db is required . the mpr according to the simulation result of fig1 b is defined as ns — 01 if 16qam modulation is used . however , in order to consider results of qpsk , the mpr according to the simulation result of fig1 b can be defined as ns — 01 . the mpr required to reduce the aclr , sem and se has be derived from the simulation results shown in fig1 a and 15b . in a case where the signaling is performed as the ns — 01 , the terminal must apply other values of mpr according to the allocation ratio . the values of mpr according to the allocation ratio are defined as shown in the following table . table 8 shows values of mpr , required when multiple clusters are simultaneously transmitted using the single component carrier in a case where the signaling is performed from the bs to the terminal as the ns — 01 . here , the n rb — agg denotes the number of rbs aggregated in the aggregation channel band . the n rb — alloc denotes the total number of rbs simultaneously transmitted in the configuration of the aggregation channel band . alternately , the n rb — alloc denotes the sum of activated rbs , although it is not indicated that all clusters are considered . referring to fig1 c , there is shown a simulation result when multiple clusters are simultaneously transmitted by using the qpsk modulation scheme under the situation of the single component carrier and by considering additional se / sem of ns — 04 . according to the simulation result , when the allocation ratio is within a range from 0 to 0 . 1 , the mpr of a maximum of about 11 . 2 db is required . as such , the mpr according to the simulation result of fig1 c can be defined as a value for ns — 04 if qpsk modulation is used . referring to fig1 d , there is shown a simulation result when multiple clusters are simultaneously transmitted using the 16 - qam modulation scheme under the situation of the single component carrier . according to the simulation result , when the allocation ratio is within a range from 0 to 0 . 1 , the mpr of a maximum of about 11 . 2 db is required . as such , the mpr according to the simulation result of fig1 d can be defined as ns — 04 if 16qam modulation is used . however , in order to consider results of qpsk , the mpr according to the simulation result of fig1 d can be defined as ns — 0 . as can be seen from the simulation results shown in fig1 c and 15d , the terminal must apply other values of mpr according to the allocation ratio . fig1 illustrates mprs according to simulation results , when multiple clusters are simultaneously transmitted through a single component carrier . unlike fig1 , mpr_required according to the allocation ratio a rb =( n rb — alloc / n rb — agg ) is shown in fig1 by simultaneously considering the qpsk modulation scheme and the 16 - qam modulation scheme . meanwhile , the value of mpr shown in fig1 may be a value previously stored in the terminal . therefore , when the band of the allocated ul resource is a general operating band that does not require the ns , the transmission power may be limited using the value of mpr previously stored in the terminal . meanwhile , if a specific ns is received , the ue can limit a maximum transmission power according to a - mpr mask . each waveform includes two clusters in which rbs have various bandwidths and the same power spectrum density . the position and band of the rb are arbitrary . the mpr for each waveform is calculated in consideration of the general sem , the aclr and the general se . that is , in a case where the ul resource allocated from the bs exists in the channel band 1401 for the e - utra , the value of mpr is calculated the utra aclr1 and utra aclr2 for the channel band for the e - utra and the two adjacent channels 1402 and 1403 . in a case where the ul resource allocated from the bs exists in the channel band 1401 for the e - utra , the value of mpr is calculated in consideration of the e - utra aclr for the adjacent channel 1404 , i . e ., the channel for the e - utra . the value of mpr is calculated in consideration of the general se that a frequency must not interfere when the channel is distant by a certain frequency distance from the outside of a given channel band . the value of the mpr is calculated in consideration of the general se that a frequency must not interfere according to the frequency range . meanwhile , the result 1 may be modified like the final plan shown in fig1 . hereinafter , the final plan will be described . the mpr of the maximum output power for the transmission of multiple clusters , with respect to class a in an intra - band contiguous ca band , is as follows . alternatively , the mpr of the maximum output power for the transmission of multiple clusters in the single component carrier is as follows . here , the ceil { m a , 0 . 5 } means a function of rounding off the mpr as a unit of 0 . 5 db . that is , mprε { 3 . 0 , 3 . 5 4 . 0 4 . 5 5 . 0 5 . 5 6 . 0 6 . 5 7 . 0 7 . 5 8 . 0 }. the value of the mpr may be a value previously stored in the terminal , although it is not indicated through the ns performed from the bs . that is , when the ul resource allocated from the bs is a general operating band which does not requires the ns , the value of mpr previously stored in the terminal may be used . the exemplary embodiments described above may be implemented using various means . for example , the exemplary embodiments may be implemented by hardware , firmware , software , or combination thereof . according to the implementation using the hardware , the method according to the exemplary embodiments may be implemented using at least one of application specific integrated circuits ( asics ), digital signal processors ( dsps ), digital signal processing devices ( dspds ), programmable logic devices ( plds ), field programmable gate arrays ( fpgas ), processors , controllers , etc . according to the implementation using the firmware or software , the method according to the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in the form of a module , procedure or function performing functions and operations described above . software codes may be stored in a memory unit and executed by a processor . the memory unit may be located in the inside or outside of the processor , and communicate data with the processor using various means known in the art . fig1 is a configuration block diagram of a terminal 100 according to an exemplary embodiment . as shown in fig1 , the terminal 100 includes a storage means 110 , a controller 120 and a transceiver 130 . the storage means 110 stores the methods shown in fig1 to 16 . the controller 120 individually controls the storage means 110 and the transceiver 130 . specifically , the controller 120 performs the methods stored in the storage means 110 . if the transceiver 130 receives rbs allocated to transmit multiple clusters using a single component carrier from the bs and receives an ns value , the controller 120 controls the transceiver 130 to transmit a signal by limiting the maximum transmit power according to the mpr indicated by the ns value . the present invention may be applied to terminals , base stations or other equipments in a wireless mobile communication system . the foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure . the present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses . this description is intended to be illustrative , and not to limit the scope of the claims . many alternatives , modifications , and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art . the features , structures , methods , and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and / or alternative exemplary embodiments . as the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof , it should also be understood that the above - described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description , unless otherwise specified , but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims , and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims , or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims . | 7 |
referring to the figures and more particularly to fig1 a bearing 10 comprising a permanent magnet cylinder 12 is shown levitated above a high temperature superconductor disk 14 . the permanent magnet cylinder 12 has magnetic poles 16 on its top and bottom surfaces . flux lines 18 that emerge from the poles 16 ( shown only on the right half of the figure ) ordinarily have the spatial distribution shown coming from the top pole 16 . the superconductor disk 14 distorts the spatial flux distribution flux lines 18 coming from the bottom of the permanent magnet cylinder 12 . in fig1 some of the magnetic flux lines 18 penetrate the high temperature superconductor disk 14 as shown . as the flux pinning strength of the high temperature superconductor disk 14 is improved , less flux penetrates the high temperature superconductor disk 14 and more flux resides in the gap 20 between the high temperature superconductor disk 14 and the permanent magnet cylinder 12 . it is believed that for the geometry shown in fig1 the levitational pressure is limited by a value of b equal to the intrinsic coercive force h ci associated with the permanent magnet cylinder 12 . as can be seen in fig1 the flux density between the permanent magnet cylinder 12 and the high temperature superconductor disk 14 increases toward the perimeter of the permanent magnet cylinder 12 . if the flux density exceeds h ci , the permanent magnet cylinder 12 will lose its magnetization . for many magnetic materials , h ci has a value greater than 2 t , and thus there appears to be an unfulfilled potential for producing magnetic levitation pressures of 1 . 6 mpa ( 16 atm .). this can be compared to atmospheric pressure from a pole face field previously believed to be the maximum achievable level . as described hereinbelow , significantly larger pressures are in fact obtainable with preferred embodiments of the invention . in order for a high temperature superconductor to provide a large levitational pressure , it must act essentially , as a good diamagnetic material . it cannot do this with the meissner effect because the first critical field hc 1 is of the order of 10 mt . however , if the high temperature superconductor material has good flux pinning properties , then as the permanent magnet is brought toward the high temperature superconductor surface , the flux lines are held near the surface of the high temperature superconductor and the flux lines near the surface are all tangential to the surface ; the high temperature superconductor acts essentially as a diamagnet . the large tangential component can substantially increase the levitation pressure as shown by reference to equation ( 1 ) hereinabove . in the early days of high temperature superconductor materials research , the flux pinning forces were determined to be quite weak , and the magnetic field was determined to penetrate the superconductor at field strengths considerably below 1 t . that is , in equation ( 1 ), there was a substantial normal component ; and the magnetic pressures were much lower than that between two identical permanent magnets . for this reason , the discrepancy with conventional wisdom was not noted in the past . currently , however , high temperature superconductor materials , especially those of the melt - textured variety and its derivatives , often exhibit substantial diamagnetic behavior in fields up to 1 t . therefore , material fabrication techniques have improved , flux pinning strength has increased further , thereby increasing the effectiveness of the present invention . a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in fig2 . a bearing 10 includes a high temperature superconductor disk 14 located beneath a thrust bearing rotor 24 . the thrust bearing rotor 24 comprises a magnet flux element 26 which can be one of a permanent magnet , a superconducting magnet in persistent current mode , an electromagnet or a trapped field superconductor and high temperature superconductor annular structure 28 , and these elements are mechanically coupled to form the rotor 24 . the magnet 26 is magnetized with poles located at a and b . the flux emerging at pole face a is channeled through region c between the rotor 24 and high temperature superconductor disk 14 , and then return to the magnet 26 via region d and reenters the magnet 26 at pole face b . if the gap 20 between the rotor 24 and disk 14 is small , then the magnetic field is much larger in region c than near pole face a . as illustrated in fig2 the gap 20 in region c decreases radially so that the magnetic field is nearly constant along the surface of the high temperature superconductor disk 14 . the high temperature superconductor disk 14 and the high temperature superconductor annular structure 28 concentrate or compress the magnetic flux in region c . if the flux pinning of these high temperature superconductor components is large enough , almost all of the flux will be located in region c . by making the gap 20 small , the magnetic field strength and levitation pressure can be made very large in this region . ultimately , the levitation pressure is limited by the upper critical field of the superconductor h c2 , which is a function of temperature . at liquid helium and liquid hydrogen temperatures , h c2 is approximately 100 t . at liquid nitrogen temperature , h c2 may be several tens of tesla . a more practical limitation can be the magnetic field at which flux jumps are expected to occur ( i . e ., the field will penetrate the high temperature superconductor because of thermal - magnetic instabilities ). for a high temperature superconductor with a critical temperature of 90 k ., the field at which flux jumps can be expected to occur is believed to be as high as about 8 t . another preferred embodiment of the invention can use an electromagnet in place of the permanent magnet cylinder 12 ( fig1 ) or the cylindrical permanent magnet 26 ( fig2 ) previously described . yet another embodiment uses a superconducting magnet in persistent current mode in place of the various permanent magnets . another embodiment uses a trapped field superconductor in place of the various permanent magnets . still another preferred embodiment uses a combination of permanent magnet and pole piece , made of holmium , iron or other magnetic material with a high saturation field . in these devices , the pole piece concentrates the flux from the permanent magnet . this latter embodiment can be used in the geometry of fig1 or fig2 . yet another preferred embodiment utilizes a generally flat bottom surface 30 of the high temperature superconductor annular structure 28 ( shown in phantom in fig2 ) which might be easier to fabricate . however , less levitational force results because the magnetic field in the gap decreases with increasing radius . yet another preferred embodiment of one form of the invention is shown in fig3 . here the bearing 10 provides a flux return path aided by an additional annular permanent magnet 32 and an iron disk 34 . this has the practical advantage of increasing the flux density at pole face a . this raises the field strength in region c , or alternatively , increases the size of the gap 20 at c which can still produce a given levitation pressure . preferably , the pole face at b has the opposite polarity as that at a , and the area of the pole at b is approximately the same as that at a . an alternative embodiment of this form of the invention replaces the annular permanent magnet 32 with an iron annulus . another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in fig4 . in this design , the bearing 10 includes a rotor 36 preferably comprising a nonmagnetic shaft 38 , permanent magnet 40 , and high temperature superconductor annular part 42 . a stator 44 comprises a high temperature superconductor part 46 . the magnetic flux takes the path along spaces a , c1 , c2 , c3 , b . the advantage of this design is that the bearing 10 is stable in both the vertical and radial direction without the need for any flux to penetrate the high temperature superconductor components . a movement downward by the rotor causes the gap c1 to decrease and the gap c3 to increase in size . the change in gap size causes the magnetic field and levitation pressure to increase in c1 and decrease in c3 . a movement of the rotor to the left will cause gap c2 to decrease and the corresponding gap to the right to increase , with corresponding changes in radial levitation pressure . thus , the bearing is stable in an equilibrium position without any feedback controls . in fig4 the bearing is illustrated in a thrust bearing configuration . if the device is turned on its side , then the bearing 10 will function equally well as a journal bearing . as a separate alternative embodiment of fig4 part or all of the shaft 11 can be made from high temperature superconductor material . this increases the reluctance outside the desired flux path . increased stability in the other preferred embodiments described herein can be achieved by having some of the magnetic flux penetrate the high temperature superconductor and be pinned inside . this produces stability with regard to lateral motions . however , this stability is gained at the expense of some levitational pressure perpendicular to the high temperature superconductor surface . while preferred embodiments have been illustrated and described , it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects . various features of the invention are defined in the following claims . | 7 |
fig1 demonstrates the major components of the blood - holding cassette , in an exploded view , used in measuring haemostasis and thrombolytic properties of blood . the device shown in fig1 includes four major components . the first component is a blood supply reservoir 11 . the blood supply reservoir 11 includes three separate blood sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 . the cap for the blood sample reservoir has been removed in this figure , but will be demonstrated in fig2 and 3 . the cap assembly includes a port for filling each of the individual containers 12 , 13 and 14 with samples of blood drawn from a patient . the cap has a sealable inlet for receiving a syringe full of drawn blood , as well as a sealable vent equipped with a filter for venting the container during filling . a heating jacket 15 is shown surrounding the blood sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 . the heating jacket 15 is filled with a recirculated heated fluid which may be water entering port 19 and flowing through port 18 into the heating jacket 15 . an overflow 16 will convey the heated water back through outlet 17 to the base 49 of the device to port 20 to be recirculated . thus , blood samples contained in containers 12 , 13 and 14 are maintained at a temperature providing for accurate in vitro measurements to be made on the blood . supported on a platform 91 extending from the blood supply reservoir 11 are plunger housings 80 and 81 . these plunger housings will support the punching station 72 on the front of the blood cassette . a waste receptacle 44 is shown which is connected to the blood supply reservoir 11 . cooperating tongue 21 , and slot 29 captivate a connector 34 . the waste receptacle 44 includes three separate blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 . these separate blood collection chambers may be pressurized through injection sites 45 , 46 and 47 , inserted into the inlets of blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 . the area within the waste receptacle 44 between each of the blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 and the exterior wall of the waste receptacle 44 are used to collect discarded blood which has been tested in accordance with the operation of the device . a vent 48 is provided to vent the collecting volume through a filter . the individual blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 are connected via blood sample tubes 30 , 31 and 32 to the individual blood sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 of the blood supply reservoir 11 . blood collection chamber caps 37 , 38 and 39 seal the individual blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 . the blood collection chamber caps each include an overflow tube 50 , 51 and 53 which vent any air in the blood collection chambers into the waste receptacle 44 . once the air has vented , paraffin oil within the blood collection chambers will be displaced by pressurized blood entering the blood collection chamber . only one of the overflow tubes , 53 , is shown connected into the waste receptacle 44 , but it should be understood that the remaining end of overflow tubes 50 and 51 are also connected through like openings into the waste receptacle 44 . these connections were omitted for the sake of clarity in illustrating the device . the overflow tubes also provide a resistance function permitting venting of chambers 40 , 41 and 42 , while also maintaining a back pressure on the collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 . the blood sample tubes 30 , 31 and 32 are connected to the individual blood sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 through bulkhead connectors 22 , 23 and 24 . these bulkhead connectors additionally convey pressurizing media which may be paraffin oil through individual pressurizing tubes 26 , 27 and 28 . these individual tubes are connected to a captivated connector 34 which can be connected to a supply of paraffin oil for individually pressurizing each of the blood sample chambers 12 , 13 and 14 . during testing of the blood for haemostasis and related properties , blood will be forced by the pressurizing media in each of the individual blood containers 12 , 13 and 14 through the blood sample tubes 30 , 31 and 32 into the blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 . the blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 are likewise pressurized after inserting blood samples into the sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 by means of paraffin oil , or another pressurizing media which enters through the injection sites 45 , 46 and 47 in the base 49 of the cassette . this allows the blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 to be purged of air and , when blood enters the collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 , the pressurizing media is displaced through the venting tubes 50 , 51 and 53 into the waste receptacle 44 . once blood samples are inserted in the blood sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 , and the system pressurized to a stable pressure , testing of the individual blood samples may commence . two of the blood sample tubes , 30 and 32 , pass through a punching station , generally identified as 72 . the punching station , supported on the face of the waste receptacle 44 and blood supply reservoir 11 , permits a hole to be accurately punched across the full diameter of each of the two blood sample tubes 30 and 32 . this will provide for a haemostatic condition , wherein bleeding commences through the punched holes and primary haemostasis occurs , demonstrating the haemostasis function . a bleeding chamber is formed in the area surrounding the supported sample tubes 30 and 32 . a supply of warm saline solution enters the base through a port 25 which is connected through the waste receptacle by an appropriate tubing conduit , and leaves port 68 which is inserted in the inlet 66 . the inlet 66 and an overflow 65 keep the area defining a bleeding chamber continuously washed with warm saline solution . the overflow 65 conveys saline solution through a port 69 connected to the interior of the waste receptacle . drain tubes 63 and 64 collect blood which results from punching the holes through sample tubes 30 and 32 . these collected drops of blood are washed with the saline solution through each of the drain tubes 63 and 64 into the waste receptacle 44 via openings 83 . the drain tubes 63 and 64 are tapered to a narrow section entering the receptacle 44 . the tapered portion is advantageously exposed to permit a photodetector to be inserted on each side of the drain tube narrow ends to sense the onset of bleeding and also the stopping of bleeding . as was described in the foregoing earlier documents , i . e ., the pct international application , and epo application , the pressure formed in the hydraulic circuit include the blood sample containers 12 and 14 , as well as the blood collection chambers 40 and 42 , may be monitored to measure the clotting characteristics of the blood . the pressure transducer is advantageously connected through the injection sites 45 and 47 , which were previously precharged with the pressurized media . thus , once the sample tubes have been punched , and bleeding commences , the pressure drop within these individual hydraulic circuits may be monitored to determine the forming of clotting within the punched holes . the punching station 72 permits the accurate positioning of the punching needle 73 with respect to the sample tube 30 which is to be punctured . an alignment guide 74 and plunger guide 77 move in unison with the plunger 76 , thus capturing the sample tube 30 once so captured , and held rigidly within the larger opening of the drain tube 63 , the needle 73 is forced against the needle spring 75 by continued forward movement of the plunger 76 . the plunger 76 is held within the plunger guide 77 inserted in plunger housing 81 on the blood supply reservoir 11 . additional plunger springs 78 are maintained within the housing 81 by an assembly washer 79 . in operation , plunger buttons 84 , not shown in fig1 but described in the remaining figures of the case , are forced upward by the spring 78 . manual pressure on each of the buttons will result in the spring 78 being compressed , and the plunger 76 and alignment guide 74 to be moved towards the drain tube 63 . the alignment guide 74 will capture the sample tube 30 and cease moving forward along the axial direction of the drain tube 63 . the needle 73 will continue to move against the force of needle spring 75 , while the alignment guide 74 and plunger guide 77 are maintained stationary by the sample tube 30 , supported within the drain tube opening 63 . the alignment guide 74 insures that the drain tube is accurately punched across its diameter , and that the needle is withdrawn through the action of the needle spring 75 , and expansion of the plunger spring 78 , so that bleeding commences on both sides of the sample tube 30 . the punching station provides an identical punch for punching the sample tube 32 so as to provide the identical hole structure having the same diameter to simulate an identical bleeding condition with sample tube 30 . as was described in the aforesaid references , haemostasis may be measured with the monitoring of the pressure within the blood collection chamber 42 . additional detection of bleeding and the stopping of bleeding may be sensed with the photodetectors arranged around the narrow ends of drain tubes 63 and 64 . the cassette device illustrated in fig1 provides total isolation of the tested blood , avoiding any possible contamination through infected blood which may have been drawn from a patient . as is described in these earlier patent references , the bleeding time is measured as a time requiring the pressure of the system to return to its prepunched condition . given enough time , the tubes will be occluded due to a clot forming within each of the sample tubes 30 and 32 . this event may be noted as well when the pressure monitored in the respective blood collection chambers 40 and 42 decreases to zero , indicating an occluded tube . these various measurements are detailed in the previous patent references , and give researchers valuable information as to the haemostasis and thrombolysis activity of the blood . a third chamber 41 collects blood forced from the blood sample container 13 . as was described in the earlier - noted references , it may be important to do a test without simulating bleeding , but rather providing a collagen - induced thrombus formation with a sample of blood . by inserting a small piece of catgut or other collagen material within a sample tube 31 , and monitoring the pressure on the associated blood collection chamber 41 , it is possible to provide a time indication of the formation of a collagen - induced thrombus . the provision of two blood sample containers 12 and 14 which are connected via blood sample tubes 30 and 32 to punching chambers , permits the measurement of thrombolysis - inducing and other agents to be made . one of the blood sample containers may include a measure of such thrombolysis agents , such as t - pa , to determine the effects of the agent on the blood of an individual patient . thus , the haemostasis bleeding time , clotting time and other related conditions may be determined independent of the non - heparinized blood sample . in connection with this type of testing for the device , the overflow tube 53 is passed through a fork 54 before entering the waste receptacle 44 . the overflow tube 53 , in the region near the fork 54 , and upstream therefrom , is enlarged with respect to the remaining portion of the overflow tube 53 . a cylindrical member 57 slides along an axis coincident with the axis of the fork 54 to clamp the overflow tube 53 into a closed condition . this will effectively pressurize the sample tube 30 , thus increasing pressure on any platelet plug formed in the hole punched in the sample tube 30 , expelling the platelet , thereby increasing the speed of the test . the enlarged portion of the overflow tube 53 reduces the rise time of pressure buildup within the sample tube 30 . each of the overflow tubes 50 , 51 and 53 include a coil portion which provides resistance for material being forced from the blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 , and are connected to discharge into waste receptacle 44 . the coil portions permit establishment of a system pressure of 60 mm of mercury during testing . having thus given a description of the major components of the blood - holding cassette , reference will now be made to the individual subcomponents to describe their operation in greater detail . fig2 illustrates the relationship between the waste receptacle 44 , the base 49 , blood supply reservoir 11 and a previously undisclosed cap 82 which covers the blood supply reservoir 11 , permitting each of the individual blood sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 to be filled with a blood sample . the cap 82 includes for each blood sample container 12 , 13 and 14 an inlet 85 . when a blood sample is drawn , it may be readily injected into the blood sample container 12 . the blood sample container 12 is sealed , using a pushbutton shown and described in fig3 and 4 . a vent 86 includes a hydrophobic filter 87 , permitting any air within the blood sample container 12 to vent through the filter 87 . vents 86 and inlet 85 are connected via a sealing member 94 to the container 12 . individual flexible conduits 90 and 92 make the required connection between inlet and vents and the blood sample container 12 . it is clear that blood sample containers 13 and 14 contain identical structure for permitting the blood samples to be inserted in the individual blood sample containers will not be described further . the blood sample container 11 is connected to the waste receptacle 44 . in practice , each of the sections 82 , 11 , 44 and 49 are connected together with an adhesive , or otherwise made fluid - tight . the waste receptacle 44 includes an area between each of the collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 which collects saline and waste blood from drain tubes 63 and 64 , and paraffin oil from overflow tubes 50 , 51 and 53 . the bottoms of the collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 are supported in supports 89 and are accessible via the injection sites 45 , 46 and 47 . these injection sites similarly are self - sealing , permitting pressurizing media to be injected within the blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 , simultaneously permitting a pressure transducer to be connected to the same injection sites 45 , 46 or 47 . obviously , a t - tube external to the injection sites 45 , 46 and 47 will permit pressurizing media to be introduced , as well as permit pressure measurements to be monitored following the pressurizing of blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 . referring now to fig3 there is shown another section view of the blood sample cassette , illustrating various pushbuttons which are provided in the cap 82 of fig2 for sealing each of the tubes 90 and 92 , once the blood sample has been inserted in the blood chamber . fig3 demonstrates one of three pushbuttons 95 held in a channel of the cap 82 . at one end of the pushbutton 95 is an arcuate notch 96 which engages a lever 97 . the lever 97 is supported to be cantilevered about an upstanding vertical rib 98 within the cap 82 . as fig4 demonstrates , when the button 95 is pressed downward , the lever 96 pivots about the upstanding vertical pivot 98 , crimping the tube 92 and adjacent tube 90 , connected to the inlet . in operation , once each of the sample containers 12 , 13 and 14 are filled , they are sealed off by depressing the respective button 95 associated with the chamber 12 . there are additional shut - off structures for blood sample containers 13 and 14 , identical to that illustrated for chamber 12 . in operation , as the cassette is designed to be thrown out once a test is made , the buttons 95 remain in their depressed position , closing off the vent and inlet of the blood sample container 12 . fig3 also illustrates how a bleeding chamber 101 is formed , in a platform on the blood supply reservoir 11 . the chamber includes the wider end of the drain tubes 63 , 64 , which positions blood sample tubes for puncture with respect to the plunger supports 80 , 81 . a pair of buttons 84 are located above plunger supports 80 , 81 for moving a plunger into punching position . at the bottom of the drain tube 64 there is shown a space in which a photodetector 100 and light source 99 may be inserted to facilitate detection of blood dripping in the drain tube 64 . the aperture 83 receives the narrow end of the drain tube 64 . the waste receptacle 44 is shown to have a space between the blood collection chambers 40 , 41 and 42 to receive the blood and saline which drains through the tube 64 . fig5 and 6 illustrate in greater detail the blood chamber 101 . the top of the drain tubes 63 and 64 have notches 108 diametrically opposite each other . the notches 108 receive tube clamps 104 , 105 , 106 and 107 . these devices accurately position each of the sample tubes 30 and 32 to extend across the diameter of the drain tubes 63 and 64 . the tube clamps 104 , 105 , 106 and 107 are inserted in each of the notches 108 of the drain tube to maintain the sample tubes 30 and 32 across the diameter of the drain tube 64 . extending from the tube clamps 104 , 105 , 106 and 107 toward the center of the drain tubes are metal support tubes 102 , 103 , 110 , 111 , slid over blood tubes 30 , 32 , which rigidly support the blood tubes 30 , 32 , exposing the center of the drain tubes 63 , 64 . deflection of the tubes 30 , 32 is held to a minimum during punching . the bleeding chamber 101 is positioned with respect to the plunger guides 80 , 81 so as to permit accurate location of the sample tube 30 and 32 with respect to an alignment guide contained on the plunger . the saline enters through port 66 at a very low rate , and exits the overflow 65 to wash any blood which results from simulated bleeding flowing through the drain tube 64 into the waste receptacle 44 . fig7 and 8 illustrate perspective views of the bleeding chamber 101 which is formed in the platform 91 of the blood supply reservoir 11 . the tubes are first inserted through the notches 109 in the tube clamps 103 , 104 , 105 and 106 , and then the drain tubes 63 and 64 are positioned to receive the clamping elements 103 , 104 , 105 and 106 . the saline inlets and outlets 65 and 66 are positioned in similar openings of the bleeding chamber 101 . thus , it is seen that the sample tubes to be punctured are parallel to the horizontally extending platform 91 of the reservoir . fig9 through 11 illustrate how the plunger 72 accurately pierces a hole across the diameter of the sample tube 32 . a pushbutton 84 is connected to the end of plunger 76 . the plunger 76 shaft extends through the cap 82 and supports at an opposite end a needle 73 . a plunger spring 78 is captured and maintained fixed between assembly washer 79 fixed to the plunger 76 shaft , and the plane 77c of a plurality of vertical ribs 77b of the plunger housing 80 . the plunger 76 and plunger guide 77 will move until the alignment guide 74 , connected to plunger guide 77 , is seated against the blood sample tube 32 . continued movement of the plunger 76 will force needle 73 to move against its bias spring 75 , punching the sample tube which is seated within the guide 74 . once the pushbutton 84 has been pushed its full limit and released , the plunger spring 78 will return the plunger 76 to its prepunched position . the needle spring 75 will additionally retract the punching needle along the punching axis within the alignment guide 74 to its prepunched position . it is therefore seen that the punch within the punching station shown in fig9 can accurately punch a sample tube along its major diameter . in order to compare successive testing of blood samples over a period of time , it is necessary to punch the same diameter hole and simulate bleeding under the same conditions in order to compare data obtained during each test . the diameter of the hole punched must be repeatable in a size range of 100 - 200 microns , and the needle must pierce the tubing with the full diameter of the needle shank . the foregoing device will maintain the blood sample tube fixed to permit diametrical piercing of the sample tube , and avoid any deflection which would result in a non - uniform piercing of the sample tube . thus , the foregoing device will provide for accurate punching of a blood sample tube having a wall thickness of less than 300 microns . this will accurately simulate the bleeding which occurs in small blood vessels which are physiologically related . the in vitro testing provided by this device will give accurate results of the physical environment experienced in human bleeding conditions . an exploded view of the punching mechanism 72 is shown in fig1 . the assembly washer 79 retains one end of the plunger spring 78 within the plunger housing 80 fixed to the shaft of plunger 76 . a pushbutton 84 rests on the end of the plunger shaft 76 . the washer 79 moves with the plunger shaft 76 compressing plunger spring 78 . when plunger shaft 76 moves downward against needle spring 75 , the plunger guide is urged downward by the end of needle spring 75 . as the plunger guide 77 and plunger shaft 76 move into punching position , the alignment guide 74 connected to plunger guide 77 will capture the sample blood tube 32 . as the sample blood tube 32 is fixed in its position by the clamp elements within the bleeding chamber 101 , the alignment guide 74 and plunger guide 77 cease axial movement as the alignment guide 74 bottoms out on the blood sample tube 32 . the plunger 76 supporting at one end thereof the piercing needle 73 , continues to move within the plunger guide 77 against the needle spring 75 . a shoulder 76a captures a needle spring 75 with the plunger guide 77 . the plunger 76 and needle 73 are free to move axially with respect to the plunger guide 77 when it bottoms out due to the capture of the blood sample tube . the alignment guide 74 comprises two halves , one half having a slot for permitting movement of the needle within the alignment guide . one of the vertical ribs 77b is used to position the plunger guide 77 to move only in an axial direction within the plunger housing 80 . thus , upon depression of the plunger button 84 , the guide 77 moves axially along the plunger housing 80 until the alignment guide 74 bottoms out about the blood sample tube . at this point , the plunger button 84 continues to advance the plunger 76 against the needle spring 75 , puncturing the captured blood sample tube . fig1 illustrates a section view of the plunger device , showing plunger guide 77 guided by one of the vertical ribs 77b within the plunger housing 80 . thus , it is clear that the foregoing device will provide for accurate and repeatable in vitro haemostasis testing of freshly drawn blood . the device can be used , using the principles set forth in the earlier patent literature referred to herein , to measure haemostasis and the effects of agents on the haemostasis thrombolytic properties of blood . those skilled in the art will recognize yet other embodiments of the invention defined more particularly by the claims which follow . | 6 |
a denotes a radical selected from the group consisting of r , q and g radicals and , at each occurrence , x denotes an alkoxy or alkoxyalkoxy radical having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms , r denotes a monovalent hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms , r &# 39 ; denotes an alkylene radical having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms , r &# 34 ; denotes a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic radical having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms , c plus b has a value of from 2 to 200 , there being , per molecule of said organopolysiloxane compound , an average of at least 1 each of q radicals and g radicals , at least one of which is an a radical . in the formula for the compounds of this invention r represents a c 1 to c 10 monovalent hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon radical . concrete examples thereof are alkyl radicals such as methyl , ethyl , propyl and octyl ; substituted alkyl radicals such as 2 - phenylethyl and 2 - phenylpropyl ; 3 , 3 , 3 - trifluoropropyl ; aryl radicals such as phenyl and tolyl and substituted aryl radicals . for many uses of the compounds of this invention a majority of the r radicals are preferably methyl radicals . the r radicals in a single molecule may or may not be identical . each r &# 39 ; represents a c 2 to c 5 alkylene radical and concrete examples thereof are -- ch 2 ch 2 --, -- ch 2 ch 2 ch 2 --, -- ch ( ch 3 ) ch 2 --, --( ch 2 ) 4 and --( ch 2 ) 5 --. the r &# 39 ; radicals in a single molecule may or may not be identical . each x represents a c 1 to c 4 alkoxy radical or alkoxyalkoxy radical and concrete examples thereof are methoxy , ethoxy , propoxy and methoxyethoxy . for ease of applying the compositions of this invention to a solid substrate x is preferably a methoxy radical . each q represents a radical with the general formula ## str1 ## wherein r , r &# 39 ; and x all carry the above definitions and a has a value of 2 or 3 . this radical imparts reactivity in the form of hydrolyzability , condensability , etc ., to the organopolysiloxane compounds of the present invention . concrete examples of q are ## str2 ## each r &# 34 ; represents a hydrogen atom or a c 1 to c 5 monovalent organic radical . concrete examples of these monovalent organic radicals are alkyl radicals such as methyl , ethyl and propyl and acyl radicals such as acetyl and propionyl . wherein r &# 39 ; and r &# 34 ; carry the preceding definitions . this group imparts hydrophilicity , antistaticity and soiling resistance to the organopolysiloxane of the present invention . the values of b and c can range from 0 to 100 and the sum of b + c can range from 2 to 200 . each a represents a siloxane chain - terminating radical which is selected from the group consisting of r radicals , q radicals and g radicals , with the proviso that at least one of the a radicals is a reactive radical , i . e ., a q radical or a g radical , noted above . both a radicals can be the same or different , as desired . to increase the likelihood that substantially all of the molecules in the compounds of this invention will durably react with a solid substrate when it is applied thereto it is preferred that at least one of said terminating radicals is a q radical . to assure that substantially all of the molecules in the compounds of this invention will durably react with a solid substrate when it is applied thereto it is preferred that both of said terminating radicals are q radicals . the compounds of this invention have a linear siloxane structure of the formula a ( r 2 sio ) x ( rqsio ) y ( rgsio ) z sir 2 a . in this formula the arrangement of the disubstituted siloxane units is not critical ; however it is typically an approximately random arrangement . the arrangement of the siloxane units in the above formula has the conventional meaning and is not to be interpreted as requiring a block type arrangement of siloxane units . furthermore , although the compounds of this invention are described as having a linear molecular structure , the presence of trace amounts of branching siloxane units having the formulae sio 3 / 2 and sio 4 / 2 , frequently present in commercial organopolysiloxanes , are contemplated herein . concrete examples of the compounds of this invention include , but are not limited to , those shown in the examples disclosed below and the following : ## str3 ## as well as compounds in which 1 si - bonded methyl group at the end of the preceding organopolysiloxanes is changed to phenyl or 3 , 3 , 3 - trifluoropropyl , compounds in which all or part of the dimethylpolysiloxane units are changed to methylphenylsiloxane units or methyl ( n - octyl ) siloxane units and compounds in which some or all of the dimethylpolysiloxane units are changed to methyl ( 3 , 3 , 3 - trifluoropropyl ) siloxane units . herein me , et , eo and po denote ch 3 , ch 3 ch 2 , c 2 h 4 o and c 3 h 6 o , respectively . the synthesis of the organopolysiloxane compounds of the present invention is exemplified as follows . when both a radicals are q the organopolysiloxane of the present invention can be produced by the following method . first , a silane with the general formula ## str4 ## wherein , r , x and a carry their definitions from above and r &# 34 ;&# 39 ; denotes a c 2 to c 5 alkenyl radical , is addition reacted with an organohydrogendisiloxane with the general formula wherein r carries its definition from above , and , optionally , with a cyclic organohydrogenpolysiloxane with the general formula , wherein r carries its definition from above , in the presence of a platinum - type catalyst such as chloroplatinic acid to synthesize the compound with the general formula wherein r , r &# 39 ;, x and a carry their definitions from above and , optionally , the compound with the general formula ## str5 ## wherein r , r &# 39 ;, x and a carry their definitions from above . these products are then copolymerized with the cyclic organohydrogenpolysiloxane with the general formula wherein r carries its definition from above , and , optionally , with the cyclic diorganopolysiloxane with the general formula wherein r carries its definition from above , in the presence of an acid catalyst such as sulfuric acid , nitric acid , trifluoromethanesulfonic acid or activated clay in order to synthesize an organohydrogenpolysiloxane with the general formula ## str6 ## wherein r , r &# 39 ;, x , a , x , y and z all carry their definitions from above . thereafter , said organohydrogenpolysiloxane is similarly addition reacted with an alkenyl radical - containing polyoxyalkylene with the general formula wherein r &# 34 ;, r &# 34 ;&# 39 ;, b and c all carry their definitions from above , in the presence of a platinum - type catalyst in order to synthesize the organopolysiloxane compound of the present invention . if it is desired to have some of the a radicals in the compounds of this invention be r radicals and / or g radicals , in addition to q radicals , this can be accomplished in this preparative method by including some r 3 siosir 3 and / or some hr 2 siosior 2 h , respectively , in the copolymerization step , noted above . when both a radicals are g , a cyclic organohydrogenpolysiloxane with the general formula wherein r carries its definition from above , is first addition reacted with a silane with the general formula ## str7 ## wherein r , r &# 34 ;&# 39 ;, x and a all carry their definitions from above , in the presence of a platinum - type catalyst such as chloroplatinic acid in order to synthesize the compound with the general formula ## str8 ## wherein r , r &# 39 ;, x and a all carry their definitions from above . this compound is then copolymerized with an organohydrogendisiloxane with the general formula wherein r carries the definition from above , and , optionally , with a cyclic organohydrogenpolysiloxane with the general formula wherein r carries its definition from above , and / or a cyclic diorganopolysiloxane with the general formula wherein r carries the definition from above in the presence of an acid catalyst such sulfuric acid , nitric acid , trifluoromethanesulfonic acid or activated clay in order to synthesize an organohydrogenpolysiloxane with the general formula ## str9 ## wherein r , r &# 39 ;, x , a , x , y and z all carry their definitions from above . said organohydrogenpolysiloxane is then similarly addition - reacted with an alkenyl group - containing polyoxyalkylene with the general formula wherein r &# 34 ;, r &# 34 ;&# 39 ;, b and c all carry their definitions from above in the presence of a platinum - type catalyst in order to synthesize the organopolysiloxane compound of the present invention . if it is desired to have some of the a radicals in the compounds of this invention be r radicals and / or q radicals , in addition to g radicals , this can be accomplished in this preparative method by including some r 3 siosir 3 and / or some qr 2 siosior 2 q , respectively , in the copolymerization step , noted above . the present invention will be explained using examples of execution . these examples are disclosed to teach further how to practice this invention and are not to be used to limit the present invention , which is properly delineated by the appended claims . 2 . 4 g cyclic methylhydrogenpolysiloxane tetramer , 8 . 5 g organodisiloxane with the formula ## str10 ## and 0 . 001 g trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as catalyst are all placed in a 300 ml three - necked flask equipped with a reflux condenser and then polymerized at 60 ° c . for 3 hours . the catalyst is neutralized with 2 g calcium carbonate followed by filtration with a filter aid . 46 g of the product , 26 g allyl group - containing polyoxyalkylene with the formula and 20 g toluene are then charged to a reactor and the internal temperature is then raised to 85 ° c . the mixture is combined with 0 . 09 g of a 2 wt % isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid and then reacted at 115 ° c . for 2 hours . the volatiles are then stripped in vacuo at 130 ° c ./ 15 mm hg and the unreacted allyl group - containing polyoxyalkylene is then centrifugally separated . an oil is obtained with a viscosity of 114 cs ( 25 ° c .) and an index of refraction of 1 . 4310 ( 25 ° c .) and this is confirmed to be an organopolysiloxane with the formula ## str11 ## according to the following analytical results . infrared absorption ( ir ) spectral analysis ( refer to chart i ). δ = 0 . 3 ppm si -- ch 3 ; = 3 . 5 ppm c -- ch 2 o , sioch 3 79 . 1 g cyclic dimethylpolysiloxane , 5 . 1 g tetramethyldisiloxane , 15 . 8 g of cyclic polysiloxane having the formula ## str12 ## and 0 . 002 g trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as the polymerization catalyst are all placed in a 300 ml three - necked flask equipped with a reflux condenser and then polymerized at 60 ° c . for 3 hours . the catalyst is neutralized with 2 g calcium carbonate followed by filtration with a filter aid . 60 . 3 g of the product , 34 . 5 g of the allyl group - containing polyoxyalkylene described in example 1 and 30 g toluene are all placed in a reactor and the internal temperature is then raised to 85 ° c . the mixture is then combined with 0 . 12 g of a 2 wt % isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid and then reacted at 115 ° c . for 2 hours . the volatiles are stripped in vacuo at 130 ° c ./ 15 mm hg and the unreacted allyl group - containing polyoxyalkylene is then centrifugally separated . a oil is obtained with a viscosity of 300 cs ( 25 ° c .) and an index of refraction of 1 . 4310 ( 25 ° c .) and this is confirmed to be an organopolysiloxane with the formula ## str13 ## according to the following analytical results . in the vinicity of 2900 cm - 1 methylene , si -- ch 3 stretching vibration ( strong ) δ = 0 . 3 ppm si -- ch 3 ; = 3 . 5 ppm c -- ch 2 o , sioch 3 one molar portion of a disiloxane having the formula hme 2 siosime 2 h , 25 molar portions of a cyclic polysiloxane having the formula ( me 2 sio ) 4 and one molar portion of an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having the average formula me 3 sio ( mehsio ) 26 sime 3 are copolymerized using an acid catalyst . the catalyst is neutralized with calcium carbonate and the siloxane polymer is filtered . the filtered polymer is then addition reacted sequentially with approximately 9 molar parts of ch 2 ═ chsi ( ome ) 3 and with approximately 18 molar portions of an allyl radical - containing polyoxyalkylene having the formula ch 2 ═ chch 2 o ( ch 2 ch 2 o ) 30 ( ch 2 chch 3 o ) 10 ch 3 in the presence of a small amount of a 2 wt % isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid , as noted in examples 1 and 2 . after removal of volatile materials there remains an organopolysiloxane compound of this invention having the nominal formula ## str14 ## fig1 and 3 show the results for the infrared absorption spectral analyses of the products produced in examples 1 and 2 , respectively . fig2 and 4 show the results for the nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the products produced in examples 1 and 2 , respectively . since the novel organopolysiloxane compounds of the present invention exhibit excellent reactivity and hydrophilicity , they are appropriately used as starting materials for sealants or elastomers , as treatment agents for various substrates or as additives to various resin and rubbers . | 2 |
with reference now to the drawings , and in particular to fig1 through 4 thereof , a new deplitory device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described . as best illustrated in fig1 through 4 , the deplitory device 10 generally comprises a tweezer 12 . the tweezer 12 comprises an upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16 . the tweezer 12 is heatable such that wax 18 contained in the upper portion 14 is dispensable onto the skin 20 of a user around a hair 21 . upon curing of the wax 18 , the tweezer 12 is used to remove the wax 18 thereby removing the hair 21 from its follicle . the portions 14 , 16 of the tweezer 12 are integrally joined to form the tweezer 12 . each of the portions 14 , 16 has a distal end 24 . the distal ends 24 of the portions 14 , 16 are designed for grasping onto a hair 21 for the purpose of removing the hair 21 . the upper portion 14 of the tweezer 12 has a wax cavity 26 . the wax cavity 26 is integrally formed within the upper portion 14 such that the wax cavity 26 is designed for the holding and dispensing of the wax 18 . the upper portion 14 of the tweezer 12 has a wax plunger 28 . the wax plunger 28 is slidably coupled to the upper portion 14 of the tweezer 12 . the wax plunger 28 is in contact with the wax 18 in the wax cavity 26 of the upper portion 14 such that the wax plunger 28 is designed for biasing the wax 18 in the wax cavity 26 towards the distal end 24 of the upper portion 14 . the upper portion 14 of the tweezer 12 has a wax aperture 30 . the wax aperture 30 is positioned on an end surface 32 of the distal end 24 of the upper portion 14 . the wax aperture 30 is designed for allowing melted wax 18 to be dispensed from the upper portion 14 of the tweezer 12 when the wax 18 is biased towards the distal end 24 of the upper portion 14 by the wax plunger 28 . this allows the user to utilize the wax 18 cured around a hair 21 in conjunction with the tweezer 12 to remove the hair 21 from its follicle . as to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention , the same should be apparent from the above description . accordingly , no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided . 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 . | 0 |
the following description is of the best - contemplated mode of carrying out the invention . this description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense . the scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims . fig1 shows a signal processing module 100 according to an embodiment of the invention . the signal processing module 100 comprises a single - ended to differential conversion circuit 110 and a differential signal processing circuit 120 . the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 110 is capable of converting a single - ended input signal into a pair of intermediate signals ( labeled as the differential current signals i cm + i sig and i cm − i sig , wherein i cm represents the dc component and i sig represents the ac component ). in some embodiments , the pair of intermediate signals may be the voltage signals , and the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 110 is capable of converting the single - ended input signal into the voltages ( e . g . the differential voltage signals v cm + v sig and v cm − v sig ) corresponding to the pair of intermediate signals . the differential signal processing circuit 120 is capable of processing the pair of intermediate signals and providing a pair of differential output signals out p / out n according to the pair of intermediate signals ( e . g . i cm + i sig and i cm − i sig ). for example , in some embodiments , the differential signal processing circuit 120 amplifies the pair of intermediate signals ( e . g . i cm + i sig and i cm − i sig ) to obtain the pair of differential output signals out p / outn . as another example , in some embodiments , the differential signal processing circuit 120 modifies the pair of intermediate signals ( e . g . i cm + i sig , i cm − i sig ) according to a modification signal ( not shown ) to obtain the pair of differential output signals out p / out n . it should be noted that the operation of the differential signal processing circuit 120 is used as an example , and not to limit the invention . fig2 shows a signal processing module 200 according to another embodiment of the invention . the signal processing module 200 comprises a single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 and a differential signal processing circuit 220 . the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 is capable of converting a single - ended input signal v cm + v in into a pair of differential intermediate signals . in the embodiment , the pair of differential intermediate signals are a pair of differential current signals ( e . g . the current ( i p1 + i p2 ) at the node n2 and the current — i n at the node n3 in fig2 ). it should be noted that , v cm may represent a dc voltage , and v in may represent an ac component containing the ac voltage . for example , when v cm = 0v , v in can be used to represent a pure ac signal without a dc component . of course , v in can also be used to represent an ac signal with a dc component . in particular , the embodiments are used as the examples , and not to limit the invention . in the embodiment , the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 comprises an amplifier 230 ( as shown in fig2 , the amplifier 230 is a single - ended amplifier ), and six resistors r 1 - r 6 . in some embodiments , the resistor r 6 could be omitted . in other words , the resistor r 6 is optional . the differential signal processing circuit 220 comprises a fully - differential amplifier 240 , and two feedback units 250 and 260 . the feedback unit 250 is coupled between an inverting input terminal and a non - inverting output terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 , and the feedback unit 260 is coupled between a non - inverting input terminal and an inverting output terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 . in some embodiments , the differential signal processing circuit 220 further comprises two input units ( not shown ), wherein one input unit is coupled between the inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 and a node n2 of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 ( for example , between one differential output terminal of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 and the inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 ), and another input unit is coupled between the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 and the resistor r 3 of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 ( for example , between the other differential output terminal of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 and the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 ). thus , a gain is determined according to the input units and the feedback units 250 and 260 for the fully - differential amplifier 240 . in practice , if the fully - differential amplifier 240 is an ideal amplifier , the input voltages of its inverting input terminal and its non - inverting input terminal are equal . if the fully - differential amplifier 240 is a non - ideal amplifier , the input voltages of its inverting input terminal and its non - inverting input terminal are the differential voltages . in the embodiment , no matter whether the fully - differential amplifier 240 is an ideal amplifier , the two input currents of the fully - differential amplifier 240 are the differential currents . therefore , in the embodiment , for the convenience of explanation , the differential intermediate signals are the differential current signals , and the fully - differential amplifier 240 is an ideal amplifier 240 . it should be noted that the specific type of the fully - differential amplifier 240 is used as an example , and not to limit the invention . the reason is that , for a particular type of fully - differential amplifier 240 , the fully - differential amplifier 240 will automatically adjust the voltages of its input terminals , such that the voltages of the input terminals can meet the objective requests of the particular type of fully - differential amplifier . in the embodiment , for the convenience of description , the voltages of two input terminals of the fully - differential amplifier 240 are maintained at the voltage v cm ( i . e . the voltage v n2 of the node n 2 and the voltage v n3 of the node n 3 are equal to the voltage v cm , e . g . v n2 = v n3 = v cm ), and it should be noted that the invention is not limited thereto . in the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 of fig2 , the amplifier 230 has an inverting input terminal coupled to a terminal of the resistor r 1 and a terminal of the resistor r 2 , a non - inverting input terminal for receiving a reference signal v ref , and an output terminal coupled to another terminal of the resistor r 1 , a terminal of the resistor r 3 , and a terminal of the resistor r 4 . in some embodiments , the reference signal v ref has a constant voltage value . for example , the voltage level of the reference signal v ref is equal to that of the dc voltage v cm . for convenience of description , the reference signal v ref is equal to that the dc voltage v cm in the embodiment , and it should be noted that the invention is not limited to this . because , if the voltage level of the dc voltage v cm is not equal to that of the reference signal v ref , v can be replaced by ( v cm − v ref + v in ). thus , based on the following embodiments , the resistance value of the resistor r 3 , and the equivalent impedance of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 can be obtained accordingly . the resistor r 6 is coupled to a node n 1 , and the resistor r 6 is an input resistor for receiving the input signal v in . the resistor r 2 is coupled between the node n 1 and the inverting input terminal of the amplifier 230 , and the inverting input terminal of the amplifier 230 can receive the input signal v in via the resistor r 2 . the resistor r 1 is coupled between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the amplifier 230 . the resistor r 3 is coupled between the output terminal of the amplifier 230 and the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 . the resistor r 4 is coupled between the output terminal of the amplifier 230 and the node n 2 . the resistor r 5 is coupled between the node n 2 and the node n 1 . furthermore , the resistors r 4 and r 5 form a resistor string coupled between the node n 1 and the output terminal of the amplifier 230 . in some embodiments , the resistance value of the resistor r 3 is determined according to the resistors r 1 , r 2 , r 4 and r 5 . in one embodiment , the resistance ( or impedance ) of the resistor r 5 is r , which is a unit resistance for the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 . the resistance of the resistor r 6 is m × r . the resistance of the resistor r 2 is x × r . the resistance of the resistor r 1 is y × r . the resistance of the resistor r 4 is n × r . according to the resistances of the resistors r 1 , r 2 , r 4 and r 5 , the resistance of the resistor r 3 is obtained according to the following formula ( 1 ): furthermore , according to a virtual ground concept of circuit analysis in operational amplifier , the nodes at the non - inverting input terminal and inverting input terminal of the amplifier 230 , and the nodes at the non - inverting input terminal and inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 are maintained at a steady reference potential ( i . e . a virtual ground ). thus , a voltage v n1 at the node n 1 is obtained according to the following formula ( 2 ): furthermore , according to the voltage v n1 at the node n 1 , and the resistors r 1 and r 2 , a voltage v 2 at the output terminal of the amplifier 230 is obtained according to the following formula ( 3 ): according to the voltages v n1 , v n2 and v 2 , the current i p1 flowing through the resistor r 5 , the current i p2 flowing through the resistor r 4 , and current i n flowing through the resistor r 3 are respectively obtained according to the following formulas ( 4 )-( 6 ): from the formulas ( 4 ) - ( 6 ), by appropriately setting the resistance value of the resistor r 3 , the output currents of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 are always a pair of differential signals based on the architecture shown in fig2 , i . e . i n =−( i p1 + i p2 ). furthermore , by determining the relationship between the voltage / current of the inverting input terminal and the voltage / current of the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 , a common mode or a differential mode is determined for the signal processing module 200 , so as to estimate the common mode or differential mode perturbations for the pair of intermediate signals , and then the equivalent impedance r eq _ p observed at the inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 ( in other words , observing the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 from the inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 ) and the equivalent impedance r eq _ n observed at the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 are obtained ( in other words , observing the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 from the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 ). in some embodiments , the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r e q_n may be set to the same . in some embodiments , the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are the output impedances for the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 . in order to calculate the output impedances , the voltages v cm + v p and v cm + v n are applied to the output terminals of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 , without receiving the single - ended input signal at its input terminal . for example , in order to calculate the common mode output impedances of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 ), the voltage v cm + v p applied to the inverting input terminal and the voltage v cm + v n applied to the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 are assumed to be the same , i . e . vp = v p = v n . furthermore , in a common mode , if the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are equal , a current from the inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 to the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 is equal to a current from the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 to the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 , i . e . i p1 + i p2 = i n . thus , the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are obtained according to the following formulas ( 7 )-( 8 ): is satisfied , the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are the same in the common mode . correspondingly , in order to calculate the differential mode output impedances of the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 , the voltage v cm + v p applied to the inverting input terminal and the voltage v cm + v n applied to the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 are the differential signals , e . g . v p =− v n . furthermore , in a differential mode , if the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are equal , a current from the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 to the inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 is equal to a current from the non - inverting input terminal of the fully - differential amplifier 240 to the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 , i . e . i p1 + i p2 =− i n . thus , the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are obtained according to the following formulas ( 9 )-( 10 ): when is satisfied , the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are the same in the differential mode . it should be noted that if the common - mode output impedances or the differential mode output impedances are respectively equal , the absolute value of the sum of the currents i 1 and i 2 is equal to the absolute value of the current i 3 , i . e . | i p1 + i p2 |=| i n |. furthermore , according to actual application , the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n can be obtained for a common mode or a differential mode perturbation . typically , it can not meet that the common - mode equivalent impedances and the differential - mode equivalent impedances are respectively equal . specifically , according to actual requirements , it is possible to set that the common - mode equivalent impedances are equal or the differential - mode equivalent impedances are equal , and the invention does not make this any limitation . for example , since the circuit ( e . g . the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 110 ) disposed in front of the differential signal processing circuit 120 usually has a common - mode noise , the common - mode noise can be cancelled between the two differential input terminals of the fully - differential amplifier 240 by setting the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are the same in the common mode , thereby decreasing noise . for another example , by setting the equivalent impedances r eq _ p and r eq _ n are the same in the differential mode , distortion is decreased in the applications with a differential mode feedback . by adding the resistor r 4 between the node n 2 and the output terminal of the amplifier 230 , only a single single - ended amplifier ( i . e . the amplifier 230 ) is used in the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 . thus , compared with the conventional single - ended to differential conversion circuits ( e . g . using two single - ended amplifiers solution , or a fully - differential amplifier solution , and so on ), the layout area and the power consumption are decreased in the single - ended to differential conversion circuit 210 . furthermore , trade - off between the input magnitude of the single - ended input signal and the performance of the amplifier 230 can be optimized . with the introduction of the resistor r 4 ( e . g . a resistance of n × r ), the equivalent input is scaled by 1 - 1 / n ( n & gt ; 1 ), and the non - idealities of the amplifier 230 can be cancelled to be | 1 / n −( 1 ( y / x )×( 1 / n ))/( y / x )|. for example , assuming that the resistors r 1 and r 2 are equal to the resistor r 5 ( i . e . x = y = 1 ) and the resistor r 4 is twice as big as the resistor r 5 ( i . e . n = 2 ), the noise and distortion caused by the amplifier 230 can be cancelled completely . specifically , the noise and distortion caused by the amplifier 230 can be decreased by appropriately controlling the ratio of the resistors r 1 , r 2 , r 4 and r 5 . it should be noted that , x , y , m and n of the embodiments are not limited to an integer . while the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments , it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments . on the contrary , it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements ( as would be apparent to those skilled in the art ). therefore , the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements . | 7 |
as briefly stated above , the gruel cooker of the present invention is made up of a bowl 1 , a rice container 2 and a lid 3 . the bowl 1 is made of a heatproof glass and provided with a bottom skirt 1a . the rice container 2 is made of microwave permeable , heatproof synthetic resin such as polyester resin . the rice container 2 is made up of an inverted bowl section 2a open at the bottom end and a lid supporter 2b projecting upwards from the top end of the bowl section 2a . more specifically , the bowl section 2a defines a space s for accommodating rice in cooperation with the inside bottom of the bowl 1 when the latter is assembled with the rice container 2 as shown in fig2 . for stable assembly with the bowl 1 , the rice container 2 is provided with a bottom brim 2c . a number of slits 2d are formed side by side in the bowl section 2a near the bottom of the rice container 2 in order to allow free passage of water . these slits 2d are sized so as not to allow free passage of rice contained in the space s . in addition , presence of these slits 2d provides the bottom portion of the rice container 2 with flexibility large enough to allow snap engagement of the portion with the bottom skirt 1a of the bowl 1 . further , a number of small openings 2f are formed side by side in the bowl section 2a near its top end . these openings 2f are also sized so as not to allow free passage of rice contained in the space s . the lid supporter 2b is sized so as to project above the upper edge of the bowl 1 when the rice container 2 is assembled with the bowl 1 and provided , at its top end , with an upstanding positioning piece 2e for engagement with the lid 3 . the lid 3 is made of microwave permeable heatproof synthetic resin such as polypropylene resin and somewhat larger than the top end opening of the bowl 1 . the lid 3 is provided with a center recess 3a open downwards for receiving the positioning piece 2e on the rice container 2 . a knob 3b is formed above the center recess 3a . the center recess 3a and the positioning piece 2e are sized and configurated so that a proper gap should be left between the lid 3 and the upper edge of the bowl 1 when the lid 3 is overlaid on the lid supporter 2b of the rice container 2 placed in the bowl 1 . the size of the gap should be chosen so that no overflow of boiled water should occur during preparation of gruel in microwave ranges . preferably , the gruel cooker further includes a bottom tray 4 made of heatproof , and more preferably microwave permeable , synthetic resin such as polypropylene resin . the tray 4 has a center recess 4a receptive of the bottom skirt 1a of the bowl 1 and four corners 4b suited for manual handling of the gruel cooker . in preparation of rice gruel , the rice container is turned upside down to receive uncooked rice in its bowl section 2a as shown in fig3 a . next , the open end of the rice container 2 is force inserted into the skirt 1a of the bowl 1 for the snap engagement . as a consequence , the rice is confined within the space s defined by the bowl section 2a of the rice container 2 and the inside bottom of the bowl 1 . the capacity of the space s should preferably be five to six times larger than the usual volume of uncooked rice used for one time of preparation . in other words , the proper volume of uncooked rice used for one time of preparation is one - sixth to one - fifth of the capacity of the space . water is next supplied into the bowl 1 while shaking the latter in order to cleanse the uncooked rice . the old water is discharged and new water is supplied into the bowl 1 to a level just above the top end of the bowl section 2a of the rice container 2 as shown in fig3 b . the bowl 1 with the rice container 2 is placed in a position in a microwave range m as shown in fig3 c for boiling . during boiling water circulates into and out of the rice container 2 through the slits 2d and the openings 2f and , as a result of this boiled water circulation , the rice in the rice container 2 can be boiled quite uniformly without producing cores in particles . since the lid 3 is kept at a position somewhat above the top end opening of the bowl 1 , scattering and over flow of the boiled water are well prevented . after complete boiling , the bowl 1 is taken out of the microwave range m preferably with assistance of the bottom tray 4 and the rice container 2 is disassembled from the bowl 1 . next , the boiled rice in the rice container 2 is mixed with boiled water in the bowl 1 and the top end opening of the bowl 1 is closed by the lid 3 now disassembled from the rice container 2 for steaming of the rice gruel in the bowl 1 . as a substitute of the uncooked rice , cooked rice can be used also for preparation of rice gruel with the gruel cooker in accordance with the present invention . the rice container 2 can be assembled with the bowl 1 in many known manners other than the snap engagement . in accordance with the present invention , active boiled water circulation through a space containing rice causes uniform boiling of the rice without producing cores in particles , thereby greatly improving relish of prepared rice gruel . no scattering and overflow of boiled water is in particular suited for cooking in microwave ranges . | 8 |
the invention will be described in terms of preferred embodiments which represent the best mode known to the applicant at the time of this application . in - depth metabolic studies on the part of applicant has revealed the surprisingly unexpected and unobvious superiority of potassium citrate therapy over sodium alkali therapy in the management of nephrolithiasis . ( sakhaee et al ., kidney international , v 24 , pp 348 - 352 , ( 1983 )). specifically , in patients with both uric acid and calcium nephrolithiasis , potassium citrate therapy causes a greater decline in urinary calcium and a greater rise in urinary citrate . urinary sodium increases with sodium citrate therapy but not with potassium citrate . no significant or consistent changes occur in urinary uric acid , phosphate or oxalate . with both treatments , urinary ph rises to about an equivalent degree . as reflected by the above described changes , potassium citrate is effective in lowering urinary saturation of calcium oxalate , does not cause a rise in sodium urate saturation , and produces a rise in urinary inhibitor activity against calcium oxalate nucleation . in contrast , sodium citrate raises the saturation of sodium urate and increases formation calcium oxalate stones . moreover , in patients with uric acid lithiasis , treatment with sodium alkali is associated with calcium stone formation ( pak , et al ., kidney international , v 30 , pp 422 - 428 , ( 1986 )). the substitution of potassium citrate for sodium citrate inhibits calcium stone formation . consistent with the clinical findings of applicant &# 39 ; s research , potassium citrate therapy is useful in the prevention of uric acid or cystine lithiasis since it is a good alkalizing agent . more importantly , potassium citrate therapy averts the complication of calcium stone formations in patients afflicted with uric acid or cystine lithiasis ( as contrasted with treatment with sodium alkali which may potentiate calcium stone formation ). further , potassium citrate therapy is effective in restoring normal citrate in patients with hypocitraturia linked calcium nephrolithiasis and coincidently inhibits and dissolves calcium stone formations . the ability to dissolve calcium stones is heretofore an unreported finding with any medical treatment ; conventional alkali therapy has customarily been associated with formation of calcium stones as stated in textbooks , pointing to uniqueness of this invention . coincidentally , thiazide treatment has been shown to cause hypocitraturia and recurrent calcium stone formation . adding potassium citrate could prevent hypocitraturia and avert calcium stone formation , emphasizing another very novel finding of this invention . typically , a dosage range of 30 - 120 meq potassium citrate per day given in divided doses is effective in preventing and treating calcium renal stones in patients afflicted with or susceptible to calcium stone formation . generally recognized solid or liquid pharmaceutical form such as tablets , capsules , effervescent tablets , chewable tablets , solutions or syrups , are acceptable in delivering potassium citrate . examples of medicinal formulations in accordance with the present invention include : ______________________________________potassium citrate drink mix percent ( w / w ) potassium citrate , u . s . p . 21 . 63fructose , u . s . p . 70 . 00flavor 2 . 37citric acid , u . s . p . 5 . 00calcium phosphate , tribasic , n . f . 1 . 00to be dissolved in water ( sufficient to produce 2 meq / ml ) prior to patient administration . potassium citrate tablet ( 5 meq ) mg / tabletpotassium citrate , u . s . p . 540 . 5carnauba wax , n . f . 200 . 0talc , u . s . p . 40 . 0magnesium stearate , n . f . 5 . 0______________________________________ in addition , k - lyte ( mead johnson pharmaceutical division , evansville , ind .) a mixture of potassium bicarbonate and potassium citrate is useful in the methods prescribed by this invention . another useful preparation may be a mixture of potassium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate and citric acid . in order that the invention may be more clearly understood , preferred embodiments will be further described in terms of the following examples ( updated since the original patent application ), which should not be construed to limit the scope of this invention . the data describing these examples have largely been published in peer - reviewed reputable medical journals since the original patent application , indicating novelty and importance of this invention . potassium citrate has also been approved as a prescription drug by the fda ( food and drug administration ) for the treatment of calcium renal stones as described herein , further supporting uniqueness of the invention . ( nda no . 19 , 071 was granted to the inventor in july , 1985 ). an important determinant for the formation of uric acid stones is the passage of uncommonly acid urine . the urinary ph in patients with uric acid lithiasis is typically less than the dissociation constant ( pka ) of uric acid of 5 . 47 ; thus , their urinary environment is supersaturated with respect to uric acid . because uric acid is unstable and more soluble at a higher ph , it has been customary to recommend alkalinization of urine for management of uric acid nephrolithiasis . principally owing to their ready commercial availability , sodium rather than potassium salts of bicarbonate and citrate have been used as alkalinizing agents . although it may cause dissolution or inhibit formation of uric acid stones , sodium alkali therapy is often complicated by the development of calcium - containing renal stones ( calcium phosphate and / or calcium oxalate ). this study indicates that potassium alkali therapy may avert such a complication in uric acid lithiasis . moreover , the treatment with potassium citrate has shown to correct hypocitraturia ( low urinary citrate ), a defect frequently encountered in calcium nephrolithiasis . thus , these findings suggest that potassium alkali is also useful in the management of calcium urolithiasis associated with hypocitraturia . five patients with documented uric acid lithiasis , who developed calcium stone complication on sodium alkali treatment , participated in this study ( sakhaee , nicar , hill and pak , kidney international , v 24 , pp 348 - 352 , ( 1983 )). all subjects had adequate endogenous creatinine clearance , ranging from 75 - 130 ml / min . none of the participating subjects suffered from hyperkalemia , fluid retention , urinary tract infection , or urinary tract obstruction during the study . among patients with uric acid lithiasis , one suffered from gout . none had chronic diarrheal syndrome . the study comprised three phases , consisting of control phase ( no drug ), potassium citrate phase , and sodium citrate phase , conducted in random order . the dosage of the two forms of alkali were the same ( 60 mg ./ day in three divided doses orally ). all other drugs were withheld during the study . each phase was four weeks in duration . after three weeks of stabilization in an outpatient setting , patients underwent an inpatient evaluation during the last week . during each inpatient evaluation , subjects were maintained on a constant metabolic diet with a daily composition of 400 mg calcium , 800 mg phosphorous , 100 meq sodium , 60 meq potassium and sufficient fluid to ensure approximately two liters of urine daily for the entire study period of six days . after three days of stabilization , urine was collected daily in 24 - hour pools during last three days for total volume , ph , calcium , oxalate , phosphorous , sodium , potassium , magnesium , ammonium , citrate , sulfate , and uric acid ; relative saturation ration ( rsr ) of monosodium urate and monopotassium urate ; activity product ration ( apr ) of brushite ( cahpo 4 . 2h 2 o ) and calcium oxalate ; and formation product ration ( fpr ) of brushite and calcium oxalate . table i______________________________________effect of alkali therapies on urinary chemistries andcrystallization in patients with uric acid lithiasis potassium sodium control citrate citrate______________________________________total volume 2456 ± 290 2525 ± 359 2669 ± 296ml / dayph 5 . 35 ± 0 . 18 6 . 68 ± 0 . 14 6 . 73 ± 0 . 20calcium , mg / day 154 ± 47 99 ± 23 139 ± 24citrate , mg / day 398 ± 119 856 ± 103 799 ± 89uric acid , mg / day 417 ± 121 522 ± 171 512 ± 132activity product ratio ( apr ) calcium oxalate 3 . 21 ± 0 . 96 1 . 69 ± 0 . 76 2 . 21 ± 0 . 63brushite 0 . 04 + 0 . 03 0 . 74 ± 0 . 22 1 . 17 ± 0 . 44formation product ratio ( fpr ) calcium oxalate 16 . 1 ± 5 . 6 22 . 2 ± 6 . 6 14 . 1 ± 5 . 3relative saturation ratio ( rsr ) monosodium urate 0 . 51 ± 0 . 20 0 . 95 ± 0 . 33 1 . 45 ± 0 . 44monopotassium 0 . 05 ± 0 . 02 0 . 33 ± 0 . 07 0 . 12 ± 0 . 04urate______________________________________ a review of the above results indicates that , in patients with uric acid lithiasis , both alkali therapies caused a significant decline in urinary saturation ( apr ) of calcium oxalate ; however , the decline was more prominent during potassium citrate therapy than during sodium alkali therapy . thus , urinary saturation of calcium oxalate declined during alkali therapies , more so when potassium citrate was given . urinary apr ( saturation ) of brushite increased during both alkali therapies ; the rise was more prominent during sodium citrate therapy . urinary environment became supersaturated ( apr 1 ) with respect to brushite during sodium alkali treatment , whereas it remained undersaturated when potassium citrate was given . the urinary fpr ( a measure of inhibitor activity ) of calcium oxalate rose significantly during oral potassium citrate treatment . thus , spontaneous precipitation of calcium oxalate commended at a higher lever of supersaturation when potassium citrate was given . however , fpr of calcium oxalate did not change significantly during sodium citrate therapy . the difference in fpr between the two alkali phases was significant . in 2 of 5 patients , fpr decreased by more than 30 %; thus , spontaneous precipitation was facilitated in some patients . the saturation of monosodium urate ( rsr ) rose significantly during both alkali phases , more so during sodium citrate therapy . the urinary environment became supersaturated with respect to monosodium urate during sodium citrate therapy , but remained undersaturated when potassium citrate was given . the saturation of monopotassium urate ( rsr ) increased significantly during both alkali treatments , but more so during potassium citrate therapy . the results of this study disclose that both potassium citrate and sodium citrate are effective in the prevention of uric acid lithiasis since both alkali increased urinary ph ( and therefore increased the solubility of uric acid ). however , the results suggest that sodium citrate does not prevent the complication of calcium nephrolithiasis when given to patients with uric acid stones . it might cause this complication because of increased urinary saturation of calcium phosphate , and in some patients when the effect of monosodium urate - induced calcium oxalate crystallization overrides the inhibitory action of citrate . in contrast to the action of sodium citrate , potassium citrate at an equimolar dosage significantly reduced urinary calcium excretion while increasing urinary citrate excretion . this study therefore indicated that potassium citrate , unlike sodium citrate , prevent the complication of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis when given to patients with uric acid lithiasis . this prevention involved reducing urinary saturation by calcium oxalate and inhibiting spontaneous precipitation of calcium oxalate . the potassium citrate - containing compositions of the present invention preferably comprise less than about ten weight percent sodium salts and more preferably are substantially free of sodium salts . potassium citrate is effective in preventing calcium stone formation ( in 5 patients with uric acid stones ) caused by sodium alkali therapy detailed case reports were obtained in 5 patients with uric acid nephrolithiasis showing different response between sodium alkali and potassium alkali treatment ( pak et al ., kidney international , v 30 , pp 422 - 428 , ( 1986 )). before treatment , they had surgically removed or spontaneously passed stones which were pure uric acid in composition . when sodium alkali was given ( as bicarbonate or citrate , 60 - 118 meq / day , in one case as a mixture with potassium alkali ), new stone formation continued in 4 patients , and a radiolucent ( uric acid ) stone became &# 34 ; calcified &# 34 ; in the remaining patient . the stone analysis disclosed calcium oxalate in 5 patients and calcium phosphate in three patients . when potassium citrate ( in 4 cases ) or potassium bicarbonate ( in 1 patient ) was administered in place of the sodium alkali over 1 to 3 . 5 years ( at a dosage of 60 - 80 meq / day , no new stones were formed ( one passed by case 5 was a preexisting stone ) ( fig1 ). in summary , five patients with known uric acid stones had a complication of calcium stones during sodium alkali therapy ( alone or in combination with potassium alkali ). both calcium and uric acid stone formation ceased when patients were treated with potassium citrate ( or bicarbonate ). long - term prevention of stone formation by potassium citrate therapy in patients with uric acid nephrolithiasis with or without complication of calcium renal stone eighteen patients with uric acid nephrolithiasis ( six with uric acid stones alone and 12 with both uric acid and calcium stones ) underwent long - term treatment ( 1 - 5 . 33 years ) with potassium citrate ( 30 - 80 meq / day ) ( pak , et al , kidney international , v 30 , pp 422 - 428 , ( 1986 )), urinary ph increased from low ( 5 . 3 ± 0 . 31 ) to normal ( 6 . 19 to 6 . 46 ) during treatment ( fig2 ). consequently , the urinary content of undissociated uric acid , which was high to begin with , decreased to the normal range during treatment , making uric acid precipitation unlikely ( fig2 ). urinary citrate rose from 503 ± 225 mg / day to 852 - 998 mg / day . urinary saturation of calcium oxalate declined with potassium citrate treatment . new stone formation ( either uric acid or calcium stone ) declined from 1 . 20 ± 1 . 68 stone / patient year to 0 . 01 + 0 . 04 stones / patient year ( fig3 ). 94 . 4 % of patients did not form further stones . these results , showing that potassium citrate is effective in the management of uric acid lithiasis presently with or without calcium stones , are the basis for the fda approval of potassium citrate as a prescription drug for this condition in july , 1985 . the above observation has since been confirmed by dr . nector tomyez ( endocrinologist ) and dr . richard lewis ( urologist ) who have written to the inventor &# 39 ; s group ( letters available upon request ). potassium citrate therapy is effective in dissolving existing calcium containing renal stones prior to institution of potassium citrate therapy , 33 patients had preexisting radiopaque calculi ( calcium stones ) visualized on abdominal roentgenograms ( pak et al ., trans . assoc . amer . physic , v 96 , pp 294 - 305 , ( 1983 )). repeat examination after 8 months to 2 years of potassium citrate therapy showed a reduced number of stones in 14 patients . in 4 of them , this reduction could be attributed to the passage of stones . however , there were fewer stones visualized in 6 patients even though they did not remember passing stones . in the remaining patients , the number of stones passed could not entirely account for the reduced number of stones . thus , long - term potassium citrate treatment dissolved calcium stones located in kidneys of patients with stones . there is no prior known documented report of dependably dissolving calcium stones by any medical treatment . a case history showing dissolution of calcium stones by potassium citrate therapy a 62 - year - old white woman with incomplete renal tubular acidosis passed approximately 400 stones during the preceding three years , as often as one a day in recent months . stones were composed of calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate . urinary citrate was very low at 34 mg / day . on potassium citrate therapy ( 20 meq four times / day ), urinary citrate increased to 333 - 376 mg / day . she passed only eight stones during twenty months of treatment . abdominal x - ray taken at fourteen months of treatment disclosed marked changes . before treatment , she had numerous radioopaque calculi in both kidneys . after treatment , stones in the mid and lower pole of right kidney and mid - portion of left were no longer seen . potassium citrate effectively prevents new stone formation in patients with distal renal tubular acidosis distal renal tubular acidosis is a common cause of hypocitraturia and intractible calcium nephrolithiasis . the effect of oral potassium citrate therapy in 9 patients with incomplete distal venal tubular acidosis was examined ( preminger et al ., j . urology , v 134 , pp 20 - 23 ( 1985 )). potassium citrate ( 60 - 60 meq / day in divided doses ) significantly increased urinary citrate , and lowered urinary calcium thus , the urinary saturation of calcium oxalate significantly decreased during treatment while that of brushite ( ca phosphate ) did not change . during a mean treatment period of 34 months , none of nine patients formed new stones , although the same patients had formed an average of 39 . 3 stones / year during the three years prior to treatment . thus , potassium citrate therapy was effective in correcting biochemical abnormalities and preventing recurrent calcium stone formation in patients with distal renal tubular acidosis . the novelty of this finding was supported by the acquisition , by the inventor , of a new drug application from the fda for this condition in july , 1985 . recent studies by the inventor &# 39 ; s laboratory in 6 patients with distal renal tubular acidosis indicated that sodium citrate was not as advantageous a treatment agent as was potassium citrate . urinary calcium remained high at 216 mg / day ( from a control value of 214 mg / day ) during sodium citrate ( 60 meq / day ) treatment , whereas it decreased to 178 mg / day during potassium citrate ( 60 meq / day ) treatment . urinary citrate increased to a lesser degree ( 493 mg / day from 253 mg / day ) during sodium citrate therapy , then during potassium citrate treatment ( 575 mg / day ). the urinary saturation of calcium phosphate rose by 37 % during sodium citrate treatment , whereas it was unaltered by potassium citrate treatment . thus , sodium alkali therapy may not be an effective in , or may even exaggerate , calcium stone formation in renal tubular acidosis . potassium citrate effectively prevents new stone formation in patients with chronic diarrheal syndrome long - term effects of potassium citrate therapy ( 60 - 80 meq / day in 3 - 4 divided doses ) on urinary biochemistry and on stone formation were examined in 10 patients with calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis due to chronic diarrheal syndrome ( regional enteritis , jejuno - ileal bypass surgery , partial gastrectomy or ulcerative colitis ). urinary citrate was low ( 320 mg / day ) in 9 patients , and urinary oxalate was high in 4 patients . potassium citrate therapy caused a sustained increase in urinary citrate from 148 ± 154 ( sd ) mg / day to 333 - 615 mg / day , and produced a sustained reduction in urinary saturation ( rsr ) of calcium oxalate ( fig4 ). during a mean treatment period of 3 . 2 years , stone formation rate declined from 4 . 69 ± 10 . 12 to 0 . 71 ± 1 . 44 stones / patient year ( p 0 . 01 ), and 7 patients ( 70 %) remained stone - free ( fig5 ). thus , potassium citrate represents an important therapeutic modality in the management of hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis due to chronic diarrheal syndrome . the failure of rudman et al ., n . engl . j . med ., v 303 , pp 657 - 661 ( 1980 )) to show a significant rise in urinary citrate with sodium citrate - citric acid in patients with hypocitraturia of gastrointestinal origin emphasizes the uniqueness of potassium citrate action . potassium citrate therapy prevents hypocitraturia caused by thiazide treatment of hypercalciuric calcium nephrolithiasis thirteen patients with hypercalciuric calcium renal stones were treated with thiazide , a treatment widely used for this condition because of its ability to lower urinary calcium . even though urinary calcium decreased from 303 ± 119 mg / day to 193 ± mg / day on treatment , they continued to form kidney stones ( 6 . 62 to 5 . 12 stones / patient year ) ( pak et al ., amer . jrnl . of med ., v 79 , pp 284 - 288 ( 1985 )). because they had hypocitraturia ( 250 mg / day ), potassium citrate ( 30 - 60 mg / day in divided doses ) was added to the ongoing treatment program . during combined treatment with thiazide and potassium citrate , urinary ph significantly rose and normal urinary citrate was restored . ten patients stopped forming stones . stone formation significantly declined from 5 . 12 stones / patient year to 0 . 05 stones / patient year ( fig6 ). this novel discovery , showing effectiveness of potassium citrate in patients who continue to form stones on thiazide , was the basis for the nda approval acquired by the inventor for potassium citrate to be used concurrently with thiazide in hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis . this finding has been confirmed by cooperative studies of dr . donald griffith at houston ( a part of nda 19 , 071 report , available upon request ). in that study , dr . griffith studied 29 patients with hypercalciuric calcium nephrolithiasis who continued to form stones on thiazide therapy . potassium citrate was added to the ongoing thiazide treatment program . none of 29 patients formed any stone on combined thiazide - potassium citrate treatment . new stone formation declined from 0 . 64 stones / patient year to zero . potassium citrate is effective in preventing stone formation in patients with idiopathic hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis the effects of long - term treatment with potassium citrate ( 30 - 80 meq / day ) were examined in 37 patients with idiopathic - hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis , in whom the main causes of hypocitraturia ( renal tubular acidosis , chronic diarrhea or hypokalemia ) were excluded or considered unlikely ( pak , et al ., annuls of internal . med ., v 104 , pp 33 - 37 ( 1986 )). potassium citrate treatment produced a sustained increase in urinary citrate excretion from an initially low value ( 223 to 253 mg / day ) to within normal limits ( 470 to 620 mg / day ). urinary ph rose significantly and was maintained at 6 . 5 to 7 . 0 . along with these changes , urinary saturation of calcium oxalate significantly declined to normal . further stone formation ceased in 89 . 2 % of patients during treatment , and new stone formation rate declined from 2 . 11 stones / patient year to 0 . 28 stones / patient year ( fig7 ). this indication for potassium citrate treatment was again approved by the fda in awarding an nda to the inventor in july , 1985 . prevention of calcium stone formation by potassium citrate in patients with hyperuricosuric calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis previous examples , all updated and validated by publications in peer - reviewed journals , were contained or described , at least in a preliminary form , in the original patent application ( u . s . ser . no . 483 , 678 ). however , this example represents a new finding heretofore not specifically mentioned ( published in may , 1986 ). calcium renal stone formation in patients with high urinary uric acid ( hyperuricosuric calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis ) is believed to be due to the induction of the crystallization of calcium oxalate by monosodium urate . the present example shows that citrate , when added to a synthetic solution metastably supersaturated with respect to calcium oxalate , inhibited heterogeneous nucleation ( induction of crystallization ) of calcium oxalate by monosodium urate ( pak et al ., archive internal . med ., v 146 , pp 863 - 867 , ( 1986 )). long - term treatment with potassium citrate ( 60 - 80 meq / day ) was undertaken to determine whether induced hypercitraturia could prevent calcium oxalate stone formation in 19 patients with hyperuricosuria . the treatment produced a sustained rise in urinary ph and citrate , and a reduction in urinary saturation of calcium oxalate and in the urinary content of undissociated uric acid . stone formation declined from 1 . 55 / patient year to 0 . 38 / patient year and ceased in 16 of 19 patients ( fig8 ). this finding , showing effectiveness of potassium citrate in preventing calcium stone formation in patients with hyperuricosuria , represents a heretofore unreported unique demonstration . while the methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments , it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that various changes may be made in the methods disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention , which is defined by the following claims . | 8 |
fig1 is a diagrammatic view of a vortex flowmeter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention . flowmeter 100 includes process fluid conduit 102 , vortex sensor 104 and transmitter electronics 106 disposed within electronics housing 108 . flow conduit 102 includes vortex bluff body 110 that extends within , and preferably across flow passageway 112 . bluff body 110 is operably coupled to member 114 that conveys movement , such as vibrations , to vortex sensor 104 . these minute movements are caused by bluff body 110 generating vortices within the process fluid as the process fluid flows through passageway 112 . vortex sensor 104 is electronically responsive to these slight movements . known vortex sensors generally employ a piezoelectric sensor that , in accordance with known piezoelectric properties , generates an electrical characteristic , such as a voltage , in response to a mechanical input , such as stress , or movement . vortex sensor 104 is electrically coupled to transmitter electronics , disposed within housing 108 via connection 116 within shell 118 . as illustrated in fig1 , transmitter electronics 106 are disposed within housing 108 , which in many embodiments is disposed directly upon shell 118 . however , in other embodiments , enclosure 108 and transmitter electronics 106 may be disposed remotely from shell 118 and merely connected thereto via suitable conductors . transmitter electronics 106 includes known circuitry that measures or otherwise senses the electrical characteristic of the vortex sensor and generates a value , or data , related to the velocity of the process fluid flowing through passageway 112 . further , electronics 106 generally includes communication circuitry to communicate the calculated velocity to other devices , such as a control room , or other field devices via a process communication loop illustrated diagrammatically at reference numeral 120 . examples of process communication loops include those in accordance with the highway addressable remote transducer ( hart ®) protocol , the foundation ™ fieldbus protocol , or other process communication protocols . additionally , or alternatively , wireless data transmission protocols can also be employed . in some wired embodiments , flowmeter 100 is able to be wholly powered by energy received through the wire process communication lines through which it communicates . flowmeter 100 is considered a field device in that it is generally able to be mounted in the field . the “ field ” is generally an external area in a process installation that may be subject to climatic extremes , vibrations , changes in humidity , electromagnetic or radio frequency interference , or other environmental challenges . thus , the robust physical package of flowmeter 100 provides flowmeter 100 with the ability to operate in the “ field ” for extended periods ( such as years ) at a time . fig2 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of vortex sensor 104 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention . sensor 104 includes vortex sensor body 150 . body 150 includes a passageway to allow connection 116 therethrough thereby facilitating passage of electrical conductors from transmitter electronics 106 ( shown in fig1 ) to piezoelectric element 160 disposed upon pedestal 162 , which is attached , preferably by brazing , to sensor body 150 . the electrical connection allows changes in stress mechanically imparted upon crystal 160 to be measured , or otherwise observed , by transmitter electronics 106 . as set forth above , flowmeter 100 is typically used in industrial environments . accordingly , piezoelectric crystals within flowmeter sensors are commonly sealed within body 150 , which is generally comprised of steel , to protect piezoelectric crystal 160 from the industrial environment . in this regard , cap 163 is generally placed over crystal 160 and welded , or otherwise sealed , to body 150 thereby sealing crystal 160 within body 150 . however , piezoelectric crystals are susceptible to certain reducing atmospheres . accordingly , steel body 150 is frequently pre - oxidized to prevent a severe reducing atmosphere from forming within body 150 . as used herein , “ reducing atmosphere ” is intended to mean an environment surrounding the piezoelectric crystal wherein the piezoelectric crystal is apt to gain electrons or otherwise decrease oxidation number . when the piezoelectric crystal gains electrons , it decreases the oxidation number of molecules of the crystal , and this activity is believed to adversely affect the effectiveness of the piezoelectric crystal in transducing changes in mechanical stress . it is believed that within the sealed body of piezoelectric sensor , the reducing atmosphere has catalyst , or some mechanism , that essentially steals oxygen from the crystal and deposits it in the surrounding body , or otherwise affects the piezoelectric crystal . as set forth above , the metallic components of body 150 are preferably pre - oxidized in order to hopefully reduce the degree to which the metallic bodies steal oxygen . however , in some applications , such as high - temperature applications , even the pre - oxidized parts are believed to continue to oxidize over time . therefore , it is believed that even hermetically sealed parts can leak very slowly , on the order of & lt ; 10 − 9 cubic centimeters per minute ( cc / m ). this substantially hermetic enclosure allows oxygen to be stolen from the crystal and deposited within the meter body . embodiments of the present invention generally address this perceived problem of oxygen being stolen from the piezoelectric crystal by generating a deliberate slow oxygen leak into the crystal cavity . however , since the vortex sensor may be exposed to various process fluids in industrial environments , it is also important that the deliberate oxygen leak not allow liquid or other process fluids to pass therethrough . in one embodiment , the deliberate leak is introduced by changing the construction of one of the component metal parts that seals the chamber proximate the piezoelectric crystal . specifically , the part known as a “ pull post ”, illustrated diagrammatically as reference number 164 in fig2 and 3 , is changed from being constructed from a solid metal , such as stainless steel , to a powdered metal . preferably , the powdered metal pull post has a density of approximately 90 % the density of a solid metal part . however , this is merely a preference , and variations in the porosity can be practiced as long as a suitable amount of oxygen can pass therethrough while simultaneously preferably inhibiting liquids . one of the reasons that this embodiment is preferred , is that the entire invention can be practiced merely by replacing a prior art pull post with a powdered metal pull post . however , it is contemplated that embodiments of the present invention can be practiced by deliberately introducing any suitable passageway into the sensor body . further still , other components , such as pedestal 162 , could be constructed , in whole or in part , from powdered metal . further , while embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a piezoelectric - based vortex sensor for use in high - temperature industrial settings , embodiments of the present invention are practicable with any industrial piezoelectric - based sensor that experiences oxygen depletion effects in the presence of a reducing atmosphere . fig3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a portion of vortex sensor 104 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention . as illustrated in fig3 , pull post 164 engages aperture 170 to seal aperture 170 . accordingly , pull post 164 is one of the components that forms the substantially hermitic seal . further , aside from the oxygen diffusion path through powdered metal pull post 164 , chamber 172 is substantially sealed . as can be appreciated in fig3 , embodiments of the present invention can also be practiced by providing a hole , or passageway , extending from an external portion of body portion 154 , or pedestal 162 to chamber 172 . moreover , the hole could be filled , or otherwise constructed , with powdered metal therein , or some other suitable material that is substantially impervious to the process liquid , while allowing oxygen therethrough . fig4 is a diagrammatic elevation view of pull post 164 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention . pull post 164 resembles prior art pull posts , but instead is constructed from a material that allows oxygen therethrough . preferably , pull post 164 is constructed from powdered metal , such as stainless steel , having a density that is a fraction of that of a solid pull post . more preferably , the density is approximately 90 % of that of a solid pull post . however , it is also expressly contemplated that pull post 164 can be constructed as a solid piece , drilled to include a passageway therethrough , and then provided with a liquid barrier , such as powdered metal , or other suitable material , that would inhibit the flow of liquid to a suitably low level while still allowing oxygen to pass therethrough . fig5 is a chart of insulation resistance ( ir ) which can be used as a proxy for piezo crystal health , comparing prior art vortex sensor performance to vortex sensor performance for sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention . the larger dashed line ( 200 ) illustrates that for prior art vortex sensor , insulation resistance shows a marked decline beginning at around eight days . in contrast to prior art vortex sensors , vortex sensors constructed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention perform more reliably . specifically , the shorter dashed line ( illustrated at reference numeral 202 ) shows that insulation resistance is relatively steady for over 100 days . in fact , the insulation resistance increases slightly . further still , the insulation resistance is substantially less variable over the duration than that for vortex sensors constructed in accordance with the prior art . accordingly , it is believed that vortex sensors , and vortex flowmeters , constructed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will provide more reliable operation in response to high - temperature applications . although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments , workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . | 6 |
the preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed . it is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention , and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings . the process of this invention provides for the synthesis of compounds having the formula ia below : wherein r 1 and r 2 are each individually amino or n - alkyl substituted amino ; hydroxy ; alkoxy ; keto ; lower alkyl ; or a nitrogen or oxygen protecting group ; r 3 is hydrogen ; hydroxy ; alkoxy ; trifluoromethyl alkoxy ; halo ; sulfhydryl or alkylthio ; x 1 - x 4 are each individually carbon or nitrogen . the formula i compounds are commonly referred to as antifolates , because of their inhibitory effects on the folic acid nutritional pathways . for purposes of identification , the formula i antifolates are possessed of three linked moieties : ( i ) a 2 , 4 ( 5 ) di ( tri ) substituted heterocyclic moiety ; ( ii ) a p - benzoic acid alkylene moiety ; and ( iii ) an amino acid residue . the moieties as described above are shown below as formula ib : as shown in scheme 1 , the process to synthesize the critical intermediate end product involves two general steps , each step preferably including multiple steps to achieve the desired result . in the scheme , cg 1 and cg 2 are moieties capable of reacting with an annulation agent to form the desired fused ring heterocycle , a 1 is a leaving group , and the r and x variables have the same meaning as in formula i . the starting material is first annulated and if necessary , derivatized to add leaving group a 1 , to form intermediate compound 2 . preferred annulation groups include guanidine or a derivatized guanidine , or other known reagents . derivatization , if necessary , is employed using conventional techniques to add the leaving group a 1 , which is preferably a halogen group , but may be any suitable leaving group . intermediate 1 is then converted to the desired end product in one or two steps through a modified wittig reaction . if the desired r 4 value is an amino acid , the amino acid residue may be coupled to the p - benzoic acid moiety by any known process , such as the processes described above . it should be noted that , if desired , reactable moieties may be protected by conventional means prior to any of the steps of the inventive process . to a solution of 5 - methyl - 2 - nitrobenzoic acid ( 50 . 0 g , 0 . 276 mol ) in dichloromethane ( 1380 ml ) and triethyl amine ( 50 . 24 ml , 1 . 3 equiv ) was added isobutyl chloroformate ( 43 . 0 ml , 1 . 2 equiv ) over syringe at − 10 ° c . the ice bath was removed and the reaction solution in dark red color was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours ( tlc monitored ). ammonia was bubbled in the solution for 2 hours until a strong basic solution resulted ( ph 10 ). brown solid was formed and the resulting suspension was stirred for 18 hours at room temperature ( tlc monitored the reaction ). the reaction was quenched by addition of 1000 ml of saturated sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution . the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate ( 1500 ml , 3 × 1000 ml ). vigorous shaking was performed during extraction . the combined organic layers were dried with sodium sulfate and concentrated to give a dark brown solid , which was recrystallized from ethyl acetate at 0 ° c . for 14 hours to give 29 . 8 g ( 60 %) of brown solid . the mother solution was concentrated and kept at 0 ° c . to give the second crop of product ( 7 . 5 g , 15 %, combined yield 75 %). 1 h nmr ( acetone - d 6 ): δ 2 . 47 ppm ( s , 3h , ch 3 ), 6 . 95 ( s , br , nh 2 ), 7 . 45 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 7 . 90 ( d , 2h , aromatic ). to a solution of 5 - methyl - 2 - nitrobenzamide from example 1 ( 29 . 8 g , 0 . 165 mol ) in 329 . 6 ml of n , n - dimethyl formamide was added phosphorous oxychloride ( 16 . 96 ml , 1 . 1 equiv ) through syringe over 20 min . at − 10 ° c . the resulting mixture was stirred at 25 ° c . for 40 minutes , then heated and stirred at 100 ° c . for 15 minutes . the reaction mixture was poured into ice ( 750 g ) and ammonia ( 75 ml ) was added to the resulting suspension until ph of aqueous solution reached between 9 - 10 . the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate ( 1000 ml , 2 × 600 ml ). the combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give a yellow solid ( 25 . 7 g , 96 %), which was used directly to next step without further purification . 1 hnmr spectrum confirmed the presence of substantially pure title compound . 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ): δ 2 . 54 ppm ( s , 3h , ch 3 ), 7 . 59 ( d , j = 8 . 4 hz , aromatic ), 7 . 71 ( s , aromatic ), 8 . 24 ( d , j = 8 . 4 hz , aromatic ). to a solution of 5 - methyl - 2 - nitrobenzonitrile from example 2 , ( 25 . 7 g , 0 . 158 mol ) in 643 ml of acetonitrile was added sodium dithionate ( 128 . 5 g , 0 . 739 mol ), followed by addition of 600 ml of deionized water at 0 ° c . the reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at 25 ° c . the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate three times , and the combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated under vacuum to afford a crude yellow solid , which was dried under high vacuum for 24 hours to give 16 . 4 g of substantially pure title compound ( 78 . 4 %). 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ): δ 2 . 23 ppm ( s , 3h , ch 3 ), 6 . 65 ( d , j = 8 . 4 hz , aromatic ), 7 . 18 ( s , aromatic ), 7 . 14 ( d , j = 8 . 4 hz , aromatic ). a mixture of 2 - amino - 5 - methylbenzonitrile from example 3 ( 47 . 0 g , 0 . 356 mol ) and cyanoguanidine ( 37 . 4 g , 1 . 25 equiv ) in 355 ml of 1n hydrochloric acid aqueous solution was heated at reflux for 1 . 5 hours . 828 ml of deionized water and 355 ml of 1n hydrochloric acid were added to the reaction mixture . the mixture was filtered while hot . the filtrate was neutralized with 473 ml of 2n sodium hydroxide aqueous solution and the resulting yellow precipitate was filtered . 573 ml of deionized water was added to the yellow solid , followed by addition of 95 ml of formic acid . the resultant suspension was stirred for 2 hours and the white precipitate was filtered . 1 . 6 l of deionized water was added and 154 ml of ammonium hydroxide was added to the white solid . the suspension was stirred for 1 hour . the pale yellow solid was filtered and dried under high vacuum to give 22 . 0 g of substantially pure title compound . 1 h nmr ( acetone - d 6 ): δ 2 . 35 ppm ( s , 3h , ch 3 ), 5 . 42 ( s , br , nh 2 ), 6 . 63 ( s , br , nh 2 ), 7 . 20 ( d , aromatic ), 7 . 38 ( dd , aromatic ), 7 . 77 ( s , aromatic ). to a suspension of 2 , 4 - diamino - 6 - methylquinazoline from example 4 ( 34 . 0 g , 0 . 195 mol ) and anhydrous triethyl amine ( 136 ml , 5 equiv ) in 1 l of 1 , 4 - dioxane was added benzoyl chloride ( 50 . 6 ml , 2 . 5 equiv ) at reflux for 30 minutes . the resultant mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at reflux , and solid was filtered and washed with hot 1 , 4 - dioxane . the filtrate was concentrated and the crude solid was recrystallized from ethanol to give 61 . 0 g of the title product ( 82 %). 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ): δ 2 . 56 ppm ( s , 3h , ch 3 ), 7 . 53 ( m , aromatic ), 8 . 08 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 8 . 60 ( d , 3h , aromatic ). a refluxing mixture of 2 , 4 - dibenzamido - 6 - methylquinazoline from example 5 ( 19 . 1 g , 0 . 05 mol ), 1 , 3 - dibromo - 5 , 5 - dimethyl - imidazolidine - 2 , 4 - dione ( 8 . 50 g 0 . 60 equiv ) and 1 . 40 g of benzoyl peroxide in 1 l of carbon tetrachloride was irradiated with a high intensity lamp ( 600 w , 120v ). the reaction mixture was kept at this condition for 1 hour . the mixture was allowed to cool to 25 ° c . and saturated sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution was added and stirred for 1 hour . solid was filtered , washed with ether , and dried under high vacuum to give 24 . 6 g of crude end product ( 82 % from proton nmr ), which was used for next step without further purification . 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ): δ 4 . 68 ppm ( s , 2h , ch 2 ), 7 . 57 ( m , aromatic ), 7 . 82 ( dd , 1h , aromatic ), 8 . 08 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 8 . 56 ( d , 2h , aromatic ). 8 . 73 ( s , 1h , aromatic ). hrms calcd for c 23 h 18 n 4 o 2 382 . 14 , found 383 . 14072 ( protonated ). a mixture of 2 , 4 - dibenzamido - 6 - bromomethylquinazoline from example 6 ( 19 . 68 g , 42 . 66 mmol ) and triphenylphosphine ( 12 . 31 g , 1 . 1 e ) in 427 ml of tetrahydrofuran was heated at reflux for 2 hours . the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to 25 ° c . and the precipitate was filtered . to this white solid was added 3 . 81 g of methyl 4 - formylbenzoate and 220 ml of tetrahydrofuran ( thf ). the resultant mixture was stirred at − 10 ° c . for 20 minutes and potassium t - butoxide ( 1m in thf , 44 . 22 ml ) was added . the reaction mixture was stirred at 25 ° c . for 24 hours , and saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate was added . the aqueous layer was extracted three times with ethyl acetate . the combined organic layers were washed with brine , dried over sodium sulfate , and evaporated to give a crude yellow oil , which was treated with ethyl acetate to yield 12 g of the title product . 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ): δ 3 . 94 ppm ( s , 3h , och 3 ), 7 . 30 ( d , 1h , olefin ), 7 . 39 ( s , 1h , olefin ), 7 . 57 ( m , aromatic ), 7 . 67 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 8 . 08 ( m , aromatic ), 8 . 58 ( d , 2h , aromatic ). 8 . 80 ( s , 1h , aromatic ). a mixture of the olefin from example 7 ( 7 . 0 g , 13 . 2 mmol ) and 10 % palladium on carbon ( 700 mg , 10 %) in 400 ml of dmf was hydrogenated for 20 hours at a hydrogen pressure of 20 psi . the catalyst was removed by filtration over celite and the filtrate was evaporated to give 6 . 5 g of pure title product . 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ): δ 3 . 05 ppm ( m , 4h , ch 2 ch 2 ), 3 . 88 ( s , 3h , och 3 ), 7 . 53 ( m , aromatic ), 8 . 02 ( m , 4h , aromatic ), 8 . 52 ( d , 2h , aromatic ). a mixture of the hydrogenation product from example 8 ( 6 . 5 g , 12 . 3 mmol ), 183 ml of 1 n koh , and 123 ml of acetonitrile was heated at reflux for 42 hours . the reaction solution was neutralized with acetic acid at 25 ° c . the resulting white precipitate was filtered , washed with a solution of acetonitrile and water , and dried to give 3 . 7 g of the desired title product . 1 h nmr ( dmso , d 6 ): δ 2 . 90 ppm ( m , 4h , ch 2 ch 2 ), 6 . 08 ( s , br , nh 2 ), 7 . 03 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 7 . 2 ( m , 5h , aromatic ), 7 . 76 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 7 . 80 ( s , 1h , aromatic ). hrms calcd for c 23 h 18 n 4 o 2 h + 309 . 134602 , found 309 . 13477 ( protonated ). to a suspension of 3 . 4 g of 4 - amino - 4 - deoxy - 5 , 8 , 10 - trideaza pteroic acid from example 9 in 80 ml of dmf was added 3 . 6 g of l - diethyl - 4 - methylene glutamate hydrochloride , 0 . 34 g of 1 - hydroxy benzotriazole , and 4 . 23 g of 1 -[( 3 - dimethylamino ) propyl ] 3 - ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride . the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at 25 ° c ., and 3 . 10 ml of anhydrous triethylamine was added through syringe . the reaction mixture was stirred at 25 ° c . for 18 hours . hplc monitored the reaction until no starting material was observed . the reaction mixture was poured into 300 g of ice . the white precipitate was filtered and dried to afford 5 . 5 g of the title product ( 99 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso , d 6 ): δ 1 . 12 ( m , 6h , ch 3 ), 2 . 64 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 88 ( m , 5h ), 4 . 06 ( m , 4h , ch 2 ), 4 . 57 ( m , 1h ), 5 . 63 ( s , 1h , olefin ), 5 . 83 ( s , br , nh 2 ), 6 . 05 ( s , 1h , olefin ), 7 . 04 ( d , 1h , aromatic ), 7 . 14 ( s , br , nh 2 ), 7 . 24 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 7 . 32 ( d , 1h , aromatic ), 7 . 68 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 8 . 53 ( d , 1h , aromatic ). 7 . 79 ( s , 1h , aromatic ). hrms calcd for c 27 h 31 n 5 o 5 na + 528 . 221738 , found 528 . 22225 . a mixture of diethyl - 4 ′- methylene - 5 , 8 , 10 - trideazaminopterin from example 10 ( 5 . 5 g , 11 mmol ), 544 ml of 1 n naoh , and 220 ml of acetonitrile was stirred at 25 ° c . for 16 hours . the reaction solution was neutralized with acetic acid at 25 ° c . the resulting white precipitate was filtered , washed with a solution of acetonitrile and water , and dried to give 4 . 2 g ( 85 %) of the title product . 1 h nmr ( dmso , d 6 ): δ 2 . 58 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 84 ( m , 5h ), 4 . 44 ( m , 1h ), 5 . 5 ( s , 1h , olefin ), 5 . 95 ( s , 1h , olefin ), 6 . 88 ( s , 2h , nh 2 ), 7 . 20 ( dd , 3h , aromatic ), 7 . 41 ( d , 1h , aromatic ), 7 . 75 ( d , 2h , aromatic ), 7 . 95 ( s , 1h , aromatic ), 9 . 03 ( s , br , cooh ). the above description is illustrative of the process of this invention , is not limitative thereof , and may be modified within the scope of the following claims . | 2 |
referring now to the drawings , wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views . it is noted that as used in the specification and the appending claims the singular forms “ a ,” “ an ,” and “ the ” can include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise . the following description relates to a pick - up header and a merger including the pick - up header , and a conveyor , which are supported by skid shoes that rest on the ground . the skid shoes may be attached to a frame member of the pick - up header and / or a main pivot shaft which may be connected to a system of linkages . in exemplary embodiments including the main pivot shaft and the system of linkages , an elevation of the pick - up header and an orientation of the skid shoes may be adjusted with an operation of the system of linkages . the system of linkages may be positioned within components of a pick - up header frame , a conveyor frame , and a merger frame . during operation , material that is picked up by the pick - up header and conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the merger may remain on a conveyor belt on a return side of the conveyor . with the skid shoes attached to the frame of the pick - up header and / or the main pivot shaft , an arrangement of the skid shoes , with or without the main pivot shaft and the system of linkages , may not require an external frame to be provided beneath the conveyor in exemplary embodiments of a merger according to the present disclosure . as a result , material that lags on the return side of the conveyor may fall to the ground keeping the return side of the conveyor belt free from obstructions . fig1 a - c illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a windrow merger assembly 1 according to the present disclosure that is supported by wheels 3 on the ground and may be towed by a vehicle ( not shown ) via a tongue 5 extending from a trailer 7 . as illustrated in fig1 b , the windrow merger assembly 1 includes mergers 100 operably connected to the trailer 7 that is supported by the wheels 3 . arms 9 extend from behind a deflector 101 mounted to vertical frame members 103 of each merger 100 . the arms 9 extend over a conveyor 130 of each merger 100 and attach to a bar 11 , from which guides 13 extend . the guides 13 extend from the bar 11 over a plurality of pick - up teeth 151 between end plates 153 of a pick - up header 150 according to the present disclosure . the pick - up teeth 151 are positioned to alternate with pick - up guards 155 on a front of the pick - up header 150 along a longitudinal direction ( x axis ) of the merger 100 ( fig1 c ). at least one of the end plates 153 may support a drive shaft ( not shown ) which transfers rotational force to drive the plurality of pick - up teeth 151 . skid shoes 170 are provided under each merger 100 . during operation , the skid shoe 170 may contact the ground to maintain a minimum clearance ( s ) between the ground and the pick - up header 150 as illustrated in fig2 a . fig2 a - 2c illustrate the merger 100 including the pick - up header 150 according to the present disclosure in more detail . as illustrated in fig2 a , a deflector 101 is mounted on the vertical frame members 103 of the merger 100 . the vertical frame members 103 are attached to a horizontal frame member 105 as illustrated in fig2 a and 2b , which extends in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ) of the merger 100 . the conveyor 130 is positioned between the horizontal frame member 105 of the merger 100 and the pick - up header 150 . as illustrated in fig2 a and 2c , the conveyor 130 includes a conveyor belt 131 that is driven to rotate around the merger 100 to convey material on a top side 130 a in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ) of the merger 100 . the conveyor belt 131 may be an endless conveyor belt driven by rollers and supported by a frame as described in more detail below . because a frame is not provided under a return side 130 b of the conveyor 130 , lagging material does not fall and accumulate on a structural element immediately below the conveyor belt 131 . thus , an issue of material accumulating and forming catch points that may slow or stop the conveyor 130 may be avoided with the merger 100 of the present disclosure . fig3 and 4 illustrate various aspects of the pick - up header 150 according to the present disclosure . the pick - up header 150 includes a header frame 157 . one side of the header frame is attached to the pick - up teeth 151 and the pick - up guards 155 , and an opposite side is attached to the conveyor 130 , which extends in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ) of the merger 100 between the endplates 153 ( fig4 ). the conveyor 130 is attached to the header frame 157 just above a lower rear frame member 159 and below an upper rear frame member 161 . the lower rear frame member 159 and the upper rear frame member 161 extend in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ), while projecting from the pick - up header 150 in a front to rear direction ( z axis ) of the merger 100 ( fig1 c ). fig3 further illustrates support plates 163 positioned under a longitudinal guide 165 mounted onto the lower rear frame member 159 of the header frame 157 . the support plates 163 help support the main pivot shaft 180 . individual guide members 167 are attached to the header frame 157 below attachment points for cross members ( 135 a 1 , 135 a 3 ) of the conveyor 130 described in more detail below . the conveyor belt 131 ( see fig2 a and 2c ) may fit in a space defined between the longitudinal guide plate 165 and the individual guide members 167 , such that a movement of the conveyor belt 131 is guided by the guide members 167 in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ). the guide members 167 also prevent an inner side of the conveyor belt 131 from contacting lower sides of the cross members ( 135 a 1 , 135 a 3 , and 134 ), which could impede the movement of the conveyor belt 131 . fig3 - 5a describe the present disclosure having an internal structure of the merger 100 including an internal structure of the conveyor 130 . fig3 illustrates a perspective view from a back of the merger 100 similar to fig2 c , and fig4 illustrates a bottom view of the merger 100 according to the present disclosure . in fig3 and 4 , the conveyor belt 131 is removed in order to show primary rollers 133 and a conveyor frame ( 134 , 135 a 1 , 135 a 2 , 135 b ) of the conveyor 130 . primary rollers 133 are positioned on opposite ends of the merger 100 in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ). a drive mount 137 is connected on to a rear of the horizontal frame member 105 in a location corresponding to one of the primary rollers 133 . the drive mount 137 connects to the primary roller 133 in order to rotate the primary roller 133 and drive the conveyor belt 131 ( see fig2 a and 2c ). as illustrated in fig5 a , the conveyor frame ( 134 , 135 a 1 , 135 a 3 , 135 b ) includes first cross members 135 a 1 and second cross members 134 extending in the front to rear direction ( z axis ) and attached to the pick - up header frame 157 and the horizontal frame member 105 . the first and second cross members ( 135 a 1 , 134 ) support horizontal cross members 135 b extending in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ). a surface belt rides on the horizontal cross member 135 b , which also connects to the conveyor cross members 135 a 1 , 135 a 3 , and 134 . the first and second cross members ( 135 a 1 , 134 ) attach the deflector 101 ( fig2 a - 2c ), vertical frame members 103 , and horizontal frame member 105 to the pick - up header 150 ( fig1 and 3 ) and support the overall structure of the merger 100 ( fig2 a ). a description of the arrangement of a system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ) and is provided with reference to fig2 b , 5a , 5b , 6a , and 6b . fig5 a and 5b illustrate an embodiment of the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ), including a main linkage 181 extending in the front to rear direction ( z axis ), the main pivot shaft 180 , and a linear actuator 200 . fig5 a illustrates the merger 100 according to the present disclosure without the deflector 101 and the pick - up teeth 151 , and shows the main pivot shaft 180 and the main linkage 181 of the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ). the main pivot shaft 180 is attached to each skid shoe 170 , and the main linkage 181 extends through the horizontal frame member 105 at one end , and the header frame 157 at an opposite end . fig5 b illustrates the merger 100 according to the present disclosure without the deflector 101 , the pick - up teeth 151 , or portions of header frame 157 including the lower frame member 159 . a first linkage arm 185 is also shown attached to the first pivot plate 183 by a linkage arm pin 183 b ( fig5 b ). the first linkage arm 185 extends through a second opening 157 b in the header frame 157 ( fig5 a ), to connect with a first connection member 187 by a first connection pin 187 a ( fig5 b ). the first pivot plate 183 is connected to the first linkage arm 185 in order to translate the motion of the main linkage 181 to the main pivot shaft 180 via the first connection member 187 . a connection between the main linkage 181 and the main pivot shaft 180 is described with reference to fig5 a , 5b , 6a , and 6b . the main linkage 181 extends within the conveyor unit 130 in the front to rear direction ( z axis ). specifically , the main linkage 181 is positioned between the first cross members 135 a 1 along the longitudinal direction ( x axis ), and attaches at one end to a first pivot plate 183 . the main linkage 181 extends through a header frame opening 157 a ( fig5 a ), to attach to the first pivot plate 183 positioned in front of the header frame 157 in the front to rear direction ( z axis ) as shown in fig5 b . the main linkage 181 is attached to the first pivot plate 183 with a first main linkage pin 183 a . fig6 a and 6b illustrate respective connections between the main linkage 181 , first pivot plate 183 , first linkage arm 185 , and first connection member 187 by the first main linkage pin 183 a , linkage arm pin 183 b , and first connection pin 187 a . as illustrated in fig5 b , 6a , and 6b , the first linkage arm 185 may be connected to the main pivot shaft 180 by the first connection member 187 . in other embodiments , the first linkage arm 185 may be directly connected to the main pivot shaft 180 . fig6 b is an exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure , the main pivot shaft 180 may extend in the longitudinal direction ( x axis ) and be attached to second connection members 189 positioned at or near shaft ends 180 a of the main pivot shaft 180 . in one embodiment , two connection members 189 may be connected symmetrically at one end to the main pivot shaft 180 , and the other ends of the connection members 189 may be connected to pivot members 173 that are connected to the skid shoe 170 . a second linkage arm 191 may be connected to another pivot member 173 at one end , and support plates 163 ( fig5 a , 5b ) at the other end . the support plates 163 may also be connected to the 159 lower rear frame member and aid in the support of the longitudinal guide plate 165 . in addition , to the shaft ends 180 a , the second connection members 189 may be positioned at intermediate positions on the main shaft 180 between the first connection member 187 and the shaft ends 180 a . the second connection members 189 may attach the main pivot shaft to the skid shoes 170 by connecting to respective pivot members 173 described in detail below . in addition , a second linkage arm 191 may connect one of the support plates 163 ( fig5 a , 5b ) to one of the pivot members 173 ( fig6 a - 6c ) of the skid shoe 170 . the support plates 163 also aid in the support of the longitudinal guide plate 165 ( fig3 and 5a ). bearings 182 may be provided to support the main pivot shaft 180 in rotation . the bearings 180 may be ball bearings , roller bearings , oil - film bearings , or any other type of appropriate bearing . further , the bearings 182 may be provided near the shaft ends 180 a of the main pivot shaft 180 and in a vicinity of the first connection member 187 that is attached to the first linkage arm 185 . in addition , the bearings 182 may be attached to support plates 163 ( fig5 a - 5 b ) that may be positioned in locations corresponding to the shaft ends 180 a of the main pivot shaft 180 . a connection between the main linkage 181 and the linear actuator 200 is described with reference to fig2 b , 5a , 5b , 6a and 6b . an end of the main linkage 181 ( fig5 b ) passes through both a merger frame opening 105 b ( fig2 b ), and a frame slot 105 a ( fig5 a - 5b ) mounted on the horizontal frame member 105 . with reference to fig5 a and 5b , the linear actuator 200 may be provided at a rear of the conveyor 130 . this location of the linear actuator 200 may provide easier access for manual adjustment of the skid shoe 170 . the linear actuator 200 may be actuated manually or may be powered . the linear actuator 200 may be mechanical , hydraulic , electrical , or pneumatic . for example , the linear actuator 200 may include a ball screw , a solenoid , hydraulic cylinder , pneumatic cylinder , or a combination thereof . further , the linear actuator 200 may be manually controlled or electronically controlled by a controller ( not shown ). the linear actuator 200 may move in a vertical direction ( y axis ) which is identified in fig6 a , and may be connected to the main linkage 181 . the actuator is a linear applicator or a pivot , or a rotary actuator . as illustrated in fig6 a and 6b , the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ) includes a first pivot pin 195 extending through the first pivot plate 183 , and a second pivot pin 197 extending through the second pivot plate 193 . the first pivot pin 195 is provided to mount the first pivot plate 183 on to the pick - up header frame 157 ( fig5 a ) such that the first pivot plate 183 can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the front and rear direction ( z axis ) and parallel to the longitudinal direction ( x axis ). the second pivot pin 197 is provided to mount the second pivot plate 193 on to the pick - up header frame 105 a ( fig5 a ) such that the second pivot plate 193 can rotate about another axis perpendicular to the front and rear direction ( z axis ) and parallel to the longitudinal direction ( x axis ). the actuator for this application could be any type of linear actuator or a pivot could be replaced with a rotary actuator . the embodiment shown ( fig2 c ) is a manual screw type linear actuator . the housing is rotated causing the internal screw to either extend or retract . fig6 a and 6b illustrate the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ) without the pick - up header frame 157 or the horizontal frame member 105 of the merger 100 . the main linkage 181 is attached to a second pivot plate 193 by a second main linkage pin 193 a . a linkage actuator pin 193 b attaches the second pivot plate 193 to the linear actuator 200 , while a second pivot pin 197 attaches the second pivot plate 193 to the horizontal frame member 105 . in other embodiments , the linear actuator may be provided in the system of linkages in place of any of the linkage members that operate in a linear manner , including the main linkage 181 . replacing one of the linkages with the linear actuator may reduce the number of linkages in the system . in one embodiment shown in fig9 a , a linear actuator 200 may be connected to the first connection member 187 , which is connected to and controls the rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 . the linear actuator 200 to operate or replace linkages may comprise , but is not limited to , a hydraulic , pneumatic , or mechanical system , or some combination thereof . fig6 a - 6c describe skid shoes 170 . the skid shoes 170 may be provided beneath the conveyor 130 ( fig1 a ) and the pick - up header 150 ( fig3 ), and may include a flat portion 170 a , like a flat plate , and angled lip portions 170 b on opposite sides of the flat portion 170 a in the front to rear direction ( z axis ). the flat portion 170 a may include a flat lower surface which may contact the ground . each skid shoe 170 may include at least one pivot member 173 for connecting the skid shoe 170 to the main pivot shaft 180 . further , a plurality of pivot members 173 may be provided on each skid shoe 170 in exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure . as illustrated in fig6 b and 6c , each pivot member 173 may be provided on a reinforcement member 171 which provides increased stiffness and rigidity to the skid shoe 170 . the reinforcement member 171 may attach to the angled lip portions 170 b of the skid shoe 170 . in other exemplary embodiments , the pivot members 173 may be mounted directly to the flat portion 170 a of the skid shoe 170 . during operation , each skid shoe 170 may contact the ground to maintain the minimum clearance ( s ) between the ground and the pick - up header 150 illustrated in fig2 a . an exemplary operation of the skid shoes 170 and system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ) according the present disclosure will now be described . the linear actuator 200 may be provided to actuate at least one linkage in the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ). the main linkage 181 may be driven by the linear actuator 200 so as to move in a linear direction , such as the front to rear direction ( z axis ). specifically , the movement of linear actuator 200 will cause the second pivot plate 193 to rotate so that the main linkage 181 may move in the front to rear direction ( z axis ), as shown in fig6 a . as previously provided , the second pivot plate 193 is rotatably connected to the horizontal frame member 105 of the merger 100 ( fig2 c ). the movement of the main linkage 181 in the front to rear direction ( z axis ) as shown in fig5 a and 5b , will be translated to the main pivot shaft 180 by the first pivot plate 183 , the first linkage arm 185 and the first connection member 187 . specifically , the first pivot plate 183 will rotate relative to the pick - up header frame 157 , causing the first linkage arm 185 to move in the front to rear direction ( z axis ). an end of the first linkage arm 185 connected to the first connection member 187 is rotatable about the first connection pin 187 a . as a result of this connection , the movement of the first linkage arm 185 in the front to rear direction ( z axis ) causes the first connection member 187 , and thereby the main pivot shaft 180 , to rotate in a rotational direction ( r ) identified in fig2 a . the first linkage arm 185 can move back and forth along the front to rear direction ( z axis ). as such , the direction of rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 corresponds to the direction movement of the main linkage 181 and the first linkage arm 185 along the front to rear direction ( z axis ), shown in fig6 a . when the main linkage 181 moves towards the pick - up teeth 151 , the first linkage arm 185 moves towards the deflector 101 , and the main pivot shaft 180 rotates in a first rotational direction ( r 1 ) as illustrated in fig6 a . when the main linkage 181 moves towards the deflector 101 , the first linkage arm 185 moves towards the pick - up teeth 151 , and the main pivot shaft 180 rotates in a second rotational direction ( r 2 ) as illustrated in fig6 a . when the main pivot shaft 180 rotates due to the movement of the main linkage 181 , the position of the skid shoe 170 is adjusted due to the connections between second connection members 189 and respective pivot members 173 , and with second linkage arms 191 which are connected to respective pivot members 173 ( fig6 b ). the adjustment of the skid shoe 170 may include a change in its angle and / or a change in vertical displacement . according to one exemplary embodiment , rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 in the first rotational direction ( r 1 ) may vertically lower the skid shoe towards the ground , and rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 in a second rotational direction ( r 2 ) may vertically raise the skid shoe away from the ground ( fig6 a ). further , rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 in one rotational direction may increase an angle between the skid shoe 170 and the ground , and rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 in another rotational direction may decrease the angle between the skid shoe 170 and the ground . in other embodiments , the angle and the vertical displacement of the skid shoe 170 may both be changed depending on the rotational direction of the main pivot shaft 180 . the linkage member 191 may attach to a support plate 163 in a parallel linkage arrangement , maintaining a constant angle between the shoe and the bottom of the merger throughout the range of adjustment . the support plate 163 may be slotted which allows for the change in the angle of the shoe for improved ground following . in one embodiment , the end of at least one joint of the second linkage arm 191 has a slot 201 ( fig8 a - 8b ), allowing adjustment of the angle the skid shoe 170 makes with the horizontal . as illustrated in fig1 a - 6c , and described herein , multiple skid shoes 170 may be connected to the main pivot shaft 180 . the rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 due to the movement of the main linkage 181 may adjust the position of each of the multiple skid shoes 170 . the skid shoes 170 may be provided near each shaft end 180 a of the main pivot shaft 180 ( fig6 b ). multiple second connection members 189 may connect the main pivot shaft 180 to multiple pivot members 173 ( fig6 c ). as illustrated in fig6 b and 6c , for each skid shoe 170 , multiple second linkage arms 191 may be arranged in parallel with one second connection member 189 to form a four bar linkage , the second linkage arm 191 connected directly to the support plate 163 and one of the pivot members 173 . the rotation of the main pivot 180 shaft may change the displacement of the skid shoe 170 relative to the bottom of the pick - up header 150 with the movement of the second linkage arm 191 . fig8 a - 8b illustrate the pick - up header 150 and conveyor 130 , connected to the skid shoe 170 . the position and movement of the skid shoe 170 may be controlled by the system of linkages , detailed in fig6 a - 6c , or by a linear actuator 200 , as shown in fig9 a , to pivot the second pivot plate 193 about the second pivot pin 197 , which translates rocking motion into linear movement of the main linkage 181 along the z axis , which in turn actuates the linear movement of the first linkage arm 185 by rocking the first pivot plate 183 . as a result of the linear motion of the first linkage arm 185 acting on the first connection member 187 , the main pivot shaft 180 rotates and moves the second connection member 189 and second linkage arm 191 , which cause the skid shoe 170 to move vertically . the embodiments of fig9 a - b depict the result of rotating the main pivot shaft 180 to move the skid shoe 170 to different positions . in one position , the skid shoe 170 is in a flat , lowered position of vertical displacement ( a ) due to rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 in the direction r 2 , as shown in fig9 a . in another position the skid shoe 170 is in a flat , extended position of vertical displacement ( a + b ) due to rotation of the main pivot shaft 180 in the direction r 1 , as shown in fig9 b . the rotation of the skid shoe 170 about the angles θ and α is due to contact between the skid shoe 170 and the ground surface as the skid shoe 170 passes over uneven terrain . the skid shoe 170 is free floating . the angular position of skid shoe 170 is independent of the adjustment of the pivot shaft 180 and movement of the main linkage 181 . the center of gravity of the skid shoe 170 is located rearward of the leading pivot member 173 , which causes the skid shoe 170 to maintain a standard rotation angle θ of greater than zero , with the leading edge of the skid shoe 170 at an elevation above that of the trailing edge to help prevent the leading edge from digging into the ground when the pick - up header 150 is returned to the ground . fig8 a shows the skid shoe rotating to an angle ( θ ), generally zero to 12 degrees from the horizontal as allowed by the slotted member 191 to permit the shoe to follow the contour of the ground . fig9 b shows the result of rotating the linkage in the r 1 direction . the shoe lowers to raise the pick - up header 150 from the ground . fig8 b shows the ground following capabilities in the opposite direction to that shown in fig8 a with the skid shoe rotating to an angle ( α ), generally zero to 5 degrees from the horizontal . as illustrated in fig6 a and 6b , the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ) includes a first pivot pin 195 extending through the first pivot plate 183 , and a second pivot pin 197 extending through the second pivot plate 193 . the first pivot pin 195 is provided to mount the first pivot plate 183 on to the pick - up header frame 157 ( fig5 a ) such that the first pivot plate 183 can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the front and rear direction ( z axis ) and parallel to the longitudinal direction ( x axis ). the second pivot pin 197 is provided to mount the second pivot plate 193 on to the pick - up header frame 105 a ( fig5 a ) such that the second pivot plate 193 can rotate about another axis perpendicular to the front and rear direction ( z axis ) and parallel to the longitudinal direction ( x axis ). the actuator for this application could be any type of linear applicator or a pivot could be replaced with a rotary actuator . the embodiment shown ( fig2 c ) is a manual screw type linear actuator . the housing is rotated causing the internal screw to either extend or retract . fig6 a and 6b illustrate the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ) without the pick - up header frame 157 or the horizontal frame member 105 of the merger 100 . the main linkage 181 is attached to a second pivot plate 193 by a second main linkage pin 193 a . a linkage actuator pin 193 b attaches the second pivot plate 193 to the linear actuator 200 , while a second pivot pin 197 attaches the second pivot plate 193 to the horizontal frame member 105 . portions of the system of linkages ( 180 - 200 ) may be located within the conveyor 130 and surrounded by the conveyor belt 131 . in one embodiment , the merger frame opening 105 b may be provided in the horizontal frame member 105 of the merger 100 , and the main linkage 181 may pass through the merger frame opening 105 b to be substantially provided inside the conveyor 131 . further , in the exemplary embodiments of merger 100 and pick - up header 150 according to this disclosure , one end of the main linkage 181 passes through the merger frame opening 105 b and the other end of the main linkage 181 passes through the pick - up header frame opening 157 a ( fig5 a ). with the main linkage 181 substantially provided inside the conveyor 130 , the main pivot shaft 180 and the skid shoe 170 may be disposed below the conveyor 130 and behind the pick - up header 150 . the main pivot shaft 180 may be disposed outside of the conveyor 130 , and the support plates 163 may contact against the lower rear frame member 159 of the pick - up header 150 ( fig5 a ). with this configuration , the main linkage 181 may be free from obstructions below the conveyor belt 131 and may still allow for adjustment of the skid shoe 170 . in some embodiments , equipped with linkages described , any or all of the components could be positioned outside the conveyor except for the 181 . in another embodiment , the skid shoe 170 may be fixed to a support on the pick - up header frame 157 or the lower rear frame member 159 of the pick - up header frame 157 . the skid shoes 170 may be fixed such that the skid shoes 170 are not adjustable . in other exemplary embodiments , the skid shoes may be attached to the pick - up header 157 and adjustable at an attachment point . the skid shoe 170 in this configuration may be adjusted directly by a mechanical device or remotely by remote control . the attachment point may include a ball - and - socket joint , a servo , a ratchet joint , or a pin joint . in other embodiments , the skid shoes 170 may be replaced with at least one roller . the roller may be fixed or ground following . although only certain embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this disclosure . accordingly , all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure . further , it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims , the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein . | 0 |
fig1 shows part of a nuclear fuel assembly 10 of closely packed fuel pins 11 arranged in an array with their longitudinal axes in parallel . each fuel pin 11 consists of generally tubular cladding 12 which has a plurality of longitudinally extending fins 13 formed as part of the outer surface of the cladding and spaced circumferentially thereabout . a nuclear fuel 14 , consisting of a mixture of fissile and fertile material , is contained within the cladding 12 . the fuel pins 11 in fig1 are arranged so that the extremity of each fin 13a abuts with the extremity of a fin 13b of a juxtaposed fuel pin ; fins of peripheral fuel pins may abut the fuel assembly can structure 15 . the extremities of the fins shown in fig1 are joined to each other and to the reactor can structure by means of brazing at 16 and 17 , respectively , to form the integral fuel assembly 10 . the fins 13 , in one embodiment , extend without interruption along the longitudinal surface of the fuel pin forming channels 20 in the interspaces of the fuel pins which direct reactor coolant flow ( not shown ) therewithin generally in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pins the fins 13 , however , need not extend continuously along the length of the fuel pins but can be interrupted fins 21 , as shown in fig2 and 3 , so as to allow transverse flow and intermixing of the coolant through the fuel pin interspaces . the axially interrupted fins 21 of juxtaposed fuel pins may be brazed to each other at 22 ( fig2 ) or , as shown in fig3 directly to the tubular portion of the fuel pin at 23 . an assembly utilizing a combination of both arrangements shown in fig2 and 3 , i . e ., fin to fin contact and fin to tube contact , is also possible . a finned fuel pin 26 design utilizing broad fins 24 brazed to each other at 25 is shown in fig4 . broad fins may be utilized to further limit the moderator volume fraction at some sacrifice of specific core power . elimination of conventional spacer grids and the formation of fins as part of the tube cladding permits reduction of the reactor core moderator volume fraction to values consistent with the achievement of the desired moderator to fuel atom ratios . illustrative physical design parameters are set forth in table 1 . table i______________________________________example 1 2 3______________________________________fuel pin diameter , inches . 35 . 40 . 40fuel pin pitch , inches . 39 . 43 . 43clad thickness , inches . 015 . 020 . 020clad material incoloy type 316 type 316 800 stainless stainless steel steelpitch - diameter , inches . 040 . 030 . 030number of fins per pin 6 3 3fin height , inches . 020 . 030 . 030fin width , inches . 020 . 030 . 030fin interruption , percent of 0 0 30lengthfuel volume fraction . 6105 . 6357 . 6357structural volume fraction . 1381 . 1659 . 1541coolant volume fraction . 2514 . 1984 . 2102fuel / coolant volume fraction 2 . 43 3 . 20 3 . 02ratiomoderator / fuel atom ratio . 82 . 624 . 66______________________________________ the fuel pins in the examples of table i are formed in the shapes of rods . the fuel pins of examples 1 and 2 are provided with continuous fins along their length . example 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of example 2 wherein the fins traverse approximately thirty percent of the length of the rods . the values for the moderator to fuel atom ratios shown in table i approximate normal pressurized water reactor operating pg , 9 conditions including primary coolant temperature and pressure , fuel pellet shape , clearances between the fuel pellets and clad , and percent of theoretical uo 2 density achieved in the pellet . the fuel assemblies of table i would be typically formed by furnace brazing in a hydrogen atmosphere at 1950 ° to 2000 ° f . with a brazing alloy tradenamed &# 34 ; nicrobraz 50 &# 34 ; ( available from the wall - colmonoy corp ., detroit , mich .) using jigs , fixtures and methods of braze alloy placement known in the furnace brazing art . in still another embodiment , fig5 illustrates a design for low temperature reactors suitable for breeding plutonium and low heat generation purpose , e . g . residential heating . in this embodiment a fuel assembly is fabricated from a block 32 of metal , e . g ., aluminum alloy . transversely spaced parallel channels are formed for flow passage 31 and for fuel 30 . the surfaces of the flow channels may be roughened where needed to increase critical heat flux . illustrative design parameters for a block type reactor are shown in table ii . table ii______________________________________example 1 2______________________________________fuel channel diameter , inches . 40 . 325fuel channel pitch , inches . 500 . 40coolant channel diameter , inches . 156 . 125coolant channel pitch , inches . 500 . 40fuel volume fraction . 503 . 518structure volume fraction . 421 . 405coolant volume fraction . 076 . 0766fuel / coolant volume fraction ratio 6 . 62 6 . 76moderator / fuel atom ratio . 44 . 43______________________________________ the moderator to fuel atom ratio of table ii corresponds to a primary coolant water temperature of about 250 ° f . at low pressure . other process parameters are similar to those assumed for table i . the geometry of the coolant and fuel channels in the block type fuel assembly will produce a degree of what might be termed &# 34 ; moderator escape probability &# 34 ; which will serve to harden the neutron spectrum and improve the core conversion or breeding ratio . this occurs because each fuel channel is not completely surrounded by moderator . hence , some neutrons produced in a fuel channel can pass to another fuel channel without traversing a volume containing moderator , thereby improving the breeding or conversion ratio since the average neutron energy at which fission occurs is increased . this , combined with a moderator to fuel ratio less than that which can be achieved with touching fuel pins , should yield a uniquely high breeding ratio for either h 2 o or d 2 o cooling . by virtue of the moderator to fuel atom ratios made possible by these approaches to fuel assembly design , fast reactor physics can be applied to pressurized water reactor tehnology . this combination has important advantages including : a . avoidance of gas or liquid metal coolants otherwise used for fast reactors . c . availability of additional methods of reactivity control , namely , chemical shim and spectral shift control . availability of additional methods of reactivity control reduces the normal dependence of fast reactors on control rods . they allow a general reduction in required control rod worth and provide a means for continuous adjustment of excess reactivity to a minimum value , thereby greatly enhancing the safety of fast reactor cores . this would include operation with higher worth rods out of the core . | 8 |
fig1 a , 2b , 3a , 3b , 4a , and 4b depict typical groups of bullet holes resulting from test firing of a ruger caliber . 223 mini - 14 with leupold 8 × telescopic sight installed . all firing was done from a bench rest at a range of 100 yards and with 10 round groups . the figures were created by first digitizing the location of each bullet hole on test targets , entering the data in a computer , and then reproducing the pattern of holes at full scale with exact bullet diameter circles . each group was then enclosed in a rectangle drawn tangent to the widest vertical and horizontal bullet holes in the group . the group in fig1 indicated at 1 was fired using hornady varmint express 55 grain factory ammunition with the rifle in unmodified configuration . the group shown in fig2 a indicated at 3 was fired using the same type of hornady ammunition with the rifle incorporating standard accuracy modifications commonly employed on u . s . m14 rifles , including polymer bedding of the rifle action . incorporation of standard accuracy modifications were done to prevent looseness of the gun action within its stock . the group shown on fig2 b indicated at 5 was fired using the same type of hornady ammunition with above mentioned accuracy modifications plus an optimized barrel stabilizer system of the present invention installed . the change between the group on fig1 indicated at 1 to the group on fig2 a indicated at 3 constitutes a modest reduction in extreme spread by less than 25 %. the change , between the group on fig2 a at 3 and the group on fig2 b at 5 , constitutes at dramatic reduction by nearly a factor of three in extreme spread . the groups depicted in fig3 a , 3b , 4a , and 4b were fired with the ruger rifle with above mentioned accuracy modifications first without ( on fig3 a at 7 and fig4 a at 11 ) and then with ( on fig3 b at 9 and fig4 b at 13 ) the same barrel stabilizer system of the present invention . groups depicted in fig3 a and 3b were fired with winchester 69 grain match ammunition . groups depicted in fig4 a and 4b were fired with ammunition representative of recent u . s . military 55 grain ball ammunition . fig3 a , 3b , 4a , and 4b show that the stabilizers of the present invention achieve accuracy improvement for all ammunition compatible with a given gun without change or adjustment of the stabilizer . the groups depicted in fig1 a , 2b , 3a , 3b , 4a , and 4b were not selected to exaggerate the performance of the present invention but rather represent typical performance of the configuration under test as described above . accuracy improvement in this ruger rifle has been found typical for guns of various types after installation of the present invention . the minimum reduction in group size for any gun , so far equipped with an optimized barrel stabilizer system of the present invention , was 50 % and occurred with a rifle already possessing excellent accuracy . a factor of five was the maximum reduction in average group size for guns under test during development of the subject invention . with the exception of the ruger rifle described above , all rifles tested after installation of optimized barrel stabilizer systems of the present invention produced average ten shot groups measuring under one minute of angle for center to center for extreme spread on the widest holes . the forward portion of a model gun is shown in fig5 responding to the forces , represented at 14 , generated by firing . the depicted forward portion of the gun consists of the barrel 15 , the forestock 16 , the muzzle 17 with distal end 18 , and a contact point 19 with the barrel at the forward end of said forestock 16 . the barrel 15 including the muzzle 17 is shown with exaggerated angular deflection for the purposes of illustration . fig6 depicts the same gun of fig5 now shown with the system of the invention , including a stabilizer indicated generally at 20 greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustration . a transition piece shown generally at 21 joins the stabilizer 20 to the barrel 15 at the muzzle 17 . the stabilizer 20 is shown resisting and correcting the angular deflection of the muzzle 17 by virtue of its cantilever nature , extending rearwards from the barrel muzzle 17 , when exposed to the same forces 14 generated by firing . the stabilizer 20 is shown extending rearward from the distal end 18 of the barrel 15 to the contact point 19 between the forestock 16 and the barrel 15 . the contact point 19 is a point of transition from relatively low section modulus to relatively high section modulus . optimized embodiments of the present invention will have barrel stabilizer systems which extend rearward from gun muzzles to positions short of , beyond , or to such points , based on the configuration of the gun and desired appearance and features of the stabilizer . fig7 depicts a first preferred embodiment including a segment of rifle barrel shown generally at 25 including barrel bore 26 and distal end 27 . a tubular stabilizer 28 is shown installed via a transition piece 29 using internal threads which cooperate with external threads on the barrel at 30 . the transition piece 29 is joined to the stabilizer 28 by interference fit at 31 . the stabilizer 28 is held in position through contact between the transition piece 29 and a shoulder on the barrel at 32 . the stabilizer 28 extends rearward from the distal end 27 almost to a point of transition 33 on the rifle barrel 25 from smaller diameter to larger diameter . point 33 serves as the transition from relatively low section modulus to relatively high section modulus . fig8 depicts the attachment details of a second preferred embodiment similar to that shown in fig7 including a segment of an air rifle barrel shown generally at 40 including distal end 41 . a tubular stabilizer 42 is shown installed via a transition piece 43 using internal threads which cooperate with external threads on the barrel at 44 . the transition piece 43 is joined to the stabilizer 42 by bonded attachment at 45 . the stabilizer 42 is secured to the barrel 40 through contact with a lock nut 46 incorporating internal threads which cooperate with external threads on the barrel at 47 . fig9 depicts the attachment details of a third preferred embodiment similar to that shown in fig7 including a segment of rifle barrel shown generally at 50 including distal end 51 . a tubular stabilizer 52 incorporates an integral transition piece shown generally at 53 . the stabilizer 52 is connected to the barrel by a lock nut 54 with a conical interface shown at 55 on the transition piece 53 . the transition piece 53 further cooperates with a second conical interface 56 on an enlarged segment of barrel shown at 57 . internal threads on the lock nut 54 engage external threads on the barrel at 58 . close alignment is maintained by the conical interfaces shown at 55 and 56 , and is repeatable should the stabilizer 52 be removed from the barrel 50 . fig1 depicts the attachment details of a fourth preferred embodiment similar to that shown in fig9 including a segment of rifle barrel distal end 65 . a tubular barrel stabilizer 66 incorporates a horizontal slot 67 that bisects stabilizer 66 in the region where stabilizer 66 contacts the barrel . the slot 67 cooperates with clamping screws shown typically at 68 to produce a clamping force attaching the stabilizer 66 to the barrel . relief cuts shown typically at 69 accommodate the clamping screws . fig1 depicts a cross section view of fig1 with the gun barrel shown at 70 . the stabilizer , including integral transition piece , is shown generally at 66 . external threads , on the clamping screws shown at 68 , cooperate with internal threads in the stabilizer at 71 , and with slot 67 , to produce a clamping force at the stabilizer - barrel interface shown generally at 72 . fig1 depicts the attachment details of a fifth preferred embodiment similar to that shown in fig7 including a segment of artillery barrel shown generally at 80 . a tubular stabilizer 81 is shown with clearance space 82 . the stabilizer 81 is connected to the barrel by a clamping collet 83 with conical interfaces shown at 84 and 85 . the clamping collet 83 forms the transition from the stabilizer 81 to the barrel 80 . a lock nut including integral muzzle brake shown generally at 86 incorporates internal threads which cooperate with external threads on the stabilizer at 87 to capture and compress the clamping collet 83 onto the barrel 80 . the lock nut incorporating integral muzzle brake 86 includes two pairs of opposing vent holes shown typically at 88 and 89 , plus internal baffles shown generally at 90 . the lock nut incorporating integral muzzle brake further includes a central bore 91 larger than the gun bore 92 , and distal end shown at 93 . fig1 shows an enlarged detail of the clamping collet 83 from fig1 including conical surfaces shown typically at 96 . multiple longitudinal slots shown typically at 97 and 98 extend from opposite ends of the clamping collet 83 accommodating the flexibility necessary for the clamping collet 83 to perform its function . fig1 is an end view of the clamping collet 83 of fig1 including longitudinal slots shown typically at 97 and 98 plus central bore 99 matching the artillery barrel outside diameter . fig1 depicts a sixth preferred embodiment including the forward segment of a ruger mini - 14 . 223 caliber rifle , shown generally at 105 , including the forward section of barrel 106 with distal end 107 . a tubular stabilizer 108 is shown installed via a transition piece 109 which is bonded inside the stabilizer 108 . a retaining pin 110 is installed by interference fit into a hole which passes thought the stabilizer 108 , transition piece 109 , and barrel 106 , centered on a cord line which is tangent to the transition piece and barrel interface diameter . the pin 110 serves to lock the stabilizer 108 to the barrel 106 against rotation and axial movement . the stabilizer 108 is shown with a front sight 111 installed to a sight base 112 . the stabilizer 108 extends forward beyond the distal end of the barrel 107 to form the outer casing of a muzzle brake at 113 including vent holes shown typically at 114 . the muzzle brake system further includes a baffle piece 115 with central bore 116 installed by bonded connection inside the muzzle brake casing 113 . the stabilizer 108 extends rearward from the distal end of the barrel at 107 almost to a point of transition 117 on the rifle barrel 106 resulting from the presence of the mini - 14 gas block 118 . point 117 constitutes a transition from relatively low section modulus to relatively high section modulus . the barrel stabilizer system further includes an adjustable counterweight 119 with internal threads , and lock 120 with internal threads , which cooperate with external threads on the stabilizer at 121 . the adjustable counterweight 119 is moved to different positions along the stabilizer 108 by rotation on the threads shown at 121 , and then locked in position for gun firing by tightening the lock 120 against the counterweight 119 . the adjustable counterweight 119 and lock 120 provide a means of empirically achieving final matching of the stabilizer to the gun during prototype development or as components of a production stabilizer system . fig1 depicts a seventh preferred embodiment including a forward segment of a u . s . m14 rifle generally indicated at 125 including gas cylinder plug 126 , gas cylinder lock 127 , gas cylinder 128 , and special extended barrel 129 . a stepped tubular stabilizer 130 is shown in section installed via a transition piece 131 with integral flash suppressor 132 , sight 133 , sight base 134 , and bayonet lug 135 ; using lock nut 136 with internal threads engaging external threads on the barrel 129 . the stabilizer 130 is joined to the transition piece 131 by bonded attachment at 137 . the stabilizer 130 extends rearward from a point behind the sight base 134 beyond a point of transition 138 from relatively low section modulus to relatively high section modulus formed by the intersection of the barrel 129 with the forward surface of the gas cylinder lock 127 . the stabilizer 130 is cut away to allow clearance for the gas cylinder lock screw 126 , gas cylinder lock 127 and gas cylinder 128 . the stabilizer 130 in this embodiment , as with all embodiments of this invention , does not contact the gun barrel or any components connected to the gun barrel rearward of the transition piece 131 . a splined interface shown at 139 between the barrel 129 and the transition piece 131 serves to maintain rotational alignment between the barrel stabilizer system and the remainder of the rifle . spline grooves shown typical at 140 are cut longitudinally at several locations around the barrel 129 in the area of interface with the transition piece 131 . fig1 is an enlarged section view of the splined interface from fig1 showing the barrel 129 , stabilizer 130 , transition piece 131 , and spline grooves 140 . fig1 depicts an eighth preferred embodiment including a smith & amp ; wesson revolver shown generally at 145 with modified barrel 146 and distal end 147 . a tubular stabilizer 148 is shown in section installed via a transition piece 149 , including double chamber compensator 150 using a bonded connection at 151 . the compensator includes upward facing ports shown typically at 152 and baffles shown typically at 153 . the barrel stabilizer 148 extends rearward from the barrel distal end 147 beyond a point of transition 154 formed by the junction of the barrel 146 with the revolver frame 155 . point 154 serves as the transition from relatively low section modulus to relatively high section modulus . the barrel stabilizer 148 is shown with a front sight 156 and adjustable rear sight 157 installed . the stabilizer 148 which extends rearward from point 154 , including rear sight assembly 157 , constitutes an extended mass which serves to counteract the added mass of the compensator 150 and front sight 156 , and reduced mass resulting from the cutaway at 158 . the cutaway at 158 serves to accommodate the ejector rod 159 . the stabilizer 148 is joined to the transition piece 149 using an interference fit at 160 . while preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed , it is intended that the invention be limited only by the appended claims , including reasonable equivalents and combinations of identified features . | 5 |
turning now to fig1 & amp ; fig1 a , there is shown a sill plate 10 in cross section of one preferred embodiment of the present invention . the sill 10 has a generally elongated configuration defining the sill . it should be understood that the sill plate 10 could have any other suitable configuration as partially described in fig2 and 3 , without departing from the scope of the present invention as long as it includes a plurality of vent slots 28 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis , with corresponding base abutment segments 26 , formed thereon . typically , the sill 10 defines a pair of longitudinally opposed beam end surfaces 11 , ( only one being shown in fig1 .) a pair of transversely opposed sill lateral surfaces 12 , and 22 , with one side 12 facing the exterior and embodying the drip edge 14 leading to the chamfered surface 16 which ties into the secondary transversely opposed sill lateral surface 18 . the opposing surface 22 faces the interior of the building structure known as the “ crawlspace ”, with the vent slots 28 and their corresponding base segments 26 , shown throughout the figures as having a generally square configuration . it should be understood that the slotted base segments 26 and the corresponding slots 28 , could have other configurations without departing from the scope of the invention . defining factors would be compressive strength of the sill 10 material and net free air flow desired per running lineal foot of sill 10 . the preferred embodiment would incorporate a flat top abutment surface 13 for floor joists to rest upon , parallel to and opposing the base abutment surface 24 , which rest upon the top of the foundation wall . “ a ” continuous longitudinal base segment 14 extending away from the lateral edge 12 at an oblique angle θ . for example , in the illustrated embodiment , the angle θ is on the order of 95 degrees . however , a variety of other oblique angles could be used including a compound steeper angle shown by longitudinal segment 16 , without departing from the scope of the present invention . fig1 . illustrates just such a compound sloped edge 16 as a means of draining away water at approximately 45 degrees , but a variety of other angles could be used . by way of example the sill plate 10 is of integral construction and is typically made in the preferred embodiment of recycled polymer - wood fiber composite , to preserve the longevity and durability of the drip edge slope 14 and 16 . the exterior face of the sill 18 is a solid lateral surface parallel and offset from the shear nailing lateral surface 12 , outward by a ratio of 1 . 5 times the vent channel height 28 , to maintain proper venting and provide enough material for structural integrity of the face 18 . it is possible for the face 18 to extend beyond fig1 .&# 39 ; s embodiment , if finish siding material thickness warrants this , as in the use of stucco or faux stone work . additionally , the invention embodies a shape that channels water away from the vent channels and foundation . water drips off the bottom edge of the lateral face 18 directly to grade . to prevent water from wicking into the crawl space through the vent channels openings 27 , a drip cut groove 20 runs laterally along the edge of the base 24 abutment surface exposed to the exterior , near the outer lateral face 18 . typically , the base 24 abutment surface of the sill 10 is shaped like a plurality of the letters “ t ” strung substantially continuous side by side relative to each other , forming the solid portion of the vent channel segments 26 . the intermediate spaces 27 between the solid “ t ” segments in conjunction with the abutting foundation , delimit the venting channel 27 . the relationship of the solid segments 26 in the base 24 to the vent channel openings 27 , is currently shown as 1 to 1 . this creates a continuous running net free air flow “ a ” of six square inches per lineal foot of sill 10 plate . ratio &# 39 ; s allowing more net free air flow “ a ”, per running lineal foot of sill 10 plate are expected by adjusting the ratio listed above and increasing either the height of the vent channel opening 28 , or the width of the channel 27 , or both without departing from the scope of the present invention . preferably , the ratio of vent channel height 28 is 33 percent of the total sill plate 10 height such that maximum ventilation of the crawlspace is achieved , while maintaining enough rigid material for the drip edge 18 , drain slope 16 , and drip base 14 , therefore preserving 40 to 50 percent of said height for lateral nailing surface 12 . in other words the overall vent height 28 directly relates to the lateral nailing surface 12 height . this will become evident in fig3 and 5 . from the edge of the drip cut 20 in towards the lateral surface 22 by roughly 1 / 3 , a mesh screen is applied directly to the abutment surface 24 to provide a pest and insect barrier 36 , by means of fasteners 34 , or bonding at regular intervals running longitudinally along the base length of the sill plate 10 . furthermore , the adjacent foundation abutment surface acts to secure one side of the length of the mesh screen 36 . preferably , the mesh screen 36 would be comprised of a fine stainless steel weave to prevent termites from gaining access to the interior of the crawlspace . although , any mesh material may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention , invariably there is a direct relationship between the mesh 36 and the net free openings of the vent channels 27 . in fig1 ., the vent channel openings 27 run perpendicular from the lateral surface 22 towards the exterior lateral surface 18 , at measured intervals , define the plurality of air flow openings “ a ” stopping short of the drip cut groove 20 just outside the foundation wall . to avoid penetrating the sill material 10 at drip edge 16 , the vent channels 27 have a radius turn 30 on the upper edge of the vent channel surface . other embodiments which do not have the sloped drip surface 16 , do not require the vent radius 30 . it will become a function of the methodology of manufacturing the various embodiments that determines the shape . for example molding or extrusion will lend themselves to a radius 30 , whereas milling the material does not . fig2 is substantially similar in scope to fig1 with the exception of the vent channels 27 which do not have a radius bend , but rather a straight angle cut 31 . this idea depends upon this embodiments method of manufacture , if milled and not molded or extruded , a straight cut 31 is preferred . as a result this object slopes the drip plane 14 outward towards the lateral front surface 18 at an angle θ , reasonable to achieve positive drainage of fluid away from the sub - structure . additionally , the sill plate 10 has a taller front lateral surface 18 to join directly with the sloped drip plane 14 . in lieu of a drip cut , this embodiment has extending outward from the bottom of the front lateral surface 18 a drip lip 21 to break the capillary action of the water and prevent such fluids from wicking into the vent channels 27 . fig3 is a simplified embodiment of fig1 and 2 , with the vent hood and drip edge structure being left off flush with the lateral nailing surface 12 to facilitate wider finished exterior wall fascia &# 39 ; s like brick or stone . in this case the vent screen 36 must wrap up the lateral nailing surface 12 and attach 34 to that surface as well as the abutment base 24 . in this instance the vent openings “ a ” will be exposed unless modified trim is used to conceal the vent channels 27 from view . nailed structural sheathing should extend down no farther than the top of the vent openings 28 , so as not to obstruct the air flow “ a ”. the height of the lateral nailing surface 12 being similar to a standard wood sill plate . the adjacent lateral surfaces 13 and 22 are similar in all embodiments . fig3 represents a sill plate 10 that is most similar to existing construction practices . fig1 a is an isometric view of fig1 showing substantially the view of the abutment surface 24 and vent channel openings 27 with air flow “ a ”, as viewed from the interior of the potential crawl space . here one can see the plurality of channel openings 27 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis , and the relationship of the mesh screen 36 as it is attached 34 to the abutment surface 24 . the channels 27 and remaining material segments 26 may be formed when using a plastic or fiber composite during the molding or extruding phase of manufacture . conversely the same profile or shaped shown in fig1 a can also be milled out of the abutment surface 24 of the sill 10 , with the height of the channels 28 and the width of the solid segments 26 becoming a direct function of the structural integrity of the chosen material of manufacture . fig2 a illustrates a sill 10 in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention shown in fig2 being used as a part of a foundation , floor and wall sheathing assembly . the sill 10 is shown mounted in its preferred position laterally along the top of the masonry foundation wall 44 assembly , to better illustrate the function of the abutment surface 24 with the top of the foundation wall 44 , in defining the trough air channels 27 and the passage of air “ a ” thru said channels . the sill 10 is also shown mounted to the top of the foundation wall 44 by means of standard anchor bolts 40 set in the masonry wall 44 prior to curing of said wall . an opening hole 21 is created in the sill 10 to facilitate the passage of the anchor bolt 40 , which is typically fastened using a combination of anchor bolts 43 and anchor bolt washers 45 , in order to secure the building to the foundation . the placement of the anchor bolts 40 can occur anyplace along the length of the sill 10 without departing from the inventions scope . preferably , the channel opening width 27 and 28 are the same at the interior of the crawlspace and the exterior of the foundation , in order to maintain the prescribed trough air flow “ a ”. thus a indicium or , mark 42 may be manufactured laterally along the abutting solid segments 26 to facilitate the accurate placement of the abutting surface 24 to the foundation 44 . conventional fastening means such as nails 56 , attaching the building sheathing 50 to the lateral nailing surface 12 , is flush with the floor system rim and joists 48 , in much the same manner as conventional sill nailing . the relationship of the floor insulation 46 demonstrates little or no impact on the trough air flow “ a ” functioning , as it rarely is installed below the top surface 13 of the sill 10 plate . additionally , the function of the drip edge feature of this invention can be seen clearly , as the sloping θ surface 14 carries moisture off both the finish siding 54 and the building sheathing membrane 52 , down the front surface 18 and off the drip edge 21 . the width of the sloping θ surface 14 can vary according to siding types and styles without departing from the scope of this invention . the construction and use of the ventilating sill plate forming the elements of the instant invention are considered to be apparent from the above description . this instant invention constituting a significant advance in the art by the simplification and combination of heretofore bothersome and unsightly building elements , in an attractive and functional manner which insures , in the finished wall structure , a uniform and hidden venting solution . 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 as claimed . | 4 |
referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto , there is illustrated in fig1 a trailer body and which trailer body is generally designated by reference numeral 10 . for purposes of clarity , the wheels and associated structure such as the axels are not shown . however , it will be understood that the trailer body would be mounted on a suitable structure . trailer body 10 includes a pair of i beam structures 12 and 14 which are substantially identical and hence only i beam 12 will be described in detail herein . transverse connecting members 15 extend between i beam structures 12 and 14 . i beam structure 12 includes a bottom flange portion 16 , a top flange portion 20 , and a web 18 extending therebetween . the bottom flange portion 16 is illustrated in fig3 and as may be noted , has a pair of protrusions 17 and 19 which are designed to receive therebetween web 18 . as may be seen from fig1 , i beam structures 12 and 14 extend for substantially their full depth for a length of the trailer . however , at the front end of the trailer , the depth of web 18 diminishes in what may be referred to as a transition section which is generally designated by reference numeral 21 . at the front end of the trailer , there is no i beam structure present . the floor has a rear portion generally designated by reference numeral 22 and a front portion generally designated by reference numeral 24 . it will be noted that the front portion 24 starts at the transition section 21 . a portion of the floor structure is illustrated in fig1 and reference will now be had thereto . as illustrated , the floor is comprised of a plurality of cell modules 26 each comprising three cells . there is provided a top plate 28 , a bottom plate 30 and vertical members 32 . side walls 39 and 41 complete the structure . in side wall 39 , there is provided a recess 34 while in side wall 41 , a projection 36 is provided . thus , projection 36 will seat within a corresponding recess 34 of an adjacent module and adjacent modules are welded together . the front portion 24 of the floor is also comprised of a plurality of cells ; the structure is set forth in greater detail in fig5 and 6 . as shown therein , the cell module 38 includes a top plate 40 , a bottom plate 42 and vertical members 44 . side walls 49 and 51 complete the structure with a recess 46 being provided in side wall 49 and a projection 48 formed on side wall 51 . as to was the case previously , projections 48 are designed to mate with an adjacent recess 46 and again , adjacent modules are welded together . as will be noted , the shape of the two cell structures 26 and 38 are somewhat different . thus , the structure shown in fig1 and 12 is used for the rear portion 22 of the floor and generally are formed with both the top plate and the bottom plate preferably having a thickness of between ⅛ and ½ inch and wherein each of the individual cells has a width of between 2 and 3 inches . the height of each cell would be in the area of 1 to 3 inches with a preferred height of approximately 2 inches . cell structure 38 , on the other hand , will have a thicker top plate and bottom plate and preferably each plate 40 , 42 having a thickness of between ¼ and ½ inch and more preferably between 3 / 16 and 5 / 16 inch . the overall height would be in the range of 2½ to 4 inches with a preferred range being between 3 and 3½ inches . as may be seen in fig2 , at the end of transition section 21 , there are provided a plurality of flat bars ( fig8 and 9 ) 56 , flat bars 56 being spaced from each other by a space 58 . at the front of the structure of the trailer body 10 , there is provided a metal plate generally designated by reference numeral 62 and which has a front portion 64 extending only partially the width of the trailer floor . metal plate front section 64 is designed to accept a king pin 66 . metal plate 62 also includes a metal plate central section 68 over flat bar 56 . an offset 70 is provided to account for the thickness difference of flat bars 56 . finally , there is provided a metal plate rear section 72 which extends onto bottom flange 16 for a portion of the transition section 21 . turning to the embodiment of fig1 to 21 , similar reference numerals in the 100 &# 39 ; s are used to describe components similar to the embodiment of fig1 to 14 . as shown in fig1 , there is provided a trailer body which is generally designated by reference numeral 110 and as in the previous embodiment , the wheels and associated structure are not shown . trailer body 110 includes a pair of i beam structures 112 and 114 which are substantially identical . as in the previously described embodiment , there are provided transverse connecting members 115 which extend between i beam structures 112 and 114 . i beam structure 112 includes a bottom flange portion 116 , a top flange portion 120 , and a web 118 extending therebetween . as may be seen in fig2 , 15 and 16 , i beam structures 112 and 114 continue for the length of the trailer . the depth of web 118 diminishes in the transition section ; however , the i beam structure continues forward as a single piece of material . as seen in profile in fig2 , i beam 112 has a slightly different configuration at both the front and the rear . thus , at the rear ( left side of fig2 ), web 118 has a slightly narrower depth compared to the middle section . at the front end , top flange portion 116 extends to the front of the trailer . a portion of the floor structure is illustrated in fig1 , and it will be noted that the floor is comprised of a plurality of cell modules each comprising four cells . thus , there is provided a top plate 128 , a bottom plate 130 , vertical members 132 , and side walls 139 and 141 . in side wall 141 , there is provided a recess 134 while on side wall 139 , a projection 136 is provided . at the front of the trailer body , there is provided a metal plate generally designated by reference numeral 162 and which is substantially flat and rectangular . it will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . | 1 |
fig1 schematically shows a known short - time tomosynthesis apparatus . it comprises a plurality of radiation sources 2 , for example x - ray tubes , which are arranged in a radiation - source plane 1 . only three sources are shown for the sake of clarity . the radiation sources 2 may be switched on , for example , consecutively or simultaneously . underneath the radiation source plane 1 an object 3 to be examined is disposed . object 3 is irradiated from different perspectives by the radiation beams 4 , which are emitted by the radiation sources 2 . beams 4 may be stopped down by means of diaphragms ( not shown ). for simplicity it is assumed that the object 3 comprises only two object layers s1 and s2 . the object layer s1 contains , for example , a circle 5 . the object layer s2 contains a square 6 . the perspective images 5a - 5c and 6a - 6c produced by the object structures 5 and 6 are recorded , either separately or superimposed , on a record carrier 7 , for example an x - ray film , disposed underneath the object 3 . if , for example , the object layer s2 is to be reconstructed from the perspective images 5a - 5c and 6a - 6c thus recorded , the perspective images 6a - 6c should be superimposed by appropriate shifting and should be added to each other ( autocorrelation of the perspective images ). however , all the other perspective images 5a - 5c are then also shifted . the layer image s2 &# 39 ; of the object layer s2 shown in fig2 is then obtained . in its center , the layer image s2 &# 39 ; contains the square 6 &# 39 ;, reconstructed from the superimposed perspective images 6a - 6c . image s2 &# 39 ; also contains a plurality of square secondary images 6a &# 39 ;, 6b &# 39 ;, 6c &# 39 ;, which correspond to the perspective images 6a - 6c . the perspective images 6a &# 39 ;, 6b &# 39 ;, 6c &# 39 ;, which represent the object layer s2 , form one group of artefacts in the layer image s2 &# 39 ;. in addition , the layer image s2 &# 39 ; contains the circular perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ;, which correspond to the prespective images 5a - 5c . they form a second group of artefacts in the layer image s2 &# 39 ;. the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ;, however , do not represent the object layer s2 , but the object layer s1 . they are perspective images of other object layers projected into the layer image . when considering the circular artefacts 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; in fig2 they may again be divided into two sub - groups . these sub - groups are ( i ) artefacts situated near the center of the layer image s2 &# 39 ; ( within the dashed border 8 ), and ( ii ) artefacts situated near the image periphery ( outside the border 8 ). in principle , these two sub - groups differ in that the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;, 6a &# 39 ;; 5b &# 39 ;, 6b &# 39 ;; 5c &# 39 ;, 6c &# 39 ; which are situated within the border 8 are generated in pairs by imaging the perspective images 5a , 6a ; etc . by means of their associated optical imaging elements . on the other hand , a perspective image 5a &# 39 ; situated outside the border 8 is , for example , generated by the optical elements associated with the perspective images 5b , 5c etc . this is shown in more detail in fig3 . in order to improve the quality of the reconstructed layer images s2 &# 39 ; the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ;, or artefacts , situated within the frame 8 are blurred . for this reference is made to fig3 which represents an apparatus for reconstructing such enhanced layer images . the apparatus of fig3 comprises a light box 9 for transilluminating of the perspective images 5a and 6a , 5b and 6b , and 5c and 6c on the record carrier 7 arranged in front of the box . a superimposed image of the perspective images is formed on a detector surface 12 by means of an imaging matrix 10 , which is disposed parallel to the record carrier 7 . an optical axis 11 extends perpendicularly through the center of matrix 10 . for this purpose the imaging matrix 10 comprises separate imaging elements 13a - 13c , for example biconvex lenses . each lens is associated with a perspective image 5a and 6a , etc . in this way layer images of the object , which correspond to the layer image s2 &# 39 ; shown in fig2 are formed on the detector surface 12 , for example a ground - glass screen or the entrance face of an opto - electronic image processing system . when the perspective images 5a - 5e are transmitted by their associated imaging elements 13a - 13c ( i . e . 5a with 13a , 5b with 13b and 5c with 13c ), the artefacts 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; situated within the border 8 in fig2 are produced . however , when they are transmitted by nonassociated imaging elements ( i . e . 5a with 13b and 13c , 5b with 13a and 13c , and 5c with 13a and 13b , the artefacts 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; are formed outside the border 8 . in order to blur the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; situated inside the border 8 in fig2 optical deflection elements 14a - 14c are arranged in the radiation paths between the imaging elements 13a - 13c and the detector surface 12 , in the vicinity of the imaging elements 13a - 13c . the deflection elements 14a - 14c may blur the perspective images 5a - 5c along , for example , straight paths . for this purpose , they have grating - like structures . alternatively , the deflection elements 14a - 14c may be arranged in the radiation paths between the perspective images 5a - 5c and 6a - 6c and the deflection elements 13a - 13c . blurring will now be explained in more detail with reference to fig4 which represents the area of the layer image s2 &# 39 ; within the border 8 on an enlarge scale . this is the relevant area of the layer image s2 &# 39 ;, because only in this area are enough perspective images are superimposed for the reconstructing images of object layers . the layer image area outside the border 8 is generally not considered because here the perspective images are superimposed inadequately or not at all . in fig4 the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; are blurred along straight lines 15 , that is , according to patterns having one major direction ( in this case the directions of the straight lines ). the grating - like deflection elements 14a - 14c are then so arranged in the radiation paths that the major directions of the patterns formed as a result of the light deflection are substantially perpendicular to the paths b1 , b2 , b3 ( fig2 ). paths b1 , b2 , and b3 are those paths along which the artefacts or perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; travel over the detector surface when the detector 12 is moved along the optical axis 11 in order to reconstruct different layers of the object 3 . thus , the major directions h , as shown in fig5 projected onto a plan view of the matrix surface , are substantially perpendicular to a connecting line 16 between the optical axis 11 of the imaging matrix and the center of the respective imaging element 13a - 13c in the matrix plane . for the sake of clarity , fig5 shows only one imaging element 13a in the matrix plane ( plane of the drawing ). the deflection element 14a shown is an optical grating . such an arrangement of the deflection elements 14a - 14c is advantageous , because the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; which are blurred along the straight line 15 ( fig4 ) cannot disturb the image of the reconstructed object structure 6 &# 39 ;. moreover , in order to obtain a substantially uniform image background , it is necessary to distribute as uniformly as possible the directions along which the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; are blurred within the layer image s2 &# 39 ;. therefore , the angles θ between every pair of straight lines 15 should be substantially equal . this arrangement of the deflection elements 14a - 14c ensures that in comparison with the actual object structure 6 &# 39 ; ( which corresponds to the superposition of the perspective images 6a &# 39 ;, 6b &# 39 ;, 6c &# 39 ;) the artefacts 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; are attenuated . the attenuation of the artifacts enhances the perceptibility of details in the actual object structure 6 &# 39 ;. by means of the deflection elements 14a - 14c the object structure 6 &# 39 ;, comprising the superimposed perspective images 6a &# 39 ;- 6c &# 39 ;, is also blurred along straight lines 17 , which extend parallel to the straight lines 15 . however , this does not significantly affect the quality of the layer images s2 &# 39 ; because in the common area where all of the straight lines 17 are superimposed , the object structure 6 &# 39 ; is imaged more frequently than outside the superposition area . therefore , with a large number of straight lines 17 the observer will have the impression that the reconstructed object structure 6 is concentrated only in the area where the straight lines 17 are superimposed . as already stated , the deflection elements 14a - 14c comprise optical elements which change the phase of the incident light . the elements may , for example , be holograms or kinoforms , which may for example act as diffraction gratings . however , as an alternative an optical line grating may be employed . the gratings may be nonperiodical , for example in the kinoforms , so that the radiation distribution will be as uniform as possible in a preselected deflection range . the light box 9 may , for example , emit quasi - monochromatic radiation , for example the light from a sodium - vapor lamp . however , it may also emit polychromatic radiation , for example white light . furthermore , it is simple to obtain phase patterns by means of kinoform or holograms , by means of which patterns the transmitted perspective images are deflected or blurred along two - dimensional paths . fig6 b and 6c show two examples of this deflection , while fig6 a again illustrates blurring according to fig4 . the continuous lines in fig6 a and 6c represent the blurring paths of the object structure 6 &# 39 ;, while the broken lines represent the blurring paths of the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ;. the major directions of the paths are those along which the paths extend over the greatest length . moreover , it will be appreciated that blurring of the perspective images 5a &# 39 ;- 5c &# 39 ; may alternatively be effected along different paths . in an advantageous embodiment of the invention each imaging element and each deflection element are combined to form a single optical element which changes the phase of the incident light . the elements 13a - 14a , 13b - 14b and 13c - 14c may then , for example , be replaced by a single kinoform or a single hologram . | 0 |
for the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention , reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same . it will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended , such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device , and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates . referring to fig1 , there is illustrated an automatic pistol 20 that represents a fully functional firearm for the purpose of explaining the structure and use of the present invention . while the present invention is suitable for use with a variety of firearms , a glock ® automatic pistol has been selected for describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention , due in part to the name recognition of this firearm and due in part to the popularity of this firearm with law enforcement personnel . referring to fig2 , an exploded view of pistol 20 is illustrated , showing the primary component parts or subassemblies that can be disassembled . pistol 20 includes a frame or receiver 21 , slide 22 , barrel 23 , recoil spring assembly 24 , and magazine 25 . anyone familiar with this brand and type of pistol would likely be familiar with these primary component parts as well as their structural and functional relationships . as will be described herein , the focus of the present invention is directed to the removal of the fully functional barrel 23 from pistol 20 and the step of replacing barrel 23 with a unitary , “ dummy ” barrel that does not permit a round of ammunition to be fired therethrough . in the limited sense of the pistol being unable to fire a round of ammunition with the dummy barrel installed , the dummy barrel converts pistol 20 to a “ nonfunctioning ” status . however , this descriptive term is not used relative to the entire pistol because all other aspects of pistol 20 are intended to remain fully functional . for example , such as being able to remove the magazine from the receiver and reinsert the magazine or insert a new magazine into the receiver and being able to operate the slide and / or trigger mechanism . in order to be able to remove barrel 23 for replacement with the present invention dummy barrel , certain preliminary steps need to be taken , some for safety and some to be able to have access to barrel 23 within pistol 20 . since the present invention is directed to a firearm safety device , a few precautionary steps are recommended whenever handling any firearm , including pistol 20 , for the ultimate removal of barrel 23 . first , it is advisable to remove the magazine and thereafter verify that the pistol is unloaded . these procedures are well known to those familiar with a glock ® pistol of the type illustrated in fig1 and 2 . while the steps are being performed , the pistol should be pointed in a safe direction away from any individuals . the first “ structural ” step is slide 22 removal . the position of the hand is illustrated in fig3 . holding the pistol 20 , as illustrated in fig3 , pull and hold the slide 22 back approximately 0 . 10 inches ( 2 . 5 mm ). the trigger 29 has to be in the rear position to be able to disassemble the slide 22 from receiver 21 . the next step ( see fig4 ) is to simultaneously pull down the slide lock 30 and hold both sides of it using the thumb and index finger of the other hand . the concluding step for slide removal is to push the slide 22 forward until it is fully separated from the receiver 21 . removal of slide 22 exposes the recoil spring assembly 24 and therebeneath the removable barrel 23 . in order to remove barrel 23 , the first step is to remove the recoil spring assembly 24 from the slide 22 . the recoil spring assembly 24 includes a recoil spring guide or tube 31 and a surrounding coil spring 32 . step one in this process is to push the recoil spring tube 31 slightly forward while lifting the recoil spring assembly 24 upwardly away from barrel 23 ( see fig5 ). with the recoil spring assembly 24 removed , the barrel 23 is exposed as it lays in the slide 22 . referring now to fig6 , in order to remove barrel 23 , first grasp the barrel lug 35 and , while raising the chamber end , move the barrel 23 slightly forward . the concluding step is to lift barrel 23 from the slide 22 . in order to install the present invention dummy barrel 36 ( see fig7 ) into slide 22 , or to reinstall the fully functioning barrel 23 , the foregoing steps for barrel removal are simply followed in the reverse order . barrel 23 includes the lug portion 35 and the barrel end portion 37 . extending through the entire length of barrel 23 is bore 38 . in the dummy barrel 36 of the present invention , as illustrated in fig7 , there is no bore extending through the entire length of barrel 36 due to the solid , unitary construction . this in turn prevents the “ converted ” pistol from being able to receive a round of ammunition in the barrel . the “ dummy ” barrel 36 is constructed and arranged to be identical in all respects to barrel 23 , except that the bore 38 is closed and except for the selected material to be used for barrel 36 . preferably , barrel 36 is a unitary molded ( or cast ) structure that has an exterior size and shape that is substantially identical to barrel 23 in all respects . whether the barrel is hollow or solid , the important structural point to note is that there is no bore and thus no opening to receive ( chambering ) or pass a round of ammunition . the material options for barrel 36 include plastics and synthetic resins as well as metals and metal alloys . it is contemplated that whatever material is selected for the unitary molding or casting , it will have a contrasting appearance relative to the remainder of the pistol . the contrasting appearance is preferably color based by adding pigment to the molding of any plastic or synthetic resin and by a post - casting surface treatment , such as anodizing for metals and metal alloys . the contrasting appearance for barrel 36 according to the present invention provides an immediate and positive confirmation to the user of the pistol as well as those nearby that the pistol 20 has been converted for safety concerns and cannot discharge a round of ammunition . being able to recognize that a “ dummy ” barrel 36 has been installed into pistol 20 in order to convert it to a non - firing training firearm will reduce , if not eliminate , any anxiety that might otherwise be present when one has simply been told that the firearm is safe . the obvious problem with being told that the firearm is safe is that there is no way to independently verify that fact except by personal inspection . it should be understood that barrel 36 , while unitary and preferably solid , can have voids and openings in nonfunctional or noncritical areas so as to not interfere with the otherwise normal operation of pistol 20 and its various component parts . since barrel 36 is preferably molded , if made out of plastic or a synthetic resin , and cast if metal , the only perceived “ needs ” to provide voids or openings as part of barrel 36 might be to reduce weight and / or use less material . however , in order to provide the most realistic simulation of barrel 23 by barrel 36 , their respective weights should be substantially the same . for a plastic material , this could require some type of filler in order to increase the weight of barrel 36 . importantly , the chamber of the barrel is closed or partially closed or reduce in inside diameter ( i . e . by solid molded plastic or cast metal ) so that a round cannot be chambered . while the prior art includes the use of one - piece molded firearms in plastic , typically colored in blue or red , as training aids , there is a limited amount of training that can actually be done using these types of simulated firearms because there is nothing functional as part of this artificial firearm . in contrast , the present invention retains every component part of the otherwise fully functional pistol , with the only exchange or replacement being the barrel . with regard to training , much more can be taught with the modified pistol of the present invention as compared to the referenced red plastic training aid . for example , when a law enforcement officer has one arm or hand that is injured or in some way disabled , the normal procedures for changing the magazine cannot be performed . law enforcement officers need to be trained with alternate techniques , such as using the one “ good ” hand and another aid , such as a belt edge or buckle . the blue ( or red ) plastic training aid is obviously unacceptable for this type of training since there is no functioning magazine and no functioning receiver . there is also no functioning slide and no functioning trigger . preferably , barrel 36 is identical to barrel 23 in all aspects relative to the exterior size and shape . this then permits all other portions of pistol 20 to function in their normal manner . for example , the recoil spring assembly 24 can be used with barrel 36 as well as the slide 22 and the slide action . the use and loading or unloading action of the magazine has already been described and remains fully functional , even with replacement barrel 36 installed . since the portion of barrel 36 that corresponds to bore 38 of barrel 23 is closed by the molded or cast material of barrel 36 , it is not possible for a round of ammunition to be fired . with the entire length of the bore portion closed with molded or cast material as part of the unitary structure of barrel 36 , no round of ammunition can be placed into barrel 36 . even with only part of the bore portion closed , it is still not possible to fire a round . other prior art firearm safety devices have similar negative issues to what has already been mentioned for the molded , red plastic training aid . most of these similar negative issues are due to the manner in which these other safety devices interfit into the firearm or structurally add something that alters the exterior size and shape of the firearm . if a safety item is added without otherwise changing the firearm , removal of that safety item returns the firearm to its functional status and this is a concern . with the present invention , securing the original barrel prevents tampering . the present invention provides a complete and identical barrel replacement so that virtually every other aspect or facet of the firearm remains fully functional , except that rounds of ammunition cannot be loaded into the barrel 36 and nothing can be fired from the modified pistol . the size and shape of the modified or converted pistol , in other words pistol 20 with barrel 36 , remains the same . the result is a totally and absolutely safe pistol that can be used for all phases and aspects of training and can be visually identified as a “ safe ” pistol that is not capable of firing rounds of ammunition . with the original barrel 23 safely secured , even if barrel 36 is removed , whether inadvertently or deliberately , the firearm is not functional . while the present invention has been described in the context of a glock ® brand pistol , the present invention is suitable for any firearm that includes a barrel that can be removed by the user . in this way , the present invention enables the conversion of a fully functional firearm into a training firearm that is totally safe and that can be used for virtually all aspects of explaining firearm safety and firearm training . the method of converting the pistol enabled by the present invention also permits the training firearm to be converted back to a fully functional firearm by removing the dummy barrel 36 and reinstalling the original barrel 23 . the present invention includes the design , construction , and use of a firearm safety device in the form of a unitary firearm barrel that is not capable of receiving a round of ammunition ( chambering ) and that replaces the functioning barrel 23 . this replacement barrel 36 converts a fully functioning firearm into a training firearm that can be restored to its fully functioning condition by simply removing barrel 36 and reinstalling the original barrel 23 . the present invention allows any law enforcement officer to take his issued firearm and convert it into a training firearm at any time with a minimum number of steps , noting that the resultant training firearm is totally safe and , except for the barrel , is fully functional . whenever the training use is concluded , barrel 36 is removed and the original barrel 23 is reinstalled , also with a minimum number of steps , thereby restoring the firearm to its fully functional condition . another facet of the present invention is the method of converting a fully functioning firearm into a training firearm by the addition of the present invention safety device . related to this facet of the present invention is the method of converting a training firearm to a fully functioning firearm by removal of the present invention safety device and reinstalling the original barrel . yet another facet of the present invention is the design and construction of a training firearm that can be converted into a fully functional firearm . while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description , the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character , it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected . | 5 |
fig1 is a diagram showing a plan view of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip in which the present invention is applied . as shown in fig1 in a semiconductor integrated circuit chip 11 , one or more test areas 12 are arranged in which a number of test terminals 13 ( electron beam test terminals ) are concentrated . the size of the test area 12 , as described above , is a rectangular shape having a dimension on the order of , for example , 250 μm × 250 μm so as to permit observation of the entire test area 12 using the image test mode of eb tester . the test terminals 13 are formed by the ends of connection wires 14 which are themselves extensions of signal wires 15 that connect semiconductor elements such as mosfets with each other . the test area 12 is formed in a circuit area 16 of the chip 11 , and around the circuit area 16 , bonding pads 17 are formed . fig2 is a diagram showing the test area of fig1 together with its surrounding region . as shown in fig2 the connection wires 14 diverge or extend from the signal wires 15 on the chip , and their ends are concentrated in the test area 12 to form the test terminals 13 . the portion of the test terminals 13 existing in the test area 12 is defined as the electron beam test terminal . not all of the signal wires 15 need be connected to the test terminals 13 . as shown in fig2 for each group of test terminals 10 drawn from the four directions , the test terminals adjacent the corners of the test area 12 are shorter than the remaining test terminals . the test terminals 13 , connection wires 14 and signal wires 15 are made of metal such as al . some of the signal wires 15 connected to the connection wires 14 may be made from a lower conductive layer in the chip such as a lower al or poly - si layer . in such a case , a contact hole is formed at their connecting position . by concentrating a plurality of test terminals 13 within the relating small test area 12 ( small as compared to the area of the whole chip ) and by subsequently performing the image test mode of the eb tester against the test terminals 13 within the test area 12 , a large number of electric states of the signal wires 15 may be determined for all test terminals at one time as , for example , the existence of abnormalities such as disconnections or short circuits , etc . fig3 is a diagram of an eb tester which may be used with the semiconductor integrated circuit chip shown in fig1 and fig2 . as shown in fig3 a vacuum chamber 21 is provided in which is housed an electron gun 22 , an x -- y scanning coil 23 and an x -- y stage 24 . number 25 denotes an electron beam . the irradiated position of the chip 26 is raster - scanned with the scanning coil 23 after being positioned by the stage 24 via a motor 27 . in the vacuum chamber 21 , electron detectors 28 are attached to detect the secondary electrons from the chip 26 . for each bonding pad of the chip 26 , electrodes 29 are contacted for supplying test signals . the test signals may simple be fixed potential level as in fig3 or alternately may be test signal pulses . fig3 further shows a test signal generator 30 , a stage controller 31 , an image processing means 32 , a scanning controller 33 and a control computer 34 . the image processing means 32 comprises a signal processor 35 , a frame memory 36 and a crt display 37 . in the image test mode , the electron beam is scanned across the test area so that the electric potential distribution in the chip can be obtained as an image . in fig3 the scanning coil 23 makes the electron beam 25 raster - scan the test area in the chip 26 . secondary electrons from the test terminals are observed by the electron detectors 28 and are converted to electric potential contrast signals with the signal processor 35 . these signals are then stored in the frame memory 36 . after storing the contrast signals for the entire test area , the electric potential image is displayed on the display 37 . the control computer 34 controls operations of the eb tester . as described above , according to this embodiment of the invention , a number of test terminals are concentrated at one or more predetermined test areas on the chip . hence in the case of the image test mode of the eb tester for testing signal wires , by testing only the relatively small number of test areas each having only a relatively small size , the states of an extremely large number of signal wires can be tested at once thereby greatly improving the efficiency of the eb tester . as a result , determination of chip quality that was difficult in the past becomes relatively easy to perform . in this embodiment , an electron beam was scanned ; however , scanning may be performed by moving the x -- y stage 24 instead of the electron beam scanning . in the above embodiment , signal wires and connection wires use the highest or uppermost conductive layer , but a lower conductive layer may also be used . fig4 a is a diagram showing another embodiment of the invention and illustrates a plan view of the test area 12 and its surroundings as in fig1 . fig4 b is a sectional view along line a -- a &# 39 ; of fig4 a . in the embodiment of fig4 a and 4b , connection wires 14 diverge or extend from the signal wires ( not shown ) of the highest conductive layer ( in this embodiment , a higher al layer ) and connection wirings 14 &# 39 ; diverge or extend from signal wires ( not shown ) of a lower conductive layer ( in this embodiment , a lower al layer ). these connection wires 14 and 14 &# 39 ; are concentrated together in the test area 12 . the portions of connection wires 14 existing in the test area 12 form test terminals 13 similar to those shown in fig2 . the connection wires 14 and 14 &# 39 ; are isolated from each other by an insulative film 43 ( cvd sio 2 ) formed between them . contact holes 44 are formed in the cvd sio 2 film 43 above the vicinity of the lower connection wires 14 &# 39 ;. the lower connection wires 14 &# 39 ; may be used as electron beam test terminals in this condition . however in this figure , a conductive layer ( al ) 13 &# 39 ; is formed which makes contact through the contact holes 44 with the lower connection wirings 14 &# 39 ;. the conductive layer 13 &# 39 ; forms an electron beam test terminal . number 45 is a si substrate , and 46 is a cvd sio 2 film . semiconductor devices may be formed at the surface of si substrate of the test area 12 . according to this embodiment , into the test area 12 , the test terminals 13 of the highest connection wires 14 and the test terminals 13 &# 39 ; that connect lower connection wires 14 &# 39 ; are both formed so that high terminal density is achieved . the burried conductive layer ( terminal 13 &# 39 ;) is produced by sputter deposition and is effective to substantially even the surface level of the test terminals in the test area . this is useful to unify the test condition of the electric potential detection . in the embodiment shown in fig4 a and fig4 b , the highest connection wires 14 and the corresponding test terminals 13 may be omitted . in such a case , it is possible to form only the openings 44 or one wide opening in the cvd sio 2 film 43 and to use the exposed portions of the connection wires 14 &# 39 ; as the test terminals instead of burring the conductive layers 13 &# 39 ;. fig5 a is a diagram showing another embodiment of the invention . fig5 a shows a part of a semi - custom ic . fig5 b is a diagram showing an enlarged view of a test area of fig5 a . at the surface of si substrate , cell regions 51 and interconnection regions 52 are formed alternately as shown in fig5 a . logic cells 53 are arranged as a line in each cell region . many kinds of logic cells are stored in a cell library of a computer . using these library cells , the position of each cell in the cell regions 51 and their interconnections are designed with cad . this type of ic is called a standard cell semi - custom ic . in the interconnection region 52 of fig5 a , vertical wires ( solid lines ) are made from the highest conductive layer ; on the other hand , lateral wires ( broken lines ) are made from a lower conductive layer with the wires contacting each other at via contact holes c . the highest conductive layer diverge or extend from a signal wires 15 and are gathered in the test area 12 to form test terminal 13 as shown in fig5 a and fig5 b . in fig5 a , only some connection wires 14 and signal wires are shown for the sake of simplicity . fig6 a is a diagram showing another embodiment of the invention . fig6 a also shows a part of the standard cell semi - custom ic . fig6 b is a diagram showing an enlarged view of a test area of fig6 a . in fig6 a , the vertical wires ( solid lines ) are made from the highest conductive layer ( for instance , a third al layer ), and lateral wires are made from the lower conductive layer ( for instance , a first al layer ). other vertical wires ( broken line ) made of middle conductive layer ( for instance , a second al layer ) are added for increasing the number of test terminals . that is , in fig6 b , connection wires 14 &# 39 ; of a second al layer are added . test terminals 13 &# 39 ; on the same level as the highest al layer are attached to the connection wires 14 &# 39 ; via through holes in the same manner as shown in fig4 a . this invention is not restricted to the specific embodiments described above . for example , other conductive materials such as mo , w or poly - si with high concentration dopants may be used for test terminals and connection wirings instead of al . other modifications and improvements of the invention will also become apparent to these of skill in the art , and the invention is intended to cover such modifications and improvements as defined by the appeared claims . | 7 |
a vibrating structure gyroscope for use in an inertial measurement unit (“ imu ”) in accordance with the disclosure will now be described . vibrating structure gyroscopes typically use the principles of the coriolis effect to output a rotation rate , or otherwise detect rotational motion . a vibrating structure gyroscope may include a vibrating structure or sensor such as a vibrating element in the form of a mechanical resonator , such as a beam , tuning fork or ring resonator . the vibrating structure may be excited into resonance by an electromagnetic drive means , and may be fabricated using a microelectromechanical systems (“ mems ”) process . other drive means may be employed , such as those including optical , thermal expansion , piezo - electric or electrostatic effects . the vibrating element may be caused to vibrate along a primary axis , and the response of the vibrating element in a secondary axis ( which is different to the primary axis ) during rotation may be used to give a measure of the rotation rate . one or more control loops may be used to activate the primary axis and adjust the amplitude and frequency of the drive signals in order to establish the primary axis motion at its resonant frequency . the primary axis response and the secondary axis response of the vibrating structure , such as a mechanical resonator in a spring - mass system , when considered around their resonant frequencies can each be described by the classical 2 nd order transfer function as follows : where s is the complex frequency used in laplace transform notation , ω n is the natural frequency of the mechanical resonator and q is the magnification factor . the resonant frequency of the secondary axis may be designed and adjusted to match the resonant frequency of the primary axis to a high degree of accuracy in which case the two transfer functions ( for each of the primary and secondary axes ) can be considered identical . as the system is operated at its natural resonant frequency ( ω n ) the response can be transformed to a baseband equivalent response by using the substitution s = j ( ω n + co ) where ω n is the natural resonant frequency and co is now the baseband ( modulation ) frequency of interest . the baseband equivalent transfer function of the resonator can thus be rewritten as : which is a simple first order low pass filter with a time constant defined by 2q / ω n and therefore a bandwidth defined by ω n / 2q . in an example ω n = 100 , 000 , q = 30 , 000 and the time constant may typically be 0 . 6 seconds and the bandwidth may be 1 . 66 rad / s , or more conveniently expressed as 0 . 26 hz . the natural bandwidth of such a sensor may , then , be very low ( 0 . 26 hz ) and high performance , balanced systems may require an output bandwidth nearer 100 hz . it has been found that some means of extending the bandwidth may be necessary , so that the output , or rate measurement bandwidth is larger than the natural bandwidth of the sensor . in this regard , the electronic control system of the gyroscope may comprise one or more separate control loops to preferably detect and control the motion on the secondary axis . these control loops may also be used to modify the output , or rate measurement bandwidth , so that it may be above the natural bandwidth of the sensor and in order to suit the system requirements ( for example 100 hz ). a control loop of the electronic control system of the gyroscope is shown in fig2 , and may include one or more of a summing junction 12 , a sensor or sensor head 14 , loop filter 16 , and integrator 20 . the control loop may be for detecting and / or controlling motion on the secondary axis of the gyroscope . the actual angular rate may refer to the real motion that the gyroscope is trying to measure . this may also be termed input angular rate . the measured angular rate may refer to the estimate made by the gyroscope of the input angular rate , and may be referred to as the output angular rate . the components of the loop introduce various phase lags , which together with the phase lag produced by natural bandwidth of the sensor may require the inclusion of a phase lead to provide a stable loop . therefore the loop filter 16 may be a phase lead filter . in accordance with the disclosure , the time constant of the loop filter 16 may be adapted or varied , preferably so as to match and track a characteristic , for example the natural bandwidth of the sensor or vibrating structure 14 . the characteristic may also be or comprise frequency , q - factor or temperature of the vibrating structure . this may advantageously provide a flat low frequency gain response and a constant , or temperature independent output bandwidth of the signal output from the control loop . in this manner , the disclosure preferably compensates for q - factor and frequency variations , and minimises noise . the time constant of the loop filter 16 may initially be determined based on the natural bandwidth of the vibrating structure 14 calculated from knowledge of its resonant frequency and / or nominal q - factor . the adaptation of the time constant may then be achieved by tracking the resonant frequency and / or the q - factor of the vibrating structure in use . both the resonant frequency and the q - factor of the vibrating structure may vary significantly with its temperature . that is , there may exist a strong correlation between the resonant frequency and q - factor of the vibrating structure with its temperature . this correlation is defined by a very simple relationship as follows : where q ( t ) is the q at any temperature t , qtc is the temperature coefficient of q ( generally a constant value of typically 0 . 006 ) , t 0 is the reference temperature and q 0 is the nominal q at this reference temperature . conventionally the transfer function of a loop filter in the control loop may be determined by constants that are derived from the gyroscope and inertial measurement unit (“ imu ”) design in order to achieve a given bandwidth and gain peaking . the present disclosure may improve on such arrangements by providing a transfer function for the loop filter of the closed loop that preferably adapts or varies with a determined or estimated characteristic of the vibrating structure in use , so as to adapt or vary the time constant of the loop filter in use . in one example , the transfer function tf ( s ) of the loop filter of the present disclosure may be represented as : where b is a constant , which may be derived from the gyroscope and inertial measurement unit (“ imu ”) design , ω n is the resonant frequency of the vibrating structure , and q ′ is an estimated q - factor or estimated magnification factor of the vibrating structure . q ′ may be a function based on one or more of the measured frequency , temperature and design parameters of the vibrating structure . in one example , q ′ takes the form of q ( t ) in the relationship given above in equation [ 3 ]. the time constant of the loop filter 16 may be adapted or varied , preferably so as to match and track the natural bandwidth of the vibrating structure , so as to preferably provide a constant output bandwidth for the control loop . this may have the benefit that the overall frequency response can then be optimised , for example made as large as possible , without compromising the noise and dynamic range of the system . this may minimise the effect of minor mismatches in the bandwidth of the vibrating structure and the frequency of the loop filter . fig3 a shows the effects of dynamically adjusting the time constant of the loop filter to match and track the natural bandwidth of the vibrating structure in accordance with the disclosure . fig3 b shows that there are no frequency variations across the low frequency range of interest . this can be compared to a conventional response , shown in fig1 , in which the time constant of the loop filter does not match and track the natural bandwidth of the vibrating structure . fig3 c shows the effects of dynamically adjusting the time constant of the loop filter to match and track the natural bandwidth of the vibrating structure in accordance with the disclosure , but with added gain compensation to provide a consistent second order response . the bandwidth and gain peaking may be adjusted using the parameters of the control loop . the present disclosure may address the frequency response of the control loop using the recognition that the frequency response of the vibrating structure of the gyroscope ( which has a dominant effect ) may be related to the q - factor of the vibrating structure , and the further recognition that the q - factor may vary strongly with temperature . the temperature of the vibrating structure may be measured with a suitable temperature sensor , or it may be estimated based on the frequency of the vibrating structure , which may enable a good estimate of the q - factor of the vibrating structure in use . this estimate of the q - factor may be used to calculate a time constant for a filter in the control loop so as to preferably compensate for the variation of the q - factor of the vibrating structure over time . this improved time constant can then be used to improve or optimise the frequency response of the control loop or gyroscope . the q - factor of the vibrating structure is correlated with resonant frequency and bandwidth and these could be referred to in place of q - factor in the above discussion as well . although certain embodiments have been described , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the accompanying claims . | 6 |
the following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems , apparatuses and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative , not limiting in scope . fig1 illustrates a typical lto tape cartridge 10 and fig2 illustrates a typical lto tape drive housing 200 with the cartridge 10 of fig1 inserted . cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 200 in a direction specified by arrow 12 . cartridge 10 also includes grip lines 14 for easy handling . additionally , cartridge 10 includes various lock depressions 18 ( also repeated on the opposite side ) that mate with a male counterpart , in drive 200 , to ensure a snug fit after cartridge 10 is inserted into drive 200 . drive 200 includes an eject button 202 and various indicators 204 . the drive 200 may be designed to fit into a 5 . 25 inch form factor for installation into a bay of a desktop or server box . of course , other implementations are possible . for example , the drive 200 may be a stand - alone unit , such as a desktop drive that is external from a host computing system . fig3 is a top - down view of the cartridge 10 inserted into the tape drive 200 which includes a head actuator assembly of the claimed embodiments . a full description of the various components of drive 200 is intentionally not included in order to not unnecessarily obscure the claimed embodiments . however , some of the major components include a take - up hub 300 , various tape - threading roller guides ( 302 , 306 ), magnetic head 102 and flex cables ( 134 , 136 ). drive 200 will also typically contain one or more processors , a memory and a controller . area 500 will be referred to later . fig4 and 5 show a head actuator assembly 100 comprising a magnetic head 102 , and a head carriage 104 . the magnetic head 102 is preferably retained in a forked shaped portion 103 ( see fig8 a and 9 ) of the head carriage 104 preferably by an adhesive . of course other types of fasteners may be used to fasten the magnetic head 102 to the head carriage 104 such as an interference fit or mechanical fasteners such as screws , for example . the actuator assembly 100 , illustrated in fig4 and 5 , further includes a coarse actuator and a fine actuator . in one implementation , the head carriage 104 is operably attached to the fine actuator , while the fine actuator is attached to the coarse actuator . in one implementation , the coarse actuator comprises an actuator base 106 ( to which the head carriage 104 and fine actuator are attached ). the coarse actuator , in one implementation , includes a drive assembly 109 that displaces the coarse actuator base 106 along shafts 107 that protrude from base plate assembly 108 . the second shaft 107 is located on an opposite side of magnetic head 102 . in one implementation , the coarse actuator translates the entire fine actuator assembly across the tape for a travel distance of about 9 mm to , for example , move magnetic head 102 between tracks . magnetic head 102 may include one to several bumps and each bump will usually include a plurality of read and write elements . it should be noted that the phrases “ fine actuator ” and “ moving mass ” can be used interchangeably and generally refer to the following collection of parts : coarse actuator base 106 , head carriage 104 , magnetic head 102 , voice coil motor 160 and top and bottom flexure springs ( 140 , 142 / refer to fig7 - 8b ). additionally , the phrase “ coarse actuator ” generally refers to the following collection of parts : base plate assembly 108 , shafts 107 , drive assembly 109 and the coarse actuator base 106 . the fine actuator controls the head carriage assembly 102 / 104 , relative to coarse actuator base 106 , using a voice coil motor ( vcm ) assembly ( see fig8 a & amp ; 8b ). the voice coil motor assembly includes a voice coil portion 160 and magnetic housing assembly 162 . the voice coil portion 160 is attached to the head carriage 104 to translate with the head carriage 104 , while the outer portion 162 is attached to the coarse actuator base 106 . in one implementation , the vcm of the fine actuator is a flat voice coil motor . the voice coil portion 160 is suspended in a magnetic field produced by one or more magnets in the magnetic housing assembly 162 of the voice coil motor . in one implementation , the fine actuator moves magnetic head 102 based on analysis of the servo signals , contained on a tape , to keep the magnetic head 102 in substantial alignment with a selected track . the voice coil motor assembly and associated magnets located in the magnetic housing assembly 162 are oriented relative to the direction of travel of the coarse actuator base 106 . this configuration also contributes to a reduced actuator assembly 100 size . in one implementation , the fine actuator functions under closed loop servo control , while the coarse actuator utilizes open loop control . the trigger point of the reference hall sensor magnet assembly 122 provides a known location for the head with respect to tape . the linear hall sensor magnet 124 ( see fig5 ) along with the reference hall sensor magnet assembly 122 provides the translation information of the fine actuator . in one implementation , this information is used to provide the damping of the first mode resonance of the spring - mass system of the fine actuator . regarding the reference hall sensor 800 ( refer to fig8 a and 8b ) and the reference hall sensor magnet assembly 122 ( refer to fig4 - 5 ), during a read - write process of the tape drive 200 , the magnetic head 102 traverses across a tape width to seek a relevant track . there are a number of incidents when the magnetic head 102 is parked at a given known / reference location . such events may include booting up the tape drive 200 , tape - loading sequence , etc . in order to send the magnetic head 102 to this reference location , the reference hall - sensor magnet assembly 122 and reference hall sensor 800 are utilized . the reference hall magnet assembly 122 is secured to the actuator base plate 108 and the reference hall sensor 800 is secured to the coarse base actuator 106 . the actuator base plate 108 is stationary to the drive 200 . thus , when the reference hall sensor 800 arrives in the vicinity of the reference hall magnet assembly 122 , the reference hall sensor 800 is triggered . this information is utilized to locate the magnetic head 102 with respect to the tape . in reference to the linear hall sensor 124 and an associated dual pole magnet 125 , the fine actuator of the head actuator assembly 100 is utilized to keep the head on a track under a servo control . it should be noted that the dual pole magnet 125 is only partly visible in fig5 . any movements in the tape or head carriage 104 can create a misalignment between a read / write element of the magnetic head 102 and a corresponding track on the tape . the linear hall sensor 124 is attached to the flex cable 134 which is attached to the head carriage 104 . the corresponding dual pole magnet 125 is attached to the coarse actuator base 106 . when the head carriage 104 moves , the linear hall sensor 124 will also move with respect to the dual pole magnet 125 . the dual pole magnet 125 has two poles — north and south . when the linear hall sensor 124 is aligned to a null line of the dual pole magnet , there is no signal . when the magnetic head 102 moves up , the linear hall sensor 124 produces the signal which is proportional to the head - translation . the same is true when the magnetic head 102 moves in the negative direction . as a result , the linear hall sensor 122 provides the signal which is proportional to the head translation . this information can be used in number of ways . some examples include 1 ) damping of the servo loop and 2 ) when tape is at the end and it reverses the direction to move from forward to reverse , there is no servo information from the tape . the linear hall sensor 124 provides the head location information during this phase . with reference to fig6 - 8b , flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) are each attached to one of a pair of laterally extending arms ( 104 a , 104 b ) of head carriage 104 . in one implementation , the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) are attached to the laterally extending arms ( 104 a , 104 b ) via an adhesive . flex cables 134 and 136 provide the electrical connection between the magnetic head 102 and a printed circuit board ( not shown ). the head flex circuit portion 132 also connects to the voice coil 160 via pad 178 . the screws 176 going through clamp 174 provide the force between the pads of the voice coil flex cable portion 132 and the vcm 160 for electrical continuity . this eliminates any need to provide additional wires between the voice coil and the main pcb ( not shown ). thus , in this implementation , the voice coil 160 terminates at the main pcb via the traces in the flex cable 134 . top flexure spring 140 further includes holes 180 that are utilized to secure top flexure spring 140 to the coarse actuator base 106 via additional screws ( not shown ). in one implementation , clamps may also be included with the screws . it should be noted that fig7 is an exploded view of various parts . as such , top flexure spring 140 is shown on one side of flex cables 134 and 136 for clarity . fig8 a and 8b correctly characterize the placement of top flexure spring 140 in relation to flex cables 134 and 136 . as the head carriage 104 is secured to top flexure spring 140 via screws 176 and the top flexure is further secured to the coarse actuator base 106 via screws ( not shown ), it can be seen that head carriage 104 is mounted between opposing arms ( 106 a , 106 b ) in area 103 of the coarse actuator base 106 . head carriage 104 is also coupled to the actuator base 106 via a bottom flexure spring 142 . similar to top flexure spring 140 , bottom flexure spring 142 is coupled with the head carriage 104 at an inner set of holes 184 via a clamp 186 and screws 188 ( note only one screw 188 is intentionally included in fig8 a for clarity of the view ). bottom flexure spring 142 is further coupled to the coarse actuator base at holes 190 via clamps 192 and screws ( not shown ). actuator assembly 100 has two separate resonance frequency vibration modes referred to as the first mode and the second mode . the first mode refers to up and down frequency vibrations of the actuator assembly and is generally low frequency . the second mode refers to torsional frequency vibration of the moving mass and is generally preferred to be kept as high as possible and preferably five to eight times higher than the closed - loop bandwidth frequency . top and bottom flexures springs 140 and 142 each further include various ribs 194 that are oriented perpendicular to each flexure . in one implementation , the top and bottom flexure springs 140 and 142 are metal springs that apply opposing forces to bias the head carriage 104 towards a center position relative to the fine actuator thus providing a resonance frequency dampening effect . in one implementation , flexure springs are 140 and 142 are made from 300 series stainless steel . the ribs 194 allow for reductions in the width of top and bottom flexure springs 140 and 142 while maintaining desired spring forces . this is accomplished because ribs 194 add torsional stiffness to the top and bottom flexure springs 140 and 142 . since the width of the flexures is reduced , the overall size of the actuator assembly 100 can be reduced accordingly to fit into a smaller drive enclosure . as previously indicated , it is also desirable to maintain a high second resonance mode . the placement of the top and bottom flexure springs 140 and 142 help to contribute the high second mode of vibration . the top and bottom flexure springs 140 and 142 , in one implementation , are mounted to be substantially aligned with the center of gravity of the moving mass corresponding to the fine actuator . this can be seen , for example , via fig8 a - 8b wherein the top and bottom flexure springs 140 and 142 are arranged at the top and bottom of head carriage 104 such they coincide at a lateral midpoint of head carriage 104 wherein the lateral midpoint divides head carriage 104 into front and back parts . it should also be noted that since the top and bottom flexure springs 140 and 142 are inline with the moving mass , the ribs 194 are also in - line with the moving mass . as a result , the ribs therefore also help to contribute to a higher second resonance mode . furthermore , under servo control , the voice coil motor 160 is electrically coupled with a corresponding magnetic circuit that generates a force required to move the magnetic head 102 such that it stays aligned with a particular track on a tape . a magnetic moment caused by the force can also excite the shafts 107 and their associated spring - mass system . since the voice coil 160 is in - line with the shafts 107 , the residual force of the moment arm is substantially zero and the resonance of the shaft &# 39 ; s spring - mass system is also reduced substantially . another advantage of the claimed embodiments is that the flex cables 134 and 136 are mounted parallel to the tape travel path and this allows for further separation of the two flex cables . laterally extending arms ( 104 a , 104 b / refer to fig7 ) are configured in a manner that defines the orientation of the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) such that the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) are parallel to the tape travel path . it is desirable to keep the flex cable as far apart as possible in order to minimize electrical interference between the two flex cables 134 and 136 . this aspect of the claimed embodiments is further explained via fig9 which is a top - down block diagram view 900 illustrating flexible circuit orientation in relation to a tape travel path . included in top - down view 900 are the flex cables 134 and 136 , a portion of the head carriage 104 , magnet head 102 , tape / tape travel path 902 and prior art flex cable orientations 904 . as can be seen , the flex cable portions ( 134 a , 136 a / also refer to fig6 ) of the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) are parallel to the tape / tape travel path 902 . the laterally extending arms ( 104 a , 104 b ) extending of the head carriage 104 are oriented substantially parallel to the tape path in the opposing regions proximal to magnetic head 102 . this configuration allows the physical distance between the flex cables 134 and 136 , as they extend from the flex cable portions 134 a & amp ; 136 a , to be increased . this increased separation reduces the effects of interference or noise associated with a read signal traversing flex cable 136 caused by , for example , write signals traversing flex cable 134 . if the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) were not oriented parallel to the tape / tape travel path 902 , the distance between the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) would decrease as can be seen via prior - art flex cable orientations 904 . furthermore , prior art flex cable orientations 904 are additionally limited in that there is very little room to further separate the two orientations 904 from each other . this is due to the fact that if either orientation 904 is moved away from the other , the flex cable will move into the area of the tape / tape travel path 902 . orienting the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) parallel to the tape / tape travel path 902 resolves this deficiency of prior art tape drive systems . in one implementation , laterally extending arms ( 104 a , 104 b ) form approximately 10 degree angles at either side of fork - shaped portion 103 as indicated by areas 906 and 908 . since the flex cables ( 134 , 136 ) are attached to the laterally extending arms ( 104 a , 104 b ), flex cable portions 134 a and 136 a ( refer to fig6 ) therefore also are oriented about 10 degrees inward in relation to the magnetic head 102 . advantageously , the claimed embodiments provide for a reduced fingerprint actuator assembly capable of fitting into next generation lto tape drives . additionally , a higher second mode vibration is achieved by placing flexures with ribs inline with the moving mass / fine actuator . furthermore , the reduced footprint actuator assembly provides the required extra room in a tape drive housing for tape grabber mechanics as well as providing the option to install the housing in various orientations due to multiple sets of mounting holes for screws . more specifically , area 500 of drive 200 ( refer to fig3 ) is freed up to allow for additional mounting screw holes . another advantage of the claimed embodiments is that a flat voice coil motor design is employed by the claimed embodiments . prior art voice coils are typically circular . using a circular voice coil results in an increased fine actuator moving mass . that increase in mass necessitates the use of wider flexures . in turn , wider flexures results in an enhanced width for the actuator as a whole . by using a flat voice coil , those prior art issues are avoided . additionally , the flat voice coil contributes to the moving mass being concentrated in a small area which in turn helps to achieve the in - line / center of gravity aspects of the claimed embodiments . while a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above , those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications , permutations additions and sub - combinations thereof . it is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications , permutations , additions and sub - combinations as are within their true spirit and scope . | 6 |
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention claimed hereafter and as shown in fig1 , a fuel channel 10 is inserted into an outer sleeve 12 that is sealed on top by a cover 16 and a bottom cover 28 . the sleeve 12 , bottom cover 28 and top cover 16 completely seal the fuel channel 10 within the interior of the sleeve 12 . alternatively , the sleeve 12 and bottom cover 28 can be constructed as an integral can in which the fuel channel 10 can be loaded and sealed by the cover 16 . the sleeve or can completely encompasses the channel &# 39 ; s length and is preferably made from a malleable metal such as aluminum , copper or other relatively malleable , inexpensive metal . the sleeve , for example , may be on the order of one - eighth inch ( 0 . 32 cm ) thick . the can or sleeve can have a prefabricated bottom 28 and a “ lid ” or “ top ” 16 that will be installed following insertion of the fuel channel 10 . portions of the sleeve or can 12 ( i . e ., sidewalls , top and / or bottom ) will be perforated and screened or otherwise trapped with a trap such as shown at 26 in fig1 , to allow water to escape without permitting debris within the sleeve enclosure from escaping . once the fuel channel is secured within the sleeve enclosure 12 , the enclosure will be subjected to a full length hydraulic compactor 20 which will compact the sleeve enclosure in the lateral direction , i . e ., a compacting force applied laterally to opposite sides of the sleeve enclosure , preferably over the entire length of its elongated dimension . the sleeve enclosure will then contain shattered fuel channel material which will be isolated by the sleeve from the spent fuel pool . following compaction , the sleeve enclosure containing the fuel channel may be laterally segmented to a desired length by use of hydraulic shears 22 . the physical limitations of the storage facility or transport casks and the radiation levels of the incremental sections of the sleeve containing the fuel channel will dictate the optimal location along the length of the fuel channel at which lateral segmentation is desired . the can or sleeve is intended to limit or eliminate fuel channel spring back and capture shattered metal that has been embrittled by neutron exposure . similarly , the can or sleeve is intended to provide a seal at the lateral shearing locations which will continue to contain the shattered material after the segments are separated . the seal is formed from the shear blades forcing the opposite walls of the sleeve against each other as the blades penetrate the sleeve and fuel channel metal . once sheared , the canned fuel channel sections may be handled and packaged in a cask 30 in a manner that optimizes physical and radiological efficiency . in an alternate embodiment an inner sleeve 14 that extends at least the length of the fuel channel 10 may be inserted inside the fuel channel and the top of the inner sleeve 14 may be drawn to the top of the outer sleeve 12 and the bottom of the inner sleeve 14 may be drawn to the bottom of the outer sleeve 12 in place of the top 16 and bottom 28 seals previously noted . alternatively the tops and bottoms of the inner and outer sleeves 14 and 12 may be welded together to form the debris seal between the sleeves . the liner container enclosing the fuel channel may then be crushed and sheared as previously noted . regardless of the method used , the entire process is carried out under water in the spent fuel pool 18 . while specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure . accordingly , the particular embodiments disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the general concepts disclosed and any and all equivalents thereof . | 6 |
the process steps described below do not form a complete process flow for manufacturing integrated circuits . the present invention can be implemented together with the integrated circuit manufacturing techniques presently used in this field , and only those commonly used process steps which are necessary to understand the present invention are in the description . the figures representing cross sections of portions of an integrated circuit during the manufacturing are not drawn to scale . they are instead drawn to show the important features of the invention . with reference to fig2 to 30 , a first embodiment of the method for manufacturing insulating structures according to the invention , particularly of the sti type , is described . for convenience of illustration , elements being structurally and functionally similar to the prior art will be given the same reference numerals . a first insulating layer 2 , for example a very thin oxide layer , being about 10 nm thick , is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1 , whereon a stopping layer 3 is formed , for example a silicon nitride layer , being traditionally 100 – 200 nm thick . the stopping layer 3 serves as a barrier for the following planarization treatments , while the insulating layer 2 is used as a buffer since the stopping layer 3 and the semiconductor substrate 1 generally have a very different network pitch . according to the invention , a barrier layer 8 or hard mask is formed on the stopping layer 3 . advantageously , the barrier layer 8 is formed with a material having a good selectivity with respect to the stopping layer 3 . advantageously , the barrier layer 8 is formed with a material which can be etched by a non - fluorine - based chemistry . also advantageously , according to the invention , the hard mask 8 can be removed in a step following a definition step of the stopping layer 3 . in a preferred embodiment , described below by way of a non - limiting example , the barrier layer 8 is formed with a semiconductor layer , for example polysilicon . advantageously , a second very thin insulating layer 7 , for example silicon oxide , is interposed between the semiconductor layer 8 and the stopping layer 3 . advantageously , the second insulating layer 7 is 150 å thick and the semiconductor layer 8 is 1000 å thick . in particular , this semiconductor layer 8 is used as a hard mask for the following etching steps of the semiconductor substrate 1 , and thus this semiconductor layer 8 should be thick . the thickness thereof is thus advantageously within a range between 80 å and 2000 å . afterwards , a mask 4 or screening layer , for example a resist layer , is formed through a traditional photolithographic technique on the semiconductor layer 8 , wherein openings 9 are defined . as shown in fig2 , the semiconductor layer 8 is then etched with a first removal step through the openings 9 to expose a portion of the second insulating layer 7 . the second insulating layer 7 and the stopping layer 3 are then etched with a second removal step . advantageously according to the invention , the second removal step is highly selective with respect to the semiconductor layer 8 , as shown in fig2 , and is capable of removing the screening layer 4 . in this second etching step a fluorocarbon of the c x h y f z type is used , whose selectivity is commonly determined by the ratio between the indexes z / x . the lower this ratio , the lower is the etch rate on the semiconductor layer 8 , particularly polysilicon ( thus , the selectivity is high ) and vice - versa . for example , by etching with a ch 3 f - based chemistry a very good selectivity on the semiconductor layer would be obtained . on the contrary , by etching with a cf 4 the semiconductor layer 8 would also be rapidly removed because of the selectivity that is lacking on this layer . according to the invention , by forming a hard mask in the semiconductor layer 8 , all the effects of the poor etching side resistance , the excessive resist wear , and the ler is considerably reduced since it is just the semiconductor layer 8 to act as a mask during the etching step of the stopping layer 3 and not the resist screening layer 4 . at this point of the manufacturing process the semiconductor layer 8 is removed . advantageously , in the method according to the invention , the semiconductor layer 8 removal is performed by chemical etching . in fact , this semiconductor layer 8 , having to serve as a hard mask , considerably thick and other removal techniques such as cmp for example , are not suitable . in particular , through the cmp technique a very long overetch should be used , which would damage the entire device planarization due to the etch rate difference between the semiconductor layer 8 and the second insulating layer 7 . a first embodiment of the method according to the invention to remove the semiconductor layer 8 is shown in fig2 , wherein the insulating layer 2 is removed first and then the semiconductor layer 8 is removed and the semiconductor substrate 1 is simultaneously etched to form a trench 5 within the semiconductor substrate 1 . advantageously , the etching step of the semiconductor substrate 1 and of the semiconductor layer 8 is performed by plasma etching . advantageously , the chemistry by which the formation of the trench 5 in the semiconductor substrate 1 and the removal of the semiconductor layer 8 are performed , for example hbr / o 2 , are highly selective both on the oxide layer 2 and on the nitride layer 3 . therefore , after removing the whole semiconductor layer 8 , the second insulating layer 7 will still serve as a hard mask for the underlying layers . moreover , by using a plasma etch for removing the semiconductor layer 8 , the plasma undergoes a variation in its chemical composition . in fact , before wearing the semiconductor material hard mask 8 , silicon - based reaction products are the great majority and they come from the trench 5 in the semiconductor substrate 1 and from the semiconductor layer 8 , while after wearing the semiconductor material hard mask 8 , they considerably decrease since the contribution deriving from the semiconductor layer 8 removal is missing . to avoid the chemical variation from affecting the shape of the trench 5 , an optimization of the parameters of the trench etching step is performed . low polymerizing chemistry is very effective in this regard . a second embodiment of the method for removing the semiconductor material hard mask 8 provides the same process steps of the previous embodiment until the selective removal of the nitride layer 3 , then the methods continues with a semiconductor layer 8 etching step . this etching step is highly selective with respect to oxide and nitride . afterwards , this latter etching step is followed by a very short removal step of the layer 2 to expose the semiconductor substrate 1 and preserve the second insulating layer 7 on the nitride layer 3 . then it continues with the trench 5 etching , as shown in fig3 . an important advantage offered by the polysilicon hard mask 8 is given by the possibility to form lower - sized openings 9 with respect to photolithographic ones . in particular , with reference to fig3 to 39 , an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention is described , wherein a supplementary layer 10 , for example a barc layer , is formed between the resist layer 4 and the semiconductor layer 8 . etching of the supplementary layer 10 is performed through the openings 9 with a very polymerizing chemistry to obtain a trench in the supplementary layer 10 to expose the semiconductor layer 8 . the side walls of the trench in the supplementary layer 10 are formed substantially sloped to reduce the size df of the exposed semiconductor layer 8 with respect to the size di of the opening 9 , as shown in fig3 . these sloped walls are formed by polymeric - material spacing elements which are formed during the plasma etching step of the supplementary layer 10 . the sloped walls mask the semiconductor layer 8 during etching when the etching chemistry does not comprise fluorine which would remove the organic - polymer spacing elements , thus returning to the original size . therefore , the active area size can be controlled with great accuracy . the method according to the invention is completed by the modes being already described for the previous embodiments . in conclusion , the method according to the invention allows the hard mask 8 to be removed in situ , i . e ., during the same semiconductor substrate 1 etching to form the sti structure or by adding a suitable step before the etching to form the sti structure . this allows a trench 5 to be formed in the semiconductor substrate 1 whose depth / amplitude [ aspect ratio ] is far lower for the same depth p of the trench 5 than the prior art . in fact , by removing the hard mask 8 in situ , the total depth of the trench 5 is lower . this allows the trench 5 filling processes , which is very critical , like the ones shown in fig1 , to be favored . in the prior art , a trench is filled , having the same length , but is deeper because of the thickness of the hard masks on the layers to be removed . it is thus possible to have a predetermined active area size , with the profile of the nitride layer 3 being more vertical with respect to the semiconductor substrate 1 , as shown in fig4 , and a considerable ler improvement , as shown in fig4 . | 7 |
in manufacturing the improved panel according to the invention , a core is first prepared , which in the example shown in fig1 and 2 comprises a honeycomb structure of phenolic resin - impregnated kraft paper produced in the form of a sheet a , advantageously about 12 mm in thickness , the cells open at each face and the cell walls extending perpendicularly to the general plane of the sheet . this material is commercially available . the paper core sheet a is faced on each face with a thin sheet of resin - impregnated harboard b , c a firm bond between the paper sheet 1 and the hardboard skins b , c , being effected by a suitable adhesive , for example , an epoxy resin , or polyester resin . the backing is secured by adhesive to the surface of a marble slab from which the lamina of marble is to be sawn off , after which the lamina d may be cut from the slab by the aid of a diamond - toothed band - saw or a circular saw , the lamina being from 2 to 5 mm in thickness . as the backing a , b , c supports the lamina d while the latter is being sawn from the crude slab , the risk of cracking the lamina is greatly reduced and remarkably thin marble laminae may be obtained . it has been found that for the backing a core of a phenolic resin - impregnated paper honeycomb between 1 and 2 cms in overall thickness and having a resin - impregnated hardboard skin on both faces of the order of 0 . 5 mm thick , is adequate for most purposes , for example if tiles or panels for wall cladding are required . the skin or skins , may , however , vary in thickness between 0 . 4 mm and 6 mm . the surface elements of the invention may , for example , be used to form partition walls in which case the paper core may be up to 15 cm in thickness or more and , if desired , the panel may be formed with a marble lamina on both faces by following out the method of manufacture referred to above . one form of apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is shown in fig3 to 5 of the drawings . the apparatus comprises a band - saw 1 mounted between two steel columns 2 and 3 . the upper ends of the uprights are joined by a steel beam 4 . the band - saw is commercially available and basically comprises a diamond - toothed endless saw - blade 5 which travels about two spaced - apart drums or rollers ( not shown ) rotatably mounted within casings 6 and 7 , respectively . the saw - blade 5 and the drum may be raised or lowered along racks 8 provided on the face of the columns 2 and 3 , by means of a motor 9 . the columns 2 and 3 are bolted to a concrete foundation 10 which also serves to support two spaced apart parallel steel rails 11 and 12 . the steel rails support the flanged wheels 13 of two carriages 14 and 15 each of which may carry a block of marble 16 . the rails 11 and 12 are of sufficient length to accomodate at least two block carriages both to the front and to the rear of the band - saw 1 . the carriages 14 and 15 are moved along the rails by means of hydraulic rams 17 and 18 respectively . sanding rollers 19 are arranged both to the front and to the rear of the band - saw . each sanding roller 19 is horizontally mounted in the frame 20 which comprises two steel upright members 21 joined by a steel beam 22 . the sanding roller 19 is rotated by an electric motor 23 . the frame 20 is mounted on wheels 24 which run along rails 25 arranged parallel to but outside the rails 11 , 12 . as shown in fig4 the rails 25 are provided both to the front and to the rear of the band - saw 1 , for a distance at least equal to the length of two block carriages . each sanding roller 19 may be raised or lowered along the uprights 21 in well known manner and the frame 20 is sufficiently light in weight to be pushed manually along the rails 25 . in carrying out the method of the invention a block of marble is loaded on each of the block carriages , a and b . the carriages are each about 3 m . in length and about 11 / 2 m . in width . the side of the marble blocks is preferably of the order of 1 m . in length by 65 mm in width by 1 m . in height , and they each weigh approximately 21 / 2 tons . block b is immediately passed through the saw and the rough back of the block is removed . this leaves a flat level surface on the top of the block . however , there may be some inaccuracy in cutting , leaving waves or ridges on the surface of the block as explained above . the substantially plane surface of the block is thoroughly dried and a fine film of impact adhesive is sprayed on the marble . the adhesive is sprayed to a thickness of about 2 / 1000 of an inch . a suitable adhesive is a molecular cross - linked neoprene . a sheet of resin - impregnated paper honeycomb material has previously been coated with a similar adhesive . this is applied to the surface of the marble and it follows any undulations on the surface of the marble . the sanding roller 19 is then passed over the outer surface of the honeycomb until a plane surface is obtained . the surface of the honeycomb is sprayed with an adhesive and a rigid skin , which itself has been pre - sprayed with adhesive , is applied to the surface of the honeycomb . the preferred skin is a sheet of oil - tempered hardboard of a thickness of 1 / 8 of an inch . however , if desired , a backing comprising a sheet of resin - impregnated glass - fiber may be applied in the wet state and allowed to dry . during the application of the backing on the block of carriage b , carriage a is passed through the band - saw to remove the rough back from the block carried by carriage a . the saw is then raised and the two block carriages are moved back under the saw to the left of the saw , as shown in fig4 . carriage b is then passed forward again to remove a marble lamina from the surface of the block while a backing is applied to the block of carriage a in the manner described above . when carriage b is passed through the saw the lamina with the attached backing is removed and a further backing is applied to the surface of the block while the lamina is being cut from the block of carriage a . the process is then repeated . if desired , instead of loading each carriage with one large marble block the carriage may be loaded with up to four blocks and the spacings between the blocks filled with a plaster filling . the apparatus shown in fig6 is suitable for cutting marble laminae of up to 2 feet ( about 70 cm ) in width . the apparatus comprises a diamond - toothed circular saw 31 vertically mounted alongside a pair of spaced apart parallel steel rails 33 which support the flanged wheels 34 of carriages 35 . the carriages are adapted to carry blocks of marble 36 , and are preferably five in number . the carriages may be moved along the rails by means of hydraulic rams or similar apparatus . the circular - saw 31 is powered by an electrical motor 32 and the saw and motor are mounted on a cross - bar or gantry 37 which is arranged parallel to the rails 33 . the saw and motor are movable lengthways along the gantry 37 to effect cutting . the gantry 37 is mounted on two concrete supports 38 which run in a direction normal to the rails 33 . the gantry 37 is movable along the supports 38 so as to move the saw laterally away from and towards the rails 33 . in carrying out the method , rough - cut blocks 36 of marble or other stone are loaded on their edges on the carriages 35 . the carriages are then moved passes the saw and the rough back of each block is removed to leave a flat level surface on the side of each block . a circular saw normally cuts very accurately so that there should be no waves or ridges on the surface of the block as might be obtained using a band - saw . however , if there are any inaccuracies of this kind a backing may be applied and sanded to obtain a plane surface in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to fig3 to 5 , and the laminae and attached backings then removed by moving the carriages again passed the saw . alternatively , the blocks are moved passed the saw without first applying a backing and the cut lamina are retained on their edge but resting against the block 36 . an upright frame 39 is arranged behind the saw 31 and is provided with a number of suction pads 40 . the frame is movable along grooves or rails 41 arranged at right angles to the carriage rails 33 such that the suction pads can be moved forward to the grip the surface of the cut lamina . the frame with the lamina gripped by the suction pads is then moved backwards to remove the lamina laterally from the block 36 . the backing can then be applied to the lamina , substantially as described with reference to fig1 and 2 , while the lamina is held upright and supported by the suction pads . the frame 39 is supported by means of rods 42 which rest on bars 43 arranged alongside the supports 38 . the rods can be moved along the bars by hand and , if desired , can be turned to lay the lamina on a horizontal surface to facilite bonding of the backing . the suction pads 40 may be connected to a vacuum pump by flexible piping . the depth of cut of the saw can be adjusted by raising or lowering th slab 36 by means of a hydraulic jack or the like . the methods and apparatus described above are particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of marble - faced composite surface elements . however , they may also be used in the manufacture of composite elements having other natural stone facings such as granite and onyx . | 8 |
fig1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention showing a section of the conveying track f and a transport element 1 movable along the conveying track f . a gripper arm 2 is arranged on the transport element . one gripper or a plurality of grippers 3 is arranged on the gripper arm 2 . fig1 illustrates this as a schematic , three - dimensional view , fig2 as a section transverse to the conveying track f . the device comprises a multitude of advantageously identical transport elements 1 , which are movable along the conveying track f being connected together in the manner of a chain with fixed and regular distances or with variable distances between one another or which are movable in a manner independent of one another . for moving the transport elements 1 , a suitable drive ( not illustrated ) is provided . one part of the transport element 1 is designed as a roller part or sliding part 4 rolling or gliding along in a guide channel 5 . the gripper arm 2 , for example , is attached to a transport element part 6 projecting from the guide channel 5 . the gripper arm 2 with the gripper 3 is arranged on the transport element 1 in an asymmetrical manner such that the conveying track f is at a distance d from a symmetry plane s cutting the gripper 3 into two functionally equivalent halves ( or a plurality of grippers into two equal parts ). the distance or projection d is such that the flat articles 10 to be gripped and to be conveyed in a gripped manner do not come into contact with the guide channel 5 . if the articles , as illustrated in the fig1 and 2 , are to be gripped in the middle of one edge , then d is to be greater than half the length of the gripped edge . the gripper 3 comprises , in a per se known manner , two gripper jaws 3 . 1 and 3 . 2 movable relative to one another . these jaws are , for example , driven towards each other into a closed position by a compression force and can be moved away from one another into an open position against the compression force . for the gripper positioning , the gripper arm is installed in a bearing in the transport element 1 such that it can be rotated around its own axis substantially without limitation . for the gripper actuation , the gripper arm comprises two coaxial arm parts 2 . 1 and 2 . 2 capable of rotating relative to one another within limits , wherein on each of the arm parts 2 . 1 and 2 . 2 one of the gripper jaws 3 . 1 and 3 . 2 is attached such that the gripper 3 is able to be actuated ( opened and closed ) by relative rotation of the arm parts 2 . 1 and 2 . 2 . for generating the compression force between the two gripper jaws 3 . 1 and 3 . 2 , a pre - tensioned spring 11 is provided between the two gripper arm parts 2 . 1 and 2 . 2 . the gripper is controlled with respect to its rotational position and with respect to its opening condition , for taking over articles , during conveyance of the articles and for delivering the articles . in fig1 and 2 , the gripper 3 is depicted only in its closed state and in two rotational positions differing from one another by 180 ° ( positions 3 and 3 ′ of the gripper or positions 10 and 10 ′ of a flat article held by the gripper ). for gripper control , for example , each arm part 2 . 1 and 2 . 2 carries one control roller 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 on the gripper arm side opposite the gripper . for guiding the control rollers , cams 13 . 1 and 13 . 2 are provided along at least part of the conveying track f , the control rollers 12 . 1 and 12 . 2 roll along the cams when the transport element 1 is conveyed along the conveying track f . the control roller 12 . 2 is arranged on the outer arm part 2 . 2 and cam 13 . 2 , along which the control roller 12 . 2 rolls , determines the rotational position of the gripper 3 . in sections of the conveying path f , in which the rotational position of the grippers 3 is not relevant or in which the grippers are to be freely rotating , cam 13 . 2 can be omitted . the control roller 12 . 1 is arranged on the central arm part 2 . 1 , which itself is connected with the outer arm part 2 . 2 through the pre - tensioned spring 11 . cam 13 . 1 , along which the control roller 12 . 1 rolls , determines the opening condition of the gripper 3 . in sections of the conveying track f , in which the grippers are to be constantly closed , the cam 13 . 1 can be omitted . as is evident from fig2 the free end of the gripper arm 2 may be extended such that it projects beyond a held flat article 10 on the side opposite the transport element 1 . the gripper arm 2 may comprise a supporting roller 15 side , which rolls along or in a guide 16 . such an arrangement is advantageous in cases in which the grippers 3 have to hold large articles and the gripper arms 2 for this purpose have to project a long way , in cases in which the grippers 3 have to bear the full weight of the articles 10 and / or in cases in which very accurate positioning of the grippers 3 is necessary . in place of the supporting roller 15 , it is also possible to provide a further transport element 1 . the fundamental characteristics of the transport element 1 , gripper arm 2 , gripper 3 and gripper control in accordance with the invention are clearly evident from fig1 and 2 . for one skilled in the art it is very easily possible to modify the embodiments illustrated in these drawings in order to create further embodiments of the device according to the invention . in particular , the transport elements 1 , the active connection between the two gripper jaws 3 . 1 and 3 . 2 and the gripper control means 12 . 1 / 12 . 2 and 13 . 1 / 13 . 2 can be designed in the most diverse ways being known by one skilled in the art . in particular , instead of the as such stationary cam 13 . 1 and 13 . 2 , which act on all grippers conveyed past in the same manner , control means may also be provided , which , for example , for selective delivery of flat articles by the grippers , only act on selected ones of the grippers . furthermore , it is possible to provide a plurality of grippers 3 on each gripper arm 2 and simultaneously actuating and rotating the grippers 3 . fig3 and 4 show in a very schematic manner and viewed transverse to the conveying track f , positions 10 . 1 to 10 . 18 , which a flat object 10 conveyed by a device in accordance with the invention is able to assume ( the flat articles are illustrated to be printed products held gripped at their folded edge ), when the gripper 3 , which holds the article 10 , is rotated clockwise ( fig3 ) or counter - clockwise ( fig4 ) around the axis of the gripper arm ( not depicted in fig3 and 4 ). to be noted in particular is the manner in which the article between positions 10 . 2 and 10 . 5 , 10 . 6 and 10 . 8 as well as 10 . 17 and 10 . 18 is moved through between two adjacent grippers 3 from one side of the conveying track f to the other side . from fig3 and 4 it is also evident that such movement of the flat articles may call for an adjustment of the distances between the grippers to the size and to the flexibility of the flat articles 10 . fig3 and 4 can also be perceived as a hypothetical snapshot of a conveying stream in which the gripper positions are continually changed . if a gripper actuation is superimposed on this hypothesis , in the case of which the grippers are closed in a first position and are opened again in a second position downstream of the first position . it also becomes clear that with the help of the - device in accordance with the invention flat articles can be taken over from conveying streams with substantially any orientation of the articles and that , by delivering the flat articles by the device according to the invention , other conveying streams with substantially any orientation of the articles can be established . this is made even more clear by fig5 ( viewed transverse to the conveying tracks f and f ′), which shows folded printed products held on their folded edge and having a front side ( unbroken line ) and a back side ( broken line ) and serving as examples of flat articles 10 . the printed products are shown in sections a . 1 to a . 12 of conveying streams , in which these articles can be conveyed with the help of a device according to the invention . every one of the sections a . 1 to a . 12 , which is illustrated on the conveying track f , or f ′ respectively , can be established starting from another section depicted on the same conveying track f or f ′ respectively by simple rotation of the grippers . every section a . 7 to a . 12 illustrated on the conveying track f ′ can be established from a section a . 1 to a . 6 illustrated on the conveying track f ( and vice - versa ) by twisting the conveying track or by a deflection of the conveying track in combination with a gripper rotation . each one of the illustrated conveying stream sections a . 1 to a . 12 can depict a just picked up conveying stream , i . e . a conveying stream not yet changed after taking over or a conveying stream ready for delivery . obviously , all possible conveying streams ( front side on top or underneath , folded edge leading or trailing , leading edge on top or underneath ) can be taken over and established using the device in accordance with the invention with corresponding gripper positioning and synchronisation between gripper conveyance and supply stream . the same is applicable for conveying streams in which the flat articles are oriented exactly transverse to the direction of conveyance ( front side in front or behind , folded edge on the bottom or on the top ). fig6 to 9 show still schematically but in somewhat more detail than fig3 to 5 applications of the device according to the invention , particularly take - over and handing - over of flat articles 10 by the device in accordance with the invention . fig6 illustrates a stream transformation by a device in accordance with the invention . with an as such known conveying device 20 , folded printed products ( flat articles 10 ) are supplied , being held gripped and suspended at their edges opposite the folded edges and are taken over by grippers 3 of a device according to the invention 30 . the conveying stream being taken over corresponds with respect to the article orientation to section a 2 or a 11 of fig5 . after the take - over of the printed products , the grippers 3 are rotated such that the printed products are brought into a suspended position ( section a . 5 or a . 8 of fig5 ) in which the edges opposite the folded edges are positioned on the bottom . the articles are opened with suitable means ( not illustrated ) and , for example , deposited on to saddle - shaped supports 31 of a collecting drum 32 . from fig6 it is clearly evident , how easily the illustrated stream transformation can be implemented using the device according to the invention . fig7 illustrates , viewed parallel to the conveying track f , the take - over of the articles by the device 30 according to the invention from the conveying device 20 , which take - over is viewed transverse to the conveying track f in fig6 . conveying device 20 comprises transport elements 20 . 1 with grippers 20 . 2 and with roller or sliding parts rolling or sliding in a conveying channel . in this case , however , the conveying track of the transport elements 20 . 1 lies in the one plane s ′ separating the grippers 20 . 2 into two functionally equivalent parts . in the case of the device according to the invention this does not apply ( refer to fig2 and the corresponding parts of the specification ). fig8 illustrates , viewed again transverse to the conveying track f , a further possible handing - over or delivery of flat articles 10 ( folded printed products ) by a device in accordance with the invention 30 , the articles to be delivered having been , for example , taken over as shown in fig6 . with their held edges leading , the articles are deposited on l - shaped supports 40 , for example , for producing stacks . thanks to the projection of the gripper arms relative to the conveying elements and relative to the guide channel , which guides the movement of the conveying elements , meshing of grippers and supports necessary for such deposition is easily possible . it goes without saying that the handing - over illustrated in fig8 can be preceded by a different type of taking - over than the taking - over depicted in fig6 which then , if so required , calls for a re - orientation of the products 10 prior to the handing - over being implemented by gripper rotation . in the same manner as illustrated in fig8 for the grippers of a device according to the invention and l - shaped supports of a further device , it is possible also for grippers of two devices in accordance with the invention to pass through one another in a comb like or meshing manner . furthermore , it is possible for grippers of two devices according to the invention to be conveyed alternately in a common conveying stream , wherein the two conveying devices are arranged on opposite sides of the conveying stream and the gripper arms of the two devices are arranged as projecting towards the conveying stream from opposite sides . printed products conveyed in a common conveying stream of this kind can have alternatingly different orientations and , therefore , for example , are capable of being directly stacked in cross stacks . fig9 depicts a further example of a take - over of flat articles by a device 30 in accordance with the invention . the supplied stream of flat articles 10 is an imbricated stream of folded printed products with folded edges leading and lying on top of the stream , which , for example , is supplied on a conveyor belt 41 from a rotation . the grippers 3 of the device according to the invention 30 approach the imbricated stream from above and , in the take - over zone , have a lower speed than the conveyor belt 41 so that the printed products or their folded edges respectively are pushed into grippers 3 for being taken over . thereupon , the grippers 3 are closed . it is clearly evident from fig9 that an imbricated stream ( for example , from a coil ), in which the folded edges of the printed products are lying on top in the conveying stream , but are trailing , can also be taken over by the device in accordance with the invention . for such take - over , the grippers are solely rotated by about 180 ° relative to the gripper position of fig8 so that the gripper mouths are directed forwards in conveying direction , and the supply speed is adjusted such that the grippers catch up with the products from behind and thereby slide over the folded edges . the device according to the invention 30 and the supply device 41 as illustrated in fig9 can therefore be adapted to selective use for taking - over printed products with leading or with trailing folded edges lying on top by a very simple conversion , wherein the products independent of the manner of their supply can be brought into a predefined handing - over position . necessary for the conversion is , in essence , a displacement of the cam controlling the gripper position in the take - over zone . fig1 illustrates a further embodiment of the device according to the invention , which is suitable in particular for taking - over or for establishing imbricated streams , in which the flat articles 10 are arranged without edges aligned transverse to the conveying track f . for this purpose , the gripper arms 2 , in contrast to the depiction in the preceding drawing figures , are not arranged as projecting transverse to the conveying track f , but rather projecting at an angle α . this angle α , for example , may be 60 °, 45 °, 120 ° or 135 °. | 1 |
a vehicle suspension system 10 , constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrated in fig1 through 5 of the accompanying drawings , includes a conventional multi - leaf mainspring 12 that is connected to the frame 14 of a vehicle by a hanger 16 . the mainspring 12 is connected to the front axle of a vehicle in the conventional manner as shown in fig1 of u . s . pat . no . 4 , 175 , 772 . the hanger 16 has been modified to permit one end of the mainspring 12 to move vertically within a limited range of travel . it includes a downwardly projecting member 18 , welded to the frame 14 and having a link 20 pivotably connected to its lower end . at the end of the spring 12 is a cross pin 22 received by a pair of vertically elongated slots 24 in the link 22 , as best shown in fig1 and 5 . vertical travel of the spring 12 is permitted by movement of the cross pin 22 in the slot 24 ( the pin being shown at the bottom of the slot in fig5 ) and by pivotal action of the link 20 about a mounting pin 21 . those skilled in the art will understand that a wide variety of alternative hanger constructions can be employed to permit vertical travel of the mainspring 12 . a bracket 26 is bolted to the frame 14 so that it projects downwardly toward the mainspring 12 . secured to the top of this bracket 26 near the bottom of the frame 16 is an auxiliary leaf spring 28 . this auxiliary spring 28 extends from the bracket 26 away from the hanger 16 , between the frame 14 and the mainspring 12 , and generally parallel to the mainspring 12 . having a slightly s - shaped curvature , the auxiliary spring 28 is spaced below the frame 14 at its movable end 29 ( opposite the bracket 26 ) so that the frame does not interfer with flexing of the auxiliary spring . in this embodiment , the auxiliary spring 28 has two leaves 30 and 31 , the lower leaf 31 being shorter . it will be understood , however , that the optimum contruction of the auxiliary spring 28 is dependent upon the spring rate required and the room available . a pivot pin 32 extends horizontally from the bracket 26 and cross - wise with respect to the frame 14 between the auxiliary spring 28 and the mainspring 12 . a lever 33 of a dog - leg configuration is pivoted on the pin 32 . it is made of two parallel side pieces 33 &# 39 ; ( see fig2 and 3 ) that act in unison as a single lever . the side pieces 33 &# 39 ; form a bifurcated first arm 34 that is angled downwardly from the pivot pin 32 toward the auxiliary spring 12 ( see fig2 and 4 ). a rotatable cross piece 36 connects the two side pieces 33 &# 39 ; at the end of the first arm 34 , as best shown in fig3 and rests on the generally horizontal top surface of the mainspring 12 . a second arm 38 of the lever 33 is longer than the first arm 34 and forms an oblique angle with the first arm . it has an upwardly facing u - shaped member 40 that connects the two side pieces 33 &# 39 ; at one end and receives the movable end 29 of the auxiliary spring 28 . a connection pin 42 extends through aligned apertures in the u - shaped member 40 and the auxiliary spring 28 . a connection spring 44 encircles the pin 42 , being retained at its top end by a nut 46 that threadedly engages the pin 42 , so that the connection spring 44 resiliently urges the auxiliary spring 28 and lever 33 together . apart from the effect of the connection spring 44 , the lever 33 and the auxiliary spring 28 are positively connected by the connection pin 42 so as to permit only limited separation . the operation of the suspension system 10 described above will now be explained . assuming that the vehicle is lightly loaded , the upward pull of the auxiliary spring 28 on the lever 33 causes the first arm 34 of the lever to move downwardly , pushing the mainspring 12 to the lower limit of its vertical travel , as shown in fig1 . flexing of the auxiliary spring 28 will then permit movement of the frame 16 relative to an axle ( not shown ) to which the mainspring 12 is connected . it is important to note that the lever 33 and its pivot pin 32 not only apply the force of the auxiliary spring 28 to the mainspring 12 , but also serve as a mechanism for muliplying this force . the multiplication of the force is achieved because the distance &# 34 ; a &# 34 ; from the pivot pin 32 to the engagement of the mainspring 12 by the cross piece 36 of the lever 33 is considerably less than the distance &# 34 ; b &# 34 ; from the pivot pin to the connection of the lever to the auxiliary spring 28 . for this reason , the auxiliary spring 28 , which can fit readily within the limited space available between the frame 14 and the mainspring 12 , can provide the force necessary even in this close ratio system in which the auxiliary spring might typically be required to provide a spring rate of about half that of the mainspring . if the load is increased sufficiently , the auxiliary spring 28 will deflect downwardly , allowing its movable end 29 to move downwardly with the second arm 38 of the lever 33 so that the mainspring 12 can move upwardly to the upper limit of its range of vertical travel permitted by the hanger 16 ( see fig4 ). the mainspring 12 then has a fixed position with respect to the frame 14 and the frame is supported by the suspension system 10 with an appropriately high effective spring rate to handle the load imposed . it should be noted that the manner of connecting the auxiliary spring 28 to the lever 33 is highly effective and advantageous . standard components can be used to connect the auxiliary spring 28 even though the vertical thickness of that spring may vary depending upon the parameters required by an individual installation . a thicker auxiliary spring will simply cause the connection spring 44 to be compressed to a greater extent . moreover , the resiliency of the connection will tend to dampen any vibrations transmitted through the lever 33 . it will be understood from the following that while particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described , various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . accordingly , it is not intended that the invention be limited except as by the appended claims . | 1 |
the term “ dietary compositions ” comprises any type of ( fortified ) food , ( fortified ) ( animal ) feed and beverages including also clinical nutrition , and also dietary supplements as well as the corresponding additives : food additives , beverage additives , feed additives . also encompassed is functional food / feed i . e . a food / feed that has been enhanced with vitamins or pharmaceuticals to provide further specific health benefits , as well as a nutraceutical , i . e . a pill or other pharmaceutical product that has nutritional value . the dietary compositions according to the present invention may further contain protective hydrocolloids ( such as gums , proteins , modified starches ), binders , film forming agents , encapsulating agents / materials , wall / shell materials , matrix compounds , coatings , emulsifiers , surface active agents , solubilizing agents ( oils , fats , waxes , lecithins etc . ), adsorbents , carriers , fillers , co - compounds , dispersing agents , wetting agents , processing aids ( solvents ), flowing agents , taste masking agents , weighting agents , jellyfying agents , gel forming agents , antioxidants and antimicrobials . another object of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one compound of the formula i - iv as defined and with the preferences given as above and a conventional pharmaceutical carrier . beside a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least one compound of the formula i - iv the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention may further contain conventional pharmaceutical additives and adjuvants , excipients or diluents , including , but not limited to , water , gelatin of any origin , vegetable gums , ligninsulfonate , talc , sugars , starch , gum arabic , vegetable oils , polyalkylene glycols , flavoring agents , preservatives , stabilizers , emulsifying agents , buffers , lubricants , colorants , wetting agents , fillers , and the like . the carrier material can be organic or inorganic inert carrier material suitable for oral / parenteral / injectable administration . the dietary and pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention may be in any galenic form that is suitable for administrating to the animal body including the human body , especially in any form that is conventional for oral administration , e . g . in solid form such as ( additives / supplements for ) food or feed , food or feed premix , fortified food or feed , tablets , pills , granules , dragees , capsules , and effervescent formulations such as powders and tablets , or in liquid form such as solutions , emulsions or suspensions as e . g . beverages , pastes and oily suspensions . the pastes may be filled into hard or soft shell capsules , whereby the capsules feature e . g . a matrix of ( fish , swine , poultry , cow ) gelatin , plant proteins or ligninsulfonate . examples for other application forms are forms for sublingual , transdermal , parenteral or injectable administration . the dietary and pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of controlled ( delayed ) release formulations . furthermore , it has been demonstrated that by binding the compounds of the present invention to secondary molecules , such as certain peptides , increased is stability prolonging the active period is achieved . the present invention also encompasses pro - drugs which are metabolised into more active entities . beverages encompass non - alcoholic and alcoholic drinks as well as liquid preparations to be added to drinking water and liquid food . non - alcoholic drinks are e . g . soft drinks , sport drinks , fruit juices , lemonades , near - water drinks ( i . e . water - based drinks with a low calorie content ), teas and milk based drinks . liquid food is e . g . soups and dairy products . the compounds of the formula i - iv as well as ( mixtures of ) plant materials and plant extracts containing them , and dietary / pharmaceutical compositions containing them are thus suitable for the treatment of animals including humans . therefore , the invention relates to a method for the treatment of t1d and / or non - autoimmune t2d , obesity and / or syndrome x in animals including humans , said method comprising the step of administering an effective dose of a compound of the formula i as defined above to animals including humans which are in need thereof . animals in the context of the present invention may be mammals including humans . preferred examples of mammals beside humans are other primates , dogs , cats , guinea pigs , rabbits , hares , ferrets , horses , and ruminants ( cattle , sheep and goats ). for humans a suitable daily dosage of a compound of the formula i - iv may be within the range from 0 . 00003 mg per kg body weight to 60 mg per kg body weight per day . more preferred may be a daily dosage of 0 . 0003 to 6 mg per kg body weight , preferred may be a daily dosage of 0 . 0003 to 3 mg per kg body weight per day , especially preferred may be a daily dosage of 0 . 003 to 0 . 3 mg per kg body weight per day , most preferred may be a daily dosage of 0 . 015 to 0 . 06 mg per kg body weight per day . compounds of the present invention may crystallize in more than one form , a characteristic known as polymorphism , and such polymorphic forms (“ polymorphs ”) are within the scope of compounds of the invention . polymorphism generally can occur as a response to changes in temperature , pressure , or both , and can also result from variations in the crystallization process . polymorphs can be distinguished by various physical characteristics such as x - ray diffraction patterns , solubility , and melting point . certain of the compounds described herein may be capable of existing as stereoisomers such as by having a chiral carbon , sulfoxide sulfur or double bond whereby the compounds may exist as r or s enantiomers or e or z isomers . the scope of the present invention includes all such individual isomers , racemates , purified enantiomers , and enantiomerically enriched mixtures of the compounds of the present invention . typically , but not absolutely , the salts of the present invention are pharmaceutically acceptable salts . salts encompassed within the term “ pharmaceutically acceptable salts ” refer to non - toxic salts of the compounds of this invention . salts of the compounds of the present invention may comprise acid addition salts . representative salts include acetate , benzenesulfonate , benzoate , bicarbonate , bisulfate , bitartrate , borate , calcium edetate , camsylate , carbonate , clavulanate , citrate , dihydrochloride , edisylate , estolate , esylate , fumarate , gluceptate , gluconate , glutamate , glycollylarsanilate , hexylresorcinate , hydrabamine , hydrobromide , hydrochloride , hydroxynaphthoate , iodide , isethionate , lactate , lactobionate , laurate , malate , maleate , mandelate , mesylate , methylsulfate , monopotassium maleate , mucate , napsylate , nitrate , n - methylglucamine , oxalate , pamoate ( embonate ), palmitate , pantothenate , phosphate / diphosphate , polygalacturonate , potassium , salicylate , sodium , stearate , subacetate , succinate , sulfate , tannate , tartrate , teoclate , tosylate , triethiodide , trimethylammonium , and valerate salts . other salts , which are not pharmaceutically acceptable , may be useful in the preparation of compounds of this invention and these should be considered to form a further aspect of the invention . included within the scope of the invention compounds are solvates of compounds of the depicted formula . “ solvate ” refers to a complex of variable stoichiometry formed by a solute ( in this invention , a compound of the present invention , or a salt or physiologically functional derivative thereof ) and a solvent . such solvents , for the purpose of the invention , should not interfere with the biological activity of the solute . preferably the solvent used is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent such as water , ethanol , and acetic acid . the compounds according to the invention may be obtained using methods of synthesis known in principle . preferably the compounds are obtained by the following methods according to the invention which are described in more detail hereinafter . the following descriptions of preferred methods of synthesis relate to end products in a β - d - glucopyranosyl and β - d - galactopyranosyl configuration . the synthesis of the corresponding compounds in the α - d - glucopyranosyl or α - l - glucopyranosyl configuration ( or any other pyranoses or furanoses ) will be evident to the skilled man by analogy , and for this reason no further explanations and synthesis diagrams are provided , in the interests of clarity . general synthetic routes to obtain the compounds of the compounds of the present invention are given in the following schemes . the synthesis was performed according to khour and skibo ( j . org . chem . 2007 , 72 , 8636 - 8647 ). to a slurry of potassium t - butoxide ( 1 . 64 g , 14 . 58 mmol ) in 10 ml of dry benzene under nitrogen was added diethyl oxalate ( 2 . 1 g , 14 . 58 mmol ). a solution of 2 - nitrotoluene ( 2 g , 14 . 56 mmol ) in 30 ml of dry benzene was added dropwise and a red solid formed immediately . the reaction mixture was further stirred at room temperature for 45 min . the red solid precipitate was collected by filtration and washed with benzene to afford the potassium salt of ethyl 3 -( 2 - nitrophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b2 in 68 % yield . a solution of the potassium salt of 2 - nitrophenylpyruvate b2 ( 100 mg , 0 . 36 mmol ) in dry dmf ( 3 ml ) was added dropwise over a period of 15 min , to a pre - cooled stirred solution of 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose ( 149 mg , 0 . 36 mmol ) in dry dmf ( 2 ml ) at 0 ° c . under nitrogen atmosphere . the temperature was gradually raised to room temperature . reaction mixture was allowed to stir for 15 h , and the reaction was quenched with chilled , saturated aq . nacl ( 25 ml ). extraction with ethyl acetate ( 3 × 30 ml ), drying ( mgso 4 ), concentration under reduced pressure , and purification by flash chromatography ( sio 2 , hexane - benzene - acetone - methanol , 5 : 4 : 5 : 1 ) to isolate the pure resultant compound c2 in 40 % yield . the solution of potassium salt of 2 - nitrophenylpyruvate b2 ( 100 mg , 0 . 36 mmol ) in dry dmf ( 3 ml ) was added dropwise over a period of 15 min , to a pre - cooled stirred solution of 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose ( 149 mg , 0 . 36 mmol ) in dry dmf ( 2 ml ) at 0 ° c . under nitrogen atmosphere . the temperature was gradually raised to room temperature . reaction mixture was allowed to stir for 15 h , and the reaction was quenched with chilled , saturated aq . nacl ( 25 ml ). extraction with ethyl acetate ( 3 × 30 ml ), drying ( mgso 4 ), concentration under reduced pressure , and purification by flash chromatography ( sio 2 , hexane - benzene - acetone - methanol , 5 : 4 : 5 : 1 ) to isolate the pure resultant compound c3 in 50 % yield . the ester c2 ( 20 mg , 0 . 035 mmol ) was dissolved in thf ( 0 . 4 ml ) and added a solution of lioh ( 8 . 44 mg , 0 . 352 mmol ) in 0 . 3 ml water . the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours . the solvent was evaporated and reaction mixture was acidified by using 0 . 1 % tfa solution in water until ph & lt ; 5 . the solution was filtered and freeze - dried to give rx - 2 as light yellow solid along with lithium trifluoroacetate salt , which was further purified by preparative hplc using acetonitrile - water as an eluent and isolated the product as a white solid in quantitative yield after freeze drying : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 22 ( d , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 90 ( dd , j = 8 . 2 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 70 - 7 . 56 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 52 - 7 . 38 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 03 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 04 ( d , j = 7 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 74 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 63 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 44 - 3 . 34 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 21 ( m , 1h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 no 10 na + : 394 . 0745 . found 394 . 0755 . the ester c3 ( 20 mg , 0 . 035 mmol ) was dissolved in thf ( 0 . 4 ml ) and added a solution of lioh ( 8 . 44 mg , 0 . 352 mmol ) in 0 . 3 ml water . the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours . the solvent was evaporated and reaction mixture was acidified by using 0 . 1 % tfa solution in water until ph & lt ; 5 . the solution was filtered and freeze - dried to give the compound rx - 3 as light yellow solid along with lithium trifluoroacetate salt , which was further purified by preparative hplc using acetonitrile - water as an eluent and isolated as a white solid in quantitative yield after freeze drying : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 12 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 86 ( d , j = 8 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 55 ( t , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 39 ( t , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 19 ( s , 1h ), 4 . 96 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 73 ( d , j = 3 . 0 hz , 1h ), 3 . 65 - 3 . 44 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 39 ( dd , j = 9 . 7 , 3 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 34 ( t , j = 6 . 1 hz , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 149 . 85 , 146 . 87 , 133 . 87 , 133 . 83 , 129 . 83 , 129 . 76 , 125 . 01 , 119 . 00 , 103 . 57 , 77 . 10 , 74 . 96 , 72 . 76 , 69 . 93 , 61 . 90 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 no 10 na + : 394 . 0745 . found 394 . 075 . to a suspension of mg turnings ( 0 . 231 g , 9 . 51 mmol ) in diethyl ether ( 1 . 5 ml ) was added a solution of 2 - fluorobenzyl chloride ( 1 . 25 g , 8 . 65 mmol ) in diethyl ether ( 9 ml ) dropwise to the refluxing reaction mixture . the mixture was stirred for 10 min , cooled to room temperature and added dropwise to a solution of diethyl oxalate ( 2 . 53 g , 17 . 29 mmol ) in diethyl ether ( 17 ml ) at 0 ° c . the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours , quenched with 1m aqueous hydrochloric acid and extracted with diethyl ether . the combined extracts were washed with brine , dried over magnesium sulfate , and concentrated under reduced pressure . the excess of diethyl oxalate was removed by bulb to bulb distillation at room temperature and the residue was purified by flash chromatography ( sio 2 , 15 - 20 % ethyl acetate in petroleum ether ) to give the resulting compound b4 as colorless oil in 70 % yield which was used instantly in next step . the reactions were preformed according to marais et al . ( j . chem . soc ., perkin trans . 1 , 1996 , 2915 - 2918 ): the ethyl 3 -( 2 - fluorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b4 ( 100 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ) in dry dmf ( 3 . 3 ml ) was transferred dropwise under anhydrous conditions and nitrogen atmosphere ( over a period of 15 min ) to a vigorously stirred suspension of sodium hydride ( 13 mg , 0 . 523 mmol ) in dmf ( 3 . 0 ml ) at 0 ° c . this mixture was stirred for a further 1 h at 0 ° c . and was added dropwise to a vigorously stirred solution of 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 196 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ) in dry dmf ( 3 ml ) at 0 ° c . the temperature was raised to room temperature , stirring was continued for 15 h , and the reaction was quenched with chilled , saturated aq . nacl ( 10 ml ). extraction with ethyl acetate ( 3 × 25 ml ), drying ( mgso 4 ), concentration under reduced pressure , and purification by flash chromatography ( sio 2 , hexane - benzene - acetone - methanol , 5 : 4 : 5 : 1 ) to isolate the resulting compound along with glycal impurity which was further purified by preparative hplc to isolate the pure resultant compound c4 in the form of white solid in 22 % yield . the ester c4 ( 20 mg , 0 . 037 mmol ) was dissolved in thf ( 0 . 4 ml ) and added a solution of lioh h 2 o ( 8 . 86 mg , 0 . 37 mmol ) in water ( 0 . 3 ml ). the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour and then acidified until ph & lt ; 3 with dowex 50 - x8 resin , filtered and concentrated , and the residue was purified by preparative hplc using acetonitrile - water as an eluent . after freeze drying , the final product was isolated in 87 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 31 ( t , j = 7 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 24 ( dd , j = 13 . 6 , 5 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 14 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 07 ( t , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 03 - 6 . 96 ( m , 1h ), 5 . 17 ( d , j = 7 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 66 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 52 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 41 - 3 . 23 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 17 - 3 . 11 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 72 , 161 . 83 ( d , 1 j c , f = 249 . 7 hz ), 144 . 28 , 132 . 66 , 131 . 71 , 125 . 15 , 122 . 48 , 115 . 93 ( d , 1c ), 115 . 78 ( d , 1c ), 102 . 66 , 78 . 59 , 78 . 07 , 75 . 64 , 71 . 35 , 62 . 50 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 fo 8 na + : 367 . 0800 . found 367 . 0800 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 3 - fluorobenzyl bromide ( 1 . 250 g , 8 . 64 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 231 g , 9 . 51 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 2 . 52 g , 17 . 30 mmol ) in the form of colorless oil in 80 % yield and used instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 by using ethyl 3 -( 3 - fluorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b5 ( 100 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 13 mg , 0 . 523 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 196 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 79 % yield . the title compounds was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 85 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 66 ( d , j = 10 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 47 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 23 ( m , 1h ), 6 . 92 ( m , 1h ), 6 . 87 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 05 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 3 . 79 - 3 . 68 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 56 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 47 - 3 . 36 ( m , 2h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 167 . 75 , 164 . 06 ( d , 1 j c , f = 243 . 1 hz ), 137 . 21 ( d , 3 j c , f = 8 . 6 hz ), 130 . 79 ( d , 3 j c , f = 8 . 3 hz ), 127 . 62 , 127 . 59 , 123 . 12 , 117 . 71 ( d , 2 j c , f = 23 . 0 hz ), 116 . 29 ( d , 2 j c , f = 21 . 6 hz ), 103 . 66 , 77 . 27 , 75 . 15 , 72 . 99 , 70 . 03 , 61 . 99 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 fo 8 na + : 367 . 0800 . found 367 . 0796 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using benzyl bromide ( 1 . 250 g , 7 . 31 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 195 g , 8 . 04 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 2 . 136 g , 14 . 62 mmol ) in the form of colorless oil in 80 % yield and used instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ( ethyl 3 -( phenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b6 ( 100 mg , 0 . 520 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 13 . 73 mg , 0 . 572 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 214 mg , 0 . 520 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 37 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 92 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 7 . 86 ( d , j = 7 . 3 hz , 2h ), 7 . 30 ( t , j = 7 . 4 hz , 2h ), 7 . 23 ( m , 1h ), 6 . 81 ( s , 1h ), 4 . 97 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 90 - 3 . 81 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 72 - 3 . 62 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 58 - 3 . 48 ( m , 2h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 18 clo 8 na + : 348 . 0821 . found 348 . 0812 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 4 - chlorobenzyl chloride ( 1 . 250 g , 7 . 76 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 208 g , 8 . 54 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 2 . 269 g , 15 . 53 mmol ). the product was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 74 % yield and used instantly in next step . this was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 4 - chlorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b7 ( 100 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 65 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 181 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 66 % yield . this was prepared as described for ( rx - 4 ) in the form of white solid in 93 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 74 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 2h ), 7 . 17 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 2h ), 6 . 64 ( s , 1h ), 4 . 88 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 3 . 78 - 3 . 66 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 57 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 41 ( m , 2h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 171 . 46 , 150 . 37 , 134 . 73 , 134 . 15 , 132 . 59 ( 2c ), 129 . 13 ( 2c ), 118 . 94 , 104 . 39 , 77 . 36 , 75 . 63 , 73 . 17 , 70 . 13 , 62 . 15 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 clo 8 na + : 383 . 0505 . found 383 . 0515 . the title compound was prepared as described for ( b4 ) using 2 - bromobenzyl bromide ( 1 . 250 g , 5 . 00 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 134 g , 5 . 50 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 1 . 462 g , 10 . 00 mmol ). the product was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 80 % yield and used instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 2 - bromophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b8 ( 100 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 9 . 74 mg , 0 . 406 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 152 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 17 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 88 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 21 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 51 ( d , j = 8 . 0 hz , 1h ), 7 . 33 - 7 . 21 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 10 ( t , j = 8 . 4 hz , 1h ), 5 . 13 ( d , j = 7 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 67 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 54 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 1 hz , 1h ), 3 . 32 - 3 . 23 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 12 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 77 , 144 . 20 , 134 . 41 , 133 . 66 , 133 . 26 , 131 . 14 , 128 . 38 , 125 . 54 , 123 . 23 , 102 . 58 , 78 . 52 , 77 . 99 , 75 . 51 , 71 . 29 , 62 . 45 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 bro s na + : 427 . 0000 . found 427 . 0002 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 3 - methoxybenzyl bromide ( 1 . 5 g , 7 . 46 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 199 g , 8 . 21 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 2 . 18 g , 14 . 92 mmol ). the product was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 74 % yield and used instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - methoxyphenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b9 ( 100 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 88 mg , 0 . 495 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 185 mg , 0 . 450 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 62 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 94 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 73 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 30 - 7 . 17 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 05 ( s , 1h ), 6 . 86 ( dd , j = 7 . 1 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 5 . 14 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 89 - 3 . 80 ( m , 5h ), 3 . 66 ( ddd , j = 25 . 2 , 11 . 2 , 6 . 2 hz , 2h ), 3 . 54 ( dd , j = 9 . 6 , 3 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 48 ( t , j = 6 . 0 hz , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 167 . 38 , 160 . 97 , 142 . 92 , 135 . 86 , 130 . 10 , 126 . 16 , 124 . 56 , 117 . 14 , 115 . 56 , 103 . 57 , 77 . 19 , 75 . 01 , 73 . 09 , 70 . 00 , 62 . 08 , 55 . 98 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 16 h 20 o 9 na + : 379 . 1107 . found 379 . 1010 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 3 - trifluoromethylbenzyl bromide ( 2 . 5 g , 10 . 46 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 280 g , 11 . 50 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 3 . 06 g , 20 . 92 mmol ). the product was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 78 % yield and use instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b10 ( 100 mg , 0 . 384 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 10 . 14 mg , 0 . 544 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 158 mg , 0 . 384 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 22 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 96 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 16 - 7 . 99 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 46 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 00 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 10 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 79 - 3 . 69 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 55 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 47 - 3 . 37 ( m , 2h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 82 , 144 . 41 , 135 . 74 , 135 . 03 , 131 . 85 , 131 . 53 , 130 . 09 , 128 . 11 , 126 . 14 , 123 . 80 , 103 . 55 , 77 . 20 , 75 . 01 , 72 . 94 , 69 . 97 , 61 . 97 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 16 h 17 f 3 o 8 na + : 417 . 0768 . found 417 . 0767 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 2 - chlorobenzyl chloride ( 1 . 250 g , 7 . 76 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 208 g , 8 . 54 mmol ), diethyl oxalate ( 2 . 269 g , 15 . 53 mmol ). the product was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 74 % yield and use instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 2 - chlorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b11 ( 100 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 65 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 181 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 16 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 88 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 26 ( d , j = 9 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 31 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 26 - 7 . 12 ( m , 2h ), 5 . 15 ( d , j = 7 . 0 hz , 1h ), 3 . 67 ( d , j = 12 . 0 hz , 1h ), 3 . 54 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 1 hz , 1h ), 3 . 35 - 3 . 23 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 13 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 76 , 144 . 33 , 135 . 08 , 133 . 11 , 132 . 60 , 130 . 99 , 130 . 31 , 127 . 83 , 120 . 38 , 102 . 58 , 78 . 54 , 78 . 00 , 75 . 54 , 71 . 29 , 62 . 45 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 clo 8 na + : 383 . 0505 . found 383 . 0490 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 4 - chlorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b7 ( 100 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 65 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 181 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 22 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 84 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 7 . 76 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 2h ), 7 . 25 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 2h ), 6 . 92 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 12 ( d , j = 7 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 66 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 52 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 33 ( ddd , j = 28 . 5 , 18 . 0 , 8 . 6 hz , 3h ), 3 . 17 - 3 . 10 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 98 , 143 . 40 , 135 . 62 , 133 . 48 , 133 . 10 ( 2c ), 129 . 47 ( 2c ), 124 . 26 , 102 . 87 , 78 . 58 , 78 . 09 , 75 . 65 , 71 . 32 , 62 . 50 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 clo 8 na + : 383 . 0505 . found 383 . 0506 . the title compound was prepared as described for ( c4 ) by using ethyl 3 -( 2 - fluorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b4 ( 100 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 13 mg , 0 . 523 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 196 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 79 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 96 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 36 ( td , j = 7 . 8 , 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 23 ( ddd , j = 15 . 4 , 5 . 4 , 1 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 14 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 07 ( t , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 6 . 98 ( ddd , j = 10 . 7 , 8 . 3 , 1 . 1 hz , 1h ), 5 . 09 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 76 ( dd , j = 3 . 4 , 0 . 8 hz , 1h ), 3 . 70 ( dd , j = 9 . 7 , 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 55 ( ddd , j = 26 . 3 , 11 . 2 , 6 . 2 hz , 2h ), 3 . 43 ( dd , j = 9 . 7 , 3 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 39 ( td , j = 6 . 2 , 1 . 0 hz , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 169 . 41 , 164 . 35 ( d , 1 j c , f = 249 . 6 hz ), 146 . 85 , 135 . 46 , 134 . 20 , 127 . 77 , 124 . 99 , 118 . 45 ( d , 1c ), 118 . 37 ( d , 1c ), 105 . 94 , 79 . 73 , 77 . 48 , 75 . 47 , 72 . 53 , 64 . 48 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 fo 8 na + : 367 . 0800 . found 367 . 0809 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 3 - phenylbenzyl bromide ( 1 . 250 g , 5 . 06 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 135 g , 5 . 56 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 1 . 478 g , 10 . 12 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 80 % yield and use instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using methyl 3 -( 3 - arylphenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b12 ( 100 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 9 . 0 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 153 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 26 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 98 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 24 ( t , j = 1 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 70 - 7 . 58 ( m , 3h ), 7 . 53 - 7 . 47 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 38 - 7 . 29 ( m , 3h ), 7 . 26 - 7 . 19 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 06 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 05 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 3 . 78 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 56 ( ddd , j = 32 . 3 , 11 . 2 , 6 . 1 hz , 2h ), 3 . 46 ( dd , j = 9 . 7 , 3 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 41 ( td , j = 6 . 1 , 0 . 9 hz , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 167 . 41 , 143 . 18 , 142 . 36 , 141 . 97 , 135 . 12 , 130 . 78 , 130 . 17 , 129 . 94 ( 2c ), 129 . 81 , 128 . 52 , 128 . 41 , 128 . 17 ( 2c ), 126 . 29 , 103 . 89 , 77 . 23 , 75 . 06 , 73 . 08 , 69 . 99 , 62 . 09 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 21 h 22 o 8 na + : 425 . 1207 . found 425 . 1216 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using methyl 2 - oxo - 3 -( thiophen - 2 - yl ) propanoate b13 ( otava , 100 mg , 0 . 543 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 13 . 03 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 223 mg , 0 . 543 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 23 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a brown solid in 98 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 40 ( d , j = 5 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 28 ( d , j = 4 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 6 . 94 ( dd , j = 5 . 1 , 3 . 7 hz , 1h ), 5 . 21 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 3 . 86 ( dd , j = 9 . 6 , 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 3 . 77 ( d , j = 3 . 0 hz , 1h ), 3 . 55 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 45 ( dd , j = 9 . 7 , 3 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 40 ( t , j = 6 . 1 hz , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 82 , 140 . 45 , 137 . 54 , 131 . 89 , 130 . 34 , 127 . 58 , 120 . 02 , 102 . 99 , 77 . 18 , 75 . 13 , 73 . 06 , 70 . 12 , 62 . 08 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 13 h 16 o 8 sna + : 355 . 0459 . found 355 . 0469 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using methyl 2 - oxo - 3 -( 2 - chloro - 6 - fluorophenyl ) propanoate b14 ( otava , 100 mg , 0 . 434 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 10 . 41 mg , 0 . 434 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 178 mg , 0 . 434 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 26 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a brown solid in quantitative yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 7 . 22 ( m , 2h ), 6 . 99 ( t , j = 8 . 7 hz , 1h ), 6 . 92 ( s , 1h ), 4 . 52 ( d , j = 7 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 67 ( d , j = 2 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 45 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 33 - 3 . 24 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 11 ( m , 1h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 16 clfo 8 na + : 401 . 0410 . found 401 . 0409 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - fluorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b5 ( 100 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 13 mg , 0 . 523 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 196 mg , 0 . 476 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 19 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 92 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 69 - 7 . 60 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 45 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 25 ( m , 1h ), 6 . 96 ( ddd , j = 8 . 4 , 2 . 6 , 0 . 8 hz , 1h ), 6 . 92 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 17 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 68 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 52 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 32 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 15 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 78 , 164 . 04 ( d , 1 j c , f = 243 . 2 hz ), 143 . 86 , 137 . 04 ( d , 3 j c , f = 8 . 5 hz ), 130 . 90 ( d , 3 j c , f = 8 . 4 hz ), 127 . 66 , 127 . 63 , 124 . 04 , 117 . 69 ( d , 2 j c , f = 23 . 0 hz ), 116 . 56 ( d , 2 j c , f = 21 . 7 hz ), 102 . 68 , 78 . 63 , 78 . 11 , 75 . 69 , 71 . 45 , 62 . 61 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 fo 8 na + : 367 . 0800 . found 367 . 0800 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 3 - methylbenzyl bromide ( 1 . 250 g , 6 . 75 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 181 g , 7 . 43 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 1 . 974 g , 13 . 51 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 72 % yield and use instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - methylphenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b15 ( 100 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 64 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 199 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 25 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 96 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 64 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 58 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 13 ( t , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 03 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 6 . 94 ( s , 1h ), 4 . 97 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 82 - 3 . 69 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 61 - 3 . 49 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 47 - 3 . 33 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 24 ( s , 3h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 167 . 69 , 142 . 77 , 139 . 05 , 134 . 43 , 132 . 40 , 130 . 83 , 129 . 23 , 129 . 00 , 126 . 37 , 103 . 76 , 77 . 11 , 75 . 02 , 73 . 02 , 70 . 04 , 61 . 99 , 21 . 40 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 16 h 20 o 8 na + : 363 . 1051 . found 363 . 1055 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - methylphenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b18 ( 100 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 64 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 199 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 19 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for ( rx - 4 ) to give the product as a white solid in quantitative yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 60 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 57 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 14 ( t , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 04 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 6 . 94 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 08 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 66 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 51 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 45 - 3 . 23 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 16 - 3 . 09 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 24 ( s , 3h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 64 , 141 . 90 , 138 . 26 , 133 . 76 , 131 . 51 , 130 . 02 , 128 . 46 , 128 . 08 , 125 . 43 , 102 . 13 , 77 . 71 , 77 . 30 , 74 . 92 , 70 . 62 , 61 . 82 , 20 . 64 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 16 h 20 o 8 na + : 363 . 1051 . found 363 . 1044 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b10 ( 100 mg , 0 . 384 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 10 . 14 mg , 0 . 544 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 158 mg , 0 . 384 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 22 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 82 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 22 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 93 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 48 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 03 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 22 ( d , j = 7 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 70 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 50 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 44 - 3 . 31 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 28 - 3 . 15 ( m , 2h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 56 , 144 . 23 , 135 . 80 , 134 . 97 , 131 . 79 , 131 . 47 , 130 . 09 , 128 . 00 , 126 . 16 , 123 . 97 , 102 . 69 , 78 . 66 , 78 . 01 , 75 . 72 , 71 . 59 , 62 . 75 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 16 h 17 f 3 o 8 na + : 417 . 0768 . found 417 . 0757 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 2 - chlorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b11 ( 100 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 65 mg , 0 . 485 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 181 mg , 0 . 441 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 36 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 89 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 31 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 26 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 24 - 7 . 13 ( m , 2h ), 5 . 07 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 76 ( d , j = 4 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 65 ( dd , j = 9 . 7 , 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 62 - 3 . 50 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 44 - 3 . 36 ( m , 2h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 166 . 99 , 144 . 50 , 135 . 13 , 133 . 42 , 132 . 62 , 131 . 03 , 130 . 29 , 127 . 98 , 120 . 52 , 103 . 40 , 77 . 26 , 74 . 98 , 72 . 94 , 70 . 07 , 62 . 02 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 clo 8 na + : 383 . 0505 . found 383 . 0495 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - methoxyphenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b9 ( 100 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 11 . 88 mg , 0 . 495 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 185 mg , 0 . 450 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 22 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 84 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 58 - 7 . 53 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 24 - 7 . 11 ( m , 2h ), 6 . 94 ( s , 1h ), 6 . 79 ( ddd , j = 7 . 4 , 2 . 5 , 1 . 9 hz , 1h ), 5 . 14 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 72 ( s , 3h ), 3 . 67 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 4 hz , 1h ), 3 . 52 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 43 - 3 . 23 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 14 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 167 . 18 , 160 . 95 , 142 . 87 , 135 . 93 , 130 . 17 , 125 . 92 , 124 . 47 , 116 . 70 , 115 . 89 , 102 . 78 , 78 . 57 , 78 . 10 , 75 . 82 , 71 . 46 , 62 . 57 , 55 . 84 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 16 h 20 o 9 na + : 379 . 1000 . found 379 . 1007 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - arylphenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate ( b14 ) ( 100 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 9 . 0 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 153 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 16 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 91 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 27 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 75 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 70 - 7 . 64 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 58 ( d , j = 8 . 4 hz , 1h ), 7 . 44 ( m , 3h ), 7 . 33 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 13 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 25 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 77 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 60 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 55 - 3 . 33 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 29 - 3 . 22 ( m , 1h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 21 h 22 o 8 na + : 425 . 1207 . found 425 . 1205 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 3 - bromobenzyl bromide ( 1 . 250 g , 5 . 00 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 134 g , 5 . 50 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 1 . 462 g , 10 . 00 mmol ). the product was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 80 % yield and use instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - bromophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b16 ( 100 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 9 . 74 mg , 0 . 406 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 152 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 24 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in quantitative yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 8 . 03 ( t , j = 1 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 66 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 16 ( t , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 6 . 83 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 13 ( d , j = 7 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 69 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 53 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 41 - 3 . 22 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 16 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 167 . 62 , 145 . 44 , 137 . 31 , 133 . 97 , 132 . 36 , 130 . 97 , 130 . 17 , 123 . 19 , 122 . 68 , 102 . 89 , 78 . 66 , 78 . 17 , 75 . 73 , 71 . 49 , 62 . 75 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 bro 8 na + : 427 . 0000 . found 427 . 0011 . the title compound was prepared as described for b4 using 3 - bromobenzyl bromide ( 1 . 250 g , 5 . 00 mmol ), magnesium ( 0 . 134 g , 5 . 50 mmol ) and diethyl oxalate ( 1 . 462 g , 10 . 00 mmol ). the product was isolated in the form of colorless oil in 80 % yield and use instantly in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 3 - bromophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b17 ( 100 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 9 . 74 mg , 0 . 406 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 152 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 24 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 98 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 7 . 98 ( t , j = 1 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 75 ( d , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 33 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 16 ( t , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 6 . 89 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 06 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 81 - 3 . 69 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 57 ( ddd , j = 29 . 4 , 11 . 2 , 6 . 2 hz , 2h ), 3 . 41 ( m , 2h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 bro 8 na + : 427 . 0000 . found 427 . 8897 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using ethyl 3 -( 2 - bromophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b8 ( 100 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 9 . 74 mg , 0 . 406 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 152 mg , 0 . 369 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 24 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in quantitative yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 8 . 26 ( dd , j = 7 . 8 , 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 50 ( dd , j = 8 . 1 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 29 - 7 . 21 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 13 - 7 . 06 ( m , 1h ), 5 . 05 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 76 ( d , j = 2 . 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 67 - 3 . 49 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 39 ( m , 2h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 bro 8 na + : 427 . 0000 . found 427 . 0012 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using methyl 2 - oxo - 3 -( thiophen - 2 - yl ) propanoate b15 ( otava , 100 mg , 0 . 543 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 13 . 03 mg , 0 . 373 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 223 mg , 0 . 543 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 18 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a brown solid in 84 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 7 . 42 ( dd , j = 4 . 3 , 0 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 29 - 7 . 22 ( m , 2h ), 6 . 95 ( dd , j = 5 . 1 , 3 . 8 hz , 1h ), 5 . 31 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 3 . 67 ( dd , j = 12 . 1 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 53 ( ddd , j = 26 . 3 , 10 . 6 , 6 . 7 hz , 2h ), 3 . 36 - 3 . 23 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 18 - 3 . 12 ( m , 1h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 13 h 16 o 8 sna + : 355 . 0459 . found 355 . 0443 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using methyl 3 -( 2 - chloro - 6 - fluorophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b16 ( 100 mg , 0 . 434 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 10 . 41 mg , 0 . 434 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 178 mg , 0 . 434 mmol ). the compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 8 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 94 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 7 . 28 - 7 . 15 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 01 ( t , j = 8 . 2 hz , 1h ), 6 . 88 ( s , 1h ), 4 . 67 ( d , j = 6 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 47 ( qd , j = 11 . 9 , 3 . 6 hz , 2h ), 3 . 19 - 3 . 11 ( m , 3h ), 2 . 89 - 2 . 81 ( m , 1h ); 13 c nmr ( 101 mhz , meoh - d 4 ): δ 165 . 61 , δ 160 . 88 ( d , 1 j c , f = 251 . 8 hz ), 145 . 81 , 134 . 89 ( d , 3 j c , f = 5 . 0 hz ), 130 . 59 ( d , 3 j c , f j = 9 . 5 hz ), 125 . 13 ( d , 3 j c , f = 3 . 5 hz ), 121 . 77 ( d , 2 j c , f = 19 . 6 hz ), 115 . 22 , 1114 . 58 ( d , 2 j c , f = 22 . 7 hz , 102 . 59 , 77 . 22 , 76 . 96 , 74 . 41 , 70 . 18 , 61 . 47 ; esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 f 16 clfo 8 na + : 401 . 0410 . found 401 . 0407 . the synthesized was performed by a route corresponding to the one described by busca et al . ( org . bioorg . chem . 2004 , 2 , 2684 - 2691 ). a mixture of 4 - bromobenzaldehyde ( 2 . 88 g , 35 . 10 mmol ), n - acetyl - glycine ( 3 . 80 g , 32 . 40 mmol ) and sodium acetate ( 2 . 88 g , 35 . 1 mmol ) in acetic anhydride ( 13 . 79 g , 135 mmol ), was refluxed for 1 h with continuous stirring . after cooling , the reaction was quenched with ice and vigorously stirred for 1 h in an ice bath to allow precipitation . filtration afforded compound in 64 % yield . a suspension of 4 -( 4 - bromobenzylidene )- 2 - methyloxazol - 5 ( 4h )- one ( 1 . 00 g , 3 . 76 mmol ) in 3 m aqueous hydrochloric acid ( 3 ml , 9 . 00 mmol ) was stirred at reflux for 3 h . the reaction mixture was cooled to reach at room temperature to allow crystallization . filtration afforded the title compound in 72 % yield . to a solution of 3 -( 4 - bromophenyl )- 2 - oxopropionic acid ( 70 . 0 mg , 0 . 288 mmol ) in dmf ( 2 ml ) at 0 ° c . was added dbu ( 72 . 2 mg , 0 . 288 mmol ) and iodomethane ( 204 mg , 1 . 440 mmol ). the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 . 5 hours at the same temperature . the reaction was acidified with 1 m hcl and extraction with ether ( 3 × 25 ml ), drying ( mgso 4 ), concentrated under reduced pressure and dried on vacuum to get the light brown oily compound b18 in 68 % yield and used as such in next step . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using methyl 3 -( 4 - bromophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b18 ( 100 mg , 0 . 389 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 10 . 27 mg , 0 . 428 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - glucose bromide ( 160 mg , 0 . 389 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 34 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 94 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 7 . 69 ( d , j = 8 . 5 hz , 2h ), 7 . 41 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 2h ), 6 . 91 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 12 ( d , j = 7 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 66 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 3 . 52 ( dd , j = 12 . 0 , 5 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 32 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 17 - 3 . 11 ( m , 1h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 bro 8 na + : 427 . 0000 . found 427 . 0016 . the title compound was prepared as described for c4 using methyl 3 -( 4 - bromophenyl )- 2 - oxopropanoate b18 ( 100 mg , 0 . 389 mmol ), sodium hydride ( 10 . 27 mg , 0 . 428 mmol ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 - tetra - o - acetyl - α - d - galactose bromide ( 160 mg , 0 . 389 mmol ). the resulting compound was isolated in the form of white solid in 11 % yield . the title compound was prepared as described for rx - 4 to give the product as a white solid in 96 % yield : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , meoh - d 4 ) δ 7 . 71 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 2h ), 7 . 39 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 2h ), 6 . 90 ( s , 1h ), 5 . 03 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 3 . 78 - 3 . 67 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 55 ( ddd , j = 28 . 8 , 11 . 2 , 6 . 2 hz , 2h ), 3 . 46 - 3 . 36 ( m , 2h ); esi - hrms m / z : calcd for c 15 h 17 bro 8 na + : 427 . 0000 . found 427 . 0017 . the enolic glucoside of phenylpyruvic acid ( here rx1 ) was isolated by solvent extraction followed by spe and semi - preparative hplc from a batch of rooibos ( aspalathus linearis ). alternatively , the compound can be isolated as described by marais et al ( tetrahedron letters , 1996 ). as shown in fig1 rx1 is able to reduce the blood sugar of monkeys for prolonged periods of time . fig1 shows reduction in plasma glucose level of a diabetic primate m1081 ( baseline glucose 6 . 3 mmol / l ) over 6 h after a single dose of rx1 ( tested at ca . 70 . 5 ug / 6 . 78 kg animal = 10 . 4 ug / kg bw ). glucose stimulated insulin secretion rate auc values of untreated and rx - 1 treated prediabetic monkeys prediabetic vervet monkeys ( fasting plasma glucose levels between 4 . 0 and 5 . 5 mm ) were treated with 10 ug / kg rx - 1 3 times daily with meals for 7 days . blood samples were collected following 1 . 75 g / kg oral glucose stimulation at 0 , 5 , 10 , 15 , 30 , 60 , 90 , 120 and 180 minutes . auc values calculated mean glucose stimulated insulin secretion values over the time interval 0 - 120 min . four monkeys were used in each group ( untreated , rx1 - treated ). as appears from fig2 rx - 1 treatment decreased insulin secretion by 46 % while achieving a better glycaemic control . 3t3 - l1 cells were transformed in culture using modified dmem differentiation media supplemented with insulin , dexametasone and isobutylmethylxanthine and cultured for 3 days . the transformed 3t3 - l1 adipocytes were then cultured for a further 5 days in modified dmem supplemented with 10 % fcs before being exposed to insulin , metformin and compounds of the present invention ( see table 1 ). glucose uptake over a three ( 3 ) hour period was determined after the 5 days of treatment using a colourometric glucose oxidase method ( biovision inc , usa ). table 1 shows the glucose uptake data of 3t3 - l1 adipose cells following two ( 2 ) days of pre - sensitization with the relevant extracts , followed by a three ( 3 ) hour glucose uptake assay with media containing 8 mm glucose . the glucose concentration column represents the glucose concentration remaining in the media following three ( 3 ) hour exposure to the cells . the glucose uptake column represents glucose uptake from the media after a 3 hour exposure . sd represents the standard deviation . the percentage increases calculated from the relevant solvent vehicle and the p = values are reflected in the last two columns respectively . the 3t3 - l1 adipose cell glucose uptake assay showed that 3 - phenyl - 2 -( 3 , 4 , 5 - trihydroxy - 6 - hydroxymethyl - tetrahydro - pyran - 2 - yloxy )- acrylic acid ( r x - 1 ), ( 2r , 3r , 4s , 5r , 6s )- 2 -( acetoxymethyl )- 6 -(( z )- 3 - methoxy - 3 - oxo - 1 - phenylprop - 1 - en - 2 - yloxy ) tetrahydro - 2h - pyran - 3 , 4 , 5 - triyl triacetate ( rx - 1 - triacetate ), and ( z )- methyl 3 - phenyl - 2 -(( 2s , 3r , 4s , 5s , 6r )- 3 , 4 , 5 - trihydroxy - 6 -( hydroxymethyl ) tetrahydro - 2h - pyran - 2 - yloxy ) acrylate ( rx - 1 acrylate ) significantly increased the glucose uptake over a 3 hour culture period . the aim of the study was to determine whether the glucose - lowering properties of rx - 1 is related to the expression of genes involved in glucose uptake , insulin signalling , fatty acid oxidation , cytokine signalling and the glucagon receptor in liver and muscle , and the expression of genes involved in glucagon processing , insulin expression and transcription factors important for β - cell development in the pancreas . three week old male rats were fed a high fat diet for 24 weeks to induce obesity and insulin resistance . thereafter , rats were treated with 0 . 3 mg / kg rx - 1 daily for two weeks , and then with 3 mg / kg rx - 1 daily for seven days . fasting glucose concentrations were measured before treatment , after two weeks treatment with 0 . 3 mg / kg rx - 1 and then again after seven days treatment with 3 mg / kg rx - 1 . after treatment with 3 mg / kg rx - 1 rats were terminated and liver , muscle and pancreas biopsies were taken . quantitative real - time pcr was used to measure the expression of 12 genes in liver and muscle samples , and ten genes in pancreas samples . rats were housed at the primate unit ( medical research council , south africa ). rat management including feeding , glucose measurements and terminations , were done according to standard operating procedures ( diabetes discovery platform , medical research council ). briefly , three week old rats were fed a high fat diet for 24 weeks to induce t2d . the study group consisted of thirteen rats , eight rats were treated by daily gavage with 0 . 3 mg / kg rx - 1 for two weeks , and then with 3 mg / kg rx - 1 for seven days . five rats were used as controls and were treated with water only for three weeks . rats were terminated after treatment and liver , muscle and pancreas tissue harvested and stored in rnalater ( ambion ) as recommended by the manufacturer . the study was approved by the ethics committee of the medical research council of south africa . tissue was removed from rna / ater , weighed ( 80 - 100 mg ), and placed in a 2 ml microfuge tube containing 1 ml of trizol ( invitrogen ) and a stainless steel bead ( qiagen ). tissue was homogenised in the tissuelyser ( qiagen ) at 25 hz for 6 min , centrifuged at 12 , 000 g for 10 min at 4 ° c ., and the supernatant removed and incubated at room temperature for 5 min . thereafter , 0 . 2 ml of chloroform ( sigma ) was added , shaken vigorously for 15 sec , and then incubated at room temperature for 3 min with occasional mixing . samples were centrifuged 12 , 000 g for 15 min at 4 ° c . and the aqueous phase was transferred to a new tube . rna was precipitated by adding 0 . 5 ml isopropanol , mixed well for 30 sec , and placed at − 20 ° c . overnight . the following day , tubes were centrifuged at 12 , 000 g for 20 min at 4 ° c . the pellet was washed with 1 ml of 75 % ethanol and centrifuged at 12 , 000 g for 15 min at 4 ° c . the wash step was repeated . after the second wash , the pellet was air dried by placing tubes with their lids open ( on ice ) in a pcr cabinet for 2 hours . excess liquid was removed by blotting tubes on paper towel occasionally during this incubation . the pellet was resuspended by adding 100 μl rnase - free water and incubating at 55 ° c . for 10 min . rna concentrations were determined using a spectrophotometer ( nanodrop technologies ). thereafter , rna was purified with the rneasy mini kit according to the manufacturer &# 39 ; s instructions ( qiagen ) and concentrations again determined with the nanodrop . genomic dna was removed by treating rna with turbo dna - free dnase ( ambion ) and incubating at 37 ° c . for 90 min according to the manufacturer &# 39 ; s instructions , but using 1 . 5 × the units of dnase and incubation time recommended by the kit . in brief , 20 μg rna was incubated with 1 . 5 μl ( 3 units ) dnase , 5 μl dnase buffer , and nuclease - free water in a final reaction volume of 50 μl for 45 min at 37 ° c ., thereafter , another 3 units of dnase was added and incubated for a further 45 min . dnase was inactivated by adding ⅕ volume ( 10 μl ) of the dnase inactivation reagent supplied with the kit . reactions were incubated at room temperature for 2 min , and centrifuged at 14 , 000 rpm for 1 . 5 min . the supernatant was removed and rna concentrations were measured using the nanodrop . the quality of the dnase - treated rna was determined with the rna 6000 nano kit using the 2100 bioanalyser lab - on - a - chip system as recommended by the manufacturers ( agilent technologies ). rna extracted from liver , muscle and pancreas tissue was converted to cdna using the high capacity reverse transcription kit as recommended by the manufacturers ( applied biosystems ). in brief , 2 μg of dnase - treated rna was added to nuclease - free water in a volume of 10 μl . thereafter , 2 μl reaction buffer , 0 . 8 μl dntps , 2 μl random primers , 1 μl rnase - inhibitor , 1 μl reverse transcriptase , and 3 . 2 μl nuclease - free water were added . the same reaction without the reverse transcription enzyme ( minus rt reaction ) was set - up to investigate genomic dna contamination . reactions were incubated at 25 ° c . for 10 min , 37 ° c . for 120 min , and 85 ° c . for 5 s to inactivate the reverse transcriptase . cdna samples were stored at − 20 ° c . until expression analysis . the extent of genomic dna contamination was investigated by performing qrt - pcr of the rt reactions . undiluted cdna ( plus and minus rt reactions ) prepared from liver , muscle , and pancreas were mixed with 12 . 5 μl sybr green mix ( applied biosystems ), 2 . 25 μl 10 μm gapdh forward primer ( 900 nm ), 2 . 25 μl 10 μm gapdh reverse primer ( 900 nm ), and h 2 o in a final volume of 25 μl . after all the reagents had been added , the pcr tubes were briefly spun to ensure that all solutions were at the bottom of the tubes . the pcr reactions were conducted on the abi 7500 sequence detection system instrument ( applied biosystems ) using the absolute quantification ( aq ) software ( sds v1 . 4 ), and labelling all samples as unknowns . universal cycling conditions ; 50 ° c . for 2 min and 95 ° for 10 min , followed by 40 cycles of 95 ° c . for 15 s and 60 ° c . for 1 min were used . a dissociation curve was added . data was acquired during the extension step ( 60 ° c . for 1 min ). after the run , default settings for the threshold cycle ( c t ) and baseline were used and ct values were exported to excel for analysis . for analysis of gene expression , 25 ng of cdna prepared from liver , muscle and pancreas was mixed with 12 . 5 μl taqman universal pcr master mix ( applied biosystems ), 1 . 25 μl gene - specific primer and probe mixtures ( predeveloped taqman gene expression assays , applied biosystems ), and h 2 o in a final volume of 25 μl . the taqman assays that were used are listed in table 1 . the suffix _m represents an assay whose probe spans an exon - exon junction of the associated gene and therefore will not detect genomic dna , while the suffix _s represents an assay whose primers and probes are designed within a single exon , such assays will detect genomic dna . the pcr reactions were conducted on the abi 7500 sequence detection system instrument ( applied biosystems ) using universal cycling conditions as described before . all samples were run in duplicate . data generated on the abi 7500 instrument were analysed with the abi relative quantitation ( rq ) software ( sds v1 . 4 ) using a ct threshold of 0 . 1 . relative expression levels were determined by using the 2 − δδct method , where δδct =( ct gene studied − ct housekeeping gene ) treated −( ct gene studied − ct housekeeping gene ) control . the gene expression was normalised to housekeeping genes to correct for differences in cdna loading . two gene expression assays , β - actin ( actb ) and glyceraldehyde - 3 - phosphate dehydrogenase ( gapdh ) ( table 1 ) were used as endogenous controls . relative gene expression data generated by the rq software for each of the two endogenous controls individually or the data normalised to the average of the two endogenous controls were imported into microsoft excel and analysed . statistical analysis of normalised gene expression data before and after treatment was performed using two - tailed unpaired t tests ( graphpad prism version 3 . 02 software , san diego , calif ., usa ). statistical significance was indicated by a p value ≦ 0 . 05 . the aim of this study was to determine whether treatment with rx - 1 affected expression levels of genes involved in glucose uptake , insulin signalling , fatty acid oxidation , cytokine signalling and carbohydrate metabolism in the liver and muscle of ob / ir wistar rats . the affect of rx - 1 treatment on the expression of genes involved in glucagon processing , insulin expression and transcription factors were analysed in the pancreas . analysis of gene expression profiles after treatment may give insight into the mechanisms of action of rx - 1 . gene expression levels in rx - 1 treated and control rats were normalised to actb , gapdh or the average of actb and gapdh . although gene expression varied according to the endogenous control used , generally , rx - 1 treatment upregulated genes involved in glucose uptake ( glut1 and glut2 ), insulin signalling ( ir and irs2 ), fatty acid oxidation ( ppara ), cytokine signalling ( socs3 ) and carbohydrate metabolism ( gcgr ) in the liver . rx - 1 treatment did not affect the expression of these genes in muscle samples . in the pancreas , rx - 1 treatment increased the expression of genes involved in glucagon processing , glp - 1r , gcg and gcgr , the genes encoding insulin , ins1 and ins2 and the transcription factors isl1 and pdx1 . none of the changes observed in the pancreas were statistically significant . the expression of pcsk2 and nestin was unaffected by rx - 1 treatment . neuro3 could not be detected in this study . rx - 1 treatment increased gck gene expression in the liver of ob / ir rats . however , the increase was not statistically significant . gck is an enzyme predominantly expressed in the liver where it senses glucose and converts it to glucose - 6 - phosphate , the first step of glycolysis ( agius , 2008 ). a number of factors , including insulin ( iynedjian et al . 1988 ) and phenolic compounds ( valentova et al . 2007 ) have been reported to upregulate gck gene expression in the liver . rx - 1 treatment decreased gck mrna levels in muscle . it has previously been reported that muscle is not a major source of gck activity . this study showed increased expression of glut1 and glut2 in the liver of ob / ir wistar rats treated with rx - 1 . glut4 mrna levels in the muscle of these animals were unaffected by treatment . glucose is important for cellular metabolism and the synthesis of atp through glycolysis and the citric acid cycle . facilitative glucose transport into cells is mediated by members of the glut protein family that belong to a much larger superfamily of 12 transmembrane segment transporters . at present , thirteen mammalian glucose transporter isoforms have been identified ( joost et al . 2002 ). these proteins are expressed in a tissue - and cell - specific manner . glut1 is a widely expressed and mediates glucose transport into red cells and throughout the blood brain barrier , and provides most cells with their basal glucose requirement . it also plays a role in transporting glucose across epithelial and endothelial barrier tissues . makni et al . ( 2008 ) reported that glut1 polymorphisms are associated with t2d in the tunisian population . glut2 is a high - km isoform expressed in hepatocytes , pancreatic beta cells , and the basolateral membranes of intestinal and renal epithelial cells . single nucleotide polymorphisms ( snps ) in the glut2 gene of finnish subjects with impaired glucose tolerance were associated with a threefold risk for developing t2d ( laukkanen et al . 2005 ). glut4 is expressed exclusively in the insulin - sensitive tissues , fat and muscle . it is responsible for increased glucose disposal in these tissues in the postprandial state and is important in whole - body glucose homeostasis . insulin stimulation results in glut4 translocation from intracellular vesicles within a cell to the plasma membrane and increased glucose uptake . failure of glut4 translocation results in insulin resistance and t2d . glut4 gene expression and function is decreased during insulin resistance , t2d , obesity , and aging ( karnieli et al . 2008 ). ir mrna levels was increased in the liver of treated rats , whereas levels were unchanged in the muscle of these animals . the ir is a transmembrane protein that consists of an extracellular domain to which insulin binds and an intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity . following insulin binding , the substrate tyrosine kinase activity of the ir initiates a cascade of cellular phosphorylation reactions where it phosphorylates a number of substrates including irs1 and irs2 . these phosphorylated substrates then serve as docking molecules that bind to and activate cellular kinases , such as pi3k , leading to glucose uptake , cell growth and protein synthesis ( youngren , 2007 ). impaired ir function and signaling is associated with insulin resistance and t2d . rx - 1 treatment increased irs2 gene expression in the liver of treated rats . irs1 mrna levels were unchanged in the liver , while both irs1 and irs2 mrna levels were unchanged in the muscle of these animals . four isoforms of insulin receptor substrate ( irs ) proteins have been identified ( thirone et al . 2006 ), with irs1 and irs2 being the most important . there are tissue - specific differences in the roles of the irs proteins , with irs1 playing a prominent role in skeletal muscle , while irs2 is more important in the liver ( white , 2002 ). pi3k was upregulated in the liver only . however , the upregulation was not significant . pi3k plays a key role in insulin signalling and has been shown to be blunted in tissues of patients with t2d . a number of studies have provided evidence suggesting that insulin resistance , the main cause of t2d can potentially be treated by targeting pi3k itself or its up and down - stream modulators ( jiang and zhang , 2002 ). pparα was significantly upregulated in the liver after rx - 1 treatment . pparα is predominantly expressed in the liver , and to a lesser extent in muscle , where it controls lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis ( lefebvre et al . 2006 ). ppara agonists have been used to treat obesity , insulin resistance and t2d . one of the mechanisms whereby ppara improves insulin resistance is by upregulating the genes for fatty acid metabolism . the expression of socs1 and socs3 mrna was increased in the liver and muscle of rx - 1 treated rats . only the upregulation of socs3 in the liver was statistically significant . socs1 and socs3 are two of a family of eight proteins that are thought to regulate cellular responses to cytokines in a negative feedback manner ( yasukawa et al . 2000 ). studies have shown that socs1 and socs3 expression is increased in the liver of ob / ir mice ( ueki et al . 2005 ). antisense - mediated knockdown of liver socs1 or 3 expression reverses insulin resistance in obese , diabetic mice , strongly supporting a role for socs proteins in obesity related insulin resistance ( ueki et al . 2005 ). the contradictory results obtained in this study highlights the complex gene networks involved in cytokine signalling , insulin resistance and t2d . the main function of the socs proteins are as negative regulators of cytokine signalling , therefore , increased expression of these genes may result in decreased cytokine signalling which is beneficial during insulin resistance and t2d ( krebs and hilton , 2001 ). rx - 1 treatment increased the expression of the gcgr gene in the liver and muscle after treatment . the upregulation of gcgr was not statistically significant . charbonneau reported that high fat diet feeding of rats decreased total hepatic gcgr by about 55 % ( charbonneau et al . 2007 ). our data therefore suggests that rx - 1 treatment reverses the diet - induced downregulation of the gcgr . glp1r gene expression was increased in the pancreas after rx - 1 treatment . the incretin hormones , glucagon like peptide 1 ( glp1 ) and glucose - dependent insulinotropic peptide or also known as gastric inhibitory peptide ( gip ) stimulate insulin release after the ingestion of carbohydrates and fats , maintaining glucose homeostasis ( kieffer and habener , 1999 ). disruption of the gene encoding the glp1r results in glucose intolerance and the inability to secrete insulin in response to glucose ( scrocchi et al ., 1996 ). activation of the glp1r induces β - cell neogenesis and proliferation ( xu et al . 1999 ), while inhibiting apoptosis ( li at al . 2003 ). rx - 1 treatment increased pdx1 , ins1 and ins2 gene expression in the pancreas . previous studies have reported that glp1 treatment increases mrna and protein levels of the transcription factor pdx - 1 ( also known as idx - 1 , stf1 and iuf1 ), and of insulin in the pancreas ( doyle and egan , 2007 ). other studies in our laboratory showed that circulating glp1 levels were increased in the blood of rx - 1 treated ob / ir rats ( louw et al . 2008 ). since it has been shown that rx - 1 can increase the expression of glp - 1 gene expression and the circulating plasma levels of glp - 1 , it is possible that rx - 1 acts by binding to one of the receptors associated with the regulation of incretin secretion . these are known as gpr 40 , 43 , 119 , 120 and 131 ( also known as tgr5 ) ( e . g . zhao y f , pei j , chen c . j endocrinol . 2008 september ; 198 ( 3 ): 533 - 40 . epub 2008 jun . 12 . activation of atp - sensitive potassium channels in rat pancreatic beta - cells by linoleic acid through both intracellular metabolites and membrane receptor signalling pathway ). cornish j , macgibbon a , lin j m , watson m , callon k e , tong p c , dunford j e , van der does y , williams g a , grey a b , naot d , reid i r . modulation of osteoclastogenesis by fatty acids . endocrinology . 2008 november ; 149 ( 11 ): 5688 - 95 . epub 2008 jul . 10 . robert m jonest , james n leonard , daniel j buzard & amp ; juerg lehmann gpr119 agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes expert opin . ther . patents ( 2009 ) 19 ( 10 )). alternatively rx - 1 could interact with molecules like the sodium - dependent glucose cotransporters ( the sglt family ) ( gribble f m , williams l , simpson a k , reimann f . diabetes . 2003 may ; 52 ( 5 ): 1147 - 54 . a novel glucose - sensing mechanism contributing to glucagon - like peptide - 1 secretion from the glutag cell line .) ( o &# 39 ; malley d , reimann f , simpson a k , gribble f m . diabetes . 2006 december ; 55 ( 12 ): 3381 - 6 . sodium - coupled glucose cotransporters contribute to hypothalamic glucose sensing ). ( krimi r b , letteron p , chedid p , nazaret c , ducroc r , marie j c . resistin - like molecule - beta inhibits sglt - 1 activity and enhances glut2 - dependent jejunal glucose transport . diabetes . 2009 september ; 58 ( 9 ): 2032 - 8 .). pdx1 activates insulin gene expression by binding to its promoter and also prolongs the half - life of insulin mrna ( poitout et al . 2006 ). in vitro and in vivo studies in rodents have shown that insulin gene expression is greatly reduced under circumstances of chronically elevated levels of glucose and fatty acids ( poitout et al . 2006 ). insulin is encoded by the genes , insulin 1 ( ins1 ) and insulin 2 ( ins2 ). it is speculated that in rodents ins1 arose from ins2 due to an rna mediated duplication - transposition process . humans only have one insulin gene , with homology to the highly conserved rodent ins2 ( madadi et al . 2008 ). gcg , the gcgr and isl1 mrna levels were increased in the pancreas of ob / ir rats after rx - 1 treatment . glucagon is a hormone expressed in the liver where it stimulates glucose production . isl1 has a critical role in the embryonic development of pancreatic endocrine cells ( ahlgren et al . 1997 ). in 2008 , koya et al . reported that treatment of streptozotocin - induced diabetic mice with recombinant pdx - 1 enhances β - cell regeneration and liver cell differentiation , restoring normoglycaemia . they further showed that isl1 and gcg mrna levels in the liver and pancreas of these mice were upregulated after recombinant pdx - 1 treatment . charbonneau et al . ( 2007 ) showed that total hepatic gcgr protein content was decreased in rats fed a high fat diet and that gcgr protein levels were increased slightly after exercise . nestin is a marker of pancreatic islet stem cells and it has been suggested that nestin - positive cells represent a multipotent pancreatic stem cell population , which could be used in future cell replacement therapies to cure diabetes ( lumelsky et al . 2001 ). in contrast , delacour et al . ( 2004 ) showed that nestin is expressed in adult pancreatic exocrine cells , and suggests that nestin is not a specific marker of islet endocrine cells . in our study , nestin mrna levels were unaffected by rx - 1 treatment . neurogenin 3 was not detected in the untreated or treated rats . neurogenin - 3 is a transcription factor expressed in endocrine progenitor cells and is required for endocrine - cell development in the pancreas ( habener et al . 2005 ). lee et al . ( 2006 ) reported that neurogenin - 3 is not expressed in adult mouse pancreatic tissue . these results are in agreement with others ( dor et al . 2004 ) who have reported that replication of existing β - cells is the primary mechanism of β - cell regeneration in adult mice . pcsk2 or proconvertase 2 ( pc2 ) mrna levels were unaffected by rx - 1 treatment . in α - cells pc2 cleaves proglucagon to produce glucagon ( wideman et al . 2006 ). in summary , this study showed upregulation of the genes involved in glucose uptake , insulin signalling , fatty acid metabolism and cytokine signalling in the liver of rx - 1 treated rats . the expression of genes encoding the hormones insulin and glucagon were increased in the pancreas of these rats , while the transcription factors pdx1 and isl1 were also upregulated . gcgr mrna levels were increased in both the liver and pancreas of rx - 1 treated rats . taken together , these results suggest that rx - 1 treatment may reverse insulin resistance and increase fatty acid oxidation in ob / ir rats . genes involved in glucose uptake ( glut1 and glut2 ), insulin signalling ( ir and irs2 ), fatty acid oxidation ( ppara ), cytokine signalling ( socs1 and socs3 ) and the glucagon receptor were upregulated in the liver of rx - 1 treated rats . only the glucagon receptor was upregulated in the muscle . the expression of the other genes was essentially unchanged . genes involved in glucagon processing ( glp1r , gcg and gcgr ), insulin expression ( ins1 and ins2 ) and the transcription factors ( isl1 and pdx1 ) were upregulated in the pancreas of rx - 1 treated rats . the expression of pcsk2 and nestin was unaffected by rx - 1 treatment , while neuro3 could not be detected . gene expression analysis is a useful technique that may give insight into the glucose - lowering mechanism of action of rx - 1 . results from this study suggest that rx - 1 acts in the liver where it stimulates glucose uptake , insulin signalling and fatty acid oxidation . in addition , rx - 1 seems to inhibit cytokine signalling , a hallmark of insulin resistance and type two diabetes . in the pancreas , rx - 1 treatment increased the expression of genes encoding insulin , the transcription factors , isl1 and pdx1 , and glp1r . interestingly , glp1 levels were also increased in the blood of these rats . taken together , our results suggest that rx - 1 may reverse insulin resistance and increase glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation in obese , insulin resistant rats . the glucose uptake of rx - 1 and selected analogues after administration of test compounds to chang cell cultures were determined in an operating protocol for the 2 - deoxy -[ 3 h ]- d - glucose . the protocol , which is described in more detail below , has been designed to test for the rx - 1 ( and rx - 1 analogues ) mediated glucose uptake . in table the ec50 values for the uptake for rx - 1 and representative analogues is shown . stock solutions of the rx - 1 analogues supplied in cryo vials ( drugmode ) was prepared by diluting the compound with 200 sterile tissue culture grade water . this will yield a 5 mm stock solution . if the analogue does dissolve completely an additional 50 μl methanol will be added ( this will be recorded clearly on the log sheet ). this will yield a 4 mm stock solution . stock solutions will be kept on ice at all times and analogues will be stored in 20 μl aliquots at − 80 c for subsequent use . tubes that have been thawed will be clearly marked on the label . to prepare a 10 μm rx - 1 solution as positive control . add 30 μl to 2970 μl modified dmem media supplemented with 8 mm glucose . to prepare a 31 . 6 μm rx - 1 analogue test solution . add 19 μl of the 5 mm to 2981 μl modified dmem media supplemented with 8 mm glucose . to prepare a 31 . 6 μm rx - 1 analogue test solution from a 4 mm stock solution , add 24 μl to 2976 μl modified dmem media supplemented with 8 mm glucose . chang cells are cultured according to procedures described in mrc cell culture sops : tc - b2a thawing of cells and tc - b1a cell line maintenance — general principles . make sure cells are in the log phase ( i . e . & lt ; 70 % confluence ) and less than 20 passages . harvest cells using 0 . 25 % ( w / v ) trypsin / 0 . 53 mm edta solution . count cells and resuspend to 30 000 cells / ml ( chang cell seeding density for 24 - well plate = 30 000 cells / ml ) in emem ( with pyruvate and neaa , but without l - glutamate ( lonza , usa ) containing 10 % fbs ( gibco , uk ) and pipette 1 ml / well cell suspension to a 24 - well plate corresponding to 30 000 cells / well . after 3 days of cell growth , aspirate medium wash cells once with pre - warmed dpbs at 37 ° c . add 500 μl of pre - warmed 37 ° c . dmem / 0 . 1 % bsa ( without phenol red , glucose and pyruvate ) to serum starve cells to remove residual glucose and fbs incubate at 37 ° c . in humidified air and 5 % co 2 for 30 min aspirate dmem / 0 . 1 % bsa ( without phenol red , glucose and pyruvate ) prepare test dilutions as specified in the plate layout ( see below ) add 500 μl pre - warmed 37 ° c . of test dilution per well according to plate layout incubate at 37 ° c . in humidified air and 5 % co 2 for 3 hrs remove test medium and wash cells once with dpbs ( 37 ° c .) add 250 μl of test medium containing 0 . 5 μci / ml 3 h - 2 - dog to each well use ( 0 . 5 μl 3 h to 1 ml medium ) incubate cells at 37 ° c . in humidified air and 5 % co 2 for 15 min aspirate medium to stop the reaction , wash cells twice with ice - cold dpbs aspirate dpbs and ensure that wells are as dry as possible lyse cells by adding 1 ml of 0 . 3n naoh / 1 % sds and incubate at 37 ° c . for at least 45 min mix cell lysate thoroughly before subsequent use in lsc and bradford protein determination | 2 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.